1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,840 The first Peter 5, and we're going to start at verse one. 2 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:09,400 So first Peter chapter 5, verse one. 3 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:13,960 All right. So before I read these verses, I 4 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:18,480 want to truly thank the Lord for granting me another opportunity 5 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:21,320 to preach a message in Mount Victory Baptist Church. 6 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:25,560 It is a great honor and privilege to be able to stand 7 00:00:25,560 --> 00:00:28,280 behind the pulpit. In a church that stands for 8 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:31,360 God's Word, especially in a time like. 9 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:34,040 This. When there are so few churches 10 00:00:34,040 --> 00:00:37,680 left willing to do so, I'd say that it's a privilege. 11 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:40,800 To even be able to attend a church like this today. 12 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:48,760 We ought to value this church as a precious gift from God dear to 13 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:53,920 our hearts, the same way we hold our Lord Jesus and the Bible 14 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:57,800 close to our hearts. The fact that our church stands 15 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,600 on the Bible. Has the presence of the Holy 16 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:02,280 Spirit and I've seen that over and over. 17 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:06,320 Again, in this church and is continuing the Lord's command to 18 00:01:06,320 --> 00:01:10,360 spread the gospel faithfully should not only make us all. 19 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:13,440 Grateful. That God has given us such a 20 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:17,800 rare gift, but also humble us. And that is going to be the 21 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:19,840 subject of my message tonight. My. 22 00:01:19,840 --> 00:01:21,440 Message is about. Humility. 23 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,000 Let's read our verses now, and then I will continue. 24 00:01:25,320 --> 00:01:28,440 So we'll start at verse one of First Peter chapter 5. 25 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:34,360 The elders which are among you, I exhort, who am also an elder 26 00:01:34,600 --> 00:01:35,560 and a. Witness. 27 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:38,560 Of the sufferings of Christ. And also. 28 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:41,920 Are partaker of the glory that shall be revealed. 29 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:46,960 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight 30 00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:50,360 thereof not by constraint but willingly. 31 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:55,320 Not for filthy lucre, but of a bready mind, neither as being 32 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:58,920 Lords over God's heritage, but being on samples. 33 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,720 To the flock. And when the chief Shepherd 34 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:06,400 shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not 35 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,680 away. Likewise, ye younger, submit 36 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:14,880 yourselves unto the elder. Yeah, all of you, be subject 1 37 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:20,520 to another and be clothed with humility, for God resisteth the 38 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:23,040 proud and giveth grace to the humble. 39 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:27,600 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, 40 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:30,960 that He may exalt. You in due time casting. 41 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,520 All your care upon him, for he careth for you. 42 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,920 Amen. Now, a few weeks ago, Pastor 43 00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:43,600 asked me to preach while he was away in Belize, and soon after I 44 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:46,440 knew that the message was going to be about humility. 45 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:51,600 It was interesting how the Lord told me, because I was already. 46 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,560 Doing a Bible study. About God Himself. 47 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:57,520 I was researching through scripture about all the 48 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:01,880 attributes of God, about His ability as our Creator, about 49 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:05,280 His omnipotence, about the nature of the Godhead, which we 50 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:08,880 call the Trinity. I was writing all these thoughts 51 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:12,600 down in a document on my computer and organizing them. 52 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:15,680 I was doing it because. Honestly, looking back at my 53 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:18,720 past four years of being saved, I felt like I want to know you 54 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:19,640 even more. Lord. 55 00:03:19,640 --> 00:03:22,680 I've read the Bible a few times all the way through now. 56 00:03:22,880 --> 00:03:26,120 I've read the Old Test New Testament many times, but I 57 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:28,440 wanted to just read about God himself. 58 00:03:28,440 --> 00:03:32,720 What does the Bible strictly say about God the Father, God the 59 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:34,440 Son, Jesus Christ, and about the Holy? 60 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:38,400 Spirit So The thing is, when I started studying this, I 61 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:41,880 started. To feel so small, so small 62 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:45,320 compared to God. And and God felt kept feeling 63 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,520 larger and larger. The more that I read and wrote 64 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,320 about him. It was this feeling that comes 65 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:52,680 and goes. Sometimes I think a. 66 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:54,480 Lot of us feel this as a Christian. 67 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:58,000 Sometimes we we read certain. Things in the Bible or we hear a 68 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,840 certain message and. We start to feel very. 69 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:04,600 Small as a created being next to our creator. 70 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:09,000 That feeling I got while doing this Bible study came to me 71 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:13,440 again after pastor asked me to preach and I knew what that 72 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,839 feeling was. It was that feeling of humility 73 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:21,040 before the Lord, in this case, that humility of thinking of the 74 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,360 infinite glory of God. Compared to me. 75 00:04:25,280 --> 00:04:26,760 That's when I knew for certain that the. 76 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:29,240 Topic of my message would be about humility. 77 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:31,040 And so. The title of this message is 78 00:04:31,200 --> 00:04:34,280 Humbled before God, so let's. Pray and ask our Lord. 79 00:04:34,280 --> 00:04:37,480 For guidance. Heavenly Father, I pray to thee 80 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:39,120 in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 81 00:04:39,120 --> 00:04:41,880 Lord, I come before. You as a wretched. 82 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:44,920 Soul saved by your grace, Lord. Saved by the blood that. 83 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,480 Your son, Jesus Christ shed for me, Lord, and I know many of us 84 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,400 can say in here can say the same thing, Lord, and we're just so 85 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:52,880 grateful for the the great salvation that you brought to 86 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:56,200 us, Lord, how much you loved. Us how you gave your son on the 87 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:58,280 cross for us, Lord and. It's so humbling. 