Sermon HUMILITY Eph 4:1-3 Introduction

1. On the whole I am satisfied with myself. 2. At times I think that I am no good at all. 3. I feel that I have a number of good qualities.

4. I am able to do things as well as most other people. 5. I feel I do not have much to be proud of. 6. I certainly feel useless at times.

7. I feel that I am a person of worth, at least the equal of others. 8. I wish I could have more respect for myself. 9. All in all, I am inclined to feel that I am a failure. 10. I take a positive attitude toward myself.

“Self-esteem, as a construct, as a quasi religion, is woven into a tradition that both defines and confines us as Americans…”

Perhaps, as these researchers are saying, pride really is dangerous, and too few of us know how to be humble.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, [2] with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, [3] eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness Humility is a Supernatural condition that results from our supernatural calling. v 1,2.

GOSPEL TRUCKIN’ humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance in love

“Humility is the only soil in which the graces of the Christian life take root; the lack of humility is the sufficient explanation of every defect and failure. Humility is not so much grace or virtue along with others; it is the root of all, because it alone takes the right attitude before God and allows Him, as God, to do all.

The Christian life grows only in the soil of humility. It will wither or die in any other.” Andrew Murray, Humility: The Beauty of Holiness

Hunter Dockery Siberian "Humility Test" 1. Do you take criticism well? 2. Are you a good listener? 3. Are you in frequent power struggles and arguments?

4. Do you often believe you are the only one right? 5. Do you ever take the lowest place? 6. Are you known as gentle and merciful, or is there a hard edge to your personality? 7. Is anger often lurking just below the surface? Does it often find its way out?

8. Would others characterize you as critical or hard to live with? 9. Is prayer the first movement of your life? 10. Is it important to defend yourself to others? 11. Are you easily offended and hurt? Do you quickly perceive things as slights and insults?

When you are forgotten, neglected or purposely set at nought, and you don’t sting or hurt with the insult or the oversight, but your heart is happy at being counted worthy for being able to suffer for Christ, that is Humility.

When your good is evil spoken of, when your wishes are crossed, your advice disregarded, your opinions ridiculed, and you refuse to let anger rise in your heart or even defend yourself, but take it all in patient loving silence, that is Humility.

When you lovingly and patiently bear any disorder, any irregularity, any unpunctuality, any annoyance, when you come face to face with waste, folly, extravagance, spiritual insensitivity and endure it as Jesus endured it - that is Humility

When you are content with any food, any offering, any raiment, any climate, any society, any solitude, any interruption by the will of God - that is Humility.

When you never care to refer to yourself in conversation or to recount your own good works or to itch after commendation, when you can truly love to be unknown, that is Humility

When you can see your brothers and sisters have their needs met, and you can honestly rejoice in spirit and feel no envy nor question God while your own needs are far greater and in more desperate circumstances, that is Humility.

When you can receive correction and reproof from one of less stature than yourself and can humbly submit inwardly as well as outwardly finding no rebellion or resentment rising in your heart - that is Humility.

Reflect on the Wonders of the cross THE SOURCE OF HUMILITY IS OUR SALVATION. The fact is that it took the greatest act of humility the world has ever seen to save us.

Start your day by acknowledging your dependence upon and need for God. Start your day with gratitude to God. Practice spiritual disciplines – prayer, Bible study, worship. Make the most of your commute time by memorizing and meditating on scripture

Cast your care on God, because He cares for you. Invite and pursue correction – Are you easy to approach? Identify evidences of grace in others Encourage and serve others every day

Respond humbly to trials Recognize your own relative unimportance – Don’t take yourself too seriously – laugh with others at yourself

Play golf often – or do something new that will push you out of your comfort zone Share your faith regularly- we are beggars telling others where they can find bread. ”What’s it like living with me?”

The gospel gives us all we need to be humble – the reality that we deserve hell, to be forsaken, but through Christ we are remembered and brought into the family of God