Genesis: Creation, Fall, and Dominion

Biblical Humility

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: Old Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2019-04-21

Synopsis: John Weaver examines biblical humility from Acts 20:17–21, defining it as a state of mind, a state of dependence upon God, and a state of blessing. He contrasts the world's pride with the humility of God the Father and God the Son, and calls believers to humble themselves in order to receive God's grace and revival.

[John Weaver] But today, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 20, Acts chapter 20, and I'm going to be dealing with biblical humility, biblical humility. Notice if you would, Acts chapter 20, and let's begin reading verse 17 and we'll read through verse 21. Acts 20, verse 17, and from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mine, and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait

[John Weaver] of the Jews, and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you and have taught you publicly and from house to house. testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Biblical humility. There are not very many messages on the subject of biblical humility. In fact, most Christians really and truly have no idea concerning the source, the essence, or even the value of humility.

[John Weaver] We are basically what you and I would call smug, conceited, and proud in our knowledge, in our positions, and in our stances. One of the clearest evidences that we do not really understand biblical humility, and one of the clearest evidences that we do not possess biblical humility, is because we always endeavor and we attempt to make and to force others to believe as we do. We don't just simply teach and pray and wait upon the Lord. Consequently, what we do is we demand that others see exactly as we see. The very fact is humility, that is biblical humility, has been given a bad rap by gross misrepresentations.

[John Weaver] Fun has been poked at the subject as well as individuals who are truly humble. Each one of us has heard jokingly of a book that was entitled Humility and how I attained it. Well, obviously, if there was such a book like that, the author would no longer have humility since he titled it Humility and How I Obtained It. Years ago, and I told you this, but it's always stuck in my mind.

[John Weaver] I saw a cartoon that showed two monks walking side by side in their long robes, and they had their arms up the sleeve. And one monk looked at the other monk and said, you know, It kind of makes you proud that we're so humble, doesn't it? Well, that's exactly about the way it goes. Here in South Georgia, especially July and August, there's usually kind of a joke that goes around. When we're hot and sweaty in those three shower days, we say, well, there's just too much humidity in the air. But many tend to think That just because they have poor posture, that they are humble. Humility is not poor posture. I have known people who walked around all the time with their head down, looking at the ground. That's not humility, that's poor posture.

[John Weaver] And it probably indicates an inferiority complex as well, because they're ashamed or afraid to look someone in the eye. It certainly is not biblical humility by any stretch of the imagination. I have to say this, that the world does not appreciate humility. In fact, in the world, humility is not a grace, but it is a disgrace. Proud, arrogant, and haughty, the world laughs. in the face of true humility.

[John Weaver] In the world, the proper attitude is demand your rights, get your way, do whatever it takes, kick the man out from in front of you if he's in your way. Just do what you need to do. Destroy your opponent. You succeed at all costs. That's the attitude of the world. In fact, if you will hold Acts chapter 20, but look very quickly in your Bibles to the book of Psalms, Psalm 73. Look, if you would, as Asap describes the proud very clearly. Look in Psalm 73, and let's begin reading there with verse 6. Psalm 73, verse 6. In fact, Psalm 73 itself is a wonderful psalm, but look, if you would, Psalm 73, verse 6. He's talking about the wicked. He says, in fact, verse 3, just pointed out, he says, For I was envious of the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Now look at verse 4.

[John Weaver] For there are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm. They're not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore, pride compassionate them about as a chain. Violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness. They have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt and speak wickedly. Concerning oppression, they speak loftily. They set their mouths against the heavens and their tongue walking through the earth. Therefore, his people return thither, and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

[John Weaver] And they say, How doth God know, and is their knowledge in the Most High? Behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in the world, they increase in riches." So he's describing these wicked people as being proud and arrogant and willing to curse God, curse heaven, curse man, it does not matter to them. If you were to stop and think just momentarily of a contrast, when you think of a contrast in Psalm 73, verses 6-12 particularly, with the description and the statement that Jacob gave in Genesis 32 in verse 10, where Jacob said to God, I'm not worthy of the least of thy mercies and for all the truth which thou hast showed unto thy servant. I'm not worthy of the least of thy mercies. Consider what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15 in verse 9. He said, for I am the least of the apostles. and not need to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. But note what he said, I am the least of the apostles, and yet probably he was one of the greatest.

[John Weaver] But he said, I am the least. And when you get to Ephesians three and verse eight, he said unto me who am less than the least of all the saints. Is this grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ? So Paul said he was the least of the apostles, and he also said he was the least of the saints.

[John Weaver] Now, there's a vast difference between the proud and the truly humble, unless you begin to think that there are no advantages to real, true biblical humility. Let me show you some scriptures. I want you to look in Psalm 51. Psalm 51, verses 16 and 17. In this passage, David, of course, is confessing his sin, but note what he says. Psalm 51, verse 16. He says, For thou desirest not sacrifice, else would I give it. Thou didst not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite or humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. So God's not going to despise a broken and contrite or humbled heart. If you would turn right over to the book of Proverbs and look in chapter 22 and verse 4. Proverbs 22 and verse 4. Note if you would what the scripture tells us. We're talking about humility. Proverbs 22 and verse 4. The Bible says by humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life. By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life.

[John Weaver] Then if you would turn right over to Isaiah 57 and look if you would please at verse 15. Isaiah 57 and verse 15. Just trying to show you some advantages of real biblical humility. Isaiah 57 verse 15. God says, For thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy. Look what God says. I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. God said I dwell with such. Do you remember what our Lord said in Matthew 18 and verse 4? He said, whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. So God's richest blessings are really and truly upon those who are humble in spirit. Now, there is a principle that is enunciated by our Lord in the scripture.

[John Weaver] I want you to listen to this. I want you to think about this. You'll find it in Matthew 23, verse 12. And this is what our Lord said. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." God said if you exalt yourself, you're going to go down. If you humble yourself, you're going to come up. So our Lord is setting forth the punishment for the proud and the promotion for the humble. If you exalt yourself, you'll be brought down. If you humble yourself, you'll be taken up.

[John Weaver] Augustine, one of the early church fathers, said this, Lo, here is a great miracle. God is on high, and yet the higher thou liftest up thyself, the farther thou art from him. The lower thou humblest thyself, the nearer he draweth near to thee. Low things he looketh close upon, that he may raise them. proud things, he knows afar off that he may depress them. So although God is high, the more we exalt ourself, the further we get from him.

[John Weaver] Now, I will show you from the scripture. The two greatest examples of humility. I suppose it could possibly ever exist. I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would, first of all, to Psalm 113. I remember years and years ago, I preached the message from this passage. I've never preached this message here, but it is indeed a very, to me, a very beneficial blessing because of the truth that it's taught here in Psalm 113. I want you to look in Psalm 113, verse 5. Here's the first illustration of humility that I'm going to give you. Psalm 113, verse 5. Note the question.

[John Weaver] Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high? Verse 6. Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth. Note that. Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high? Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth? The very fact that God condescends to behold His creation and His creatures is an act of humility on His part. What right does anyone have to demand that God give them attention? What right does anyone have to demand that God look upon our needs and our desires?

[John Weaver] And the answer is none. You remember it was in Psalm 8 verse 4. That David asks this question to God, what is man that thou art mindful of him and the Son of man that thou visitest him? In other words, God, who are we that you should even condescend to look upon us, that you would even condescend to consider us? So it's humility on the part of God the Father. Not only to consider his creation, but his creatures as well.

[John Weaver] We have nothing and we deserve nothing. And David said it like this in Psalm 14, verse 17. But I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon me. Isn't that amazing? I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon me. It is an act of God's humility just to think upon us. Has that ever hit your mind? The greatest thing that God could think about would be himself, for he is the greatest of all. But God condescends to think of us. I'm poor and needy, yet the Lord thinks upon me. The second illustration you already know, but if you would turn in your Bibles to the book of Philippians, chapter five, of chapter 2, beginning with verse 5. Philippians 2, verse 5, and we'll read through verse 8. Here's the greatest example of humility outside of the humility of God the Father, and of course it involves the humility of God the Son. The Bible says in Philippians 2 and verse 5, let this mind be in you, which also was in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and being made

[John Weaver] in the likeness of man, and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death on the cross." He humbled himself. and became obedient unto death, even the death on the cross. So here is the blessed Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, who inhabited eternity, who is the majestic, royal God incarnate. And he humbled himself and became flesh. And he humbled himself and died in our stead.

[John Weaver] I want you to listen to a quote that I'm going to give you by Adam Clark. If you understand these two illustrations, you're going to understand the quote by Adam Clark. He said this, the way to arrive at the highest degree of dignity in the sight of God is by being willing to become the servant of all. Nothing is more hateful in his sight than pride to bring it into everlasting contempt. God was manifest in the flesh. He who was in the likeness of God took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man and humbled himself unto death. After this, can God look upon any proud man without abasing him? Spiritual lordship and dominion, ecclesiastical luxury, pomp and pride must be an abhorrence in the sight of God.

[John Weaver] Did you hear what he said? After the humility of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is impossible for God to look upon pride and arrogance and haughtiness without abasing it. These are the two greatest examples of humility in the Bible. I can confess that there are and were many humble servants of God in history and time past. Many are recorded in the Bible, but none can exceed the humility of God the Father and the humility of God the Son.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back to our text. I want you to go back to Acts chapter 20, because there's at least three truths that I need to show you from this passage. The first one may be relatively shocking. Notice in Acts chapter 20 in verse 19, what the Apostle Paul, he's teaching and speaking to these elders, to these pastors whom he is called. And he says in verse 19, in fact, let's read verse 18.

[John Weaver] He said, when they were come to him and he said to them, you know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I've been with you at all seasons, now watch, serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying way of the Jews. The very first thing I want you to see is this humility, true humility. Biblical humility is a state of mind. That's what he said, serving the Lord with all humility of mind. Now, the Greek word for humility literally means humbleness of mind, loneliness or loneliness of mind. It means that we're to have a humble opinion of ourselves. It means that we're to have a deep sense of our smallness and insignificance. and to comprehend the real truth about ourselves. True humility thinks like this, I am nothing and I deserve nothing.

[John Weaver] Consequently, the person who is truly and genuinely humble is thankful and grateful and appreciative for everything. You want to know Why today there is no real gratitude, no thankfulness, no appreciation that is shown by men and women, boys and girls, it's because there's no humility. When you think you deserve everything and everything should be given unto you, you're not humble and you cannot be thankful. You cannot be grateful. You cannot be appreciative.

[John Weaver] The Bible teaches us in Proverbs 23 and verse 7, as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. And when you consider the remarkable life of the Apostle Paul, you would tend to think that this man had to be proud. I mean, here was the Apostle Paul who was knocked down by the sovereign God of heaven and earth on the road to Damascus. Here was a man that according to his own testimony, was spoken to by the Lord personally, and he said, was born as one out of due season. Here's a man whom our Lord said, I will show you what great things that you must suffer for my namesake. Here's a man that blazed missionary trails. Here's a man who is an evangelist. Here's a man that committed and did miracles. Here's a man that did all kinds. Here's a man that God used to write three quarters of the New Testament.

[John Weaver] And what does he say? Serving the Lord with all humility of mind. Because he said, I'm the least of the apostles. I'm the least of the saints. Albert Barnes says this. Without arrogance, pride or spirit of dictation, without a desire to lord it over God's heritage, without being elated with the authority of the apostolic office, the variety of miracles which he was able to perform or the success which attended his labors, What an admirable model for all who are in the ministry, for all who are endowed with talents and learning, and for all who meet with remarkable success in their work. The proper effect of such success and of such talent will be to produce true humility. Eminent success in the work of the ministry tends to produce lowliness and humbleness of mind, and the greatest endowments are usually connected with the most simple and childlike humility." What is he saying? If we understand what the ministry is all about, which the Apostle Paul is teaching to these pastors, it is humbleness of mine.