88 00:04:58,440 --> 00:05:00,160 To think that in a. World in a. 89 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:02,520 World where the majority reject. You. 90 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:04,360 They want nothing to do. With you as our. 91 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,040 Creator that you saved us, Lord that you. 92 00:05:07,040 --> 00:05:09,640 Gave us the opportunity. To be saved when we put our 93 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:12,840 faith in Jesus Christ and. And it it's an opportunity the 94 00:05:12,840 --> 00:05:14,680 world. Passes up over and over again. 95 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:16,360 Lord, it's, it's waiting there for them. 96 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:18,440 Do but call upon. The name of your son. 97 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:20,920 So let us be humbled. By the fact that we have a. 98 00:05:20,920 --> 00:05:24,840 Gift, the gift of salvation that so few people do O. 99 00:05:24,840 --> 00:05:27,200 Lord, and let us come. Before you with a humble. 100 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:30,440 Heart Lord, and and let this message touch all of us, our 101 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,320 hearts, or let it. Be you speaking to me. 102 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,240 Let it not be Matthew. Hammond up here, let it be your 103 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:36,520 Holy Spirit. Lord, please be with us this 104 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:39,280 night as I, as I, as I deliver the message in the name of Thy. 105 00:05:39,280 --> 00:05:41,080 Son, Jesus Christ once again. I pray. 106 00:05:41,320 --> 00:05:43,080 Amen. So. 107 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:46,520 Looking back at our. Verses from first Peter there is 108 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:47,960 a. Theme that runs through. 109 00:05:47,960 --> 00:05:51,560 All 7 verses, but the theme is not named until verse. 110 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,640 Five. And the theme is humility, and 111 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,960 it's what I wanted to talk about tonight because the Lord. 112 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:01,400 Truly laid this on my. Heart How can one truly be 113 00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:04,760 humbled before God? Peter says in verse 6. 114 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:07,760 To humble ourselves under the mighty hand of. 115 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,040 God. So therefore it is possible for 116 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:12,320 us to do this. It is possible for us to humble 117 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:14,880 ourselves before God. Well, thanks be to God. 118 00:06:15,240 --> 00:06:19,320 In these very verses. Peter gives us 7 practical ways 119 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:21,200 to humble. Ourselves before the Lord. 120 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:24,680 It is such an important. Thing to be. 121 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:28,040 Humbled before the Lord because it is necessary to have humility 122 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:30,720 in your heart. To serve him, humility is 123 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,080 defined in Webster's dictionary. As. 124 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:37,240 A modest estimate of. One's own worth a. 125 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:42,000 Lowliness of mind, a deep sense of 1's own. 126 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:46,840 Unworthiness in the sight of God, A submission to the divine 127 00:06:46,840 --> 00:06:48,800 will and read. When I read that definition, 128 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:55,720 some words jumped out at me. Modest lowliness, unworthiness, 129 00:06:56,000 --> 00:06:58,760 submission. I think those 4 words sum up in 130 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:01,600 just those 4 words what humility before God is. 131 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:05,760 And as the scripture shows, the inverse of humility is. 132 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,240 Pride. And there are plenty of. 133 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:11,360 Verses that show us exactly what the Lord thinks about. 134 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:12,920 Pride. And I'll just choose one 135 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:14,520 example. You don't have to turn here, but 136 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,720 it's Proverbs 16. Five, everyone. 137 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:21,680 That is proud in heart is an abomination to the. 138 00:07:21,680 --> 00:07:24,280 Lord. Though hand join in hand. 139 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,200 He shall not be unpunished. That's strong language. 140 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:30,240 An abomination. There are actually only certain 141 00:07:30,240 --> 00:07:33,600 sins that the Lord calls an abomination, and pride is one of 142 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:35,160 them. So that means we need a lot. 143 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:39,160 Of humility and as little. Pride as possible if we want to 144 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:40,720 serve. The Lord in the best way that we 145 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:43,040 can. I want to quickly step through 146 00:07:43,040 --> 00:07:48,120 these 7 verses from First Peter and see these seven ways that 147 00:07:48,280 --> 00:07:50,280 are provided to be humbled. Before God. 148 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:52,720 And end with an. Example of this in action. 149 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:54,920 So let's start with verse 1. So. 150 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:58,960 We'll read that together again. The elders which are among you, 151 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:03,640 I exhort, who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings 152 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:08,600 of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be 153 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,360 revealed so. Here we see Peter. 154 00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:13,400 Giving encouragement to the elders. 155 00:08:13,560 --> 00:08:15,800 To the leadership among the churches. 156 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:19,720 In the various cities he is writing to notice what Peter. 157 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:23,760 Does here that despite. Being an apostle and not. 158 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:27,760 Just an apostle with the. Chief apostle to the Jews, and 159 00:08:27,760 --> 00:08:29,320 the fact that. He was one of the. 160 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,919 Closest disciples to Jesus Christ when he walked on the 161 00:08:32,919 --> 00:08:36,000 earth that he simply refers to. Himself as an elder. 162 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:39,240 Now sure, if you go back to chapter 1, you will see that 163 00:08:39,240 --> 00:08:41,360 Peter. Does mention that he is an 164 00:08:41,360 --> 00:08:45,280 apostle of Jesus Christ. But now we see toward the end of 165 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:48,400 his epistle here, that Peter shows that though he is an 166 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:53,840 apostle, he is but one elder. 1. Pastor of the Lord's flock among 167 00:08:53,840 --> 00:08:56,880 many. This is our first example of 168 00:08:56,880 --> 00:09:00,240 humility because. Peter is important. 169 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:02,360 I mean, when you think about it, he is an instrument of. 170 00:09:02,360 --> 00:09:05,880 God's will. As an apostle not only writing 171 00:09:05,880 --> 00:09:07,920 2. Books of God's perfect. 172 00:09:07,920 --> 00:09:10,120 Word. And I can't say that right. 173 00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:12,440 I wrote down what I was going to say tonight, but this is not 174 00:09:12,440 --> 00:09:14,720 God's perfect word. That's a very important deed 175 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:18,880 that Peter did. But he also saw thousands saved. 176 00:09:18,880 --> 00:09:21,200 Through his own preaching, we've got the numbers recorded early 177 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,440 on in the book of Acts 5003 thousand. 