1 00:00:00,000 –> 00:00:07,000 You’re listening to a sermon from Pastor Colin Smith of Open The Bible. 2 00:00:07,000 –> 00:00:10,340 To contact us it is 1-877-OPEN-365 3 00:00:10,340 –> 00:00:16,459 or visit our website www.openthebible.org 4 00:00:16,459 –> 00:00:17,559 Lets get to the message. 5 00:00:17,559 –> 00:00:18,879 Here is Pastor Colin. 6 00:00:18,879 –> 00:00:25,400 We are looking together at the Beatitudes, these great pronouncements of blessing from 7 00:00:25,400 –> 00:00:26,400 the Son of God. 8 00:00:26,680 –> 00:00:31,559 We began last week, you may recall in Matthew Chapter 5 and verse 3 with the statement of 9 00:00:31,559 –> 00:00:32,080 Jesus, 10 00:00:32,080 –> 00:00:37,959 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 11 00:00:37,959 –> 00:00:42,400 We saw that Christ calls us to recognise our poverty before God. 12 00:00:42,400 –> 00:00:46,619 You may have much to offer your family, your business, your sports team, your friends, 13 00:00:46,619 –> 00:00:51,119 but when you stand before God you are in and entirely different position. 14 00:00:51,119 –> 00:00:54,840 What do we have that we did not receive. 15 00:00:54,840 –> 00:00:59,180 We saw that in this poverty of spirit there is also a surprising blessing, 16 00:00:59,180 –> 00:01:03,520 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven. 17 00:01:03,520 –> 00:01:08,040 We saw this wonderful gift, that there is a taste of heaven now for the humble, 18 00:01:08,040 –> 00:01:11,400 because God has promised to dwell with them. 19 00:01:11,400 –> 00:01:16,320 Heaven comes to the humble before the humble are in heaven. 20 00:01:16,320 –> 00:01:21,379 Therefore today we are trying to take this second step in this journey and to ask the 21 00:01:21,800 –> 00:01:28,800 question, how then can we cultivate this kind of humility? 22 00:01:28,800 –> 00:01:32,379 Now in the introduction to the series we noted that there 23 00:01:32,379 –> 00:01:34,500 is a progression in the Beatitudes. 24 00:01:34,500 –> 00:01:39,680 A number of folk have written saying that was a fresh insight to them, 25 00:01:39,680 –> 00:01:43,540 but there clearly is a movement within the Beatitudes. 26 00:01:43,540 –> 00:01:48,760 We pictured that as being like a series of rings, and there they are. 27 00:01:49,180 –> 00:01:52,440 There’s humility, and there’s mourning, and there’s meekness, 28 00:01:52,440 –> 00:01:57,000 and there’s righteousness, and mercy, and purity, and peace, 29 00:01:57,000 –> 00:02:02,279 and the rings at the end are really the ones that we often reach for. 30 00:02:02,279 –> 00:02:06,879 Pastor, I really would like to have purity of heart, 31 00:02:06,879 –> 00:02:11,979 but how can I deal with all the stuff that messes me up? 32 00:02:11,979 –> 00:02:15,000 I really would like to be a person who can forgive, 33 00:02:15,059 –> 00:02:19,720 but what do I do about the wounds that make that so hard for me? 34 00:02:19,720 –> 00:02:22,919 I really would like to have a greater peace in my own soul. 35 00:02:22,919 –> 00:02:25,740 I’d like to be able to bring peace to other people, 36 00:02:25,740 –> 00:02:29,240 but what do I do about all of the turmoil that is inside of me? 37 00:02:29,240 –> 00:02:34,320 So, so we want to get after the rings at the end of the line, as it were, 38 00:02:34,320 –> 00:02:37,619 but these are the ones that often seem to to be beyond us. 39 00:02:37,619 –> 00:02:40,000 We’re saying, how can I get to purity? 40 00:02:40,000 –> 00:02:42,139 How can I get to being merciful? 41 00:02:42,259 –> 00:02:48,059 How can I get to a greater measure of peace within and amongst others? 42 00:02:48,059 –> 00:02:51,720 And so often, these things seem to be beyond us. 43 00:02:51,720 –> 00:02:55,360 And the analogy that we’re using, therefore, is a very simple one. 44 00:02:55,360 –> 00:02:58,559 The Beatitudes are a series of rings 45 00:02:58,559 –> 00:03:02,339 and the way that you get to the ones at the end 46 00:03:02,339 –> 00:03:06,259 is by swinging first from the ones that are at the beginning. 47 00:03:06,259 –> 00:03:10,080 You move to the next ring with the momentum 48 00:03:10,220 –> 00:03:13,080 that you gain from the last. 49 00:03:13,080 –> 00:03:16,220 And taking this image of the monkey swing 50 00:03:16,220 –> 00:03:18,279 as we settle that in our minds, 51 00:03:18,279 –> 00:03:21,199 momentum, of course, is the key. 52 00:03:21,199 –> 00:03:23,139 So the momentum that one gains 53 00:03:23,139 –> 00:03:27,820 from laying hold of the first ring clearly is critical. 54 00:03:27,820 –> 00:03:30,020 It’s that that will take you to the second 55 00:03:30,020 –> 00:03:32,639 and the momentum of the second will take you to the third 56 00:03:32,639 –> 00:03:33,940 and so forth and so on. 57 00:03:33,940 –> 00:03:35,940 We’re seeing here then a pattern 58 00:03:35,940 –> 00:03:38,779 of Christian growth and progress. 59 00:03:38,779 –> 00:03:40,500 May also be described as a pattern 60 00:03:40,500 –> 00:03:42,660 for the rebuilding of a marriage. 61 00:03:44,220 –> 00:03:46,300 The restoration of a life. 62 00:03:47,600 –> 00:03:49,380 There’s a whole counseling model 63 00:03:49,380 –> 00:03:52,100 right here in terms of what we’re looking at 64 00:03:52,100 –> 00:03:54,860 in the Scriptures and I want us therefore 65 00:03:54,860 –> 00:03:56,419 to learn it deeply and that is why 66 00:03:56,419 –> 00:03:59,059 we’re moving through these Beatitudes 67 00:03:59,059 –> 00:04:02,259 with deliberate pace so that we ponder them 68 00:04:02,259 –> 00:04:04,179 and grasp them well. 69 00:04:04,179 –> 00:04:07,279 That is why grasping this first ring 70 00:04:07,279 –> 00:04:10,160 to be poor in spirit is so important 71 00:04:10,160 –> 00:04:12,360 because this is the Gateway blessing 72 00:04:12,360 –> 00:04:13,860 that leads to all the others. 73 00:04:13,860 –> 00:04:15,440 There isn’t another place to begin 74 00:04:15,440 –> 00:04:16,959 apart from this there. 75 00:04:16,959 –> 00:04:18,799 You can’t jump on the fourth ring 76 00:04:18,799 –> 00:04:21,700 without starting from the first and so forth. 77 00:04:21,700 –> 00:04:23,380 The way to purity and peace 78 00:04:23,380 –> 00:04:24,880 and forgiveness of others 79 00:04:24,880 –> 00:04:28,480 it begins right here. 80 00:04:28,480 –> 00:04:29,720 Intensely important question 81 00:04:29,720 –> 00:04:32,440 how do I get on on this first ring, 82 00:04:32,440 –> 00:04:34,399 poverty of spirit? 