[John Weaver] I want to show you, turn over in your Bibles, whole Acts 20, but turn, if you would, to the book of Romans, Chapter 12, Romans, Chapter 12. And look, if you would please, at verse three. I'm going to submit something to you. And that is this. We would not be nearly as proud and arrogant and haughty as we are if we really and truly obeyed Romans 12 and verse 3. Look what we have been commanded.

[John Weaver] Paul said, For I say through the grace given unto me to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Now, he tells us that we're not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. So what the Apostle Paul is saying now, this is in regard to our thinking. This is in regard to our mind. We're not to think more highly of ourselves.

[John Weaver] The Greek word is actually kuperephroneo. It means to really think exceedingly high of yourself. You're thinking superabundant thoughts. Have you ever noticed when you're daydreaming? And you're daydreaming about other people, maybe saving someone or helping someone, you're always the hero in your own thoughts. Isn't that amazing? That's because we just have super thoughts about ourselves. We never consider the fact of really, truly who we are and what we are.

[John Weaver] Now, the apostle also in this same verse admonishes us to think soberly. So for now, which means, listen to me, it means to be in your right mind, to have a sound mind. So that's what the apostle is telling us. It's when we're proud, arrogant, haughty, demanded, and high-minded, at the same time, we're demented. We're crazy. We're not in our right minds. Because we're not thinking soberly.

[John Weaver] I've used this before, but I will tell you again. Would you consider me in my right mind if I invited every one of you to a concert? Where I was doing all the singing. You would have to think he's out of his mind because he can't sing. And that would be true. God has never given me the gift of music. I have difficulty playing the radio. That's okay. I'm just simply saying, we have to learn to think soberly about ourselves.

[John Weaver] In Acts chapter 20, this is the thing that amazes me. Paul is speaking to these Ephesian elders. They are pastors. And the amazing thing that the Apostle Paul communicates to these preachers is not how successful he has been in the ministry. It is not how many converts that he has won. It is not how many missionary trips he has taken. It is not how much learning that he has acquired.

[John Weaver] He said, serving the Lord with all humility of mind. Do you realize it is very possible, in fact, very easy to be puffed up and to be proud in the ministry, in the service of the Lord and in the worship of the Lord? Sometimes we give sacrificially. And the next thing you know, we're thinking, well, I did a really good thing then. The Lord must be smiling.

[John Weaver] How would you define that pride? Well, I really preached good yesterday, really. How would you define that pride? The Lord does bless. The Lord does give liberty and freedom in preaching, but that's his grace and that's his mercy. And the truth of the matter is, this is probably one of the reasons why in First Timothy, chapter three and verse six, one of the qualifications of a pastor is this, not being a novice. a neophyte, one newly admitted to the faith, lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into condemnation of the devil. So it is very easy then for Christians to become pride as well. And the truth is that many dangers surround us, and we easily and quickly fall into the sin of pride.

[John Weaver] Loneliness of mind, humbleness of mind, Means that we're willing to share even our trials and our tribulations. If you look back at Acts chapter 20, look what the Apostle Paul said in verse 19, serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying way of the Jews. So Paul is not ashamed to say, look, there were tears. He's not ashamed to say there were temptations. He's not ashamed to say there was trouble.

[John Weaver] I used to know a pastor. He's now dead. But you could ask him, how are things going? His standard answer was this great and getting better. Which was not true. Because they lost their church building, they lost a lot of people, but every time you say everything's great and getting better, the Apostle Paul didn't say that. He said, look, I'm in the ministry and the ministry is tears and trials and tribulations. And if you're truly humble, you are quite willing to share those things because everything is not great and getting better.

[John Weaver] I want you to show I want to show you this. Look in your Bibles to the book of Luke, chapter 22. You see. You've got to understand. If the apostles had problems with pride, it's very easy for you and I to have problems with pride as well. In Luke chapter 22, beginning there with verse 24, I want you to see this. Luke 22, notice if you would please, verse 24. Now we're talking about, please, we're talking about the apostles. Notice if you would please.

[John Weaver] And there was also a strife among them. That is the twelve. Which of them should be counted the greatest? And our Lord said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so. But he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he that is chief as he that doth serve. For whether is greater He that sitteth of meat, or he that serveth, is not he that sitteth of meat, but I am among you as one that serveth. So there's a strife among the apostles. Which one should be accounted the greatest? The Lord used them. He used them all.

[John Weaver] Jesus Christ had a servant's heart. He served. He ministered. He was a lowly minded servant who wanted to be obedient to his father and to please him in all things. You know what he said in Matthew 20 and verse 28? For even as a son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many. He said, I didn't come to be ministered unto. I came to minister.

[John Weaver] And unhappily, there are a lot of pastors, there are a lot of Christians. If you don't give them the attention they need and throw them over your shoulder and burp them like a little baby, they're upset. Their feelings are hurt. You don't appreciate me. You don't love me. What? Every Christian ought to emulate our Lord. We come not to be ministered unto, but to minister. And that's what the Apostle Paul is saying.

[John Weaver] True humility is indeed a state of mind. Let me give you two quotes. The first one by Matthew Poole. Matthew Poole said he is an infamous doctor in the Church of Christ who thinks himself too high or too great to be a minister in it. For God will abase and men shall abase him who exalted himself. God resisted, and men usually condemn and despise the proud, especially ministers who are so. Both God shall exalt and men shall honor those that humble themselves, both to men condescending to those of low decree, and to their work, thinking not the meanest ministry to souls or work beneath them." Then John Gill, said this, meaning, in the ministration of the gospel, being conscious to himself of his own weakness and insufficiency in himself for such service, No way is he elated with those excellent and extraordinary gifts bestowed upon him, ascribing all to the success, to the power, grace, and spirit of God, treating no man with contempt and disdain, nor lording it over God's heritage, or claiming a dominion over the faith of men, nor seeking honor and riches for himself, nor even what he had a just right unto, a maintenance from the people, but labored with his own hands and to his own and the necessities

[John Weaver] of others. Wow. So, true humility, first of all, is a state of mind. I want you to look, if you would, in 2 Corinthians 12 and verse 11. I want you to look at what the Apostle Paul said. 2 Corinthians 12 and verse 11. Please understand, true humility, first of all, is a state of mind. He said, After telling everything that he had gone through and the Lord had used him in and the things that had been accomplished, he said, verse 11, I become a fool and glorying.

[John Weaver] You have compelled me for all to have been commended of you for nothing. Am I behind the very chiefest apostles? Though I be nothing. Isn't that amazing? Paul said, it's true, I'm not behind them. God has used me just like he used them, but I am still nothing. Nothing. True humility is a state of mind. Secondly, true humility is a state of dependence upon God. Now, think about this. If we are nothing, if we have nothing, if we can do nothing in and of ourselves, we're absolutely, totally, and completely dependent upon God our Savior.

[John Weaver] Everyone remembers what our Lord said in John 15 in verse 5. He said, without me, you can do how much? Nothing. Without me, you can do nothing. We may not realize it, But in reality, our very life hangs upon God's grace and God's mercy. Psalm 66 verse 9 tells us He holds our soul in life. Psalm 31 verse 15 says our times are in His hands. We are so absolutely, totally dependent upon Him that we cannot even breathe without Him.

[John Weaver] Have you really ever wondered about all the tests and trials and tribulations and afflictions that we face? Have you ever thought about that? Have you ever asked the question, why am I going through this trial? Why is this happening to me? Let me ask you another question just to try to answer those. Why did God take the Israelites through the desert? on the way to Canaan when there was a quicker and a shorter route. Why did God take them the long way around instead of allowing them to take a shortcut? Well, let me answer.

[John Weaver] Look in your Bibles, if you would, first of all, to Exodus chapter 13, Exodus chapter 13. And let's begin reading in verse 17, Exodus chapter 13. Watch if you would, please. Verse 17. And it came to pass when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, though that was near. For God said, lest for adventure the people repent when they see war and they return to Egypt. But God led the people about through the way of the wilderness of the Red Sea and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt. Now, God led them the long way, not the short way.

[John Weaver] Well, you're going to ask why? Well, one of the reasons is, number one, they were certainly not prepared for war. They had no military might. They had no military training. But not only that, they still possessed a slave mentality. And when they saw the enemy, there would have been a human desire to turn around and go back where at least you were comfortable, although you were suffering, you'd go back to something that you knew before. But this is not the only reason that God led them through the wilderness. I want you to turn to Deuteronomy chapter 8. I'm going to show you. Another reason why God led them, not just because of their slave mentality, and not just because they had no military training. Of course, the truth of the matter is God was protecting them.

[John Weaver] He was quite sufficient in and of himself. But notice, if you would, in Deuteronomy chapter 8, verses 2 and 3. Look what the Bible tells us. Here's another reason why God led them through the wilderness. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee and to prove thee, and to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no. And he humbled thee, watch, and he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know, that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live." God said, I led you in that wilderness to humble you. And he said, note if you would, I suffered you to hunger. Why did he suffer them to hunger? So that he might feed them.

[John Weaver] In other words, once you realize you're nothing in yourself, you have nothing, you can do nothing. Now you can depend upon me. I'm going to show you that I can take care of you and you need to learn that you need to live by every word that proceeds out of my mouth. So he suffered them to hunger that he might feed them. And a lot of times he suffers us to go through our tests and our trials and our tribulations just to demonstrate to us that he can deliver us and he can supply our needs.

[John Weaver] Look at Deuteronomy 8, beginning there with verse 11. Deuteronomy 8 and verse 11, he says this, Beware that I forget not the Lord thy God in not keeping his commandments. and his judgments and his statutes which I command thee this day. Last, when thou hast eaten, and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwell therein, when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied, and in thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water, who brought thee forth water out of the rock of Flint, who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, that he might prove thee, watch, to do thee good at thy latter end, and thou stay in thine heart, watch, here's the pride, my power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth."

[John Weaver] But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware to thy fathers, as it is this day." Notice what he said. Again, I led you and I humbled you that I might do thee good. I wanted you to understand that you are totally, completely dependent upon me. Have you ever considered the fact That if we were really truly humble, we would be far more dependent upon the Lord. And if we were far more dependent upon Him, we would not necessarily have to face all the tests and trials and afflictions that we face.

[John Weaver] Biblical humility teaches us to wait upon Him. to lean upon Him, to trust in Him, to submit to Him, to depend upon Him. And when we realize, in reality, our helplessness and our powerlessness, and the more we realize that, the more dependent we'll become upon Him. True humility is an only state of mind. True humility is evidenced by our dependence upon God. Here's the third thing. True humility is always a state of blessing. True humility is always a state of blessing. Blessings always follow obedience. Blessings always abound when we are humble in and of ourselves and we're dependent upon God. That is basically obedience.

[John Weaver] Now, I'm going to tell you. If you really want to be humbled, I can tell you how. You learn to pray. Two petitions on a regular basis. The first one is this. Lord, Show me thyself. And the second one is this, Lord, show me. Myself. You remember, God showed that to Isaiah, Isaiah chapter six. He said in the year that King Uzziah died, I saw also the Lord high lifted up in his train filled the temple. And there the seraphim, with six wings, with twain they covered their face, with twain they covered their feet, with twain they did fly, and they ceased not, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. And when you skip down, Isaiah said, Woe is me, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips. Woe is me, for mine eyes have seen the glory of God. So when he saw who God was. And he saw who he was. His response is woe is me. And of course, the seraphim took a cold from the altar and purged him.

[John Weaver] Blessed him. And then God sent him and God used him. When we are truly humble, we are in a position to receive God's blessings. I read years ago, one brother said this, he said, I used to think that God's best gifts were on the highest shelf. And the higher we grew and the higher we reached, the better we could acquire those gifts. But he said, I found out differently. God's best gifts. Are on the lowest shelf. And the more we humble ourselves and lower ourselves, the easier it is to grasp those gifts. Certainly. We have to remember, when we are humble, we are in a position to receive God's blessings.