178 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:26,920 That's amazing. I mean, it seems so important, 179 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:32,400 yet Peter allows himself to be put on equal footing with other 180 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:35,400 pastors that God has called. Showing him. 181 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:39,400 Showing that he does not. Think himself above correction 182 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:44,400 just because he is an apostle. If Peter can exhort his fellow. 183 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:48,040 Elders, then, so can his. Fellow elders exhort him, and if 184 00:09:48,040 --> 00:09:50,040 he can, instruct his fellow elders. 185 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:54,200 So can his fellow elders. Instruct him So Peter shows us 186 00:09:54,200 --> 00:09:58,920 the first practical step to humility and that's know your 187 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:02,040 place. Peter knew God called him to be 188 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:06,280 apostle, but he also knew he was working alongside other apostles 189 00:10:06,560 --> 00:10:08,920 and many hundreds of pastors at the time. 190 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:14,120 So Peter demonstrated that he knew his place as one of many 191 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:17,000 elders rather than the chief elder, and. 192 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:20,280 Even though we're not apostles and none of us in here are 193 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:22,720 pastors. We should do the same. 194 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,080 This advice applies to us. Too, we should do the same and 195 00:10:26,080 --> 00:10:30,480 all we strive to do our best in the role that God has called us 196 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:35,200 to serve in, but never think that maybe because we are the. 197 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,120 Best at our role. We are better than our peers. 198 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,480 I mean, seriously, outside of the Apostle Paul, when you read 199 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:44,840 about the apostles, you'd say, hey, Peter's neck and neck with 200 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:46,920 him. Now, that was a man of God. 201 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,640 Sure, we focus on his mistakes sometimes, and he had a lot of 202 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,400 them, but maybe that's why he was such a powerful apostle, 203 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:54,880 because he knew his mistakes. He knew his weaknesses. 204 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:58,000 So it would have been so easy for Peter and yes, for Paul too, 205 00:10:58,720 --> 00:11:02,080 to let that go to their head and say, hey, look, I'm literally 206 00:11:02,080 --> 00:11:05,040 writing Holy Scripture here. I'm important. 207 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:07,120 But they didn't. They made themselves equal and 208 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:09,720 said, you know what? I exhort you, you can encourage 209 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:11,480 me. I pray for you, Please pray for 210 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:13,000 me. And we need to do the same no 211 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:16,000 matter what a role is, whether you're a Deacon or you're 212 00:11:16,000 --> 00:11:18,800 singing in the choir or you're serving in a ministry here, 213 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:21,160 whether it's the the the door knocking in the Bible. 214 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:23,400 Giveaway. Even if we're the best. 215 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:25,840 We need to need to still humble ourselves and allow. 216 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:29,360 Ourselves to be corrected or even encouraged by others, even 217 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:31,360 if we're we seem to be shining the brightest. 218 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:34,760 So that's the very first way to humble yourself before God know 219 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:37,720 your place. The second is here in verse 2. 220 00:11:38,480 --> 00:11:42,560 So let's read that together. Feed the flock of God which is 221 00:11:42,560 --> 00:11:47,400 among you, taking the oversight thereof not by constraint, but 222 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:51,120 willingly, not for filthy lucre. But of a ready mind. 223 00:11:51,600 --> 00:11:54,800 Now here Peter instructs other pastors to feed their 224 00:11:54,800 --> 00:11:58,640 congregations using the Word of God, and we see that he 225 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:02,520 specifically mentions to do it not out of necessity, but 226 00:12:02,520 --> 00:12:04,880 because they are called by God simply. 227 00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:08,360 Because they want to. He also states that there should 228 00:12:08,360 --> 00:12:10,440 not be a pastor. Just for money's sake, but. 229 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:12,400 Because they have a mind ready to serve the Lord. 230 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:15,200 This is the second step of humility. 231 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:16,840 Know. His people. 232 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:19,640 So know. Your place and now know his 233 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:21,600 people. The people in the. 234 00:12:21,600 --> 00:12:25,080 Congregation are your. Fellow heirs with Christ. 235 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:28,880 They have been washed. In that same blood that you 236 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:33,800 have, they know the same Lord Jesus that you do, and that 237 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:37,160 means they are important, because if they are important 238 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:40,200 enough to God that he has adopted them and made. 239 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:41,840 Them his children, when they called upon. 240 00:12:41,840 --> 00:12:43,440 The name of his son, Jesus Christ. 241 00:12:43,680 --> 00:12:45,480 Then they should. Be extremely important to you. 242 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:48,320 I mean, the Bible says that that that. 243 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:51,000 Christ loved the Church and gave his life for it. 244 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:52,520 So what does that mean we ought to do? 245 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:55,920 If we want to be like Christ, we need to love the Church too. 246 00:12:56,880 --> 00:13:01,280 And and that is humbling because the Kingdom of God doesn't only 247 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:04,280 revolve around you. And your relationship with God. 248 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:07,480 It is important for us to have a relationship with God, Yes, but. 249 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:11,840 You have to have a desire to want to take care of others 250 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:14,360 around you, and you have. To want them to have a stronger 251 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:19,240 relationship with the Lord too. Even more than that, you need to 252 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:24,320 do it without any other motive other than love. 253 00:13:25,080 --> 00:13:27,880 That is. It if you aren't motivated. 254 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:32,000 By love to see your brothers and sisters fed spiritually. 255 00:13:32,440 --> 00:13:34,520 Then you will naturally. Humble yourself. 256 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:39,640 You will choose to help them over yourself, but if you are 257 00:13:39,640 --> 00:13:41,520 doing it to gain something out of it. 258 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:46,400 Whether it is gifts or attention or favors or connections. 259 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:50,920 Then it is coming of pride and you're serving yourself and that 260 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:52,760 is. Not the humble love of God. 261 00:13:53,160 --> 00:13:54,760 And sometimes. You might pretend like we don't 262 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:56,680 have another motive. That's why we have to be so 263 00:13:56,680 --> 00:13:58,520 careful. And I'm going to talk more about 264 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:00,160 pride a little bit later, but that's why we have to be so 265 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,400 careful. It has to be out of selfless 266 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:06,040 love for each other. And that is not just instruction 267 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:08,640 once more for pastors. It is for those of us in the 268 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:10,200 flock too. Of course it's. 269 00:14:10,200 --> 00:14:13,280 Important for a pastor, right? A pastor, when we read the 270 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:15,440 Bible, is held to a higher standard. 