Faith gets the most; love works the most;

but humility keeps the most.

The beginning of greatness is to be little; the increase of greatness is to be less; the
perfection of greatness is to be nothing.
Isaiah 23:9 KJV The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to bring
into contempt all the honourable of the earth.
Habakkuk 2:4 KJV Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live
by his faith.
My physics studies tell me that the higher an object's center of gravity is, the more unstable it is. So it is
with a lifted soul. As a hoisted flag is never tranquil so a lifted soul is never upright.

Ecclesiastes 2:9 KJV So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in
Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
be great but retaining the meekness of wisdom.

When you do it, it's called HUMBLING, when God does it, it's called
HUMILIATING.

Seek HUMILITY
1. by reading through the Bible all your days - continually.
2. learning the fear of the Lord.
3. keep all the Words you read and do them.
Deuteronomy 17:18-20 KJV
18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy
of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites:
19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life: that he may learn to
fear the LORD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them:
20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the
commandment, to the right hand, or to the left: to the end that he may prolong his days in his
kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel.
The pride a man carries serves to testifyy against him in the courts of God. It's like cherishing a
serpent in your bosom, for soon it will sink it's fangs into you.
Hosea 5:5 KJV And the pride of Israel doth testify to his face: therefore shall Israel and Ephraim
fall in their iniquity; Judah also shall fall with them.
Hosea 5:5 NLT "The arrogance of Israel testifies against her; she will stumble under her load of
guilt. Judah, too, will fall with her.

Fool-proof way of seeking humility

Not minding high things
Nicodemus John 3:12
The invited guest parable, Prov. 25:6, e.g. High knowledge Deut 29:29, 2 Cor 12:4, Judgement 1
Cor. 4:4

David's two points in one them Psa. 131, bring me to point two.
Becoming like a child
Matthew 18, luke 17, Psa. 131
Reading the Word
Deut. 17:14 cf. Jer. 9:23, Psa. 119:24
Serving, like the Lord
John 13

(Proverbs 18:12) Before

destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.

Zephaniah 2:9-10 KJV

9 Therefore as I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom,
and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, even the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a
perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my
people shall possess them.
10 This shall they have for their pride, because they have reproached and magnified themselves
against the people of the LORD of hosts.
Pride attracts a like punishment as Sodom either here or in the World to come. Sodom fell first
and foremostly due to her pride. Ezekiel 16:49

"That no flesh should glory in His presence."

1 Corinthians 1:29
Man's religion is to build up the creature.
God's religion is to throw the creature down in the dust of self-abasement, and to glorify Christ.
(Proverbs 16:5) Every

one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in
hand, he shall not be unpunished.
Many are proud of their gifts and abilities. These trappings and ornaments do not approve them in God's
eyes. An angel is a creature of great abilities; but take away humility from an angeland he is a devil!
God loves a humble soul. It is not our high birth; but our humble hearts, which God delights in.

Not until Christ is enthroned in me where self once ruled do I possess true humility.
(Genesis 40:8) And

they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.

And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.

Genesis 41:15-16 (KJV)

(Genesis 41:15) And

Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can
interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
(Genesis 41:16) And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an
answer of peace.

Daniel 2:26-29 (KJV)

(Daniel 2:26) The

king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to
make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? (Daniel 2:27)
Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded
cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; (Daniel
2:28) But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king
Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy
bed, are these; (Daniel 2:29) As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed,
what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what
shall come to pass.
Ascribe the greatness to God
Not In under-rating oxirselves.
Humility doth no more require that a
wise man think his knowledge equal with a fool's,
or ignorant man's, than that a sound man take himself
to be sick.
If a man does not take notice of that
excellency and perfection that is in himself, howcan
he be thankful to God, who is the author of all
excellency and perfection? Nay, if a man hath too
mean an opinion of himself, it will render him
unserviceable both to God and man.
What do you esteem yourself before God? Doubtless nothing. It is no great humility in a
fly to esteem itself nothing in comparison to a mountain; nor for a drop of water to hold itself nothing in
comparison of the sea; nor for a spark of fire to hold itself nothing in respect of the sun. But humility
consists in not esteeming ourselves above others, and in not desiring to be so esteemed by others.
Thosepersonswhodomostgoodare
leastconsciousofit.Themanwhohasbuta

singlevirtueorcharityisverymuchlikethehen
thathasbutonechicken.Thatsolitarychicken
callsforthanamountofcluckingandscratching

thatawholebroodseldomcauses.H.W.Beecher

Pridelovestoclimbup,notasZaccheus

"Thefool"

toseeChrist,buttobeseenhimself.

(Solomontellsus)"hathnodelightinunderstanding,
butthathisheartmaydiscoveritself."Pride
wouldbesomebody,andthereforecomesabroadto
courtthemultitude,whereashumilitydelightsin
privacy;astheleavesdocoverandshadethefruits,
thatsomehandmustgentlyliftthemupbeforethey
canseethefruit soshouldhumilityandaholy
modestyconcealtheperfectionsofthesoul,tilla
:

handofProvidencebysomecallinvitesthemout.

Gurnall,16171679.
Humility has with it the weight of wisdom while pride has the light-headedness of unprofitability.
Truegoodnessisprovedliketruebalm;
forasbalm,whendroppedintowater,ifitsinks
andrestsatthebottomisaccountedthemostexcellent
andprecious so,wouldyouknowwhethera
;

manbetrulywise,learned,orgenerous,observe
whetherhisqualificationstendtoliumility,modesty,
andsubmission,forthentheyshallbegoodindeed;
butiftheyswimonthesurface,andstriveto

appearabovewater,theyshallbesomuchtheless

trueinthesameproportionastheyappear.

DeSales.
Goodbeansarethosethatwillsinktothebottomwhilepoor/defective/lowrent/cutrateoneswillfloat.Groundednessisaprinciplevirtue.
ItisthefoundationofChristiancharacter.

Asabuildingissomuchthestrongeras
thegroundworkofthesameislaiddeeper even
sothegroundworkofChristianphilosophyisunfeigned
humility,andthedeeperthesameissettled
:

inourhearts,thesurerandmorepermanentwill

Cawdray,1609.

thebuildingofourreligionbe.

Aheartfullofprideisbutavesselfull
ofair;thisselfopinionmustbeblownoutof
usbeforesavingknowledgebepouredintous.
Humilityisthekneesofthesoul,andtothat
posturetheLambwillopenthebook;butpride
standsupontiptoes,asifshewouldsnatchthe

bookoutofChrist'shandandunclaspitherself.

ThefirstlessonofaChristianishumility andhe
;

thathathnotlearnedthefirstlessonisnotfitto

takeoutanew.

Adams,1653.

Humilityisthefirstlessonwelearnfrom
reflection,andselfdistrustthefirstproofwegiveof
havingobtainedaknowledgeofourselves.

Zimmermann,17281795.
Truehumility,thebasisoftheChristian
system,isthelow,butdeepandfirm,foundation
ofallrealvirtue.Burke,17281797.

Itqualifiesusforthereceptionofgrace,

(2955.)GodpromisesHisgracetothehumble,
andthereforetheremustbesomethinginhumility
thatdisposesmenforgrace.Tliisheavenlyrainin
thisdiffersfromthenatural,thatitfallschieflyin
thelowerplaces,whereasthatfallsindifferently.
Butherein,however,itresemblesthenaturalrain,
thathoweveritfalls,yetitstaysandlodgesinthe
lowergrounds,inthevalleys,whichalsoisthe
chiefplaceforspringsandfountains,accordingto

"Hesendeththe

thatobservationofthePsalmist:

springsintothevalleys,whichrunamongthehills."

Nowtothesevalleys,bothSt.AustinandSt.Bernard
comparethehumbleandlowspiritedman.So
St.Austin:"Iftheyarehumble,theyarevalleys,

theytakewhatisinfusedanddonotletitgo.If

waterfallsuponahighplace,itrunsdownand
fallsoff;butifuponaconcavousandlowplace,

andthereitstands."Hemight

itistherereceived,

havefurtheradded,

andenriches

it,

andmakesit

Andsoitiswiththeheartsofhumblemen,thosespiritualvalleys,theyreceivethegrace

fruitful.

ofGodandkeepit(therebeingnothinginthe
spiritofhumilitythatisoffensivetotheSpiritof

God,thatgrievesorprovokesHimtodepart)
andbeingthusunderthestandingandremaining
influencesofthedewofheaven,theygrowfruitful
withit,andaboundineverygoodwordandwork;
andso,asthePsalmistsays,"Thevalleysalsoare

Norris,1707.

coveredoverwithcorn;theyshoutforjoy."
Itisthelifeofprayer.

(2958.)Well,Christian,ifthouwouldstkeep
thysoulawake,takeheedthoulosestnotthesense
ofthywants.Beggingisthepoorman'strade;

whenthoubeginnesttoconceitthyselfrich,then
thouwiltbeindangerofceasingtobeg,thatis,to
pray.

Gurnall,16171679.

Itisthesafeguardofallthevirtues.

Humilityisthechainofthechapletof

Vianney.

allthevirtues.

Humilityisnotonlyavirtueinitself,but
avesseltocontainothervirtues likeembers,
:

whichkeepthefirealivethatishiddenunderit.

Adams,1653.

Helooksathissuperiorswithoutenvy,and
hisinferiorswithoutcontempt

Thehumbleknowitismucheasiertoobey
thangovern,andthatthevalleysarethemostfruitful
grounds,andthatitisthecedarsandmountain
treesthatareblowndown,andnottheshrubs,and
thatalowconditionaffordethnotonlymoresafety,

butmoreleisureandquietnesstoconversewith
God,andthatitisamercythatothersmaybe
employedinhispreservation,,andkeepingthewalls,
andwatchingthehouse,whilehemayfollowhis
workinquietnessandpeace;andthereforewillingly

Baxter^16151691.

payethhonourandtributetowhomitisdue.

menuseful.

Itmakes

Theboughswhicharebestladenwith
fruithangdownwards,andwecanwiththemost
easegatherthefruitfromthem;hightreesare
commonlyfruitless,andwhatgrowsonthemis
hardtocomeby ithangssohighaboveourreach.
Sohavewemoregoodofthehumble,aswhohave
;

mostgoodinthem,anddocommunicateittous.
Suchasareproudhaveforthemostpartleasttrue
goodinthem,orlooksohigh,thatthefruitthey

Bayne,1618.

bearcannotbereachedbyGod'spoorpeople.

HOWITISTOBEATTAINED.
Letusbringourselvestogreaterlights
thanourown;thatis,oftcomeintothecompany
ofthosethathavegreatergracethanourselves.
Thestarsgivenolightwhenthesunisup.The
starsaresomethinginthenight,buttheyarenothing
intheday.Andtliosethatareconceitedof
theirownexcellences,whentheycomeintothe

presenceandcompany,andconversewiththose
thatarebetterthanthemselves,theirspiritsfall

down,theyareabased.

Sibbes,15771635.

AsightofGod'sgloryhumbles Elijah
:

wrappedhisfaceinamantlewhenGod'sglory
passedby."NowmineeyeseethThee,wherefore
Iabhormyself"(Jobxlii.5).Thestarsvanish

Watson,1696.

whenthesunappears.

Thecreatureneverappearssopitifuland
inconsiderableaswhenitviewsitselfwithoneeye,
anditsCreatorwiththeother.

Everythingismoreapparentasitstandscompared
withitsopposite.Manisbutaweakanda
contemptiblethingatthebest;butmuchmore
contemptible,ifcomparedtoanangel,andyetinfinitely

andinconceivablymoredespicablemusthe

Aglowwormsignifies

be,ifcomparedtoGod.

little

comparedbuttoacandle butsetitbeforethe
stars,consideritinemulationwiththesunand
therulinglightsofheaven,andwhatasillyridiculous
thingmustitappear
Whilemenconsidernothingbutthemselves,they
maygrowproudandconceited forlittlethings
maybevaluedbythosewhoneversawgreater.
if

Hethatneversawtheday,mayadmireanddote
uponhislamp.Butconsiderationandexperience
ofgreatthingsreducesanddegradeslittle
matterstotheirownproperdimensions."Those
thatmeasurethemselvesbythemselves"(saysthe
apostle)"arenotwise."Forwhenwemakea
thingitsownmeasure,itisimpossibletodiscover
anydefectinit.Butbringittoanotherthingthat
excelsandoutshinesit,andthenweshallquickly
seehowmuchatreeistallerthanashrub,anda
royalpalacegreaterandnoblerthanacountry
cottage.

Menareenamouredwiththeirownreason

but

letthemcompareitwithomniscience,anditis

nothing.Theyperhapsvaluethemselvesupontheir
dominionovertheseinferiorthings;butwhatis
alltheirgrandeurtotheroyaltyanduniversal
empireofProvidence?whatistheirpolicytothe

wisdomofHimthatgovernstheworldand

'

charges

'

theveryangelswithfolly?"Itisimpossiblefora

manthatfrequentlyandseriouslythinksofGod
tovaluehimself.South,16331716.

Personspraythattheymaybehumble.
Hereisabig,strongmanwho,inthemorning,
praysthathemaybehumblethroughtheday;and
inordertomakeitmoreeffectual,whilekneeling
heputshisheadcleardowninhischair;andin
ordertomakeitstillmoreeffectual,hetalksinan
ofiicialvoice.Whenhisprayerisfinished,hegets
upandstraightenshimself,andgoestohisstore,
andstormsabouthisbusiness.Heisnotgoingto
seethingsgotorackandruinbecausenobodyfeels
responsible.Andthemanquiteforgetshisprayer.
HeleavesthatforGodtotakecareof.Whenhe
comeshomeatnighthehassomemournfulfeelings
aboutthewayinwhichhehasconductedhimself
throughtheday.Andthenextmorningheprays
forhumilityagain.Theexperienceoftheprevious
dayisrepeated.Atnighthisfeelingsaremellowed
downoncemore(formenalmostalwayshavethe
graceofhumilitywhentheyaresleepy);andso
hegetsthroughanothernight.
Now,thefaultdidnotlieinthefactthatthe
manprayedGodtomakeiiimhumble.Thefault
layinthis,thathethoughttheprayerrelievedhim
fromtheresponsibilityoftraininghimselffrom
thenecessityoftheyokeandtheharness.Men
prayformeekness,andyetwhentheyarebrought
intocircumstanceswhichcallfortheexerciseof
meeknesstheyforgettheirprayer.Beechc\er.

Whenthecornisnearlyripeitbowsthe
headandstoopslowerthanwhenitwasgreen.

WhenthepeopleofGodarenearripeforheaven,
theygrowmorehumbleandselfdenyingthanin
thedaysoftheirfirstprofession.Thelongera
saintgrowsintheworld,thebetterheisstillacquainted
withhisownheartandhisobligationsto

God

;bothofwhichareveryhumblingthings.
Paulhadonefootinheavenwhenhecalledhimself

thechiefestofsinnersandleastofsaints.

AChristianintheprogressofhisknowledgeand

themore

graceislikeavesselcastintothesea
itfills,the

Flavel,

deeperitsinks.

6301691.

ITSCOUNTERFEITS.

Manyarehumbledthatarcnothumble manyarecastdownthathaveproudheartsstill,as
;

Pharaohhad.

Sibbes,15771635.

Letironbebrokenintopieces,yetstillit
remainshard so,aheartmaybebrokeninpieces,
andyetremainhardandunhumbled.Buttrue
humilityis,whenthesoulismelted,soastorun
:

intothisgospelmould;soastoreceiveChrist,and

walkinHim.Erskine,16851752.

ITSWISDOM.

Letusacquirethatheightwhichcomes
byhumility.Letuslookintothenatureofhuman
things,thatwemaykindlewiththelongingdesire
ofthethingstocome;forinnootherwayisit
possibletobecomehumble,exceptbytheloveof
wliatisdivine,andthecontemptofwhatispresent.

Forjustasamanonthepointofobtainingakingdom,
insteadofthatpurplerobe,oneoffershim
sometrivialcompliment,willcountittobenothing
soshallwealsolaughtoscornallthingspresent,if
wedesirethatothersortofhonour.
Doyenotseethechildren,whenintheirplay
theymakeabandofsoldiers,andheraldsprecede
if,

them,andlictors,andaboymarchesinthemidst
inthegeneral'splace,howchildishitallis?

Justsuchareallhumanaffairs.Yea,andmore
worthlessthanthese todaytheyare,andtomorrow
theyarenot.Letusthereforebeabove
thesethings;andletusnotonlynotdesirethem,
butevenbeashamedifanyoneholdthemforthto
us.Forthuscastingouttheloveofthesethings,
:

weshallpossessthatotherlovewhichisDivine,

Chrysostom,347407.

andshallenjoyimmortalglory.

Remember,therefore,thatthoughthoube
avesselofmercy,itisthefountainthatfilleththee,
andnotthyself.Thoucanstscarcemoredishonour

thyqualificationsandactions,andconsequently
thyself,thantosaytheyarethineown,andoriginally
fromthyself.Forsureallthatisthine,
andfromthee,willbelikethee andtherefore
mustbeweakandbadasthouart.Whenever
thereforethougloriestinthygraces,doitbutas
thebeggargloriethinhisalms,thatascribesallto
;

thegiver;orasthepatientgloriethinhiscure,that
ascribethalltoGodandthephysician;orasa

condemnedrebeldothgloryinapardon,whichhe

Baxter,16151691.

ascribethtothemercyofhisprince.

ITSREWARDS.
1.Theinheritanceoftheearth(Matt.v.5.)

Tobehumbletosuperiorsisduty;to
equals,iscourtesy;toinferiors,isnobleness;and
toall,safety;itbeingavirtuethat,forallherlowliness,

commandeththosesoulsitstoopsto.
SirT.More,14801535.

Pardon.
Humilityisagraciousherb,andallays
thewrathofGod;whereasprideprovokesit.It
isrecordedofanEnglishking,EdwardI.,that
beingexceedingangrywithaservantofhis,in
thesportofhawking,hethreatenedhimsharply.
Thegentlemananswered,Itwaswelltherewasa
riverbetweenthem.Hereattheking,moreincensed,
spurredhishorseintothedepthoftheriver,notwithoutextremedangerofhislife,the
waterbeingdeep,andthebankstoosteepandhigh
forhisascending.Yetatlastrecoveringland,with
hissworddrawnhepursuestheservant,whorode
asfastfromhim.Butfindinghimselftooillhorsed
tooutridetheangiyking,hereined,lighted,and
onhiskneesexposedhisnecktotheblowofthe
king'ssword.Thekingnosoonersawthisbuthe
putuphissword,andwouldnottouchhim.A
dangerouswatercouldnotwithholdhimfrom
violence;yethisservant'ssubmissiondidsoon
pacifyhim.^YhilesmanfliesstubbornlyfromGod,

Hethatridesuponthewingsofthewind'posts
afterhimwiththeswordofvengeancedrawn.But

whendustandasheshumbleshimself,andstands

Adams,1653.

toHismercy,thewrathofGodissoonappeased.

Psalms 113:1-9. If it be such condescension for God to behold things in heaven and
earth, what an amazing condescension was it for the Son of God to come from
heaven to earth, and take our nature upon him, that he might seek and save them
that were lost!
Here, indeed, he humbled himself.

Philippians 2:5-7 (KJV)

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:6) Who, being
in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (Philippians 2:7) But made himself
of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
(Philippians 2:5)

Isaiah 5:21 KJV Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
Humility, that low, sweet root
From which all heavenly virtues shoot.Thomas Moore
Hearing the Scriptures births the fear of God.

Deuteronomy 31:11-13 KJV

11 When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose,
thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
12 Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy
gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe
to do all the words of this law:
13 And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the
LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.
Isaiah 2:11 KJV The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be
bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
(2 Chronicles 26:16) But

when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he
transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense
upon the altar of incense.
Keep me from pride, Lord! At-times e think that pride will lead us away from the service of God.
But there is a worse kind of pride that will lead us closer to God's Headquarters. This pride is
presumptuous and it thus dishonours the due decorum and etiquette that attends the Worship of
God.
It will usurp a man of God,
Will denounce the Head Pastor,
It will scream against him and criticise his sermons,
It will think it's giftings and talents able grounds to sway people to it.

The Spoils of the Proud on

the Day of the Lord
Isaiah 2:10 KJV Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the

glory of his majesty.

Isaiah 2:11 KJV The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be
bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
Isaiah 2:12 KJV For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty,
and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:
Isaiah 2:13 KJV And upon all the cedars of Lebanon, that are high and lifted up, and upon all the
oaks of Bashan,
Isaiah 2:14 KJV And upon all the high mountains, and upon all the hills that are lifted up,
Isaiah 2:15 KJV And upon every high tower, and upon every fenced wall,
Isaiah 2:16 KJV And upon all the ships of Tarshish, and upon all pleasant pictures.
Isaiah 2:17 KJV And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall
be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
Isaiah 2:18 KJV And the idols he shall utterly abolish.
Isaiah 2:19 KJV And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for
fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
Isaiah 2:20 KJV In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they
made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
Isaiah 2:21 KJV To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of
the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

The dove is not only the epitome of humility, meekness, devotion purity, and chastity; it is also
the constant emblem of peace and reconciliation. It is held before us in Holy Scripture as the type,
picture, and symbol of peace, of Christ Who is our peace. It was a dove that brought the olive
branch back to Noah, declaring that the storm of Gods wrath was over. After our Lord Jesus
Christ had, by the sacrifice of Himself, completely and forever exhausted the wrath of God for His
people, He sent the Holy Spirit (The Dove of Heaven!) to His church, declaring reconciliation by
blood atonement (Acts 2). This is exactly what was symbolized in our Lords baptism (Mat. 3:1317). And when the time of love comes for the calling of Christs redeemed ones, He sends the Dove
of heaven with the olive branch of peace, declaring that justice is satisfied, wrath is gone,
judgment is over, and reconciliation is accomplished.
The spirit of competition is steeped in pride, not humility! A spirit of competition is the spirit of self.
A father and his small son strolled down the street in Chicago past the place where a skyscraper was
being constructed. Glancing up, they saw men at work on a high story of the building. "Father," said the
little boy, "What are those little boys doing up there?"
"Those are not little boys, son. They're grown men."
"But why do they look so small?"
"Because they're so high," his father answered.
After a pause the boy asked, "Then, Father, when they get to heaven there won't be anything left of

them, will there?"

It's so true. The nearer we come to Christ the less others see of us and the more they see of Christ.

Expound This
Philippians 2:5-8 KJV
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in
the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross.
In order to be humble, it's a mindset change. It's mind over matter. You set your mind to be a lens
through which you shall see matter around you. To be humble like Jesus, have His mindset.
This is critical, it spills a secret that is just shouting stuff.
Who He was vs what midset He carried.
Humility does not consist in denying your abilities, but ascribing them to God.
Joseph, Daniel and the Christ denied not their graces and abilities but ascribed them to God, 1
Cor. 4:7.
(Genesis 40:8) And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.
And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you.
(Genesis 41:16) And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an
answer of peace.

Daniel 2:26-30 (KJV)

(Daniel 2:26) The

king answered and said to Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, Art thou able to
make known unto me the dream which I have seen, and the interpretation thereof? (Daniel 2:27)
Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded
cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king; (Daniel
2:28) But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king
Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy
bed, are these; (Daniel 2:29) As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed,
what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what
shall come to pass. (Daniel 2:30) But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that
I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the
king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
Jesus didn't deny His Godhood, He'd have been a liar. He acknowledged it, but divested Himself
of all it's due privileges. John 5, John 13:13.
What sets Him apart is that He had all that and yet still chose to serve.

John 13:13-17 (KJV)

(John 13:13) Ye call

me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. (John 13:14) If I then, your Lord
and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. (John 13:15) For I have
given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. (John 13:16) Verily, verily, I say unto
you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
(John 13:17) If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
(Luke 22:27) 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.
Humility will at-times consist in you not using your rights.
Paul had to make such a decision.
Jesus gave up these rights.

You have a right to this. Okay. True. But deny yourself. And Serve.
Take not your rights something to be eagerly grasped.
Start at v.6.

All men are tempted to take a censusthat is, to number their own virtues, graces, accomplishments,
resources, and thus draw the heart away from God. But what ground can there be for our counting or for
our pride? Are we proud of our talents? But what have we that we have not received from God? Are we
proud of our wisdom or knowledge? A brick falls on our head, a machine strikes us on the street, and then
where is the vaunted knowledge of the mind ? Are we proud of our beauty? A wasting sickness smites us,
and then where is beauty? Are we proud of our riches? A revolution breaks out in the country, and then
what are our riches?
The truly humble man does not know he is humble: Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone.

Walk an extra mile with him that compels you.

If your friend calls you an ass, put a saddle on your
back.
(Acts 20:19) 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:
Most of us don't struggle with pride of the externala, we have nothing materially to boast of. but we have
pride of intellect, of the mind. As Lucifer, Isa. 14:12ff, "...thou hast said in thine heart..."
Paul reached a place of serving the Lrd with all humility of mind.
Be of a humble mind... the Humble mind. Phil. 2:5ff
Paul therein talks of the humble actions of our Lord but he does that by starting from a humbled mindset.
Serving the Lord with all humility of mind.
Whoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
and whoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
even as the Son of man came not to be ministered to, but to
minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
If a man thinketh himself to be something, when he is
nothing, he deceiveth himself. I say, 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. When ye shall have done all the
things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable
servants: we have done that which it was our duty to do.
Our rejoicing is this, . . . that in simplicity and godly
sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we
have behaved ourselves in the world We have this treasure in
earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God,
and not from us.
Act. 20:19 Mat. 20:26-28 Gal. 6:3 Rom. 12:3 Luk. 17:10 2Co. 1:12 2Co. 4:7 2Co. 3:5

(2 Samuel 22:28) And the

afflicted people thou wilt save: but thine eyes are upon the haughty, that
thou mayest bring them down.
Don't take yourself to heights, let God set you there... He's He that raises.
(2 Samuel 22:34) He maketh my feet

like hinds' feet: and setteth me upon my high places.

(2 Samuel 23:1) Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who
was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,
(2 Samuel 22:36) Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made
me great.
Pridegetsintothecoach,andshame
mountsbehind.
Proclaimnotallthouknowest,all
thouowest,allthouhast,norall

thoucanst.
Tobeproudofknowledge,istobe
blindwithlight;tobeproudof
virtue,istopoisonyourselfwith
theantidote.

Boasting
When Satan gets you to boast, advertise and noise abroad wherein thy great strength lieth, it's so
that he might bind you right and afflict you.
(Judges 16:6) And Delilah said to Samson, Tell me, I pray thee, wherein thy great strength lieth, and
wherewith thou mightest be bound to afflict thee.
Paul chooses rather to glory in infirmities, in his nothingness.
(2 Corinthians 11:30) If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (KJV)

(2 Corinthians 12:9) And he

said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made
perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches,
in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I
strong.
When Hezekiah exposed his wealth and that of his fathers to the Babylonian officials, it was so
that they would carry it away in another generation. Isa. 39, 2 Kings 20:12-19.

1 Samuel 2:7-8 (KJV)

(1 Samuel 2:7) The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up. (1 Samuel
2:8) He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set

them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are
the LORD'S, and he hath set the world upon them.

GRACE shines brightest through the

veil of humility. A fit emblem of humility is the violet: it hangs its head
low, but is known by its sweet scent.
When the silkworm weaves her curious work, she hides herself
under the

silk, and is not seen: -when we have

done our best, we must be hidden ones,
and transfer all the glory to God.

Psalms 71:21 KJV Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
Galatians 5:26 KJV Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one
another.
Greatestatesmayventuremore;
littleboatsmustkeepnearshore.

It is the bough most richly laden with fruit that bends downwards, and hangs the lowest. So those
Christians who have the richest gifts and are favored with the greatest usefulness think the most lowly of
themselves, and hide their gifts and graces and usefulness deepest in the shadow of Christ's cross, and are
the best prepared for the lowliest service of love to the saints.
On the contrary, humility, disposes a person to a condescending behavior to the meekest and lowest, and
to treat inferiors with courtesy and affability, as being sensible of his own weakness and despicableness
before God.

In the creature, humility is the one

thing needed to allow God's holiness to dwell in him and shine through him. In
Jesus, the Holy One of God who makes us holy, a divine humility was the secret
of His life and His death and His exaltation; the one infallible test of our holiness
will be the humility before God and men which marks us. Humility is the bloom
and the beauty of holiness.
The chief mark of counterfeit holiness is its lack of humility. Every seeker after
holiness needs to be on his guard, lest unconsciously what was begun in the spirit
be perfected in the flesh, and pride creep in where its presence is least expected.
Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, the other a publican.
There is no place or position so sacred but the Pharisee can enter there. Pride can
lift its head in the very temple of God, and make His worship the scene of its self
exaltation. Since the time Christ so exposed his pride, the Pharisee has put on the
garb of the publican, and the confessor of deep sinfulness equally with the
professor of the highest holiness, must be on the watch. Just when We are most
anxious to have our heart the temple of God, we shall find the two men coming up
to pray. And the publican will find that his danger is not from the Pharisee beside
him, who despises him, but the Pharisee within who commends and exalts. In
God's temple, when we think we are in the holiest of all, in the presence of His
holiness, let us beware of pride. "Now there was a day when the sons of God came
to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them."

Humility and Chastening

It is natural to want recognition and achievement in this life. But the Scriptures teach the need for
humilityan attitude of submission and deferencerather than pride and arrogance. To chasten means to
correct or to discipline. There are times when God, because of His love for us, must bring a measure of
discipline into our lives.
(Luke 14:11) For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth
himself shall be exalted.

(Ephesians 4:1) I

therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of
the vocation wherewith ye are called,(Ephesians 4:2) With all lowliness and meekness,
with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
(Philippians 2:3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind
let each esteem other better than themselves.(Philippians 2:4) Look not every man on his
own things, but every man also on the things of others.
(1 Peter 5:5) 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.(1 Peter 5:6) Humble yourselves therefore under the
mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
(Job 5:17) Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou
the chastening of the Almighty:
(Psalms 94:12) Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out
of thy law;(Psalms 94:13) That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until
the pit be digged for the wicked.
(Proverbs 3:11) My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his
correction:(Proverbs 3:12) For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the
son in whom he delighteth.
(Hebrews 12:8) But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye
bastards, and not sons.(Hebrews 12:9) Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh
which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in
subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? (Hebrews 12:10) For they verily for a few
days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be
partakers of his holiness.(Hebrews 12:11) Now no chastening for the present seemeth to
be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of
righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
(James 4:10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

It is the person who is forgotten because they are so lowly, they

blend into the scenery. They do not want center stage. They want to
be hidden away, quiet, unassuming, submissive to GOD. This is
humility, daughter and this is MY bride.
This is what happens when someone is humble. They create a
wonderful testimony. They shine in MY Kingdom, in MY Eyes. They
receive the Ear of GOD. I listen to MY humble servants when they
cry out to ME. I would go to any extreme to save MY humble
servants. I will move heaven and earth for MY humble servants. Do
you understand this, MY daughter? MY humble servants are
devoted to ME. They understand that they cannot do anything
without ME. They are always seeking ME in all ways like a child
seeks its parent. This is MY humble servant. They have no self will.
They trust only ME in their daily walk. They search ME for their
answers. They trust ME wholeheartedly and I answer them. I give
them MY Best because they seek ME above all others for answers.
They are humble and glorious in MY Sight. They have a soft-spoken
beauty about them. They are not like the world around them.
(Genesis 26:13) And

very great:

the man waxed great, and went forward, and grew until he became

God's will for men is greatness. The path to greatness leads through the valleys of humility and radical
obedience. Greatness means enlargement, increase, honor and to be lift up among others. It will also be a

year of moving forward from glory to glory.

They will prophesy boldly and preach with an anointed fervor. This will cause a great fear of the Lord in
the hearts of those who practice dark magic and witchcraft, and evil spirits will be driven out of bodies
and minds as the Word of God is proclaimed.
It will be as if a large fist has come down from Heaven and has smashed and scattered the plots of the
wicked only to open up and gently hold those near to the heart of God through humility.
Do you hear what these children are saying? they asked him. Yes, replied Jesus, have you never read,
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise? Matthew 21:16.

Psalms 147:5-6 KJV

5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
Psalms 149:4 KJV For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with
salvation.
Psalms 138:6 KJV Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud
he knoweth afar off.
(Job 36:5) Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and
wisdom.
Psalms 145:14 KJV The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed
down.
Psalms 131:1-3 KJV
1 A Song of degrees of David. LORD, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do
I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
2 Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is
even as a weaned child.
3 Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

Childlike faith is important because a child does not get ahead of

itself. A child follows close behind its parent because it trusts the
parent. It clings to the parent with hopeful expectation waiting for
instruction, guidance, leadership. The child does not assume the
role of parent. It knows better. It cannot lead; it trusts only the parent
to meet all of its needs. When the child gets out of sight of the
parent, panic sets in because it knows all its needs are met in the
parent it has grown to love and trust. This is the relationship
between the truly humble and GOD. The humble follow GOD blindly
out of trust and obedience and GOD delivers them.
Why do I talk so of those with childlike faith as the ones who will
inherit MY Kingdom? Because these children recognize their need
for ME at every turn just as a child turns to its parent at every
moment. The child knows apart from the parent he is in danger as
MY children recognize apart from ME, they too are in great danger,
and trust in MY Every Word. This is why I implore MY children to
spend time in MY Word, where much information is imparted. All
answers for living this life are given in MY Book. I gave this Book as

a guide for mankind.

Pride finds expression mostly in the manner, style and fashion of the eyes and the aspect of the
heart. Prov. 21:4, 30:13, Isa. 2:11, 2:17.
Pride finds expression in these two manners.
Either the eye is attracted by lofty and expressive, grand things. Or the heart secretly covets glory,
exaltation. Pride of the eye is less than that of the heart. Pride of the eye is easily checked for it is
visible and others will subject it to rebukes and ridicule, scorn.
Pride of the heart is hideous and furtive, it's malformed and thus puts on the comely dress of
humility.
Don't touch things I make no head or tail about and those that are greater than my ability to
comprehend.
v.2 The thing with humility is that you have to do it to yourself. What comes naturally to a child,
that quiet confident and trusting resignation to it's mother, you have to pour yourself into the
mould of a child to become identified as a humble person in the kingdom of God. You purpose to
be humble.
Exposition
David here appeals to God by the condiment/ flavour of his overall, and encompassing trait of his
humility. He spells out his humble disposition as one that has penetrated the entire fabric of his
being in all aspect. He lays it bare before God as though to excite God to treat him and do to him
as He does to the humble of His people.
Heart - The heart is the birth-place of pride, ostentation, loftiness, vain-glory. Once given over to
Satan, it becomes the factory-plant of his enterprises, the launch-pad of his schemes and designs.
A haughty heartis light. Thus it will float into the cloudy skies of fantasy.
Eyes - Lofty eyes are easy to see, they are hard to hide. This person, as they say, has an eye for the
good and flashy things of life. Even if they're poor, they will scorn and despise tje other poor and
speak against them as though their estate were any better.
Exercise/ concern self in great matters and or lofty things.
Great matters
Great matters are those that are over and beyond one.
things too high for me
These are the ones in which (well they could be great or not-great). The difference between great
matters and things too high for him is that for these, he sees them through the eyes of his own
estimation and then judges them as too lofty.
Psalms 139:6 KJV Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
It's sad if a man can't find anything that's too hard or lofty for him. Even the imminent Apostle
Peter found some elements of Paul's theological anaomy to high for him and he admitted it and I
bet you wouldn't find him speaking about some of the things that Paul spoke about. On the other
hand, we have unstable and unlearnt men that twist them as they do the rest of the Scriptures to
their on destruction.
One mark of humility is knowing when to include your opinion in any situation. Certain things
call for the isdom of silence, instead of speaking to remove doubt of your folly. A dunce is thought
wise when he shuts.
Proverbs 17:27-28 KJV
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent
spirit.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is
esteemed a man of understanding.
Why is it humility and golden of character to withdraw from the great matters and tings too lofty?
Of course pretended wisdom reveals itself in due time as a veiled pregnancy. You can only
hide it for so long. You better let people know that you carrying a bun in the oven, otherwise,
they will know.
You'll go for antenatal
You'll default at your sanitary towels supplier
You'll get morning sickness
Start craving alien diets

Scream out loud at the birth pangs

You'll be seen carrying the curious bag of baby supply or even carrying the bouncing bundle of a
charming suckling.
v.2 He did this on purpose. What comes naturally to a child, he had to purpose to impart to the
fabric of his character. Humility requires you to wind back the years and have the same peculiar
deportment as a child.
Not it's folly Prov. 22:15 or it's irresponsible mannerisms which Paul discarded 1 Cor. 13:11
Evidences and surety of David's humility is this. Surely! To come to this course of humility, I had
to imitate the child. Observe the child intently and apply the fine chores of his attitude, you'll be a
humble and blessed somebody.
The character of children that God wants us to imitate is their resignation in the hand of their
mother. Now David didn't point out a new-born baby but one that was weaned. Has been off
breast milk long enough but still young to be called a child. This child unlike the new-born one
has learnt to accept and love and be cool round mama. Undisturbed, undisturbing, knowing that
Mama is my everything. Everything mummy.
Ngenda kkuloopa
Wa maama
Buuza maama
Maama yangamba
A child's mother is it's all. Fighter, protection, the folds of her skirt are his strong tower, her leg is
the pillar of his strength, her lap is the rock higher than he is, her breast is the foodstore of his
delights. Her arm is the righthand of strength. Everything he wants her hand gives, and does. It
wipes his poop and chastises him, it bathes him and leads him. Her ear responds to his cry. he
thinks Mummy's hand is not too short to save nor her ear deaf that she cannot hear. His life
revolves around mummy.
Get a child from the arms of it's mother and the white satin-like flesh with which his forehead is
padded will be drawn into farrows.
That's how God wants us to be in Him. Confident trust, declare enmity to anything that cajoles,
coaxes, allures, tempts, induces us away from the presence of God.
People don't like little children because they are so fond of their mothers. Are you that committed
to God.
"My soul," says David, "is even as a weaned child."
What a weaned child is, let your soul become. A weaned child, not one that has been neglected,
not one that has had no fondness of a mother's dotting and petting, one that has suckled the
breast and has been in the arms of the mother.
The quietness and serenity, the absence of alarm, hush and placid let your soul become before
God.
A man that's not humble has their soul in constant upheaval. Swayed by opinions of men and
tumultous as the troubled sea, he's ever in turmoil with his on self.
Humility requires one to consider the evidences of God's providential and miraculous
interventions and feeding the mind and spirit with these. One ought to compass themselves with
assurance of God's faithfulness and unwavering character.
v.3 Let Israel hope in the Lord...
This is how to hope in the Lord. Resignation into His able and mighty hands.
This is the same thing God expects from us toward Him.

