Luke 14:1-24 Humility—A Key Component of True Kingdom Living That Leads to Place at the Wedding Supper of God. Luke 14:11 (NIV) “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 14:1-6 (NIV) “One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched. There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, ‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?’ But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away. Then he asked them, ‘If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?’ And they had nothing to say.”

Luke 14:7-11 (NIV) “When Jesus noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, He told them this parable: ‘When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

What might humility look like in practice What might humility look like in practice? Here is a video that shows it well. www.youtube.com/watch?v=i8DGOcxXA34

Luke 14:12-14 (NIV) Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Proverbs 22:9 (NKJV) says, “They who have a generous eyes will be blessed, for they give their bread to the poor.” Zephaniah 2:1-3 (NIV) “Gather together, gather together, O shameful nation, before the appointed time arrives and that day sweeps on like chaff, before the fierce anger of the LORD comes upon you, before the day of the LORD's wrath comes upon you.” “Seek the LORD, all you humble of the land, you who do what He commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the LORD's anger.”

Luke 14:15 (NIV) When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."

Luke 14:16-24 (NIV) “Jesus replied: ‘A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.’ "But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’ "Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’ "Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.’ "The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’ "'Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’ "Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.'"  

From “Less is More” by Kai Nilsen from Renovare Ministry. Spiritual Disciplines To Practice That Grow Humility From “Less is More” by Kai Nilsen from Renovare Ministry. Confession: Less Guilt/More Grace. Solitude: Less Noise/More Listening. Fasting: Less Consumption/More Compassion. Simplicity: Less Stuff/More Freedom. Frugality: Less Spending/More Peace. Intercession: Less Me/More Others. Reflective Reading of the Holy Week Story: Less Fear/More Love.

Philippians 2:5-13 (NIV) “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”