271 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:17,120 That that spoke. About many books, James. 272 00:14:17,120 --> 00:14:19,360 Talks about it, you know, be not many masters. 273 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:22,560 But because they have to give account to God, I mean. 274 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:25,440 Pastor talks about that he's going to have to give account to 275 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:27,160 God for how he led this congregation. 276 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:32,440 But I don't doubt for a. 2nd That when we stand before the 277 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:36,320 Lord, he's. Going to ask account of us how 278 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:38,880 we treated the. Congregation that we were 279 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:41,280 members of too, and what we did to help them too. 280 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,680 It's not just the pastor's job. We've got to help each other 281 00:14:44,680 --> 00:14:46,520 too, because there's only one pastor. 282 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,120 He he can't be there for. All of us, we've got to be there 283 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:50,520 for each other. And that's a. 284 00:14:50,520 --> 00:14:53,920 Humbling thing when you. Want to know God's people? 285 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:56,160 When you want to be there for them, you're going to naturally 286 00:14:56,160 --> 00:14:58,640 humble yourself so you can get to know them and show them the 287 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:02,200 same love that God showed you. So know your knowing your place 288 00:15:02,560 --> 00:15:06,000 and knowing his people are two excellent ways so far that Peter 289 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:07,760 puts before. Us to teach us humility. 290 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:09,680 Now let's see the third one in verse 3. 291 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:14,600 Neither as being Lords over God's heritage, but being on 292 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:18,560 samples to the flock. So not lording your position in 293 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:20,160 the church over others is of course. 294 00:15:20,160 --> 00:15:23,640 Important for remaining humble. But more important for our 295 00:15:23,640 --> 00:15:27,200 lesson is the second-half being on samples to the flock. 296 00:15:27,560 --> 00:15:30,680 You want to talk about a way to? Humble yourself, it's know your 297 00:15:30,680 --> 00:15:34,280 path, knowing the path that the Lord has given you to walk. 298 00:15:34,960 --> 00:15:38,320 The path that you take as a Christian doesn't only affect 299 00:15:38,320 --> 00:15:41,080 you, it affects. Everyone around you, a lot of 300 00:15:41,080 --> 00:15:43,360 times we get saved. We learn that lesson about sin. 301 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:47,040 I know I did before I got saved. I didn't realize how much my sin 302 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:50,000 hurt others before I got saved. I thought was just hurting me. 303 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:53,080 It's not really affecting anyone around, but it was. 304 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:55,480 But so does your walk with Christ. 305 00:15:55,920 --> 00:16:00,120 So does your walk with Christ. Not only are your peers. 306 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:02,440 Watching but so. Are the children? 307 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,840 Of the church their. Eyes are on you to see how your 308 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:09,800 walk with Christ goes. You can either humble yourself 309 00:16:10,000 --> 00:16:13,240 and choose the Lord's path He has given you, and many times 310 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:15,440 the Lord makes it. Obvious what you should do and 311 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:19,400 we just fail to do it. And and you can be a great 312 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:23,920 example to your brothers, your sisters and their children, or 313 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:28,480 you can let pride grab a hold of you, and you can value your time 314 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:31,480 over what the Lord has for you and allow your stumbling. 315 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:35,480 To pull down others after you. So be an ensemble to the flock 316 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:38,520 to follow after. Choose the path that the Lord 317 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:41,040 has given you. Choose the path. 318 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:44,560 Will you study God's word? Will you memorize verses? 319 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:46,320 Will you take notes on the sermons? 320 00:16:46,320 --> 00:16:48,320 Will you stay in prayer for others? 321 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,600 And you do whatever the Lord commands you to do. 322 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:55,200 That is humility to choose always, 100% of the time. 323 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:57,720 What the Lord wants and we all fail but. 324 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:02,720 It is a tough thing to face, to face with our flesh and the 325 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:03,880 temptations of the world, but the. 326 00:17:03,880 --> 00:17:06,960 Lord is stronger His holy. Spirit is stronger and if you 327 00:17:06,960 --> 00:17:10,319 chose to choose to sow to His Spirit, He will humble you and 328 00:17:10,560 --> 00:17:13,640 allow you to shine as an example of Christ's love and. 329 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:17,640 Holiness to those around you. So know your place, know his 330 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:20,680 people, know your path. That's the three so far, so. 331 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:23,079 Let's go to number. 4IN Verse. 4 of how? 332 00:17:23,079 --> 00:17:24,520 We can humble ourselves. Before God. 333 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:29,440 So here's verse 4 and when the Chief Shepherd shall appear ye. 334 00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:32,680 Shall receive. A crown of glory that fadeth not 335 00:17:32,680 --> 00:17:34,920 away. So #4. 336 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:39,320 Is to know his. Prize Now the amazing thing 337 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:42,880 about humility before the Lord is that there is a reward for. 338 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:45,640 This. The Bible speaks much about that 339 00:17:45,640 --> 00:17:48,680 the about the crowns that the Lord has laid up for us in 340 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:51,800 heaven. Not only does Peter here talk 341 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:53,680 about it, but so does the Apostle. 342 00:17:53,680 --> 00:17:56,400 Paul and his epistles, as does Jesus. 343 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:58,160 He mentions it in the Book of Revelation. 344 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:02,880 There is that crown of life and the crown of righteousness, and 345 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:06,000 that crown of glory that the Lord has for many of us. 346 00:18:06,360 --> 00:18:11,360 Peter here tells us that we if we humble ourselves to know our 347 00:18:11,360 --> 00:18:16,240 place, to know his people and to know His path for us, that there 348 00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:19,320 is a crown of. Glory waiting for us, that. 349 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:22,720 Should humble us. Not only has the Lord given us 350 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:26,760 the gift of eternal life and the power of His Holy Spirit. 351 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:30,600 To accomplish all that. He desires of us, but He also 352 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:33,760 promises us a prize. When we go to stand before him, 353 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:35,840 so there. Is encouragement to be. 354 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:38,680 Humble and to resist your pride and as I. 355 00:18:38,680 --> 00:18:40,760 Said it is not always easy for us, we. 356 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:44,040 Are fallible men and women? I know in the past. 357 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:46,520 Pastor has said something interesting about humility that 358 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:50,120 stuck with me that when you. Finally, think you're humble? 