(Job 37:24) Men

do therefore fear him: he respecteth not any that are wise of heart.
thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
(Psalms 31:23) O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and
plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
Psalms 73:6 KJV Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a
(Psalms 18:27) For

garment.
Psalms 101:5 KJV Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an
high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.
Psalms 119:21 KJV Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy
commandments.
Psalms 138:6 KJV Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud
he knoweth afar off.

Oh, yes, it is true the devil is ever trying to make you think what you are. You never find God
doing it. It is always Satan who comes on and says, What a wonderful address you gave! How
wonderful he did that, and how wonderful he prayed, and sung that song. It is all of the devil.
There is not an atom of God in it, not from beginning to end.
pride of race, face and grace
Race - black pride, tribalism
Grace, inward virtues/ leverages - pride of case, pride of chase, `
Face, external benefits - dress and trace, place
(2 Kings 14:9) And

Jehoash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The
thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy
daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon,
and trode down the thistle.(2 Kings 14:10) Thou hast indeed smitten Edom, and thine
heart hath lifted thee up: glory of this, and tarry at home: for why shouldest thou
meddle to thy hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah with thee?
(2 Chronicles 25:18) And Joash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, The
thistle that was in Lebanon sent to the cedar that was in Lebanon, saying, Give thy
daughter to my son to wife: and there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon,
and trode down the thistle.(2 Chronicles 25:19) Thou sayest, Lo, thou hast smitten the
Edomites; and thine heart lifteth thee up to boast: abide now at home; why
shouldest thou meddle to thine hurt, that thou shouldest fall, even thou, and Judah
with thee?

Humility of God
Psalms 113:1 KJV Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the
LORD.
Psalms 113:2 KJV Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.
Psalms 113:3 KJV From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name
is to be praised.
Psalms 113:4 KJV The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
Psalms 113:5 KJV Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
Psalms 113:6 KJV Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the
earth!

Psalms 113:7 KJV He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
Psalms 113:8 KJV That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
Psalms 113:9 KJV He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of
children. Praise ye the LORD.

1 Peter 5:6 KJV Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt
you in due time:
Psalms 75:4-10 KJV
4 I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:
5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.
6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
8 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he
poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them
out, and drink them.
9 But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
Psalms 92:10 KJV But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed
with fresh oil.
The difference between greatness and pride is simple. God ordains, initiates, processes, and
executes greatness while pride is an operation of man. Your trumpet is God's and not yours to
blow.

Psalms 34:2 KJV My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and
be glad.
Boast in God alone. Jer. 9:23
Psalms 18:27 KJV For thou wilt save the afflicted people; but wilt bring down high looks.
Proverbs 13:10 KJV Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
Ecclesiastes 7:8 KJV Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in
spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
Psalms 69:33 KJV For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.
Psalms 70:5 KJV But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and
my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.

Humility when considering the

Sin of Others
Ezekiel 16:44-63 KJV
44 Behold, every one that useth proverbs shall use this proverb against thee, saying, As is the
mother, so is her daughter.
45 Thou art thy mother's daughter, that lotheth her husband and her children; and thou art the
sister of thy sisters, which lothed their husbands and their children: your mother was an
Hittite, and your father an Amorite.
46 And thine elder sister is Samaria, she and her daughters that dwell at thy left hand: and thy
younger sister, that dwelleth at thy right hand, is Sodom and her daughters.
47 Yet hast thou not walked after their ways, nor done after their abominations: but, as if that
were a very little thing, thou wast corrupted more than they in all thy ways.
48 As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou
hast done, thou and thy daughters.
49 Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of
idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and
needy.
50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as
I saw good.
51 Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations
more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.
52 Thou also, which hast judged thy sisters, bear thine own shame for thy sins that thou hast
committed more abominable than they: they are more righteous than thou: yea, be thou
confounded also, and bear thy shame, in that thou hast justified thy sisters.
53 When I shall bring again their captivity, the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the
captivity of Samaria and her daughters, then will I bring again the captivity of thy captives in
the midst of them:
54 That thou mayest bear thine own shame, and mayest be confounded in all that thou hast done,
in that thou art a comfort unto them.
55 When thy sisters, Sodom and her daughters, shall return to their former estate, and Samaria
and her daughters shall return to their former estate, then thou and thy daughters shall
return to your former estate.
56 For thy sister Sodom was not mentioned by thy mouth in the day of thy pride,
57 Before thy wickedness was discovered, as at the time of thy reproach of the daughters of Syria,
and all that are round about her, the daughters of the Philistines, which despise thee round
about.
58 Thou hast borne thy lewdness and thine abominations, saith the LORD.
59 For thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised
the oath in breaking the covenant.
60 Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will
establish unto thee an everlasting covenant.
61 Then thou shalt remember thy ways, and be ashamed, when thou shalt receive thy sisters,
thine elder and thy younger: and I will give them unto thee for daughters, but not by thy
covenant.
62 And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD:
63 That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more
because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the
Lord GOD.
In a former time, Israel had exhibited high-headed, swivel-nosed pride and derision against the
town of Sodom and Gomorrah destroyed as a result of their sin. Israel in a display of pride
and spurious spiritual elevation, gesture thus in refusal to take the name of Sodom on their
lips were found to do worse sins than they.
God reminds them and the nations taunt them thus.
It's needful to deal well with those in sin.
Job says somewhere that a man's friends should comfort him in affliction.
In v.63, God does a redemptive act by grace to stop the mouthing of the pride merchant.

Proverbs 16:5 KJV Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand
join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
Proverbs 16:18-19 KJV
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Proverbs 18:12 KJV Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is
humility.

Exposit this
Jeremiah 13:1 KJV Thus saith the LORD unto me, Go and get thee a linen girdle, and put it upon
thy loins, and put it not in water.
Jeremiah 13:2 KJV So I got a girdle according to the word of the LORD, and put it on my loins.
Jeremiah 13:3 KJV And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying,
Jeremiah 13:4 KJV Take the girdle that thou hast got, which is upon thy loins, and arise, go to
Euphrates, and hide it there in a hole of the rock.
Jeremiah 13:5 KJV So I went, and hid it by Euphrates, as the LORD commanded me.
Jeremiah 13:6 KJV And it came to pass after many days, that the LORD said unto me, Arise, go to
Euphrates, and take the girdle from thence, which I commanded thee to hide there.
Jeremiah 13:7 KJV Then I went to Euphrates, and digged, and took the girdle from the place
where I had hid it: and, behold, the girdle was marred, it was profitable for nothing.
Jeremiah 13:8 KJV Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Jeremiah 13:9 KJV Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the
great pride of Jerusalem.
Jeremiah 13:10 KJV This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the
imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall
even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.
Jeremiah 13:11 KJV For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave
unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might
be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise, and for a glory: but they would not hear.

Jeremiah 13:12 KJV Therefore thou shalt speak unto them this word; Thus saith the LORD God
of Israel, Every bottle shall be filled with wine: and they shall say unto thee, Do we not certainly
know that every bottle shall be filled with wine?
Jeremiah 13:13 KJV Then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will fill all
the inhabitants of this land, even the kings that sit upon David's throne, and the priests, and the
prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, with drunkenness.
Jeremiah 13:14 KJV And I will dash them one against another, even the fathers and the sons
together, saith the LORD: I will not pity, nor spare, nor have mercy, but destroy them.
Jeremiah 13:15 KJV Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.
Jeremiah 13:16 KJV Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your
feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of
death, and make it gross darkness.
Jeremiah 13:17 KJV But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride;
and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away
captive.
Jeremiah 13:18 KJV Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your
principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.
Jeremiah 13:19 KJV The cities of the south shall be shut up, and none shall open them: Judah
shall be carried away captive all of it, it shall be wholly carried away captive.
Jeremiah 13:20 KJV Lift up your eyes, and behold them that come from the north: where is the
flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?
Jeremiah 13:21 KJV What wilt thou say when he shall punish thee? for thou hast taught them to
be captains, and as chief over thee: shall not sorrows take thee, as a woman in travail?
Jeremiah 13:22 KJV And if thou say in thine heart, Wherefore come these things upon me? For
the greatness of thine iniquity are thy skirts discovered, and thy heels made bare.
Jeremiah 13:23 KJV Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye
also do good, that are accustomed to do evil.
Jeremiah 13:24 KJV Therefore will I scatter them as the stubble that passeth away by the wind of
the wilderness.
Jeremiah 13:25 KJV This is thy lot, the portion of thy measures from me, saith the LORD;
because thou hast forgotten me, and trusted in falsehood.
Jeremiah 13:26 KJV Therefore will I discover thy skirts upon thy face, that thy shame may
appear.
Jeremiah 13:27 KJV I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy
whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt
thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?

Must Increase. The problem is we have made a compelling command into casoury suggestion.

I Must Decrease
Under this heading, God began to deal with me about my
pride. I had never felt that I was proud. If such a thought
were suggested to my mind, either through preaching or by
direct accusation, or even by the faithful dealing of the Spirit,
I, like so many others, excused myself by calling this thing
"self respect," "poise," "good breeding," or "highmindedness."
But God called it "SIN" (Prov. 21:4).
"An high look, and a proud heart . . . is sin" (Prov. 21:4).
In the searchlight of His presence, there was no use to try
to make explanations. Like John of old, I was made to realize
my utter dependence upon God, and how little my own
efforts were worth. I was made to realize, as I had never
realized before, that even the best of my efforts were so
futile, that truly God must take full control of my life, and
that, before that could happen, I (my own personality, talents,
knowledge, or natural ability) MUST DECREASE in
importance in my own opinion.
I have since discovered that the power and success of any
man's ministry depends upon the amount, or greatness, of
God in his life. The New Testament disciples depended
entirely upon "The Lord working with them, and confirming
the Word with signs following" (Mark 16:20). They claimed
no power nor holiness for themselves, although at their work
of command, a man lame for forty years -- having to be
carried by his friends to a place where he might beg for his
living -- was instantly healed, so that he not only walked, but
leaped and ran (See Acts 3:2-8 and 12-16). These were the
same men who had once rejoiced, saying, "Lord, even the
devils are subject unto US through Thy name" (Luke 10:17).
Now they have decreased in their own sight, and are ready for
I Must Decrease Page 64

an increased ministry. Hear them say, "Why look ye so

earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we
had made this man to walk? . . . His name through faith in
His name hath made this man strong" (Acts 3:12,16).
It is only as God increases in the life of one of His
followers that power can increase, and this can never happen

until SELF is decreased.

Oh that God's ministers -- yes, and laity as well -- could
realize that it is "Not by MIGHT nor by POWER, but by my
Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts" (Zech. 4:6). The might and
power here spoken of refer to man's might and power -- not
to God's. To the natural and not to the supernatural. There
are two sources of power. Many great church organizations
today boast of their "power," "influence," or "popularity" in
their community. Their power and influence are derived from
the magnificence of their great church plants, their immense
bank accounts, the efficiency of their organization, their
numerical strength, and their connection with the "right"
people -- those with wealth and influence in this world
(though many of them do not so much as pretend ever to
have been born again by the power of God, but only have
joined the church as they would a social club.) Their fine
talent, and soothing (spiritual sleep producing) worship
services, their beautiful forms, all help to make them popular
-- to give them power in a world of "religious," "respectable"
sinners. It is from such as these that Paul has warned us
(speaking as he was inspired by the Holy Ghost) that we must
separate ourselves. "Having a form of Godliness, by
DENYING THE POWER THEREOF, from such turn
away" (II Tim. 3:5). These people would be greatly displeased
if God should interrupt the controlled orderliness of one of
their services by speaking out as He so often did in days gone
I Must Decrease Page 65

by through one of His prophets, rebuking sin and calling

them to lives of holiness and power. They make no plans, nor
leave any room in their services, for the supernatural
manifestation of the power of God.
True, there is a certain feeling of security and power,
when we have achieved the building of a fine church edifice,
have succeeded in bringing our organization to a state of
good operating efficiency, have ceased to live in constant fear
of not being able to meet our financial obligations, and are
reaching the multitudes with the gospel. None of these things
are wrong. We can gratefully thank God for them when they
come our way. But all these things are nothing -- they are
only a lifeless shell -- if the SUPERNATURAL POWER OF
THE SPIRIT OF GOD is not there. They are a mere tower
of Babel, reaching up toward a sky that is too far away, and
doomed to failure and confusion, even though they appear to
be enjoying success.
How blessed to have talent, consecrated and used for the
glory of God. How good to have knowledge. What a comfort

to have proper accommodations. But the one thing that is

needful is the POWER OF GOD.
How many fine churches in our cities are finding their
auditoriums hard to fill, while men and woman stand in the
rain outside some great gospel tent, pitched on the edge of
town, trying to find some space to get inside, in order that
they may see what God is doing through His ministers who
have placed the power of God first in their lives -- who have
been willing to decrease that God might increase.
"Might," as Zechariah speaks of it, refers to the might of
man, as physical effort, natural ability, talents, forms,
ceremonies, rituals, ordinances and programs.
I Must Decrease Page 66

When the supernatural is gone, man will substitute the

natural. He will substitute songs about the power of God for
the reality, laying more and more stress upon the harmony
and musical flourishes, as the real power of God decreases.
Thank God for good music, but in itself it IS NOT THE
POWER OF GOD! The might and the power of natural man
will never fulfill the great commission, and bring deliverance
to the multitudes. Although God may use them to some
extent, with the anointing of the Spirit upon them, they
cannot be used as a SUBSTITUTE FOR THE SPIRIT!
Even beautifully outlined sermons, eloquently preached
by men of strong personality and charm, will never get the
job done alone. After all, even preaching is not our objective.
It is merely a means to an end. If good sermonizing and
beautiful preaching could get the job done, it would have
been done long ago.
Oh that men would decrease!
Oh that they would realize that without God they are
NOTHING!
If preachers could only realize that it is not the beauty and
forcefulness of their preaching, altogether, which brings
results, but the ANOINTING OF THE SPIRIT upon the
sermon, and God in POWER in the man who does the
preaching. People need more than to hear a sermon. They
need to FEEL SOMETHING while that sermon is being
preached. It is the SPIRIT that causes people to FEEL the
preaching.
Paul was not, like some of the other disciples, an ignorant
and unlearned man. His was the best education available in
his time. His speech to the men of Athens, on Mars Hill, is
still recognized as one of the best classics of persuasive
debate, and of homoletical and literary arrangement (See Acts
I Must Decrease Page 67

17:22-31). His background, education, and reputation among

his fellows was such that he could declare, "I might also have
confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he
hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more" (Phil. 3:4).
But Paul turned it all aside. He was willing to decrease. "But
what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ"
(Phil. 3:7). Although, as we have already seen, Paul was
capable of eloquent speech, he wrote to the Corinthians, "My
speech and my preaching was NOT with enticing words of
man's wisdom, BUT IN DEMONSTRATION OF THE
SPIRIT AND OF POWER" (I Cor. 2:4). In the next verse he
tells us why he had laid aside his natural talents to depend
upon the power of God and that alone. "That your faith
should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of
God."
If the power of God were given its rightful place today,
more people's faith would stand in the power of God. Not so
many would be trusting in their CHURCH (instead of the
lord) for salvation, and not so many would be carried away by
some preacher's personality, so that they are of no use to
God nor man unless they can work under His leadership.
Paul recognized the importance of the Spirit upon his
preaching. "Not that we are sufficient of our selves to
THINK ANYTHING as of our selves; but our sufficiency is
of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the New
Testament; NOT OF THE LETTER, BUT OF THE
SPIRIT: FOR THE LETTER KILLETH, BUT THE
SPIRIT GIVETH LIFE" (II Cor. 3:5-6).
People today need LIFE (life cannot come without the
Spirit). God will make us able ministers -- able to bring life
and deliverance -- of the New Testament as we decrease to
I Must Decrease Page 68

the extent that we place man with all his natural ability, all
that calls attention to and glorifies man, in the background.
Although Paul was a man of more than usual knowledge,
due to his fine education and his richly varied experience, he
was willing to cast it all aside, and to declare that he was
"DETERMINED not to know ANYTHING among you
save CHRIST" (I Cor. 2:2).
Knowledge "puffeth up" (I Cor. 1:8). Some people are of
little use to God because they "know" too much. Paul speaks
of some who are puffed up at the church at Corinth (See I
Cor. 4:18). By this he meant they were "oversize," or needed
to decrease, or be deflated. These seemed to be fine speakers,
but Paul declared the test of what they were should be, not
their speech, but POWER. "For the Kingdom of God is not

in word, BUT IN POWER" (Verse 20).

How easy it is to see that this is true! And how foolish we
make ourselves appear many times, by trying to appear to be
what we are not, because of pride!
Pride takes five forms. Pride of FACE (How much better
we DO look than those around about us). Pride of PLACE
(Don't ask THAT of one in my POSITION). Pride of RACE
(We come of an excellent family, you know, and must uphold
the family honor at any cost). Pride of PACE (Everyone
should be able to see that we are the most capable and
efficient person available. No one else could keep up with us).
The last and WORST of all the forms of pride -- pride of
GRACE (Proud of our spiritual accomplishments; proud of
the length of our fasts; proud of visions and dreams and
revelations; proud of the gifts we think we possess; feeling
that we must be a special favorite with God; yes, even proud
of our humility). Whatever form our pride may have taken,
puffing us up like a toy balloon, the first thing that must be
I Must Decrease Page 69

done, before we can have real power with God, is "I MUST
DECREASE."
"Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; but he that
humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 14:11).
"God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the
humble" (James 4:6).
How, then, can you hope for God to work with you,
confirming the Word with signs following, when God has
said He is RESISTING YOU!
Yes, I must decrease. Only the gold must remain. All the
dross must be taken away, and all the tin, before God can
work with it as he desires to work. And how little there is left,
when the dross is gone!

He Must Increase
Did you ever drive across the prairie, and note in the
distance a mountain? At first sight the mountain seems very
small. But as you drive on, and come closer to the mountain,
you are astonished to see how rapidly it seems to grow.
Really, the mountain isn't growing. It is still the same size as
when you first observed it. The difference is that you have
drawn closer to the mountain. This is exactly what takes place
when God "increases." He is the same God to all men. But to
some people, He seems to be a little, shriveled up, impotent
God, who can scarcely be expected to do anything that really
matters. The reason for this is that these people are living
TOO FAR AWAY FROM HIM! This is why we are

instructed, "Draw nigh to God" (James 4:8).

God is far away from many people because they have
allowed so many things to come in between. Some even draw
nigh to God with their mouth, while their heart is far from
Him (Matt. 15:8). Of these He says, "In vain do they worship
me." The only way that it is possible to draw near to God, is
to begin earnestly, with all your heart to search out those
things which come between, and GET RID OF THEM!
Pride certainly will keep God at a distance. "The proud
He knoweth AFAR OFF" (Psalm 138:6). God cannot work
WITH you when He is FAR FROM you. You must come to
Him humbly.
Some have excused the lack of power in their lives, by
saying, "The day of miracles is past. The church is established
now, and it doesn't need miracles any more." Nowhere does
the scripture confirm any such thought. "Jesus Christ (is) the
SAME, yesterday, today and forever" (Heb. 13:8).
He Must Increase Page 71

Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot

save; neither His ear heavy, that it cannot hear: BUT YOUR
INIQUITIES HAVE SEPARATED BETWEEN YOU
AND YOUR GOD" (Isa. 59:1,2). Don't blame God for your
lack of power. Put the blame squarely where it belongs. YOU
are too far from God, because there are too many iniquities
(sins) in between.
Friends and loved ones may come between. Jesus said,
"He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy
of Me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than Me is
not worthy of Me" (Matt. 10:37).
The cares of life may come between, as weeds choking
out a crop, making it unfruitful. Some give all their thought to
the things of this life, as though they would live here forever.
God cannot work with such as these. To be near to the heart
of God, and to feel the pulse beat of His compassion for the
lost, and the suffering, one must have a constant realization
of the shortness of life, and the inevitability of eternity.
Some are kept at a distance from God by lack of
appreciation. Praise is lacking in their lives. Real appreciation
for what God IS and what He has done, will bring forth
praise. Praise brings us into the very presence of God. "Enter
into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with
praise" (Ps. 100:4).
Some who read this book, may not know that God
desires to be so near to His people, as to send His HOLY
SPIRIT to take up His abode not simply near, but WITHIN
the child of God. When you have opened your heart and

allowed the Spirit of God to fill you, baptize you, taking

possession of every part of your body, you will find him
much nearer than ever before. He will be a much greater God
to you, than you have ever known. Then as He is allowed to
He Must Increase Page 72

continue to dwell in you richly, teaching and guiding you day

by day, into a closer relationship with the Father, and into a
more pure life of holiness, the greatness of God will become
more and more apparent. He will increase in your life.
The more you come to know Him, by walking by His side
day by day, and the more you feed upon His word, the more
He will increase in your sight. All that we know of God, we
know by faith. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God" (Rom. 10:17). Feed upon the Word of God. It
is strange, but some even hope to have power with God who
pay very little heed to the word of God. He will not honor
with His presence those who dishonor His word.
It is the Word of God which will help us to cleanse from
our lives the SINS which stand between. "Wherewithal shall a
young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according
to thy word" (Psalm 119:9).
In dealing with me about this matter, God made it very
plain to me that if these things were allowed to persist in my
life, if sin were tolerated and allowed to remain, God would
continue to be at a distance from me. He would be so far
away, that He would be to me only the little, meaningless
God whom so many others profess to serve. The only way
that God could increase in my life to the point where He
would be working through me in power, was for me to keep
everything out from between me and God. The only way He
could remain the great "I AM" in my own experience, was for
me to continually walk in the light of His word, by the power
of His Spirit, DECREASING day by day, becoming more
and more absorbed in Him who must INCREASE.
He MUST increase! Not could increase. Not might
increase. He MUST increase. He must increase in glory, and
majesty and power. He must increase in control of my life.
He Must Increase Page 73

"I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live; YET

NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME" (Gal. 2:20).
"Fill me with thy Spirit, till all the world may see, not me,
but Jesus only, shining out through me."

Exaltation

Proverbs 25:6-7 KJV

6 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men:
7 For better it is that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; than that thou shouldest be put lower
in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.
James 1:9-11 KJV
9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower
thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade
away in his ways.
Job 36:7 KJV He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the
throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted.

God dares Job to do what He alone can do

Job 40:11-13 KJV
11 Cast abroad the rage of thy wrath: and behold every one that is proud, and abase him.
12 Look on every one that is proud, and bring him low; and tread down the wicked in their place.
13 Hide them in the dust together; and bind their faces in secret.

Job 36:5 KJV Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and
wisdom.

Chap. XIII. An Exhortation to Humility.

Let us therefore, brethren, be of humble mind, laying aside all haughtiness, and
pride, and foolishness, and angry feelings; and let us act according to that which is
written (for the Holy Spirit saith, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let
the mighty man glory in his might, neither let the rich man Story in his riches; but let
him that glorieth glory in the Lord, in diligently seeking Him, and doing judgment and
righteousness [Jer. 9:23-24; 1Co. 1:31; 2Co. 10:17]), being especially mindful of the
words of the Lord Jesus which He spake, teaching us meekness and long-suffering. For
thus He spoke: Be ye merciful, that ye may obtain mercy; forgive, that it may be forgiven
to you; as ye do, so shall it be done unto you; as ye judge, so shall ye be judged; as ye are
kind, so shall kindness be shown to you; with what measure ye mete, with the same it
shall be measured to you. (Comp. Mat. 6:12-15, Mat. 7:2; Luk. 6:36-38) By this precept
and by these rules let us stablish ourselves, that we walk with all humility in obedience to
His holy words. For the holy word saith, On whom shall I look, but on him that is meek
and peaceable, and that trembleth at My words? (Isa. 66:2)

Chap. XIV. We Should Obey God Rather Than the Authors of

Sedition.
It is right and holy therefore, men and brethren, rather to obey God than to follow
those who, through pride and sedition, have become the leaders of a detestable
emulation. For we shall incur no slight injury, but rather great danger, if we rashly yield
ourselves to the inclinations of men who aim at exciting strife and tumults, so as to draw

us away from what is good. Let us be kind one to another after the pattern of the tender
mercy and benignity of our Creator. For it is written, The kind-hearted shall inhabit the
land, and the guiltless shall be left upon it, but transgressors shall be destroyed from off
the face of it. (Pro. 2:21-22) And again [the Scripture] saith, I saw the ungodly highly
exalted, and lifted up like the cedars of Lebanon: I passed by, and, behold, he was not;
and I diligently sought his place, and could not find it. Preserve innocence, and look on
equity: for there shall be a remnant to the peaceful man.28

Chap. XV. We Must Adhere to Those Who Cultivate Peace, Not to

Those Who Merely Pretend to Do So.
Let us cleave, therefore, to those who cultivate peace with godliness, and not to those
who hypocritically profess to desire it. For [the Scripture] saith in a certain place, This
people honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. (Isa. 29:13; Mat.
15:8; Mar. 7:6) And again: They bless with their mouth, but curse with their heart.
(Psa. 62:4) And again it saith, They loved Him with their mouth, and lied to Him with
their tongue; but their heart was not right with Him, neither were they faithful in His
covenant. (Psa. 78:36-37) Let the deceitful lips become silent, (Psa. 31:18) [and let
the Lord destroy all the lying lips,29] and the boastful tongue of those who have said, Let
us magnify our tongue; our lips are our own; who is lord over us? For the oppression of
the poor, and for the sighing of the needy, will I now arise, saith the Lord: I will place
him in safety; I will deal confidently with him. (Psa. 12:3-5)

Chap. XVI. Christ as an Example of Humility.

For Christ is of those who are humble-minded, and not of those who exalt themselves
over His flock. Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Sceptre of the majesty of God, did not come in
the pomp of pride or arrogance, although He might have done so, but in a lowly
condition, as the Holy Spirit had declared regarding Him. For He says, Lord, who hath
believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? We have declared [our
message] in His presence: He is, as it were, a child, and like a root in thirsty ground; He
has no form nor glory, yea, we saw Him, and He had no form nor comeliness; but His
form was without eminence, yea, deficient in comparison with the [ordinary] form of
men. He is a man exposed to stripes and suffering, anti acquainted with the endurance of
grief: for His countenance was turned away; He was despised, and not esteemed. He
bears our iniquities, and is in sorrow for our sakes; yet we supposed that [on His own
account] He was exposed to labour, and stripes, and affliction. But He was wounded for
our transgressions, and bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was
upon Him, and by His stripes we were healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray;
[every] man has wandered in his own way; and the Lord has delivered Him up for our
sins, while He in the midst of His sufferings openeth not His mouth. He was brought as a
sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before her shearer is dumb, so He openeth not His
mouth. In His humiliation His judgment was taken away; who shall declare His
generation? for His life is taken from the earth. For the transgressions of my people was
He brought down to death. And I will give the wicked for His sepulchre, and the rich for
His death,30 because He did no iniquity, neither was guile found in His mouth. And the
Lord is pleased to purify Him by stripes.31 If ye make32 an offering for sin, your soul
shall see a long-lived seed. And the Lord is pleased to relieve Him of the affliction of His
soul, to show Him light, and to form Him with understanding, 33 to justify the Just One

who ministereth well to many; and the Himself shall carry their sins. On this account He
shall inherit many, and shall divide the spoil of the strong; because His soul was
delivered to death, and He was reckoned among the transgressors, and He bare the sins
of many, and for their sins was He delivered.34 And again He saith, I am a worm, and
no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All that see Me have derided Me;
they have spoken with their lips; they have wagged their head, [saying] He hoped in God,
let Him deliver Him, let Him save Him, since He delighteth in Him. (Psa. 22:6-8) Ye
see, beloved, what is the example which has been given us; for if the Lord thus humbled
Himself, what shall we do who have through Him come under the yoke of His grace?

Chap. XVII. The Saints as Examples of Humility.

Let us be imitators also of those who in goat-skins and sheep-skins (Heb. 11:37) went
about proclaiming the coming of Christ; I mean Elijah, Elisha, and Ezekiel among the
prophets, with those others to whom a like testimony is borne [in Scripture]. Abraham
was specially honoured, and was called the friend of God; yet he, earnestly regarding the
glory of God, humbly declared, I am but dust and ashes. (Gen. 18:27) Moreover, it is
thus written of Job, Job was a righteous man, and blameless, truthful, God-fearing, and
one that kept himself from all evil. (Job. 1:1) But bringing an accusation against himself,
he said, No man is free from defilement, even if his life be but of one day. (Job. 14:4-5,
LXX) Moses was called faithful in all Gods house; (Num. 7:7; Heb. 3:2) and through his
instrumentality, God punished Egypt35 with plagues and tortures. Yet he, though thus
greatly honoured, did not adopt lofty language, but said, when the divine oracle came to
him out of the bush, Who am I, that Thou sendest me? I am a man of a feeble voice and
a slow tongue. (Exo. 3:11, Exo. 4:10) And again he said, I am but as the smoke of a
pot.36

Chap. XVIII. David as an Example of Humility.

But what shall we say concerning David, to whom such testimony was borne, and of
whom37 God said, I have found a man after Mine own heart, David the son of Jesse;
and in everlasting mercy have I anointed him? (Psa. 89:21) Yet this very man saith to
God, Have mercy on me, O Lord, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the
multitude of Thy compassions, blot out my transgression. Wash me still more from mine
iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is ever
before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done that which was evil in Thy sight;
that Thou mayest be justified in Thy sayings, and mayest overcome when Thou 38 art
judged. For, behold, I was conceived in transgressions, and in my sins did my mother
conceive me. For, behold, Thou hast loved truth; the secret and hidden things of wisdom
hast Thou shown me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed; Thou
shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and
gladness; my bones, which have been humbled, shall exult. Turn away Thy face from my
sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a
right spirit within me.39 Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy
Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and establish me by Thy
governing Spirit. I will teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall be converted
unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness,40 O God, the God of my salvation: my
tongue shall exult in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my mouth, and my lips
shall show forth Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would have given it;

Thou wilt not delight in burnt-offerings. The sacrifice [acceptable] to God is a bruised
spirit; a broken and a contrite heart God will not despise. (Psa. 51:1-17)

Chap. XIX. Imitating These Examples, Let Us Seek After Peace.

Thus the humility and godly submission of so great and illustrious men have
rendered not only us, but also all the generations before us, better; even as many as have
received His oracles in fear and truth. Wherefore, having so many great and glorious
examples set before us, let us turn again to the practice of that peace which from the
beginning was the mark set before us;41 and let us look stedfastly to the Father and
Creator of the universe, and cleave to His mighty and surpassingly great gifts and
benefactions, of peace. Let us contemplate Him with our understanding, and look with
the eyes of our soul to His long-suffering will. Let us reflect how free from wrath He is
towards all His creation.

Job 5:8-16 KJV

8 I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:
9 Which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number:
10 Who giveth rain upon the earth, and sendeth waters upon the fields:
11 To set up on high those that be low; that those which mourn may be exalted to safety.
12 He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise.
13 He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.
14 They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night.
15 But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty.
16 So the poor hath hope, and iniquity stoppeth her mouth.

Men will blame themselves for the purpose of being praised.

This is called fishing for compliments, and it is not even so
profitable a business as fishing for sticklebacks.

Proverbs 26:12 KJV Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than
of him.
The Seventeen Evidences of a Lack of Humility
1. To think that what one says or does is better than what others say or do
2. To always to want to get your own way
3. To argue with stubbornness and bad manners whether you are right or wrong
4. To give your opinion when it has not been requested or when charity does not demand it
5. To look down on another's point of view
6. Not to look on your gifts and abilities as lent
7. Not to recognize that you are unworthy of all honors and esteem, not even of the earth you walk on and
things you possess
8. To use yourself as an example in conversations
9. To speak badly of yourself so that others will think well of you or contradict you
10. To excuse yourself when you are corrected
11. To hide humiliating faults from your spiritual director, so that he will not change the impression he has
of you
12. To take pleasure in praise and compliments
13. To be saddened because others are held in higher esteem
14. To refuse to perform inferior tasks

15. To seek to stand out

16. To refer in conversation to your honesty, genius, dexterity, or professional prestige
17. To be ashamed because you lack certain goods

Luke 16:15 KJV And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God
knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of
God.
Luke 14:7-11 KJV
7 And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the
chief rooms; saying unto them,
8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more
honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with
shame to take the lowest room.
10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee
cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the
presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Proverbs 29:23 KJV A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in
spirit.
Proverbs 28:25 KJV He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in
the LORD shall be made fat.
Luke 6:27-31 KJV
27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
28 Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
29 And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh
away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.
30 Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not
again.
31 And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.
Luke 1:51-53 KJV
51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their
hearts.
52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.
Psalms 31:23 KJV O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful, and
plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.

(Isaiah 2:17) And

the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men
shall be made low: and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.
(Isaiah 23:9) The LORD of hosts hath purposed it, to stain the pride of all glory, and to
bring into contempt all the honourable of the earth.
As the left hand will close behind it the door opened by the right, shame will ever slam the door
opened by pride. They are co-conspirators/ schemers/ planners.
Proverbs 11:2 KJV When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

Proverbs 11:12 KJV He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of
understanding holdeth his peace.
Humility of God
Psalms 113:1-9 KJV
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.
3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD'S name is to be praised.
4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye
the LORD.

Luke 9:46-50 KJV

46 Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
47 And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
48 And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and
whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the
same shall be great.
49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we
forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.
A reasoning...
Jesus is never been against greatness. He's against some means.
He shows them the path of greatness.
Jesus first examined thoughts and then perceiving was able to give right judgement.

Luke 9:51 KJV And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he
stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem,
cf. John 13:1ff
The Path to greatness has many windings through the valley of humility.
Received up - Was the Goal
Jerusalem - Was the frontier to that
Jesus set His face resolutely and steadfastly, determinedly. He allowed none to talk Him out of it,
permitted no obstructions and distractions.
(Luke 13:34) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent
unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood
under her wings, and ye would not!
(Luke 13:33) Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot
be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.
Jesus knew the natural (translated to spiritual) principle that unless a corn of wheat died,
(John 12:24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it
abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

He humbled Himself and partook of the death of the cross. Phil. 2 so as to be received up.
Humility is the price of true greatness in the Kingdom.
Scorning humiliation and despising it's shame. Heb. 12.
Jesus stared humiliation straight in the eyeball and embraced it for our sakes.
Philippians 2:5-11 KJV
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in
the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death,
even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and
things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
(Romans 12:16) Be

of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but
condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.
Psalms 71:21 KJV Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.
Psalms 75:2-10 KJV
2 When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly.
3 The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah.
4 I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn:
5 Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck.
6 For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south.
7 But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
8 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he
poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them
out, and drink them.
9 But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Matthew 11:27-30 KJV

27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father;
neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal
him.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find
rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Jesus agains displays His resplendent meekness when He speaks of having all things unto Him.
John 13:1ff
Isaiah 10:33 KJV Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, shall lop the bough with terror: and the
high ones of stature shall be hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.
In 1875 three balloonists left Paris with the ambition of setting a new altitude record. Tissandier, Spinelli

and Sibel were warned to take pressurised oxygen for their flight. But hypoxia set in, and by the time they
reached 7500 metres, they were in serious trouble. Tissandier sat helpless on the floor of the basket as he
watched his delirious colleagues dump ballast to gain height.
The lack of oxygen apparently affected their reasoning and so along with their ballast, they threw their
oxygen equipment overboard as well. It was a fatal move. By the time the balloon landed, Sibel and
Spinelli were dead. Tissandier survived. He said, towards 7500m the numbness you experience is
amazing. You become indifferent; you no longer think of the danger. You just want to rise and rise, he
said. Tragically, as they did, they let go of the one thing that meant life to them.