83 00:04:34,399 –> 00:04:36,079 Three things today. 84 00:04:36,079 –> 00:04:39,119 First I want us just to ponder for a few moments 85 00:04:39,119 –> 00:04:40,359 the curse of pride. 86 00:04:40,359 –> 00:04:44,799 The sheer difficulty of pursuing humility. 87 00:04:44,799 –> 00:04:47,019 Second, I want us to see the range 88 00:04:47,019 –> 00:04:52,019 of blessing that comes from grasping 89 00:04:52,160 –> 00:04:54,660 what Christ is calling us to hear. 90 00:04:54,660 –> 00:04:58,059 And then thirdly, some practical directions 91 00:04:58,059 –> 00:05:02,119 for laying hold of the first ring, 92 00:05:02,119 –> 00:05:04,440 poverty of spirit. 93 00:05:04,440 –> 00:05:05,380 Let’s begin here then, 94 00:05:05,440 –> 00:05:08,399 I hope your bible is open at 1 Peter in chapter five. 95 00:05:09,820 –> 00:05:13,220 The curse of pride is stated here in verse five. 96 00:05:13,220 –> 00:05:17,660 God opposes the proud. 97 00:05:18,899 –> 00:05:20,700 Isn’t that a striking statement? 98 00:05:21,660 –> 00:05:23,339 And it’s all the more striking folks 99 00:05:23,339 –> 00:05:24,500 when you remember that Peter 100 00:05:24,500 –> 00:05:27,440 is definitely writing to Christians. 101 00:05:28,700 –> 00:05:30,380 This is a letter to believers. 102 00:05:30,380 –> 00:05:32,200 Says so at the beginning. 103 00:05:32,980 –> 00:05:35,200 And he is telling us 104 00:05:36,920 –> 00:05:41,920 that pride blocks the blessing of God. 105 00:05:45,100 –> 00:05:47,160 If I give way to pride, 106 00:05:48,440 –> 00:05:51,679 God will stand against me. 107 00:05:53,359 –> 00:05:55,239 I will come under his discipline. 108 00:05:57,200 –> 00:05:59,640 God stands in the way of the proud. 109 00:05:59,700 –> 00:06:04,700 He opposes them, but he gives grace to the humble. 110 00:06:09,220 –> 00:06:11,980 Now for every thinking person who believes this, 111 00:06:11,980 –> 00:06:13,299 the conclusion is obvious. 112 00:06:13,299 –> 00:06:15,619 The last thing in the world I want 113 00:06:15,619 –> 00:06:18,019 is for God to stand in my way. 114 00:06:19,059 –> 00:06:21,799 If God should oppose me, what hope is there for me? 115 00:06:23,640 –> 00:06:25,779 And so, the conclusion that I have to draw 116 00:06:25,779 –> 00:06:27,440 is right there in verse six, 117 00:06:27,459 –> 00:06:29,859 I want God to be for me, not to be against me. 118 00:06:29,859 –> 00:06:30,959 So what must I do? 119 00:06:40,200 –> 00:06:42,299 Now, this battle against pride 120 00:06:42,299 –> 00:06:46,380 really is a lifelong kind of a conflict. 121 00:06:46,380 –> 00:06:50,019 Think about this, humility, first beatitude 122 00:06:50,019 –> 00:06:53,540 is the first grace that is given to a Christian. 123 00:06:53,540 –> 00:06:56,299 There’s no way into experience of God 124 00:06:56,299 –> 00:06:58,700 except the one that begins here. 125 00:06:58,700 –> 00:07:01,260 It’s the first grace to be given to a Christian. 126 00:07:01,260 –> 00:07:03,660 But while humility is the first grace to be given, 127 00:07:03,660 –> 00:07:06,399 pride is the last enemy to be subdued. 128 00:07:07,500 –> 00:07:09,899 Pride was the first great sin to come into the world, 129 00:07:09,899 –> 00:07:12,239 it will be the last to exit from it. 130 00:07:13,339 –> 00:07:15,000 And the battle against pride 131 00:07:15,000 –> 00:07:16,420 that all of us are engaged in 132 00:07:16,420 –> 00:07:18,299 throughout the course of our Christian lives 133 00:07:18,299 –> 00:07:20,320 is a hard one for multiple reasons. 134 00:07:20,320 –> 00:07:22,980 One is that humility, of course, 135 00:07:23,100 –> 00:07:26,700 goes against the grain of a self-affirming culture. 136 00:07:28,359 –> 00:07:31,540 Martin Lloyd-Jones, writing half a century ago 137 00:07:31,540 –> 00:07:33,359 and in the UK of course, 138 00:07:33,359 –> 00:07:34,959 rather than the US, 139 00:07:34,959 –> 00:07:37,179 he describes something that’s absolutely true 140 00:07:37,179 –> 00:07:38,700 if us still here today. 141 00:07:38,700 –> 00:07:39,799 He says this. 142 00:07:39,799 –> 00:07:41,899 Here’s the spirit of the age, he says, 143 00:07:41,899 –> 00:07:45,380 quote, it’s express yourself. 144 00:07:45,380 –> 00:07:47,559 Believe in yourself. 145 00:07:47,559 –> 00:07:51,299 Realize the powers that are innate in yourself. 146 00:07:51,299 –> 00:07:56,059 And let the whole world see them and know them. 147 00:07:56,059 –> 00:07:57,920 That, he says, is the spirit of the age 148 00:07:57,920 –> 00:07:59,359 and we recognize it. 149 00:08:00,480 –> 00:08:01,700 And folks, candidly, 150 00:08:01,700 –> 00:08:05,260 in a culture of affirmation, 151 00:08:05,260 –> 00:08:07,119 as robust as ours, 152 00:08:08,260 –> 00:08:10,600 it sometimes seems 153 00:08:10,600 –> 00:08:14,100 that parents and teachers 154 00:08:14,980 –> 00:08:19,299 and counsellors and politicians 155 00:08:19,299 –> 00:08:20,920 and advertisers 156 00:08:22,140 –> 00:08:24,859 are all conspiring together 157 00:08:24,859 –> 00:08:29,779 to tell us how great we are. 158 00:08:32,059 –> 00:08:35,619 And apart from a miracle of God’s grace, 159 00:08:36,619 –> 00:08:38,219 we will believe them. 160 00:08:39,659 –> 00:08:41,059 We will believe them. 161 00:08:42,500 –> 00:08:47,020 The teaching of Jesus is directly opposed 162 00:08:47,020 –> 00:08:48,380 to the creed of life 163 00:08:48,380 –> 00:08:50,900 that says believe in yourself. 164 00:08:52,039 –> 00:08:53,219 And you need to think about that 165 00:08:53,219 –> 00:08:54,340 because that’s all round us, 166 00:08:54,340 –> 00:08:55,739 it’s the air that we breathe. 167 00:08:57,380 –> 00:09:00,979 The teaching of Jesus is directly opposed 168 00:09:00,979 –> 00:09:04,700 to the creed that says believe in yourself. 169 00:09:04,700 –> 00:09:05,820 What does Jesus say? 170 00:09:05,820 –> 00:09:09,039 He does not say believe in yourself. 