359 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,800 Then you've lost it, and it got. Me thinking, you know, humility 360 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,240 has an evil. Brother named Pride and he's. 361 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:58,680 Similar when you think you finally. 362 00:18:58,680 --> 00:19:01,680 Lost all your pride? Then he's back. 363 00:19:02,000 --> 00:19:05,240 You've got it again. So it is not an easy fight to 364 00:19:05,240 --> 00:19:08,200 humble ourselves before God. And to keep. 365 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:10,560 Cutting that root of pride every. 366 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:13,320 Time it springs up again and again and again. 367 00:19:13,760 --> 00:19:15,840 But. The Lord has promised us a 368 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:18,960 crown. Of glory if we accomplish this 369 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:20,520 so. Let that light. 370 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:23,280 A fire in your heart and make you. 371 00:19:23,360 --> 00:19:27,040 All the more passionate to be a humble servant of the Lord and 372 00:19:27,040 --> 00:19:29,520 give your time to. Him, and not to the temporary 373 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:32,600 things of this world. Now let's look at the at verse 374 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,640 five of First Peter chapter 5. So I'll read that. 375 00:19:36,280 --> 00:19:39,680 Likewise, you younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. 376 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:44,680 Yeah, all of you, be subject 1 to another, and be clothed with 377 00:19:44,680 --> 00:19:48,200 humility. For God resisted the proud and 378 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:52,280 giveth grace to the humble. So here we have it, Peter. 379 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:54,240 Finally, mentions our subject humility. 380 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:58,280 Notice that being clothed with humility is associated. 381 00:19:58,280 --> 00:20:00,960 With submission. I read that earlier from the 382 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:03,160 definition from Webster's dictionary. 383 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:07,760 The younger to the elder and in fact the whole congregation to 384 00:20:07,760 --> 00:20:10,360 each other. That is humbling to know that 385 00:20:10,360 --> 00:20:14,160 your actions are just not being watched by God, but by your 386 00:20:14,160 --> 00:20:18,120 brothers and sisters, and that God has called you to keep your 387 00:20:18,120 --> 00:20:20,960 actions subject to the rest of the congregation. 388 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:23,520 This keeps you humble. If you remember this and don't 389 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:25,560 try to think. Of yourself as better than 390 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:28,520 anyone else in the church. But more important about this 391 00:20:28,520 --> 00:20:30,600 verse for our study. Excuse. 392 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:32,880 Me. Is the last section God? 393 00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:35,840 Resisted the proud and giveth grace to the humble. 394 00:20:36,040 --> 00:20:38,200 This. Is a famous part of this verse, 395 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:39,960 and I hear it. Quoted all the time. 396 00:20:40,360 --> 00:20:42,640 That's because we have to constantly. 397 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:45,080 Remind ourselves of the danger of pride. 398 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:48,160 Because it literally gives us resistance from. 399 00:20:48,160 --> 00:20:52,360 God when we act proud. And God gives us abundant access 400 00:20:52,360 --> 00:20:55,240 to his grace when we. Humble ourselves before him. 401 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:57,240 So this. Is important for humbling 402 00:20:57,240 --> 00:20:58,880 yourself. Before God know. 403 00:20:58,880 --> 00:21:02,760 Your pride. You have to know the things that 404 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:05,840 cause pride to bubble up within yourself. 405 00:21:06,160 --> 00:21:09,480 As I stated earlier, pride has a deep root in. 406 00:21:09,480 --> 00:21:12,160 Us, we have to keep. Cutting and it keeps butting up 407 00:21:12,240 --> 00:21:16,120 over and over again, if even a drop of our. 408 00:21:16,200 --> 00:21:21,080 Ego falls on it, that's all. Pride needs is just a tiny drop 409 00:21:21,080 --> 00:21:22,560 of water. And it will. 410 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:25,160 Spring up like the terrible. Weed it is. 411 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,680 So it is. Imperative that you know what 412 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:31,800 makes you prideful, whether it. Is your work your intellect? 413 00:21:31,960 --> 00:21:34,000 Or your. Abilities or even your own 414 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:36,520 relationship with God. Any of those things can make you 415 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:38,880 prideful and think of yourself as better than others. 416 00:21:39,480 --> 00:21:42,880 For example, if you're a great singer and you love to hear. 417 00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:46,480 People praise your ability. And you give a nice little smile 418 00:21:46,480 --> 00:21:47,760 when someone. Compliments you. 419 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:48,920 Oh, thank you. Very much. 420 00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:52,680 And yet when someone corrects you or even said, oh, you hit a 421 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:56,000 wrong note and it actually causes you to be a little angry 422 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:57,480 on the inside. But how? 423 00:21:57,480 --> 00:21:59,480 Dare they? Right then? 424 00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:01,120 You. Found a source of pride for you, 425 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:04,520 and if you know what makes you proud, then you can fight it all 426 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:05,320 the more. It's a good. 427 00:22:05,320 --> 00:22:07,000 Thing to know what makes you proud. 428 00:22:08,360 --> 00:22:11,640 Because you can come before the Lord and say Lord, I know. 429 00:22:11,640 --> 00:22:13,440 You have given me this. Talent to sing. 430 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:17,120 I am letting it get to my head. Please help me to be more 431 00:22:17,120 --> 00:22:19,480 thankful to you for this ability and to take. 432 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:22,560 Criticism from others better. Many times it's earnest 433 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:24,480 criticism. They're trying to be nice, and 434 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:26,120 in fact, it helps you get even better. 435 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:29,920 I know many of the things that make me proud, and the Lord has 436 00:22:29,920 --> 00:22:33,000 shown me more of them all. The time it's it's. 437 00:22:33,000 --> 00:22:35,040 Kind of crazy when? You search your own heart and 438 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:38,880 you find how many things get to your ego, get to your pride. 439 00:22:39,480 --> 00:22:41,720 And I'm glad for it because I've got. 440 00:22:41,720 --> 00:22:45,400 God's Spirit on my. Side to help me fight those 441 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:47,880 things and to keep. Hacking away at it. 442 00:22:47,960 --> 00:22:50,080 Not only with the Holy Spirit, but with God's. 443 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:51,680 Word. That's where the Spirit sends me 444 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:54,360 when I want. To cut down my pride, he sends 445 00:22:54,360 --> 00:22:57,200 me. To this book so on our journey 446 00:22:57,200 --> 00:23:00,880 to be humble before God, we. Know we must know our place, 447 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:06,120 Know His people, Know our path, know His prize and know our 448 00:23:06,120 --> 00:23:09,080 pride. Now let us read to verse 6 to 449 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:12,200 see how we can be humbled by. Knowing his power. 450 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:15,480 And we're going to read verse 6. Humble yourselves. 