The face and hand of the Almighty is against such a spirit and life, and hence it is that the
Bible abounds in records of the downfalls of this sin; and in history God is still seen in
His Providence, intent upon its humiliation, judgment and destruction. Even in daily life
the irony of circumstance, the exposure of accident, the unmistakable retribution of
human events, and the direct dealings of Heaven, all agree and point to the fact that pride
is certain to meet with crushing downfalls.
Low in the deep valley of humility
(Jeremy Taylor)
Jesus proposes Himself as our example, by
exhibiting in His own perfect character, the
twin sisters of meekness and humility.
His whole life was a great, continued descent . . .
from the glorious bosom of His Father,
to the womb of a poor maiden;
to the form of a servant;
to the likeness and miseries of sinful flesh;
to a life of labor;
to a state of poverty;
to a death of a criminal;
to the grave;
to the intolerable calamities which we deserved!
It is but reasonable that we should be as humble in
the midst of our greatest imperfections and basest
sinsas Christ was in the midst of His holy and
perfect life, and most admirable virtues.
We have lost all ground for pride. Everything . . .
our ignorance,
our weakness,
our sins,
our follies
prescribe to us, that our proper dwelling
place is low in the deep valley of humility.
Humility glorifies God; pride dishonors Him.
Humility makes men like angels;
pride makes angels to become devils.
Humility is the temper of holiness;
pride is folly.

Humility is the way to glory;

pride is the way to ruin and confusion.
Humility makes saints on earth;
pride undoes them.
Humility beatifies the saints in heaven;
pride disgraces a man on earth.
God loves humility;
Satan solicits pride.
Humility is the crowning grace, the finishing
stroke of beauty, and the brightest ray of glory,
in the Christian character. (John Angell James)

Doves
Dad liked exotic birds and had quite a few of them. Peacocks, doves, pigeons, pheasants and some others
whose names I don't know. They were beautiful! I remember looking at them a few times and glorifying
God for His creation. The colors on one peacock named Mike were particularly stunning.
Yet birds can go berserk at times. The curse of man's sin has affected all of the earth. Animals get sick and
die. Plants get diseased and die. Thorns and thistles take over our gardens.
Recently, Jim Evans, a good man in our church who raises pigeons and doves, told me that he had to put
five of his pigeons down. They had been attacking each other and drew blood. Pigeons! And once they
draw blood they can actually corrupt their gene pool.
I asked Jim if doves ever attacked each other, he said, "Never."
Then I remembered something. Jesus told us to be "harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16). Jesus chose the
most docile bird known to man as an example of what a Christian should be - harmless!
"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and
perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;" (Philippians 2:15).
It is said of Jesus, "For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from
sinners, and made higher than the heavens;" (Hebrews 7:26).
Have you been going berserk lately? Drawing blood at home, work or in your church? Why not knock it
off and be a Christian?
As believers in Christ we have no right to harm other people in any way. Let us be harmless in our words
and actions.

(Deuteronomy 8:18) 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.
Proverbs 11:2 NKJV When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.

Proverbs 16:5 NKJV Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; Though they join
forces, none will go unpunished.
The pride and Ambition of Absalom. This man was not yet king but raised himself a monument.
(2 Samuel 18:18) Now

Absalom in his lifetime had taken and reared up for himself a pillar, which is
in the king's dale: for he said, I have no son to keep my name in remembrance: and he called the
pillar after his own name: and it is called unto this day, Absalom's place.
The life and death of our Lord Jesus Christ are a standing rebuke to every form of pride to which men are
liable.

4. Pride of birth and rank'Is not this the carpenter's son?' Matt. 13. 55
5. Pride of wealth`The Son of man hath not where to lay His head.' Luke 9. 58
6. Pride of respectabilityVan any good thing come out of Nazareth?' John 1. 46
7. Pride of personal appearance'He hath no form nor comeliness.' Isa. 53. 2
8. Pride of reputation`A friend of publicans and sinners.' Luke 7. 34
9. Pride of learning'How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?' John 7. 15
10. Pride of superiority`I am among you as he that serveth.' Luke 22. 27
11. Pride of success'He is despised and rejected of men.' Isa. 53. 3
12. Pride of ability`I can of mine own self do nothing.' John 5. 30
13. Pride of self-will`I seek not mine own will but the will of Him that sent me.' John 5. 30
14. Pride of intellect'As my Father hath taught me, I speak.' John 8. 28.
Pride has been classified into a few categories: Pride of face, pride of race, pride of place, pride of pace,
pride of grace.
A man can counterfeit love, he can counterfeit faith, he can counterfeit hope and all the other graces, but it
is very difficult to counterfeit humility. You soon detect mock humility. They have a saying among the
Arabs that as the tares and the wheat grow they show which God has blessed. The ears that God has
blessed bow their heads and acknowledge every grain, and the more fruitful they are the lower their
heads are bowed. The tares lift up their heads erect, high above the wheat, but they are only fruitful of
evil.
If we only get down low enough, God will use us to His glory.D. L. Moody.

Solomon
Solomon was highly exalted by the Lord at the beginning of his reign.

2 Chronicles 1:1 NKJV Now Solomon the son of David was strengthened in his kingdom, and the
LORD his God was with him and exalted him exceedingly.
As Francis Xavier was preaching in one of the cities of Japan, a man went up to him, pretending he had
something to communicate in private. Upon his approach Xavier leaned his head, to hear what he had to
say. The scorner thus gained his object, which was to spit freely upon the face of the devoted missionary,
and thus insult him in the most public manner. Xavier, without speaking a word or showing any sign of
annoyance, took out his handkerchief, wiped his face, and went on with his sermon, as if nothing had
happened to interrupt him. By such a heroic control of his passions, the scorn of the audience was turned
into admiration. The most learned doctor of the city, who happened to be present, said to himself that a
law which taught men such virtue, inspired them with such courage, and gave them such complete
mastery over themselves, could not but be from God. Afterwards he desired baptism, and his example was
followed by many others. So effectually did the meekness of the missionary promote the success of his

work.

In accepting reproof
(Psalms 141:5) Let

the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be
an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
Proverbs 15:12 NKJV A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, Nor will he go to the wise.

Pride of Assyria
Isaiah 37:21 NKJV Then Isaiah the son of Amoz sent to Hezekiah, saying, "Thus says the LORD
God of Israel, 'Because you have prayed to Me against Sennacherib king of Assyria,
Isaiah 37:22 NKJV 'this is the word which the LORD has spoken concerning him: "The virgin, the
daughter of Zion, Has despised you, laughed you to scorn; The daughter of Jerusalem Has shaken
her head behind your back!
Isaiah 37:23 NKJV "Whom have you reproached and blasphemed? Against whom have you
raised your voice, And lifted up your eyes on high? Against the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 37:24 NKJV By your servants you have reproached the Lord, And said, 'By the multitude of
my chariots I have come up to the height of the mountains, To the limits of Lebanon; I will cut
down its tall cedars And its choice cypress trees; I will enter its farthest height, To its fruitful
forest.
Isaiah 37:25 NKJV I have dug and drunk water, And with the soles of my feet I have dried up All
the brooks of defense.'
Isaiah 37:26 NKJV "Did you not hear long ago How I made it, From ancient times that I formed
it? Now I have brought it to pass, That you should be For crushing fortified cities into heaps of
ruins.
Isaiah 37:27 NKJV Therefore their inhabitants had little power; They were dismayed and
confounded; They were as the grass of the field And the green herb, As the grass on the housetops
And grain blighted before it is grown.

Isaiah 37:28 NKJV "But I know your dwelling place, Your going out and your coming in, And
your rage against Me.
Isaiah 37:29 NKJV Because your rage against Me and your tumult Have come up to My ears,
Therefore I will put My hook in your nose And My bridle in your lips, And I will turn you back By
the way which you came."'
Isaiah 37:30 NKJV "This shall be a sign to you: You shall eat this year such as grows of itself, And
the second year what springs from the same; Also in the third year sow and reap, Plant vineyards
and eat the fruit of them.
Isaiah 37:31 NKJV And the remnant who have escaped of the house of Judah Shall again take
root downward, And bear fruit upward.
Isaiah 37:32 NKJV For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, And those who escape from Mount
Zion. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Isaiah 37:33 NKJV "Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the king of Assyria: 'He shall not
come into this city, Nor shoot an arrow there, Nor come before it with shield, Nor build a siege
mound against it.
Isaiah 37:34 NKJV By the way that he came, By the same shall he return; And he shall not come
into this city,' Says the LORD.
Isaiah 37:35 NKJV 'For I will defend this city, to save it For My own sake and for My servant
David's sake.'"
Isaiah 37:36 NKJV Then the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians
one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were
the corpses; all dead.
Isaiah 37:37 NKJV So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and
remained at Nineveh.
Isaiah 37:38 NKJV Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god,
that his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into
the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

Isaiah 10:5 NKJV "Woe to Assyria, the rod of My anger And the staff in whose hand is My
indignation.
Isaiah 10:6 NKJV I will send him against an ungodly nation, And against the people of My wrath
I will give him charge, To seize the spoil, to take the prey, And to tread them down like the mire of
the streets.
Isaiah 10:7 NKJV Yet he does not mean so, Nor does his heart think so; But it is in his heart to
destroy, And cut off not a few nations.

Isaiah 10:8 NKJV For he says, 'Are not my princes altogether kings?
Isaiah 10:9 NKJV Is not Calno like Carchemish? Is not Hamath like Arpad? Is not Samaria like
Damascus?
Isaiah 10:10 NKJV As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, Whose carved images
excelled those of Jerusalem and Samaria,
Isaiah 10:11 NKJV As I have done to Samaria and her idols, Shall I not do also to Jerusalem and
her idols?'"
Isaiah 10:12 NKJV Therefore it shall come to pass, when the LORD has performed all His work
on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, that He will say, "I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of
the king of Assyria, and the glory of his haughty looks."
Isaiah 10:13 NKJV For he says: "By the strength of my hand I have done it, And by my wisdom,
for I am prudent; Also I have removed the boundaries of the people, And have robbed their
treasuries; So I have put down the inhabitants like a valiant man.
Isaiah 10:14 NKJV My hand has found like a nest the riches of the people, And as one gathers
eggs that are left, I have gathered all the earth; And there was no one who moved his wing, Nor
opened his mouth with even a peep."
Isaiah 10:15 NKJV Shall the ax boast itself against him who chops with it? Or shall the saw exalt
itself against him who saws with it? As if a rod could wield itself against those who lift it up, Or as
if a staff could lift up, as if it were not wood!
Isaiah 10:16 NKJV Therefore the Lord, the Lord of hosts, Will send leanness among his fat ones;
And under his glory He will kindle a burning Like the burning of a fire.
Isaiah 10:17 NKJV So the Light of Israel will be for a fire, And his Holy One for a flame; It will
burn and devour His thorns and his briers in one day.
Isaiah 10:18 NKJV And it will consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field, Both soul
and body; And they will be as when a sick man wastes away.
Isaiah 10:19 NKJV Then the rest of the trees of his forest Will be so few in number That a child
may write them.
Isaiah 10:20 NKJV And it shall come to pass in that day That the remnant of Israel, And such as
have escaped of the house of Jacob, Will never again depend on him who defeated them, But will
depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.
Isaiah 10:21 NKJV The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, To the Mighty God.
Isaiah 10:22 NKJV For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, A remnant of them
will return; The destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness.
Isaiah 10:23 NKJV For the Lord GOD of hosts Will make a determined end In the midst of all the
land.
Isaiah 10:24 NKJV Therefore thus says the Lord GOD of hosts: "O My people, who dwell in Zion,
do not be afraid of the Assyrian. He shall strike you with a rod and lift up his staff against you, in
the manner of Egypt.

Isaiah 10:25 NKJV "For yet a very little while and the indignation will cease, as will My anger in
their destruction."
Isaiah 10:26 NKJV And the LORD of hosts will stir up a scourge for him like the slaughter of
Midian at the rock of Oreb; as His rod was on the sea, so will He lift it up in the manner of Egypt.
Isaiah 10:27 NKJV It shall come to pass in that day That his burden will be taken away from your
shoulder, And his yoke from your neck, And the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing
oil.
Isaiah 10:28 NKJV He has come to Aiath, He has passed Migron; At Michmash he has attended
to his equipment.
Isaiah 10:29 NKJV They have gone along the ridge, They have taken up lodging at Geba. Ramah
is afraid, Gibeah of Saul has fled.
Isaiah 10:30 NKJV Lift up your voice, O daughter of Gallim! Cause it to be heard as far as Laish;
O poor Anathoth!
Isaiah 10:31 NKJV Madmenah has fled, The inhabitants of Gebim seek refuge.
Isaiah 10:32 NKJV As yet he will remain at Nob that day; He will shake his fist at the mount of
the daughter of Zion, The hill of Jerusalem.
Isaiah 10:33 NKJV Behold, the Lord, The LORD of hosts, Will lop off the bough with terror;
Those of high stature will be hewn down, And the haughty will be humbled.
Isaiah 10:34 NKJV He will cut down the thickets of the forest with iron, And Lebanon will fall by
the Mighty One.

Serpent and Dove

Doves are weak

Jer. 48:40 The Babylonians are pictured as an Eagle swooping down

on its prey. (see vs.28) Moab is described a little dove hiding in
a cave wondering what will happen next.
A dove is no match for an eagle!

Wise: capable of sound judgement

Discern: perceive

harmless: Lack capacity to injure, inoffensive, innocent.

shrewd: practical/ artful way of dealing with situations.
Foolish: pursuing a course contrary to wisdom
The serpent has eyelids that render it partly blind. Thus it has to get food by being sensitive to movement
in the surrounding. This puts it in mortal danger of bitting itself in the process as it's slithering movement
goes on. So his tongue is forked to taste what he will eat before he bites. So the snake is not easily trusting
as it's main feature. It even doesn't trust itself. A snake is thus prudent.
Snakes: knowledgeable in escape art. Master Houdinis. Are alert to danger.
(Proverbs 27:12) A

prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and
are punished.
(Proverbs 22:3) A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and
are punished.
No wonder the next verse, Jesus tells them to beware of people who will deliver them to death. Paul, with
this wisdom escaped in a basket, the church prayed for Peter, Jesus walked through the Jews. e.t.c.
(Matthew 10:23) Whenever

they persecute you in one place, flee to another. I tell you the truth, you
will not finish going through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
A dove on the other hand is easily trusting. See them in the parks of London. Flying close to the ground.
Making love in the open. Making it's sounds to attract the predator
The dove is not the emblem of peace for nothing.Temperament calm and disposition sweet. Doves are not
known for wisdom, they are not the sharpest knives in the drawer.
Their nesting habits are poor. They will lay eggs anywhere unlike eagles which build in highest trees. They
don't build nests or build poor ones. They will lay eggs in a windowsill.
We have here predictions of trouble; which the disciples should meet with in their work: Christ foresaw
their sufferings as well as his own, and yet will have them go on, as he went on himself; and he foretold
them, not only that the troubles might not be a surprise to them, and so a shock to their faith, but that,
being the accomplishment of a prediction, they might be a confirmation to their faith.
He tells them what they should suffer, and from whom.
Harmless signifies properly in the original what is not armed with horns to attack, what has not teeth to
bite, what has not a sting to wound; in a moral point of view, what has no intention to injure. Thus
SIMPLICITY is unsuspecting, and is the companion of innocence. It extends to all the parts of our being. It
knows the truth by intuition. It trusts itself calmly to God. It passes through the most impenetrable
labyrinths without embarrassment. PRUDENCE, on the contrary, supposes the existence of evil in man and
in the world.
Grace knows how to pick the good out of the evil, the jewel out of the oyster shell, the diamond from the
dunghill, the sagacity from the serpent; and by a Divine chemistry it leaves the good which it takes out of
the foul place as good as though it had never been there. Grace knows how to blend the most gentle with
the most subtle; to take away from prudence the base element which makes it into cunning, and, by
mingling innocence with it, produce a sacred prudence most valuable for all walks of life.
Wherein we should not be like the serpent
1. The serpent eats dust (Isa 65:24.)
2. The serpent is deceitful.
3. The serpent casts the coat, but another new coat comes in the room; we should not cast off one sin, and
another as bad come in the room.
4. The serpent is a venomous creature, and is full of poison (Psa 58:4.)
5. The serpent is given to hissing; we should not hiss out reproaches.
6. The serpent stops her ear.
7. The serpent casts her coat, but keeps her sting; we should not east off outward acts of sin, and keep the
love of sin.
8. Serpents are chased away with sweet perfumes,
Wherein we should be like the serpent
1. The serpent hath a subtlety in his eye, a singular sharpness of sight. Get the serpents eye, have a quick
insight into the mysteries of religion.
2. The serpent hath a prudence and subtlety in his ear: will not be deluded by the voice of the charmer.

3. The serpent hath a chief care to defend his head; so we our head from error,
We should be as doves
1. In respect of meekness.
2. In respect of innocency.
3. In respect of purity,
Wherein does the Christian join these two together
1. To be sensible of injury but not revenge it.
2. To be humble but not base.
3. To defend the truth by argument, and adorn it by life.
Prevalence combined with innocence
This beautifies a Christian, when he hath the serpents eye in the doves head. We must have the innocency
of the dove, that we may not betray the truth; and the wisdom of the serpent, that we may not betray
ourselves. In short, religion without policy, is too weak to be safe; policy without religion is too subtle to be
good. When wisdom and innocency, like Castor and Pollux, appear together, they presage the souls
happiness. (T. Watson.)
Wise-not as foxes, whose cunning is to deceive others; but as serpents, whose policy is only to defend
themselves, and to shift for their own safety. (Matthew Henry.)
Jesus had the wisdom of a serpent and the humility, innocence and purity of a dove. No wonder He did
this.

John 8:46 NKJV "Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe
Me?
John 8:59 NKJV Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out
of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

The serpent was the emblem of wisdom or shrewdness, intellectual keenness (Ge 3:1; Ps 58:5), the dove of
simplicity (Ho 7:11). It was a proverb, this combination, but one difficult of realization. Either without the
other is bad (rascality or gullibility).

How we should be LIKE the serpent:

Most snakes in Palestine were non-poisonous, but the Jewish people feared and hated all snakes. In the
Bible the serpent is often referred to as the symbol of evil and wrongdoing ( Psa 140:3; Jer 8:17).
In spite of this attitude among the Jews, some of Israel's neighbors associated serpents with health, life,
and immortality. The kingdom of Lower Egypt took the cobra as its official symbol. Even Moses once lifted
up a BRONZE SERPENT before the Israelites at God's command to save the people from the fiery serpents
in the wilderness ( Num 21:9). Some continued to worship that bronze serpent until King Hezekiah
destroyed it generations later ( 2Ki 18:4).
Snakes are fascinating creatures. Scales on their undersides provide traction. Their forked tongues flick
rapidly in and out to collect sensations of touch and smell. ( Psa 58:4) is correct in speaking of the "deaf
cobra," since snakes have no ears to receive sound waves. Like deaf persons, they rely on physical
vibrations to pick up sounds. Thus cobras are not charmed by music, but by movement.
A snake's spine may contain as many as 300 tiny vertebrae. This gives them their amazing flexibility to
coil and curve. Their mouths are hinged to permit them to swallow and eat creatures much larger than
themselves. Their eyes are protected by transparent lids which are always open, causing scientists to
wonder if snakes ever sleep.
We should be like the serpent in prudence and wisdom. "Be wise as serpents." The serpent is a most
prudent creature; therefore, the devil made use of the serpent to deceive our first parents because it was
such a subtle creature. Genesis 3:1, "The serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field." There is a
natural wisdom and subtlety in every part of the serpent, and we should labor to imitate them and be wise
as serpents.
1. The serpent has a prudence and subtlety in his EYE. He has a singular sharpness of sight. Therefore,
among the Grecians, a serpent's eye was a proverbial speech for one of a quick understanding. In this, we
should be like the serpent. Get the serpent's eye; have a quick insight into the mysteries of the Christian
religion. Knowledge is the beauty and ornament of a Christian. Proverbs 14:18, "The prudent are crowned

with knowledge." Get the serpent's eye, be divinely illuminated. Faith without knowledge is presumption;
zeal without knowledge is blind passion, Proverbs 19:2. Without knowledge, the heart is not good. For one
to say he has a good heart who has no knowledge, is as if one should say he has a good eye when he has no
sight. In this, be like the serpentof a quick understanding.
2. The serpent has a prudence and subtlety in his EAR. The serpent will not be deluded with the voice of the
charmer, but stops its ear. In this, we must be wise as serpents, stopping our ears to false teachers who are
the devil's charmers.
We must stop our ears to Arminian teachers who place the chief power in the will, as if that were the helm
that turns about the soul in conversion. 1 Corinthians 4:7, "Who makes you to differ from another?" Said
one, "I have made myself to differ." Be as the serpent: stop your ears to such doctrine.
We must stop our ears to Socinian teachers who raze the foundation of all religion, and deny Christ's
divinity. This the Apostle calls a damnable heresy, 2 Peter 2:1.
We must stop our ears to Popish teachers who teach merit, indulgences, and transubstantiation; who
teach that the pope is the head of the church. Christ is called "the head of the church," Ephesians 5:23. For
the pope to be head is to make the church monstrousto have two heads. Popish teachers teach the people
nonsense and blasphemy; they cause the people to pray without understanding, to obey without reason,
and to believe without sense. It is a damnable religion; therefore, worshiping the beast and drinking the
cup of God's indignation are put together, Revelation 14:9. Oh, in this be "wise as serpents." Stop your ears
to the charming of false teachers! God has given His people this wisdom to stop their ears to heretics. John
10:5, "A stranger they will not followbut will flee from him."
3. The serpent has a chief care to defend his HEADa blow there is deadly! So in this we should be wise as
serpents; our chief care should be to defend our head from error. The plague in the head is worst. Loose
principles breed loose practices. If the head is tainted with erroneous opinions, such asthat believers are
free from the moral law, that there is no resurrection, that we may do evil that good may come of itwhat
sin will this not lead to? Oh, keep your head! Error is a spiritual gangrene, 2 Timothy 2:17, which spreads,
and if not presently cured, is mortal. Heresies destroy the doctrine of faith; they rend the mantle of the
church's peace, and eat out the heart of religion.
The Gnostics, as Epiphanius observes, not only perverted the minds of their proselytesbut brought them
at last to immorality. Error damns as well as vice. Vice is like killing with a pistol; and error killing with
poison. Oh, be wise as serpents; defend your head! "Be wise as serpentsand harmless as doves." Our
Savior Christ here commends to us the wisdom of the serpent and the innocence of the dove. The elect are
called wise virgins, Matthew 25:4. Virgins, there is the dove; wise, there is the serpent. We must have
innocence with our wisdomor else our wisdom is but craftiness; and we must have wisdom with our
innocenceor else our innocence is but weakness. We must have the innocence of the dove that we may not
harm others and we must have the wisdom of the serpent that others may not harm us.
This union of the dove and serpent is hard to findbut it is possible. The most famous instance of wisdom
and innocence was in our Savior. When the Jews came to Him with an ensnaring question, Mark 12:14, "Is
it lawful to give tribute to Caesar or not?" Christ answered wisely, verse 17, "Render to Caesar the things
that are Caesar'sand to God the things that are God's." Do not deny Caesar his civil rightnor God His
religious worship. Let your loyalty be mixed with piety. Here He showed the wisdom of the serpent.
And would you see Christ's innocence? 1 Peter 2:22, "There was no deceit found in His mouth; who, when
He was reviled, reviled not again." He opened His mouth in praying for His enemiesbut not in reviling
them. Behold here the innocence of the dove.
II. Christians must be HARMLESS. The second thing I am to speak of is the dove: "be harmless as doves."
The dove is an excellent creature. It was so acceptable that, in the old law, God would have the dove
offered in sacrifice. The Holy Spirit, when He would appear in a visible shape, assumed the likeness of a
dove, Matthew 3:16.
We should be as doves in three respects:
(1) In respect of meekness;
(2) In respect of innocence;
(3) In respect of purity.
1. In respect of MEEKNESS. The dove is the emblem of meekness; it is without gall. We should be as doves
for meekness; we must avoid unruly anger, which is a temporary madness. We must be without the gall of
bitterness and revenge. We must be of mild spirits, praying for our enemies. So did Stephen, Acts 7:60,
"Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." This dove-like meekness is the best jewel and ornament we can
wear. 1 Peter 3:4, "The ornament of a meek spirit, which in the sight of God, is of great price." Anger

disfigures; meekness adorns.

2. We should be as doves for INNOCENCE. The innocence of the dove is seen in two things: Not to deceive
and not to hurt.
Not to deceive. As the dove is without gall, so it is without guile. It does not deceive. Thus we should be as
the dove, without fraud and craft. A holy simplicity is commendable, Romans 16:19, "I would have you
simple concerning evil." To be a bungler at sin, not to have the art to beguile, is a good simplicity; as
Nathaniel, in whose spirit there is no guile, John 1:47. Where is this dovelike innocence to be found? We
live in an age where there are more foxes than doves. People are full of guile; they study nothing but deceit,
so that one knows not how to deal with them. Psalm 12:2, "With a double heart do they speak."
Not to hurt. The dove has no horns or talons to hurtonly wings to defend itself by flight. Other creatures
are commonly well-armed: the lion has its paw, the boar its tusk, the ram its hornsbut the dove is a most
harmless creature. It has nothing with which to offend. Thus we should be as doves for harmlessness. We
should not do wrong to othersbut rather suffer wrong ourselves. Such a dove was Samuel, 1 Samuel 12:3,
"Whose ox have I taken? or whose donkey have I taken? or whom have I defrauded?" He did not get men's
estates into his hands, or raise himself upon the ruins of others. How rare is it to find such doves! Surely,
they are flown away! How many birds of prey are there! Micah 7:2, "Godly people have vanished from the
land; there is no one upright among the people." These are not doves but vultures! They travail with
mischief, and are in pain until they bring forth.
3. We should be as doves for PURITY. The dove is the emblem of purity. It loves the purest air; it feeds on
pure grain. The raven feeds on the carcassbut the dove feeds pure. Thus, let us be as doves for sanctity,
cleansing ourselves from all pollution both of flesh and spirit, 2 Corinthians 7:1. Christ's dove is pure, Song
of Solomon 5:2, "My dove, my undefiled one." Let us keep pure, among dregs. 1 Timothy 5:22, "Keep
yourself pure." Better have a rent in the fleshthan a hell in the conscience! The dove is a chaste, pure
creature; let us be doves for purity.
USE 1. See here the nature of a godly Christian: he is both wise and innocent. He has so much of the
serpent that he does not forfeit his discretionand so much of the dove that he does not defile his
conscience. A godly man is looked upon by a carnal eyeas weak and naiveas having something of the
dove, but nothing of the serpent. To believe in unseen realities, to choose sufferings rather than sinis
counted as folly. But the world is mistaken in a believer. He has his eyes in his headhe knows what he
does. He is prudent as well as holy; he is wise who finds the pearl of great price. He is wise who provides
for eternity. He is the wisest man who has wit to save his soul; he is wise who makes him his friendwho
shall be his judge. The godly man acts both the politician and the divine; he retains his ingenuityyet he
does not part with his integrity.
USE 2. Reproof. It reproves them who have too much of the serpentbut nothing of the dove. Jeremiah
4:22, "Wise to do evilbut to do good they have no knowledge." These are like the devil who retains his
subtletybut not his innocence.
We have many in this age, like the serpent for craftiness. Men have the headpiece of subtletybut lack the
breastplate of honesty. They are wise to contrive sin and to forge plotsto study compliance rather than
conscience. The port they aim at is preferment; the compass they sail by is policy; the pilot that steers them
is Satan! These have the craftiness of the serpent, "They are wise to do evil."
They are like the serpent for harm. You know the fiery serpents stung Israel. These have the sting of the
serpent. They have a sting in their tongues, stinging the people of God with bitter slanders and invectives.
Such stinging serpents were Nero, Diocletian, and Julian, and their spirit is yet alive in the world. These
have too much of the serpent in thembut nothing of the dove. 2 Peter 2:3, "their damnation does not
slumber."
USE 3. Exhortation. To put in practice our Savior's counsel in the text, join the serpent and the dove
together: wisdom and holiness. Here lies the knot; this is the great difficultyto unite these two together,
the serpent and the dove, prudence and innocence. If you separate these two, you spoil all.
QUESTION. How does a Christian join these two togetherthe serpent and the dove, prudence and
holiness?
ANSWER. This I shall answer in twelve particulars:
1. To be wise and innocent consists in this: to be sensible of an injuryyet not revenge it. A Christian is not
a stoicnor yet a fury. He is so wise that he knows when an injury is done himbut so holy that he knows
how to pass it by. This is a most excellent temper of soul. I almost said "angelic." As the wind allays the
heat of the air, so grace allays the heat of revenge. Moses herein showed a mixture of the serpent and the
dove. Miriam murmured against him, Numbers 12:2, "Has the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses?" Is he
the only prophet to declare God's mind to us? Moses was so wise as to discern her pride and slighting of
himyet so meek as to bury the injury. When God struck her with leprosy, he prayed for her. Numbers

12:13, "Heal her now, O God, I beseech You." And, upon his prayer, she was cured of her leprosy. A godly
Christian has so much wisdom as to discern his enemy's malicebut so much grace as to conquer his own
malice. He knows it is the glory of a man to pass by a transgression, Proverbs 19:11. Though a Christian
has so much prudence as to vindicate himselfyet he has so much goodness as not to avenge himself.
Behold here the serpent and the dove unitedsagacity and innocence.
2. The mixing of wisdom and innocence is seen in this: to be humblebut not base. Humility is part of the
dove's innocence. 1 Peter 5:5, "Be clothed with humility." Paul, though the chief of the Apostles, calls
himself the least of saints. A gracious soul has low thoughts of himself, and carries himself lowly toward
others; but, though he is humblehe is not base. Though he will not saucily resist his superiorshe will not
sinfully humor them. Though he will not do such proud actions as to make his enemies hate himyet he
will not do such sordid actions as to make them despise him. Here is the serpent and the dove united.
A godly Christian is so humble as to oblige othersbut not so unworthy as to disobey God. Paul, as far as
he could with a good conscience, became "all things to all, that he might save some," 1 Corinthians 9:20,
22; but he would not break a commandment to gratify any person. When God's glory lay at stake, who
was more resolute than Paul? Galatians 2:5. The three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace were humble;
they gave the king his title of honorbut they were not sordidly timorous. Daniel 3:18, "Be it known unto
you, O king, that we will not serve your gods!" Though they showed reverence to the king's personyet no
reverence to the idol he had set up. A godly Christian will not do anything below himselfnor ever cater to
men's lusts. He is humble (there he shows the innocence of the dove); but not base (there he shows the
wisdom of the serpent).
3. The prudence of the serpent and innocence of the dove is seen in this: to reprove the sinyet love the
person. We are commanded to reprove, Leviticus 19:17, "'Do not hate your brother in your heart. Rebuke
your neighbor franklyso you will not share in his guilt." Not to reprove sinis to approve it; but this
sword of reproof is a dangerous weapon, if it is not well-handled. To reprove and yet love is to act both the
serpent and the dove.
QUESTION. How may a Christian so reprove sin, as to show love to the person?
ANSWER. In taking a fit season to reprove another; that is, when his anger is over. For example, when
God rebuked Adam, He came to him, in the cool of the day, Genesis 3:8. So, when we are to reprove any,
we are to come to them when their spirits are more cool and fit to receive a reproof. To reprove a man
when he is in a passion, is to give strong drink in a feverit does more harm than good. By observing a fit
season, we show both prudence and holiness; we reveal discretion as well as affection.
Reproving sin so as to show love to the person is seen in this: when, though we tell him plainly of his sin
yet it is in mild, not provoking words. 2 Timothy 2:25, "Instructing his opponents with gentleness." Peter
tells the Jews plainly of their sin in crucifying Christbut uses persuasives and gospel promises to allure
and encourage them to believe. Acts 2:23, "Him you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified";
verse 38, "Repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin: for the promise is to
you and to your children." Reproof is a bitter pill, and hard to swallow; therefore, we must dip it in sugar!
Use those sweet mollifying expressions that others may see love coming along with the reproof. David
compares reproof to oil, Psalm 141:5. Oil supplies the joints when they are hard and stiff. Our reproofs,
being mixed with the oil of compassion, work most kindly and most soften stiff, obdurate hearts!
Reproving sinyet loving the person, is when the end of our reproof is not to revile himbut to reclaim
him. While we go to heal men's consciences, we must take heed of wounding their names. The surgeon, in
opening a vein, shows both skill and love: skill in cutting an artery, and love in letting out the bad blood.
Here is the mixing of the serpent and the dove. The wisdom of the serpent is seen in not reproaching the
sinner; the innocence of the dove is seen in reclaiming him from sin.
4. Prudence and holiness is seen in this: to know what we should do, and do what we know. To know what
we should do is the wisdom of the serpent; to do what we know is the innocence of the dove, John 13:17.
Knowledge is a jewel which adorns him who wears it; it is the enriching and bespangling of the mind.
Knowledge is the eye of the soul to guide it in the right waybut this knowledge must be joined with holy
practice. To separate practice from knowledgeis to separate the dove from the serpent. Many
illuminated heads can discourse fluently in matters of religionbut they do not live up to their knowledge.
This is to have good eyesbut to have the feet cut off! They know they should not defame nor defraud; but
they do not practice what they know. Here they separate the dove from the serpent, virtue from
knowledge. How vain is knowledge without practice! As if one should know a sovereign medicinebut not
apply it. Satan is a knowing spirit; he has enough of the serpent. But that which makes him a devil, is that
he lacks the dove! He does not practice holiness.
5. To mix the serpent and dove is to keep two trades going.
To understand worldly affairs is the wisdom of the serpent; yet to not neglect the soul is the innocence of