171 00:09:09,039 –> 00:09:10,859 He says, believe in God. 172 00:09:12,260 –> 00:09:15,359 Believe also in me. 173 00:09:15,359 –> 00:09:17,500 That’s what he says. 174 00:09:17,500 –> 00:09:20,580 It’s directly counter-cultural 175 00:09:20,580 –> 00:09:23,919 and so radically so that we have to do a sort of double-take 176 00:09:23,919 –> 00:09:27,539 to really think about it in order to take this in. 177 00:09:28,520 –> 00:09:30,440 The person who is far from God 178 00:09:30,440 –> 00:09:34,059 will often be speaking like this and thinking like this. 179 00:09:34,059 –> 00:09:34,880 He or she will say, 180 00:09:34,880 –> 00:09:35,979 one of, I’m up for this. 181 00:09:35,979 –> 00:09:37,359 I can do this. 182 00:09:37,359 –> 00:09:38,539 I can do this, you see. 183 00:09:40,239 –> 00:09:42,219 The person who’s close to God thinks 184 00:09:42,219 –> 00:09:43,840 and speaks in a different way. 185 00:09:43,840 –> 00:09:46,460 He or she will say something like this. 186 00:09:47,640 –> 00:09:49,599 The Lord is at my right hand 187 00:09:51,039 –> 00:09:53,659 and because the Lord is at my right hand, 188 00:09:54,799 –> 00:09:55,900 I will not be shaken. 189 00:09:57,880 –> 00:09:59,719 So folks, we need to think about this deeply 190 00:09:59,719 –> 00:10:04,000 and you know, I’m a dad with, 191 00:10:04,000 –> 00:10:06,460 I’ve been raised two boys. 192 00:10:06,460 –> 00:10:08,640 I’ve stood on the sideline of games 193 00:10:08,640 –> 00:10:10,239 and shouted, you can do it, you can do it 194 00:10:10,239 –> 00:10:12,479 and all the rest of it 195 00:10:12,479 –> 00:10:14,960 and I regularly say to my kids, I’m proud of you 196 00:10:15,479 –> 00:10:17,640 and I also say, I thank God for you 197 00:10:17,640 –> 00:10:18,979 and many other things. 198 00:10:20,659 –> 00:10:23,440 But let’s be very thoughtful 199 00:10:23,440 –> 00:10:27,539 especially in the teachable moments of life. 200 00:10:29,119 –> 00:10:32,159 It is not a good reflection of faith in Jesus Christ 201 00:10:32,159 –> 00:10:34,119 for you as a father or for you as a mother 202 00:10:34,119 –> 00:10:36,460 or for you as a counselor or for you as a friend 203 00:10:36,460 –> 00:10:38,000 to be saying you can do it. 204 00:10:39,799 –> 00:10:43,159 It is a reflection of discipleship to Jesus Christ 205 00:10:43,219 –> 00:10:45,119 to be saying something like this. 206 00:10:46,539 –> 00:10:51,020 The Lord is with you and he will not fail you 207 00:10:52,419 –> 00:10:56,159 and in Christ, you can do all things. 208 00:10:57,039 –> 00:10:59,520 There’s all the difference in the world. 209 00:10:59,520 –> 00:11:01,020 The one is Godless. 210 00:11:03,380 –> 00:11:06,739 The one has put man in the place of God. 211 00:11:08,119 –> 00:11:10,359 The one has exalted the individual 212 00:11:10,359 –> 00:11:12,080 to the place of the divine 213 00:11:14,159 –> 00:11:16,640 and the other reflects the humility of one 214 00:11:16,640 –> 00:11:21,520 who knows that his strength or strength lies 215 00:11:21,520 –> 00:11:25,440 in the presence and the blessing of a Sovereign God 216 00:11:25,440 –> 00:11:28,280 but folks, that’s so far from our culture, 217 00:11:28,280 –> 00:11:30,840 we really need to stop and take it in. 218 00:11:33,039 –> 00:11:35,239 Secondly, this battle against pride 219 00:11:35,239 –> 00:11:36,960 is really really hard for this reason 220 00:11:36,960 –> 00:11:41,479 that humility goes against the trajectory of all religion. 221 00:11:41,479 –> 00:11:45,219 Remember this, that religion works on the idea 222 00:11:45,219 –> 00:11:48,460 that you must live a life that is pleasing to God 223 00:11:48,460 –> 00:11:50,500 in order to win His favor 224 00:11:50,500 –> 00:11:52,919 but realize that in this first beatitude, 225 00:11:52,919 –> 00:11:55,400 Jesus is saying precisely the opposite 226 00:11:55,400 –> 00:11:57,840 of everything that you’ll hear in world religion. 227 00:11:59,039 –> 00:12:00,760 It’s radically different. 228 00:12:01,820 –> 00:12:04,000 Jesus is telling us that the blessing of God 229 00:12:04,000 –> 00:12:07,460 belongs to those who know they cannot win His favor. 230 00:12:07,460 –> 00:12:09,119 Blessed are the poor in spirit 231 00:12:09,119 –> 00:12:10,640 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 232 00:12:10,679 –> 00:12:12,239 Blessed are those who come before God 233 00:12:12,239 –> 00:12:13,760 and say, I haven’t got it. 234 00:12:15,599 –> 00:12:17,979 This is precisely the opposite of everything 235 00:12:17,979 –> 00:12:19,520 that is said in world religion. 236 00:12:19,520 –> 00:12:21,780 Religion says, live a life that is pleasing to God 237 00:12:21,780 –> 00:12:23,179 and then you will win his favor. 238 00:12:23,179 –> 00:12:25,119 Then you will be blessed. 239 00:12:25,119 –> 00:12:27,059 Every religion in the world, friend, 240 00:12:27,059 –> 00:12:30,020 offers some variation on that theme. 241 00:12:31,760 –> 00:12:33,659 The Gospel says the only thing you can do 242 00:12:33,659 –> 00:12:35,320 is come empty handed and receive 243 00:12:35,320 –> 00:12:37,419 the favor and the mercy and the grace of God 244 00:12:37,440 –> 00:12:39,299 so that you may then begin to live a life 245 00:12:39,299 –> 00:12:40,500 that is pleasing to him. 246 00:12:42,219 –> 00:12:43,659 It all starts from humility 247 00:12:43,659 –> 00:12:44,900 not from achievement. 248 00:12:46,500 –> 00:12:47,559 So this is a hard battle 249 00:12:47,559 –> 00:12:49,880 because we’re against all the winds of the culture. 250 00:12:49,880 –> 00:12:51,340 Where we’re against all the winds 251 00:12:51,340 –> 00:12:53,239 of all the religions of the world. 252 00:12:54,260 –> 00:12:56,340 No wonder Jesus was crucified. 253 00:12:58,460 –> 00:13:00,840 And then it’s a heart and it’s a lifelong battle 254 00:13:00,840 –> 00:13:02,840 because I wonder if you’ve noticed this. 255 00:13:03,820 –> 00:13:05,580 That the very blessing of God 256 00:13:05,580 –> 00:13:07,140 that comes to the humble 257 00:13:08,539 –> 00:13:12,299 becomes something that makes maintaining humility harder. 258 00:13:14,239 –> 00:13:15,280 Here’s the irony, 259 00:13:15,280 –> 00:13:18,960 the poor in spirit experience the blessing of God. 260 00:13:18,960 –> 00:13:20,380 That’s what Jesus said. 261 00:13:21,380 –> 00:13:24,179 But the very blessing of God that is experienced 262 00:13:24,179 –> 00:13:26,460 makes it difficult to remain in the place 263 00:13:26,460 –> 00:13:29,080 where you truly are poor in spirit. 