[John Weaver] Let me show you several verses. Go in your Bibles to Psalm 9 and look, if you would please, at verse 12. Psalm 9 and verse 12. Look at what the Bible says, Psalm 9, verse 12. When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembered them. He forgetteth not the cry of the humble. He forgetteth not the cry of the humble. Look in Psalm 10 and verse 12. Arise, O Lord, O God, lift up Thine hand. Forget not the humble. Look in verse 17. Lord, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble that will prepare their heart, that will cause Thine ear to hear. You've heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause Thine ear to hear.

[John Weaver] I hope you remember King Josiah, one of the greatest revivals that ever took place under King Josiah. And in 2 Chronicles 34 and verse 27, here's what God said to Josiah, because when Josiah heard the law of God read to him, he rent his garments and he humbled himself. And God said this to Josiah, because thine heart was tender, And thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest my words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humblest thyself before me, and didst rim thy clothes and weep before me, I even also have heard thee," said the Lord. God said, because you heard me and you humbled yourself, I have heard you. You see, those who are truly humbled are in a position to have God's blessings. Those who are not humbled are in a position to receive God's judgment. You know what he said in James 4 and verse 6? Listen to this.

[John Weaver] But he giveth more grace. Wherefore, he said, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. That is, God fights against the proud. But he gives grace to the humble. In James 4 and verse 10, he said, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you or lift you up in due time. When you get to 1 Peter 5, verses 5 and 6, he says, likewise, you younger. Submit yourselves unto the Elder, yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility. Why? For God resisted the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore unto the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. Do you realize that pride is one of the things that God hates the most?

[John Weaver] And you will read that in Proverbs chapter 6. These six things that the Lord hate, yea, seven are an abomination to him, and the first one is pride.

[John Weaver] Now, I want to make just an application and I want you to think about this with me. Here is something we already know. And I submit to you that probably everyone in this room could quote this verse verbatim. Most of us can quote 2 Chronicles 7 and verse 14. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now, I want you to listen to this. If my people, which are called by my name, shall, what's the first thing? Humble themselves. Do you realize there's not going to be any praying, and there's not going to be any seeking the Lord, and there's not going to be any turning from our sins until and unless we humble ourselves. What is humility?

[John Weaver] It's a state of mind. What did Paul say? I am nothing. I can do nothing. And the way I serve the Lord is with all humility of mind. It is not what we do. It is not our plans. It is not our programs. It is not our meetings. I get tickled in one sense of the word and grieved in another sense of the word. I go by all these church buildings and hear the sign, revival this week. Would to God it was a revival. It should say meeting this week. We'll pray for revival. But God is not going to send a revival until we learn to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. So until there is true humility on the part of God's people, we're not going to be praying, we're not going to be seeking His face, and we're not going to be turning from our wicked ways.

[John Weaver] Proverbs 15 and verse 33. Listen to this. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom. And before honor is humility. Before honor is humility. If we want God to honor us, we must be humble in His sight. If we want God to use us, we must be humble in His sight. Our Lord said, I came not to be minister unto, but to minister. and to give my life a ransom for many.

[John Weaver] May I tell you where we have erred in Christianity? We have lost the servant's heart. We have lost the servant's heart. And we want to be ministered unto rather than ministering to others. When God enables us to have humility of mind. He'll give us a servant's heart. And with that servant's heart. We'll learn to pray and seek his face and turn from our wicked ways and then.

[John Weaver] He will hear and heal our land. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. We ask, Lord, that you would indeed teach us, build us up with the most holy faith, and Lord, give us true biblical humility of mind that we may serve thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Help us, Lord, to have a servant's heart. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

Biblical Humility

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	8719043326157
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Genesis: Creation, Fall, and Dominion
Genre	Sermon
Date	2019-04-21
Dictation Name
Book	Book 076: Genesis: Creation, Fall, and Dominion — Chapter 8
Source Timed Segments	63

Formatted Transcript

Introduction: The Misunderstanding of Humility

Most Christians misunderstand the source, essence, and value of humility, often confusing it with poor posture or inferiority, while the world despises it.

But today, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 20, Acts chapter 20, and I'm going to be dealing with biblical humility, biblical humility. Notice if you would, Acts chapter 20, and let's begin reading verse 17 and we'll read through verse 21. Acts 20, verse 17,

Scripture Reading — Acts 20:17-21

"And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews, and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you and have taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."

Biblical humility. There are not very many messages on the subject of biblical humility. In fact, most Christians really and truly have no idea concerning the source, the essence, or even the value of humility.

We are basically what you and I would call smug, conceited, and proud in our knowledge, in our positions, and in our stances. One of the clearest evidences that we do not really understand biblical humility, and one of the clearest evidences that we do not possess biblical humility, is because we always endeavor and we attempt to make and to force others to believe as we do. We don't just simply teach and pray and wait upon the Lord. Consequently, what we do is we demand that others see exactly as we see. The very fact is humility, that is biblical humility, has been given a bad rap by gross misrepresentations. Fun has been poked at the subject as well as individuals who are truly humble. Each one of us has heard jokingly of a book that was entitled "Humility and How I Attained It." Well, obviously, if there was such a book like that, the author would no longer have humility since he titled it "Humility and How I Obtained It." Years ago, and I told you this, but it's always stuck in my mind.

I saw a cartoon that showed two monks walking side by side in their long robes, and they had their arms up the sleeve. And one monk looked at the other monk and said, "You know, it kind of makes you proud that we're so humble, doesn't it?" Well, that's exactly about the way it goes. Here in South Georgia, especially July and August, there's usually kind of a joke that goes around. When we're hot and sweaty in those three-shower days, we say, "Well, there's just too much humidity in the air." But many tend to think that just because they have poor posture, that they are humble. Humility is not poor posture. I have known people who walked around all the time with their head down, looking at the ground. That's not humility, that's poor posture.

And it probably indicates an inferiority complex as well, because they're ashamed or afraid to look someone in the eye. It certainly is not biblical humility by any stretch of the imagination. I have to say this, that the world does not appreciate humility. In fact, in the world, humility is not a grace, but it is a disgrace. Proud, arrogant, and haughty, the world laughs in the face of true humility.

The World's Pride vs. Biblical Humility

The world promotes self-assertion and pride, as described in Psalm 73:6–12, in contrast to the humble confessions of Jacob and Paul.

In the world, the proper attitude is demand your rights, get your way, do whatever it takes, kick the man out from in front of you if he's in your way. Just do what you need to do. Destroy your opponent. You succeed at all costs. That's the attitude of the world. In fact, if you will hold Acts chapter 20, but look very quickly in your Bibles to the book of Psalms, Psalm 73. Look, if you would, as Asaph describes the proud very clearly. Look in Psalm 73, and let's begin reading there with verse 6. Psalm 73, verse 6. In fact, Psalm 73 itself is a wonderful psalm, but look, if you would, Psalm 73, verse 6. He's talking about the wicked. He says, in fact, verse 3, just pointed out, he says, "For I was envious of the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." Now look at verse 4.

"For there are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 73:6-12

And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High? Behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in the world; they increase in riches."

So he's describing these wicked people as being proud and arrogant and willing to curse God, curse heaven, curse man, it does not matter to them. If you were to stop and think just momentarily of a contrast, when you think of a contrast in Psalm 73, verses 6-12 particularly, with the description and the statement that Jacob gave in Genesis 32 in verse 10, where Jacob said to God, "I am not worthy of the least of thy mercies and of all the truth which thou hast showed unto thy servant." I'm not worthy of the least of thy mercies. Consider what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15 in verse 9. He said, "For I am the least of the apostles, and am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." But note what he said, "I am the least of the apostles," and yet probably he was one of the greatest.

But he said, "I am the least." And when you get to Ephesians 3 and verse 8, he said, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." So Paul said he was the least of the apostles, and he also said he was the least of the saints.

Advantages of True Humility

Scripture shows that God dwells with the humble, blesses them with riches, honor, and life, and exalts those who humble themselves.

Now, there's a vast difference between the proud and the truly humble, unless you begin to think that there are no advantages to real, true biblical humility. Let me show you some scriptures. I want you to look in Psalm 51. Psalm 51, verses 16 and 17. In this passage, David, of course, is confessing his sin, but note what he says. Psalm 51, verse 16. He says,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 51:16-17

"For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."

So God's not going to despise a broken and contrite or humbled heart. If you would turn right over to the book of Proverbs and look in chapter 22 and verse 4. Proverbs 22 and verse 4. Note if you would what the scripture tells us. We're talking about humility. Proverbs 22 and verse 4. The Bible says, "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life." By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life.

Then if you would turn right over to Isaiah 57 and look if you would please at verse 15. Isaiah 57 and verse 15. Just trying to show you some advantages of real biblical humility. Isaiah 57 verse 15. God says, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." God said I dwell with such. Do you remember what our Lord said in Matthew 18 and verse 4? He said, "Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." So God's richest blessings are really and truly upon those who are humble in spirit. Now, there is a principle that is enunciated by our Lord in the scripture.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:4

I want you to listen to this. I want you to think about this. You'll find it in Matthew 23, verse 12. And this is what our Lord said. "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." God said if you exalt yourself, you're going to go down. If you humble yourself, you're going to come up. So our Lord is setting forth the punishment for the proud and the promotion for the humble. If you exalt yourself, you'll be brought down. If you humble yourself, you'll be taken up.

The Two Greatest Examples of Humility

God the Father humbles Himself to behold creation (Psalm 113:5–6), and God the Son humbled Himself to death on a cross (Philippians 2:5–8).

Augustine, one of the early church fathers, said this, "Lo, here is a great miracle. God is on high, and yet the higher thou liftest up thyself, the farther thou art from him. The lower thou humblest thyself, the nearer he draweth near to thee. Low things he looketh close upon, that he may raise them. Proud things, he knows afar off that he may depress them." So although God is high, the more we exalt ourself, the further we get from him.

Now, I will show you from the scripture the two greatest examples of humility I suppose could possibly ever exist. I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would, first of all, to Psalm 113. I remember years and years ago, I preached the message from this passage. I've never preached this message here, but it is indeed a very, to me, a very beneficial blessing because of the truth that it's taught here in Psalm 113. I want you to look in Psalm 113, verse 5. Here's the first illustration of humility that I'm going to give you. Psalm 113, verse 5. Note the question.

"Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high?" Verse 6. "Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth!" Note that. Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high? Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth? The very fact that God condescends to behold His creation and His creatures is an act of humility on His part. What right does anyone have to demand that God give them attention? What right does anyone have to demand that God look upon our needs and our desires?

Scripture Reading — Psalm 14:17

And the answer is none. You remember it was in Psalm 8 verse 4 that David asks this question to God, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" In other words, God, who are we that you should even condescend to look upon us, that you would even condescend to consider us? So it's humility on the part of God the Father, not only to consider his creation, but his creatures as well. We have nothing and we deserve nothing. And David said it like this in Psalm 14, verse 17, "But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me." Isn't that amazing? I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon me. It is an act of God's humility just to think upon us. Has that ever hit your mind? The greatest thing that God could think about would be himself, for he is the greatest of all. But God condescends to think of us. I'm poor and needy, yet the Lord thinks upon me. The second illustration you already know, but if you would turn in your Bibles to the book of Philippians, chapter 2, beginning with verse 5. Philippians 2, verse 5, and we'll read through verse 8. Here's the greatest example of humility outside of the humility of God the Father, and of course it involves the humility of God the Son. The Bible says in Philippians 2 and verse 5, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made

in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. So here is the blessed Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, who inhabited eternity, who is the majestic, royal God incarnate. And he humbled himself and became flesh. And he humbled himself and died in our stead. I want you to listen to a quote that I'm going to give you by Adam Clarke. If you understand these two illustrations, you're going to understand the quote by Adam Clarke. He said this, "The way to arrive at the highest degree of dignity in the sight of God is by being willing to become the servant of all. Nothing is more hateful in his sight than pride; to bring it into everlasting contempt, God was manifest in the flesh. He who was in the likeness of God took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man and humbled himself unto death. After this, can God look upon any proud man without abasing him? Spiritual lordship and dominion, ecclesiastical luxury, pomp and pride must be an abhorrence in the sight of God."