the dove. God has said, "Six days shall you labor," Exodus 20:9. Religion never granted a patent to
idleness. There is a lawful care to be had about secular things. To have knowledge in one's vocation, is a
commendable wisdombut, with this wisdom, join the dove's innocencefollow your vocation, as not to
neglect your soul. The soul is a precious thing; it would beggar the angels, to give half the price of a soul.
Our greatest care should be to get grace. While you put gold in your bagdo not forget to put oil in your
vessel. Trade beyond the East Indies; drive a trade of holiness. "For she is more profitable than silver, and
her revenue is better than gold. She is more precious than jewels; nothing you desire compares with her!"
Proverbs 3:14, 15. Live in a vocationbut especially live by faith. Look to providing for your familiesbut
especially to the saving of your souls.
The soul is the angelic part; the loss of the soul can never be made up. God has given a man two eyes. If he
loses one, he has another; but he has but one soul. If he loses that, it is irrecoverable! It can never be made
up again. Oh, unite the serpent and the dove, prudence and holiness! Use the worldbut love your soul;
trade on earthbut beware of failing in your trade for heaven. How many part these two, the serpent and
the dove? They are wise for the worldbut fools for their souls! It is too often seen that men pull down
their soulsto build up a worldly estate.
6. To join the serpent and the dove, prudence and innocence, consists in this: to know how to give counsel
and how to keep counsel. He has the wisdom of the serpent who can give counsel. He knows how to advise
another in difficult cases, and speak a word in due season. 2 Samuel 16:23, "Every word Ahithophel spoke,
seemed as wise as though it had come directly from the mouth of God."
But this is not enough to have the wisdom of the serpent in being able to give counsel. There must be the
innocence of the dove, too, in keeping counsel. If a friend's secret is imparted to us, unless in case of harm,
we are not to reveal it. A friend is as one's own soul, Deuteronomy 13:6; and what he imparts of his heart,
should be kept under lock and key, Proverbs 25:9-10, "Do not betray another man's confidence." To
disclose a friend's secret, though it is not treason, is treachery. It is most unchristian; a word may be
spoken in secret, which, when it is trumpeted out, may occasion quarrels or law-suits. He who cannot keep
a matter committed to him, is like a vessel which leaks out, or a sick stomach which cannot keep the food
but vomits it up again. He who publishes his friend's secret, publishes his own shame.
7. To mix these two, prudence and holiness, is to know the seasons of graceand improve them. To know
the seasons of grace is the wisdom of the serpent. It is wisdom in the farmer to know the fit time for
pruning of trees, and sowing of seed. Just so, it is no less wisdom to know the golden seasons of grace.
While we hear the joyful sound, while we have praying hours, while the Spirit of God blows on our hearts
here is a gale for heaven. The day of grace will not always last; the shadows of the evening seem to be
stretched out. Things look as if the gospel is tending towards a decline. Be wise as serpentsknow what a
treasure is put in your hands. And with the serpent, join the dovethat is, in improving the seasons of
grace. Doves not only know their season but improve it. They fly to the warmer climate in the spring. Here
is the serpent and dove united, knowing and improving the day of grace. When we profit by ordinances,
when we mix the word with faith, when an ordinance has stamped holiness upon us, as the seal leaves its
print upon the wax. This is to improve the seasons of grace.
8. The serpent and the dove, wisdom and innocence, is to be moderateyet zealous. Moderation is good in
some cases. Philippians 4:5, "Let your moderation be known to all." Moderation is good in case of anger.
When the passions are up, moderation sits as queen and governess in the soul. It allays the heat of passion.
Moderation is the bridle of anger.
Moderation is good in case of lawsuits. If there is a dispute in law between us and others, we are not to
take the extremity of the law, but use Christian equity and mildness. Nay, for peace's sake rather part with
some of our rightsthan oppress others. This much honors the gospel.
Moderation is good in things indifferent. Moderation and Christian forbearance in things indifferent
would much tend to the peace and unity of the church. All this moderation is commendable and shows the
wisdom of the serpent; but remember to join the dove with the serpent. We must so exercise moderation, as
still to nourish zeal. Paul, in some things, was moderate. Acts 15:25. He was sensitive of laying a yoke upon
the consciences of the disciples; but he had zeal with his moderation. When he saw their idolatry at Athens,
the fire of his zeal broke forth. Acts 17:16, "He was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols!"
To be cool and silent when God's blessed truths are undermined or adulterated, is not moderation but
lukewarmness, which is to God a most hateful temper. Revelation 3:15, "I would you were cold or hot",
anything but lukewarm. This is to show prudence and holiness, when we are moderate yet zealous.
9. To unite serpent and dove consists in this: when we defend the truth by argument and adorn it by life.
Defending the truth is the serpent's wisdom. An intelligent Christian can convince gainsayers. This wisdom
of the serpent was eminent in Stephen. Acts 6:9-10: "None of them was able to stand against the wisdom
and Spirit by which Stephen spoke." We read of John Fryth, martyr, being opposed by three papists. He,
like another Hercules, fighting with all the three at once, by his wisdom so convinced them that one of them
turned from popery and became a zealous Christian. Herein is the wisdom of the serpent: not only to love

those who profess the truthbut to silence those who oppose it.
But with this wisdom of the serpentthere must be joined the innocence of the dove. Together with
defending the truth by argument, there must be adorning it by life. Titus 2:10, "That they may adorn the
doctrine of God our Savior." There are some who can dispute for the truthbut disgrace it by their bad
living. This is to act both the serpent and the dove, when we not only plead for the truth but walk in the
truth, like Nazianzen, of whom it was said he had thunder in his doctrineand lightning in his life.
10. The uniting the serpent and the dove is to be serious in religionyet cheerful. Seriousness puts the heart
in a holy frame; it fixes it on God. Seriousness is to the soul as ballast to the ship: it keeps the soul from
being overturned with vanity. The heart is ever best when it is seriousbut this seriousness in religion
must be mixed with cheerfulness. Cheerfulness conduces to health, Proverbs 17:22. It honors religion; it
proclaims to the world that we serve a good Master. Cheerfulness is a friend to grace; it puts the heart in
tune to praise God, Psalm 71:21. Uncheerful Christians, like the spiesbring an evil report on the good
land. Others suspect there is something unpleasant in religion, when those who profess it hang their harps
upon the willows, and walk so dejectedly. Be seriousyet cheerful. Philippians 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord
always." Why was Christ anointed, but to give "a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness
instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair!" Isaiah 61:3. Joy is as much a
fruit of the Spirit, as faith, Galatians 5:22. One way of grieving the Spirit, is by an uncheerful walking. If
you would render the gospel lovely, mix the dove and the serpent; be serious yet cheerful in God.
11. The uniting of the serpent and the dove, wisdom and holiness, consists in this: when we so lay upas
we lay out. It is a duty to provide for our family. 1 Timothy 5:8, "If anyone does not provide for his
relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
To lay up for our family is the wisdom of the serpent; but we must lay out for the poor toohere is the
mixture of the dove. 1 Timothy 6:17,18, "Charge those who are rich in the world, that they do good, that
they be rich in good works." The poor man is, as it were, an altar. If we bring our alms and lay upon it,
with such sacrifices God is well-pleased. Faith, though it sometimes has a trembling handmust not have
a withered handbut must stretch forth itself to works of mercy. There's nothing lost by charitableness.
Proverbs 11:25, "The liberal soul shall be made fat." Psalm 41:1, "Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the
poor. The Lord rescues them in times of trouble." While men so remember their familythat they do not
forget the poorthey show both prudence and piety; they unite the serpent and the dove.
12. The serpent's wisdom and the dove's innocence is seen in this: so to avoid dangeras not to commit
sin; to preserve our libertyyet keep our integrity. There is a sinful escaping danger, namely, when we
are called to suffer for the truth and we decline it. And there is an escaping danger, without sin. For
example, when we do not betray ourselves into the enemies hands by rashness, nor yet betray the truth by
cowardice. We have a pattern of this in our Savior. He avoided His enemies in one place that He might
preach the gospel in another place. Luke 4:29-30, "They led Him unto the brow of the hill, that they might
cast Him down headlong; but He passing through the midst of them, went His way." There was Christ's
wisdom in not betraying Himself to His enemy; and verse 43, "I must preach the kingdom of God to other
cities also." There was His holiness. Christ's securing Himself, was in order to preach of the gospel. This is
to mix prudence and innocence, when we so avoid dangeryet do not commit sin.
Thus I have, as briefly and as clearly as I could, shown you how we must unite these two, the serpent and
the dove, prudence and holiness. For lack of coupling these two together, true religion suffers much in the
Christian world. "What Christ has joined together, let no man put asunder." Observe these two: prudence
and holiness. Here is the serpent's eye in the dove's head. When these two, wisdom and innocence appear
together, they are a preview of much good and happiness, which will befall a Christian.

The Source of Our Sufficiency

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our
sufficiency is from God . . . [We] have no confidence in the flesh . . . I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me. (2Co 3:5-6; Phi 3:3; and Phi 4:13)
We have been considering how God's grace develops traits of godliness in our lives. Such studies are related
to finding the source of our sufficiency. Where are believers in Jesus Christ supposed to find adequate
resources for living godly lives? The scriptures answer this question in a two-fold manner. First, God wants
us to realize that we are not the source of anything that is needed. Second, God wants us to understand
that He is the source of everything that is needed.

Our inadequacy is the first matter the Lord desires to clarify for us. "Not that we are sufficient of
ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves." Our own personal inadequacy is so
comprehensive that we cannot expect that anything godly or eternal will source from us. We do not have
any resources that can save a soul, transform a life, or cause the Lord's church to be edified. This is a
drastically different perspective on life than what we initially held. Man's natural mind assumes that we must
be the source of all that is needed for daily living. God's word repeatedly warns us not to adopt this
viewpoint. The Psalmists proclaimed such. "Vain is the help of man . . . Do not put your trust in
princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help" (Psa 108:12; Psa 146:3). Jesus elaborated on this
theme. "Without Me you can do nothing" (Joh 15:5). Paul taught the same. " [We] have no confidence
in the flesh (that is, in human resources) ."
God's adequacy is the second matter that He wants to clarify for us. "Our sufficiency is from God." As
surely as we are totally inadequate to supply what we need for life, God is fully adequate to be our
comprehensive source for living. The Psalmist understood this corollary truth as well. "Through God we
will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies . . . Happy is he who has the God of
Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that
is in them" (Psa 108:13; Psa 146:5-6). Jesus offered the same sufficient provisions. "He who abides in
Me . . . bears much fruit" (Joh 15:5). Paul testified of the same reality. "I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me." God is the source of our sufficiency in all that pertains to developing godly
characteristics.
Dear Lord, my sufficiency, I repent of my frequent tendency to look to myself to find personal adequacy.
How vain and hopeless that is. Lord, teach me to hope in You for everything I need for godly living, in Jesus
name, Amen.
Throw the creature down in the dust!
Man's religion is to build up the creature. God's religion is throw the creature down in the dust of self
abasement, and to glorify Christ.
A delicious poison?
Human applause is a delicious poison which
infuses itself into the purest Christian service.
This yearning for fame and exaltation gradually
tarnishes the purity of the best actions.
Be Bowed down Ivan

Psalms 145:14 NKJV The Lord upholds all who fall, And raises up all who are bowed down.
Psalms 146:8 NKJV The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; The Lord raises those who are bowed
down; The Lord loves the righteous.
Isaiah 2:11 NKJV The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, The haughtiness of men shall be
bowed down, And the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
Isaiah 2:17 NKJV The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be
brought low; The Lord alone will be exalted in that day,

1. The Example of Jesus Washing the Disciples Feet.

(John 13:5) After

that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to
wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.

John 13:12-16
(John 13:12) So

after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again,
he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?(John 13:13) Ye call me Master and Lord: and
ye say well; for so I am.(John 13:14) If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also
ought to wash one another's feet.(John 13:15) For I have given you an example, that ye should do as
I have done to you.(John 13:16) Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his
lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
2. Other Examples of Jesus Humility.
(John 5:41) I

receive not honour from men.

(John 6:38) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
(John 7:16) Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
(John 8:28) Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye
know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak
these things.
(John 8:50) And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
(John 14:10) Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I
speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
These words show us the deepest roots of Christs life and work. They teach us what the essential nature
and life is of the redemption which Jesus accomplished and now communicates it is this He was
nothing that God might be all.
Andrew Murray is quoted as saying, Humility is nothing but the disappearance of self in the vision that
God is all. Humility in our service to God and others allows God to be all. Humility surrenders itself to the
divine working of God.
" It will be through humility that the earth will be filled with the fullness of God, who fills all
in all.

Ephesians 1:22-23
(Ephesians 1:22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over
to the church,(Ephesians 1:23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

all things

III. Humility in our Servanthood.

Just as Jesus came to serve and give His life a ransom for many, this is how God desires we walk in
humility. We must loose ourselves in the humility and Servanthood of Christ.
(Matthew 16:25) For

whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my

sake shall find it.

Have you lost your life in humility, or are you still trying hang on to your pride and ego?

Matthew 20:25-28
(Matthew 20:25) But

Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles
exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. (Matthew 20:26)
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your
minister;(Matthew 20:27) And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:(Matthew
20:28) Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life
a ransom for many.
1. A Contrast of Attitudes in Ministry between Pride & Humility.
(Romans 16:18) For

they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by
good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Philippians 2:3-4 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let
each esteem others better than himself. 4Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for
the interests of others.
Galatians 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity
for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Because Christ humbled Himself before God, God was ever before Him. He found it possible to humble
Himself before men too; and to be the servant of all.
This is true self-denial to which we are called; the acknowledgement that self has nothing good init except

as an empty vessel which God must fill.

IV. Humility in Our Relationships.
One of the things Jesus desires for us is to come into a genuine humility in our relationships we have with
other members of His body.
Ephesians 4:1-3 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with
which you were called, 2with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with
one another in love, 3endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
" What is lowliness of mind?
Lowliness of mind is when we see ourselves to be nothing, to let God be all.
When this happens, the desire to compare yourself with others is gone.
The humble man looks upon even, the weakest and un-worthiest, child of God;
honor and prefers him in honor as a king.
Romans 12:16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind
on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own
opinion.
1. A Contrast of Attitudes in our Relationships with Others.
" Rapid fire Scriptures:
Colossians 3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on
tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13bearing with one
another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another;
even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Colossians 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath,
malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.
Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be
put away from you, with all malice. 32And be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.
Galatians 5:20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of
wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,
Proverbs 13:10 By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is
wisdom.
Romans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor
giving preference to one another;
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
V. Concluding Remarks.
Lets keep in mind that our ultimate goal is to build the body of Christ up through
our humility so that we can all be encouraged nurtured and strengthened in
Christ.

(Romans 12:1) I

beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.(Romans 12:2)
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:3) 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.(Romans 12:4) For as we have many members in one body, and all members have
not the same office:(Romans 12:5) So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one
members one of another.(Romans 12:6) Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is
given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;(Romans 12:7) Or
ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; (Romans 12:8) Or he that
exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence;
he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
What is humility?
The Oxford Dictionary defines humble as having a low estimate of ones importance.

It means considering other people (and God) as more important than

ourselves.
It is not the same as low self-esteem, which is about thinking badly of yourself
thinking that were ugly, or stupid.
It means that we might know that we are beautiful or intelligent, but not to consider us any more
important as a result.
Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said about Karl Barth, the great theologian, that Karl
Barth knew that he was a brilliant theologian, but he knew that being a brilliant theologian meant
absolutely nothing.
As C. S. Lewis put it, Humility is thinking less about yourself, not thinking less of yourself.
Pride means being self-absorbed, but humility enables us to look
outwards.
Humility moves us from being focussed on ourselves to being focussed
on God and this is what enables our lives to become characterised by
worship.
Paul goes on to say, that having a humble attitude will mean that we
will be able to test and approve what Gods will is his good, pleasing
and perfect will.
Humility not only helps us to worship; it also enables us to be obedient.
But with humility comes the ability to be honest about our failings, so
that we dont have to hide anything or boast about anything.
Admitting weakness is one of the hardest things to do; it requires
humility.
Humility is the key to true self-knowledge.
The three adjectives that Paul uses for the use of our gifts are
generously, diligently, and cheerfully. These are all characteristics of
humility.
Generosity means giving as much as we can, because we consider the
needs of other more important than our own. Diligence means never
giving up on our tasks for one another, keeping their good always in
mind. And cheerfully means considering it a huge privilege to be able to
serve one another.

Humility

Philippians 2:1-11
(Philippians 2:1) If

there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any

fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,(Philippians 2:2) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be
likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.(Philippians 2:3) Let nothing be
done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than
themselves.(Philippians 2:4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things
of others.(Philippians 2:5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:(Philippians 2:6)
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (Philippians 2:7) But
made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the
likeness of men:(Philippians 2:8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and
became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:9) Wherefore God also hath
highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:(Philippians 2:10) That at the
name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under
the earth;(Philippians 2:11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the
glory of God the Father.

The Big Picture

There is a book in the Bible that tells us of a world where you can work hard your whole life for nothing. It
is a place of no meaning and nothing new. It is a world where what is twisted can not be straightened. In
that world pleasure is meaningless, work is meaningless, wealth is meaningless, status does you no good.
Justice is not done. Even wisdom itself, ultimately, does no good. In fact, everything is meaningless. People
who become involved with the difficulties of what goes on in the church very often ask me how I handle the
anxiety. Just one situation can be so tragic and so draining, multiplied over the whole church, that would
seem to be overwhelming.
But the fact is, Im not discouraged. I do feel all that anxiety acutely. It can really hurt. But generally
speaking, my overall disposition is one of joy most of the time. Why is that? One reason the godliness of
so many. I may get more exposure than others to the troubles, but I also get more exposure to the growth.
And the joy from that overrides the discouragement from anything else.
You can tell from this book that with all the emotional pain Paul experienced, to a very large degree he was
able to keep going in large part because of this church. All through the book he is talking about how happy
he is.
And no wonder! They were doing so much that was good. So much so that when he talks about something
like love expressed through knowledge and depth of insight, he doesnt tell them to start doing that,
because they already are. All that remains is for him to tell them to abound more and more in it.
But as incredible as this church was, one massive danger seemed to be lurking. From beginning to end
Paul addresses the issue of unity and disunity. He brings it up again and again and goes into great detail
in ch.2. Why? Because it doesnt matter how godly a church is, this is always a danger. In fact, even more
so in a godly church, because people are passionate. (Paul and John Mark). People who are serious about
what they believe, who see Gods work as the most important thing in this world, who hate sin with all
their heart, etc. are more likely to collide. It doesnt matter what kind of church it is this is a danger.
Every letter Paul ever wrote, he brings up this issue. The way to protect against division is to develop a
love for the church and to become as passionate about unity as we are about everything else.

Philippians 2:1-3 KJV

1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the
Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other
better than themselves.
Philippians 2:1-3 NKJV
1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the
Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each
esteem others better than himself.
The Importance/Motivation
In ch. 1 Paul talks about facing the persecution from the world with a united front contending as one
man
There is a widespread longing for this today and tremendous energy is expended to achieve it, but with
little success.
Now he explains how that kind of unity is attained. (The first word in v.1 is Therefore).
I dont believe we have a problem with disunity it is not that we are fighting and wrangling, or that there
is a lot of discord. But we could easily go that way if we dont work to build unity. As Christians, we just
come together as a group, and right off the bat we start out unified.
But unity is fragile, and so Eph. exhorts us to keep the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.
bond = chains The thing that will keep us bound to one another is peaceful relationships. Many
times people think the key to unity is to avoid disagreements, but thats not true at all. The key isnt to
avoid disagreements, it is to avoid fighting.
Do you get upset with your kids if they disagree only when they fight over it.
When we lack harmony in relationships, and we realize that selfishness and pride are the core of the
problem, we tend to think the solution is to get our eyes off ourselves, and on to others. But thats not the
most basic solution the Bible gives.
encouragement [from being united with] in Christ

Right away attention is focused on God. If you realize you are too self-centered, and you try to solve that
problem by shifting your attention from yourself to others, it wont work. You will see their flaws and sins,
and will have little success in trying to love them.
The solution is to shift your attention from self to God, and then from there you will have no problem
loving others. Thats why the first commandment is love God, and the second is love others. Our society
loves the golden rule, but they try to carry it out while ignoring the first commandment, which is why they
have such little success.
First focus on God, then others. Thats always the approach Scripture gives us. One of countless examples
is in Mt 7:12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law
and the Prophets. What is the first word in the v? So What does that mean? We are to show others love
based upon what is said in the verses that precede.
9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him
a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much
more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
The basis of our being kind to one another is always Gods kindness to us.
para,klhsij Encouragement is a good translation here. It means to strengthen in trial to literally encourage. To impart to someone not relief from the suffering, but the strength, courage, hardiness, etc. to
endure it. It is not really the severity of the trial that means anything. What matters is how severe the trial
is in relation to your strength level.
Physically thats true. Someone who is weak and fragile might fall on padded carpet in the living room
and break a bone, whereas someone who is strong and healthy might fall off a roof and be just fine.
Emotionally, when you are weak, the smallest problem can be more than you can handle. For a little kid,
to find out he cant have an ice cream cone, or he has to go to bed can seem to him like the end of the world.
But on the other hand I know people whose children have died who are just fine.
We tend to think the best thing would be to have lesser trials. But think about it which is to preferred,
small trials or great strength? Would you rather be the guy who falls off a roof, dusts himself off and
walks away and forgets about it, or the sickly person who trips on the carpet and spends two weeks in the
hospital?
Sometimes our in our prayers we are saying, Lord, keep me from tripping on the carpet, but we would
be far better off if we said, God, make me healthy and strong Strength is better than ease. If you think
back on your life, the best times may not all be the easiest times. They were probably when you were the
most encouraged.
That spiritual strength is para,klhsij (encouragement).
And it is in Christ (from being united with is interpretive). Christ is put for personal salvation in Christ
means being in the sphere of saving grace. As Christians, we receive encouragement spiritual strength
from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-11 KJV

3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of
all comfort;
4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any
trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the
enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for
your consolation and salvation.
7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye
be also of the consolation.
8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we
were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:
9 But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God
which raiseth the dead:
10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet
deliver us;
11 Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of
many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

The comfort comes not from thinking, Maybe things are about to get better, but from realizing, Even if
this ordeal pushes me right into the grave Ill be just fine, because the God I serve raises the dead. If
your comfort from God is only about this life, it wont be enough.
If...any
Here Paul is emphasizing a point by means of understatement. It would be like if someone said, If your
mother has ever done any kind thing for you in your whole life, then why dont you send her a card? You
would think, She has done far more than just one kind thing, the absolute least I could do is send a card.
So Paul is saying, If there is any comfort/encouragement/strengthening associated with being a
Christian, then do what Im going to say in v.2. And our response should be, To say that there is just
some encouragement is a huge understatement, therefore the absolute least I could do is comply with v.2.
if any comfort from his love
The idea here is very similar consolation. Tender, soft words to soothe in a time of suffering.
if any fellowship with the Spirit
Fellowship means partnership, closeness, intimate sharing with God the Holy Spirit. It is a close
partnership that is expressed in generous giving.
Some people may gloss over this doctrine, but in Scripture it is set forth as a very important one right up
there with the grace of Christ or the love of the Father. 2Co 13:14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
if any tenderness and compassion, - spla,gcna kai. oivktirmoi,(
The first word refers to feeling compassion in your stomach, the second to acting accordingly.
What a description of Gods love! When we suffer, we often feel like Gods love is far from us, but Gods
love is as close to you as the ground under your feet, the heavens over your head and the air you breath.
In this life it would be impossible for you to escape Gods love if you wanted to.
We have all received all these things at many times in life, but the greatest expression of all of them is in
our redemption. Just as the Messiah was called the consolation of Israel so the most significant
consolation, comfort, etc. we have received from God is our salvation.
Paul uses our salvation as the motive. Hes going to call us to unity, and unity will cost us. It requires
selflessness. So before calling for that, Paul asks us,
does it mean anything to you that God saved you?
Does it mean anything that you were hopelessly lost and helpless, and God saved you?
Does it mean anything to you that your life was without hope, bound for eternal hell, and He had mercy on
you?
Does it mean anything to you that you were dead in your sins, and He made you alive?
If any of that means anything to you, do this2 then make my joy complete. Paul throws in his
relationship with them as well.
He doesnt say, reverse my sorrow. Everything else about this church causes him joy, but this one thing
could fill his cup full. Thats the way I often feel about Creekside.
If all Gods love, kindness, tenderness, compassion, comfort, strengtheningmeans anything to you, if it is
of any significance to you at all that you are partners with the Holy Spirit, if my ministry means anything
to youplease do this.
That is an appeal from love. You can appeal to people to do things on a lot of different levels, but there is
no appeal stronger than the appeal of love.
In college my professors in college would often read off a homework assignment without even looking up.
Thats one level of motivation. But I remember a professor, at the end of the year, pleading with us with
tears in his eyes (and ours), Be diligent in your work. Be godly. Thats the appeal of love. If your boss
sends you a memo saying, I want this to be done by Friday thats one thing. But if your mother came to
you and said, If my love for you means anything at all to you if I have ever shown you any kindness of
any kind, please do this.
He who is deaf to love is deaf indeed. If you cant respond to an appeal made by someone who deeply loves
you, you are as hard as you can be.
Paul: If God has been only cruel to you, if He has left you without comfort, without salvation, without
deliverance, if the Holy Spirit has not indwellt you, then it would make sense to be fragmented as a group.
But if those things are not the case, there is no excuse. This is quite a motivation. Remember this if you

ever find yourself being the one creating ripples or waves in the unity of the church. Set aside all your
thoughts about your rights, how youve been offended or mistreated, etc. and think of it for what it really is
massive disloyalty to Christ, who treasures the unity of His church. If you cant forgive, or do something
that builds friction in some relationship disrupting unity recognize that for what it is monumental
ingratitude, that would take so much from Christ and then show so little concern for what is precious to
Him.
This kind of motivation is the highest approach. He doesnt threaten judgment, or appeal to authority. He
appeals to their affection for Christ and for him. You cant always do that, because many people are totally
unmoved by that. (Give in in this fight for what just because of the fact that Christ has given so much to
me? Forget it!) The very fact that Paul can take this approach is a testimony to the godliness of this
church.
The Command
by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
Being like minded Lit: to think the same
This term goes being mere intellectual thoughts. It primarily refers to thinking, but cannot be divorced
from a persons will, overall disposition, and direction in life.
having the same love, Love the same things, and to love one another in the same way the Christian way.
It calls to mind all that love described in v.1. We are to have a deep affection for one another, to care for
each other, have compassion toward one another, show mercy, and to generously give to one another.
That is true unity.
being one in spirit a single word - su,myucoi singlesouled Only here, but Php 2:19-20 I hope in the
Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 20I
have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. lit I have no one who is ivso,yucon
(similar-souled)
We should be not only similar-souled, but same souled.
When a person is spiritually imature, there is no telling how they will respond to various things, but godly
people tend to respond the same way. If you say something that may be taken as offensive to someone
who is a new Christian, it is hard to predict what might happen. But I can tell you right now what will
happen if you say it to Joe or Freddy or my dad, or Chip
This term includes the emotions. We feel the same way about important things. When you take a group of
spiritually mature people, there is a great unity among them in the way they feel about things. If you give
them a list of controversial issues (abortion, the death penalty, pornography, homosexual behavior, etc.,
they will feel the same way about them.
We have a unity in the church that no other group of people in the world have. In our culture, when you
want to suggest that two people are extremely close, sometimes we will say, They are practically joined at
the hip. As Christians, we are not joined at the hip, we are joined at the soul.
and purpose lit: Thinking the one almost identical to the first phrase (goal or purpose implied)
This does not mean we lose our unique identity. The strongest statement in the whole Bible on our unity is
also one of the most beloved passages on the uniqueness of each Christian Eph.4:3-7 Make every effort
to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit- just as you
were called to one hope when you were called- 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of
all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ
apportioned it.
We are like a sports team. We dont all do the same thing we do very different things. But we do have
the same purpose. The receiver and the offensive lineman have very different jobs, but the same purpose.
Immature Christians will have a lot of worldly goal mixed in with their spiritual goals. Those create
discord and tension in the church. If your goal is to advance the Kingdom at all costs, and my goal is to
become wealthy, to enjoy life, to have a fair amount of leisure, to travel, and to advance the Kingdom,
there is going to be friction between us. You are going to be scheduling things that cost me money, or
intrude into my vacation, etc. Im going to spend a lot of my efforts at things that have nothing to do with
the Kingdom, and that will irritate you. As we all move toward maturity, we all become closer in our
ultimate goal and purpose in life, and then we know real unity. Then you find that decisions are made in
the church, and everyone tends to agree.
Now there will always be times when we dont see eye-to-eye on what the best way to advance the
Kingdom is, but if we have advancing the Kingdom as our ultimate goal, we are 90% of the way to being
unified. This is done not by trying to conform to one another. Thats the way the world goes at it Lets
just all get together and be unified. It never works.
Gods Word is the tuning fork that we all strive to conform to. If an orchestra tried to tune itself by each
person getting in tune with the person next to him, it would be hopelessly out of tune. And like Michelles

cello, we easily become out of tune, and need to be retuned. Like clocks that strike at the same time.
This comes through teaching, debate and friendship.
Teaching
This is one reason we emphasize teaching so much. A friend of mine never preaches on controversial
passages. That approach will result in a phony unity a unity that is skin deep at best. It may seem like
they are unified in doctrine, because no one is arguing about anything, but that is not true unity. On the
controversial issues people will end up believing one way or the other, and without guidance from their
shepherd on the hardest parts of Scripture, error will flourish.
Another misguided way to promote doctrinal unity is through having a detailed doctrinal statement, and
forcing everyone to agree. To simply have a list of doctrines and telling people Tow the line on this, or
find another church is not to create unity it just ices the disunity.
We believe the Bible never contradicts itself. So if all the teachers at Creekside have the same hermeneutic,
and they stick to teaching the Bible and not their own ideas, over time we will become more and more
unified.
Debate
If people just agree to sign on to some belief just so they dont rock the boat, but they dont really think it
through that is a false unity. In fact, it will ruin unity, because people will begin to resent that. Thats
why Paul uses the term frone,w which includes what you think, but also includes the disposition of your
will. The idea is that we not just agree on paper, but that we are truly unified in heart and soul. If you and
I believe different things, one of us is wrong, and if it is me, I want to know about it. I dont want to go one
believing something that is wrong.
Often people are threatened when anyone disagrees with them. I have noticed two reasons for this:
* Identifying your self too much with your views. So when someone attacks your view, you feel like they
are attacking you.
* Lack of trust in Gods Word. If that thing I believed is wrong, what if some other things I believe turn
out to be wrong? What if my whole belief system unravels?
But if you have a full confidence in the Gospel, you are not afraid of the truth.
Debate is not disunity discord and dissension are. Debate is simply teaching one another, and we are
commanded to do that.
Debate is not an enemy of unity contention is. Sometimes we are way to quick to agree to disagree.
Lets just agree to go on with one of us believing the wrong thing. Thats not loving.
We need to work to see to it that we come closer and closer to believing the same way. What about church
fights over things that are not in the Bible like the color of the new carpet? The more we come to
agreement on what the Bible teaches, the more we will agree on what things are important and what
things are not. In a church where everyone agrees that people are more important than carpet, you never
have a fight over carpet.
Friendship
Friendship without doctrinal unity is not unity. However, thats not to say friendship is not an important
part of unity.
Is it possible to fulfill the one anothers with a total stranger? How about Bear one anothers burdens
how can you bear my burden unless you know what it is ? Look around the room. Do you know what
burdens those people are carrying? Some of you dont even know the burden thats weighing down your
husband/wife/children.
If all you do is come to church and say hello to people in the lobby, you will never build a friendship.
Friendship takes time and effort way beyond that. Our enemy knows that this issue of humility is the
battleground where he must win if he is going to have any success in destroying your lives, and so this
tends to be the hardest area for us.
And so I want to remind you of the motivation that began the chapter.
Php.2:1-2 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love,
if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by
being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
If God has ever shown you any love at all, and that love for you means anything to you, be unified and
humble.
Paul appeals to their relationship with God. Think of what Paul could have done instead:
* He could have cited the law
* He could have listed a bunch of ways selfishness would hurt the church body

* He could have set out a catalogue of rules on how to treat one another
But instead of any of that, he appeals to our relationship with Christ. That kind of a motivation of works
on spiritually mature people, because it wont have any effect unless your relationship with God is very
precious to you, and you take it seriously.which is why I think it will be effective on this church.
Here is the point: When you sin against the unity of the church (or when you commit any sin for that
matter), dont think of it primarily as a sin against an institution, or a violation of a code, or a
transgression of a law It is not primarily that you are violating a system of religion, or a canon of
theology or a creedal structure. It is not that you are going against the structure of the church. When you
sin against the unity of the church, see it for what it really is a very personal violation of a relationship
your relationship with God.
When you bring discord into the church, you violate not so much the Church, and not so much the doctrine
of unity, but your relationship with Christ.
We tend to fall into thinking that we have the right to spend our time/energy/thoughts on making
ourselves comfortable. Thats what causes problems in relationships, and brings chaos into the church.
People who make it their goal to feel better, and whose big concern is to be comfortable have you noticed
that those people are always offended at something? And they are angry, and they want the whole world
to know they have been offended. Why? Because when it is your goal to be comfortable, you noticed even
the slightest discomfort.
When you lay in a hammock, trying to be comfortable, and a fly keeps landing on you, it will drive you
crazy. But if you are chopping wood, you dont even notice a fly landing on you.
People who are involved in rigorous, strenuous effort in serving the Church those people dont even
hardly notice if you do something against them. So if you making feeling good emotionally your goal, you
will bring discord and problems into the church.
Paul: Are you so unmoved by the constant flow of love and tenderness from God, that you would inject the
poison of disharmony and strife into the body of Christ? If so, then know where your sin is placed. It is
not that you have upset a doctrinal idea or committed a social faux pas, it is not first a sin against the
church, it is not a sin against doctrine, it is not a sin against moral law, it is a sin against your
relationship with Christ, and it is a violent display of ingratitude toward the One who has poured out love
and tenderness toward you from the first day you came to know Him, and it is a disregard for the great
desire of the heart of Christ for His Church. There is no excuse for that kind of pettiness.
David understood this. When he sinned with Bathsheeba, he understood that he sinned against her,
against Uriah, against the people of Israel, against his own family, against Gods Law, against societal
standards but the cry of his heart in repentance was, Against You, and You only have I sinnned
So Paul appeals to their relationship with God. This is very different from what you see in other letters
like Corinthians, where Paul talked about pulling out a whip. Sometimes you see this motivation in the
Bible, but not all that often. Much more often you see warnings of punishment. The appeal to love is the
highest motivation, but it doesnt work on most people, because most people wont live at the highest level.