264 00:13:30,400 –> 00:13:32,679 So the more successful you are, 265 00:13:32,679 –> 00:13:34,460 the easier it is to believe 266 00:13:34,460 –> 00:13:36,239 that you really are something 267 00:13:37,440 –> 00:13:42,599 and that the something really lies in you after all. 268 00:13:42,599 –> 00:13:43,659 So, for example, 269 00:13:44,799 –> 00:13:47,260 if your children believe 270 00:13:48,479 –> 00:13:50,059 when the children of others 271 00:13:50,059 –> 00:13:52,400 who are your friends are in rebellion, 272 00:13:54,320 –> 00:13:56,200 if your marriage prospers 273 00:13:56,200 –> 00:13:58,739 when your friends is falling apart, 274 00:14:00,359 –> 00:14:04,140 if your business succeeds when others are in decline, 275 00:14:05,359 –> 00:14:09,640 if your ministry grows when others are failing, 276 00:14:11,820 –> 00:14:14,580 if these blessings should be given to you, 277 00:14:14,580 –> 00:14:18,780 it kind of gets into your mind 278 00:14:18,780 –> 00:14:21,760 that you must have done something right. 279 00:14:23,580 –> 00:14:26,119 Success of any sort 280 00:14:26,119 –> 00:14:27,580 in any sphere 281 00:14:28,700 –> 00:14:30,619 tends to make us think 282 00:14:30,619 –> 00:14:32,840 that we are something. 283 00:14:35,280 –> 00:14:37,659 And thank God for the ministry of the Holy Spirit 284 00:14:37,659 –> 00:14:40,700 who convinces us of sin and of righteousness 285 00:14:40,700 –> 00:14:41,719 and of judgment, 286 00:14:43,539 –> 00:14:45,080 because apart from Him, 287 00:14:46,460 –> 00:14:48,039 we would never know the blessing 288 00:14:48,039 –> 00:14:51,159 that belongs to the poor in spirit. 289 00:14:52,900 –> 00:14:55,619 So I’m suggesting to you that this is a hard battle, 290 00:14:55,619 –> 00:14:57,119 it is a lifelong battle, 291 00:14:57,119 –> 00:15:00,460 and it is no small thing to lay hold of the first ring, 292 00:15:00,460 –> 00:15:03,900 blessed are the poor in spirit. 293 00:15:04,059 –> 00:15:08,140 Second, I want just to draw your attention to this, 294 00:15:08,140 –> 00:15:11,080 the blessing of humility. 295 00:15:11,080 –> 00:15:14,979 Look at 1 Peter chapter 5 and verse 5 here. 296 00:15:14,979 –> 00:15:17,179 God opposes the proud, 297 00:15:17,179 –> 00:15:21,619 but He gives grace to the humble. 298 00:15:21,619 –> 00:15:25,340 He gives grace to the humble. 299 00:15:25,340 –> 00:15:28,280 Now, last time we saw that the Supreme blessing 300 00:15:28,280 –> 00:15:30,159 that comes to the humble person 301 00:15:30,159 –> 00:15:32,979 is of course, that God lives with them. 302 00:15:32,979 –> 00:15:34,700 Nothing can top that. 303 00:15:36,000 –> 00:15:37,799 But I want us to see today 304 00:15:37,799 –> 00:15:39,280 that with the presence of God 305 00:15:39,280 –> 00:15:41,159 in the life of a humble person, 306 00:15:41,159 –> 00:15:44,539 there are all kinds of other blessings 307 00:15:44,539 –> 00:15:49,539 that come with the presence of God in a person’s life. 308 00:15:50,859 –> 00:15:53,299 Let me just pick out four. 309 00:15:53,299 –> 00:15:55,159 Number one, growing in humility 310 00:15:55,159 –> 00:15:58,140 will help you to bear affliction. 311 00:15:58,140 –> 00:15:59,840 I draw attention to that 312 00:15:59,840 –> 00:16:02,000 because this is the point that Peter is making 313 00:16:02,020 –> 00:16:03,460 in this letter. 314 00:16:03,460 –> 00:16:05,599 If you look back to chapter 4 in verse 12, 315 00:16:05,599 –> 00:16:07,960 he says, Beloved, do not be surprised 316 00:16:07,960 –> 00:16:10,080 at a fiery trial when it comes on you. 317 00:16:10,080 –> 00:16:11,960 He says, there’s trouble ahead, 318 00:16:11,960 –> 00:16:15,179 you’re going to face real periods of difficulty. 319 00:16:16,239 –> 00:16:17,679 And so how are they to prepare 320 00:16:17,679 –> 00:16:19,200 for these periods of difficulty? 321 00:16:19,200 –> 00:16:21,880 Here’s the answer, he says in chapter 5, 322 00:16:21,880 –> 00:16:24,820 humble yourselves therefore under God’s almighty hand. 323 00:16:24,820 –> 00:16:25,659 Why? 324 00:16:25,659 –> 00:16:28,280 Because he gives grace to the humble. 325 00:16:28,280 –> 00:16:30,400 This will be how you will face trouble 326 00:16:30,400 –> 00:16:32,640 and how you will stand when you do. 327 00:16:34,219 –> 00:16:38,280 Job’s wife was a proud woman. 328 00:16:40,200 –> 00:16:41,739 And when trouble came, she said, 329 00:16:41,739 –> 00:16:43,460 Why don’t you curse God and die? 330 00:16:45,400 –> 00:16:48,159 Job was a humble man. 331 00:16:49,280 –> 00:16:52,440 And when trouble came, he said, 332 00:16:52,440 –> 00:16:54,640 the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, 333 00:16:54,640 –> 00:16:56,239 blessed be the name of the Lord. 334 00:16:57,080 –> 00:17:01,340 Humility will make all the difference in the world 335 00:17:01,340 –> 00:17:05,739 in the way that you face affliction when it comes. 336 00:17:05,739 –> 00:17:07,300 It will help you to stand. 337 00:17:07,300 –> 00:17:09,619 When the fiery trial comes, 338 00:17:09,619 –> 00:17:12,520 here’s how you’re gonna stand, says Peter. 339 00:17:12,520 –> 00:17:15,479 Humble yourself under God’s almighty hand, 340 00:17:15,479 –> 00:17:19,619 and in due time, he will lift you up. 341 00:17:21,160 –> 00:17:23,479 Second, and these are just very practical things 342 00:17:23,479 –> 00:17:25,680 touching every area of life. 343 00:17:25,680 –> 00:17:28,900 The realities of life for us here today. 344 00:17:28,900 –> 00:17:33,400 Growing in humility will nourish your love for others. 345 00:17:34,300 –> 00:17:37,839 So someone here who is struggling in a marriage, 346 00:17:38,660 –> 00:17:41,699 in a relationship where there is real, real difficulty. 347 00:17:42,540 –> 00:17:43,819 Perhaps after many years, 348 00:17:43,819 –> 00:17:46,500 the quiet question is forming in your mind, 349 00:17:46,500 –> 00:17:49,459 do I still love Him? 350 00:17:49,459 –> 00:17:52,140 Do I really love her? 351 00:17:53,000 –> 00:17:58,000 And the whole question of love in its decline is before us, 352 00:17:58,180 –> 00:17:59,959 and the whole question of how love 353 00:17:59,959 –> 00:18:02,339 can be revived is before us. 354 00:18:04,500 –> 00:18:06,599 Now, what does the scripture say to us about this? 355 00:18:06,599 –> 00:18:09,300 Well, you know 1 Corinthians 13 very well. 356 00:18:09,300 –> 00:18:10,619 Let’s think about love. 357 00:18:10,619 –> 00:18:13,280 Love does not boast. 358 00:18:14,680 –> 00:18:16,959 Love is not arrogant. 359 00:18:17,959 –> 00:18:22,199 Love does not insist on its own way. 360 00:18:23,420 –> 00:18:26,160 It is pride that is self-seeking, 361 00:18:26,160 –> 00:18:29,020 it is pride that is easily provoked. 