Living With Humility

Psalm 113:1-6

Introduction:

1. Jesus was humble.

Jesus looked out across the crowd of people. He saw people with illnesses waiting to be healed. He saw people with a spiritual void looking to be filled. Jesus did not grimace when their dirty fingers soiled his clothes, nor was he ashamed as the outcast requested his presence. He was not afraid to let a “sinner” touch him or to touch a leper. It gave him no problem to use his spit with some mud to anoint another’s eyes. You see Jesus was a humble man, as our God is a humble God. Jesus served all of the people around him whether clean or dirty, whether wealthy or poor, whether a man of status or a woman of disregard and because of his servitude he became a leader of humility.

2. What is Humility?

“Humility is the freedom from arrogance that grows out of the recognition that all we have and all we are comes from God.”

We are taught that we should have a servant’s heart. How do we know when we are humble as servants? We will know by how we act when we are treated like a servant.

“Humility is like a slippery watermelon seed. Once you get it under your finger and you think you have it, it slips away from your grasp.”

“It needs more skill than I can tell

To play the second fiddle well.”

Humility is not to think little of oneself or mean of oneself; no humility is not to think of oneself at all.”

When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Sunday before his death on the back of a donkey, and everyone was waving palm branches and throwing garments on the road, and singing praises, do you think for one moment it ever dawned on the donkey that any of that was for him?

Jesus’ Teaching about Humility

Mark 10:42-45 become a servant

Matt. 18:1-4 become like a little child

Matt. 23:11,12 "But the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

John 13:4-5, 12-17 Jesus washed the disciples feet

Phil. 2:5-8 Jesus emptied himself, humbled himself

Matt. 11:28-30 Jesus’ yoke is bearable because He is humble

Signs of Humility

1. Dependence upon God Matt. 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

2. Recognition of one’s weaknesses and sins before God Isa. 6:5 Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

3. Submissiveness to God 2 Kings 22:15-19 Huldah the prophetess speaking to Josiah John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John the Baptist)

4. Respect for Others Rom. 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Phil. 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself;

Conclusion:

1. When we stand at the foot of the cross, we need to know the ground is level. Nobody stands there better than others. All are in need of the grace of Christ and His cleansing blood.

2. I want to ask you a question: “Have you ever kissed the feet of Jesus?”