Did you hear what he said? After the humility of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is impossible for God to look upon pride and arrogance and haughtiness without abasing it. These are the two greatest examples of humility in the Bible. I can confess that there are and were many humble servants of God in history and time past. Many are recorded in the Bible, but none can exceed the humility of God the Father and the humility of God the Son.

Humility Is a State of Mind

Paul served with all humility of mind (Acts 20:19), meaning a lowly opinion of self, thinking soberly as commanded in Romans 12:3.

Now, I want you to go back to our text. I want you to go back to Acts chapter 20, because there's at least three truths that I need to show you from this passage. The first one may be relatively shocking. Notice in Acts chapter 20 in verse 19, what the Apostle Paul, he's teaching and speaking to these elders, to these pastors whom he is called. And he says in verse 19, in fact, let's read verse 18. He said, "When they were come to him and he said to them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, now watch, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews." The very first thing I want you to see is this: humility, true humility, biblical humility is a state of mind. That's what he said, "serving the Lord with all humility of mind." Now, the Greek word for humility literally means humbleness of mind, lowliness or lowliness of mind. It means that we're to have a humble opinion of ourselves. It means that we're to have a deep sense of our smallness and insignificance and to comprehend the real truth about ourselves. True humility thinks like this, "I am nothing and I deserve nothing."

Consequently, the person who is truly and genuinely humble is thankful and grateful and appreciative for everything. You want to know why today there is no real gratitude, no thankfulness, no appreciation that is shown by men and women, boys and girls, it's because there's no humility. When you think you deserve everything and everything should be given unto you, you're not humble and you cannot be thankful. You cannot be grateful. You cannot be appreciative. The Bible teaches us in Proverbs 23 and verse 7, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." And when you consider the remarkable life of the Apostle Paul, you would tend to think that this man had to be proud. I mean, here was the Apostle Paul who was knocked down by the sovereign God of heaven and earth on the road to Damascus. Here was a man that according to his own testimony, was spoken to by the Lord personally, and he said, was born as one out of due season. Here's a man whom our Lord said, "I will show you what great things that you must suffer for my name's sake." Here's a man that blazed missionary trails. Here's a man who is an evangelist. Here's a man that committed and did miracles. Here's a man that did all kinds. Here's a man that God used to write three quarters of the New Testament.

And what does he say? "Serving the Lord with all humility of mind." Because he said, "I'm the least of the apostles. I'm the least of the saints." Albert Barnes says this: "Without arrogance, pride or spirit of dictation, without a desire to lord it over God's heritage, without being elated with the authority of the apostolic office, the variety of miracles which he was able to perform or the success which attended his labors, what an admirable model for all who are in the ministry, for all who are endowed with talents and learning, and for all who meet with remarkable success in their work. The proper effect of such success and of such talent will be to produce true humility. Eminent success in the work of the ministry tends to produce lowliness and humbleness of mind, and the greatest endowments are usually connected with the most simple and childlike humility." What is he saying? If we understand what the ministry is all about, which the Apostle Paul is teaching to these pastors, it is humbleness of mind.

I want to show you, turn over in your Bibles, hold Acts 20, but turn, if you would, to the book of Romans, chapter 12. Romans, chapter 12. And look, if you would please, at verse 3. I'm going to submit something to you. And that is this. We would not be nearly as proud and arrogant and haughty as we are if we really and truly obeyed Romans 12 and verse 3. Look what we have been commanded.

Paul said, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Now, he tells us that we're not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. So what the Apostle Paul is saying now, this is in regard to our thinking. This is in regard to our mind. We're not to think more highly of ourselves. The Greek word is actually hyperphroneo. It means to really think exceedingly high of yourself. You're thinking superabundant thoughts. Have you ever noticed when you're daydreaming? And you're daydreaming about other people, maybe saving someone or helping someone, you're always the hero in your own thoughts. Isn't that amazing? That's because we just have super thoughts about ourselves. We never consider the fact of really, truly who we are and what we are.

Now, the apostle also in this same verse admonishes us to think soberly. Sophroneo, which means, listen to me, it means to be in your right mind, to have a sound mind. So that's what the apostle is telling us. It's when we're proud, arrogant, haughty, demanding, and high-minded, at the same time, we're demented. We're crazy. We're not in our right minds. Because we're not thinking soberly.

I've used this before, but I will tell you again. Would you consider me in my right mind if I invited every one of you to a concert where I was doing all the singing? You would have to think he's out of his mind because he can't sing. And that would be true. God has never given me the gift of music. I have difficulty playing the radio. That's okay. I'm just simply saying, we have to learn to think soberly about ourselves.

In Acts chapter 20, this is the thing that amazes me. Paul is speaking to these Ephesian elders. They are pastors. And the amazing thing that the Apostle Paul communicates to these preachers is not how successful he has been in the ministry. It is not how many converts that he has won. It is not how many missionary trips he has taken. It is not how much learning that he has acquired.

He said, "Serving the Lord with all humility of mind." Do you realize it is very possible, in fact, very easy to be puffed up and to be proud in the ministry, in the service of the Lord and in the worship of the Lord? Sometimes we give sacrificially. And the next thing you know, we're thinking, "Well, I did a really good thing then. The Lord must be smiling."

Humility Is a State of Dependence upon God

True humility recognizes our nothingness and total dependence on God, as illustrated by Israel's wilderness journey to humble and prove them.

How would you define that pride? "Well, I really preached good yesterday, really." How would you define that pride? The Lord does bless. The Lord does give liberty and freedom in preaching, but that's his grace and that's his mercy. And the truth of the matter is, this is probably one of the reasons why in 1 Timothy, chapter 3 and verse 6, one of the qualifications of a pastor is this, not being a novice, a neophyte, one newly admitted to the faith,

Scripture Reading — 1 Timothy 3:6

lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into

condemnation of the devil. So it is very easy then for Christians to become proud as well. And the truth is that many dangers surround us, and we easily and quickly fall into the sin of pride.

Lowliness of mind, humbleness of mind, means that we're willing to share even our trials and our tribulations. If you look back at Acts chapter 20, look what the Apostle Paul said in verse 19, "Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews." So Paul is not ashamed to say, "Look, there were tears." He's not ashamed to say there were temptations. He's not ashamed to say there was trouble. I used to know a pastor. He's now dead. But you could ask him, "How are things going?" His standard answer was this: "Great and getting better." Which was not true. Because they lost their church building, they lost a lot of people, but every time you say everything's great and getting better, the Apostle Paul didn't say that. He said, "Look, I'm in the ministry and the ministry is tears and trials and tribulations." And if you're truly humble, you are quite willing to share those things because everything is not great and getting better.

I want to show you this. Look in your Bibles to the book of Luke, chapter 22. You see, you've got to understand. If the apostles had problems with pride, it's very easy for you and I to have problems with pride as well. In Luke chapter 22, beginning there with verse 24, I want you to see this. Luke 22, notice if you would please, verse 24. Now we're talking about, please, we're talking about the apostles. Notice if you would please.

"And there was also a strife among them," that is the twelve, "which of them should be accounted the greatest? And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth." So there's a strife among the apostles. Which one should be accounted the greatest? The Lord used them. He used them all.

Jesus Christ had a servant's heart. He served. He ministered. He was a lowly minded servant who wanted to be obedient to his father and to please him in all things. You know what he said in Matthew 20 and verse 28?

Scripture Reading — Matthew 20:28

"For even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

He said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 20:28

"I didn't come to be ministered unto. I came to minister."

And unhappily, there are a lot of pastors, there are a lot of Christians. If you don't give them the attention they need and throw them over your shoulder and burp them like a little baby, they're upset. Their feelings are hurt. "You don't appreciate me. You don't love me." What? Every Christian ought to emulate our Lord. We come not to be ministered unto, but to minister. And that's what the Apostle Paul is saying.

True humility is indeed a state of mind. Let me give you two quotes. The first one by Matthew Poole. Matthew Poole said, "He is an infamous doctor in the Church of Christ who thinks himself too high or too great to be a minister in it. For God will abase and men shall abase him who exalteth himself. God resisteth, and men usually condemn and despise the proud, especially ministers who are so. Both God shall exalt and men shall honor those that humble themselves, both to men condescending to those of low degree, and to their work, thinking not the meanest ministry to souls or work beneath them." Then John Gill said this, meaning, "In the ministration of the gospel, being conscious to himself of his own weakness and insufficiency in himself for such service, no way is he elated with those excellent and extraordinary gifts bestowed upon him, ascribing all to the success, to the power, grace, and spirit of God, treating no man with contempt and disdain, nor lording it over God's heritage, or claiming a dominion over the faith of men, nor seeking honor and riches for himself, nor even what he had a just right unto, a maintenance from the people, but labored with his own hands and to his own and the necessities

of others." Wow. So, true humility, first of all, is a state of mind. I want you to look, if you would, in 2 Corinthians 12 and verse 11. I want you to look at what the Apostle Paul said. 2 Corinthians 12 and verse 11. Please understand, true humility, first of all, is a state of mind. He said, after telling everything that he had gone through and the Lord had used him in and the things that had been accomplished, he said, verse 11, "I am become a fool in glorying;

ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing." Isn't that amazing? Paul said, "It's true, I'm not behind them. God has used me just like he used them, but I am still nothing." Nothing. True humility is a state of mind. Secondly, true humility is a state of dependence upon God. Now, think about this. If we are nothing, if we have nothing, if we can do nothing in and of ourselves, we're absolutely, totally, and completely dependent upon God our Savior.

Scripture Reading — John 15:5

Everyone remembers what our Lord said in John 15 in verse 5. He said, "Without me, you can do how much?" Nothing. Without me, you can do nothing. We may not realize it, but in reality, our very life hangs upon God's grace and God's mercy. Psalm 66 verse 9 tells us He holds our soul in life. Psalm 31 verse 15 says our times are in His hands. We are so absolutely, totally dependent upon Him that we cannot even breathe without Him.

Have you really ever wondered about all the tests and trials and tribulations and afflictions that we face? Have you ever thought about that? Have you ever asked the question, "Why am I going through this trial? Why is this happening to me?" Let me ask you another question just to try to answer those. Why did God take the Israelites through the desert on the way to Canaan when there was a quicker and a shorter route? Why did God take them the long way around instead of allowing them to take a shortcut? Well, let me answer.

Look in your Bibles, if you would, first of all, to Exodus chapter 13, Exodus chapter 13. And let's begin reading in verse 17, Exodus chapter 13. Watch if you would, please. Verse 17. "And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: but God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt." Now, God led them the long way, not the short way. Well, you're going to ask why? Well, one of the reasons is, number one, they were certainly not prepared for war. They had no military might. They had no military training. But not only that, they still possessed a slave mentality. And when they saw the enemy, there would have been a human desire to turn around and go back where at least you were comfortable, although you were suffering, you'd go back to something that you knew before. But this is not the only reason that God led them through the wilderness. I want you to turn to Deuteronomy chapter 8. I'm going to show you another reason why God led them, not just because of their slave mentality, and not just because they had no military training. Of course, the truth of the matter is God was protecting them.

He was quite sufficient in and of himself. But notice, if you would, in Deuteronomy chapter 8, verses 2 and 3. Look what the Bible tells us. Here's another reason why God led them through the wilderness. "And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live." God said, "I led you in that wilderness to humble you." And he said, note if you would, "I suffered you to hunger." Why did he suffer them to hunger? So that he might feed them.

In other words, once you realize you're nothing in yourself, you have nothing, you can do nothing. Now you can depend upon me. I'm going to show you that I can take care of you and you need to learn that you need to live by every word that proceeds out of my mouth. So he suffered them to hunger that he might feed them. And a lot of times he suffers us to go through our tests and our trials and our tribulations just to demonstrate to us that he can deliver us and he can supply our needs. Look at Deuteronomy 8, beginning there with verse 11. Deuteronomy 8 and verse 11, he says this, "Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; and thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth."