362 00:18:29,020 –> 00:18:30,640 Think of it this way, friends. 363 00:18:30,640 –> 00:18:34,079 Pride will be like a bucket of cold water 364 00:18:34,079 –> 00:18:35,800 poured on the fires of love. 365 00:18:36,939 –> 00:18:39,180 You got a higher opinion of yourself. 366 00:18:39,180 –> 00:18:40,839 You know what it’s gonna do to your marriage? 367 00:18:40,839 –> 00:18:42,800 It’s gonna pour water on all the flames 368 00:18:42,800 –> 00:18:44,680 of love that were there. 369 00:18:44,680 –> 00:18:46,939 It really is, it’s a killer. 370 00:18:47,959 –> 00:18:52,540 Humility, in contrast, fans into flame 371 00:18:52,540 –> 00:18:54,319 the embers of a dying love. 372 00:18:54,319 –> 00:18:56,219 Humility will do that. 373 00:18:57,479 –> 00:19:01,060 Get on this first ring, this is where hope of recovery 374 00:19:01,060 –> 00:19:03,979 in an ailing marriage begins. 375 00:19:05,119 –> 00:19:06,280 Why is it ailing? 376 00:19:06,280 –> 00:19:08,400 Why has love been damped down? 377 00:19:08,400 –> 00:19:12,800 You can be sure that pride has a huge part in this, 378 00:19:12,800 –> 00:19:13,619 a huge part. 379 00:19:13,619 –> 00:19:16,040 Self-seeking, arrogant, irritable. 380 00:19:16,060 –> 00:19:17,939 All these characteristics, look through them 381 00:19:17,939 –> 00:19:20,599 and say, are these things in me? 382 00:19:22,140 –> 00:19:24,079 They’re the killers of love. 383 00:19:25,719 –> 00:19:28,020 You come to the place and you say do I really 384 00:19:28,020 –> 00:19:29,199 love him anymore? 385 00:19:29,199 –> 00:19:32,199 And the world says you gotta think about yourself, you know. 386 00:19:33,760 –> 00:19:35,819 And Jesus says exactly the opposite. 387 00:19:37,959 –> 00:19:40,680 Says each of you should look not only to your own interests 388 00:19:40,680 –> 00:19:43,280 but also into the interests of others. 389 00:19:43,280 –> 00:19:45,599 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ. 390 00:19:46,160 –> 00:19:47,400 Jesus, what did he do? 391 00:19:47,400 –> 00:19:49,640 He humbled himself. 392 00:19:51,079 –> 00:19:52,119 He humbled himself. 393 00:19:53,520 –> 00:19:56,640 Growing in humility, it’ll help you stand when trial comes, 394 00:19:56,640 –> 00:20:01,500 it will nourish love in difficult situations. 395 00:20:02,319 –> 00:20:03,420 Here’s the third thing. 396 00:20:04,739 –> 00:20:09,040 Growing in humility will help you stand against temptation. 397 00:20:10,380 –> 00:20:13,219 Everyone fights temptation of one sort or another. 398 00:20:14,140 –> 00:20:16,819 How do you do that, how do you stand? 399 00:20:17,939 –> 00:20:20,020 All of you will be able to help me complete 400 00:20:20,020 –> 00:20:22,180 the statement that’s taken from the Old Testament, 401 00:20:22,180 –> 00:20:23,380 the book of Proverbs. 402 00:20:23,380 –> 00:20:25,939 What is it that comes before a fall? 403 00:20:25,939 –> 00:20:30,939 Answer, pride comes before a fall. 404 00:20:31,420 –> 00:20:33,920 That’s Proverbs chapter 16 and verse 18. 405 00:20:33,920 –> 00:20:35,780 The New Testament way of saying that 406 00:20:35,780 –> 00:20:37,979 is in 1 Corinthians 10 and verse 12. 407 00:20:37,979 –> 00:20:41,180 Let the person who thinks he stands 408 00:20:41,180 –> 00:20:43,939 be very careful lest he should fall. 409 00:20:45,099 –> 00:20:47,180 So if pride comes before a fall, 410 00:20:47,180 –> 00:20:51,000 if thinking that you stand is the condition of heart 411 00:20:51,000 –> 00:20:53,140 in which you are very likely to fall, 412 00:20:53,140 –> 00:20:54,619 then what is the condition of heart 413 00:20:54,619 –> 00:20:56,479 in which you are likely to stand? 414 00:20:56,479 –> 00:20:58,459 The answer is this, it is humility. 415 00:21:00,400 –> 00:21:02,380 Humility will help you to stand 416 00:21:02,380 –> 00:21:05,719 for he who knows that he can easily fall 417 00:21:05,719 –> 00:21:08,699 is the one who is more likely to stand 418 00:21:08,760 –> 00:21:12,020 When you know the weakness of the flesh, 419 00:21:13,140 –> 00:21:16,819 then you will be the person who does watch and does pray 420 00:21:16,819 –> 00:21:20,880 and therefore does not fall into temptation. 421 00:21:22,780 –> 00:21:24,300 So what we’re seeing here you see 422 00:21:24,300 –> 00:21:27,920 is that pride is a kind of gateway sin 423 00:21:28,819 –> 00:21:31,280 that opens the door to all other sins. 424 00:21:31,280 –> 00:21:34,680 Once pride gains a foothold in the heart, 425 00:21:34,680 –> 00:21:36,760 all kinds of other sins come in. 426 00:21:36,760 –> 00:21:39,079 Think about places where you have fallen 427 00:21:39,079 –> 00:21:42,260 and you will see that pride has always gone before. 428 00:21:44,000 –> 00:21:47,400 And similarly, humility is a gateway blessing. 429 00:21:48,819 –> 00:21:50,839 Let humility occupy your heart 430 00:21:50,839 –> 00:21:53,040 and all kinds of other blessings 431 00:21:53,040 –> 00:21:54,939 are gonna begin to flow into your life 432 00:21:55,880 –> 00:21:57,219 and into your marriage 433 00:21:58,000 –> 00:22:00,219 and into your ability to stand against temptation 434 00:22:00,219 –> 00:22:03,699 and into your ability to stand in the place of trial. 435 00:22:03,699 –> 00:22:05,699 It goes everywhere in life. 436 00:22:05,699 –> 00:22:07,680 That’s why Jesus puts it first. 437 00:22:09,479 –> 00:22:11,040 Gotta get on the first string. 438 00:22:12,780 –> 00:22:14,140 One more blessing, 439 00:22:14,140 –> 00:22:17,140 and for some, this will be the most important of all today. 440 00:22:19,160 –> 00:22:21,180 Growing in humility 441 00:22:21,180 –> 00:22:22,500 will release you 442 00:22:23,599 –> 00:22:25,979 from the tyranny of self. 443 00:22:27,300 –> 00:22:29,819 Growing in humility will release you 444 00:22:29,819 –> 00:22:32,060 from the tyranny 445 00:22:32,060 –> 00:22:32,900 of self. 446 00:22:33,859 –> 00:22:37,540 Now, I’m speaking to a few in the congregation, 447 00:22:37,540 –> 00:22:40,540 and I hope that at this point, you will listen up. 448 00:22:41,959 –> 00:22:44,020 There will be some here today, 449 00:22:44,020 –> 00:22:45,339 and you’re thinking like this, 450 00:22:45,339 –> 00:22:47,439 Pastor Cullen, you have no idea 451 00:22:47,439 –> 00:22:51,260 how far removed I am from the idea of pride. 452 00:22:52,400 –> 00:22:54,180 I don’t love myself. 