Bible Study Notes
4-16-2016 Work Party

Humility

Chapter 4

Highlighted=quote from book

Italicized=quote from handout

Pray

Recap

God Created us to show & share His goodness

Pride interferes w/ the great blessings God wants to give us & empower us to give to others

Pride comes from the devil, entered the world at the fall

We must be restored to full humility to regain that connection to the full blessedness God offers

Jesus is the source of restored humility, we get it from and through Him.

Jesus is the model of that fruitful humility; he was perfectly yielded to the Father & the Spirit

We therefore need to prayerfully study Jesus’ life & strive to follow His examples.

This week we are going to look at Jesus’ teachings on Humility

Jesus: humility results in blessings

Matthew 5:3,5

Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth.

             

Matthew 11:29

Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest for your souls.

Luke 14:1-11

 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke18:14

 Everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The path in which Jesus walked, and which He opened up for us, the power and spirit in which He wrought out salvation … is ever the humility that makes men the servant of all.

That is consistent with scripture

Proverbs 3:34

He mocks proud mockers, but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.

Proverbs 29:23  

the humble of spirit acquire honor.

Sirach 3:17-18

My son, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be loved more than a giver of gifts. 18 Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find mercy in the sight of God.

1 Peter 5:5-7

And all of you must put on the apron of humility, to serve one another; for the scripture says, “God resists the proud, but shows favor to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, then, under God's mighty hand, so that he will lift you up in his own good time.

We see that in the lives of Abraham, Joseph, Moses & Daniel

         All surrendered themselves to God

         All devoted themselves to serving their fellow man

        

                  = humility

         All were greatly blessed

         All greatly blessed others

God is faithful. Just as water ever seeks and fills the lowest place, so the moment God finds the creature abased and empty, His glory and power flow in to exalt and to bless

So how do we do that, what are the nuts & bolts of humility, what does humility look like?

         Meekness

Matthew 5:3,5

Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth."

"Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest for your souls."

1 Peter 5:6-7

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. 7 Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.

The meek=those who seek nothing in themselves

Meekness and lowliness the one thing He offers us; in it we shall find perfect rest of soul.

At first it may appear hard; this is only because of the pride which still counts itself something.

once we learn that to be nothing before God is the glory of the creature, the spirit of Jesus, the joy of heaven, we shall welcome with our whole heart the discipline we may have in serving even those who try to vex us

Active service

Matthew 23:11

He that is greatest among you shall be your servant."

Luke 22:26

He that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. I am among you as he that serveth."

Matthew 20:27

Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant.

the character of a faithful servant = Devotion to the master's interests, thoughtful study and care to please him, delight in his prosperity and honor and happiness.

joy in the Christian life = yield ourselves as servants, as slaves to God, and to find that His service is our highest liberty-the liberty from sin and self?

to be servants of one another, and that, as we accept it heartily, this service too will be a most blessed one, a new and fuller liberty too from sin and self

become the servant of all! This is the path to the gladness and the glory of Christ's presence ever in us, His power ever resting on us.

Example= Joy in garden, Christmas store

Case Study

Luke 7:1-10

When Jesus had finished saying all these things to the people, he went to Capernaum. 2 A Roman officer (high status/authority) there had a servant (care for those of lesser status) who was very dear to him; the man was sick and about to die. 3 When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders (sought help from those he was supposed to be superior to) to ask him to come and heal his servant. 4 They came to Jesus and begged him earnestly, “This man really deserves your help. 5 He loves our people and he himself built a synagogue for us.” (had a servant’s heart/disposition)

6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the officer sent friends to tell him, “Sir, don't trouble yourself. I do not deserve to have you come into my house, 7 neither do I consider myself worthy to come to you in person. (the opposite of pride) Just give the order, and my servant will get well (meek). 8 I, too, am a man placed under the authority of superior officers, and I have soldiers under me. I order this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; I order that one, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and I order my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

9 Jesus was surprised when he heard this; he turned around and said to the crowd following him, “I tell you, I have never found faith like this, not even in Israel!” (the officer’s pride resulted in exaltation—then & now)

10 The messengers went back to the officer's house and found his servant well. (the officer’s pride resulted in blessing—then & now)