"But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day." Notice what he said. Again, "I led you and I humbled you that I might do thee good." I wanted you to understand that you are totally, completely dependent upon me. Have you ever considered the fact that if we were really truly humble, we would be far more dependent upon the Lord. And if we were far more dependent upon Him, we would not necessarily have to face all the tests and trials and afflictions that we face. Biblical humility teaches us to wait upon Him, to lean upon Him, to trust in Him, to submit to Him, to depend upon Him. And when we realize, in reality, our helplessness and our powerlessness, and the more we realize that, the more dependent we'll become upon Him. True humility is not only a state of mind. True humility is evidenced by our dependence upon God. Here's the third thing. True humility is always a state of blessing. True humility is always a state of blessing. Blessings always follow obedience. Blessings always abound when we are humble in and of ourselves and we're dependent upon God. That is basically obedience.

Humility Is a State of Blessing

God hears, remembers, and gives grace to the humble, while resisting the proud; humility positions us to receive His blessings and revival.

Now, I'm going to tell you. If you really want to be humbled, I can tell you how. You learn to pray two petitions on a regular basis. The first one is this: "Lord, show me thyself." And the second one is this: "Lord, show me myself." You remember, God showed that to Isaiah, Isaiah chapter 6. He said, "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." And when you skip down, Isaiah said, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." So when he saw who God was, and he saw who he was, his response is "Woe is me." And of course, the seraphim took a coal from the altar and purged him.

Blessed him. And then God sent him and God used him. When we are truly humble, we are in a position to receive God's blessings. I read years ago, one brother said this, he said, "I used to think that God's best gifts were on the highest shelf. And the higher we grew and the higher we reached, the better we could acquire those gifts." But he said, "I found out differently. God's best gifts are on the lowest shelf. And the more we humble ourselves and lower ourselves, the easier it is to grasp those gifts." Certainly. We have to remember, when we are humble, we are in a position to receive God's blessings.

Let me show you several verses. Go in your Bibles to Psalm 9 and look, if you would please, at verse 12. Psalm 9 and verse 12. Look at what the Bible says, Psalm 9, verse 12. "When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble." He forgetteth not the cry of the humble. Look in Psalm 10 and verse 12. "Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble." Look in verse 17. "Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear." You've heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause thine ear to hear.

I hope you remember King Josiah, one of the greatest revivals that ever took place under King Josiah. And in 2 Chronicles 34 and verse 27, here's what God said to Josiah, because when Josiah heard the law of God read to him, he rent his garments and he humbled himself. And God said this to Josiah, "Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord." God said, "Because you heard me and you humbled yourself, I have heard you." You see, those who are truly humbled are in a position to have God's blessings. Those who are not humbled are in a position to receive God's judgment. You know what he said in James 4 and verse 6? Listen to this.

"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." That is, God fights against the proud. But he gives grace to the humble. In James 4 and verse 10, he said, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." When you get to 1 Peter 5, verses 5 and 6, he says, "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. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." Do you realize that pride is one of the things that God hates the most? And you will read that in Proverbs chapter 6. "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him," and the first one is pride.

Now, I want to make just an application and I want you to think about this with me. Here is something we already know. And I submit to you that probably everyone in this room could quote this verse verbatim. Most of us can quote 2 Chronicles 7 and verse 14. "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Now, I want you to listen to this. "If my people, which are called by my name, shall"—what's the first thing? "Humble themselves." Do you realize there's not going to be any praying, and there's not going to be any seeking the Lord, and there's not going to be any turning from our sins until and unless we humble ourselves. What is humility?

Application: The Need for a Servant's Heart

Revival begins with humbling ourselves, praying, seeking God's face, and turning from wickedness; we must recover a servant's heart like Christ's.

It's a state of mind. What did Paul say? "I am nothing. I can do nothing. And the way I serve the Lord is with all humility of mind." It is not what we do. It is not our plans. It is not our programs. It is not our meetings. I get tickled in one sense of the word and grieved in another sense of the word. I go by all these church buildings and hear the sign, "Revival this week." Would to God it was a revival. It should say "Meeting this week." We'll pray for revival. But God is not going to send a revival until we learn to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. So until there is true humility on the part of God's people, we're not going to be praying, we're not going to be seeking His face, and we're not going to be turning from our wicked ways.

Proverbs 15 and verse 33. Listen to this. "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility." Before honour is humility. If we want God to honor us, we must be humble in His sight. If we want God to use us, we must be humble in His sight. Our Lord said, "I came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give my life a ransom for many." May I tell you where we have erred in Christianity? We have lost the servant's heart. We have lost the servant's heart. And we want to be ministered unto rather than ministering to others. When God enables us to have humility of mind, He'll give us a servant's heart. And with that servant's heart, we'll learn to pray and seek his face and turn from our wicked ways and then.

He will hear and heal our land. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. We ask, Lord, that you would indeed teach us, build us up with the most holy faith, and Lord, give us true biblical humility of mind that we may serve thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Help us, Lord, to have a servant's heart. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

The Nature of Biblical Humility

Summary: Biblical humility is a state of mind characterized by lowliness, a deep sense of personal insignificance, and thinking soberly about oneself.

Evidence: Paul says he served 'with all humility of mind' (Acts 20:19), and Romans 12:3 commands not to think more highly than we ought.

Humility as Dependence on God

Summary: True humility acknowledges our nothingness and complete reliance on God, who uses trials to humble us and teach us to depend on Him.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 8:2–3 shows God humbled Israel in the wilderness to teach them dependence; John 15:5 says without Christ we can do nothing.

Humility Precedes Blessing and Revival

Summary: God gives grace to the humble, hears their cries, and exalts them; revival requires humbling ourselves before God.

Evidence: James 4:6 says God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble; 2 Chronicles 7:14 begins with 'humble themselves.'

The Servant Heart of Christ

Summary: Jesus exemplified humility by coming not to be ministered unto but to minister, and believers are called to emulate His servant heart.

Evidence: Matthew 20:28 and Philippians 2:5–8 show Christ's humility; Paul served with humility of mind.

The Danger of Pride

Summary: Pride is hateful to God, leads to a fall, and is a mark of the world; it prevents gratitude and dependence on God.

Evidence: Proverbs 6:16–17 lists pride as an abomination; Matthew 23:12 warns that self-exaltation leads to abasement.

Key Arguments

Humility is a state of mind, not outward appearance

Summary: Paul's phrase 'humility of mind' indicates an internal disposition of lowliness, not poor posture or false modesty.

Evidence: Acts 20:19 says 'serving the Lord with all humility of mind'; Romans 12:3 commands sober thinking.

God's own humility is the supreme example

Summary: God the Father humbles Himself to behold creation, and Christ humbled Himself to death, making pride inexcusable.

Evidence: Psalm 113:5–6 and Philippians 2:5–8 demonstrate divine humility.

Trials are designed to humble us and foster dependence

Summary: God led Israel through the wilderness to humble them and teach them to rely on His word, not their own strength.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 8:2–3, 16 states God humbled and proved Israel to do them good.

Humility is the prerequisite for revival

Summary: 2 Chronicles 7:14 lists humbling ourselves as the first step before prayer, seeking God, and turning from sin.

Evidence: The verse explicitly begins with 'If my people... shall humble themselves.'

Pride is a form of insanity

Summary: Thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought is not thinking soberly; it is being out of our right mind.

Evidence: Romans 12:3 uses sophroneo (sound mind); pride is contrasted with sober thinking.

Scripture References

Acts 20:17-21

Context: Paul's address to the Ephesian elders, emphasizing his service with humility of mind.

Psalm 73:6-12

Context: Description of the proud wicked who prosper and speak loftily against God.

Genesis 32:10

Context: Jacob's confession of unworthiness of God's mercies, contrasting with the proud.

1 Corinthians 15:9

Context: Paul calls himself the least of the apostles, unworthy due to persecuting the church.

Ephesians 3:8

Context: Paul says he is less than the least of all saints, yet grace was given to preach.

Psalm 51:16-17

Context: God desires a broken spirit and contrite heart rather than mere sacrifices.

Proverbs 22:4

Context: By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life.

Isaiah 57:15

Context: God dwells with the contrite and humble to revive their spirit.

Matthew 18:4

Context: Whoever humbles himself as a child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 23:12

Context: Whoever exalts himself will be abased, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Psalm 113:5-6

Context: God humbles Himself to behold the things in heaven and earth.

Psalm 8:4

Context: David asks what is man that God is mindful of him.

Psalm 14:17

Context: David says he is poor and needy, yet the Lord thinks upon him.

Philippians 2:5-8

Context: Christ humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant and becoming obedient to death.

Romans 12:3

Context: Command not to think more highly than we ought, but to think soberly.

1 Timothy 3:6

Context: A pastor must not be a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into condemnation.

Luke 22:24-27

Context: The disciples disputed who was greatest; Jesus taught servant leadership.

Matthew 20:28

Context: The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto but to minister and give His life a ransom.

2 Corinthians 12:11

Context: Paul says he is not behind the chiefest apostles, yet he is nothing.

John 15:5

Context: Without Christ we can do nothing.

Historical References

Augustine

Context: Quoted on God's nearness to the humble and distance from the proud.

Adam Clarke

Context: Quoted on how Christ's humility makes pride abhorrent to God.

Albert Barnes

Context: Quoted on Paul's humility as a model for ministers and the connection between success and lowliness.

Matthew Poole

Context: Quoted on the infamous doctor who thinks himself too high to minister.

John Gill

Context: Quoted on Paul's humility in ministry, ascribing success to God and not lording it over others.

King Josiah

Context: Example of a king who humbled himself upon hearing God's law and received God's favor.

Important Quotes

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews.

Significance: Paul's own description of his ministry mindset, emphasizing humility as internal and accompanied by suffering.

Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high? Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth!

Significance: Highlights God the Father's humility in condescending to notice His creation.

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Significance: The apostolic command that defines humility as sober self-assessment.

And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

Significance: Reveals God's purpose in trials: to humble and test His people.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Significance: The conditional promise of revival that begins with humility.

The way to arrive at the highest degree of dignity in the sight of God is by being willing to become the servant of all.

Significance: Adam Clarke's summary of the path to honor through servanthood.

Discussion Questions

How does the world's definition of humility differ from biblical humility, and why is it often seen as a disgrace?

Context: The sermon contrasts worldly pride with the humble confessions of Jacob and Paul.

In what ways do we subtly exalt ourselves in ministry or service, and how can we cultivate a 'humility of mind'?

Context: Paul's example in Acts 20:19 and the warning in 1 Timothy 3:6 about pride in leadership.

Why does God sometimes lead us through 'wilderness' experiences, and how do they teach us dependence on Him?

Context: Deuteronomy 8 shows God humbled Israel to teach them reliance on His word.

What does it practically mean to 'think soberly' about ourselves according to Romans 12:3?

Context: The command to avoid hyperphroneo (high-mindedness) and embrace sophroneo (sound mind).

How does the humility of Christ in Philippians 2 challenge our natural desire for recognition and rights?

Context: Christ's self-emptying and obedience to death as the ultimate model.

Why is humbling ourselves the first step in 2 Chronicles 7:14, and what does that imply about our prayer lives?

Context: The sermon argues that without humility, there will be no genuine prayer or seeking God.

What are some signs that we have lost a servant's heart, and how can we recover it?

Context: The application that Christians often want to be ministered unto rather than minister.

Applications

Cultivate a humble mindset

Summary: Regularly pray 'Lord, show me Thyself' and 'Lord, show me myself' to gain a true perspective of God's greatness and our smallness.

Evidence: Isaiah's vision in Isaiah 6 led to 'Woe is me!' and subsequent cleansing and commissioning.

Embrace trials as humbling tools

Summary: View difficulties as God's means to humble us and teach us dependence on His word and provision.

