Blessed Humility

Have your Bibles with you guys. Turn with review Woodmark chapter 9 and will start out versus 33, 37, they went on from there the past to Galilee. He did not want anyone to know he was teaching his disciples, saying that them Son of Man is going to be delivered in the hands of men and they will killing when he is killed after three days he will rise. They did not understand the same that were afraid asking they came to Capernaum when he was in the house he asked them, were you discussing on the way they kept silent on the way they had argued with one another, but who is the greatest. He said they only call the 12 and he said to them if anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all. And he took a child, put them in the midst of them and taking them up in his arms, he said to them, whoever receives one such child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives, not me, but him who sent me a schedule Lord in prayer. Heavenly father we live and look at me society. We see pride oozing out of football players, movie stars, rock band members, politicians and TV host. We also see it in preachers and elders and deacons in layman. We Christians try little harder to hide it but we know it's layer. We know humility in the present is tough. Lord, our prayer is this Jesus was a servant, a suffering servant may always be our example.

When we think of Christ when we are tempted to boast, or have our ego stroked that we truly learn at the greatest among us is the servant.

Help me to preach this morning in a way that would exalt Christ and serve this congregation. What is the precious holy name of Jesus that we pray. Amen. You may be seated.

These verses that we have just dealt with were not written in the word of God to coddle us or to give us the warm fuzzies, these verses were written to break pride in us and to help us develop godly humility. Now what you listen up, got just a few verses I want to share with Yamauchi to ponder these verses in Isaiah chapter 66 verse two God said, but to this one. I will look to him who is humble whose contrite in spirit, and who trembles at my word. Micah chapter 6 verse eight.

What does the Lord require of you but to Jude do justice and the love mercy and to walk humbly before your God. First Peter chapter 5 verse five says God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. In James chapter 4 verse 10 humble yourself in the side of the Lord and he will lift you up now will choose as I go through this past two today to keep those verses in mine and just let them ruminate a little bit because this whole section that were looking at today has to do with our pride. God's desire to turn that pride into humility got to point someone to share with you know you're not getting off easy today and to leave early because I got five subpoints in the second .5 .1 modeling humility. Look at me versus 3332 they went over they are passed to Galilee.

And he did not want anyone to know three was teaching his disciples, saying to them.

The Son of Man is going to be delivered in the hands of men and they will killing and when he is killed after three days he will rise. They did not understand the saying and were afraid to ask for over two years. Jesus is primarily been speaking to the multitudes, he has been preaching his heart out. He is been healing the sick, casting out demons, and even raising people from the day and the disciples had been walking with Jesus. During that time and they have grown spiritually exponentially. They have grown. Jesus is even sent them out to about two and what have they done when they went out they preach the word, they cast out demons. I heal the sick, when Jesus wasn't even there with them. This Jesus popularity has grown the that jealousy and the antagonism of the religious leaders got worse and worse. Jesus knew what their plans were.

Their plans were to take him and nail him to a cross.

Jesus knew that was the will of God. Jesus knew that this was his destiny but now his destiny is quickly becoming a reality. So Jesus purposely brings his public ministry to a close, in order that he might spend more time focusing in on the disciples he knows and just a few months, the day of Pentecost is coming and when that day comes, the disciples are going to be field and empowered by the Holy Spirit and they are going to go out into the world they're going to go from Jerusalem to Judea, to Samaria and to the other parts of the earth. So what does Jesus do, he moves away. For the most part still do a little bit but for the most part he moves away from his ministering to the multitudes so he can spend a lot of time with the disciples on the same subject in Luke's gospel in Luke chapter 9 verse 51 is a great verse of Scripture and it says this that Jesus said his face steadfastly toward Jerusalem and what does that mean it mean that Jesus knew exactly what the will of God was for him and that will of God was the cross he is saying in this verse or Luke is telling us that Jesus is totally committed to obeying his father and he's going to the cross and all hail can't stopping is so important for us to see what that verse says Jesus is looking toward Jerusalem.

