GRACE COMES IN HUMILITY

Humility vs. Pride

Pride definition: Definition of pride. 1 :the quality or state of being proud: such as. a :inordinate self-esteem :conceit. b :a reasonable or justifiable self-respect. c :delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship. Miriam-Webster

GOOGLE : a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired. "the team was bursting with pride after recording a sensational victory"
synonyms: pleasure, joy, delight, gratification, fulfillment, satisfaction, a sense of achievement "take pride in a good job well done"

HUMILITY DEFINITION: freedom from pride or arrogance :the quality or state of being humble, accepted the honor with humility, The ordeal taught her humility. Miriam-Webster

GOOGLE: a modest or low view of one's own importance; humbleness.
synonyms: modesty, humbleness, meekness, diffidence, unassertiveness; lack of pride, lack of vanity; servility, submissiveness "he accepted the award with sincere humility"

MESSAGE:

Through Adam pride entered humanity!

“For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.””
Genesis 3:5 NKJV

This is the same pride that caused satan his fall!

“When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.”
Proverbs 11:2 NKJV

“Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.”
Proverbs 16:18 NKJV

“A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.”
Proverbs 29:23 NKJV

“When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. So He said to them, “Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods?” And He said, “What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.””
Mark 7:17-23 NKJV

“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.”
Proverbs 8:13 NKJV

“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
I John 2:15-17 NKJV

“Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Proverbs 26:12 NKJV

THE BIBLE TEACHES PRIDE IS A SIN. HOWEVER SIN HAS ALREADY BEEN DEALT WITH AT THE CROSS.

WE DON'T HAVE A SIN PROBLEM WE HAVE A SELF PROBLEM!! HUMILITY IS THE ANSWER FOR THIS!!

JESUS BROUGHT GODLY HUMILITY INTO HUMANITY

His life demonstrates this over and over in scripture,

1. Look at the commencement of His ministry. In the Beatitudes with which the Sermon on the Mount opens, He speaks:"Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth." The very first words of His proclamation of the kingdom of heaven reveal the open gate through which alone we enter. The poor, who have nothing in themselves, to them the kingdom comes. The meek, who seek nothing in themselves, theirs the earth shall be. The blessings of heaven and earth are for the lowly. For the heavenly and the earthly life, humility is the secret of blessing.

2. "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly of heart, and ye shall find rest for your souls."Jesus offers Himself as Teacher. He tells what the spirit both is, which we shall find Him as Teacher, and which we can learn and receive from Him. Meekness and lowliness the one thing He offers us; in it we shall find perfect rest of soul. Humility is to be a salvation.

3. The disciples had been disputing who would be the greatest in the kingdom, and had agreed to ask the Master (Luke 9:46; Matt. 18:3). He set a child in their midst and said, "Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, shall be exalted. " "Who the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" The question is indeed a far-reaching one. What will be the chief distinction in the heavenly kingdom? The answer, none but Jesus would have given. The chief glory of heaven, the true heavenly-mindedness, the chief of the graces, is humility. "He that is least among you, the same shall be great."

4. The sons of Zebedee had asked Jesus to sit on His right and left, the highest place in the kingdom. Jesus said it was not His to give, but the Father's, who would give it to those for whom it was prepared. They must not look or ask for it. Their thought must be of the cup and the baptism of humiliation. And then He added, "Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant. Even as the Son of Man came to serve. " Humility, as it is the mark of Christ the heavenly, will be the one standard of glory in heaven: the lowliest is the nearest to God. The primacy in the Church is promised to the humblest.

5. Speaking to the multitude and the disciples, of the Pharisees and their love of the chief seats, Christ said once again (Matt. 23:11), "He that is greatest among you shall be your servant." Humiliation is the only ladder to honor in God's kingdom.

6. On another occasion, in the house of a Pharisee, He spoke the parable of the guest who would be invited to come up higher (Luke 14:1-11), and added, "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." The demand is inexorable; there is no other way. Self-abasement alone will be exalted.

7. After the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, Christ spake again (Luke18: 14), "Everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." In the temple and presence and worship of God, everything is worthless that is not pervaded by deep, true humility towards God and men.

8. After washing the disciples' feet, Jesus said (John 13:14), "If I then, the Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye also ought to wash one another's feet." The authority of command, and example, every thought, either of obedience or conformity, make humility the first and most Essential element of discipleship.

9. At the Holy Supper table, the disciples still disputed who should be greatest (Luke 22:26). Jesus said, "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." The path in which Jesus walked, and which He opened up for us, the power and spirit in which He wrought out salvation, and to which He saves us, is ever the humility that makes me the servant of all.

TAKE AWAYS

1- Pride is the seed that gives birth to destruction!
2- Humility is the seed that births grace!
3- To be CHRIST LIKE we must become selfless.