Evidence: Deuteronomy 8:2–3 shows God humbled Israel through hunger to teach them reliance on Him.

Serve with a servant's heart

Summary: Imitate Christ by seeking to minister to others rather than expecting to be ministered unto.

Evidence: Matthew 20:28 and Paul's example of serving with humility of mind.

Think soberly about yourself

Summary: Obey Romans 12:3 by not thinking more highly of yourself than you ought, acknowledging your weaknesses and limitations.

Evidence: The Greek word sophroneo means to have a sound mind; pride is a form of insanity.

Humble yourself to seek revival

Summary: Take the first step of 2 Chronicles 7:14 by humbling yourself before God, leading to prayer, seeking His face, and repentance.

Evidence: The verse explicitly begins with humbling ourselves as the prerequisite for healing.

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T12:48:40Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T22:45:01Z

Clean Transcript

Biblical Humility

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

But today, I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 20, Acts chapter 20, and I'm going to be dealing with biblical humility, biblical humility. Notice if you would, Acts chapter 20, and let's begin reading verse 17 and we'll read through verse 21. Acts 20, verse 17, "And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait
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of the Jews, and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you and have taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Biblical humility. There are not very many messages on the subject of biblical humility. In fact, most Christians really and truly have no idea concerning the source, the essence, or even the value of humility.
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We are basically what you and I would call smug, conceited, and proud in our knowledge, in our positions, and in our stances. One of the clearest evidences that we do not really understand biblical humility, and one of the clearest evidences that we do not possess biblical humility, is because we always endeavor and we attempt to make and to force others to believe as we do. We don't just simply teach and pray and wait upon the Lord. Consequently, what we do is we demand that others see exactly as we see. The very fact is humility, that is biblical humility, has been given a bad rap by gross misrepresentations.
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Fun has been poked at the subject as well as individuals who are truly humble. Each one of us has heard jokingly of a book that was entitled "Humility and How I Attained It." Well, obviously, if there was such a book like that, the author would no longer have humility since he titled it "Humility and How I Obtained It." Years ago, and I told you this, but it's always stuck in my mind.
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I saw a cartoon that showed two monks walking side by side in their long robes, and they had their arms up the sleeve. And one monk looked at the other monk and said, "You know, it kind of makes you proud that we're so humble, doesn't it?" Well, that's exactly about the way it goes. Here in South Georgia, especially July and August, there's usually kind of a joke that goes around. When we're hot and sweaty in those three-shower days, we say, "Well, there's just too much humidity in the air." But many tend to think that just because they have poor posture, that they are humble. Humility is not poor posture. I have known people who walked around all the time with their head down, looking at the ground. That's not humility, that's poor posture.
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And it probably indicates an inferiority complex as well, because they're ashamed or afraid to look someone in the eye. It certainly is not biblical humility by any stretch of the imagination. I have to say this, that the world does not appreciate humility. In fact, in the world, humility is not a grace, but it is a disgrace. Proud, arrogant, and haughty, the world laughs in the face of true humility.
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In the world, the proper attitude is demand your rights, get your way, do whatever it takes, kick the man out from in front of you if he's in your way. Just do what you need to do. Destroy your opponent. You succeed at all costs. That's the attitude of the world. In fact, if you will hold Acts chapter 20, but look very quickly in your Bibles to the book of Psalms, Psalm 73. Look, if you would, as Asaph describes the proud very clearly. Look in Psalm 73, and let's begin reading there with verse 6. Psalm 73, verse 6. In fact, Psalm 73 itself is a wonderful psalm, but look, if you would, Psalm 73, verse 6. He's talking about the wicked. He says, in fact, verse 3, just pointed out, he says, "For I was envious of the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked." Now look at verse 4.
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"For there are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble as other men, neither are they plagued like other men. Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth. Therefore his people return hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
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And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High? Behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in the world; they increase in riches." So he's describing these wicked people as being proud and arrogant and willing to curse God, curse heaven, curse man, it does not matter to them. If you were to stop and think just momentarily of a contrast, when you think of a contrast in Psalm 73, verses 6-12 particularly, with the description and the statement that Jacob gave in Genesis 32 in verse 10, where Jacob said to God, "I am not worthy of the least of thy mercies and of all the truth which thou hast showed unto thy servant." I'm not worthy of the least of thy mercies. Consider what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15 in verse 9. He said, "For I am the least of the apostles, and am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God." But note what he said, "I am the least of the apostles," and yet probably he was one of the greatest.
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But he said, "I am the least." And when you get to Ephesians 3 and verse 8, he said, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." So Paul said he was the least of the apostles, and he also said he was the least of the saints.
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Now, there's a vast difference between the proud and the truly humble, unless you begin to think that there are no advantages to real, true biblical humility. Let me show you some scriptures. I want you to look in Psalm 51. Psalm 51, verses 16 and 17. In this passage, David, of course, is confessing his sin, but note what he says. Psalm 51, verse 16. He says, "For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise." So God's not going to despise a broken and contrite or humbled heart. If you would turn right over to the book of Proverbs and look in chapter 22 and verse 4. Proverbs 22 and verse 4. Note if you would what the scripture tells us. We're talking about humility. Proverbs 22 and verse 4. The Bible says, "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life." By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life.
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Then if you would turn right over to Isaiah 57 and look if you would please at verse 15. Isaiah 57 and verse 15. Just trying to show you some advantages of real biblical humility. Isaiah 57 verse 15. God says, "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones." God said I dwell with such. Do you remember what our Lord said in Matthew 18 and verse 4? He said, "Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." So God's richest blessings are really and truly upon those who are humble in spirit. Now, there is a principle that is enunciated by our Lord in the scripture.
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I want you to listen to this. I want you to think about this. You'll find it in Matthew 23, verse 12. And this is what our Lord said. "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." God said if you exalt yourself, you're going to go down. If you humble yourself, you're going to come up. So our Lord is setting forth the punishment for the proud and the promotion for the humble. If you exalt yourself, you'll be brought down. If you humble yourself, you'll be taken up.
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Augustine, one of the early church fathers, said this, "Lo, here is a great miracle. God is on high, and yet the higher thou liftest up thyself, the farther thou art from him. The lower thou humblest thyself, the nearer he draweth near to thee. Low things he looketh close upon, that he may raise them. Proud things, he knows afar off that he may depress them." So although God is high, the more we exalt ourself, the further we get from him.
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Now, I will show you from the scripture the two greatest examples of humility I suppose could possibly ever exist. I want you to turn in your Bibles, if you would, first of all, to Psalm 113. I remember years and years ago, I preached the message from this passage. I've never preached this message here, but it is indeed a very, to me, a very beneficial blessing because of the truth that it's taught here in Psalm 113. I want you to look in Psalm 113, verse 5. Here's the first illustration of humility that I'm going to give you. Psalm 113, verse 5. Note the question.
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"Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high?" Verse 6. "Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth!" Note that. Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high? Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth? The very fact that God condescends to behold His creation and His creatures is an act of humility on His part. What right does anyone have to demand that God give them attention? What right does anyone have to demand that God look upon our needs and our desires?
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And the answer is none. You remember it was in Psalm 8 verse 4 that David asks this question to God, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" In other words, God, who are we that you should even condescend to look upon us, that you would even condescend to consider us? So it's humility on the part of God the Father, not only to consider his creation, but his creatures as well.
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We have nothing and we deserve nothing. And David said it like this in Psalm 14, verse 17, "But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me." Isn't that amazing? I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon me. It is an act of God's humility just to think upon us. Has that ever hit your mind? The greatest thing that God could think about would be himself, for he is the greatest of all. But God condescends to think of us. I'm poor and needy, yet the Lord thinks upon me. The second illustration you already know, but if you would turn in your Bibles to the book of Philippians, chapter 2, beginning with verse 5. Philippians 2, verse 5, and we'll read through verse 8. Here's the greatest example of humility outside of the humility of God the Father, and of course it involves the humility of God the Son. The Bible says in Philippians 2 and verse 5, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made
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in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. So here is the blessed Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, who inhabited eternity, who is the majestic, royal God incarnate. And he humbled himself and became flesh. And he humbled himself and died in our stead.
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I want you to listen to a quote that I'm going to give you by Adam Clarke. If you understand these two illustrations, you're going to understand the quote by Adam Clarke. He said this, "The way to arrive at the highest degree of dignity in the sight of God is by being willing to become the servant of all. Nothing is more hateful in his sight than pride; to bring it into everlasting contempt, God was manifest in the flesh. He who was in the likeness of God took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man and humbled himself unto death. After this, can God look upon any proud man without abasing him? Spiritual lordship and dominion, ecclesiastical luxury, pomp and pride must be an abhorrence in the sight of God."
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Did you hear what he said? After the humility of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is impossible for God to look upon pride and arrogance and haughtiness without abasing it. These are the two greatest examples of humility in the Bible. I can confess that there are and were many humble servants of God in history and time past. Many are recorded in the Bible, but none can exceed the humility of God the Father and the humility of God the Son.
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Now, I want you to go back to our text. I want you to go back to Acts chapter 20, because there's at least three truths that I need to show you from this passage. The first one may be relatively shocking. Notice in Acts chapter 20 in verse 19, what the Apostle Paul, he's teaching and speaking to these elders, to these pastors whom he is called. And he says in verse 19, in fact, let's read verse 18.
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He said, "When they were come to him and he said to them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, now watch, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews." The very first thing I want you to see is this: humility, true humility, biblical humility is a state of mind. That's what he said, "serving the Lord with all humility of mind." Now, the Greek word for humility literally means humbleness of mind, lowliness or lowliness of mind. It means that we're to have a humble opinion of ourselves. It means that we're to have a deep sense of our smallness and insignificance and to comprehend the real truth about ourselves. True humility thinks like this, "I am nothing and I deserve nothing."
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Consequently, the person who is truly and genuinely humble is thankful and grateful and appreciative for everything. You want to know why today there is no real gratitude, no thankfulness, no appreciation that is shown by men and women, boys and girls, it's because there's no humility. When you think you deserve everything and everything should be given unto you, you're not humble and you cannot be thankful. You cannot be grateful. You cannot be appreciative.
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The Bible teaches us in Proverbs 23 and verse 7, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." And when you consider the remarkable life of the Apostle Paul, you would tend to think that this man had to be proud. I mean, here was the Apostle Paul who was knocked down by the sovereign God of heaven and earth on the road to Damascus. Here was a man that according to his own testimony, was spoken to by the Lord personally, and he said, was born as one out of due season. Here's a man whom our Lord said, "I will show you what great things that you must suffer for my name's sake." Here's a man that blazed missionary trails. Here's a man who is an evangelist. Here's a man that committed and did miracles. Here's a man that did all kinds. Here's a man that God used to write three quarters of the New Testament.
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And what does he say? "Serving the Lord with all humility of mind." Because he said, "I'm the least of the apostles. I'm the least of the saints." Albert Barnes says this: "Without arrogance, pride or spirit of dictation, without a desire to lord it over God's heritage, without being elated with the authority of the apostolic office, the variety of miracles which he was able to perform or the success which attended his labors, what an admirable model for all who are in the ministry, for all who are endowed with talents and learning, and for all who meet with remarkable success in their work. The proper effect of such success and of such talent will be to produce true humility. Eminent success in the work of the ministry tends to produce lowliness and humbleness of mind, and the greatest endowments are usually connected with the most simple and childlike humility." What is he saying? If we understand what the ministry is all about, which the Apostle Paul is teaching to these pastors, it is humbleness of mind.
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I want to show you, turn over in your Bibles, hold Acts 20, but turn, if you would, to the book of Romans, chapter 12. Romans, chapter 12. And look, if you would please, at verse 3. I'm going to submit something to you. And that is this. We would not be nearly as proud and arrogant and haughty as we are if we really and truly obeyed Romans 12 and verse 3. Look what we have been commanded.
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Paul said, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Now, he tells us that we're not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. So what the Apostle Paul is saying now, this is in regard to our thinking. This is in regard to our mind. We're not to think more highly of ourselves.
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The Greek word is actually hyperphroneo. It means to really think exceedingly high of yourself. You're thinking superabundant thoughts. Have you ever noticed when you're daydreaming? And you're daydreaming about other people, maybe saving someone or helping someone, you're always the hero in your own thoughts. Isn't that amazing? That's because we just have super thoughts about ourselves. We never consider the fact of really, truly who we are and what we are.
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Now, the apostle also in this same verse admonishes us to think soberly. Sophroneo, which means, listen to me, it means to be in your right mind, to have a sound mind. So that's what the apostle is telling us. It's when we're proud, arrogant, haughty, demanding, and high-minded, at the same time, we're demented. We're crazy. We're not in our right minds. Because we're not thinking soberly.