He is committed to obey and his father is going to the cross. Nothing on this earth or in heaven, hail, and stopping flipping chapter 2 verses five through eight very powerful passage theologians call this the canonic passage comes from the Greek word for gnosis and that word means the emptying rose 33 years were Jesus was here on earth. He emptied himself of what did he emptied himself of his deity, absolutely not.

He never ceased to be God, he emptied himself of the privileges of deity. Now I would like to look at at Luke chapter 9 verse 51 in connection with what Paul says in Philippians chapter 2 verses five the right Luke chapter 9 verse 51 says that Jesus said his face steadfastly toward Jerusalem in Philippians 2528 Paul said let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, Jesus and the disciples are traveling to Galilee.

He explained to them what's going to happen.

He says I'm going to the cross we can evil men are gonna take me they gonna nail me to that cross. I'm going to die. They gonna take my body down, place it in a tomb and three days later, I will rise from the dead, the Scripture says something interesting here that the disciples did not understand, and that there were afraid to ask him about what he meant about the cross. What you think would've happened if they humble themselves come before Jesus and said to Jesus, Lord, we don't get it. Please explain the cross to us. I believe with all my heart that Jesus would've done what he did every single person who ever came to him with a honest question and a humble spirit with honest question. I believe that Jesus would've answered the question.

Nothing Jesus would've said something like this mom I'm going to the cross for very important purposes.

Number one, my look crossed my death all that cross will be a substitutionary atonement. I'm going to that cross that I might take the sins of my people and give them my righteousness that I might take bear hail and give me there and give them my heaven. That's what I'm doing.

He says not only will it be a substitutionary atonement. It will also be a propitiation of my death will appease the wrath of God against their sin. Thirdly, it will be a reconciliation that might shed blood will do something very special. It will reconcile a holy God to a sinful people in third. Thirdly, my death, Jesus is will be your redemption AE says I'm going to shed my blood on the cross in order to pay the sin debt for my people to purchase them on the slave market sin. Listen if you have a legitimate question as a child of God.

What should you do, here's the answer.

Ask ask Jesus and asking shall be given to you seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be open to you. Here's a personal example, I've been pastoring in churches for about seven years, and man started talking to me and started challenging me about the doctrine of God's sovereignty over our salvation. I never really dealt with that very much. And so I was intrigued by and I went to the Lord in prayer. I said, Lord, I want to know this only have it right. I want you to show me what is this actually mean show me and then as I prayed I went to the Scripture. I was absolutely shocked at what God did show me. I thought there might be a couple of unclear verses they are about the subject of God's sovereignty of our salvation.

How wrong was I all of a sudden God begin to show me just one scripture after another. I went from Genesis to Revelation. I found over 600 direct or indirect references to God's sovereignty over our salvation. I saw that the Scripture was teaching us teaching us that man's will is not just a freewheel. It is a fettered wheel. He is a wheel that is fettered by our sin. We are born with the sin nature. When we are dead in our trespasses and sins but God, who is rich in mercy hath quickened us and seated us in heavenly places in Christ Jesus brothers and sisters as I started seeing that God gave me a new Bible and I have bigger God.

He did wonderful work he broke pride in my life and and just showed me the truth and squashed my pride. Help me to depend on Christ more than I ever had before. I'd been dependent way too much on Doug and not near enough on Jesus. What would happen if the disciples are going to Jesus and said explained to us the cross. I think that he would have savvy Jesus model humility. He is a son of God, emptying himself took upon himself the form of a servant, and was obedient even in the death that takes us to point to teaching humility got five so .8 lack of humility destroys unity. Verse 33 through 34 and I came to Capernaum and when he was in the house he asked them what are you discussing on the way they kept silent for all the way. They had argued with one another about who was the greatest.

They went to a house in Capernaum.

Every commentary that I looked at said that this house was surely Simon Peter's house, so there in the house or talking with each other in Jesus says Gaza got a question for you talking about on the road to Capernaum and they answered no.