451 00:23:15,480 --> 00:23:17,800 Therefore, under the mighty hand. 452 00:23:17,800 --> 00:23:20,520 Of God that he may. Exalt you in due. 453 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:23,080 Time. Now this goes hand in hand with 454 00:23:23,080 --> 00:23:24,840 our previous. Point knowing your pride. 455 00:23:25,120 --> 00:23:29,840 If you know your pride, then you know the exact person you need 456 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:33,960 to take it to God. He is the only one that can not 457 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:37,880 only destroy pride in your life, but give you the humility you 458 00:23:37,880 --> 00:23:41,040 need to serve Him. It makes me think of the. 459 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:44,840 Study that I mentioned earlier. Where I was studying about the 460 00:23:44,840 --> 00:23:47,320 characteristics. Of God it served. 461 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:53,000 Remind me of just how powerful our Creator is that there is 462 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:56,680 nothing in this creation that is beyond His reach. 463 00:23:57,000 --> 00:24:00,920 He can form entire realities with His word. 464 00:24:01,560 --> 00:24:05,800 He can shape galaxies, place stars and hang them upon 465 00:24:05,800 --> 00:24:08,600 nothing. And on the Earth He controls the 466 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:13,240 destinies of entire nations and sets up and pulls down kings. 467 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:15,120 And He has not stopped doing that today. 468 00:24:16,040 --> 00:24:20,560 If this is the Creator that I serve, that I can be more than 469 00:24:20,560 --> 00:24:24,600 confident to bring every weed of pride that has overgrown my 470 00:24:24,600 --> 00:24:27,120 heart and know that He can RIP them out with His. 471 00:24:27,120 --> 00:24:30,200 Hand. So many times we think to 472 00:24:30,200 --> 00:24:33,760 ourselves when someone slights our pride, no. 473 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:35,720 I can't. Let that go. 474 00:24:36,240 --> 00:24:38,600 I can't let that person get the better of me. 475 00:24:39,000 --> 00:24:42,440 Every time I see them, they probably think they really. 476 00:24:42,440 --> 00:24:45,720 Are better than me. Maybe we can't let that go. 477 00:24:46,000 --> 00:24:47,760 Maybe it's. Not in our power, our. 478 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:50,560 Flesh won't. Let us let that go. 479 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:53,720 But that's why we. Have to come before God. 480 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:57,400 We can't RIP that RIP out that pride with our hands. 481 00:24:57,560 --> 00:25:02,040 With the Lord God Almighty. Can if we just come before him 482 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:07,080 and and admit to him that we can't do it, we can't handle 483 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:11,800 that beast called pride that is raging within us, He will tame 484 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:15,760 it for us. He will show us exactly how he 485 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:17,560 would do it using the scriptures. 486 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:22,440 He will point you to the verses you need and then you just tell 487 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:24,720 the Lord and. Sometimes this is the difficult 488 00:25:24,720 --> 00:25:26,280 part. I. 489 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:30,400 Will listen to you, that is. Humbling yourself under the. 490 00:25:30,400 --> 00:25:33,560 Mighty hand of God, as we are commanded to do in this verse, 491 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:35,560 because many times he'll show you a verse. 492 00:25:35,560 --> 00:25:38,280 So I'll show you a whole passage from the Bible and you think, 493 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:41,360 Lord, I don't want to do it, I can't do it. 494 00:25:41,840 --> 00:25:45,760 But if you just humble yourself and say Lord, I will, I will do 495 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:47,080 it. He can help. 496 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:48,400 You. He has the power to help you. 497 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:53,400 We need that reminder that God's hand is mighty, that no amount 498 00:25:53,400 --> 00:25:56,360 of pride is beyond His ability to uproot. 499 00:25:56,760 --> 00:26:01,160 This is what it means to know His power and is a key step to 500 00:26:01,160 --> 00:26:05,800 being humble before God. Now, Speaking of steps we have 501 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:09,840 taken. 6 steps toward being. Humble before God this final. 502 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:13,040 Step is the most. Important one to attaining that. 503 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:15,000 Humility. We need to be proper servants of 504 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:16,040 God. Let's. 505 00:26:16,040 --> 00:26:19,800 Read. Together verse 7, casting all 506 00:26:19,800 --> 00:26:22,000 your care upon him. For He. 507 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:24,960 Careth for you now this is another. 508 00:26:25,080 --> 00:26:29,040 Very famous verse and usually. It is used by other Christians 509 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:32,040 to comfort us when we are worrying about things. 510 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:34,560 In our life, well. When I read this. 511 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:37,520 Verse in the Light. Of seeking humility before God. 512 00:26:37,960 --> 00:26:41,280 I see it as a way. To know his peace. 513 00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:45,160 In order to be humble, you have to have peace with. 514 00:26:45,160 --> 00:26:47,680 God. If you are struggling with 515 00:26:47,680 --> 00:26:50,880 knowing your place, knowing His people, knowing how to handle 516 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:53,920 your pride, then you need to come before God and place it 517 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:57,080 before Him because you. Don't have peace with God if 518 00:26:57,080 --> 00:26:59,680 you're struggling with these things and and they're giving 519 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:02,800 you such a hard. Time then you you do have a 520 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:05,240 problem with God and you need to come before him because the Lord 521 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:08,520 wants you to have humility and you know the only one who can 522 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:10,520 grant it to you is the Lord himself if the Lord. 523 00:27:10,520 --> 00:27:13,680 Wants you to have something. You just have to ask. 524 00:27:13,680 --> 00:27:15,840 Him for it and be willing to do whatever. 525 00:27:15,840 --> 00:27:19,440 He asks you to do. He's the one that can show you 526 00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:22,880 your place in His Kingdom and not let whatever position He 527 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:26,120 gives you get to your head. He's the one that can help you 528 00:27:26,280 --> 00:27:28,840 have a heart that's interested in knowing your fellow 529 00:27:28,840 --> 00:27:31,840 Christians and sharing with them in their struggles. 530 00:27:32,160 --> 00:27:35,880 He's the only one that can show you how to walk as a Christian 531 00:27:36,080 --> 00:27:38,720 and how to be a great example of those around you. 532 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:42,160 You must always remember that no matter what you are struggling 533 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:45,680 with when it comes to humility, you can come before Him and He 534 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:47,720 can give you the instructions. That you need. 535 00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:50,600 Now let's turn to Matthew 11 and read a. 536 00:27:50,920 --> 00:27:52,520 Few well known. Verses we're going to start. 537 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:58,000 With verse 28. So let's turn to Matthew 11, 538 00:27:58,040 --> 00:28:00,320 verse 28. So give. 539 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:02,320 Me one moment to turn over there myself. 540 00:28:02,720 --> 00:28:09,560 Let's see. All right, I'll start at verse 541 00:28:09,560 --> 00:28:14,400 28. Come unto me, all ye that labor. 542 00:28:14,480 --> 00:28:18,560 And are heavy laden and. I will give you rest, take my 543 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:23,240 yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in 544 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:27,640 heart, and ye shall find rest under your souls, for my yoke is 545 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:29,880 easy and my. Burden is light. 