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I've used this before, but I will tell you again. Would you consider me in my right mind if I invited every one of you to a concert where I was doing all the singing? You would have to think he's out of his mind because he can't sing. And that would be true. God has never given me the gift of music. I have difficulty playing the radio. That's okay. I'm just simply saying, we have to learn to think soberly about ourselves.
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In Acts chapter 20, this is the thing that amazes me. Paul is speaking to these Ephesian elders. They are pastors. And the amazing thing that the Apostle Paul communicates to these preachers is not how successful he has been in the ministry. It is not how many converts that he has won. It is not how many missionary trips he has taken. It is not how much learning that he has acquired.
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He said, "Serving the Lord with all humility of mind." Do you realize it is very possible, in fact, very easy to be puffed up and to be proud in the ministry, in the service of the Lord and in the worship of the Lord? Sometimes we give sacrificially. And the next thing you know, we're thinking, "Well, I did a really good thing then. The Lord must be smiling."
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How would you define that pride? "Well, I really preached good yesterday, really." How would you define that pride? The Lord does bless. The Lord does give liberty and freedom in preaching, but that's his grace and that's his mercy. And the truth of the matter is, this is probably one of the reasons why in 1 Timothy, chapter 3 and verse 6, one of the qualifications of a pastor is this, not being a novice, a neophyte, one newly admitted to the faith, lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into condemnation of the devil. So it is very easy then for Christians to become proud as well. And the truth is that many dangers surround us, and we easily and quickly fall into the sin of pride.
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Lowliness of mind, humbleness of mind, means that we're willing to share even our trials and our tribulations. If you look back at Acts chapter 20, look what the Apostle Paul said in verse 19, "Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews." So Paul is not ashamed to say, "Look, there were tears." He's not ashamed to say there were temptations. He's not ashamed to say there was trouble.
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I used to know a pastor. He's now dead. But you could ask him, "How are things going?" His standard answer was this: "Great and getting better." Which was not true. Because they lost their church building, they lost a lot of people, but every time you say everything's great and getting better, the Apostle Paul didn't say that. He said, "Look, I'm in the ministry and the ministry is tears and trials and tribulations." And if you're truly humble, you are quite willing to share those things because everything is not great and getting better.
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I want to show you this. Look in your Bibles to the book of Luke, chapter 22. You see, you've got to understand. If the apostles had problems with pride, it's very easy for you and I to have problems with pride as well. In Luke chapter 22, beginning there with verse 24, I want you to see this. Luke 22, notice if you would please, verse 24. Now we're talking about, please, we're talking about the apostles. Notice if you would please.
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"And there was also a strife among them," that is the twelve, "which of them should be accounted the greatest? And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth." So there's a strife among the apostles. Which one should be accounted the greatest? The Lord used them. He used them all.
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Jesus Christ had a servant's heart. He served. He ministered. He was a lowly minded servant who wanted to be obedient to his father and to please him in all things. You know what he said in Matthew 20 and verse 28? "For even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." He said, "I didn't come to be ministered unto. I came to minister."
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And unhappily, there are a lot of pastors, there are a lot of Christians. If you don't give them the attention they need and throw them over your shoulder and burp them like a little baby, they're upset. Their feelings are hurt. "You don't appreciate me. You don't love me." What? Every Christian ought to emulate our Lord. We come not to be ministered unto, but to minister. And that's what the Apostle Paul is saying.
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True humility is indeed a state of mind. Let me give you two quotes. The first one by Matthew Poole. Matthew Poole said, "He is an infamous doctor in the Church of Christ who thinks himself too high or too great to be a minister in it. For God will abase and men shall abase him who exalteth himself. God resisteth, and men usually condemn and despise the proud, especially ministers who are so. Both God shall exalt and men shall honor those that humble themselves, both to men condescending to those of low degree, and to their work, thinking not the meanest ministry to souls or work beneath them." Then John Gill said this, meaning, "In the ministration of the gospel, being conscious to himself of his own weakness and insufficiency in himself for such service, no way is he elated with those excellent and extraordinary gifts bestowed upon him, ascribing all to the success, to the power, grace, and spirit of God, treating no man with contempt and disdain, nor lording it over God's heritage, or claiming a dominion over the faith of men, nor seeking honor and riches for himself, nor even what he had a just right unto, a maintenance from the people, but labored with his own hands and to his own and the necessities
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of others." Wow. So, true humility, first of all, is a state of mind. I want you to look, if you would, in 2 Corinthians 12 and verse 11. I want you to look at what the Apostle Paul said. 2 Corinthians 12 and verse 11. Please understand, true humility, first of all, is a state of mind. He said, after telling everything that he had gone through and the Lord had used him in and the things that had been accomplished, he said, verse 11, "I am become a fool in glorying;
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ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing." Isn't that amazing? Paul said, "It's true, I'm not behind them. God has used me just like he used them, but I am still nothing." Nothing. True humility is a state of mind. Secondly, true humility is a state of dependence upon God. Now, think about this. If we are nothing, if we have nothing, if we can do nothing in and of ourselves, we're absolutely, totally, and completely dependent upon God our Savior.
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Everyone remembers what our Lord said in John 15 in verse 5. He said, "Without me, you can do how much?" Nothing. Without me, you can do nothing. We may not realize it, but in reality, our very life hangs upon God's grace and God's mercy. Psalm 66 verse 9 tells us He holds our soul in life. Psalm 31 verse 15 says our times are in His hands. We are so absolutely, totally dependent upon Him that we cannot even breathe without Him.
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Have you really ever wondered about all the tests and trials and tribulations and afflictions that we face? Have you ever thought about that? Have you ever asked the question, "Why am I going through this trial? Why is this happening to me?" Let me ask you another question just to try to answer those. Why did God take the Israelites through the desert on the way to Canaan when there was a quicker and a shorter route? Why did God take them the long way around instead of allowing them to take a shortcut? Well, let me answer.
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Look in your Bibles, if you would, first of all, to Exodus chapter 13, Exodus chapter 13. And let's begin reading in verse 17, Exodus chapter 13. Watch if you would, please. Verse 17. "And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near; for God said, Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt: but God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea: and the children of Israel went up harnessed out of the land of Egypt." Now, God led them the long way, not the short way.
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Well, you're going to ask why? Well, one of the reasons is, number one, they were certainly not prepared for war. They had no military might. They had no military training. But not only that, they still possessed a slave mentality. And when they saw the enemy, there would have been a human desire to turn around and go back where at least you were comfortable, although you were suffering, you'd go back to something that you knew before. But this is not the only reason that God led them through the wilderness. I want you to turn to Deuteronomy chapter 8. I'm going to show you another reason why God led them, not just because of their slave mentality, and not just because they had no military training. Of course, the truth of the matter is God was protecting them.
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He was quite sufficient in and of himself. But notice, if you would, in Deuteronomy chapter 8, verses 2 and 3. Look what the Bible tells us. Here's another reason why God led them through the wilderness. "And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live." God said, "I led you in that wilderness to humble you." And he said, note if you would, "I suffered you to hunger." Why did he suffer them to hunger? So that he might feed them.
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In other words, once you realize you're nothing in yourself, you have nothing, you can do nothing. Now you can depend upon me. I'm going to show you that I can take care of you and you need to learn that you need to live by every word that proceeds out of my mouth. So he suffered them to hunger that he might feed them. And a lot of times he suffers us to go through our tests and our trials and our tribulations just to demonstrate to us that he can deliver us and he can supply our needs.
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Look at Deuteronomy 8, beginning there with verse 11. Deuteronomy 8 and verse 11, he says this, "Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day: lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; and when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage; who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents, and scorpions, and drought, where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint; who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end; and thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth."
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"But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day." Notice what he said. Again, "I led you and I humbled you that I might do thee good." I wanted you to understand that you are totally, completely dependent upon me. Have you ever considered the fact that if we were really truly humble, we would be far more dependent upon the Lord. And if we were far more dependent upon Him, we would not necessarily have to face all the tests and trials and afflictions that we face.
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Biblical humility teaches us to wait upon Him, to lean upon Him, to trust in Him, to submit to Him, to depend upon Him. And when we realize, in reality, our helplessness and our powerlessness, and the more we realize that, the more dependent we'll become upon Him. True humility is not only a state of mind. True humility is evidenced by our dependence upon God. Here's the third thing. True humility is always a state of blessing. True humility is always a state of blessing. Blessings always follow obedience. Blessings always abound when we are humble in and of ourselves and we're dependent upon God. That is basically obedience.
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Now, I'm going to tell you. If you really want to be humbled, I can tell you how. You learn to pray two petitions on a regular basis. The first one is this: "Lord, show me thyself." And the second one is this: "Lord, show me myself." You remember, God showed that to Isaiah, Isaiah chapter 6. He said, "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." And when you skip down, Isaiah said, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." So when he saw who God was, and he saw who he was, his response is "Woe is me." And of course, the seraphim took a coal from the altar and purged him.
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Blessed him. And then God sent him and God used him. When we are truly humble, we are in a position to receive God's blessings. I read years ago, one brother said this, he said, "I used to think that God's best gifts were on the highest shelf. And the higher we grew and the higher we reached, the better we could acquire those gifts." But he said, "I found out differently. God's best gifts are on the lowest shelf. And the more we humble ourselves and lower ourselves, the easier it is to grasp those gifts." Certainly. We have to remember, when we are humble, we are in a position to receive God's blessings.
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Let me show you several verses. Go in your Bibles to Psalm 9 and look, if you would please, at verse 12. Psalm 9 and verse 12. Look at what the Bible says, Psalm 9, verse 12. "When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble." He forgetteth not the cry of the humble. Look in Psalm 10 and verse 12. "Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble." Look in verse 17. "Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear." You've heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause thine ear to hear.
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I hope you remember King Josiah, one of the greatest revivals that ever took place under King Josiah. And in 2 Chronicles 34 and verse 27, here's what God said to Josiah, because when Josiah heard the law of God read to him, he rent his garments and he humbled himself. And God said this to Josiah, "Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord." God said, "Because you heard me and you humbled yourself, I have heard you." You see, those who are truly humbled are in a position to have God's blessings. Those who are not humbled are in a position to receive God's judgment. You know what he said in James 4 and verse 6? Listen to this.
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"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." That is, God fights against the proud. But he gives grace to the humble. In James 4 and verse 10, he said, "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." When you get to 1 Peter 5, verses 5 and 6, he says, "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. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time." Do you realize that pride is one of the things that God hates the most?
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And you will read that in Proverbs chapter 6. "These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him," and the first one is pride.
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Now, I want to make just an application and I want you to think about this with me. Here is something we already know. And I submit to you that probably everyone in this room could quote this verse verbatim. Most of us can quote 2 Chronicles 7 and verse 14. "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." Now, I want you to listen to this. "If my people, which are called by my name, shall"—what's the first thing? "Humble themselves." Do you realize there's not going to be any praying, and there's not going to be any seeking the Lord, and there's not going to be any turning from our sins until and unless we humble ourselves. What is humility?
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It's a state of mind. What did Paul say? "I am nothing. I can do nothing. And the way I serve the Lord is with all humility of mind." It is not what we do. It is not our plans. It is not our programs. It is not our meetings. I get tickled in one sense of the word and grieved in another sense of the word. I go by all these church buildings and hear the sign, "Revival this week." Would to God it was a revival. It should say "Meeting this week." We'll pray for revival. But God is not going to send a revival until we learn to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. So until there is true humility on the part of God's people, we're not going to be praying, we're not going to be seeking His face, and we're not going to be turning from our wicked ways.
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Proverbs 15 and verse 33. Listen to this. "The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility." Before honour is humility. If we want God to honor us, we must be humble in His sight. If we want God to use us, we must be humble in His sight. Our Lord said, "I came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give my life a ransom for many."
#61 | 51:36 to 52:22 | cleaned
May I tell you where we have erred in Christianity? We have lost the servant's heart. We have lost the servant's heart. And we want to be ministered unto rather than ministering to others. When God enables us to have humility of mind, He'll give us a servant's heart. And with that servant's heart, we'll learn to pray and seek his face and turn from our wicked ways and then.
#62 | 52:24 to 53:17 | cleaned
He will hear and heal our land. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to thee this day. We thank you for your word. We thank you for your truth. We ask, Lord, that you would indeed teach us, build us up with the most holy faith, and Lord, give us true biblical humility of mind that we may serve thee acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Help us, Lord, to have a servant's heart. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.
#63 | 53:18 to 53:50 | cleaned

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T12:48:40Z

Biblical Humility

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

John Weaver examines biblical humility from Acts 20:17–21, defining it as a state of mind, a state of dependence upon God, and a state of blessing. He contrasts the world's pride with the humility of God the Father and God the Son, and calls believers to humble themselves in order to receive God's grace and revival.

