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NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

CHRIST, OUR EXAMPLE FOR THE NEW YEAR AND FOR LIFE!

Introduction

Verse 5 says, “Let this mind be in you which was also Christ Jesus.”

Every believer should desire to be more like Jesus in their lives.

Romans 8:29–“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Colossians 3:1-3–“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.”

Paul is exhorting the Philippian Church AND US here to see Jesus as their example for living the Christian life and to become more like Jesus!

In what ways are we to be like Jesus? We saw last week in verses 1-2 that

WE NEED TO BE LIKE JESUS IN OUR ATTITUDE!” Today, we want to see how “WE NEED TO BE LIKE JESUS IN OUR ALTITUDE!”

i.e. WE NEED TO BE LIKE JESUS IN HUMILITY!

Verse 5 is our text for this series of messages–“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”

Verse 8 says of the Lord Jesus Christ, "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death."

I.            FIRST, LET’S LOOK AT THE OPPOSITE OF HUMILITY –PRIDE!

               And we are definitely living in an age of pride, are we not?!

               A.         What Is Pride?

According to Webster’s Dictionary, pride is when someone has an inordinate amount of self-esteem. It is an unreasonable conceit of one’s own superiority, whether that superiority be in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office.

               B.         How Does Pride Manifest Itself?

Again, Webster’s dictionary tells us that pride manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in haughty contempt for and rude treatment of others.

               C.         Where Does Pride Come From?

The Bible says that pride stems from the old Adamic nature, man’s fallen nature that he is born with!

Mark 7:22–“For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”

               D.         What Is God’s Perspective On Pride?

Proverbs 8:13–“. . .pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”

Proverbs 6:16–“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look. . .”

               E.         What Does Pride Do? 

                            1.          Pride Causes Contention!

Proverbs 13:10–“Only by pride cometh contention:. . .”

                            2.          Pride Brings Deception!

Speaking of Edom, Obadiah 3–“The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?”

                            3.          Pride Hardens A Person!

Pharaoh hardened his heart in Moses day.

                                         This stemmed from his pride!

Exodus 5:2-“And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.”

Nebuchadnezzar mind was hardened in pride in Daniel’s Day. Daniel 5:20–“But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:”

                                         Pride will cause one to turn from seeking after God!

Psalms 10:4–“The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.”

                            4.          Pride Leads Men Into Other Wickedness And Vileness!            

                                         God says that pride was one of the chief sins of Sodom!

Ezekiel 16:49–“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.”

                            5.          Pride Sets One Up For Judgment!                    

                                         a.          It Is What Caused Satan To Be Brought Low!

Isaiah 14:12-1412 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

                                         b.         It Is What Caused Others To Be Brought Low!

                                                      1.          Pharaoh’s pride brought him down!

                                                      2.          Nebuchadnezzar’s pride brought him down! (Daniel 5:20-21)

                                                      3.          Beleshazzar’s pride brought him down! (Daniel 5:22-23; 25-26)

                                                      4.          Edom’s pride brought her down!

Obadiah 3-4--The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD.”

                                                      5.          It Is What Will Bring Us Down Too!

Proverbs 16:18–“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”

WE’VE LOOKED AT THE OPPOSITE OF HUMILITY–PRIDE!

II.           NOW LET’S LOOK AT HUMILITY!

               A.         What Is Humility?

Webster’s Dictionary defines it as “freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one’s own worth.”

Webster goes on to say that with regard to the things of God, humility may consist of lowliness of mind; a deep sense of one’s own unworthiness in the sight of God; self-abasement; and submission to the Divine will.

Again, humility is the opposite of pride, and it is also the opposite of vainglory, haughtiness, being puffed up, boasting, self-will, self-glory, and self-promotion.

But our text also tells us that humility is having the mind of Christ! (Vs 5)

               B.         What Does Our Text Say About The Characteristics Of The Humility That We Are To Manifest?   

                            1.          Humility is not seeking or demanding personal recognition! (vs 3)

                            2.          Humility is esteeming others better than oneself! (Vs 3)

                            3.          Humility is caring for others, not just for self! (Vs 4)

                            4.          Humility is having the mind of Christ! (Vs 5)

                            5.          Humility is submitting to God and His will. (Vs 5-8)

                            6.          The bottom line is this: Humility is not to have self-confidence, but to be totally dependent upon God!

               C.         What Humility Is Not.

                            We know that Christ humble. He was meek and lowly in heart.

Matthew 11:29–“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

So by observing Him, we can not only see what humility is, but what it is not!

                            1.          Humility Is Not Cowardice Or Timidity!

                                         a.          Jesus Drove The Merchants And Money Changers Out Of The Temple!

                                                      (John 2:13-17)

                                         b.         Jesus Was Not Afraid To Rebuke Folks Where Needed!

John 8:44–“Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

                                         c.          Jesus Did Not Back Off From Speaking The Truth Even In The Face Of Danger!

                                                      (John 10:31-39)

    d.         Jesus Did Not Back Off From Pointing Out The Error Of Others! (Matthew23:1-12)

                                        Humility Is Not Cowardice Or Timidity!

                            2.          Humility Is Not An Apologizing, Self-Degrading Attitude! (John 6)

                            3.          Humility Is Not Uncertainty!

Matthew 7:29–“For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

                            4.          Humility Is Not Quietness In The Face Of Unrepentant Evil! (Matthew 23:13-33)

               D.         Why Do We Need Humility In Our Lives?

                            1.          The Bible Says We Are To Be Clothed With It!

Colossians 3:12–“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”

(Also, 1 Peter 5:5 below)

                            2.          Humility Precedes Being Given Grace From God!

1 Peter 5:5-6–“Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”

                            3.          Humility Is Needed To Receive God’s Word Properly!

James 1:21–“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”

                            3.          Humility Precedes Being Exalted Or Honored By God!    (Philippians 2:9-11) 

                                        1 Peter 5:6 (above) 

Matthew 23:1212 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

James 4:10–“Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

Proverbs 15:33–“The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.”

Proverbs 18:12–“Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.”

Proverbs 22:4–“By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.”

                            4.          Humility Is Essential For Greatness In God’s Kingdom!

Matthew 18:4–“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

               E.         Where Does Humility Come From?

Humility is a product or fruit of the Holy Spirit of God In our lives.  Galatians 5:23–“Meekness”

                            Pride is a product or fruit of the flesh.

                            So, humility comes from walking in the Spirit!

Galatians 5:16–“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

Humility comes from letting the mind of Christ be in you!

i.e. You see His humility and desire it and surrender to it and embrace it in your own life!

Conclusion

Here we are in a new year–2008. I trust that you’ve seen these past two weeks how that Christ is our example!

He is our example for both the ATTITUDE and altitude that we need to have in the coming year, and the year after that, and the year after that, and so on!

i.e. Christ is our example for life.

Whose mind do you have?

               The mind of Satan?

               The mind of the world?

               The mind of the flesh?

               Or the mind of Christ?

What Jesus wants is for us to have His mind! It begins with salvation! It requires surrender!

Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!