Humility pt.2 Php.2:3

Do nothing (supplied) perhaps phroneo from v.2 is to be supplied.
out of kata Do nothing that is in accordance with or that smells of
Selfish Ambition
selfish ambition or vain conceit
selfish ambition (NAS selfishness KJV strife) has to do with what you do, and vain conceit has to do with
the way you think.
It is crucial that we not be selfish in our actions or thoughts.
Gk word: erithia was used of those who campaign for office, trying to gain a following, courting pop
applause, self-promotion. Hes saying Dont live your life that way.
It is similar to our word narcissism a self love, an excessive concern for ones comfort.
It carries the idea of someone who is for hire like a prostitute who will trade her dignity for gain. A
person with selfish ambition will sell his soul for prominence or gain of some kind. Selfish ambition is all
the time you spend thinking, How can I get what I want? (we try to legitimize it by saying, How can I
get what I need? Really we have no needs other than God.)
What kinds of things do we want?
Money
I dont know about you, but I like money. They say money cant buy happiness, but Ive noticed that a lot
of times money is the only thing standing between me and 18 holes of golf. Money will enable you to give
people gifts, money will get you a meal and desert at the Cheesecake factory, it will buy you a new outfit,
shoes, jacket, etc. Having some disposable money can make shopping a lot more fun. They will let you in
to a movie theater or a Dinner theater or Eliches or Water World if you just give them enough money.
Money will buy you a diamond ring, a Ford Explorer, a hotel room, a week in Can Cun, a bigger house. We
want a lot of that stuff, which means we want money.
Food
I could go for some right now. We make a lot of decisions in life based on food. We arrange our schedules
around eating. Every few hours we have to have something that tastes good and that we are in the mood
for.
Amusement
We dont ever want to be bored. We want that pleasant feeling of being amused all the time. We want to
laugh and to have a good time. We want a regular diet of fun.
Affection
Not everything we want is petty. Some things we want come from passionate longings from way down
deep inside us. We want people to love us, and we want certain people to be affectionate to us. We want
our spouses to stop thinking of themselves and to pay more attention to us. Wives want their husbands to
be more romantic and to pay more attention to the family, and to help more around the house. Husbands
want their wives to be more responsive to them. Children want their parents to spend more time with
them.
Respect
We want people to take us seriously. We want people to be impressed with us, and to speak well of us
behind our back. We want a certain amount of standing among the people we are around. We want to be
regarded as important, smart, funny, enjoyable to be around (work, school, family).
Comfort
We want the inconveniences of our lives to be done away with. We want to feel good. We want to feel
better physically. We want to feel better emotionally. We want to be rid of our depression. We want to be
rid of our fear. We want to be rid of our uncertainty and anxiety. We just want to feel better.
We all want those things, but there are two kinds of people people who spend their time, energy,
thoughts, on gaining those things, and people who spend their time, energy and thoughts giving those
things. If you spend yourself on gaining those things, you are guilty of selfish ambition. Satan will try to
deceive you into thinking that God fulfills your spiritual needs, but these things have to do with physical
and emotional needs, and so it is up to us to try to get those needs met. The truth is God is the one and only
one who can fulfill any of your needs.
But I need respect from my wife or I need affection from my husband and it will only have meaning
coming from them. I dont deny that, but it is God who is in ultimate control. God could bring
circumstances into your spouses life to change them and make them what you long for. God is in ultimate
control of every provision He is the One who can enable your spouse to be what you long for.
And true joy comes from contentment, and contentment says, God, whatever you provide I will be
grateful for, and whatever you withhold, and whatever pain you allow Ill humbly accept from Your
hand. Whatever you give me is enough. Im willing to live the rest of my life that way if thats Your

desire. Thats what it means to say, The LORD is my portion. The LORD is my Shepherd, and thats all I
want. Thats all I need.
Selfish ambition is deceptive. It seems like working toward those things will bring satisfaction and
fulfillment, and yet a narcissistic life is the surest ticket to misery. Making it your goal to feel better is the
surest ticket to a life of frustration and the worst kind of discomfort.
We all have a deep longing for God, and the more focused you become on Him, the more fulfilled you will
be. Satan takes that very longing, and disguises it for a longing for something else something that
doesnt satisfy. It is like if the signals in your body got disoriented so when you got thirsty you would crave
sawdust. Then you would drink glass after glass of sawdust, and remain thirsty. When someone told you
to drink water, you would say, But thats not what I want.
Paul says Do nothing out of selfish ambition. As you go through your day, every waking hour you are
thinking about something. Much of that time you have to have your mind focused on some certain thing
all the rest of the time is free time. You think about whatever is important to you. You have the choice
Am I going to think about how to get the things I want, or about how to give others the things they want?
All this is determined by your level of contentment. People who live lives of grasping to gain more and
more of these things are people who are not content. And lack of contentment is a serious sin.
Selfish ambition says, OK God, here is what I require to be happy. Hand it over, or Ill be mad! Think of
what you think when your kids have that attitude at Christmas.
Contentment says, Although I have desires for these things, I am willing to do without them if thats what
you want, Lord. I wont devote my life to gaining these things. Ill leave them in your hands. If you
withhold them, thats fine. Ill trust Your judgment, and be content with what you give. If you do give
them, Ill be grateful.
This is a fitting topic for this time of year. You could say the opposite of selfish ambition is gratitude which
only comes through contentment.
I was interested to read in Thr. paper Scripts Howard poll of 1005 people that our nation is mostly proThanksgiving. In fact, Thanksgiving is our nations most observed holiday. More people celebrate
Thanksgiving than celebrate the 4th of July or Christmas. 92% planned a family gathering. 83% say they
planned to pray a prayer of thanks before the meal. 65% believe God has intervened to make ours a free
and secure country.
So we are real big on saying thank you to God once a year. And Im glad. Thats wonderful. There is a
big difference, however, between saying thank you and being thankful. If you want to gauge how
thankful our country really is, dont ask how many people plan on having a family get together on
Thanksgiving, watch them the rest of the year and see if they are content, or if they are living their lives
primarily to gain more and more of the stuff they want.
I thought it was fascinating that in the same survey, while 65% of people are confident that our freedom in
the USA is from God, most people do not believe God is responsible for our wealth. Only 46% see our
material blessings as coming from God. Thats because they spend their whole lives scratching and
fighting for all the material things they have, and so they think they deserve all the credit for gaining them.
Our society is mired in this sin. We have a whole country of voters who by the millions dont care about
the well-being of the country or future generations, they vote solely on the basis of voting themselves
benefits. (both Democrats and Republicans) During the campaign I saw numerous interviews of college
students who, one after another, said, It doesnt seem like either candidate is going to give anything to me,
so Im not going to vote at all.
The sin of selfish ambition, when you think about what it really is, is an ugly sin, and it sinks to it is lowest,
ugliest point in the sin of envy. Envy is the end result of covetousness. Covetousness wants what you have.
Thats one thing. But Envy just simply resents you for having what you have.
Kids at an overnight no one can sleep on the bed. Ill be happier if you are uncomfortable. This sin is
evidenced in our whole infatuation with the concept of fairness. God is just, and God is gracious, but God
is not fair, and there are many people who refuse to be Christians because of that. We worship fairness in
our culture, and the whole concept of fairness, in many ways, is nothing but this very sin. Fairness says,
It is not fair unless I have at least as much as you. It is wrong if I dont have everything you have. If I
have as much as you, thats OK. If I have more than you, thats OK, but it is not fair if I have less then you.
As a result of that, there is a general dislike in our country directed at rich people. So much so that all a
politician has to say is, My opponent wants to have policies that will benefit the rich and he gains
millions of votes. Those rich people already have something we dont have, and so we resent them, and we
dont want anything good to happen to them.
Envy is an ugly sin. It is bad enough for me to say, I wish I had a million dollars. But it is far worse to
say, I hate you because you have a million dollars, and I wont rest until you dont have it any more.
We need to resist the temptation of spending that time thinking, How can I get what I want? Instead it
should be How can I give? This is not a virtue that you just tack on to your life at the margin somewhere
it touches almost every moment of every day.

Vain Conceit
Pride. This is the attitude that is behind the lifestyle of selfish ambition. The reason we spend our time
thinking about how to get what we want is because we think we are ultimately important. The term is an
interesting one. It is made from the term glory and the term empty. We tend to think we are of great
importance, but that importance we imagine we have is empty baseless.
On what basis are you justified in spending all your time thinking about yourself? God has entrusted me
with a mind and a body, a spiritual gift, a task in this life, and the resources I need to carry it out and I
only have this life to do it just this mist of a life, just this blink of an eye in comparison to eternity. On
what basis am I justified in spending my time focused on myself?
God hates pride. Jas.4:6 resist Satan. (fight against) 4:5 God resists the proud! The action we are to take
against Satan is the same action God takes against us if we are proud!!!
So when we become proud we place ourselves in the shoes of Gods enemies.
God so hates pride, when in Pr.6:16-17 He lists 7 things that He hates, the very first one is haughty eyes.
Pride is the very essence of sin. (1st temptation)
This comes as a shock to the world. They think pride is a virtue. Ive got my pride. In our country
especially, many people believe the number one most important virtue is self-esteem (pride). And you can
buy books by the truckload from Christian bookstores telling you that we should all seek to increase our
self-esteem.
2Ti 3:1-4 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves,
lovers of money, boastful, proud, 4 conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God
There will be a terrible time in the last days if you can imagine when people will be esteemers of
themselves.
The result is a generation of young people who are so dominated by self love that they many schools are
literally out of control. There is fighting that is unprecedented even killing.
And the counselors keep saying, The solution is to get them to love themselves even more.
Self esteem is not the solution to our problems, it is the cause. But isnt there anything good about self
esteem? What about the person who is so paralyzed with feelings of inadequacy and insecurity that he
cant even function is society?
What about the teenager who hates herself so much that she is thinking of killing herself? Dont those
people need a little self-esteem?
No. They need less. They have those problems because they esteem themselves too much.
A person who is paralyzed because of feelings of inadequacy is like that because he is consumed with
thinking about himself and what everyone thinks of him. He is too self-focused.
The solution to that is to learn humility that is, to stop focusing on himself and what people think, and
start concerning himself with others. Now maybe a person like that needs to learn self-confidence, which
is not sin. But he doesnt need more self love.
As for the girl who hates herself so much she wants to die she doesnt hate herself. Eph.5:29 no one ever
hated his own flesh. Her whole problem is that she loves herself too much.
Thats why shes upset. She is in pain, and since she loves herself, she doesnt want to be in pain, and so she
is seeking an end to the pain. If she really did hate herself, she would be glad that she is in pain. But if you
love someone, you weep when they suffer. Thats why you weep when you suffer, because you love
yourself.
Self-love destroys a person and destroys others. Thats one reason why God hates it so much.
It was Satans pride that got him thrown down from heaven.
It was pride that plunged the human race into sin, resulting in all the pain and suffering and agony that
we see around us.
It was pride that motivated the first murder when Cain murdered his brother out of envy in Gn.4.
It was pride that motivated the next murder a few vv. later, when Lamch bragged to his wives that he
murdered a man just for injuring him. He boasted that he was ten times more proud than Cain.
Did you know it was out of pride and envy that they killed the Lord Jesus Christ? Mt.27:18 says that even
Pilot knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
Pride is behind all sin, and the more heinous the sin, the more obvious the pride thats behind it. If you sit
down and think of the worst atrocities you can think of that human beings have carried out, in most cases
there is no real motive other than the unrestrained ego of the one who did it.
From Nebuchadnezzer, to Nero, to Hitler. The harm that is perpetrated on the human race comes from
pride, and the most egregious harm is inflicted by the most proud.
It is amazing the world is so blind, they have taken the two ugliest, most destructive sins pride and
selfish ambition, and made them into virtues.
But God knows the harm they cause, and so He tells us Do nothing out of selfish ambition or pride
Barnes
Probably there is no command of the Bible which would have a wider sweep than this, or would touch on
more points of human conduct, if fairly applied. Who is there who passes a single day without, in some

respect, desiring to display himself? What minister of the gospel preaches, who never has any wish to
exhibit his talents, eloquence, or learning? How few make a gesture, but with some wish to display the
grace or power with which it is done! Who, in conversation, is always free from a desire to show his wit,
or his power in argumentation, or his skill in repartee? Who plays at the piano without the desire of
commendation? Who thunders in the senate, or goes to the field of battle; who builds a house, or purchases
an article of apparel; who writes a book, or performs a deed of benevolence, altogether uninfluenced by
this desire? If all could be taken out of human conduct which comes from pride and selfish ambition, how
small a portion would be left!
This command reaches in and touches every moment of our lives.
In fact, take a look at Mt.5:3 - this hits at the very heart of what it means to be a Christian. The reason so
many millions reject Christianity is because of the requirement of humility.
verse 3b
But in Humility
No one can be saved without humility. Jesus said Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs and theirs alone is
the Kingdom of Heaven.
What does it mean to be poor in spirit? Does not mean self-deprecating, low confidence, fearful, timid, etc.
The Greek word for poor is penhj This means to be so poor it is obvious by looking, and the person is
reduced to manual labor in undesirable jobs. This is the person who is so poor he can barely scratch out a
living.
There is another word for poor. ptwcoj term. There is a very clear, distinct difference in meaning (Colin
Brown, v.2, p.820).
This term refers to total destitution. This person doesnt have small resources, he has none. It is nt
difficult for him to scratch out a living it is impossible.
from the root pth (to crouch in fear, to cower in shame or fear)
This term is associated with misery. The ptwcoj are that way because something horrible happened to
them.
This term was avoided by classical Greek writers (such as Philo) because it was an offensive This is the
term Jesus uses. It is an offensive term.
Would have been very vivid (may ptwcoj were there v.24 various diseases (a diseased crowd), pain,
paralyzed, demonized, crippled, etc.)
An ugly bunch despised.
Jesus: When you get to the point spiritually like these folks, you have it made.
in spirit
on the inside.
Jesus: Those people who are empty on the inside they have it made. Those people who look inside
themselves and find nothing, they are the lucky ones.
This is revolutionary. It was revolutionary for them and us. Everything we ever hear about success says,
Rugged individualism. Self-reliance. Reach down deep in your own soul. Believe in
yourself, and you can do anything. Self-esteem. Self-confidence. Self- love. You are the
answer to your problems. Everything you need is within you.
Even Christianity is beginning to feed on pride.
Human religion always has.
All human religion is based on pride. There are millions of people around the world seeking access to the
Kingdom, and working hard (prayers, rituals, good deeds, etc.) These people are rich in spirit. They are
full on the inside have a lot to offer God. They are shut out of the Kingdom.
Jesus comes along and says, The real winners are the ones with no resources on the inside. Try
selling that message. How to be a nobody.
Everybody wants to be somebody John Maxwel - #1 truth about people. Reach down deep inside
yourself. If you find something good there, you are disqualified.
Ever gone through a tragedy and felt empty inside - YOU have got it made!
Jesus slogan: Mine will be a kingdom of beggars! Join me go from riches to rags. There wont be
a chicken in every pot no one will be able to afford a pot. (spiritually)
Is this hard to take? Does it kind of shock your sensibilities? If not Im not doing a good job representing
it.
I need to alert you to a rhetorical device:
When Jesus says the Kingdom is for the poor is spirit, the point is that it is for those who
realize they are poor in spirit. All of us are spiritually bankrupt in ourselves. Every human
being is really ptwcoj in spirit. No one is actually rich in spirit having something to offer God. But it is
those people who think they are rich in spirit who disqualify themselves.
What does this look like in a person? What are these people like?
Their personalities are dominated by confidence
If a person stands in front of a group and says, We need $10,000. If a beggar is there, what will he do?

Look in his wallet? No he will look around. It doesnt even occur to him to look in his wallet he doesnt
even have one. His only reflex is to look to others.
Those who are penhj look in their wallets, then elsewhere. The rich just pull out the $.
If you are in a board meeting, and someone says, Lets do this for the Lord. the rich in spirit will look
within themselves to see if they think they can pull it off. The penhj in spirit will look within themselves,
see that they cant, and then say, Well, maybe God will help
But the ptwcoj just look straight to God as a reflex. What do they see? Infinite recourses. So they are the
most confident ones there. The rich in spirit look within themselves and say, It cant be done. We dont
have the recourses. The penhj look within themselves and then to God and say, Maybe we could pull it
off But the ptwcoj dont have any doubt. If they are convinced it is Gods will, they just say, What are
we waiting for? Lets go!
(David).
Theirs (alone) is the Kingdom of heaven
In each beatitude the pronoun is in the emphatic position. The emphasis on theirs (theirs alone).

Humility Php.2:3 pt.3

Intro: Fundamentals
During the years I was a white water rafting guide, I had the occasion to train new guides every spring. I
was exposed to a couple different philosophies on how to teach.
I found that if you just teach people the basics of reading currents and moving a boat, they will tend
become excellent with practice. But if you try to teach them how to do each maneuver and all the subtleties
of guiding, you can teach them summer after summer and they may never even get to the point where they
can take a boat safely down the river.
It is the same way with anything else. If you master the fundamentals of music, someone can place any
piece of music in front of you, and you can play it. If you master the fundamentals of skiing, you can
handle any slope even if you are seeing it for the first time.
The same thing is true with spiritual things. If you master the fundamentals of Christian living,
everything else will just be a matter of fine-tuning. But if you do not, you will have a major struggle
mostly a losing struggle with absolutely every area of the Christian walk.
And the most basic of all fundamentals is humility.
Review (Neg)
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition
Dont go through life with the goal of feeling better of gaining more things for yourself. Be willing to say to
God, Ill be content with whatever you supply, and I require nothing else.
or vain conceit
Pride, the root of all sin. The conceit of the proud secures them the curse of God, and shuts them
out of the realm of divine favor.
Keep in mind, all this is instruction on how we can have unity in the church. We will not achieve unity by
doing events together, or glossing over doctrinal differences. Lots of churches do those things and find
that there is fighting, complaining, backbiting, gossip, strife, factions, etc.
How will Creekside avoid all that? We wontunless each one of us learns to continually push selfish
ambition out of our lives, and works to maintain humility toward one another.
(James 4:1) From

whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your
lusts that war in your members?(James 4:2) Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and
cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Selfishness is the cause and the fuel of every quarrel, and where there is no selfishness, you
cant have a quarrel.
One of the best lessons you can learn in life is not to set goals that are not completely in your control. If it
is your goal to be treated a certain way, people are going to block that goal, and you are going to find that
you are angry all the time. Then instead of looking at people as potential objects of your love, you will see
them as opponents, and hindrances to your progress in life.
Thats why in a discussion on unity, Paul begins with this admonition.
Last week was the negative side, this week the positive.
But in Humility
Humility Defined
The word humility literally means lowliness of mind but does not refer to thinking that you are bad.
Rather it comes from the OT concept of lowliness, which is tied to the idea of creatureliness. That is, it is
an awareness of being subordinate to God, and a willingness to let your case rest with God.
You have needs, desires all your interests. Pride will fight for those. Humility will put it all in Gods
hands. That frees you up to be concerned with others.
It is not self-deprecation, it is concern for others above self. That is the root of love (attitude action).
1. Required for salvation
Isa.66:2 "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.
(Isaiah 66:2) For

all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the
LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at
my word.
Jesus said Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs and theirs alone is the Kingdom of Heaven.
poor in spirit does not mean self-deprecating, low confidence, fearful, timid, etc.
The word poor means absolutely destitute and desperate with zero to offer a beggar.

in spirit means on the inside.

Jesus: Those people who are empty on the inside they have it made. Those people who look inside
themselves and find nothing, they are the lucky ones.
Why? Because Theirs (alone) is the Kingdom of heaven
In each B, the pronoun is in the emphatic position. The emphasis on theirs (theirs alone).
Take a look at Lk.18
Most people, if you ask if they think they will go to heaven, will says yes. And if you ask why, they will
express some confidence in their own righteousness. It was like that in Jesus time too, so He told a
parable about people who are confident in their own righteousness.

Luke 18:9-14
(Luke 18:9) And

he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were
righteous, and despised others:(Luke 18:10) Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a
Pharisee, and the other a publican.(Luke 18:11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself,
God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this
publican.(Luke 18:12) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.(Luke 18:13) And the
publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his
breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.(Luke 18:14) I tell you, this man went down to his
house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he
that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Those who are confident in their own righteousness are not going to heaven, they will not be forgiven their
sins, and they are not saved, and can never be saved as long as they remain in that condition.
Contra world
This is revolutionary. It was revolutionary for them and us. Everything we ever hear about success says,
Rugged individualism. Self-reliance. Reach down deep in your own soul. Believe in yourself, and you
can do anything. Self-esteem. Self-confidence. Self- love. You are the answer to your problems.
Everything you need is within you.
All human religion is based on pride. There are millions of people around the world seeking access to the
K, and working hard (prayers, rituals, good deeds, etc.) These people are rich in spirit. They are full on
the inside have a lot to offer God. They are shut out of the Kingdom.
Jesus said, The only ones who make it are the ones with no resources on the inside. Try selling that
message. How to be a nobody.
Everybody wants to be somebody John Maxwel - #1 truth about people
Reach down deep inside yourself. If you find something there, you are disqualified.
Imagine Jesus in politics: Mine will be a kingdom of beggars! Join me go from riches to rags. There
wont be a chicken in every pot no one will be able to afford a pot. (spiritually)
Is this hard to take? Does it kind of shock your sensibilities? If not, Im not doing a good job representing
it.
Human religion will tell you that spiritual poverty will keep you out of heaven, and so you must generate
spiritual riches make yourself good.
Then Jesus came along and said, No, it is not spiritual poverty that will keep you out of heaven, it is
spiritual riches.
Note: when Jesus says the Kingdom is for the poor in spirit, the point is that it is for those who realize they
are poor in spirit. All of us are spiritually bankrupt in ourselves, and have no inherent righteousness
within us. No one is actually rich in spirit having something to offer God. But it is those people who
think they are rich in spirit who disqualify themselves.
Spurgeon: Our imaginary goodness is more hard to conquer than our actual sin. Man can sooner be
cured of his sicknesses than be made to forego his boasts of health. Human weakness is a small obstacle to
salvation compared with human strength
This is the obstacle that keeps millions from knowing God. Most people who reject Christianity, while they
may come up with excuses like they have a problem with Jonah and the whale, etc., if they were honest,
they would admit that the real reason they refuse to bow the knee the Jesus Christ is because they do not
want to humble themselves.
There is no necessity for any stigma if you are financially bankrupt. That could happen through no fault
of your own. But to admit to spiritual bankruptcy that carries with it a certain amount of culpability.
Spurgeon:
This fact is deeply humiliating. A man may have no money, and yet it may involve no fault, and therefore
no shame; but our estate of poverty has this sting in it, that it is moral and spiritual, and sinks us in blame
and sin. To be poor in holiness, truth, faith, and love to God, is disgraceful to us. Often does the poor man
hide his face as one greatly ashamed; far more cause have we to do so who have spent our living riotously,
wasted our Father's substance, and brought ourselves to want and dishonour. Descriptions of our state

which describe us as miserable are not complete unless they also declare us to be guilty; true, we are
objects of pity, but much more of censure. A poor man may be none the less worthy of esteem because of
the meanness of his apparel, and the scantiness of his provision; but spiritual poverty means fault,
blameworthiness, shame, and sin. He who is poor in spirit is therefore a humbled man, and is on the way
to be numbered with those that mourn, of whom the second benediction says that "they shall be
comforted."
But wont that inhibit confidence?
Their personalities are dominated by confidence.
If a person stands in front of a group and says, We need $10,000, people who are rich will look in their
wallets and determine what they can do. But if a beggar is there, what will he do? Look in his wallet? No
It doesnt even occur to him to look in his wallet he doesnt even have one. His only reflex is to look
elsewhere.
If you are in a board meeting, and someone says, Lets do this for the Lord that will require supernatural
resources, the rich in spirit will look within themselves to see if they think they can pull it off. When they
look within themselves, they may find great human resources, but no supernatural power, and so they will
have a low level of confidence.
But the ptwcoj just look straight to God as a reflex. What do they see? Infinite resources. So they are the
most confident ones there. The rich in spirit look within themselves and say, It cant be done. We dont
have the resources. But the ptwcoj dont have any doubt. If they are convinced it is Gods will, they just
say, What are we waiting for? Lets go!
Like David going against Goliath. Saul was a tall, strong, powerful warrior who had killed
thousands of trained soldiers. He had armor and skill and a custom made sword. As a
result, when Goliath came along, he looked to his own strength and didnt see enough there
to do the job.
But David wasnt as tempted to look to his own resources, because he didnt really have
any. He was a kid, he had no armor, no experience in battle, not even a sword. The only
place he had to turn was to Gods strength, and thats why he had such confidence
The Beginning point attainable by anyone
It is significant that Jesus began the Sermon on the Mount with this. Poverty of spirit is the very first issue
when it comes to inheriting the Kingdom. It is the most fundamental, most basic foundation for
approaching God.
On the one hand, it is the most difficult thing for man to do. There is nothing that comes harder to us than
humility, and so the standard is very high.
But on the other hand, it is something absolutely anyone can do. In human religions, the highest places
are not generally attainable by the common Joe. But the highest, most exalted place in the Kingdom of
God is attainable by absolutely anyone all that is required is that a person humble himself.
The first point of contact with God is based not on what you have spiritually, but on what
you dont have. The first requirement is not that you have something, but that you lack something. The
first thing God requires of us is our poverty.
As the surgeon searches out the sick, and the almsgiver looks for the poor, so God seeks the
spiritually bankrupt.
Isnt it wonderful that Jesus started with humility? What if the first blessing were for the pure in heart?
We would all just read that, and would have to throw up our arms in hopeless defeat. If the 6 th beatitude
had been the first, we would all get to Mt.5:3, and see that the bottom rung of the ladder is far beyond our
reach, and would have no hope.
If Jesus started out by saying, Blessed are those who are rich in righteousness we would read that and
say, That is very true but it would be of little comfort to us.
But the beginning point is not purity, it is humility, and that is possible for anyone. And it is
through humility that all the other virtues come. Humility is the soil out of which every
virtue grows.
So humility is not only the key to salvation, it is the key to success in the Christian life.
(Matthew 18:2) And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, (Matthew
18:3) And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye
shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.(Matthew 18:4) Whosoever therefore shall humble

himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
It is both the requirement for entrance and the key to greatness in the Kingdom.
2. Key to Greatness
The upside-down principle
One of Sc most fundamental doctrines

Ps.18:27 You save the humble but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
Pr.15:33 before honor comes humility.
Pr.18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility goes before honor.
Pr.29:23 A man's pride will bring him low, But a humble spirit will obtain honor.
Isa.2:11 The proud look of man will be abased, And the loftiness of man will be humbled,
Isa.2:17 And the pride of man will be humbled, And the loftiness of men will be abased,
Lk.14:11 "everyone who exalts himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted."
Mt.23:12 "And whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.
Ez.17:24 All the trees of the field will know that I the LORD bring down the tall tree and make the low tree
grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.
Lk.1:52 He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
We see it in this passage Jesus emptied Himself and God superexalted Him to the highest place.
(Luke 6:20) And

he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the
kingdom of God.(Luke 6:21) Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye
that weep now: for ye shall laugh.(Luke 6:22) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when
they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as
evil, for the Son of man's sake.(Luke 6:23) Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your
reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. (Luke 6:24) But
woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. (Luke 6:25) Woe unto you that
are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. (Luke 6:26)
Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
(James 4:6) But

he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth
grace unto the humble.
Sometimes people struggle and struggle and try everything to get rid of some problem in life, and nothing
seems to work, and the reason is that they are experiencing the opposing hand of God rather than the
grace of God, because they will not humble themselves.
(1 Peter 5:5) 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.(1 Peter 5:6) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt
you in due time:
God's mighty hand generally has to do with pressure, pain, suffering, discomfort. The eternally important
question of your life is if when you experience pain from His mighty hand, will you respond with pride or
humility before Him. Suffering is the surest way to gain humility.
That in due time is the rub. Thats what is hard for us. We always think we know the best time for God to
lift us up out of our lowly state. But He knows the best timing. And one thing that is promised and which
is therefore absolutely guaranteed: When the proper time comes He will lift you up!
Thats not going to happen a week after the proper time, or a year after the proper time, or a decade after
the proper time. Hes no going to lift you out of your lowly place 5 minutes after the proper time, or 5
seconds after the proper time, or one tenth of one second after the proper time.
take a look at Lk.14
2 parables
Lk.18 & Lk.14:1-11
(Luke 14:1) And it

came to pass, as he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread
on the sabbath day, that they watched him.

Luke 14:7-11
(Luke 14:7) And

he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose
out the chief rooms; saying unto them,(Luke 14:8) When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding,
sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;(Luke
14:9) And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin
with shame to take the lowest room.(Luke 14:10) But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the
lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher:
then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. (Luke 14:11) For
whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
This principle applies not just to seeking prominence, but to seeking anything that you want, that
primarily benefits you. It applies to efforts to make sure you get your share, to getting the best for

yourself, to getting people to think well of you, to getting first in line, to grabbing for yourself what you
want.
This applies to more than just banquets. Even the little things in life Somehow I developed a reputation
with my family as someone who exaggerates stories (they dont know me well). One Christmas I noticed
they all subtract about 30% from everything I say (18 of snow, 60 mph). So now Ive learned to try to
understate everything.
So now by the time I understate my story, and they subtract 30%, it is really not very impressive. I might
as well not even bother.
What happened with my exaggerating, I was trying to exalt myself, and I was humbled.
I have noticed that the most persuasive debaters are the ones who understate their case.
Derek called this the upside-down principle. Save life/lose it, etc.
But it is the world that is up-side-down. Think of a snow shaker that is upside-down. Everyone is
scrambling to get to the top, and they are really going downward. Soon the thing will be righted and they
will all be under the pile. But we have been told. We also have Jesus example. We know to go the other
way on the latter - yet we dont!
We want to be well-known, to be the center of atten. - the one people talk about. We want to pile up $, to
have a prestigious job and to have people under us. Pastors want to be called reverend.
How to get it?
If you are not ptwcoj then you fall short of the 1st requirement, and you must repent (Jesus message was,
Repent, for the Kingdom is at hand. This is a sermon about the Kingdom.
Look at God (Moses, Isa.)
Next week #3.
Humility is pretty valuable, isnt it? Next week we will get into the significance for our passage, but for
now, let me give you a parting thought.
Scripture is clear that trouble, suffering, trials and pain tend to humble us. In light of how absolutely
priceless this virtue of humility is, what does that say about the value of suffering?
3. Key To Success in Relationships
Prefer others
consider others better (NASB more important)
The term translated others is one another. It is referring to believers.
What a unique community the church is! Where no one is looked down on, and everyone is looked up to!
And instead of the needy being marginalized, their need becomes the very thing that lifts them to a point of
receiving higher consideration.
If you can just get yourself past the fear of being taken advantage of, and embrace this way of living
how much superior it is to the natural way of living. The world says, Look out for #1. So they do, and
the result is you have one person looking out for you.
To be a part of the church you have to give that up, and it is scary. Because if you dont trust God, you will
think, If I dont look out for my needs, they will go unmet.
But if you can just get past that fear, and trust God, and give up watching out for yourself first,
think of how much better off you are. Instead of having one person looking out for you, and having to fight
everyone else who are all looking out for themselves, you come here and you have 100 people looking out
for you.
The word consider means to calculate or reckon. This is not something that is going to come naturally to
you. It is something that will require you to discipline your mind to place yourself in a frame of mind to
treat others as though they were your superior.
more important
hupereko The same word is used in Php 3:8 I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing
greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
It has to do with the idea of importance or priority. There may be other important things, but the
importance of knowing Christ trumps anything else.
So it is not that you think of people as being intrinsically better than you (Jesus didnt do that. Besides, it
wouldnt even be true).
It is the attitude that your needs trump mine.
Your desires trump mine
Your interests trump mine
Your opinions more important than mine
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
No matter how humble you become, you will always look out for your own interests. And to some degree,

thats necessary. It is not wrong to brush your own teeth, or to put clothes on your body, or to get yourself
a drink of water.
To some degree you have to take care of yourself if you are going to be able to serve others. But our
temptation is to make taking care of ourselves the priority, and here we are called not to do that.
A great example of this is Timothy. Skip down to v.20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine
interest in your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
What a tragic statement. All the believers in Rome were so consumed with all the little details of their own
lives and their own concerns, they couldnt be bothered with advancing the Kingdom of God.
Notice how in vv.20 & 21 looking out for others needs is equated with looking out for Christs interests.
You can tell how close a person is with God by how well they get along with people. There is no such thing
as a person who has a healthy relationship with God but who cant get along with people.
This will involve limiting your freedom for others (Ro.14)
As a Christian, you are free to do a lot of things. But if you are humble, and give priority to the interests of
others, you will set aside some things that you are otherwise free to do, just for someone elses benefit.
- Dress to make others feel at ease
Women will dress modestly to make it easier for their brothers in Christ to keep a pure mind.
Some will set aside alcohol, because they know there are some people out there who may fall into sin.
This will effect your outlook on everything you have and everything you do.
purpose of car to give rides
- " " house to be hospitable
*watching TV and doorbell rings - whose going to get up & get it?
*both in bed and left the light on - who gets up?
*on the road - I'm in a hurry/you're in a hurry - who gets R of way?
*friend is moving & needs help during a Broncos game! What do you do?
This is the best marriage counseling you will ever get right out of Php.2. The struggles most
couples have, just like the struggles between other family members, and struggles between people in the
workplace all come from selfishness.
You get mad at your spouse because hes spending more money than you, or shes not giving you as much
as you are giving her, or hes not doing as much around the house or to help with the kids as you
The place to begin with all this is the home. Try being polite to your family(!) Treat you brothers and
sisters like you treat guests.
Not false H (a form of pride) boast: "I'm great"
Falsee Humility : "I'm no good"
Humility: "what about you?"
Jesus didn't put Himself down
note R-ship between Love & Humility
- love: treating others better than self humility: considering
If Love = the #1 command, Humility = the only way to obey that command
Love = action Humility = attitude
-Jesus did ultimate act of Love through ultimate act of Humility
JESUS' EXAMPLE
V.5 should be like Jesus who...
verse 6 being in very nature (form) of God
morphe here, v.7, Mk.16:12 Refers to outward apperance
Not only is that what the word means, but it fits the meaning of context, plus consistant with other terms
on text: "likeness" (v.7), "appearance" (v.8).
[In the Gk grammar these terms are explaining "form" in v.7].
Jesus was in heaven and looked like God (was worshiped), but didn't hold on to that, but gave it up emptying Himself (kenosis).
peeps say "form" = "nature" (to defend deity) then they have to say He emptied self of something else.
Most pop: Indepen. E of Div. A. (needed Father's help)
Where do they get that? (shake Bib)
Look at context: Jesus was in the form of God, but didn't hang on to that...
SO
Emptied self (of some mysterious, unknown thing)
and Boom! He's in the form of a servant.
You tell me - What did He shed?
Opposite of campaigning
WHY?
Because He considered our needs more important

Because of the fact that Jesus viewed our needs as more important than His glory, He gave up His glory
(didn't campaign) but showed up in the form, likeness appearance that brought Him no glory
HE GAVE UP THAT WHICH WAS RIGHTFULLY HIS FOR OUR BENEFIT

In light of that are we

*going to be willing to give up our campaigning for each others benefit?
*willing to be seen in situations that make us look bad if that's what it takes?
*Are we willing to stop worrying so much about what everyone thinks of us, and worry more
about how we can become servants?
You are never more like God than when you serve.
"OK, but how far are you going to carry this?"
NOTHING IS TOO EXTREME (even to death on the cross)

Humility Php.2:3c-4 pt.4

Review
In the past few weeks, Ive probably stepped on some peoples toes. In the next few weeks, theres a good
chance Ill step on most of the rest of the toes. We are going through a passage of Scripture that tends to
hit very, very close to home.
One of the most uncomfortable things for us is when someone comes along and starts exposing selfishness
and pride in our hearts. In some ways it is kind of like being diagnosed with cancer. At the time of
diagnosis you may not even feel sick, and yet it is deadly, and you know it is going to be an uphill battle to
have it excised from your heart.
Pride is hard to deal with, because it will drive you to respond the wrong way when you discover it in your
heart.
The more our pride and selfishness is exposed, we tend to fall into one of two errors:
1. We may become defensive, and try to justify it (which is just more pride)
2. We feel tremendous guilt, and then instead of that guilt driving us to repentance, Satan will try to use it
to get you to dwell on that and become self-focused about your guilt over being self-focused!
Our enemy knows that this issue of humility is the battleground where he(Satan) must win if he is
going to have any success in destroying your lives, and so this tends to be the hardest area for us.
And so I want to remind you of the motivation that began the chapter.
Php.2:1-2 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love,
if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my
joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
If God has ever shown you any love at all, and that love for you means anything to you, be
unified and humble.
Paul appeals to their relationship with God. Think of what Paul could have done instead:
* He could have cited the law
* He could have listed a bunch of ways selfishness would hurt the church body
* He could have set out a catalogue of rules on how to treat one another
But instead of any of that, he appeals to our relationship with Christ. That kind of a motivation of works
on spiritually mature people, because it wont have any effect unless your relationship with God is very
precious to you, and you take it seriously.
which is why I think it will be effective on this church.
Here is the point: When you sin against the unity of the church (or when you commit any sin for that
matter), dont think of it primarily as a sin against an institution, or a violation of a code, or a
transgression of a law
It is not primarily that you are violating a system of religion, or a canon of theology or a creedal structure.
It is not that you are going against the structure of the church.
When you sin against the unity of the church, see it for what it really is a very personal violation of a
relationship your relationship with God.
When you bring discord into the church, you violate not so much the Church, and not so much the doctrine
of unity, but your relationship with Christ.
Paul: Are you so unmoved by the constant flow of love and tenderness from God, that you would inject the
poison of disharmony and strife into the body of Christ?
If so, then know where your sin is placed.
It is not that you have upset a doctrinal idea or committed a social faux pas,
it is not first a sin against the church, it is not a sin against doctrine,
it is not a sin against moral law,
it is a sin against your relationship with Christ, and it is a violent display of ingratitude toward the One
who has poured out love and tenderness toward you from the first day you came to know Him, and it is a
disregard for the great desire of the heart of Christ for His Church.
David understood this. When he sinned with Bathsheeba, he understood that he sinned against her,
against Uriah, against the people of Israel, against his own family, against Gods Law, against societal
standards but the cry of his heart in repentance was, Against You, and You only have I sinnned
So Paul appeals to their relationship with God. This is very different from what you see in other letters
like Corinthians, where Paul talked about pulling out a whip. Sometimes you see this motivation in the
Bible, but not all that often. Much more often you see warnings of punishment.
The appeal to love is the highest motivation, but it doesnt work on most people, because most people wont
live at the highest level.
So we are given a strong, high motivation to be unified. The Philippian church was as godly a church as
your will find in the Bible, yet this was a real concern. No matter how unified a church is, no matter how
well the people get along, no matter how much the folks love each other, no matter how polite everyone is
at any moment strife can leak in.
It is conceivable that someday we could begin to slide from our high view of Scripture, and to begin to

depart from the fundamentals of the faith.

