THE GLORY OF DIVINE MEEKNESS IN CHRIST & IN US!
Thereis no greater experience we can have than an intimate relationship with our Creator God. God promises to fellowship with the humble & contrite (Isa. 57:15; Isa. 66:2). What greater motivation could we have to learn the kind of humility God requires of us & pursue it with our whole heart (Micah 6:8; 2 Chron. 7:14; I Kings 21:29).
Humility is defined by Webster [ed.1828] as: “freedom from pride & arrogance; humbleness of mind (Acts 20:19); a modest estimate of one’s own worth. In theology, humility consists of a deep sense of one’s own unworthiness in the sight of God.” It is “submission to God’s will without murmuring.” Meekness is humility in relation to God. Lowliness is humility in relation to man (Matt 11:28-30)
MEEKNESS IS NOT WEAKNESS! Illustration: “breaking horses”
Pride is one of the most besetting sins of the human race.
True Humility was practically unknown in the ancient world. The ancient philosophers considered it a vice rather than a virtue. Greek & Latin had no word for the biblical idea of humility. Meekness & humility was a grace which Jesus alone manifested as a divine virtue (2 Cor. 10:1) and makes possible for us as a “fruit of the Holy Spirit” (Gal. 5:22-23).
Each of us must battle destructive pride & arrogance until we receive our glorified bodies in which there dwells no sin (Rom. 7:17-18; Phil. 3:21; ICor. 15:44). But because a relationship with God is more important than our own pleasure, our loving merciful Heavenly Father knows how to humble us to prepare us for both this life & eternity (I Pet. 5:6; Deut. 8:2-3; Matt. 23:12; Lk. 14:11; 18:14; James 4:6).
If you are a stranger to humility I know your life is miserable, or if it isn’t right now it will be soon. Sinful Pride robs life of true love, peace & joy. But oh, the glory of letting God humble us so we can experience His eternal glory & be a great blessing to the World.
The entire Christmas story is permeated with revelations of Humility & meekness. Our Creator God humbled Himself to save a fallen, hurting, dying humanity (Phil. 2:7). What a demonstration of humility for God to bypass all the thrones of the world to have His son born in a manger in a most insignificant city
Zacharias & Elisabeth had an encounter with the Living God by humbly & faithfully serving God without complaint even though they had not been blessed with a child (Lk.1:5-25). The Virgin Mary had an encounter with God because she was willing to humbly submit to God’s will even though she knows people will judge her as being immoral. God first announced Christ’s birth to humble shepherds(Lk. 2:8-18).
I. GOD REVEALS HIS HUMILITY BY THE INCARNATION
Not until Jesus came with His perfect life & matchless teaching was humility elevated to the level of a primary virtue among humanity. Can there be any greater revelation of the importance of humility & meekness than the fact Jesus came into this world “to serve & give His life a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45; Matt.1:23; 2 Cor. 5:19).
If this is the heart of God then I must strive to be humble & meek.
Christ revealed the glory of Divine Humility by the life He gave up in Heaven for the Life He chose on Earth(Ps. 113:5-6; 2 Cor. 5:19). Every detail of the Christmas story reveals the truth that God is humble and loves to manifest Himself to the humble. Jesus was almighty God manifest in the flesh (I Tim. 3:16; John 1:14) but notice His humility: “…made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, [His humility] and was made in the likeness of men: (2:8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, [Hismeekness] even the death of the cross. (2:9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him” (Phil. 2:6-9) (Important truth:
Jesus manifested divine humility by willingly becoming poor to make us rich with “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places inChrist” (Eph.1:3; I Cor.3:21-23). “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your
He gave up His crown in Heaven for the cross on earth. He gave up the riches of heaven for poverty on earth. He gave up His heavenly glory to became part of the despised Jewish race & die on a Roman Cross He gave up the presence of His Heavenly Father to be rejected & abandoned by his loved ones on earth (Ps. 69:8; John 7:5; Matt. 26:56)
Jesus models Divine humility in His life. The self existent God submitted to be parented. (Lk. 2:51). Jesus came into this world as a baby to be taken care of by 2 imperfect parents. They even lost Jesus one time! (Luke2:41-51)
Jesus modeled humble
Jesus reveals Divine humility in His teaching: “Learn of me, for I am meek & lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29). Wow! Think about that“…whosoever will be great among you, shallbe your minister: (44) Andwhosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all (45) For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister,and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:42-45; Lk. 22:26); “Blessedare the meek” (Matt. 5:5); “Whoever shall humble himself as thislittle child, the same is greatest” (Matt. 18:4; Lk. 14:11); “He that isleast among you all, the same shall be great” (Lk.9:48) (Mk. 8:34).
