Christian Essentials #4

Humility as a Way of Life

Ken Birks, Pastor/Teacher

I. Introductory Remarks.

In the previous message we looked at the importance of walking in humility

before God. We saw by doing so, we will experience riches, honor and the
fullness of life Jesus intended for us to have.

Proverbs 22:4 By humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches and honor and
life.

In this message we will be looking at the aspect of walking in humility before

others and in our service to God. Walking in humility towards and our service to
God is one of the essential characteristics the Christian must have operating in
his life to be successful in all that he does in the kingdom. The opposite of this
would be walking in pride and arrogance in everything we do, which brings us
into a destructive path.

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

If we haven’t come to that place in our lives where we have either humbled
ourselves before God or have been humbled by Him, pride will manifest itself in a
myriad of ways in our areas of service in the body of Christ and in our
relationships with one another.

• Humility must be a way of life for us as Christians just as it was for

Jesus.

Andrew Murray once said, “Humility before God is nothing if not proved in
humility before men.”

1 John 4:20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for
he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God
whom he has not seen?

II. Jesus Is Our Example of Humility.

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Humility as a Way of Life Ken Birks, Pastor/Teacher

In the book of Philippians, Paul exhorts us as believers to follow Jesus’ example

of humility. We are to be likeminded in Him or have the same attitude that he
had.

Philippians 2:1-5 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of

love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2fulfill my joy by
being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3Let
nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let
each esteem others better than himself. 4Let each of you look out not only for his
own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5Let this mind be in you which
was also in Christ Jesus,

In this passage of Scripture, Paul deals with our humility in service and our
humility in the manner in which we are to relate to one another in the body of
Christ.

Matthew 11:29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and
lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Luke 22:27 "For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it
not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves.

Matthew 20:27-28 "And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your
slave; 28"just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give His life a ransom for many."

1. The Example of Jesus Washing the Disciple’s Feet.

John 13:5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the
disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.

John 13:12-16 So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat
down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? 13"You call
me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. 14"If I then, your Lord and
Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet.
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"For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.
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"Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he
who is sent greater than he who sent him.

2. Other Examples of Jesus’ Humility.

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Humility as a Way of Life Ken Birks, Pastor/Teacher

John 5:41 "I do not receive honor from men.

John 6:38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the
will of Him who sent Me.

John 7:16 Jesus answered them and said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who
sent Me.

John 8:28 Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you
will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught
Me, I speak these things.

John 8:50 "And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.

John 14:10 "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me?
The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father
who dwells in Me does the works.

These words show us the deepest roots of Christ’s life and work. They teach us
what the essential nature and life is of the redemption which Jesus accomplished
and now communicates – it is this – He was nothing that God might be all.

Andrew Murray is quoted as saying, “Humility is nothing but the disappearance of

self in the vision that God is all.”

Humility in our service to God and others allows God to be all. Humility
surrenders itself to the divine working of God.

• It will be through humility that the earth will be filled with the fullness of
God, who fills all in all.

Ephesians 1:22-23 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be
head over all things to the church, 23which is His body, the fullness of Him
who fills all in all.

III. Humility in our Servanthood.

Just as Jesus came to serve and give His life a ransom for many, this is how God
desires we walk in humility. We must loose ourselves in the humility and
Servanthood of Christ.

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Humility as a Way of Life Ken Birks, Pastor/Teacher

Matthew 16:25 "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for My sake will find it.

Have you lost your life in humility, or are you still trying hang on to your pride and
ego?

Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, "You know that
the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise
authority over them. 26"Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to
become great among you, let him be your servant. 27"And whoever desires to
be first among you, let him be your slave; 28"just as the Son of Man did not
come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

1. A Contrast of Attitudes in Ministry between Pride & Humility.

Romans 16:18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but
their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of
the simple.

Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in
lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4Let each of you
look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Galatians 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use
liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Humility in Serving Pride in Serving

• Willing to serve wherever the need is and • Full of selfish ambition and hidden
to meet the needs of those around you. agendas.
• Sees the importance of small duties we • A desire for power.
are asked to perform.
• A desire for promotion.
• A desire to make others successful.
• Expresses a sense of self-importance.
• A desire to show love and mercy of God
• Needs to have a title to be fully
to those who need it.
motivated.
• A desire to unite family members under
• Expresses authority in a domineering
Christ’s Lordship.
manner.
• A desire to help the spiritually sick, poor
• Shows off his abilities and talents
and oppressed.
• Is wise in his own eyes – mocks and
undermines authority.

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Humility as a Way of Life Ken Birks, Pastor/Teacher

Because Christ humbled Himself before God, God was ever before Him. He
found it possible to humble Himself before men too; and to be the servant of all.
This is true self-denial to which we are called; the acknowledgement that self has
nothing good init except as an empty vessel which God must fill.

IV. Humility in Our Relationships.

One of the things Jesus desires for us is to come into a genuine humility in our
relationships we have with other members of His body.

Ephesians 4:1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk
worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2with all lowliness and
gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3
endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

• What is lowliness of mind?

Lowliness of mind is when we see ourselves to be nothing, to let God be all.

When this happens, the desire to compare yourself with others is gone.

The humble man looks upon even, the weakest and un-worthiest, child of God;
honor and prefers him in honor as a king.

Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind
on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own
opinion.

1. A Contrast of Attitudes in our Relationships with Others.

• Rapid fire Scriptures:

Colossians 3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on
tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13bearing with one
another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another;
even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

Colossians 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath,
malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

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Humility as a Way of Life Ken Birks, Pastor/Teacher

Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be
put away from you, with all malice. 32And be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.

Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of

wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,

Proverbs 13:10 By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is
wisdom.

Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor
giving preference to one another;

Humility in Relationships Pride in Relationships

• Kindness, tender mercies & humbleness of • Strife and contention

mind. • Bitterness, un-forgiveness and
• Meekness, bearing with one another & resentment.
forgiving one another.
• Arrogance, anger, wrath and malice.
• Peacefulness and gentleness.
• Serving one another. • Malice, jealousy, dissensions and
discord.
• Preferring one another and associating
with the humble. • Seeks its own, parades itself and has an
• Submitting to one another. independent spirit.
• Associates with those who will advance
their cause.

These attitudes are essential for producing These attitudes all produce division and
unity in the body of Christ. destruction in the body of Christ.

Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

V. Concluding Remarks.

Let’s keep in mind that our ultimate goal is to build the body of Christ up through
our humility so that we can all be encouraged nurtured and strengthened in
Christ.

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