It is conceivable that someday Creekside Church would abandon our commitment to God-centered
worship, and move toward entertainment.
It is entirely possible that eventually, we could cool off and lose our first love, and drift into apathy.
It may happen that we would pray less and less.
But if any of those things ever happened, it would have to be a gradual change. I can promise you none of
those things will happen by next week or next month or even next year.
However, we could very easily go from almost perfect unity, to disharmony literally overnight. It is like
driving a car you may be miles from certain dangers, but no matter what highway you are on, or what
direction you are going, you are only one moment away from crashing into the ditch.
All it takes is for a little selfishness to leak into someones heart. You come to church, work hard, and
someone makes a comment that indicates that they are not grateful.
In fact, not only are they not thankful, they dont even seem to notice all your hard work.
And you notice that guy over there seems to do nothing but create more work for you. And come to think
of it no one appreciates what you are doing.
And what about that her why doesnt she ever help? Do I have to do everything?
And what is that look supposed to mean that woman just gave me? What signal was that terse little
greeting supposed to send? Whats her problem anyway? What does she want from me?
You cant say anything to her, because she hasnt really done anything concrete and she would deny it
anyway.
So now you are just cool toward her. She picks up on that, and now shes cool toward you. And when that
happens, you think, Now shes showing her true colors, and you are even more unhappy with her.
You begin to notice only negative things about her never good things, and somehow they seem to come
up in conversation with other people. Now your friends are a little cool toward her, and her friends are a
little hesitant around you lets get the whole church involved.
It can happen overnight. It just takes a little dose of selfishness.
And there is one guardrail that will keep us out of that ditch, and one only humility.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit
But in Humility
1. Key to Entrance into the Kingdom
2. Key to Greatness in the Kingdom
Mt.18:3-4 3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will
never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in
the kingdom of heaven.
3. Key To Success in all Relationships
You cannot have success in any relationships without humility. If you are selfish, rather than humble, you
will find friction in your marriage, at work, in the home, and at church.
Very often people have what seems to be a terrible crisis in some relationship, and they assume it must be
some deeply rooted, complicated, complex psychological issue from the past that might take months of
professional counseling to properly diagnosewhen in reality, it is nothing more than a problem with
selfish pride.
Right now we are all pretty nice to each other, because we tend to naturally be polite when a relationship
is new. The test will be once we become familiar with one another.
Prefer others
consider others better (NASB more important)
The term translated others is one another. It is referring to believers.
What a unique community the church is! Where no one is looked down on, and everyone is looked up to!
And instead of the needy being marginalized, their need becomes the very thing that lifts them to a point of
receiving higher consideration. Since we are all on the lookout to meet one anothers needs, those people
with great needs are lifted to the top.
If you can just get yourself past the fear of being taken advantage of, and embrace this way of living
how much superior it is to the natural way of living. The world says, Look out for #1. So they do, and
the result is you have one person looking out for you.
To be a part of the church you have to give that up, and it is scary. Because if you dont trust God, you will
think, If I dont look out for my needs, they will go unmet.
But if you can just get past that fear, and trust God, and give up watching out for yourself first, think of
how much better off you are. Instead of having one person looking out for you, and having to fight
everyone else who are all looking out for themselves, you come here and you have 100 people looking out
for you.
The word consider means to calculate or reckon. This is not something that is going to come naturally to
you. It is something that will require you to discipline your mind to place yourself in a frame of mind to
treat others as though they were your superiors.
more important

hupereko The same word is used in Php.3:8 I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing
greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
It has to do with the idea of importance or priority. There may be other important things, but the
importance of knowing Christ trumps anything else.
So it is not that you think of people as being intrinsically better than you (Jesus didnt do that. Besides, it
wouldnt even be true).
It is the attitude that your needs trump mine.
Your desires trump mine
I have legitimate interests, but yours are the priority for me.
Your opinions more important than mine
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
No matter how humble you become, you will always look out for your own interests. And to some degree,
thats necessary. It is not wrong to brush your own teeth, or to put clothes on your body, or to get yourself
a drink of water.
To some degree you have to take care of yourself if you are going to be able to serve others. But our
temptation is to make taking care of ourselves the priority, and here we are called not to do that.
A great example of this is Timothy. Skip down to v.20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine
interest in your welfare. 21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
What a tragic statement. All the believers in Rome were so consumed with all the little details of their own
lives and their own concerns, they couldnt be bothered with advancing the Kingdom of God.
Notice how in vv.20 & 21 looking out for others needs is equated with looking out for Christs interests.
You can tell how close a person is with God by how well they get along with people. There is no such thing
as a person who has a healthy relationship with God but who cant get along with people.
This will involve limiting your freedom for others (Ro.14)
take a look at Ro.14
What does it look like to put this into practice? There probably isnt a soul here who would disagree that
we ought to defer to others and be humble, but when the rubber meets the road with some practical
examples of what thats like, thats when we see if we are willing to do it or not.
As a Christian, you are free to do a lot of things. But if you are humble, and give priority to the interests of
others, that will involve setting aside some things that you are otherwise free to do, just for someone elses
benefit.
Ro.14:13-22
13 make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14 As one
who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards
something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15 If your brother is distressed because of what you
eat, you are no longer acting in love. (explain) Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom
Christ died. 16Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17For the kingdom of God
is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,
18because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.
19Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20Do not
destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat
anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do
anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
This doesnt mean you have to conform to every little weird hangup someone might have. It depends on
how much spiritual danger is at risk.
But why do I want to go on doing something that offends people needlessly? If I discover that people are
offended by the way I dress, why not dress differently? If people are offended by the way I talk, why not
talk differently?
Pride: But I have my rights!!! Really? You have certain rights? Is that a biblical idea? If we think we
have some right to be more concerned with our own comfort and preferences than we are with others, we
better think again.
Now, if someone is offended by something I do as part of my calling, there is nothing I can do about that.
And we dont want to let some legalist come along and force us into a big long list of spiritual rules that are
not biblical, just to satisfy his legalism.
Satisfying some legalistic standard is not a good enough reason to give up the things you want to do, but if
someone is genuinely offended by something, and you can give it up without compromising your calling
and ministry, why not give it up?
And if someones spiritual well-being is at stake, you must give it up. If I go on doing something that
jeopardizes your walk with the Lord, that is inexcusable. What kind of arrogance says, Im going to
continue on with my little pleasure even if I run the risk of ruining you spiritually?
When is that the case? Whenever some behavior, while the behavior itself may not be sin, that behavior is

connected with a sinful lifestyle.

In Pauls day, eating meat sacrificed to idols was an issue. The idolatry of the pagans involved all kinds of
immorality at their worship even orgies. And the whole thing was driven by drunkenness. They
believed that when they were drunk, they were lifted to some higher spiritual plane.
So one of those pagans becomes a Christian and turns his back on that whole, sinful life. Then after a
while he is in church and sees a mature Christian at the discount market buying meat that had been
sacrificed.
Thats not a sin for that guy. Hes a strong believer. He knows that idols are nothing, and meat offered to
nothing is just meat.
So that new weak believer sees that, and says, It is OK for a Christian to dabble a little bit. (because a
weak believer cant distinguish between a single activity and the whole sinful lifestyle it is all one
package for them) It is been several months. Maybe Ill just drop by the Temple of Aphrodite just to say
hi to a few of my old friends
The next thing you know that guy isnt in church any more, he drops out of fellowship with believers, hes
hanging around bad influences, and soon he is right back into the whole immoral morass that he turned
his back on before.
1Co 8:9-13 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block
to the weak. 10For if anyone with a weak conscience sees you who have this knowledge eating in an
idol's temple, won't he be emboldened to eat what has been sacrificed to idols? 11So this weak brother,
for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12When you sin against your brothers in this
way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, if what I eat causes my
brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.
Do we have anything like that today? Are there any things that may not be inherently sinful in themselves,
but that are connected with a sinful lifestyle that may be a great temptation to certain people?
* Drinking Are there people who were saved out of a sinful lifestyle that revolved around drinking? Yes.
* Smoking There are Christian high school students who are struggling with the temptation of becoming
involved with a bad crowd that would lead them down a destructive road, and in some cases the decision
to smoke is not a decision to put a chopped up weed in your mouth and burn it up while it sticks in your
mouth it is a decision to move closer to becoming involved with that group, and starting down that
wrong path.
Now if there is a Christian student struggling with that temptation, and he sees you smoking a cigarette,
his flesh is already working overtime trying to rationalize this sin, and seeing you may be just the thing
that will give them the rationalization they need.
* Frequenting certain bars or social places that are an enticement to people who were saved out of those
settings. But they have the greatest burgers in town. So you are willing to plunge a child of God into
temptation and possible shipwreck their faith so you can get a good burger?
If you dont agree with those examples, ask yourself how would you apply this principle? What would be
an example of a freedom that a Christian ought to be willing to give up for the sake of a weaker brother? If
you cant think of anything, perhaps you have interpreted this passage so narrowly that it doesnt mean
anything.
Objection: Isnt it better to just keep going with that behavior, so those weaker brothers will learn that
that behavior is not necessarily sinful? Im not doing this to be selfish, Im doing it to teach my fellow weak
brother not to be weak anymore.
What does the Bible say? It couldnt be more clear if there is an issue with a weaker brother, you give up
that behavior.
Ro.14:13-23
Insisting on your freedoms is a failure to love.
15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.
Insisting on your freedoms will blockade the weaker brothers progress
13 make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.
Insisting on your freedoms can cause your brother to stumble spiritually.
14 it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.
Insisting on your freedoms can cause your brother to fall spiritually.
21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
Insisting on your freedoms can destroy your brother.
15 Do not by your eating destroy your brother for whom Christ died.
20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.
The term destroy is a very, very strong term. By insisting on your freedoms, you can bring devastation
into another persons walk. Catastrophe. You can plunge them into a pattern of sin they may not be able
to recover from. Is that worth it?
It is not just an issue of teaching them that the behavior is OK, because for them it is not OK. It is sin.
14 no food is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. It is
ALWAYS a sin to violate your conscience.

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who
does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23 But the man who has doubts is condemned if he
eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
There are three stages to spiritual maturity in the area of freedom. At the first stage, you have very little
understanding of freedom. But as you grow and mature, you begin to appreciate more and more your
freedom in Christ.
It is just like a little kid growing up. When our kids were toddlers, we mostly just had external rules:
Dont hit. Dont bite. Dont grab things away. Say please and thank you.
But now that Nikki & Faith are older, we are moving beyond rules. Now it is not enough that they just say
thank you, I want them to learn to be thankful. It is not enough that they refrain from hitting and biting, I
want them to learn to love, and to show kindness. Im concerned about their tone of voice and attitude.
It is the same way with your walk with Christ. When you are first saved, especially if you come out of
certain backgrounds, you may be stuck for a while at the level of living by rules. You dont have the
maturity yet to be governed by principles, and so you just need to have strict rules I wont touch this, I
wont go near that, Ill stay at least a mile away from there
But as you grow spiritually, you begin to understand that Christianity is not a list of rules, and Jesus
taught us that the issue is not the external standards, it is what is on the inside. Thats why Jesus said that
the summary of the whole law is love. If you have genuine love for God and others on the inside, from
there you can do anything you want.
If you love your neighbor, you wont steal from him. But if you do not love him, you need the rule, Thou
shalt not steal.
So the more you learn to love God, the more you can come out from under the tyranny of rules. You move
from external controls to internal controls.
Sometimes we think those are the only two stages of growth, and when you reach the point of
understanding your freedoms, you are mature. Children think that way.
When you are a little kid, you have no freedom at all. You cant do anything unless someone lets you. You
cant go anywhere unless someone takes you. And you dream about the day when you will be an adult.
And for a little kid, being an adult means one thing: freedom to do what you want.
So as you grow, you gain more and more freedom, and you are under fewer and fewer rules, until the day
finally comes when you move out of the house, and you have total freedom from house rules.
And the child will think, I have reached full maturity. I can do what I want, go where I want to go. If I
feel like catching a movie, I can. If I dont want to come home until 2:00 am, I come home at 2. If I want
chocolate cake for supper, I can have cake for supper. If I want the whole cake, I can eat the whole cake
But is that the end stage of maturity? Is that the final point of being an adult? No, thats the beginning
point of starting to be an adult. Becoming an adult is the process of learning how and when not to exercise
your freedoms.
After a while your health begins to suffer, and you realize, Even though Im free to eat nothing but ice
cream and doughnuts, maybe I ought to have something with a vitamin or two once in a while. Maybe I
need to start getting to bed earlier.
There are other freedoms you set aside for your job.
You get married, have children and start to enjoy some of the eternally meaningful blessings of life, and
you limit your freedoms even more. You get off work, maybe you feel like going to a movie theater but
you have a family at home. You cant just go off by yourself every night and neglect them, so even though
you are an adult, and you have the freedom to drive somewhere and do whatever, you set that freedom
aside for the sake of your family.
So becoming an adult is the process not of gaining freedoms, but of learning how and when to set aside
those freedoms.
It is the same way spiritually.
Maybe there are some of you who are spiritual children. You are at the very beginning stage of having to
be governed by rules.
Maybe there are others who are spiritual adolescents. You are starting to learn more and more about
your freedom in Christ, and you are not subject to a lot of rules and taboos and traditions. You can
distinguish between the sin of the heart, and some action that in and of itself may not be inherently sinful.
Thats an important stage of growth. It is crucial. It is the beginning point of becoming mature. But it is
tragic if you never grow out of that stage. Some people have been spiritual adolescents for 20 years.
There is a third stage. It is when you gain the ultimate freedom the freedom to set aside your freedoms.
It is when you have the wisdom and humility required to subordinate your freedoms to others needs.
It is when you say, I have every right to do this, but I wont if it hurts you. Like Paul, who in 1 Co.10 said
he had the right to get married, but even set that aside for the sake of the ministry.
This is gift-giving season. You want to give a great gift a meaningful one? Spiritual maturity is when
you will take some precious freedom, put it in a box, wrap it with a bow, and give it to a weaker brother in
Christ.
Thats the hardest gift to give, because it requires pure love. You may give other gifts with mixed motives.

Half your motive is love, the other half wants to enjoy the response from the person.
But giving the gift of your freedoms is hard, because the person doesnt even know you have given it. (If he
knows, it would defeat the purpose if he knows you do that stuff at all, it can cause him to stumble)
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
So out of love for one another, we must watch out for one another spiritually. To be the agent of
temptation for another person is a very serious matter.
Mt.18:6-8 if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him
to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7"Woe to
the world because of the things that cause people to sin! But if I dont do it, someone else will Jesus
agrees - Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
This means women have the responsibility to dress modestly to make it easier for their brothers in Christ
to keep a pure mind. If a woman wants to dress to draw attention to her body to her inflate ego, (or
maybe she is just careless) and make it harder for her brothers in Christ to keep a pure mind, Jesus curse
applies to her. Woe to that woman.
Dont misunderstand. Christianity is not an issue of what you eat or drink or wear the issue is not
externals. God didnt give us a bunch of rules and say, Eat this, dont eat that, wear this, not that Jesus
railed against that kind of externalism it is worthless.
This issue is simply that we act in love toward one another.
Another example is physical expression in dating one of the most deceiving temptations of all. You love a
person, and you just want to express that love physically. God designed our bodies, when there is
romantic love, to want to express that love through physical affection and your body doesnt know that
you are not married.
The reason it is deceiving is it doesnt seem like you are harming the other person by showing that
affection, because that person enjoys it.
But if someone really loves you, would he be willing to do things that would drag you into the temptation
of having lustful thoughts? Would he do something to you that would generate urges that now you will
have to try to suppress, otherwise you will sin? Would someone who loves you be willing to make
righteousness and purity harder for you? No.
So if a persons spiritual well-being is at stake, it is essential that you do whatever you can to protect your
brother or sister. But even when there is not a great risk of a weaker brother lapsing into an old, sinful
lifestyle, we still want to have the general attitude of giving up that which is offensive to others.
Each one of you should look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
This will effect your outlook on everything you have and everything you do.
purpose of car to serve (Last Sun I hope I dont run out of gas Ill follow you to the gas station) Thats
the reflex of a humble, selfless person
- " " house to be hospitable
- of your money is to serve
This truth must find it is way into every moment of your life.
*watching TV and phone/doorbell rings - whose going to get up & get it?
*both in bed and left the light on - who gets up?
*on the road - I'm in a hurry/you're in a hurry - who gets R of way?
*friend is moving & needs help during a Broncos game! What do you do?
This is the best marriage counseling you will ever get right out of Php.2. The struggles most couples
have, just like the struggles between other family members, and struggles between people in the workplace
all come from selfishness.
You get mad at your spouse because hes spending more money than you, or shes not giving you as much
as you are giving her, or hes not doing as much around the house or to help with the kids as you
The place to begin with all this is the home. Try being polite to your family(!) Treat you brothers and
sisters like you treat guests.
So not only is humility the key to entrance to the Kingdom, and the key to greatness in the Kingdom, and
the key to all spiritual success in your walk with God, and the key to success in any ministrybut it is also
the key to success in relationships.
Take a second and think of that person you have trouble getting along with. Picture that person in your
mind.
This may be hard for some of you to believe, but there are some people who honestly couldnt think of
anyone. If you are a humble person, you can get along with almost anyone, and there is very little friction
in your relationships.
There may be some others who thought of almost everyone you know. You need to examine your heart.
Dear friends,
I was driving down Royal Gorge Blvd. and suddenly the voice on the radio went from being background
noise to being the focus of my attention. The 20 second story was about a family who had children that

needed to have their way paid through college and parents who deserved only the best retirement home. I
don't remember if the product being advertised was insurance or an investment, but one phrase stuck in
my memory: "Love is expensive."
I don't necessarily agree that loving a child means giving him a free ride though college, but no one can
argue with the phrase itself - love is indeed expensive. If all it cost were money it wouldn't be so expensive,
but anyone who has ever loved knows it can cost a lot more than dollars. For example, how much is the
love of a mother worth? The decision to love a child costs the mother hundreds of nights' sleep, every
manor of emotional distress, changes in the standard of living, enormous personal sacrifice, etc. I have
even heard that there is some discomfort associated with pregnancy and childbirth (!).
Motherly love is costly, but there is another love story that shows us the highest price anyone ever paid to
love someone. The lover started out rich - I mean real rich. He is reported to have owned a cattle ranch
that spread over 1000 hills. He was a king whose palace and throne were the most ornate of any in
history. He was clothed with robes that made Solomon look like a beggar. He lived in a city with no
suffering, no sin, perfect love. He enjoyed the blissful joy an unequaled intimacy with his father.
Everything was fine until he fell in love. He saw a race of people who hated him, had rebelled against him,
and who had made him their enemy. The moment he laid eyes on their determined wickedness and
arrogant sin he decided he loved them and wanted to do whatever it took to make them fit to live in
paradise with him forever.
He had to step off his throne, leave that beautiful city, give up the worship that was rightfully his, and
descend into their corrupt world. Having relinquished his great strength, he depended on his teenage
mom to wrap him in rags. Year after year he resisted the temptation to say, "Enough!" and re-enter his
glory in his father's wonderful city.
It began with a kiss, then fists, then a whip. Next came nails and the agonizing suffocation that comes
with crucifixion. He hung before a mocking crowd in humiliation as he watched them gamble for his
servant's robes. Then came the costliest, most painful thing of all - the only part of this nightmare that
made him cry out in pain. His father literally turned his back on him. The great king was cursed, and the
father's wrath over sin came crashing down on him like a broken dam.
"Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor so that through his poverty you might become
rich." (2 Co.8:9)
Yes, love is expensive.

The Form of God Php.2:5-6 pt.5

Review
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit But in Humility consider others more important
than yourselves Each one of you should look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of
others.
This applies in every area of life, but most importantly to spiritual areas. If you clean up someone elses
mess, so they dont have to, or if you give up some of your time to serve others, or if you take out the trash
when it is not your turnthose kinds of things are exactly what this passage is getting at.
But far more important than those are spiritual issues. I should be willing to go out of my way to do
something so that you wont be inconvenienced, but far more important I need to really go out of my
way to see to it that you dont encounter some spiritual struggle.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
6Who, being in very form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but
made himself nothing, taking the very form of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being
found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a
cross!
A Lofty Example
All the virtues we encounter in the Bible, once we study them and realize how invasive they are, begin to
seem unreasonable to us. And they are difficult. People ask all the time How do I do it?
The answer is to focus on the example of Christ. Only when we see what He did will His demands on us
seem more than reasonable.
Have you noticed how God gives such lofty motives for such small things? Thats because the more
ordinary the situation, the more supreme the motive that is required.
In 2 Co.8 Paul is trying to teach the Corinthians to be generous. 2 Co.8:9 For you know the grace of our
Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his
poverty might become rich.
He uses the incarnation of Almighty God as a motive to get us to be willing to give each other a little
money. Such a puny little matter of shuffling currency between ourselves motivated by the most
cosmically profound act of giving imaginable.
God created us to crave meaning in everything we do. And the meaning or importance of something
comes not from how small or big the act itself is, but rather from the grandness of the purpose.
The smallest act done for the greatest purpose is a great act.
You can pull off a monumentally huge project, and it can be meaningless (like if someone spent ten years
coming up with an incredibly complex machine that would manufacture 8 tract tapes with tremendous
efficiency).
On the other hand, you could do some easy, small thing like working out the one last little bug that
enabled them to invent the PC. Maybe it took you a half an hour, but the result changed the world.
Meaning comes from the significance of the project.
We all want meaning in our lives. We want what we do to be important. For the Christian, God gives us a
set of motives that make every thing you ever do in every moment of potentially eternal importance.
So God gives us high, lofty motivations for the seemingly mundane areas of life.
There is no higher goal in life in this life or the next than to be Christlike. And there is no point at which
you are more Christlike than when you humble yourself for others.
5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
lit: This attitude referring to vv.2-4 (phroneo) mind, disposition, orientation.
And now we approach one of the theological deep points of the Bible. This section is one of the most
profound and beloved passages in Holy Scripture. Christmas is a celebration of perhaps the most mindboggling truth that we as humans have ever been exposed to the incarnation. Jesus Christ leaving
heaven and becoming a man.
I always try to explore as deeply as I can into a passage, but this is one where you can only go so far. It is
like wading into deep water. At Lake Powel, there are places where just a few feet off shore it might be
over 100 deep. Thats what it is like wading into this passage. You can keep going down until the pressure
is too much to handle, and then you have to come up for air.
To try to grasp the significance of Almighty God becoming man is a task that far exceeds the capacity of
the human mind. (One commentary went over 100 pages just on this passage).
On top of that, the language and grammar is difficult. Every single word in v.6 is the subject of fierce
controversy.
Having said all that, it is crucial that we understand that the primary point of the passage is very simple

and crystal clear. And the message is not just theological. It is first and foremost ethical. For the last few
weeks we have heard that we are to be humble, and this passage simply gives us an illustration of humility
the ultimate illustration of humility.
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped
nature better form The word has to do with the way someone appears. The word is used here and
Mk.16:12 (added shows up in the 5th century After the resurrection, Jesus appeared in a different form
to two of them while they were walking in the country.
He was the same person, nothing had changed in His intrinsic nature, he wasnt a different kind of being
He just looked different.
The problem is, people have said that we cant talk about the appearance of God, since He is a spirit. So
people have tried to say it means nature. The problem is, it doesnt mean nature. There is a word for
nature Paul could have used fu,sij He uses that word a dozen times.
We have to assume that the Holy Spirit was able to pick the right word, and He picked one that has to do
with appearance. So what about the objection that we cant talk about the appearance of a spirit?
Without wading too deep into a lot of theological and philosophical argumentation, how about this: We
can talk about the appearance of God, because the Bible routinely speaks of His appearance.
But how can a spirit have an appearance? I dont know. Ask me in 100 years, and Ill tell you.
Does God have a limiting, finite, physical body like our bodies? No. But does that mean there is no sense
in which we can talk about the appearance of God of course not. Do you think you will get to heaven
someday and see an empty throne?
God is invisible to us now, but thats not to say He has now appearance. Kids question for God: Are you
really invisible, or is that just a trick?
To us God is invisible, because we are limited to only perceiving matter with our eyes. But do the angels in
heaven observe something when they look in Gods direction? Yes.
What do we know about that appearance? (glory)
when was it that Jesus was in the Form of God?
In v.7 we see that after being in the form of God, He emptied Himself and took on human likeness. So it
was prior to His becoming human that He was in the form of God. Jesus was the only human ever to preexist.
If Jesus did not pre-exist, in what sense was He rich? We see His poverty from His birth in a stable to his
burial in a borrowed tomb. It was before all that that He was rich.
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped
There is an article in front of the word equality that refers back to the being in the form of God. See
arguments in Fee for this, arguments in Wallace against it. So literally, the sentence reads this way:
Although He was in the form of God, He did not consider that equality with God something to be grasped.
What equality? That equality he just described being in the form of God.
Equality same word in Jn 5:17-18 Jesus said to them, My Father is always at his work to this very day,
and I, too, am working. 18For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he
breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
Jesus was equal in that He had the same power, same glory, same majesty, same authority, same wisdom,
same will, same beauty, same mercy, same love, same honor
But here not every aspect of His equality is in view just the equal form the riches He gave up (2
Co.8:9)
What Were Those Riches?
You could sum it up by calling it His eternal blessedness. 1Ti 6:15 God, the blessed and only Ruler The
word blessed means happy. It refers to His eternal, infinite, unlimited, perfect joy, contentment and
happiness.
In Mt.25:23 We are invited to spend eternity with an eternally happy God when God says, Come and share
your master's happiness!'
God is infinitely happy.
What was Jesus condition before the incarnation? Infinite happiness. Happiness and joy beyond
anything we could possibly dream of, and beyond anything I could even begin to express and describe to
you from this pulpit.
It is the kind of thing that we can only relate to in the most remote, partial, infinitesimal way. In
comparison with this, our greatest, most ecstatic, exuberant pleasures absolutely zero out when placed
next to this.
No one in this room has ever experienced anything like this. None of us has ever experienced unmixed
happiness. We exist in a condition right now that has so little capacity to experience true happiness, that
the wildest, most intense happiness we have ever experienced falls infinitely short of the blessedness of
God.
Our capacity for pleasure now is so small, so infinitesimal, that I can draw no comparison to illustrate the
scope of Gods joy.

Not only is He happy, but He has infinite capacity to enjoy that happiness. He is infinitely energetic with
absolutely unbounded and unending enthusiasm for the fulfillment of His delights.
What was He so happy about?
Eternity Past
God the Father. The members of the Trinity take infinite delight in one another.
Henry Scrougal: The worth and excellency of a soul is measured by the object of its love.
The worth and excellency of your soul is not measured by what it thinks the devil is a very capable
intellect. But he loves the wrong things.
The worth an excellency of your soul is not measured by what it wills either. You can be willing to do
something with lukewarm interest. You can grit your teeth and force yourself to do some good thing but
all the time you hate it.
The true picture of the soul is seen in what it delights in what it loves. The greater and more noble the
things are in which it delights, the more noble the soul is.
The more it loves that which is worthy, the higher its own worth.
Gods soul is perfect, and so His greatest delight is in the most perfect, wonderful thing in existence, and
that is His own glory.
When Jesus was up on the Mount of Transfiguration, and a tiny portion of His glory was revealed, it was
blinding and overwhelming to the three disciples who were there, but God the Father saw it and said, This
is My Son in whom I delight.
The Father saw the glory of the Son and said, Thats what I delight in.
And if He delights in that tiny, limited, finite display of glory, imagine His joy being exposed to the full
blast of glory in heaven.
The Son has that same delight in the glory of the Father. Jesus, for eternity past, has been absolutely
enthralled in the presence of the glory of the Father.
When you see God face to face someday, and are given a glorified body so you are not consumed, you will
be enabled to behold His glory, and you will be enthralled forever but in a finite way. For Him it was in
an infinite way. Heaven will be blessed beyond description for you, but nothing like what it is like for
God.
Jn.1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was pros God, and the Word was God.
John doesnt use the normal word for with, or alongside. This is a personal idea a relational description.
The Son was not only present with the Father for eternity past, but He was oriented toward Him. He was
beholding Him.
God the Father has always been the landscape of the excellencies of divine glory and the panorama of
Gods perfections, so that from all eternity God the Son has beheld, with indescribable satisfaction, the
magnificent terrain of his own radiance as seen in the Father.
You can see this in Jesus prayers. As He was nearing the end of His time on earth, you can just hear the
longing He had to return to that blessedness.
Jn.17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world
began.
Love
In addition to experiencing glory, there is also love.
The greatest joys of life involve love relationships. If you think back to the moment of your greatest
happiness, it was most likely had to do with your love toward someone.
Im not a very emotional person, and so as much joy as I have had in life, there are only three times I
remember that I ever had uncontrollable tears of joy the births of my kids.
That joy is intensified when the love is reciprocated. To love someone with all your heart, and then to have
them love you that way is an even greater joy.
And the more intimate the relationship and the more precious the object of your love, the greater the joy in
loving.
The intimacy between the members of the Trinity is a closeness of affection that is incomprehensible to us.
Mt.11:27 No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son
Jn.1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side (upon the
Fathers chest), has made him known.
Freedom
God the Son is never constrained or forced by any inner deficiency or unhappiness to ever do anything He
does not want to do. This is another thing that distinguishes us from God. We have an immense void
inside that craves satisfaction from something outside ourselves.
But God is not like that. He has been completely overflowing with satisfaction for all eternity. When

Eph.1:5 says that He acts according to the good pleasure of His own will, it means that nothing outside of
Gods own pleasure drives His choices or deeds.
The pleasure of God, the pleasure Christ had throughout eternity past, is unfathomable, because there is no
limit on His freedom to do that which brings Him pleasure. And there is no pleasing thing that He does not
do. Ps 135:6 The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all
their depths.
Ps 115:3 Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.
God cannot be forced to do anything He does not take pleasure in, and He cannot be hindered or held back
from doing what He delights most to do. He is never forced into a situation in which He has to do
something in which He cannot rejoice.
Isa.46:10 My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
Another chest of riches was the pleasure he derived from the Creation
Ps.104:31 talks about God rejoicing in all His works.
In Job 38:7, God says that when He laid the foundation of the earth, all the angels shouted for joy.
God is making another point in that passage, but it is like He cant resist mentioning the mood in heaven at
that moment. Not it is true that it says it was the angels who shouted for joy, but the word is actually not
angels but sons of God. The idea is that they are resembling God at that moment. The son gets his
disposition from his father.
Surly, at that great moment, we dont think that while countless millions of angels are shouting for joy,
God was slumping on His thrown stone-faced, mumbling, It is very good.
It is good, it is goodit is very good Those are expressions of Gods pleasure. Can you imagine the
look the Son and the Father gave each other when a million fully-formed galaxies exploded into being at
their command?
When my daughters or my son, or my wife, or someone I love does some great thing, accomplishes some
great achievement, it brings me tremendous pleasure. Imagine God the Father watching God the Son
speak into existence all this wonder.
The Universe is a masterpiece of wisdom and order far beyond what we can appreciate. If the only
purpose were to impress us, He went way overboard.
In 1989 two Harvard astronomers discovered The Great Wall. It is a wall of thousands of galaxies
stretching hundreds of millions of light years across the known universe. The wall is supposedly 500
million light years long, 200 million light years wide and 15 million light years thick. It was called the
largest single coherent structure seen so far in nature.
In 1990, God opened another little window for us, and astronomers discovered more than a dozen evenly
distributed clumps of galaxies stretching across vast expanses of the heavens, suggesting structure to the
universe that is so regular and immense that it defies current theories of cosmic origins.
This newly found pattern of galactic walls dwarfs the great wall (now written without caps). Now they
say the great wall is just the closest of these regions of galaxies.
I dont know what kind of arrangement the galaxies are in, and what is beyond that, but my guess is the
view from heaven is beyond comprehension.
We see tiny glimpses of all that and we are astonished at the incredible, incomparable, unimaginable
wisdom and power and greatness of God! But we dont see anywhere near all that He made.
There are ants that have some kind of homing device, so they can find their way back home, but if the
queen is killed they become agitated and die.
In a number of nectar-feeding birds, measurements have been made on the calories expended to defend a
territory containing the flowers. Results have shown that sunbirds and hummingbirds are territorial only
when the calories gained exceed the calories expended in defense.
After hatching, pink salmon journey from the rivers of Canada and Alaska into the Pacific and may spend
most of their lives along the coasts of North Korea, 3,500 mi. away. Upon reaching maturity, however,
they return to the exact stream of their birth.
Those are some things scientists discovered relatively recently. We hear about that and praise God and
say, What creativity, and wisdom and power You have! And God could respond, You like that huh? Ive
been enjoying that little piece of wisdom for thousands of years. Imagine all that is yet undiscovered.
Heb.2:10 refers to God, for whom and through whom everything exists
Col.1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, 16all things were created by him and for him.
Ro.11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things.
Isa.43:21 the people I formed for myself
Rev.4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all
things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
We get used to the things we see around us. When you are a child, and you discover things for the first
time, there is an element of wonder. You are impressed with the whiteness of the snow, or the roundness of
the moon, or the buzzing of a bee, or the invisibility of the wind.

But God doesnt get used to anything. He has the same ecstatic, exuberant joy over His creation now that
He had from the first moment.
He rejoices in His masterpiece that only He can appreciate. And He rejoices just as much in the stroke He
added today. (so if you think the events in your life are humdrum, think again)
The joy and delight God experiences in loving us.
He did not need us in any way, but delighted to create us and then love us.
C.S. Lewis: God, who needs nothing, loves into existence wholly superfluous creatures in order that He
may love and perfect them.
How much pleasure do you think you personally bring to God? Oh, Hes not happy with me. Hes mad
about all these sins I commit, and it is probably a drag for Him to have me in His kingdom...
Ps 147:11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.
OK, maybe He delights in me a little bit when I am especially faithful
A little bit? Zep.3:17 The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in
you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.
Lets walk through those three promises:
1. The LORD your God is with you
God wont forsake you. He is with you and will take care of you. You understand that, but
2. He will take great delight in you
God delights in loving you.
Jer 32:41 I will rejoice in doing them good
Isa.30:18 the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion.
He is sitting on the edge of His thrown looking for excuses to do good things for you. He cant wait. Just
like maybe you cant wait to give some gift for Christmas. He is anxious about it. It is not just that God is
beneficent, but there is an eagerness to His kindness an urgency. He doesnt want to wait, and He never
will unless there is an important reason.
Ps.23:6 Surly goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life. They will track you down. You
couldnt escape them if you wanted to.
When over and over in the OT we read that He is slow to anger and abounding in love, we understand that
His anger is sluggishly released. It is released only after removing a stiff trigger lock, but His love and
mercy is on a hair trigger almost anything will set it off.
But there is a third part to the promise.
3. he will rejoice over you with singing.
Can you imagine what it would be like to hear God singing? If just the spoken word from His mouth
caused all of creation to snap into existence, what is His singing like?
John Piper:
What do you hear when you imagine the voice of God singing?
I hear the booming of Niagara Falls mingled with the trickle of a mossy mountain stream. I hear the blast
of Mt. St. Helens mingled with a kittens purr. I hear the power of an East coast hurricane and the barely
audible puff of a night snow in the woods. And I hear the unimaginable roar of the sun, 865,000 mi. thick,
1,300,0000 times bigger than the earth and nothing but fire, 1 million degrees centigrade on the cooler
surface of the corona. But I hear this unimaginable roar mingled with the tender, warm crackling of logs
in the living room on a cozy winters night.
And when I hear this singing I stand dumbfoudned, staggered, speechless that he is singing over me- one
who has dishonored Him so many times and in so many ways.
Isa.62:5 as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you
In Jer.32:41 God says I will show you love with all my heart and all my soul.
And the ultimate expression of that love is seen in that God delights in giving you His kingdom.
Lk.12:32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom
Remember, God is acting here in complete freedom. He is not under constraint to do something He doesnt
really want to do. At this point, when He gives us His Kingdom, he is acting out His deepest delight.
Thats what the word pleased means. Gods joy, His desire, His want and wish and hope and pleasure and
gladness and delight is to give the kingdom to His little flock.
The Bible also talks about the great joy and rejoicing of God over His name, over election, over the
obedience of His children, over justice being carried out, over the Gospel and the revelation of the Gospel,
over the work of redemption, over the prayers of the saints, over little children
All that is a very brief summary of the blessedness of God. Thats what it is like being in the form of God.
So when 2 Co.8:9 tells us that Christ was rich, folks, I hope you understand Christ was rich.
Now back to Php.2
6 Christ, Who, being in very for God, (who had all the riches of deity) did not consider equality with God
something to be grasped
He didnt hold on to it. That was all His, and it all belonged to Him. He was infinitely worthy of it, and it
was good that He had it. He owned nothing to anyone everyone owed everything to Him.
You think you have rights? We can think of someone granting you rights in a relative way, but the only

absolute right that anyone has ever possessed was Gods right to His own glory. It was that blessedness
that Christ was willing to let go for us. He traded it all for the spittle of man on His face, and a crown of
thorns, and blows to the head, and mockery, rejection and death.
Thats our example. Do you have something that rightfully belongs to you? Be willing to let go of it. The
point of v.6 is His attitude. Next week we will look at the action He took, but it all starts with attitude a
willingness to loosen your grip on what is precious to you.
See what I mean about the lofty motivations God gives us for our little, tiny struggles?
For the last several minutes we have all been rocketed right into the heavenlies, and we have seen things
that are too big for our own souls. We have been up in heaven and seen the most dramatic sacrifice
imaginable, but it doesnt take long for us to come crashing back down to earth.
If you are like me, you sit in astonishment at the wonders of the blessedness Christ gave up as an example
for us.
But then just moments later
It is not my turn to take out the trash! Why do I always have to do everything
I had plans! This is my leisure time. Thats my privilege! Thats my freedom, I wont give it up! I have my
rights! I earned it! I deserve a good nights sleep! I have it coming! It is my turn! Treat me the way I
want! Ive worked for it! It is mine!
It is not your turn to take out the trash. That is a benefit that belongs to you. Are you going to hold on to
that? Are you going to seize it? Grip it?
Or are you going to look to the example of Christ and loosen your grip? It starts with the attitude. Loosen
your grip on the things you want.

