2. Psalm 7:9-11 9 Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. 10 My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart. 11 God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day. 2

3.  Better to test ourselves now, 1 Cor. 4:5  Consider how, what and why we think what we do, Prov. 23:7 ◦ Remember the nature of the heart, Jeremiah 17:9-10 ◦ Our way is not found in our heart, it is found in God’s word, Jer. 10:23; Isa. 55:8-11 3

4.  Warning against pride and relying on human knowledge and will, 1 Cor. 8:1, 4, 9  Pride is of the world, 1 Jno. 2:16; Lk. 18:14 4

5.  Pride is how we think about ourselves, Rom. 12:3  Self-importance, Lk. 22:24-27; Jno. 13 ◦ Shame, Prov. 11:2 ◦ Strife, Prov. 13:10 ◦ Suffering, Prov. 16:18  Mind of Christ: Humility, Phil. 2:5-8 5

6.  Assess spiritual things by the standard of apostolic teaching ◦ Divine truth, Acts 2:42; Eph. 3:3-5; 2 Ths. 2:15-17 6

7.  Requires sober thinking, 2 Cor. 10:7-9 ◦ Many false claims, 1 Jno. 4:1, 6; Rev. 2:2 ◦ Refusal to yield to the apostles’ doctrine is sin, 2 Ths. 3:4 ◦ The “spiritual” are governed by the Spirit’s word, Rom. 8:5-9 7

8.  Our willingness to give and receive spiritual help is a mark of humility, Gal. 6:1-2 ◦ We need each other, 1 Cor. 12:20-21 ◦ “Going it alone” is prideful and harmful 8

9.  Humility does not compare itself to others, Gal. 6:4 (1-2)  Humility bears its own responsibility, Gal. 6:5 ◦ We all have work that only we can do and for which we are accountable, Rom. 14:12; 1 Pet. 4:5 9

10.  Reliance on fleshly things for spiritual security is foolish and futile ◦ Heritage, Phil. 3:5 (Matt. 3:7-10) ◦ Education/training, Phil. 3:5 (Jno. 7:15) ◦ Experience, 1 Cor. 3:18-21 (Jno. 9:34)  The humble value Christ more, Phil. 3:7-8 10

11.  God-fearing Christian conforms to the faith he professes, James 1:22-25 ◦ Religion without heart is vain, Matt. 6:1, 5, 16 ◦ Pride deceives and convinces one he is immune from hypocrisy and self-righteousness, Luke 18:11 11

12.  Humility thinks of God and of others, 1 Peter 5:5-6 ◦ Does not justify sin and spiritual neglect  Humility casts its care on the Lord and trusts Him, 1 Peter 5:7 12