HUMILITY OF GOD’S SERVANT Isaiah 55:8-11
A. God has always required humility (2 Chronicles 7:14) “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways: then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” (Micah 6:8) “…and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”
B. Honor with God comes AFTER our humility (Proverbs 15:33) “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.” (Proverbs 18:12) “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty and before honor is humility.”
C. Man’s Honor is NOT God’s Honor
1. Place of Honor (Luke 14:7-11)
2. Pharisee & sinner (Luke 18:9-14)
D. God EXALTS those that are humble (Matthew 18:1-4) “At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 20:20-28) (Matthew 23:11-12) “But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
E. Humility is NOT innate, we must LEARN to be humble (Matthew 11:28-29) “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me: For I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls….” (1 Peter 2:20-25)
F. We must BECOME Humble (Colossians 3:12-13) “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, Holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing on another, and forgiving one another, if any have a quarrel against any; even as Christ also forgave you, so also do ye.” (1 Peter 5:5-6) “Likewise ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of ye be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” (James 4:6-10)
G. Let us Strive to consider OTHERS more important than OURSELVES (Philippians 2:1-8) ----------------------------------------------------------