He Emptied Himself Php.2:7 pt.6

Review
When you see God face to face someday, and are given a glorified body so you are not consumed, you will
be enabled to behold His glory, and you will be enthralled forever but in a finite way. For Him it was in
an infinite way. Heaven will be blessed beyond description for you, but nothing like what it is like for
God.
The pleasure of God, the pleasure Christ had throughout eternity past, is unfathomable, because there is no
limit on His freedom to do that which brings Him pleasure. And there is no pleasing thing that He does not
do. Ps 135:6 The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth
6Who, being in the very form of God (who had all the riches of deity), did not consider that equality with
God something to be grasped,
His attitude was such that He was willing to let go His grip on that which was rightfully His.
Thats our example. What are you rich in? Make someone else rich in that.
Now Paul begins to describe the Long, Hard Journey of Christ From
Heaven to the Manger
6 Who, being in the very form of God, did not consider that equality with God something to be grasped,
7 but made himself nothing, taking the very form of a servant,
made himself nothing evke,nwsen This passage is named for this word.
to nullify, to make powerless or insignificant or empty
Ro.4:13 For if those who live by law are heirs, faith has no value (is nullified) and the promise is
worthless,
1 Co.1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel-not with words of human wisdom,
lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
2 Co.9:2-3 But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not
prove hollow
It is a strong statement.
He was in the form of God,
and he nullified Himself.
He was in the form of God
and He made Himself nothing.
He was in the form of God
and He became a big zero.
In what way did He nullify Himself?
Did He empty Himself of His divine attributes, so that He wasnt God anymore?
Or did He put His divinity on hold for 33 years, so that His divine nature was dormant?
No. When Christ took on a human nature, His divine nature was unchanged.
All the many claims He made to deity He made during His time on earth. I and the Father are one.
He was referred to as God (with divine titles)
Jer.23:5-6 "The days are coming," declares Yahweh, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a
King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. 6 This is the name by which he will
be called: Yahweh Our Righteousness.
Son of God
The Jews understood the term Son of God to mean that Jesus had the same nature as God. In that
culture, a claim to be the Son of God was a claim to be divine.
Jn.19:7 The Jews insisted, ..according to the law he must die, because he claimed to be the Son of God."
I AM
Ex.3:13,14 "I AM" (ego eimi) = God's name
Jn.8:24 - if you do not believe that I AM (ego eimi), you will indeed die in your sins."
Jn.8:58 - Before Abraham was born, I AM (ego eimi)
Heb.1:6 when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says8 "Your throne, O God, will last for ever
and ever God the Father calls the baby Jesus God
Ro.9:5 from [Israel] is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.
Isa.9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he
will be called Mighty God
So we know he definitely did not set aside His deity while He was on earth.

OK, so He was still God. Maybe He just emptied Himself the independent use of His divine powers.
That doesnt stack up either. All those mighty works He did, He did in a much different way than the
miracle workers in the OT. All of them prayed to God and asked Him to do the miracle, and they all made
it crystal clear that it was God, and not them.
But you dont see Jesus praying, Father, please let this person be raised from the dead Jesus had all the
power of the Godhead available to Him at every moment, and could use it at will.
He had the attributes of God.
He could command the wind and the waves,
He walked on water
He could raise the dead,
He knew the future,
He lived a perfect, sinless life,
He created bread & fish & wine out of nothing,
More than once God the Father spoke audibly from heaven, so those standing there clearly heard it, and
God the Father said, This is My Son listen to Him.
He forgave sins
He was worshipped, and He accepted that worship even commanded it
He raised Himself from the dead
Every moment Jesus spent not exercising the prerogatives or power He possessed as deity was a conscious
effort not to.
No, Jesus did not empty Himself of His divinity nor His power, nor the independent use of His power.
In what way did Jesus make Himself empty? We dont have to figure it out v.7 tells us!
7 but made himself nothing, taking the very form of a servant (slave),
He emptied Himself in the sense that He went from being in the form of God (glory, blessedness) to being
in the form of a slave.
You see, the word kenosis does need an object. It is not that He emptied Himself of something. The word
means that He made Himself hollow. He nullified Himself, reduced Himself to next to nothing.
He gave Himself away. Thats what humility is. Humility is not thinking that you are lowly. Humility is
giving yourself away to meet a need.
Servant dou,lou (slave)
Problem: Jesus was not a slave; He was a free man.
Answer: Maybe it means He was Gods servant? I dont think so. There is nothing humiliating about that.
This is talking about Christs humiliation. To say He was the servant of God would be to insert an exalted
image in a passage describing the most profound humiliation.
Besides, It doesnt say Jesus became a slave, it says He took on the form of a slave.
One who is subservient, controlled by His owner. A slave is a person who has absolutely no rights of any
kind. He is not free. He doesnt even have the right to life. He doesnt have the right to life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness.
For the last million, billion years He had total freedom to do whatever He desired. He had the right to
anything and everything. And then He came to earth and demanded no right to anything.
Another thing about slaves is they dont own anything.
In heaven He was rich, and came to earth and gave it all up, and became poor so poor He had to borrow
everything. He had to borrow a place to be born, often had to borrow a house to sleep in other times just
slept outside.
He had to borrow a boat to preach from, or to get across the lake.
Even at His triumphal entry into Jerusalem as the Messiah He had to borrow an animal to ride.
The great act of putting an end to Passover, and transforming it to the Lords Supper He did in a borrowed
upper room.
And after He died they laid Him in a borrowed tomb.
He wasnt a slave, but He took the form of a slave.
Jesus lived life with the attitude that His role was to be the personal assistant to whoever He happened to
be around.
In Lk 22:27 Jesus said, who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one
who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.
This is a contrast with the form of God, which referred to Gods glory and blessedness.
Everything we talked about last week He stripped Himself of all that. He canceled all the privileges, and
waived all the freedoms and rights that we re rightfully His.
This one before Whom the heavenly beings and angels had to cover their faces in His presence to protect
themselves from His awesome glory descended into a realm in which he was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering.
The degree of difficulty of any suffering is related to what you are used to. If you have never had a garage
door opener, or a microwave, it is no big deal to live without one. But if you have always had one, going
without is suddenly a hardship.

If you have lived at the poverty level for the last ten years, then seeing something in a store and not being
able to afford it is no big deal to you. But if your whole life you have lived as a millionaire, and then you
are suddenly reduced to poverty, it would seem almost unbearable.
When Christ left the glories of heaven, in our wildest imagination we could never identify with the jolt that
must have rattled His very being when He went from that to being a limited, dependent, needy human
being.
At the moment He left the eternal blessedness of heaven and entered the sin-cursed world of humanity, Im
sure there are no words to describe the agonizing, jarring shock to His whole being.
We can imagine, to some degree, the shock of a sudden painful reality. We can imagine say waking up in
the morning sick with the flu, rolling out of the warmth and comfort of your bed right into a pool of ice
water. (Although there is a limit on what we can feel God made our bodies so we go into shock and are
protected from things that would be too much).
You could picture embracing your most precious loved ones, and then suddenly having them ripped from
your arms and killed in front of you, so you knew you would never enjoy them again in this life.
As human beings, we can fathom something like having everything that is precious to you suddenly torn
away, and having most of it replaced by all the things you despise.
In our worst night terrors we might be able to conceive of some of that kind of pain.
But none of us even in our most mind-bending, terrorizing nightmare, ever tasted even one grain of the
sand of the infinite desert of loss that God the Son suffered in leaving heaven and coming to earth.
Yeah, but it was only for 30 some years that Jesus had to endure it. Does that make it no loss? Tell that
to the mother whose baby gets sick and suddenly dies Dont sweat it. 30 some years and you will die
and this pain will be all over. That may be some comfort, but the pain of the loss is still just as sharp.
When we read about the sufferings of Christ in Scripture, we need to understand that that goes way
beyond just the cross. It was the entire incarnation.
You may be thinking, Being a human and living on earth isnt so bad I dont mind it.
My guess is the average fly doesnt mind being a fly. But if you had to go from being a human being with a
job & family & all your relationships & work, and become a fly and live the life of a fly, buzzing around
looking for some manure to land inall the time aware in your little fly-brain of what it was like to be a
human, you would probably be one sad little bug.
The decent from being a human to becoming a fly would be a finite decent which makes it nothing
compared to the infinite loss Christ suffered in coming into this world that infinite free fall from heaven
to the manger.
People: I dont want to go on the mission field there are bugs and snakes or I dont want my kids to
go into pastoral ministry no job security, little $, so much heartbreak
Im glad Jesus didnt think that way. I dont want to go down there
And even if you forget about everything Jesus gave up in heaven think about what His life was like.
The thing that gives you the strength to keep going in life is the hope that something good will come of your
life. We all have hopes and aspirations maybe you dream of something for your future or maybe you
dream of something for your kids future
What was Jesus life like? How would you like to live a whole life knowing that the only thing you have to
look forward to in life is to eventually, in the prime of your life, come to a violent, bloody end.
Worse than that to live your whole life with the gnawing pain in the pit of your stomach knowing that at
that time you will suffer the full fury of the wrath of God for every sin ever committed by all of humanity.
That you would endure a punishment equal to the suffering of all people in hell for all eternity
and that you would suffer that at the hands of God the Father, with whom you have enjoyed nothing but
unbroken perfect intimacy forever.
What was it like to live a whole life with nothing but that to look forward to, and in the mean time living in
poverty and being soundly rejected by the very people for whom you are doing all this.
I think it is interesting that this term, kenosis is used here. Who in the world could possibly know what
that was like for Christ? Who could ever put it into words? If you were in charge of writing Php.2, how
could you ever select a term to describe that?
Let me ask who authored this text? Where did these thoughts originate?
Every thought in the entire Bible originated and was communicated by God the Holy Spirit through men
who wrote.
You see, God the Holy Spirit was with Jesus in the incarnation. He knew what it was like for Jesus. He
was there both in heaven in eternity past, and on earth, in the heart of Jesus. Only God could possible
know what that was like.
And God the Holy Spirit, when He got to Php.2, and He begins to describe to mere human beings exactly
what it was that Jesus did in the incarnation, searched His infinite mind and came up with the best word
to describe it He made Himself empty. If there is one word that describes Jesus condition in His
humiliation compared with His condition in heaven, it was empty.
This is our example. This is how we attain unity and harmony in the church.
You say, Sure would be nice to have unity in the church. The price is high. It doesnt come cheap.

We will have unity when we have humility, and humility is painful, & costly, & difficult, and unfair.
If you are concerned about everything being fair, you can forget this. If you insist on getting your fair
share, being treated fair you can forget about ever having peace in the church or in your home or at
work or having success in any relationship.
When a proud, selfish, easily offended person comes into the church that person is like a bull in a china
shop, and will destroy any chance of peace and unity.
There must be a willingness to give up our rights.
When you have some privilege or right you refuse to give up for others benefit, you are saying that that
right belongs to you even more than being in the form of God belonged to Christ.
The incredible thing about all this was that it was voluntary.
Usually the only people who are in the form of a slave are people who have been enslaved by someone else.
Usually the only people who are stripped of all their rights and freedoms and privileges are people who
have been stripped of those things by someone else.
Jesus reduced Himself to that. None of this was forced upon Him. Though He wasnt a slave, He took on
the form of a slave. As a free man, both the Roman govt. and the Jewish govt. guaranteed Him certain
rights, but He refused to utilize those rights.
As Almighty God He inherently possessed every right, but He would not cling to that.
The fact that Jesus wasnt actually a slave is the whole point. To be in the form of a slave if you have been
enslaved by someone is one thing. But to live like that when you dont have to thats amazing.
For the slave of a household to dress like a lowly slave (with a towel wrapped around his waist), and to
wash the guests feet is nothing unusual. But to do that when you are not a slave is the greatest imaginable
humility.
Remember - every moment Jesus spent not exercising the prerogatives or power He possessed as deity
was a conscious effort not to.
That requires a lot more selflessness and humility than if He had just given up that power, because it was a
constant, 24-hour a day humbling of Himself.
Ladies can you imagine having the power to snap your fingers and have all your housework done and
never using it?
Can you imagine having the power to look down at your body and say, I would like to shed a few pounds
Pounds, begone! and never using it?
Can you imagine walking alone through a desert between here and Colorado Springs, and getting a
terrible blister on your right foot, and a sore knee, and tired and thirsty and having the power to blink
your eyes and suddenly be at your destinationand never once using it?
Can you imagine being in the desert 40 days without food and at the end having the power to turn rocks
into food (and never mind bread Jesus, in His omniscience, knew even then about what would someday
be known as the Cheescake factory. Can you imagine being able to turn stones into chocolate turtle
cheescake, and not using it every day?)
I can think of a lot of things at a number of restaurants that I wouldnt mind being able to create ex nihilio
but Jesus had the memory of what the food was like in heaven.
Remember that next time you think it is costing you too much to serve someone.
How did He do that? How does the exalted, Almighty Lord of glory we marveled at last week come to a
point of having no rights like a slave?
being made in human likeness.
being made
The aorist ptc with en has an ingressive idea (entering into a state of being human) and stands in stark
contrast to the static verbs of v.6. This phrase refers to being born in Ga.4:4 and Ro.1:3
Jesus existed throughout eternity past. He never began existing. He was eternal God, without beginning.
2000 years ago, however, He began existing as a human. He was not human before that, but He is now.
born in human likeness
This word emphasizes appearance even more than form. Form refers to the appearance that reflects the
true nature of something. This word just simply means outward appearance.
Ro.8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by
sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering.
The emphasis is on the appearance. Does that imply that Jesus was not truly human?
No. He was totally human.
Heb.4:15 He was tempted in every way, just as we are
He was flesh and bone,
He got thirsty and hungry,
He got tired and had to rest and sleep,
He had to learn just like we do He even had to learn obedience. When they cut Him He bled.
He wasnt just God in a bod (there is more to being human than just having a body). This was not
theatrical it wasnt a Halloween costume.
He became broken-hearted and wept. He had human emotions, human weaknesses, human strength,

human limitations, human cravings, human temptations

Heb.2:17 he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and
faithful high priest
What is the true meaning of Christmas? Giving? Thats close, but there is something much more essential.
Christmas is the celebration of the incarnation. The humiliation of God, which Php.2 offers as an example
for us.
The true meaning of Christmas is humility. Thats worth knowing, because you can give gifts without
humbling yourself, right. You can give gifts out of pride. You can even give them out of selfishness. You
can give them with resentment.
You can give without being humble. But you cannot be humble without giving.
Why did Jesus come into this world? Mt.20:28 the Son of Man did not come to be served, but
to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Want to have a blessed Christmas? We tell each other all the time, Have a merry Christmas! I do hope
your Christmas is merry, but frankly, if thats all it is , it is nt much of a Christmas.
With all we have learned this past month about the fact that the key to success in all relationships is
humility, and since usually the thing that determines how well your Christmas goes is how well everyone
gets along, I want to wish you a humble Christmas.

He became obedient to death Php.2:8 pt.7

6 Who, being in the very form of God, did not consider that equality with God something to be
grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very form of a servant, being made in human
likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even
death on a cross!
He was by nature human, but thats not the point here. The reason appearance is emphasized is looking
like God in heaven gets you glory. Looking like a salve on earth gets you spit upon, beaten, mistreated,
marginalized and ultimately killed.
The emphasis is on the appearance to us, from our perspective. There is a reason for that.
It is one thing to condescend, it is another thing to do it without anyone knowing. Jesus became so human
that to everyone who saw Him, He appeared to be only human.
Sometimes we are willing to humble ourselves, but even then we usually want the person to know exactly
how much we are sacrificing.
Uh, that was minebut, I guess you can have it.
Some secretary tells you to get a mop and clean up a mess Did you know Im the chairman of the Board
of this corporation? But thats OK, Ill clean it up.
Jesus could have been born with a halo. He could have walked around with an entourage of glorious
angels. But He lowered Himself so low, He was absolutely indistinguishable from all the other humans.
Almost all His life everyone just thought He was just another nobody.
In fact, He appeared so human, so ordinary, that they couldnt accept His teaching. When He taught, they
had the feeling they were listening to the mind of God Himself, but then they would shake that feeling off
when they took a good look at Him.
Mt.13:54-57 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they
were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked.
55"Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph,
Simon and Judas? 56Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"
57And they took offense at him.
And so He revealed to them who He really was He performed astonishing miracles and let loose His
divine power and they said, This man has a demon.
So God became a man. He took on human flesh, and that incarnation is what we celebrate at Christmas
time. The symbol we tend to use to show Christ in His humiliation is that nativity scene. He began in the
highest heaven, and came all the way down. And how could He go any lower than that a helpless infant
laying in a feed trough, 100% dependent upon a couple teenagers for His survival.
But that wasnt the lowest point. He hadnt finished His descent yet.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient
Obedience is a word that offends most people when applied to them. How many consider yourself to be
obedient? If the people at work, when you arent around, say, Boy is he smart. you would like that. Or
if they said, Is she ever a hard worker you would be pleased. But what if you overheard your co-workers
saying, One thing about him, he is obedient.
Most people wouldnt be so thrilled about that. More likely they would be embarrassed.
To be a slave is a humble place. But to be an obedient slave is even more of a humiliation.
to death
You would have thought that at some point short of this He would have said, Stop. Thats enough.
Inevitably, when you are dealing with someone who has been offended, and is mad at someone else, no
matter how much you show them the principle of vv.3,4, it has no effect, because they will always say, I
understand that but this is an exceptional case. For me to humble myself in this casethat would just be
taking it too far.
How far do we take this? Humility will go as far as the need requires. What drove Jesus to this? Our
great need.
How far are we to take this? Literally to the death. Ask yourself this question, Will it kill me to humble
myself in this situation? Will it literally result in my physical death? If so, perhaps you should still do it.
Just because it would cost you your life doesnt necessarily mean anything.
This is where you separate the involved from the committed. It is one thing to be involved, it is another to
be committed.
The Kamikaze pilot who flew 50 missions was involved but not committed.
What is your most prized possession? Is there a limit to what you would give up?
It is interesting that for Jesus that was an act of obedience. For the rest of us death is inevitable. You will
die whether you are willing to or not.
Only for a divine being could death be a matter of obedience. It was obedience to the Father. Everything
about Jesus death was voluntary. Jn 10:17-18 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my lifeonly to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to

lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
-even death on a cross!
Not just any death. The most painful and humiliating kind of death they used.
When Paul was writing this, he knew very well that there as a chance he himself would
someday be executed by Rome, but he had no fear that it would be a death by crucifixion (he
was a Roman citizen). So you can imagine the feeling Paul had as He wrote about his Lord
becoming obedient to the point of deatheven death on a cross.
This mode of execution was so horrible that the very word cross was considered an obscenity and was
not to be uttered in polite Roman company (Obrian p.231).
Crucifixion was a form of execution that was considered by the Romans to be too degrading for a human
being, and so it was reserved mostly for slaves for people they did not consider to be human beings.
Jesus came so low that not only did He appear as a human, but they regarded Him as less than human.
The shame was a horrible part. The utter humiliation of hanging naked in front of a
merciles, jeering crowd. The staggaring inconguity of the King of kings being subjected tot
thtat. Heb.12:2 says Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, but it also says He
despised the shame that went along with it.
But the worst part about the cross wasnt the physical pain or the shame. It was the curse of God. Jesus
Christ led a spotless, sinless life. He abhorred sin with all His being, utterly hated it, and never committed
a single sin in thought or deed or motive.
But on the cross He took upon Himself all the guilt of all sin, and bore the full wrath of God the
equivalent of the punishment of all human beings in hell for all eternity. I believe that happened at the
moment when He cried out about God forsaking Him.
As He hung on the cross, from below Him came the mocking rejection, of the merciless, vicious crowd.
From all around Him no doubt Satan and all his host tormented Him to the most extreme degree
imaginable using every conceivable resource of evil at their disposal.
And worse than all that from above Him came raining down the infinite, unrestrained fury of the wrath of
God held back for all the ages.
And from within came the bitter cry, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?
How great our guilt must have been to require this!
Remember the point of this passage. If He could do all that for you, can you just overlook that offense?
Can you just give up some of your puny little privileges? Can you put out of your mind that little insulting
comment? Can you humble yourself?
Something this passage doesnt explicitly mention is why Jesus had to die although it is implied. Jesus
death on the cross was an act of obedience. By dying on the cross, Jesus was obeying God.
Why would God require this of a spotless, sinless person?
2Co 5:20-21 We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21God made him who had no
sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Ro 5:6-9 at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very
rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to
die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
It goes on to say that it is possible, now, to be justified before God by Christs blood.
Every one in this room has fallen far short of Gods law. Every one of us is guilty, we have sinned
knowingly, repeatedly, extensively against the most holy, pure being in existence. We are guilty of cosmic
treason, and our doom was sealed.
Our doom was so sure, and our predicament so dire, that our only hope was for God Himself to invade our
world, become one of us, and bear the punishment we have coming on Himself.
Jesus said that if a person believes this, and if you are willing to entrust your life to Him, you can be
forgiven for everything!
He asks a lot. Entrusting your life to Him means trusting Him alone for eternal life not in your own
efforts. It means giving your life to Him. Living your life for Him instead of for yourself.
Jn.1:4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in the darkness, but the
darkness has not understood it.
6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify
concerning that light, so that through him all men might believe. 8He himself was not the light; he
came only as a witness to the light. 9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the
world.
10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize
him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12Yet to all who received
him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of GodLove so amazing, so divine, demands my life, my soul, my all
Jesus is the light of the world. He brought light into this world. Because of our sin, our hearts are dark,
and can only be lit by the light of Christ. Those who are here who have given their lives completely to

Christ every one of them will tell you that there is no more wonderful, important thing in their lives
than having the light of Christ in their hearts to be out of the darkness spiritually, and to be clean and
forgiven.
As we light these candles, give some thought to that.

The Name Php.2:9-11 pt.8

Over the past month we have traced the downward decent of Christ.
He set aside His own glory for us. Like a 5 star general who outranks everyone, but comes to an military event
in the uniform of a person who just enlisted the other day, because thats required for him to meet some need of
his men.
Over the course of time he has to endure all kinds of hazing and mistreatment. In fact they single him out
particularly as one to pick on. They strip him of every dignity, and out of sheer hatred and contempt for his
lowliness, they despise him and take away from him every last remnant of honor.
And thats where we left off last week. But thats not the end of the story.
Php.2:9-11 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place by giving Him the name that is above every
name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the
earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore God
At this point there is a major shift in the subject. Until now Jesus did everything. Now Jesus does nothing He
is acted upon by God the Father. When Jesus reaches rock bottom, He is done doing everything He is going to
do in this process. Now it is the Fathers turn to act.
exalted Him to the highest place Thats all one word
huperupso huper hyper upso lifted uphyper-lifted, superexalted
What do you think of when you think of Jesus Christ? A baby in a manger? A brutalized corpse hanging on a
cross? A great miracle-working Rabbi who taught profound insights? None of those are the clear picture of
Christ.
If your concept of Jesus is anything less than Almighty God superexalted to the highest place, it is inadequate.
How did God exalt Him?
by giving Him the name
Commentators argue is this talking about the name Jesus or the name Lord?
at the name of Jesus
Jesus Christ is Lord
Both miss the point.
If the point were that Jesus received the title that is above all titles, that would be YHWH. So why is Jesus
never called YHWH? Actually, He is (YHWH our Righteousness, I AM, The Lord).
But the point isnt in the title. The point of the name is to reveal who someone is. The idea is not just that He
was referred to by certain labels, but that it was revealed who He was. Gods name is the true concept of
exactly who He is.
60X Praise the name doesnt mean praise the syllables.
Your name is not just an arrangement of sounds. Your name is the revelation to others of who you are.
When Jesus humbled Himself, he gave up His glory. (little if any difference between name and
glory) He gave up that which is the expression of who He is. Gods name is the side of God that faces toward
man.
So Jesus, when He came to this earth, gave up His name. He was content to come to earth in such a humble
form that men looked at Him and thought His true identity was nothing more than a man the lowliest of
men.
Was that His true identity? Was that His name? Was that a full, accurate picture of who He is? No. When
Jesus came to earth He gave up His name. He set aside His glory. He did not display the full expression of His
identity like the General in the new recruit is uniform.
But that illustration must be carried a little further with vv.9-11.
They strip the general of every dignity, they hate him because of his lowliness, they rip away from him every
last remnant of honor.
Then, suddenly, at the height of all the hazing and mistreatment, another General walks in in full, formal
military dress. Everyone instantly snaps to attention.
This general goes over to his disguised colleague, lifts him up off the floor, and drapes over his shoulders his
normal generals uniform, loaded down with every possible medal and honor.
Now everyone is standing at attention and saluting this man they were just kicking around.
The second general came in and exalted him by simply revealing to everyone who this man was.
Thats what God the Father has done with Jesus Christ. He has re-fitted Him with His original glory. Now
anyone who sees Him as He is now instantly knows that He is almighty God.
The first word in v.9 is therefore. The idea is that this is the logical result that follows from what has
happened. Exaltation follows self-humbling like day follows night.
This is the way the right side up principle works. First you act, then God. If you work your way to the top,
God will bring you down. If you lower yourself down, God will lift you up.
You can pretty much just let your Bible flop open to almost any page and see this principle. (Adam and Eve,

Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzer)
The higher you lift yourself, the lower He will bring you. The lower you stoop, the higher God will lift you up.
Jesus poured out everything, and so God super-exalted Him to the highest place.
Nobody in heaven will ever wonder if maybe God the Son is a little lower than God the Father. No one will
think, Boy, Jesus is great, but I think the Father is a little greater.
They wont think that, because God the Father has made Jesus identity (name) so crystal clear. God has made
the Sons name, the revelation of who He really is, so obvious and apparent in heaven that no mistake can be
made.
God did this by turning over to Jesus all the things associated with greatness. He gave Jesus the highest titles,
the most prominent roles, and the supreme authority.
God lifted His bruised, beaten body right up out of the grave, and dressed Him in rightful uniform.
That exposure of who He really is that revelation of Jesus real identity - that is what is referred to by the
name that is above every name
So the name does include titles - titles that belong to Almighty God, and Almighty God alone.
Jer.23 and 33 Yahweh our righteousness
In Rev.17:14 He is called not the senior vice king, but the King of kings and Lord of lords.
ALL AUTHORITY
In Mt.28:18 it says not that most authority has been given to Him, but All authority.
Col.2:9,10 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and you have been given fullness
in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.
- THE ONLY SAVIOR
Ac 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which
we must be saved."
Jn.14:6 No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Otherwise Jesus wasted His time
- ALL THE GLORY OF THE GODHEAD
Mt.16:27 doesnt say that Jesus will return someday with some secondary, substandard glory that almost
measures up to the Fathers glory
27 For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels
2Th.2:8 says that Jesus will come with such splendor and such awesome power that He will overthrow the
antichrist with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming.
His appearance in Rev.1 is identical to the description of the Ancient of Days in Dan.7.
- CENTRAL FIGURE IN HEAVEN (almost all NT refs)
Every title, every role of prominence it is all the role of the Son, so that there can be no mistake as to His
greatness so no one will ever make the mistake of thinking that He is in any sense inferior to the Father.
All that is included in the Name, but the emphasis of this passage is on something else.
What do you think of as being a job that belongs to God and God alone? How about Judgment Day?
Rev.20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Who is that? Whoever it is
He is an Awesome sight - Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. (then the
judgment)
Surly thats God the Father, right?
Jn.5:22-23 the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, Why did He do that? 23
that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor
the Father, who sent him.
There is no end to the people who want to honor the Father but not the Son (I worship God, but Jesus was just
a man) So God the Father went out of His way to exalt the Son so high that the foolishness of that is patently
obvious.
And one of the ways He did that was by having Him be the one who is seated at the Great White throne as the
ultimate Judge.
And that is the point Paul makes here. The quote every knee will bow comes from Isa.45:23, and is in the
context of God defeating His enemies and then judging them.
Isa.45:23-25 Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. 24They will say of me, `In
the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.'" All who have raged against him will come to him and be
put to shame. 25But in the LORD all the descendants of Israel will be found righteous and will exult.
And the act of bowing is more than just admitting defeat it is worship.
It is not just a sign of respect. If Shakespeare appeared in the company of the writers, they would all rise, but
if Jesus appeared they would all kneel. (Charles Lamb)
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
This is the ultimate revelation of His name (identity) He is the object of worship.
Above all the titles, all the privileges, all the various roles within the Trinity, there is one thing that stands out
as the thing that is most reserved for God and God alone. There is one thing that could never be delegated to
any human or any angel or any other being other than Almighty God Himself worship.
Rev.19:10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant

with you and with your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!
Rev.22:8-9 I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen
them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. 9 But he said to
me, "Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who
keep the words of this book. Worship God!"
Mt.4:10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: `Worship the Lord your God, and
serve him only.'"
Isa..48:11 I will not yield my glory to another.
Take a look at Rev.4
Someday, every being in existence will worship Him.
heaven (spiritual beings) earth (living men) under the earth (6 ft)
Almost every commentary I read said this will be a forced kneeling. but
See if you think this sounds like mere aquiensence, or a heartfelt expression of worship:
Rev.4:13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all
that is in them, singing:
"To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor
and glory and power, for ever and ever!"
That sounds like real worship. If they were just being forced to their knees, you wouldnt expect the
singing.
This includes every atheist, every criminal, every agnostic, every person who has mocked God, every false
teacher, every demon even the Devil himself.
It is not happening now, so what will cause this?
v.10 says this will happen at the name of Jesus. It wont happen until the full revelation of who Jesus is.
I think there will come a point when everyone is exposed to the greatness and the glory of Christ, they will
be so overcome, and overwhelmed that they will genuinely say this. It may not necessarily be out of love,
but it will be genuine (otherwise, what would be the point?).
When will this happen?
On judgment day Ro.14:10-12 we will all stand before God's judgment seat. 11 It is written: "`As surely as
I live,' says the Lord, `every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" 12 So then, each
of us will give an account of himself to God.
What evokes this worship? When Jesus greatness is revealed and it becomes evident that no one but him, in
the entire universe, is worthy to open the seals His authority, which is part of His name, is revealed.
This will be the awesome, moving, sobering, fearful and staggering moment of everyones existence
including the Devil himself. At that moment you will come face-to-face with almighty God, the Creator, Jesus
Christ, The LORD YHWY.
All His attention will be focused on you. As you kneel before Him His eyes will penetrate you and lay you open.
The books will open. Your only thoughts will be that this is the LORD! In Him alone are righteousness and
strength, To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion
forever and ever."
It includes all of humanity, every angel, every other heavenly creatureSatan, the demons, powers,
dominions
Absolutely every created being will join in this song.
That implies that the Glory of Jesus Christ at this moment is not fully revealed even to the devil and
demons. But some day it will be.
The same goes for people. There are many today who think the name Jesus Christ is nothing more than a
clever way to curse. But the day is coming when the very utterance of that name will be a signal for knees
to start bowing and tongues to start shouting not because of the way it sounds, but because of the full
disclosure of what He is like.
Some people have thought that hell is the place you can go if you dont want to worship God. But how do
you know that the people in hell wont be worshipping God for all eternity? They will do it on Judgment
Day. Is there anything in this passage that restricts this to a one time act?
Why would we assume that this will occur for a moment of time and then stop? Do you ever read of
anyone cursing God after the final judgment? Whose to say that every created being wont be praising
Jesus Christ throughout all of eternity even the ones in hell?
We cant know for sure, but keep in mind, this scene in Rev.5 is presented as a climax, not just a high point.
Remember there is one, massive crescendo that spans ch.4-5. The worship begins with the 4 living
creatures, and all the way along it just keeps building, and at the end we see this climax, so all of
redemptive history is seen as leading up to this.
Ever pick up a book and read the last paragraph? Next time you are confused about why God is doing

what He is doing, just read this. God is going somewhere with this creation and it all ends up with this
great scene
It seems to me likely that this is the final condition of everything that exists.
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
every tongue Think Mile High is loud? Everywhere you look!
Jesus Christ is Lord lit The Lord is Jesus Christ
points of significance
1. The word, Lord is the NT term for YHWH (Gods personal name).
The term Lord, in a context such as this, was very much associated with deity. It was the term for the Roman
Emperor that designated him as a god, it was the common term to refer to the pagan gods, and it was the term
the Jews used to translate YHWH.
The Jews often referred to the term YHWH as the name. (A.T. Robertson p.138)
Isa.42:8 "I am the LORD (kurios); that is my name! (that means mine, and no one elses Obrian 238)
Take a look at Isa.45
YAHWEH
The originals didnt have vowels, so Gods name came out YHWH. The Jews considered that word too holy to
speak, so whenever they saw it, they said, Adonai (Lord). To remind themselves not to forget, they penciled in
the vowels for Adonai in between the letters YHWH. So it came out YeHoWaH (Adonai is spelled with an e in
that construction).
The German theologians, who translated this in recent times, put a J in place of the Y, and a V in place of the
W, so it came out JeHoVaH.
It turns out the proper vowels are most likely a and e, so we say YaHWeH.
(every time you see all caps in your Bible = Yahweh)
Some of the most unarguable statements of the deity of Christ in the Bible are passages that are clearly
referring to Yahweh God, and they are applied to Jesus. Isa.45 is an example of that.
In fact, this passage is not only referring to God, but the whole point of it is to emphasize God as the One who
has sole authority.
Isa.45:23-25 By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be
revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear. 24They will say of me, `In the
LORD alone are righteousness and strength.'"
Someday every knee will bow to YHWH.
So the name is the name Yahweh. The name of God. His deity will be fully exposed.
But there is also significance beyond that. Saying that Jesus is Lord is more than just acknowledging His
deity.
2. Lord means owner
He who gave up everything now possesses everything. So when every tongue confesses to Him You are Lord,
they are saying, You own me.
And not only does everything belong to Him, but everything exists for His benefit. (Col.1)
3. Lord = master
The opposite of a doulos is a kurios The slave owner was called a Lord (kurios)
Jesus made himself a doulos, and then God the Father made Him the kurios
Bowing the knee and saying Jesus Christ is Lord is an act of submission to His authority.
Some say you can accept Him as Savior and reject Him as Lord. THAT KIND OF LANGUAGE IS ABSERD!!!
He is the Lord! We dont make Him Lord. You cant accept part of Him and reject the rest.
What if someone said, I accepted God the Father as Provider when I was 9, but when I turned 21 I made him
Creator?
Now it is true that 1Pe 3:15 tells us in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. So there is a sense in which we
need to make sure we recognize the lordship of Christ over our own lives on a daily basis. So thats what
people mean by make Jesus Lord of your life, thats a biblical idea.
But more often your hear people talk as if somehow the Christian has the option of submitting to Christ or not.
Some people seem to think that unless they agree to it, Jesus is not Lord over them, and they are not obligated
to submit to Him.
The lordship of Christ is a point of great controversy.
It is interesting to me that there is no controversy among evangelicals that He is Savior, even though that
is only stated on very few occasions in comparison with the hundreds and hundreds of times He is called
Lord.
Jesus is called Lord over 600X in the NT, Savior only 17
So if we can understand that He is Savior with only 17 references, why do we struggle with His lordship
even after He hammers the point home with hundreds of references?
People love to take from God, but the moment it costs them something they want to resist that.
Salvation is free if you come to God, but coming to God means bowing the knee.