Introduction: The Misunderstanding of Humility

Most Christians misunderstand the source, essence, and value of humility, often confusing it with poor posture or inferiority, while the world despises it.

Scripture Reading — Acts 20:17-21

"And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews, and how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you and have taught you publicly and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."

The World's Pride vs. Biblical Humility

The world promotes self-assertion and pride, as described in Psalm 73:6–12, in contrast to the humble confessions of Jacob and Paul.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 73:6-12

And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the Most High? Behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in the world; they increase in riches."

Advantages of True Humility

Scripture shows that God dwells with the humble, blesses them with riches, honor, and life, and exalts those who humble themselves.

Scripture Reading — Psalm 51:16-17

"For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise."

Scripture Reading — Matthew 18:4

I want you to listen to this. I want you to think about this. You'll find it in Matthew 23, verse 12. And this is what our Lord said. "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." God said if you exalt yourself, you're going to go down. If you humble yourself, you're going to come up. So our Lord is setting forth the punishment for the proud and the promotion for the humble. If you exalt yourself, you'll be brought down. If you humble yourself, you'll be taken up.

The Two Greatest Examples of Humility

God the Father humbles Himself to behold creation (Psalm 113:5–6), and God the Son humbled Himself to death on a cross (Philippians 2:5–8).

Scripture Reading — Psalm 14:17

And the answer is none. You remember it was in Psalm 8 verse 4 that David asks this question to God, "What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?" In other words, God, who are we that you should even condescend to look upon us, that you would even condescend to consider us? So it's humility on the part of God the Father, not only to consider his creation, but his creatures as well. We have nothing and we deserve nothing. And David said it like this in Psalm 14, verse 17, "But I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh upon me." Isn't that amazing? I am poor and needy, yet the Lord thinketh upon me. It is an act of God's humility just to think upon us. Has that ever hit your mind? The greatest thing that God could think about would be himself, for he is the greatest of all. But God condescends to think of us. I'm poor and needy, yet the Lord thinks upon me. The second illustration you already know, but if you would turn in your Bibles to the book of Philippians, chapter 2, beginning with verse 5. Philippians 2, verse 5, and we'll read through verse 8. Here's the greatest example of humility outside of the humility of God the Father, and of course it involves the humility of God the Son. The Bible says in Philippians 2 and verse 5, "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made

Humility Is a State of Mind

Paul served with all humility of mind (Acts 20:19), meaning a lowly opinion of self, thinking soberly as commanded in Romans 12:3.

Humility Is a State of Dependence upon God

True humility recognizes our nothingness and total dependence on God, as illustrated by Israel's wilderness journey to humble and prove them.

Scripture Reading — 1 Timothy 3:6

lest, being lifted up with pride, he fall into

condemnation of the devil. So it is very easy then for Christians to become proud as well. And the truth is that many dangers surround us, and we easily and quickly fall into the sin of pride.

Scripture Reading — Matthew 20:28

"For even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

He said,

Scripture Reading — Matthew 20:28

"I didn't come to be ministered unto. I came to minister."

Scripture Reading — John 15:5

Everyone remembers what our Lord said in John 15 in verse 5. He said, "Without me, you can do how much?" Nothing. Without me, you can do nothing. We may not realize it, but in reality, our very life hangs upon God's grace and God's mercy. Psalm 66 verse 9 tells us He holds our soul in life. Psalm 31 verse 15 says our times are in His hands. We are so absolutely, totally dependent upon Him that we cannot even breathe without Him.

Humility Is a State of Blessing

God hears, remembers, and gives grace to the humble, while resisting the proud; humility positions us to receive His blessings and revival.

Application: The Need for a Servant's Heart

Revival begins with humbling ourselves, praying, seeking God's face, and turning from wickedness; we must recover a servant's heart like Christ's.

Biblical Humility

John Weaver | SermonAudio

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	SermonAudio
Media ID	8719043326157
Subject	Old Testament Studies
Course	Genesis: Creation, Fall, and Dominion
Genre	Sermon
Date	2019-04-21
Dictation Name
Book	Book 076: Genesis: Creation, Fall, and Dominion — Chapter 8
Source Timed Segments	63

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction: The Misunderstanding of Humility: Most Christians misunderstand the source, essence, and value of humility, often confusing it with poor posture or inferiority, while the world despises it.
The World's Pride vs. Biblical Humility: The world promotes self-assertion and pride, as described in Psalm 73:6–12, in contrast to the humble confessions of Jacob and Paul.
Advantages of True Humility: Scripture shows that God dwells with the humble, blesses them with riches, honor, and life, and exalts those who humble themselves.
The Two Greatest Examples of Humility: God the Father humbles Himself to behold creation (Psalm 113:5–6), and God the Son humbled Himself to death on a cross (Philippians 2:5–8).
Humility Is a State of Mind: Paul served with all humility of mind (Acts 20:19), meaning a lowly opinion of self, thinking soberly as commanded in Romans 12:3.
Humility Is a State of Dependence upon God: True humility recognizes our nothingness and total dependence on God, as illustrated by Israel's wilderness journey to humble and prove them.
Humility Is a State of Blessing: God hears, remembers, and gives grace to the humble, while resisting the proud; humility positions us to receive His blessings and revival.
Application: The Need for a Servant's Heart: Revival begins with humbling ourselves, praying, seeking God's face, and turning from wickedness; we must recover a servant's heart like Christ's.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Humility is a state of mind, not outward appearance

Paul's phrase 'humility of mind' indicates an internal disposition of lowliness, not poor posture or false modesty.

Acts 20:19 says 'serving the Lord with all humility of mind'; Romans 12:3 commands sober thinking.

God's own humility is the supreme example

God the Father humbles Himself to behold creation, and Christ humbled Himself to death, making pride inexcusable.

Psalm 113:5–6 and Philippians 2:5–8 demonstrate divine humility.

Trials are designed to humble us and foster dependence

God led Israel through the wilderness to humble them and teach them to rely on His word, not their own strength.

Deuteronomy 8:2–3, 16 states God humbled and proved Israel to do them good.

Humility is the prerequisite for revival

2 Chronicles 7:14 lists humbling ourselves as the first step before prayer, seeking God, and turning from sin.

The verse explicitly begins with 'If my people... shall humble themselves.'

Pride is a form of insanity

Thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought is not thinking soberly; it is being out of our right mind.

Romans 12:3 uses sophroneo (sound mind); pride is contrasted with sober thinking.

Scripture References

Acts 20:17-21: Paul's address to the Ephesian elders, emphasizing his service with humility of mind.
Psalm 73:6-12: Description of the proud wicked who prosper and speak loftily against God.
Genesis 32:10: Jacob's confession of unworthiness of God's mercies, contrasting with the proud.
1 Corinthians 15:9: Paul calls himself the least of the apostles, unworthy due to persecuting the church.
Ephesians 3:8: Paul says he is less than the least of all saints, yet grace was given to preach.
Psalm 51:16-17: God desires a broken spirit and contrite heart rather than mere sacrifices.
Proverbs 22:4: By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life.
Isaiah 57:15: God dwells with the contrite and humble to revive their spirit.
Matthew 18:4: Whoever humbles himself as a child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 23:12: Whoever exalts himself will be abased, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Psalm 113:5-6: God humbles Himself to behold the things in heaven and earth.
Psalm 8:4: David asks what is man that God is mindful of him.
Psalm 14:17: David says he is poor and needy, yet the Lord thinks upon him.
Philippians 2:5-8: Christ humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant and becoming obedient to death.
Romans 12:3: Command not to think more highly than we ought, but to think soberly.
1 Timothy 3:6: A pastor must not be a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into condemnation.
Luke 22:24-27: The disciples disputed who was greatest; Jesus taught servant leadership.
Matthew 20:28: The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto but to minister and give His life a ransom.
2 Corinthians 12:11: Paul says he is not behind the chiefest apostles, yet he is nothing.
John 15:5: Without Christ we can do nothing.

Historical References

Augustine: Quoted on God's nearness to the humble and distance from the proud.
Adam Clarke: Quoted on how Christ's humility makes pride abhorrent to God.
Albert Barnes: Quoted on Paul's humility as a model for ministers and the connection between success and lowliness.
Matthew Poole: Quoted on the infamous doctor who thinks himself too high to minister.
John Gill: Quoted on Paul's humility in ministry, ascribing success to God and not lording it over others.
King Josiah: Example of a king who humbled himself upon hearing God's law and received God's favor.

Important Quotes

Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews.

Paul's own description of his ministry mindset, emphasizing humility as internal and accompanied by suffering.

Who is like unto the Lord our God who dwelleth on high? Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven and in the earth!

Highlights God the Father's humility in condescending to notice His creation.

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

The apostolic command that defines humility as sober self-assessment.

And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

Reveals God's purpose in trials: to humble and test His people.

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The conditional promise of revival that begins with humility.

The way to arrive at the highest degree of dignity in the sight of God is by being willing to become the servant of all.

Adam Clarke's summary of the path to honor through servanthood.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does the world's definition of humility differ from biblical humility, and why is it often seen as a disgrace?

[Context]

The sermon contrasts worldly pride with the humble confessions of Jacob and Paul.

[Question]

In what ways do we subtly exalt ourselves in ministry or service, and how can we cultivate a 'humility of mind'?

[Context]

Paul's example in Acts 20:19 and the warning in 1 Timothy 3:6 about pride in leadership.

[Question]

Why does God sometimes lead us through 'wilderness' experiences, and how do they teach us dependence on Him?

[Context]

Deuteronomy 8 shows God humbled Israel to teach them reliance on His word.

[Question]

What does it practically mean to 'think soberly' about ourselves according to Romans 12:3?

[Context]

The command to avoid hyperphroneo (high-mindedness) and embrace sophroneo (sound mind).

[Question]

How does the humility of Christ in Philippians 2 challenge our natural desire for recognition and rights?

[Context]

Christ's self-emptying and obedience to death as the ultimate model.

[Question]

Why is humbling ourselves the first step in 2 Chronicles 7:14, and what does that imply about our prayer lives?

[Context]

The sermon argues that without humility, there will be no genuine prayer or seeking God.

[Question]

What are some signs that we have lost a servant's heart, and how can we recover it?

[Context]

The application that Christians often want to be ministered unto rather than minister.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-05T22:45:01Z