453 00:22:55,339 –> 00:22:56,780 If you knew the truth, 454 00:22:56,780 –> 00:22:58,260 the truth is this, 455 00:22:58,260 –> 00:23:00,660 I hate myself, 456 00:23:02,900 –> 00:23:04,380 I despise myself, 457 00:23:05,780 –> 00:23:09,420 I sometimes think of harming myself. 458 00:23:12,420 –> 00:23:15,760 That’s you, I want you to listen up in this moment 459 00:23:15,760 –> 00:23:19,260 as to how the word of God speaks into your life. 460 00:23:20,939 –> 00:23:24,560 I want to give you a quote from A.W Tozer 461 00:23:24,560 –> 00:23:26,479 that I have found to be very helpful. 462 00:23:27,939 –> 00:23:29,199 He says this, listen. 463 00:23:30,180 –> 00:23:35,180 Self, self, whether it is swaggering or groveling, 464 00:23:39,479 –> 00:23:42,520 can never be other than hateful to God. 465 00:23:44,160 –> 00:23:49,160 Self sometimes swaggers, self sometimes grovels. 466 00:23:50,479 –> 00:23:53,319 But, says Tozer, self whether it’s the swaggering version 467 00:23:53,319 –> 00:23:55,079 or whether it’s the groveling version don’t make 468 00:23:55,079 –> 00:23:57,640 very much difference, either are hateful to God. 469 00:23:58,640 –> 00:24:01,199 Boosting, he says, is an evidence 470 00:24:01,199 –> 00:24:03,560 that we are pleased with self. 471 00:24:04,680 –> 00:24:09,680 Belittling is an evidence that we are disappointed with self. 472 00:24:11,979 –> 00:24:15,119 Either way, the point he makes is simply this, 473 00:24:15,119 –> 00:24:20,119 we are focused on self, self is dominating, 474 00:24:22,520 –> 00:24:27,520 self is at the center, whether you’re hating yourself 475 00:24:27,719 –> 00:24:32,719 whether you’re loving yourself, self is on the throne, 476 00:24:34,800 –> 00:24:37,680 and self is always a tyrant. 477 00:24:40,599 –> 00:24:43,119 And, self on the throne will destroy you 478 00:24:43,119 –> 00:24:47,500 whether it’s the swaggering sort or the groveling sort. 479 00:24:49,619 –> 00:24:53,660 And the one way to have deliverance from the tyranny 480 00:24:53,660 –> 00:24:56,739 of self, whichever variety you suffer from 481 00:24:56,739 –> 00:25:00,280 is to lay hold of the first ring, 482 00:25:01,819 –> 00:25:03,459 which is the place of humility. 483 00:25:05,959 –> 00:25:09,079 For you, with your desire to harm yourself 484 00:25:09,079 –> 00:25:12,579 and your hate of yourself to say to Jesus Christ 485 00:25:12,579 –> 00:25:15,420 in all humility I have to receive from you 486 00:25:15,420 –> 00:25:17,060 what I do not have in myself. 487 00:25:19,260 –> 00:25:22,900 It’s everybody’s heart for the swaggering self 488 00:25:22,939 –> 00:25:25,780 to get on the cross, has to be nailed there. 489 00:25:25,780 –> 00:25:28,140 Everybody’s heart for the grovelling self. 490 00:25:29,800 –> 00:25:34,300 But here is the one place of deliverance 491 00:25:35,479 –> 00:25:36,819 from both varieties. 492 00:25:38,800 –> 00:25:42,180 The great blessing of humility goes everywhere in life. 493 00:25:42,180 –> 00:25:43,859 Now let’s get to this then. 494 00:25:43,859 –> 00:25:46,859 How do we get onto this first ring? 495 00:25:46,859 –> 00:25:50,420 How are we to cultivate humility? 496 00:25:50,420 –> 00:25:53,439 Let me give to you these just very practical, 497 00:25:53,439 –> 00:25:54,739 practical steps. 498 00:25:55,939 –> 00:26:00,060 I want to encourage you to this pattern of life 499 00:26:00,060 –> 00:26:04,359 on an ongoing basis of regularly measuring yourself 500 00:26:05,599 –> 00:26:07,000 by the law of God. 501 00:26:07,000 –> 00:26:10,280 To measure yourself by the law of God, 502 00:26:10,280 –> 00:26:12,520 and I’m referring there to the scriptures as a whole, 503 00:26:12,520 –> 00:26:15,699 but I use the word law there for a reason. 504 00:26:15,699 –> 00:26:17,800 When I was growing up in Scotland, 505 00:26:17,819 –> 00:26:20,479 we used to sing a song about the Bible, 506 00:26:20,479 –> 00:26:22,459 and it went like this. 507 00:26:22,459 –> 00:26:24,640 Make the book live to me, oh Lord. 508 00:26:24,640 –> 00:26:27,780 Show me thyself within thy Word. 509 00:26:27,780 –> 00:26:29,939 Show me myself, 510 00:26:31,239 –> 00:26:32,939 and show me my Savior, 511 00:26:34,199 –> 00:26:36,119 and make the book live to me. 512 00:26:37,579 –> 00:26:40,459 Now that’s a wonderful way to read the Bible. 513 00:26:40,459 –> 00:26:42,579 There’s more to reading the Bible than reading the Bible. 514 00:26:42,579 –> 00:26:44,500 You gotta read the Bible for a purpose. 515 00:26:45,239 –> 00:26:48,540 Our music teacher who must have been very frustrated 516 00:26:48,540 –> 00:26:50,180 at my efforts of trying to play the piano, 517 00:26:50,180 –> 00:26:52,459 she said, there’s more to practice than just practicing. 518 00:26:52,459 –> 00:26:53,699 Don’t just go through the pieces. 519 00:26:53,699 –> 00:26:54,540 You gotta get better. 520 00:26:54,540 –> 00:26:56,300 You gotta gain something from practice. 521 00:26:57,300 –> 00:26:59,180 You gotta gain something from reading the Bible. 522 00:26:59,180 –> 00:27:01,260 What are you to gain from reading the Bible? 523 00:27:01,260 –> 00:27:03,520 Show me myself, 524 00:27:03,520 –> 00:27:05,699 and show me my Savior. 525 00:27:05,699 –> 00:27:08,699 That’s what you have to gain from reading the Bible. 526 00:27:08,699 –> 00:27:10,739 So whatever you’re reading in the Bible, 527 00:27:10,739 –> 00:27:12,859 read it with these two lenses. 528 00:27:12,859 –> 00:27:14,260 Lord, show me myself. 529 00:27:14,540 –> 00:27:16,680 Lord, show me my Savior. 530 00:27:16,680 –> 00:27:18,760 Measure yourself against everything 531 00:27:18,760 –> 00:27:20,079 that God is calling you to. 532 00:27:20,079 –> 00:27:20,920 Don’t just read it. 533 00:27:20,920 –> 00:27:22,800 Measure yourself against it. 534 00:27:24,619 –> 00:27:26,739 So of the many passages of scripture I’ve read 535 00:27:26,739 –> 00:27:29,599 in the last week, or the last 10 days or so, 536 00:27:29,599 –> 00:27:32,260 one of them has been I Corinthians chapter 13, 537 00:27:32,260 –> 00:27:36,420 I’ve been measuring myself against I Corinthians 13. 538 00:27:36,420 –> 00:27:38,819 I’m just trying to give you a practical example here. 539 00:27:38,819 –> 00:27:41,540 Love does not insist on its own way, 540 00:27:41,560 –> 00:27:44,739 Lord, is there a place where I’m insisting on my own way? 541 00:27:46,500 –> 00:27:49,099 Love is not irritable or resentful. 