I kept it quiet why they were ashamed when they been talking about it been talking about who was the greatest.

John MacArthur had a great statement here. He said this, this was a disturbing and potentially disastrous development. These men were the first generation of gospel preachers and would be the leaders of the soon to be found in church with so much riding on them and so much opposition from a hostile world. They need to be unified and supportive of each other. The danger revealed here is that pride ruins unity by destroying relationships. Relationships are based on loving sacrifice in service on selfless deferring to and giving to others. Pride being self focused is indifferent to others. Beyond that, it is ultimately judgmental and critical, therefore, divisive.

Because of that pride is the most common destroyer, both of relationships and churches. It plagued the Corinthian church, causing Paul to ask for since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly and are you not walking like mere men, knowing that pride is the wedge Satan uses to split churches and splinter relationships the Lord stress to the disciples the crucial necessity of humility. How many churches have split the last 2000 years not over doctrinal issues, but over the inflated egos of preachers. How often has that happened we were there might be 34 preachers in a particular church and all of a sudden it's like there's competition there who's smarter who has the most gifts. Who is the most popular in this church hugs. That's nothing but stinking competition and we should have competition in the church but were on the same team and what happens if if because of pastors inflated egos. If the church does split what happens to sinners in that community. They look at that and guess who wins in that situation.

Satan wins 5.2 pride steals honor. Look at verse 35 and he sat down and he called the 12 and he said to them if anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.

Less than a year ago I was talking to a young man who just finished graduated from seminary. Been called by particular church and he was, aggravated as it was in that church and he shared with me said the people in this church just don't respect me. He said I asked them to call me Rev. or to call me preacher and I won't do it. They just call me by my name, and he said doggone and he said I worked hard on this theological degree and I deserve their respect and I said him listen, the most important title that you have as a preacher is this servant servant. If Jesus Christ the King of Kings and Lord of lords second person of the Trinity.

If he is a suffering servant, and how much more should preachers be much more to the people of God. The servants first Corinthians 41 apostle Paul said this is how one should regard us as servants of Christ. So what's the problem with pride proud people. I think part of it is that they think in the temporary instead of thinking in the internal think about it. Who were the least tumble in the most proud people in Israel. In Jesus day it was the it was the religious leaders. One the greatest enemies of Jesus. It was the religious leaders and why were they a why why was it so much animosity, why they hate Jesus so much. It was pride that was the murders in jealousy what was going on will for years. All of the common people had laypeople had come to to them when they had needed advice or were they needed counsel. All of a sudden they were coming to them anymore. Now they were coming to Jesus, the disciples hated the pride that they saw in the religious leaders but they cherish the pride it was in their own heart servant, do he puts others above himself. William Booth was the founder of Salvation Army's own his deathbed is in the hospital and it was hospitals in a city where the Salvation Army was having their annual convention so Salvation Army sent to messengers over to talk to him on his deathbed and I came over and they said we need a message from you. You're the one that started this organization.

What can you do to help us be successful as members of the Salvation Army. He said go back and give them is one word others. Others and folks in it and that's why this Salvation Army has been successful for all these years.

I put others above them sales moms and dads when the most important thing that you can do for your kids is to develop in them servant heart.

Teach them to put God first and others second. We think showering children with material things building up their self-esteem is what's gonna make him happy and will make him happy, what will make him proud and make make him selfish. My dad is one the most unselfish people that I've ever known and he told us what the word of God says about putting others above yourself.

But not only did he teach us about word yell show lived it by example. I was taken into the dentist about a year before he died Monday and I go to the same Dennis been going to Dr. Bullard for years and years a lot of respect for him, but dad went and got checked out and the doctor there.

Dr. Bullard came out and in one of me begin to share with dad said you got space back here in the in the left part of your mail and he said that needs an implant and you need to get that implant in urgently really too hard to achieve, and my dad looked at him. He said much as agon calls and Dr. Bullard said well they probably around $2500. Dad said I think I'll pass on the car.

