Cultivating Humility

1 Peter 5:5-6
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Pastor Colin Smith of Open the Bible highlights the inherent difficulty of embracing humility in a self-affirming culture that encourages self-belief over reliance on God. Using scripture such as 1 Peter 5, Pastor Colin discusses the curse of pride, its opposition to God’s blessing, and its contradiction of the core teachings of Jesus, which advocate trust in God over self-reliance.

Pastor Colin also points out that pride opens the door to other sins, while humility invites a host of blessings. He enumerates the benefits of humility, including enduring affliction, nurturing love for others, standing against temptation, and releasing oneself from the tyranny of self-centeredness. He shares that humility isn’t just about contrition for sin but also about partaking in the very essence and blessedness of Christ’s nature.

To cultivate humility, Pastor Colin advises regularly measuring oneself against God’s law, modelling oneself after Jesus, and being motivated by God’s grace. He closes with an invitation to embrace poverty of spirit and seek what one lacks in Jesus Christ, assuring that Christians find all they need in Him.

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.

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Colin Smith

Trustee / Founder and Teaching Pastor

Colin Smith is the Senior Pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. He has authored a number of books, including Heaven, How I Got Here and Heaven, So Near – So Far. Colin is the Founder and Teaching Pastor for Open the Bible. Follow him on X formerly Twitter.

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Sermons on the Beatitudes The Beatitudes are not telling you how to become a Christian—they tell you what a true Christian looks like. Everyone wants to be blessed. We want to be blessed in life, blessed in death, and blessed in eternity. In the Beatitudes, the Son of God tells us about the life that

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