Series Two: The Man of God

True biblical humility is absolutely counterintuitive to everything the world will throw at you to tell you how to get what you want out of life. In the race to satisfy earthly pleasures, moral and ethical rules quickly become bent and broken. This section will examine a biblical view of humility and what it means to cultivate that as a godly man.

Pride has become a “throw-away” word within our culture. We are told that there are things that we should be proud of, whether it be race, heritage, our nation, etc. The fact is, as with any sin, it’s very difficult to keep the lines clearly defined as to where “satisfaction” in something bleeds over into an area of pride. Pride is where the heart elevates itself over another person or people group. Pride is not something that should be common or comfortable to a Christian. Instead, we ought to be constantly digging up the roots of pride that have found a place to grow in our hearts.

The only way to truly serve the church is in humility. As we serve, we do so without any expectation of favors returned or even thanks. To cultivate a level of humility we offer our best work as tasks done as a privilege with the goal of modeling Jesus Christ. We know Christ “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matt 20:28). With this in mind we will examine several dimensions of cultivating humility.

1. We must understand the basis of unity (Eph 4:1–3).
   1. The Spirit of God builds unity into the body of Christ.
   2. Understand the character aspects of those who help promote unity:
      1. Humility
      2. Gentleness
      3. Patience
      4. Tolerance (i.e., forbearance in love)
   3. We must be diligent to grow in those characteristics.
   4. This is particularly important to those who have been called to lead the church.
   5. We must imitate Paul as prisoners of the Lord.
   6. We are not our own; we are mere slaves (2 Cor 4:5).
   7. We are mere servants who believe (1 Cor 3:4–9).
2. We must understand what humility is.
   1. It’s not that you think less about yourself; it’s that you don’t think about yourself at all.
   2. It is the opposite of self-awareness and self-promotion.
   3. It is regarding others as more important than yourself (Phil 2:1–8).
      1. You should see everyone around you as an opportunity to serve at your expense.
      2. You should be lost in the needs of others (1 John 3:16–18).
         1. Walk alongside them in the Christian life.
         2. Bear their burdens (Gal 6:2).
         3. Serve regardless of social strata and personal differences.
3. We must understand why it’s important.
   1. Men are called to be leaders of the family.
   2. Men are called to be leaders of the church (1 Pet 5:3).
      1. Younger men are to be subject to elders (1 Pet 5:5).
      2. This type of submissiveness is difficult for young men.
      3. The younger you are, the more attentive you ought to be in practicing submissiveness.
   3. Everyone is called to humility (1 Pet 5:5).
      1. No one is excluded from the need to be humble as a Christian.
      2. It exhibits trust in God.
      3. The absence of humility means the presence of pride. God hates pride.
4. We must understand that true humility is the result of a right view of God and self (Ps 8).
   1. Pride comes from a sense of personal significance.
   2. Having the view of God given in this text ought to squash any personal significance.
   3. Our significance comes from how well we reflect Christ in our lives.
   4. In order to see ourselves rightly, we must marinate our minds in the character of God.
5. Manifestations of humility/patience
   • Submissiveness to the will of God
   • Sensitivity to others
   • Slow to anger, and willingness to wait
   • Perseverance in doing what is right
   • Longsuffering
   • Not pushy
   • Trusting God’s purposes
   • Trusting God to control circumstances
   • Loving others without an exit strategy
6. Manifestations of pride/impatience
   • Uncontrolled hostility toward others
   • Harsh responses to others when expectations aren’t met
   • Bad temper
   • Self-aware
   • Fear of man
   • Self-trust
   • Worry
   • Jealousy
   • Unwillingness to submit to the sovereign will of God in your life
   • Pressuring others to conform to you
   • Insisting on having your way
   • Refusal to wait
   • Not suffering under the purposes and promises of God

If we want God’s favor:

1. We must cultivate humility because it draws God’s gaze (Isa 66:2).
2. We must crush pride because it brings God’s swift hand (Dan 4; 1 Pet 5:5).