We were headed back home. I said dad. He said you needed that that tooth you got the money go for it. That's it, Doug. I'm getting old. He said I probably won't be around here too much longer. If I don't spend that money on that tooth.

Then when I die, your mom will have 2500 more dollars to help take care of her needs. My dad was unselfish as they could be, but I will never forget that incident. It blessed my heart and it was an example to me of putting others above myself like subpoint C. Pride rejects deity. Look at me versus 36 to 37 and he took a child putting in the midst of them, and taken him in his arms, he said to them, whoever receives one such child in my name receives me and who ever sees me, receives, not me, but him who sent me some commentators believe that this child that Jesus picked up and put on his lap was none other than the child will be the son of Simon Peter.

It was Peter's house. I doubt seriously if while they had all the disciples there for been other kids running around.

So I think there is a very very good possibility that that's right, and that this was Simon Peter's little boy. He had a incident that took place where Jesus picked him up, put them on his lap and loved on him that I'll guarantee you he he thought about for the whole rest of his life normal through a scenario right here do not find in Scripture as I thought about if that's a possibility. Then quote what was it like I think the principles are here so so listen very carefully. Think about it, usually boy grows up about 30 years pass is 35 years old finds out that his mother and his dad have both just been martyred.

They been crucified in run MAV, Peter's little boy I took after his dad became a fisherman and maybes on his boat is coming back in and he's get ready to pull the boat up at the dock and he looks over there at the docket and there's his wife and his wife is standing there in tears rolling down her cheeks and he jumps out of the boat and the runs are there any hugs her nexus honey, what's the matter, she sent a messenger just came by the house and the messenger told us that that your dad and your mom just been crucified, they been killed.

I've been martyred for their faith because your dad Peter would not kick would not quit preaching the gospel just praise God for that and I can just see Peter's son, 35-year-old man, tears rolling down his cheeks.

He's just broken about this he thinks back 30 years before to that day that Jesus picked them up in his arms and put them up on his lap and then said these words to him.

Whoever receives a little child like this receives me, and whoever receives me receives, not me, but him who sent me, and your members have Jesus put his arms around his neck and the love of Jesus, just emanated from his person. He remembered how he knew would never get over that he thinks about his mom and his dad to be absent from the bodies to be present with the Lord. He thinks about where they are right now and all of a sudden the tears turn into a smile and he thinks to himself. Mom and dad are with Jesus.

They are worshiping him.

He's probably already done to them what he did for me when I was five years old is probably throwing his arms around her neck and hug them and just loved on.

He's probably already said those words that I want to hear so desperately one day.

Well done my good and faithful servant in her nail into the joy of the Lord. John MacArthur said this, Jesus used young children several times as illustrations of humility.

They have not yet accomplished or achieved anything they have no power or honor, but are we dependent and ignored rabbis considered it a waste of time to teach the Torok to Littlechild in the age of 12 little children analogous to believers. Therefore Jesus said whoever receives one child like this in my name receives me, and whoever sees me does not receive me him. He sent me the profound reality is that how Christians treat fellow believers is how they treat Christ you let how Christians treat fellow believers is how they treat Christ. Conversely, those who reject other believers reject him. Matthew's gospel would give little more detail. Jesus said this truly I say to you in less European learning and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

How we become like little children.

I think primarily by trusting. I remember when my kids were little, I take them up to pick him up, put them up on top of the refrigerator. I stepped back several fleets of job and they never hesitated and I called them and they knew that I would catch them because they need I'm there.

Dad and I love them with all my heart I would never drop them and they knew it, but we are to be like little children, little children are trusting little children are contrite in spirit, little children are humble.

Remember what Isaiah 66 verse two says God said to this one.

I will look to him who is humble whose contrite in spirit, and you trembles at my word.