II. GOD AWAKENS IN US A DESIRE FOR HUMILITY:
We appreciate humility in others but don’t want it for ourselves. It’s opposite our human nature.
So God motivates us to pursue Divine Humility by:
Giving us a revelation of our eternal destiny: “And we know that all things work together for good to them that loveGod… (29) For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son…” (Rom 8:28-29; Isa. 57:15)
Giving us a glorious revelation of Christ by the Holy Spirit: “But we all… beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord”(2Cor 3:18). [this removes our sense of inferiority & insecurity]
Revealing to us how much we have suffered because of our pride! (Prov.16:18; 18:12; Isa. 2:11-12; Luke 1:51; I Pet. 5:5)
Illus: Study the fall of the Proud (Dan. 4:30-37; 5:22; Deut. 8:2-3)
Giving us a revelation of Jesus Christ suffering on the Cross.
Illustration: Study the History of the Moravian Revival
III. GODIMPARTS HUMILITY TO US THROUGH THE INDWELLING CHRIST. Humility is a divine attribute; a fruit of the Spirit. But it is not merely a virtue; it’s a discipline! It is not something a person merely has; it’s what we are called to do!
A) We only have true humility as Christ lives in us (Col 3:10-12)
“… Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Col 1:27-28; John 17:22-3) It is no longer I that live but Christ who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).
“Meekness” is one of
As a discipline, we can measure our success in humility. Asa virtue we cannot. We must pursue humility as an action, a behavior, not just as a quality of character. What does humility look like?
IV. GOD reveals what GENUINE humility will look like in us.
A. Genuine Humility comes from understanding God Created each of us Special for a special purpose!
“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me”(1Cor. 15:10)
“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” (1Cor. 4:7). [I won’t be conceited!]
We just develop the raw materials God gives us: The humble understand that their blessings are a gift from God they don’t deserve (James 1:17). They are constantly thankful to God and constantly ask: “What can I do for God in return?” I surrender my rights &accept my God has given responsibilities. I take responsibility to reach the Lost!
“Christ in us”Motivates & Empowers us to Serve Others: Jesus said: “If I then, your LORD & Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15; study Phil. 2:3; Lk14:7-11; Eph. 4:2; Titus 3:2)
“CLOTH YOURSELF WITH HUMILITY” (I Pet. 5:5-7)
Our Homes become
V.) the Rewards of Humility. To the degree that we humble ourselves we will experience the great rewards of meekness.
So let’s take on Christ’s yoke of a meek & quiet spirit by surrendering our rights & expectations to Him (Matt.11:28-30).
1. Meekness brings an inner
2. God “will beautify the meek with salvation” (Ps 149:4; I Pet. 3:3-4)
3. The Meek receive God’s direction for life: “the meek will he guide in judgment: & the meek will he teach his way” (Ps. 25:9; 32:8-9)
4. You will be Great in the kingdom of Heaven! (Matt. 18:4; 23:11-2)
5. You will prosper: “By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, & honour, & life” (Pro 22:4; I Tim. 6:9, 17-9; Jame 5:1-3)
In the book “Good to Great” by Jim Collins (2001) they investigated what caused some companies to achieve stellar results. One surprising finding was that the CEO’s of such companies are typically humble people. Illustration: R. G. LeTourneau: “Mover of Men & Mountains”