Humble yourself Introduction

Humble yourself Introduction

Welcome. Today, we will begin a new sermon series entitled “Humble Yourself.” God demonstrates that either we can humble ourselves or He can do it for us. I submit that it would be better if we humble ourselves. What do you think?

This also begs the question, “What does this mean?” “What does it mean to be humble? More importantly, how do we humble ourselves?” This is what we will discuss in this series.

What is humility? Today, we will discuss what God calls humble. Then, join us as we examine how.

Part 1: Choose Your Friends Wisely

Part 2: Be Mindful of Your Thoughts

Part 3: Immerse Yourself in Scripture

Part 4: Guard Your Heart

Part 5: Pray Continually

Let us pray. “Father, may all the praise and glory be to you. The alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. The great “I Am.” We thank you for the time to come before you and to learn from your word. We pray that You give each one of us eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive Your truth and Your revelation as we enter into Your Word. Thank you, and in your name we ask and pray, Amen.”

If you have your Bible, turn to Micah 6:6-8

"With what shall I come before the LORD,

and bow myself before God on high?

Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,

with calves a year old?

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,

with ten thousand rivers of oil?

Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?” Micah 6:6-8

Remember what Yeshua, or Jesus, as translated, said in Mark 12:33

“And to love him”

Who is Him? God.

“With all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself,”

Is what? Read this with me.

“Is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." Mark 12:33

In Hosea 6:6, we read this.

“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6

We are told over and over again that we are to serve, and not to be served. To serve and not to “lord over,” those who are lost or dead already. We are called to be humble. In His famous “Sermon on the Mount,” He made these statements. Matthew 5 starting in verse 3

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Not the proud. This is more important today than ever.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Not those who take pride in themselves, or the world, or the things in this world. But those who mourn or have deep grief over themselves and the sins they have committed. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Comforter John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 2 Corinthians 1:4. The Spirit comforts those who are honest about themselves and their sin and humble enough to ask for forgiveness and healing. This does not apply to those who hide their sin or try to justify it before God. Without the “Comforter” or the Holy Spirit, they can never know the comfort that comes from a pure heart.

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Again, not the proud and boastful.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Not those who kneel before the altar of self. The Idol of “Self.” How famous can I be? How many followers can I have?

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

Instead of hating those sinners in the world, we are called to love them. We are called to love our enemies. We are called to love the sinner and hate the sin. Now, do not confuse this with the false “Hate” that the world will attempt to fling upon you for the sole reason you try to tell them the truth. The Bible calls Homosexuality and Transgendersism sins. Trying to explain this and warn people who are practicing such is not hate, it is love and true compassion.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Pure in heart? Not full of pride. No ulterior motives.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

This is why we read this in Romans 12:18

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.”

We read this in James 3:17-18

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

Now this next one is happening more and more as we grow closer to the end times.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Do you know what God says….. “Shut up, you hateful, homophobic, transphobic, racist, chauvinistic, imbecile.” “You are canceled.” “We will shut you down.” In some cases, already around the world, for just mentioning God, Jesus, or sin, you can be charged with a hate crime and sent to jail or worse.

"Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.”

It’s coming, but Yeshua tells us to rejoice.

“Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:3-12

Being humble, true humility is against the world’s cry out for you to be proud. Have Pride in yourself and your sin. As a child of God, may I suggest, you do not take part in such?

Look what God Himself says in 2 Chronicles 7:14.

“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

He could very well be talking to America. Why? Because we were founded on the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Word of God. Did you know that there are five references to God in the Declaration of Independence? This Country was founded on Judaeo / Christian beliefs. You can find God and Biblical quotes in all the Founding Documents. The Anti-Federalist Papers, The Articles of Association of 1774, The Articles of Confederation, The Constitution of the United States, The Declaration of Independence, Original Draft of the Declaration of Independence – Thomas Jefferson, The Federalist Papers by Hamilton, Madison and Jay, The Kentucky Resolutions of 1798, The Treaty of Paris of 1783. It is clear, not only in these all but-forgotten Founding Documents but also in Private Communications between the Founding Fathers, that this IS a Christian Nation. Even our Laws are based on the Ten Commandments.

Yet look what we as a nation have done. We threw God out of our schools, and yet we allow Pride flags in. We remove mention of God in public, and we dedicate a whole month to Pride of sin. Remember what the Word of God says about Pride?

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace,

but with the humble is wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2

“Pride goes before destruction,

and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18

If you have your Bible, turn to Philippians 2, starting at verse 3

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his interests but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Remember, He said, He came to serve and not be served

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:3-11

There is no other way. Those who choose to live in sin will die in their sin. Do not follow them down the broad road that leads to Hell. We will wrap up today with this parable from Yeshua. Turn to Luke 14, starting at verse 7

“Now he told a parable to those who were invited when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them,

"When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, and he who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this person,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

This is pretty clear. Right? This also begs the question, “How?” How do we humble ourselves? We are talking about true humility and not some false victimhood scheme. This is what we will be talking about in the coming weeks.

If you have not already done so, and if you truly want to have Yeshua come into your life and set you free from Hell, death, and the grave. Then say this prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be, say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us pray.

"Oh, heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Yeshua's sacrifice for me. I believed He rose from the dead. I repent of my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Yeshua, Amen!"

That's it. It is that simple. Now tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." Colossians 3:10

May the comfort of the Holy Ghost and the peace of our Lord Yeshua be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Yeshua is Lord!