I think about it, which the primary reason that people spurn the gospel today was the primary reason that people say no to Jesus and pushed him away say no, no, I can't do that I can't come to you. Is it not pride. The vast majority the intellectually elite in America actually believe that there are two intelligent judges simply trust in the so-called God so-called Jesus that that would doesn't agree with their political and academic agenda if they were to humble himself and and come to Christ and surrender to him. That would mean that they would have to walk away from the editor evolutionary theory is that they couldn't accept that they have to walk away, acknowledging that it was wrong, it would have to walk away from their idea that there are multiple genders with the Scripture says or not but two male and female that would have to walk away from the idea that there's really life after death McKay something when an unbeliever dies two seconds after that death two seconds after that death is pride will be broken.

His doubts will be gone and all hope will be vanquished forever.

Pride rejects deity. Some point the pride creates exclusivity versus 38 to 40. John said him teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name we try the stopping because he was not following us.

Jesus said do not stopping for no one who does a mighty work in my name, will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me for the one who is not against us is for us on me share with you what the apostle Paul said about people are teaching false documents and heresies. Titus 392 11 but avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and their worthless extra person who stirs up division after warning once and then twice had nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and simple. He is self condemned. Then John the same John the Jesus's rebuke in here in this passage said this in second John everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the father and the son.

If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or giving any greeting for whoever greets him take part in his wicked words so both John and Paul warned us not to allow heresies or false doctrines to be taught. He said if you say that going on then pointed out fight against it.

Warn others about it and separate yourself from those people well is that what the disciples are doing absolutely not that this man has not been teaching heresy is not do anything wrong.

He is cast out a demon out of somebody else in the name of Jesus. Sosa wanted the disciples get upset about this. I got upset about this because that man was not lining up with Liam. That man did not come to them for help and for approval that that that that man was just doing something for Jesus name by himself. I didn't like it. I wanted the glory for this. So the problem is just jealousy. Yes, that's the problem William McDougall said that McDonnell said this, Jesus said to his disciples don't stopping if he has enough faith in me to use my name in casting out demons and if is on my side is working against Satan.

He is a nap to turn around quickly and speak evil of me or my enemy books. If people love Jesus. If they been born again by the spirit of God. If they know and love the word of God. There are brothers and sisters in Christ that we have to be careful not to compromise on fundamentals, but with the peripheral things we need to be able to agree to disagree on some point the humility brings reward. Look at verse 41, truly I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward even the smallest kindest gesture done in Jesus's name will be rewarded. Richard Warren Brandt is one of my heroes Richard Warren Brandt was a Lutheran pastor in communist Romania 14 years. He was thrown into a prison in communist Romania and he was horribly persecuted. He was beaten so badly has he had scars all over his body. One guard came in one day in and was mocking what Isaiah said, and he said Isaiah says that beautiful are the feet of those who take the good news to the world they said you got beautiful feet.

He took his shoes off, he took a baseball bat and he beat his feet and to the point where every bone in both feet were absolutely crushed. Finally he was let out of prison. What did he do. He went out preaching the gospel on the very day he was let out of prison and he started. He was the founder of an organization called voice of the martyrs at TI think of of Richard Warren ran I think of what he did and I'll tell you the persecution that man went through, I can even begin to imagine. I've experienced anything like that is a hero of mine. He just a great hero my love what he's done.

Let me tell you when he died when he went to be with the Lord.

He was greatly rewarded for all that he's done when you tell you this, you will be rewarded and I will be rewarded.

If we give a cup of cold water to in Jesus's name to a person who has need of it. I think were being told to think this way.

Don't hunger for the praise of men don't long for your ego to be stroked but deeply deeply thirst to hear these words from the mouth of Jesus.

Well done my good and faithful servant in her nail into the joy of the Lord is pray. Heavenly father, I thank you for the men and women he placed in my life to teach me the virtue of humility had a daddy who is humble and enjoy putting others before himself that pastors and elders and deacons who serve God in me gave me glorious examples to follow but I thank you most of all for Jesus who told us perfect. Humility is a suffering servant who gave his all, so that we could live.

May Jesus be the light that guides us in the fellowship with God and with others pretty as the precious and holy name of Jesus that we pray a man