546 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:34,480 When you come to God. In the name of his Son, Jesus, 547 00:28:34,760 --> 00:28:36,320 he. Can lighten that burden of. 548 00:28:36,320 --> 00:28:39,360 Pride that weighs so heavily upon your shoulders. 549 00:28:39,560 --> 00:28:41,760 And teach you to be meek and lowly. 550 00:28:41,760 --> 00:28:45,640 Of heart as his son was. If we believe that God is 551 00:28:45,640 --> 00:28:47,840 working in our life to conform. Us to the. 552 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:51,640 Image of his son as it says. In Romans 829 it says this for. 553 00:28:51,640 --> 00:28:57,000 Whom He did for know, He also did predestinate to be conformed 554 00:28:57,000 --> 00:29:00,400 to the image of His Son. Then we need to have absolute 555 00:29:00,400 --> 00:29:04,640 trust in God that we can come to Him as we struggle constantly to 556 00:29:04,640 --> 00:29:08,400 be like Christ. Humility is a key to being like 557 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:12,000 Jesus Christ because He. Is the ultimate example of 558 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:14,520 humility. And since we know that the 559 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:18,880 burden of pride will always be there, we need to be prepared to 560 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:22,080 bring it to him as. Often as necessary to. 561 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:24,280 Keep our yoke easy. And our burden. 562 00:29:24,280 --> 00:29:28,120 Light, because that rest our souls need from our pride can 563 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:29,960 only be attained for being in Christ. 564 00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:31,560 I mean, think carefully about this. 565 00:29:31,560 --> 00:29:35,240 Brothers and sisters, our seven. Practical ways to be humbled 566 00:29:35,240 --> 00:29:38,080 before God are all perfectly. Fulfilled in Christ. 567 00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:43,800 Christ is the King of kings, yet He humbled himself and came in 568 00:29:43,800 --> 00:29:45,640 the form. Of a servant as it. 569 00:29:45,640 --> 00:29:49,280 Says in the book of Philippians, Christ is the holy One of 570 00:29:49,280 --> 00:29:53,320 Israel, and yet he came and allowed to dwell in the middle. 571 00:29:53,320 --> 00:29:57,520 Of an unholy world. Christ is the Creator of 572 00:29:57,520 --> 00:30:01,560 mankind, and yet He bent down and washed the feet of His 573 00:30:01,560 --> 00:30:03,800 disciples, which were His own creation. 574 00:30:04,280 --> 00:30:08,520 Why did He do these things? Because He knows his place in 575 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:12,080 His Kingdom. He is the Messiah, the only one 576 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:15,360 that can save mankind. He has to be the ultimate 577 00:30:15,360 --> 00:30:18,840 example to us because we have gone completely. 578 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:21,440 Astray. And thus he came to show us 579 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:24,040 exactly how we should live our lives. 580 00:30:24,480 --> 00:30:28,480 He knew his place, He knew his people and what they needed. 581 00:30:28,720 --> 00:30:31,600 And he knew the path he had to take in this life to be the 582 00:30:31,600 --> 00:30:33,040 ultimate. Example to us. 583 00:30:33,320 --> 00:30:36,640 He knew the prize he would receive of his Father, which is 584 00:30:36,640 --> 00:30:40,040 all power in heaven and earth that he received upon his 585 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:44,280 resurrection from the dead. He had no pride at all, and yet 586 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:47,600 he knew how to deal with the source of all pride, the devil 587 00:30:47,600 --> 00:30:51,040 himself, and destroy the works of the Prince of Pride in this 588 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:54,000 world. He knows the power of God 589 00:30:54,160 --> 00:30:57,680 because he has been with the Father for all eternity and 590 00:30:57,680 --> 00:31:01,680 knows that all the Father has, he has put into the hand of him 591 00:31:01,680 --> 00:31:05,240 as his Son. And above all, he knows the 592 00:31:05,240 --> 00:31:09,680 peace that God brings and sought his Father constantly in prayer, 593 00:31:09,880 --> 00:31:13,280 taking everything to the Father in prayer, even the night before 594 00:31:13,280 --> 00:31:16,800 he was crucified. Everything we imagine about 595 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:20,840 humility, about humbling ourselves before God so we can 596 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:23,560 serve Him, can be found in Jesus Christ. 597 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:27,560 If we study His life. If we study our Savior to see 598 00:31:27,560 --> 00:31:31,800 how He conducted Himself in every situation, we can learn 599 00:31:31,800 --> 00:31:36,840 that lowliness of mind that is so necessary to be successful as 600 00:31:36,840 --> 00:31:39,960 a servant of God. This is a serious matter. 601 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:43,040 As I said at the beginning of this message, pride is an 602 00:31:43,040 --> 00:31:45,600 abomination before the Lord. And God. 603 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:49,440 'S grace is given to the humble. As fallible men and women, we 604 00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:51,560 need as much of God's grace as possible. 605 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:54,600 So we need to have as much humility as possible about who 606 00:31:54,600 --> 00:31:59,280 we are and how unworthy we are on the sight of God once we see 607 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:02,840 ourselves as only having worth in Christ and Christ. 608 00:32:02,840 --> 00:32:05,960 Alone our. Pride can be melted, and we can 609 00:32:05,960 --> 00:32:08,840 serve him with a heart unbridled by the weight of pride. 610 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:12,240 So if we. Know our place. 611 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:15,280 Do God's will. For our life without lording it 612 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:17,360 over others. Know his people. 613 00:32:17,720 --> 00:32:21,240 Care for God's people as our brothers and sisters. 614 00:32:21,800 --> 00:32:25,320 Know our path. Walk in a way that is pleasing 615 00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:29,400 to God rather than ourselves. Know his prize. 616 00:32:29,640 --> 00:32:32,720 Keep our eyes on the. Ultimate reward of our. 617 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:37,160 Faith know our pride. Fight against these. 618 00:32:37,160 --> 00:32:40,480 Things that make us stumble. Know his power. 619 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:42,680 Desire. God's power in this. 620 00:32:42,680 --> 00:32:46,360 Life to change our hearts. And finally know his and and 621 00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:50,640 know our peace, that peace that we can only have when we bring 622 00:32:50,640 --> 00:32:54,440 all our pride to God our Father and lay it bare before Him. 623 00:32:54,840 --> 00:32:59,200 Then we can finally live the humble lives that God desires 624 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:00,000 for us. And He will. 625 00:33:00,000 --> 00:33:02,600 Do great and amazing things through us. 626 00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:07,120 He will strengthen those around us and draw others the loss to 627 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:08,680 us. To hear the gospel. 628 00:33:08,920 --> 00:33:12,480 Which is the only thing that can save the souls of mankind. 629 00:33:12,880 --> 00:33:15,920 Humbling ourselves under the mighty hand of God so that we 630 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:20,040 can share the good news of Jesus Christ without shame that our 631 00:33:20,040 --> 00:33:23,200 sins have separated us from God and the only way to be 632 00:33:23,200 --> 00:33:26,720 reconciled is to call upon the name of Jesus Christ. 633 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:29,320 That requires humility, the world. 634 00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:31,600 Wants us to make us. Think this is a shameful thing 635 00:33:31,840 --> 00:33:34,400 that we're weird that were strange don't bother these 636 00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:36,920 people that's what the devil always tells us but if we're. 637 00:33:36,920 --> 00:33:38,640 Humble. We won't care. 638 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:40,960 We know it's all a lie. We know it's the most. 639 00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:44,280 Important thing we have to do in this life, I believe, Pastor 640 00:33:44,280 --> 00:33:46,920 said before, if he didn't have. Anything for us to do? 641 00:33:47,120 --> 00:33:50,080 He would have taken us already. But we have work to do and we 642 00:33:50,080 --> 00:33:53,640 need humility to do it. So let us come to God and apply 643 00:33:53,640 --> 00:33:55,760 these 7 principles to in our life. 644 00:33:56,000 --> 00:33:58,040 And become humble before him. Now that's. 645 00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:00,720 The end of my message but. There's something I wanted to 646 00:34:00,720 --> 00:34:03,080 share. So it was a little. 