542 00:27:49,099 –> 00:27:51,859 Where have I been, is there any place I’ve been irritable 543 00:27:51,859 –> 00:27:54,339 and I spotted one and I had to apologize for it? 544 00:27:56,560 –> 00:27:58,380 Measure yourself by the 10 commandments. 545 00:27:58,380 –> 00:28:00,060 Measure yourself by the beatitudes. 546 00:28:00,060 –> 00:28:01,880 Measure yourself by the Great Commission. 547 00:28:01,880 –> 00:28:04,020 Measure yourself by the sermon on the mount. 548 00:28:04,020 –> 00:28:07,359 Measure yourself by anything, by everything 549 00:28:07359 –> 00:28:09,680 that God is calling you to do 550 00:28:09,739 –> 00:28:11,099 and you will find that everywhere in the Bible 551 00:28:11,099 –> 00:28:13,459 as you read day by day, and guess what? 552 00:28:13,459 –> 00:28:16,140 You will find that every day you are poor in spirit. 553 00:28:18,239 –> 00:28:20,079 The swagger will be cut out of you 554 00:28:22,140 –> 00:28:25,099 as you place yourself under the word of God, 555 00:28:25,099 –> 00:28:28,380 show me myself. 556 00:28:28,380 –> 00:28:31,640 Paul says something very, very fascinating 557 00:28:31,640 –> 00:28:35,359 in Galatians chapter three and verse 24. 558 00:28:36,339 –> 00:28:39,339 It’s about how all the commandments of God, 559 00:28:39,459 –> 00:28:41,300 which of course is the largest part of the Bible, 560 00:28:41,300 –> 00:28:42,900 everything that God calls us to do 561 00:28:42,900 –> 00:28:44,599 in the Old and the New Testament, 562 00:28:44,599 –> 00:28:48,000 how is this to be used in the life of a Christian, 563 00:28:48,000 –> 00:28:51,140 and he says this in Galatians chapter three and verse 24, 564 00:28:51,140 –> 00:28:54,900 the law was our guardian until Christ came. 565 00:28:55,900 –> 00:28:58,500 The words that he uses there literally translated 566 00:28:58,500 –> 00:29:01,060 as the word pedagogue. 567 00:29:01,060 –> 00:29:06,060 We might today use the word mentor, mentor. 568 00:29:06,140 –> 00:29:06,979 Mentor. 569 00:29:08,140 –> 00:29:10,000 It would be a reasonable translation 570 00:29:10,000 –> 00:29:12,180 of Galatians chapter three and verse 24 571 00:29:12,180 –> 00:29:16,859 to put it like this, the law was given as a mentor 572 00:29:16,859 –> 00:29:20,219 to bring us to Jesus Christ. 573 00:29:21,479 –> 00:29:24,900 And I’m saying to you, use all the commands of God 574 00:29:24,900 –> 00:29:29,640 as a mentor to bring you to Jesus Christ every day. 575 00:29:30,619 –> 00:29:32,040 Every day. 576 00:29:33,040 –> 00:29:36,300 Because the commandments of God, rightly understood, 577 00:29:36,300 –> 00:29:37,839 will cultivate humility. 578 00:29:37,839 –> 00:29:39,119 That’s why there’s so many of them, 579 00:29:39,119 –> 00:29:41,880 because I need that in my life every day. 580 00:29:43,520 –> 00:29:45,079 They’ll bring you like they bring me 581 00:29:45,079 –> 00:29:47,000 to the place every day of saying, 582 00:29:47,000 –> 00:29:49,760 Lord, I do not have what it takes. 583 00:29:51,400 –> 00:29:54,900 Be to me what I am not, give me what I have not. 584 00:29:56,280 –> 00:29:58,959 And here’s the good news, seeing your need 585 00:29:58,959 –> 00:30:01,199 is the place that Jesus describes 586 00:30:01,219 –> 00:30:05,739 when he says, blessed are the poor in spirit, 587 00:30:06,959 –> 00:30:09,959 for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 588 00:30:12,199 –> 00:30:15,560 So instead of cutting yourself because of your exasperation 589 00:30:15,560 –> 00:30:17,540 at your failure to become something, 590 00:30:20,819 –> 00:30:24,000 you would bow before Jesus and find in him 591 00:30:25,640 –> 00:30:26,479 all that you need. 592 00:30:27,459 –> 00:30:32,459 The law friends will bring you to a place 593 00:30:32,959 –> 00:30:35,040 called poor in spirit 594 00:30:36,640 –> 00:30:40,500 and Jesus Christ will meet you there. 595 00:30:41,939 –> 00:30:43,640 There is no other place to meet him 596 00:30:45,680 –> 00:30:47,800 and there’s no other way of getting there. 597 00:30:49,439 –> 00:30:52,219 But the law will bring you to a place 598 00:30:52,260 –> 00:30:53,660 called poor in spirit 599 00:30:54,920 –> 00:30:58,560 and Jesus Christ will meet you there. 600 00:31:00,939 –> 00:31:02,660 So how to cultivate humility, 601 00:31:02,660 –> 00:31:04,560 this is the pattern of a person 602 00:31:04,560 –> 00:31:05,900 who becomes poor in spirit 603 00:31:05,900 –> 00:31:06,939 and who lives like this 604 00:31:06,939 –> 00:31:08,459 and who walks like this 605 00:31:08,459 –> 00:31:10,900 and who gains the momentum of this ring 606 00:31:10,900 –> 00:31:13,540 moving forward and in the Christian life. 607 00:31:13,540 –> 00:31:15,500 Here’s something else, just briefly. 608 00:31:15,500 –> 00:31:18,020 Not only are we to use the law of God 609 00:31:18,020 –> 00:31:19,339 to measure ourselves, 610 00:31:19,979 –> 00:31:23,219 but let’s model ourselves on the son of God. 611 00:31:23,219 –> 00:31:25,979 Now, here’s something quite beautiful. 612 00:31:25,979 –> 00:31:27,660 When I think about humility, 613 00:31:27,660 –> 00:31:30,819 I always think about it first in relation to sin. 614 00:31:31,939 –> 00:31:33,719 I’ve got every reason to be humble 615 00:31:33,719 –> 00:31:35,099 because my sins are many 616 00:31:35,099 –> 00:31:37,319 and I think that’s probably the first thought 617 00:31:37,319 –> 00:31:39,359 that comes to most of our minds. 618 00:31:40,500 –> 00:31:41,959 But there’s more to humility 619 00:31:41,959 –> 00:31:44,739 than being put in our place on account of our sins. 620 00:31:46,260 –> 00:31:47,739 Jesus was humble 621 00:31:48,380 –> 00:31:52,180 and there is no sin in him. 622 00:31:53,479 –> 00:31:56,459 So Jesus was not humble on account of sin. 623 00:31:56,459 –> 00:32:00,640 This humility of Jesus sprang from another source 624 00:32:00,640 –> 00:32:02,140 because there’s no sin in him. 625 00:32:03,640 –> 00:32:05,060 Andrew Murray was the writer 626 00:32:05,060 –> 00:32:07,699 who opened this wonderful truth up for me 627 00:32:07,699 –> 00:32:08,959 and he says this, 628 00:32:08,959 –> 00:32:11,880 if humility is to be our joy, 629 00:32:12,979 –> 00:32:14,400 if we’re to find joy in it, 630 00:32:14,400 –> 00:32:15,219 if we’re to go after it 631 00:32:15,219 –> 00:32:17,319 and we’re to say this is the most beautiful thing 632 00:32:17,939 –> 00:32:20,079 in the world and I want more of it. 633 00:32:20,079 –> 00:32:22,140 If humility is to be our joy, 634 00:32:22,140 –> 00:32:25,479 we must see that it is not only a mark of shame 635 00:32:25,479 –> 00:32:26,640 because of our sin, 636 00:32:27,739 –> 00:32:29,400 but that humility he says 637 00:32:29,400 –> 00:32:32,160 is being clothed with the very beauty 638 00:32:33,180 –> 00:32:36,339 and blessedness of heaven and of Jesus. 639 00:32:38,500 –> 00:32:42,319 Humility, quite apart from anything to do with sin, 640 00:32:42,319 –> 00:32:45,640 is to be clothed with the very beauty 641 00:32:45,660 –> 00:32:50,319 and the blessedness of heaven and of Jesus. 642 00:32:53,540 –> 00:32:56,140 And he goes on to explain that humility 643 00:32:56,140 –> 00:32:58,680 involves something much deeper than contrition. 644 00:32:59,839 –> 00:33:01,699 That it is actually a participation 645 00:33:01,699 –> 00:33:02,979 in the life of Jesus, 646 00:33:02,979 –> 00:33:06,359 and since Jesus is humanity perfected, 647 00:33:06,359 –> 00:33:09,500 we find in humility the highest glory 648 00:33:09,500 –> 00:33:12,560 of being made in the image of God. 649 00:33:12,560 –> 00:33:14,119 How beautiful. 650 00:33:14,939 –> 00:33:16,219 How beautiful. 651 00:33:18,219 –> 00:33:21,680 And I called this series beauty for ashes for this reason. 652 00:33:23,060 –> 00:33:25,520 That the Beatitudes described the radiance, 653 00:33:25,520 –> 00:33:29,780 the beauty of the life that is in Jesus Christ. 654 00:33:29,780 –> 00:33:33,839 Christ burns pride to ashes in His people. 655 00:33:35,199 –> 00:33:40,199 And he replaces it with the beauty of a humble heart. 656 00:33:40,579 –> 00:33:42,699 So model yourself on Jesus. 657 00:33:44,300 –> 00:33:45,280 Listen to Him. 658 00:33:46,300 –> 00:33:49,380 Jesus said, I can do nothing on my own. 659 00:33:49,380 –> 00:33:51,599 I mean if Jesus said, I can do nothing on my own, 660 00:33:51,599 –> 00:33:53,500 how much more should I be saying that? 661 00:33:54,599 –> 00:33:57,119 Jesus said, I have not come to do my own will. 662 00:33:57,119 –> 00:34:00,160 If Jesus said that, how much more should I be saying that? 663 00:34:02,479 –> 00:34:05,160 Jesus said, I do not seek my own glory. 664 00:34:05,160 –> 00:34:09,199 If Jesus said that, how much more should I be saying that? 665 00:34:09,199 –> 00:34:12,419 And He says to all of us, 666 00:34:13,239 –> 00:34:17,159 take my yoke upon you and learn of me 667 00:34:17,159 –> 00:34:22,159 because I am lowly and humble of heart. 668 00:34:24,879 –> 00:34:26,639 So the Law will bring you to the place 669 00:34:26,639 –> 00:34:27,820 where Christ will meet you. 670 00:34:27,820 –> 00:34:29,879 It’s a place called Pure in Spirit 671 00:34:29,879 –> 00:34:33,379 and there Jesus says, yoke yourself to me, 672 00:34:33,379 –> 00:34:37,080 walk with me, model yourself on this life that I have lived. 673 00:34:37,919 –> 00:34:39,820 Here’s the very last thing just very briefly, 674 00:34:39,820 –> 00:34:43,419 motivate yourself through the grace of God. 675 00:34:44,459 –> 00:34:48,199 When just to see and to go with this thought in our minds, 676 00:34:48,199 –> 00:34:51,080 how rich the blessing is here, 677 00:34:51,080 –> 00:34:55,479 God opposes the proud but he gives grace to the humble. 678 00:34:55,479 –> 00:34:59,679 The poor in spirit are blessed, blessed. 679 00:35:00,639 –> 00:35:04,600 Humility is a grace that brings more grace. 680 00:35:04,600 –> 00:35:07,260 People who know their need and their poverty before God 681 00:35:07,260 –> 00:35:10,239 enter a blessing that brings greater blessing 682 00:35:10,239 –> 00:35:12,860 and gives momentum that leads to further blessing 683 00:35:12,860 –> 00:35:15,800 as we’re going to go on to see God willing next week. 684 00:35:17,280 –> 00:35:20,360 So I want to encourage you to get on this first ring. 685 00:35:21,760 –> 00:35:24,020 Let us humble ourselves before God 686 00:35:24,020 –> 00:35:26,399 that in due time he may lift us up. 687 00:35:26,399 –> 00:35:29,280 God has gifts of grace for the humble, 688 00:35:29,280 –> 00:35:31,699 there are gifts of purity ahead, 689 00:35:31,699 –> 00:35:33,719 there are gifts of peace ahead, 690 00:35:33,719 –> 00:35:36,540 there are gifts of being able to forgive others ahead 691 00:35:36,540 –> 00:35:39,739 and they can be yours. 692 00:35:40,899 –> 00:35:42,639 These graces can be yours too. 693 00:35:42,639 –> 00:35:44,719 Oh, they seem so far away from you right now, 694 00:35:44,719 –> 00:35:47,780 but get on this ring and you will find 695 00:35:47,780 –> 00:35:51,020 that you are beginning to move towards them. 696 00:35:51,020 –> 00:35:52,919 Come to Jesus Christ today. 697 00:35:54,060 –> 00:35:55,500 Tell him that you do not have 698 00:35:55,500 –> 00:35:57,139 what it takes to live this life, 699 00:35:57,139 –> 00:35:58,340 tell him you can’t change, 700 00:35:58,340 –> 00:36:01,260 ask him to give you what you do not have. 701 00:36:01,260 –> 00:36:05,760 Trust him, believe in him, look to him. 702 00:36:05,760 –> 00:36:07,719 Nothing in my hands I bring, 703 00:36:07,719 –> 00:36:10,080 simply to your cross I cling. 704 00:36:11,679 –> 00:36:13,479 There’s a description of a Christian. 705 00:36:15,080 –> 00:36:18,000 Christians are people 706 00:36:18,000 –> 00:36:20,639 who know their own poverty. 707 00:36:22,979 –> 00:36:25,939 They look to Jesus for what they do not have 708 00:36:27,419 –> 00:36:31,080 and they know that in him 709 00:36:32,120 –> 00:36:33,560 they have all that they need. 710 00:36:34,919 –> 00:36:35,739 Is that you? 711 00:36:37,379 –> 00:36:38,320 Is that you? 712 00:36:40,479 –> 00:36:41,439 Let’s pray together. 713 00:36:42,840 –> 00:36:45,300 Gracious Father give me what I have not, 714 00:36:47,199 –> 00:36:49,620 make me what I am not. 715 00:36:51,959 –> 00:36:55,540 Be for me and in me all that I need. 716 00:36:55,679 –> 00:36:58,500 For Your sake, through Your grace, 717 00:37:02,260 –> 00:37:06,860 and for Your glory, through Jesus Christ, my Lord, 718 00:37:08,159 –> 00:37:10,979 in who’s name I pray, amen. 719 00:37:16,060 –> 00:37:17,239 You’ve been listening to a sermon 720 00:37:17,239 –> 00:37:19,739 with pastor Collin Smith of Open the Bible. 721 00:37:19,739 –> 00:37:23,739 To contact us, call us at 1-877-open-the-bible. 722 00:37:23,739 –> 00:37:28,780 1-877-open-365, or visit our website openthebible.org.