647 00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:08,040 While ago now, but Jim Ritchie, Jim Ritchie, sorry, I would say 648 00:34:08,040 --> 00:34:12,679 Jim Ritch, Jim Sue's husband. We Ed, Gianna and and myself. 649 00:34:12,679 --> 00:34:16,560 We went over their house to have dinner a while ago and Jim gave 650 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:20,480 me these small books about. Different Christians from the 651 00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:22,600 past. Many of them are preachers. 652 00:34:22,600 --> 00:34:25,199 Some of them had other roles as missionaries. 653 00:34:25,199 --> 00:34:26,719 I know Fanny Crosby was one of them. 654 00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:28,960 And. One of the books really touched 655 00:34:28,960 --> 00:34:30,719 my heart when it. Comes to this subject of 656 00:34:30,719 --> 00:34:33,199 humility. It was about Sam Jones. 657 00:34:33,199 --> 00:34:35,960 He was a preacher that lived in the 1800s. 658 00:34:36,400 --> 00:34:39,960 He was born in Alabama. He moved around between Texas, 659 00:34:40,040 --> 00:34:41,800 Kentucky. I believe he finally settled in 660 00:34:41,800 --> 00:34:45,480 Cartersville, GA. But just reading, reading about 661 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:48,000 his story, you know, when he was young. 662 00:34:48,000 --> 00:34:51,159 His mother died, and you know her parting words were about 663 00:34:51,159 --> 00:34:54,120 wanting to see him in heaven. And he took that to heart and 664 00:34:54,120 --> 00:34:55,600 stayed. With him the rest of his life 665 00:34:56,040 --> 00:34:58,440 and as he grew up, he seemed like a sharp young man. 666 00:34:58,440 --> 00:35:01,680 His family, his father, end up serving in the Confederate Army 667 00:35:01,680 --> 00:35:04,040 and they had to move. But eventually he became a 668 00:35:04,040 --> 00:35:07,320 really, really good lawyer. But the problem was this. 669 00:35:07,600 --> 00:35:10,480 That he had a very bad bout of nervousness. 670 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:13,160 He had a nervous disorder, and it led him to drinking. 671 00:35:13,840 --> 00:35:16,800 And it was said when I read this book, it was said about him 672 00:35:16,800 --> 00:35:18,760 that, you know, when he was sober, he was an amazing 673 00:35:18,760 --> 00:35:21,200 attorney. But when he was drunk, he was 674 00:35:21,200 --> 00:35:23,800 worthless. And eventually that drinking 675 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:27,320 cost him his career. You know his family had to move. 676 00:35:27,560 --> 00:35:31,440 And he became a firestoker, working 12 hours a day. 677 00:35:31,600 --> 00:35:33,680 And his wife was pleading. With him, his wife's name was 678 00:35:33,680 --> 00:35:35,320 Laura. Laura was pleading with him. 679 00:35:35,320 --> 00:35:39,360 Please, please stop it. But he wouldn't the alcohol. 680 00:35:39,360 --> 00:35:42,680 Had control of him. And so eventually what happened 681 00:35:42,680 --> 00:35:44,240 is he. Received a letter that his dad 682 00:35:44,240 --> 00:35:46,480 was about to pass away so he went to go see him. 683 00:35:46,840 --> 00:35:48,760 And I don't remember his dad's exact. 684 00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:50,480 Words. But his dad basically told him, 685 00:35:50,720 --> 00:35:53,920 You know, my poor wretched son, you know, you've, you've 686 00:35:54,080 --> 00:35:56,760 basically disappointed me. You made your wife miserable. 687 00:35:57,080 --> 00:35:59,600 But I hope that your mother and I will see you in heaven. 688 00:36:00,080 --> 00:36:02,760 And those words broke his heart. It broke his heart. 689 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:05,760 And he promised him I will turn my life around. 690 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:07,400 I will. So what? 691 00:36:07,400 --> 00:36:11,840 Happened is one day. He was at the bar and he saw his 692 00:36:11,840 --> 00:36:15,080 own reflection in the mirror and he saw his clothes matted with 693 00:36:15,080 --> 00:36:19,040 vomit. His hair all messed up and he 694 00:36:19,040 --> 00:36:22,280 says this was become. Of the great Sam Jones and he 695 00:36:22,280 --> 00:36:25,400 just fell to the ground, just saying over and over again for 696 00:36:25,400 --> 00:36:28,200 God to help him. And the bartender thought he was 697 00:36:28,200 --> 00:36:30,320 dying, but he said. Just leave me alone. 698 00:36:30,720 --> 00:36:33,800 And he went out. And he spent more money he had. 699 00:36:34,320 --> 00:36:36,640 To get a new. Suit he cleaned himself up and 700 00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:40,480 he went home to see his wife. And when he got home, he walked. 701 00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:44,680 In and he said to his wife. Honey God. 702 00:36:44,680 --> 00:36:47,640 Has given you and the children a new husband. 703 00:36:49,480 --> 00:36:51,520 And actually this isn't. About him, it's actually about 704 00:36:51,520 --> 00:36:53,600 his wife, Laura, because in the testimony. 705 00:36:53,600 --> 00:36:55,360 This is Sam Dunn's. Own testimony, he said. 706 00:36:55,520 --> 00:36:58,080 He went home to his wife. Who he had. 707 00:36:58,080 --> 00:37:01,480 Finished beating black and blue. And said that to her, you know 708 00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:04,440 what she said to him? Hallelujah, Hallelujah. 709 00:37:04,440 --> 00:37:05,880 This is what I've been praying for. 710 00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:08,360 And, and there's not a lot in there about his wife, Laura. 711 00:37:08,360 --> 00:37:13,560 But when I read that, I said how, you know, how could a woman 712 00:37:14,160 --> 00:37:18,480 stay in that house, allowing a man to beat her black and blue 713 00:37:18,960 --> 00:37:23,360 and destroy the future of his family with his drinking cost 714 00:37:23,360 --> 00:37:27,120 him his career? How could she stay there with 715 00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:31,120 that man and be praying for him? And I don't. 716 00:37:31,120 --> 00:37:32,960 Have much more to. Say other than that's humility. 717 00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:36,440 And I, I personally, I know today if, if we knew anybody, if 718 00:37:36,440 --> 00:37:37,800 we knew a woman who was going before. 719 00:37:38,120 --> 00:37:40,680 Through that we would say you have every right to leave and 720 00:37:40,680 --> 00:37:43,240 please get somewhere safe. You can come stay with me for a 721 00:37:43,240 --> 00:37:45,480 while until we figure out something, but she. 722 00:37:45,480 --> 00:37:49,200 Chose to stay. And I don't have a doubt that. 723 00:37:49,320 --> 00:37:51,760 She went to the Lord about it probably every day. 724 00:37:51,840 --> 00:37:56,480 And her job was to stay, to stay to see Sam Jones get saved. 725 00:37:56,880 --> 00:37:59,520 And that's the kind of humility we need to have as Christians. 726 00:37:59,520 --> 00:38:02,960 I don't, I don't have it. I hope one day I have one tent, 727 00:38:02,960 --> 00:38:05,280 that much humility. But that's the sort of humility 728 00:38:05,280 --> 00:38:07,680 we need to have as Christians. So let's all pray together. 729 00:38:08,400 --> 00:38:10,840 Heavenly Father, I pray to. Thee, in the name of our Lord 730 00:38:10,840 --> 00:38:12,240 Jesus Christ. Lord, I thank you so. 731 00:38:12,240 --> 00:38:14,600 Much for allowing me to preach in this church tonight. 732 00:38:14,600 --> 00:38:18,040 Lord, I'm humbled that I get to share your word, that I get to 733 00:38:18,040 --> 00:38:22,360 preach from the words of the eternal God and, and, and get to 734 00:38:22,360 --> 00:38:23,840 share this message with everybody. 735 00:38:23,840 --> 00:38:25,840 Lord, please let this. Message work in our hearts. 736 00:38:26,240 --> 00:38:29,000 Please humble all of us Lord. And I and I need it so much. 737 00:38:29,160 --> 00:38:31,000 I need to be constantly humbled everyday Lord. 738 00:38:31,000 --> 00:38:33,400 And I just pray that this message has helped everyone in 739 00:38:33,400 --> 00:38:35,720 here, that it touches their hearts and that it encourages 740 00:38:35,720 --> 00:38:39,080 them to serve you with all their hearts, to live their life for 741 00:38:39,080 --> 00:38:41,040 you, my Lord Jesus Christ. And not for whatever. 742 00:38:41,040 --> 00:38:43,280 Whatever things we might be. Wasting our time on. 743 00:38:43,520 --> 00:38:46,080 So, Lord, thank you so. Much, Lord, for giving me this? 744 00:38:46,080 --> 00:38:47,720 Privilege. I pray that everyone. 745 00:38:47,720 --> 00:38:50,720 Here gets home tonight safely, Lord, and let us all just 746 00:38:50,720 --> 00:38:52,200 continue to. Look to you for everything in 747 00:38:52,200 --> 00:38:53,200 the name of. Thy son Jesus. 748 00:38:53,200 --> 00:38:54,560 Christ do I pray. Amen.