People who prayed a prayer at one point in their lives, and then committed their lives to His Lordship later
on, often wonder when it was that they were saved.
It is very simple: you were saved when you bowed your knee to His lordship. Ro.10:9 If you confess with
your mouth Jesus is Lord you will be saved how clear is that?
Jesus is Lord. There are only two options: submit to Him or resist Him.
The fact that Jesus is Lord is the most established, undeniable, unchangeable, solidified, permanent,
unfailing, entrenched, fixed, unalterable fact in the universe. It is the most certain of all certainties.
It is more certain than the law of gravity.
It is more universal than the laws of motion.
It is more sure than the rising of the sun tomorrow.
Your decisions have absolutely nothing to do with His authority. Jesus is Lord. You can submit to Him and be
saved, or you can resist Him and be destroyed.
You can bow to His Lordship and be adopted as a son/daughter, or you can live a life pretending that He is not
Lord, and suffer His eternal wrath.
Every knee will bow. You can bow before Him as a loyal subject, or you can bow before Him someday as a
defeated foe, but the bowing is not optional for anyone.
You dont walk into a lions den and then decide whether he is the king of the jungle for you, so you dont
come into this world and decide whether Jesus is Lord.
We are saved by grace alone through faith alone. But if you have been taught that salvation by grace
somehow means obedience is optional, you better re-read 2 Th.1:8 He will punish those who do not obey
the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
Dont ever fall for the con of a lordless salvation. You cannot refuse Him as Lord and then use Him as
Savior.
So does this mean Jesus is greater than the Father? Has the Father stepped aside? No, all this is to the glory
of God the Father
Sometimes people want to glorify God the Father but not Jesus. Impossible. The only way to glorify God the
Father is by glorifying Jesus. The only way to worship the Father is through Jesus.
Why will people be condemned who genuinely worship God, but not Jesus? There is no such person.
Now, lets see if we can get our arms all the way around this whole section. The ch. began by telling us to
be unified, which comes only when we humble ourselves toward one another. Loosen your grip on your
rights, possessions, and privileges.
Jesus is our example. He gave up everything to meet our need.
So how do vv.9-11 fit in? Therefore The exaltation automatically follows the humbling.
The Therefore implies that the same will happen for us (the rightside up principle). If you humble
yourself, God will exalt you!
You say, I cant relate to that. I cant relate to being glorified. (fill in name sheets) None of us can it is a
matter of faith.
But you can relate to being lifted out of a humbled condition at some level.
You can imaging being willing to suffer, and then having God lift you out of that.
You can relate to being humiliated, but then having God reveal to everyone that you were in the right.
You can understand being down in the pit of despair and having God lift you out.
You can picture what it is like to go without something you desperately want, and then having that and
more provided.
Heres how this fits in with the rest of the passage: I have been telling you that you have to give up
everything. Give up your rights, etc.
Maybe you had a chance to put these principles into action over Christmas. Maybe you had to give up
your idea of a good Christmas in order to accommodate someone elses tradition. Maybe you had to
forsake your plans to allow for someone elses.
Those things are hard to do but when you find yourself struggling with them, keep in mind the therefore.
When you lower yourself, God will lift you up.
He calls you to give things up, but the therefore means you get it all back!
If you find it is hard to give up your turn for some rest, remember, God will pay you back.
If you find it is a struggle to give up your comfort for someone else, remind yourself God will pay you
back.
If you find it next to impossible to let go of your pride and dignity to meet some need, remember God will
give it back.
How should we respond? Worship
If we call Him Lord let's worship Him
If we call Him the Light let's seek Him
If we call Him the Way let's follow Him
If we call Him the Truth let's learn of Him

If we call Him Father let's love Him

If we call Him Rich let's ask of Him
If we call Him Eternal let's desire Him
If we call Him Mighty let's trust Him
If we call Him King let's honor Him
If we call Him Holy let's fear Him
If we call Him Master let's obey Him
If we call Him Lord let's worship Him
He is Lord! Amen? He is Lord of creation and Lord of our lives, Hes Lord of the land and the sea. He was
Lord of the heavens before there was time, and Lord of all Lords He will be. And so we bow our knees before
Him, and worship Him.

Philippians 2:12,13 God at Work in You

Introduction: The Foundation
The first word in v.13 is for. That word introduces a reason for what has gone before. The truth of v.13 is
the foundation for the command of v.12. So lets lay the foundation first, then we can look at v.12.
The false gods men tend to create in their human religions are very remote and undesirable. A missionary
in Japan was telling me what religion is like in that culture. It is a polytheistic culture that worships
millions of gods.
To those people, the gods are the worst thing about life. They are a curse. And the goal of religion is to
keep them at bay. They are like a dangerous pack of dogs just outside your house. And your goal is to
avoid ever opening the door too wide and letting some of them in, because they will cause you great harm.
Much of the effort of religion is to placate the gods, to appease them, to keep from bugging them, and to
protect yourself from them.
This view is common in paganism. The gods are either hostile toward people, or indifferent. They either
dont care about you or they dislike you.
With that in mind, look at v.13. for it is God who works in you
Forget about everything else in the passage for a moment. In fact, forget about everything else period for a
moment and just let that sink in. God is at work in you!
Lets try to digest each part of that little statement.
1. Who is at work in you? God.
If you are a true child of God, An infinite, perfect, loving being is at work in you.
A person who is perfect is at work in you.
Someone who is infinitely holy is at work in you.
A Being who is all-knowing is at work in you.
One who loves you enough to die for you is at work in you.
Almighty, Sovereign, Creator God, who is all-powerful, who speaks and the universe leaps into existence, is at
work in you.
The King of glory is at work in you.
Someone who is never frustrated, who without fail carries out His perfect plan is at work in you.
2. What is He doing? He is at work.
He is putting forth effort expending energy toward a specified end. He is changing things, repairing
things, creating things manipulating things, eliminating things
He is working - applying His intelligence and His power toward accomplishing something.
3. Where is He doing it? in you.
Whatever there is that is part of you, thats where He is working. Your body, your mind, your spirit, your soul,
your personality, your will, your emotions you are the object of His work.
I could close in prayer right now, and you would have been given more than enough to meditate on for the rest
of the week.
I have a half a mind to just end the sermon right here. Just tell you God is at work in you, and give it a big
exclamation point, and send you all home with that one thought.
The other half of my mind, however, is telling me that if I did that I would be robbing you of the riches of the
rest of this passage.
The verse doesnt just say that He is at work, and stop there. Because for that to have meaning to us, we need
to know what, exactly He is working at. What is He doing in us?
Obviously God wants you to be a certain way. He wants you to be holy, righteous, humble, loving He wants
you to do what is right and not what is wrong, He wants you to fulfill your calling.
And He is working in you toward those ends.
In 2 Ch.30:12 God commanded the people to follow His Word, and then . 12 the hand of God was on the
people to give them unity of mind to carry out what the king and his officials had ordered, following
the word of the LORD.
Ezra 1:5 Then rose up every one whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the
LORD
Ezra 7:27 Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who put such a thing as this into the heart of
the king, to beautify the house of the LORD
So thats the foundation for the command in v.12.

v.12
Summary
Therefore Looks back. So there is another reason for this command. Based on what Paul just said, we
should heed what he is about to say. So what did he just say?
It is a reference to v.8 he humbled Himself and became obedient.
Remember the whole thing about Jesus from 6-11 was all an illustration of how we are to respond to one
another and to God with humility. Paul hasnt lost his train of thought.
In the Greek, when you want to make something emphatic, instead of underlining it or putting it in italics
or bold print, they would place it forward in the sentence out of the normal, expected word order.
You would expect Paul to say, work out your salvation with fear and trembling. But instead he said,
With fear and trembling work out your salvation.
So if you want an accurate translation in English, underline the phrase with fear and trembling.
So the point the Holy Spirit was making when He inspired this v. is that we are to carry this out with fear
and trembling.
fear and trembling
Paul uses this exact phrase 3 times. Each time it is a phrase used to describe taking something very
seriously with humble obedience:
2 Co.7:15 - you were all obedient, receiving him [Titus] with fear and trembling.
Eph.6:5 - Slaves, obey your earthly masters w/ fear & trembling
same words, slightly different 1 time:
I Co.2:3 - Paul came to the Corinthians in humility
here just as you have always obeyed, continue with fear and trembling.
So thats the skeleton of this passage: Based on Jesus example of humble obedience, and because of the fact
that God is at work in you, carry out this command WITH HUMILITY.
Now we are ready to look at the command itself.
my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absencecontinue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
work out your salvation - thats the command
Many pages have been written, and numerous sermons preached on what it means to work out ones
salvation. Long, involved word studies going back to the derivation and etymology of the word has lead to
countless different conclusions most of which are simply beliefs the authors already had about salvation that
they are trying to support.
What exactly does this word mean, and what does it mean in this context?
The word appears 22 times in the NT, all but 2 in Paul, and it is not a very complicated word. It just means
"do"
When the Bible talks about someone committing a sin, this is sometimes the word used for commit. (Ro.1:27,
2:9)
It appears several times in Ro.7
15 I do not understand what I do.
17 As it is , it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
18 I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
It just means to do something to carry something out.
Continue to do your salvation continue to carry on being a Christian. Your salvation is not just
something you have it is something you do. Something you carry out.
So what does it mean to carry out your salvation? Paul makes it very easy for us to answer that question by
the sentence structure.
Just as you have always obeyed, continue to carry on with your salvation
carry on with your salvation = obey
Salvation is a matter of obedience. Conversion is an act of obedience, and the Christian life is a life of
obedience.
CONVERSION = AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE
-Ro.6:17,18 Paul describes their conversion this way: though you used to be slaves to sin, You
wholeheartedly obeyed the teaching 18 you have been set free from sin.
-II Thes.1:8 - ref to unbelievers: those who do not obey the Gospel

-I Pe.4:17 - ref to unbelievers: those who do not obey the Gospel

-II Pe.2:21 - ref to apostates: those who turned their backs on the sacred commandment
AND THE CHRIASTIAN LIFE = A LIFE OF OBEDIENCE
Their are not 2 categories of believers: obedient + disobedient
All Christians = obeyers (like complainer, joker, giver)
Obedience
There are over 700 imperatives in the Epistles (1819 in the NT).
Obedience is what God wants from us. There are literally hundreds of things God has told us to do, and He
expects us to do them. And there are hundreds of other things He has told commanded us not to do, and He
expects us not to do them.
This is why we must utterly reject what is known as quietism. Quietism is the view that we are to expend no
effort in the Christian life (Let go and let God). Bob George is now probably the most well-know proponent.
Based on vv. like Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain
your goal by human effort? they conclude that we are not to put any effort into living the Christian life.
They say if you are trying hard, you are working in the flesh.
But if God were trying to tell us not to put forth any effort, giving us hundreds of commands would be a
strange way to do it.
We are not passive, and both salvation and sanctification does involve our effort.
2Co 7:1 let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out
of reverence for God.
There is a word used 11 times in the NT that means to make every effort, to put forth a concerted effort, to
work hard (spouda,sw). If God wanted us to be passive, why it is hard to explain how that word could exist
in the NT
Eph.4:3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit.
2Ti 2:15 Make every effort to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to
be ashamed
Heb 4:9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 11Let us, therefore, make every effort
to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.
2Pe 3:14 make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
2Pe.1:5 make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to
knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to
godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8For if you possess these qualities in
increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Christian life is a life of strenuous effort, and without that effort, we become ineffective and unproductive.
In Php.3 Paul talks about his effort to somehow attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 I press on to
take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind
and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has
called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
1Co 9:24-27 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in
such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They
do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I
do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. 27No, I beat my
body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
God has given us armor. He has given us the sword of the Spirit what are we supposed to do with that?
Stare at it?
Eph 6:12 our struggle is not against flesh and blood, We are in hand to hand combat. If you are in hand to
hand combat with a sword, you better be putting for some effort.
Heb 6:12 We do not want you to become lazy,
In Mt.25 we learn that on judgment day God will say to some people, You wicked, lazy servant! Mt. 25:26
So Paul is calling them to a life of obedience an continuation of what they have been doing all along.
12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much
more in my absenceThis is high praise.
Everyone is on their best behavior when Paul is around, but character is revealed in how you do when you are
on your own.
Freedom is a good test of character
- How do you spend your free time?
- What do you think about in your free time?
- How do you spend your spare $?

- What do you do when you are alone?

What you do is determined by external pressure or internal principle. If you do what is right because of
external pressure, you will do wrong when there is negative pressure.
The Philippians were governed by internal principle. So Paul tells them to continue, but the main point
hes making is that they are to continue obeying, with fear and trembling.
Humble obedience is absolutely lost in our culture
I make my own decisions
I run my own life
I am in control
I don't have to answer to anyone
I'm a self-made man
If you have authority over a lot of peeps at work you are successful, but the guy who is on the bottom is getting
nowhere in life - even though he has the same occupation as God did when He was on earth: servant
Look at all the heros on TV: they all disobey w/ arrogance, and if they do obey, it is only in arrogance and
disrespect
What a contrast if we come along and say
I'm a subordinate
I'm not able to run my own life
I take orders
I answer to God
God made me what I am
But wait a minute. How can that humility really be genuine? If we are living lives of obedience, dont we
deserve a little credit? Cant we take some pride in the fact that we were willing to put forth all that effort
and do the hard work of obeying and fighting against our flesh and the devil? How can he call us to work
hard, and then be humble about it? How can I have genuine humility if I know Ive chosen to work hard?
Answer: v.13.
because it is God who works in you.
See why thats the foundation for understanding what he is saying? Just as you have always obeyed, follow
Jesus example of humble obedience and continue on with your obedience with fear and trembling with great
humility, because it is God who works in you
Ro 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son,
2Co 3:5-6 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence
comes from God. 6He has made us competent
2Co 3:18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his
likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Col.3:10 your new self is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
So God is working in us. Hes changing us. Hes conforming us closer and closer to the image of Christ.
But how does He do it? What exactly does He do in you to bring about the righteous life He desires?
Some say that He works in opposition to your will.
Your will is in bondage to sin, it is utterly evil, and so God simply overrides it, and replaces your sins with
good works.
Others that He works in spite of your will.
It doesnt really matter what you decide it is all a work of God.
Others say, No, He works in cooperation with your will. You do your part, and He does His. He supplies the
strength, and you can utilize that strength or ignore it. He provides the raw materials, but ultimately what
happens is up to you.
Which of those three options is true? The first two dont even make sense unless you are going to say that God
forces you do to good against your will. But that could hardly be described as obedience.
So most people settle on that third option: God provides the resources, but it is entirely up to you to decided to
use them.
Thats why many Christians are so discouraged about their sin. They dont seem to have the will to resist
certain temptations. And if all God does is provide the strength, but it is up to me to change my will how do I
do that?
I dont think any of those three options square with Scripture.
So exactly how does God bring about righteousness in our lives?
How does God change us while leaving our free will in tact?
Think about what determines your actions:
Everything you ever do begins with a desire for something. You get out of bed in the morning because you
have a desire to make a living. You decide to face up to a painful situation, because you have a desire to have
that rectified.
So everything you do begins with a desire. You have a desire for some outcome, and as soon as that desire

becomes stronger than your desire for any alternative, you go to the next step and make a decision.
After you have made the decision to do something, the next step is that you carry it out.
So everything you do happens because it started with a desire, which led to a decision, which led to an action.
So what does God do?
13 for it is God who works in you to will and to act
He works on our desires and decisions and actions. Thats not quietism. He doesnt obey for us. We
are responsible to obey, and we are culpable if we disobey.
How do we harmonize the facts that on the one hand we have responsibility to chose and act a certain
way, but on the other hand it is God who is the author of our spiritual lives?
One way to think about it is that we work on obedience, and God works on us.
Everything is determined by our will and actions. God does work good in our lives, but only through our
will and actions. Ultimately, we only end up doing the things that come from a desire and then a decision
coming from our own will.
You are where you are because God worked in you to influence your will and actions.
Isa.26:12 all that we have accomplished you have done for us.
If you obey, it is you who do it. But once you do it, you realize it was God who influenced you to do it.
Thats why it is wrong to understate your own righteousness. If God has worked in you to produce
righteousness, and then you disparage that in some kind of false humility, you are demeaning what God has
done.
God does not override your will, He influences it. It is still your will. But God is at work inside you
repairing a loose wire over here, re-attaching a dead connection over there
Exactly how does He influence our will and actions? It doesnt say.
Im sure there are countless ways:
- He brings some memory to mind at the right moment
- He causes you to walk into a certain situation with certain people that will have a specific effect on your
will
- We know He uses trials and suffering
- He will bring other people in your life who influence your will
- You do something good, and God reaches inside your soul and makes a connection between that good
thing and some favorable feeling
- Maybe He makes a connection between some sin and some painful feeling to help you develop an
aversion to that sin you wouldnt otherwise have.
- He opens your eyes to specific truths that will bring you down a certain path
- He gives you a sense of discomfort with your present spiritual condition.
Ever get tears in your eyes because you are so sick and tired of the same sin? Thats God working on your
will.
- He generates an appetite for righteousness, virtue, godliness. You read about some godly person and
suddenly you are gripped with an intense desire to be like that.
Whatever method He uses, it is important that we keep in mind 2 vital truths:
We are responsible to carry out our salvation.
Once we do so, we ought to maintain humility about it, because when we look back we will see that it was
God who worked in us to influence us to chose and act they way we did.
Take a look at 1 Co.15
Those are not contradictory truths. We see them throughout Scripture.
1Co.15:10 by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.
Paul was a great Apostle, he spread the Gospel around the world. He wrote 13 books in the NT. He was
probably the single most influential man to ever live other than Christ himself (or Adam).
But he didnt take credit. He said God did it. God caused all that. It was Gods gracious gift undeserved. He
was a great man, but God made him a great man.
How did that happen. Did Paul just lay in bed and say, Im letting go and letting God!?
Look at the rest of the v. No, I worked harder than all of them
Paul was what he was because he worked harder than all the other Apostles. God made him great, but he
didnt do it in opposition to Pauls own will. Somehow He influenced Pauls will, so that Paul ended up, by his
own free will, deciding to work hard.
This is illustrated in the exodus. Moses and the Israelites were fleeing Pharaohs army, they get stuck a the Red
Sea, they are hemmed in and here comes Pharaoh.
They start getting fearful, but in Ex 14:13 Moses says "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the
deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14The
LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."
Stand still and watch God deliver you.
Then in the very next verse God responds: 15 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me?
Tell the Israelites to move on.

It is not Stand still and watch God work, it is move on and watch God work.
That event is a great illustration of the way God works in our hearts.
So the fact that it is God who is at work in us should not be a motivation for inaction, it should be a motivation
for tremendous action.
Why Does God Do It?
It is important that you know what Gods motivation is, so you will see how committed He is to it. We need to
know how important all this is to God.
according to (for the sake of, or in order to achieve) his good purpose (pleasure).
It is all for His pleasure. Thats the point of everything.
Is that an astonishing thought? That you could do something that would bring God pleasure? It seems
unbelievable Darrell Ferguson can will something that would bring satisfaction to a transcendent infinitely
holy God?
Uppermost in Gods mind is His own pleasure. The pleasures of God are the highest good, and so thats Gods
highest priority, and since He is all-powerful there is nothing that deters Him from accomplishing that in
which He most delights. And He delights in you being a certain way, and so He is at work to bring that about.
Your obedience is important to Him. It glorifies Him. Every time you obey it announces to the whole universe
that God is worthy of you trust. That He is a more worthy object of your pleasure than sin. That His Word is
to be trusted more than carnal desire.
If you are a little kid, and your mom, for her good pleasure, is laboring to clean the living room, you would be
ill advised to start throwing dirt all over right while she is doing that. If you do anything to that living room
while she is laboring hard to clean it, you better do it with fear and trembling.
If your spouse is laboring hard to do the dishes out of an intense desire for a clean kitchen, you would be illadvised to go in there, right while that is happening, and make a big mess, then walk away. If you do
anything to the kitchen at that moment you better put some thought into what you are going to do, and do it
with fear and trembling.
Take a moment to think about God the Person. Not some floating force out there somewhere, not some
impersonal, ethereal, vague, abstract concept. Think about a person with intelligence and emotion and will
and attention, and He has His attention focused on you. He is laboring, working on you. He is working inside
you working at influencing your will. Laboring at shaping your actions so that they bring pleasure to Him.
With that in mind, it is with fear and trembling that you will decide or do anything.
This is not a reference primarily to fear of judgment. Not a fear of what He may do to us. It is a fear of what
we may do to Him and to His work.
This should be a constant motivation for us. This study has had a huge impact on me this week. Every time I
have faced the least temptation, all this comes rushing into my mind God is working hard, earnestly toward
the opposite of what Im tempted with right now.
Think about your own life right now. What point of obedience needs attention? What relationship needs to
change? What earthly thing is there that is weighing your life down and keeping you from full-commitment?
Ask God, What do you want me to give up? What do you want me to start doing? What do you want me to
want?
Change my heart O God. Make it ever true. Change my heart O God, may I be like You. You are the Potter. I
am the clay. Mold me and make me this is what I pray.
The must be a constant awareness. There is never a moment when you can say, I can safely spend this
moment in neglect of my soul.
Eph.3:20-21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according
to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout
all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Perhaps you need to make a decision in your life. Now is the time.

Philippians 2:14-16 No Complaining

Php.2:14-18 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and
pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like
stars in the universe 16as you hold the word of life-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I
did not run or labor for nothing.
Why does he say they need to become children of God? Arent they already?
And what does complaining have to do with what he is talking about?
14 Do everything without complaining or arguing,
What is everything? It is the obedience he just mentioned in v.12.
Complaining is any time you express dissatisfaction with the way things are.
complaining muttering - an emotional rejection of the circumstances God has given you.
arguing more of an intellectual term arguing with God This shouldnt happen because
The Christian life is a life of obedience, but dont think obedience is merely external. God calls for obedience of
the heart. If you do what God wants you to do, but you do it with a grumbling, complaining heart, thats not
obedience.
When Paul uses the word gongusmos, it is a clear reference to the complaining of the Israelites in the desert.
Ex.14
They were world-class complainers.
Ex 14:10-12 As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching
after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. 11They said to Moses, "Was it because there
were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us
out of Egypt? 12Didn't we say to you in Egypt, `Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have
been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!"
So in ch.15 God performs another miracle, drowns all the Egyptians in the Red Sea, all the people are rejoicing
and singing and dancing.
"Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea."
Three days later, listen to the people: 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to
drink?"
So God miraculously provides water Ex.15:27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs
and seventy palm trees. They are wandering through a desert and happen to run across a place with 12
spings and 70 palm trees.
So how do they respond? Two vv. later: 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and
Aaron. 3The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the LORD's hand in Egypt! There we sat
around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve
this entire assembly to death."
Nothing is ever enough.
So God sends manna and quail, and they move on to the next place. And at the next campground they dont
find water.
Ex 17:1-3 In v.2 they begin to complain to Moses, and Moses says, Why do you put the LORD to the
test?"
3But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did
you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?"
7 the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the LORD saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?"
Numbers 11:1 Now the people complained about their hardships in the hearing of the LORD, and when he
heard them his anger was aroused. Then fire from the LORD burned among them and consumed some of
the outskirts of the camp.
4 again the Israelites started wailing and said, "If only we had meat to eat! 5 We remember the fish we ate
in Egypt at no cost--also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. 6But now we have lost our
appetite; we never see anything but this manna!"
(we always have this)
After they got their first glimpse of paradise the Promised Land, their inheritance from the Lord, promised to
Abraham, the land flowing with milk and honey: Nu.14:2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and
Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert!
But how did they know to complain? They didnt even see the land only the 12 spies saw it. If you read
Num.13 you will find that the people grumbled as a result of the negative report of the spies. 10 guys got an
entire nation grumbling and complaining about something they had never seen.
Almighty God delivers them from slavery in Egypt, miraculously leads them, provides for them and protects
them in the desert, then they get to the Promised Land and God says, This is a wonderful place, and 10 guys
say, No it is not it is rotten. And all the people believe them instead of God, and they all start complaining
against God about something they have never even seen.
Complaining is contagious infectious. If you ever want to get everyone to agree with you, just complain. If
you want to ruin a church, start complaining, and convince everyone that God is not good. You will have a

following in no time.
So because of their grumbling, they dont enter the Promised Land, and have to wander in the desert until they
all die.
In v.6 Joshua and Caleb speak up. They were two of the spies. 7 they said to the entire Israelite assembly,
"The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. 8If the LORD is pleased with us, he will
lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. 9Only do not rebel
against the LORD. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their
protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them."
One of the most dangerous things you can do is get in the way of a bunch of complainers by saying something
positive.
10But the whole assembly talked about stoning them. 11The LORD said to Moses, "How long will these
people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous
signs I have performed among them? 12I will strike them down with a plague and destroy them,
23 No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.
27"How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these
grumbling Israelites. 28So tell them, `As surely as I live, declares the LORD, I will do to you the very
things I heard you say: 29In this desert your bodies will fall--every one of you twenty years old or more
who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30Not one of you will enter the land
Be careful about pessimism. They say, Were going to die in the desert, were going to die in the desert and
finally God says, OK, youre going to die in the desert.
Nu.16:41 the whole Israelite community grumbled and God was furious sent a plague that killed over
14,000.
Nu.20:3-5 They quarreled with Moses and said, "If only we had died when our brothers fell dead before
the LORD! 4Why did you bring the LORD's community into this desert, that we and our livestock should
die here? 5Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to this terrible place? It has no grain or figs, grapevines
or pomegranates. And there is no water to drink!"
Nu.21:3-6 The LORD listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely
destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah. 4 They traveled from Mount Hor along
the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5they spoke
against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert?
There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" 6Then the LORD sent venomous
snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died.
There would have been nothing wrong with the Israelites seeing the Egyptians coming and crying out to God,
Please save us.
There would have been nothing whatsoever wrong with the Israelites saying, Lord, theres no water to drink.
Please provide for us!
There wouldnt even have been anything wrong with them saying, God, please give us something different to
eat, so we can have some variety.
The sin was in the fact that instead of asking God, they just assumed God wouldnt provide, and they would
die.
Thats what makes complaining a serious sin.
Those people were not destroyed because of some words that inadvertently slipped out of their mouths it was
because of the unbelief in their hearts.
You see this in Nm.11:11 The LORD said to Moses, "How long will these people treat me with contempt?
How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the miraculous signs I have performed
among them?
Remember what complaining is expressing your discontent over circumstances. Who is in charge of
circumstances? God is.
When I complain, Im accusing God of not doing whats best. Complaining is an accusation against God that
He is failing.
If swearing is wrong because it takes Gods name in vain, complaining is wrong because it takes Gods
promises in vain.
It is not a sin that is superficial it is a symptom of a deep-seated spiritual problem failure to trust God. It
is a mark of unbelief, which is a serious sin, because if you dont believe Gods promises, you are calling Him a
liar.
God hates it and has killed people for it.
Nm.11:11 shows us another reason why it is so serious: The LORD said to Moses, "How long will these
people treat me with contempt?
Another reason why it is so serious is that it is an act of contempt and hostility against God. You can just hear
it in what the Israelites said.
It is never appropriate to be angry at God. It is never appropriate to be disappointed with God.
This week I did a bunch of reading about how the Christian counselors tell you how to deal with your
disappointment with God. Most of them say that it is OK to be disappointed with God. There is no sense hiding

it God knows how you feel anyway, so you might as well vent it.
It is true that God knows how you feel, and that there is no sense trying to hide that from Him. But we dont
need to vent it, we need to repent of it.
Does God understand about your being disappointed with Him? Yes, He understands. He understands that if
you are disappointed with an infinitely perfect Being, something is wrong with your expectations.
If you are disappointed with God, who has promised only to do what is best, the only explanation is you dont
believe the promise. You assume He wont do what is best, and when you complain about that, it is an act of
hostility against God.
And if you remind yourself of the context of Php.2 Paul is talking about living a life of humble obedience. It is
impossible to live a life of humble obedience with an attitude of contempt and hostility toward God and His
commands.
Having that kind of attitude is not obedience, it is rebellion. Complaining is a refusal to submit to His
providential plan for your life. It is a rejection of the lot in life to which God has assigned you.
Lam.3:38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that both calamities and good things come? 39 Why
should any living man complain
15 so that you may become blameless and pure,
blameless means above reproach. No one can find anything against you.
pure more of an internal emphasis pure, innocent.
The two together describe being faultless on the outside and on the inside.
The goal of the Christian life is nothing short of blamelessness. Thats always the standard. Dont think you
have arrived just because you are better than certain other people around you. The average isnt the standard.
The standard is blamelessness.
children of God without fault
without fault amometa Momus was a complaining deity among the Greeks. He did nothing himself, and
found fault with every body and every thing. So the sense behind this word is to be such that not even Momus
himself could find no fault with you. (Mt. Henry)
Compare to Mt.5:45:
so that you may become children of God
so that you may become sons of our Father in Heaven.
i[na ge,nhsqe ..te,kna qeou/
o[pwj ge,nhsqe ui`oi. tou/ patro.j u`mw/n tou/ evn ouvranoi/j(
We are already His children by adoption, now we are called to become His children by resemblance.
Paul is quoting from Dt.32
5 to their shame they are no longer his children, but a warped and crooked generation.
Dt.32:5 not his children because of fault,a crooked and depraved generation.
Php.2:15 that you might become children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and depraved
generation.
Take a look at Dt.32
It is a dramatic contrast. Paul quotes Dt.32, but reverses the language.
Because of the fault that was found in them, they actually lost their status as children of God,
and we are called to be children of God without fault.
What was the fault?
Ingratitude
Idolatry
Ingratitude
6 Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?
7Remember the days of old; ...8When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he
divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the peoples according to the number of the sons of
Israel. 9 For the LORD's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted inheritance. 10 In a desert land he
found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the
apple of his eye, 11 like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings
to catch them and carries them on its pinions. 12 The LORD alone led him; no foreign god was with
him.
13 He made him ride on the heights of the land and fed him with the fruit of the fields. He nourished
him with honey from the rock, and with oil from the flinty crag, 14 with curds and milk from herd and
flock and with fattened lambs and goats, with choice rams of Bashan and the finest kernels of wheat.
You drank the foaming blood of the grape.

15 Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; filled with food, he became heavy and sleek. He abandoned the God
who made him and rejected the Rock his Savior.
6 Is this the way you repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people?
I gave you all that, and this is how you respond? Such ingratitude.
Idolatry
Why exactly did they lose their status as children of God?
Dt.32:15,16 Jeshurun He abandoned the God who made him and rejected the Rock his Savior. 16 They
made him jealous with their foreign gods and angered him with their detestable idols.
It was idolatry. They were worshipping idols. They were breaking the first commandment no other gods
before Me.
So they were rejected by God, and were called a crooked and depraved generation full of fault, because of these
two things: ingratitude and idolatry.
And we are told to be children without fault separate from the crooked and depraved generation. That
means we are going to have to steer clear of ingratitude and idolatry.
Do you want a test to see if you are guilty of ingratitude or idolatry? Just look at what comes out of your heart
in the way of complaining, because complaining is a symptom of both those sins.
Complaining is a monumental display of ingratitude. God has given me so much, and Im going to complain
about what He hasnt given me?
The kinds of things we complain about betray the level of our ingratitude.
If you went and talked to some of the millions of people who at this moment are literally starving to death, and
they are watching their children die of starvation, and then look at what it takes to make us complain...
Oh no! Yes I have an entire meal in front of me, and it is good food, expensive food, and I can have as much as
I want, but IT IS THE WRONG TEMPERATURE! It is several degrees too cool! I cant enjoy this.
Talk to the people who have to walk everywhere they go often with bare feet over rugged terrain, and then
tell that person, Did you know that there are people in the world who have their own personal car, and for a
half hours wages they can fill the tank and drive in plush comfort for hundreds of miles wherever they want to
go? And those people, if someone gets in front of them and they have to drive 60 MPH for a few minutes
instead of 65, they will blow up in anger and say, Oh God why are You allowing me to have such a rotten
day?!
Go to Calcutta and talk to the people who are born on the sidewalk and die on the sidewalk and tell them all
about how you cant possibly stand to live in your house anymore, because the cheep carpet stains too easily,
and the kitchen is too small.
Think about the things we complain about. It is really the biggies that get to us, isnt it?
God has given us eternal life, and we complain about a stuck zipper.
Jesus Christ suffered crucifixion for us, and we moan about price of gasoline.
While we were yet His enemies, He adopted us into His own family, and we bellyache about standing in a long
line or a slow checker.
We have been given the Holy Spirit to live inside us, and we grumble about phone calls at dinner time.
We have been given an inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade, and we gripe about the fact that it
takes us a few extra minutes to find our keys.
All the guilt of all the sins of all your life have been completely wiped out and forgiven at great cost to God, and
we whine about someone who talks too much or interrupts us when we are talking.
Jesus said, On the very day you die you will be with Me in paradise and you complain about being rushed by
your husband or having to wait for your wife.
God has given you a calling in life, a meaningful task that has eternal impact of the Kingdom of God, and we
complain about a squeaky door, or some incompetent people around us.
What is it that we think we deserve? (Dan: Do you deserve high water?)
Ask the people you are closest to what you complain about. And when you find out, dont try to solve the
problem by keeping your mouth shut more. That wont do anything.
You can be a complainer without saying a word. You can cultivate thoughts of discontent without ever
expressing them.
For example, you may never say anything to anyone out loud about it, but if you are married, I bet I know
what you complain about in your heart.
Think for a moment who was the very first complainer that ever walked this earth and what was the very
first complaint ever expressed by a human being? God, this woman You gave me You could have created
any woman, and You create the one that decides to plunge humanity into sin.
The very first complaint ever recorded was God, why didnt You supply me with a better wife?
(all complaining is ultimately directed at God)
So complaining is a symptom of ingratitude, and it is also a symptom of idolatry turning to someone or
something besides God for that which we are to look only to God.

Complaining is an evidence of a misdirected pursuit of fulfillment. We are to seek fulfillment in God, not from
temporal things.
Materialism is just as much idolatry as idol worship. We become devoted to the things we think will bring
satisfaction, and we make those a priority. They become too important to us, and so when God stands in our
way of getting them, we complain against God.
If you observe our culture, you will notice that the most indulgent society is also the most complaining. The
more people have, the less content they tend to be.
We raise our kids to be materialistic by always trying to make them happy with earthly things. But the more
you over-indulge a child, the more unhappy that child will be.
If your kids get up in the morning and mom says, What would you like for breakfast? What do you want in
your lunch? What time will you be home for supper? You dont like that? OK, Ill just take it off your plate
and get you something else. the child gets used to the system bending to accommodate them, rather than
them having a sense of conforming to the system.
The result is adults who seem to think it is everybodys job to serve them and make them happy.
Thats one reason why children of large families tend to be much more contented. In a large family, you get up
in the morning and someone hands you a bag. Whatevers in it, thats your lunch. And if it is supper time, and
one of the kids says, I dont like this, the kid next to him says, Good! and he takes it.
Satan has convinced most people that satisfaction comes through what this world has to offer relationships,
money, possessions, activities, jobs, etc. Once he gets you to believe that, he can easily make your life
miserable.
You will spend year after year striving for that which you think will make you happy. When you get it, you
will still feel empty and say, Oh, I guess it was this other thing that I need
Each time you attain something, it will bring some limited amount of pleasure, and so you will think if you can
just get more, you would be happy.
So complaining is serious because
It demonstrates a lack of faith
It shows contempt for God
It is a mark of ingratitude
It is idolatrous
So God says, dont be like apostate, idolatrous Israel who are no longer My children.
Instead be blameless, and pure, faultless genuine children.
And what is the difference? What is the line of demarcation that separates the pure, holy faithful Church from
crooked and depraved apostate Israel?
Complaining. They complained and we dont, and thats the difference?
1Co.10:1-12 1 our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 5
Nevertheless God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
6Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did-and were killed by snakes. 10And do not grumble,
as some of them did-and were killed by the destroying angel.
11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom
the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't
fall!
Why did God destroy them? Because they grumbled! (same word)
And the record of God destroying them for grumbling was written as an example for us, so that we wouldnt
do the same thing.
Our life between conversion and heaven is often compared to the time in the desert. It is that difficult time of
testing before entering paradise. During that time of testing, most of the Israelites failed the test and were not
allowed in. They failed because of their complaining and unbelief.
In the same way we are called to persevere to the end. We must accept the difficulties of this life without
disappointment with God.
in a crooked and depraved generation
Youre not the crooked and depraved generation, you are just in the midst of one.
crooked twisted, bent, out of alignment, deviating from the standard in 1 Pe.2:18 harsh, opp of kind and
gentle.
depraved very similar meaning twisted, distorted, misshapen, perverted.
Do I need to illustrate that? President Clintons approval numbers went up and down over the last 8
years, but never did they reach a higher point then right at the height of the Lewinski scandal. And there
were people who got on national TV and said that adultery is virtuous, but only if you lie about it.
Since our culture has dismissed God as a relevant factor in life, their morals have become so twisted and
perverse and convoluted that it is impossible to even follow them. They go back and forth between saying
wrong is right, and wrong is wrong but excusable and then back to wrong is right

*Dishonesty is compassion, and honesty is intolerance.

*Pornography is speech valuable, protected free speech, but the Word of God must be banned from
schools and all public life.
*If you have worked hard for a while, you deserve to get drunk. If you have put up with something for a
while, you deserve to get angry about it. If you have played by the rules and had a tough time, you
deserve to break the rules. If you do what you are supposed to do for a while, you somehow deserve to sin
against God.
*Music that not only depicts but also encourages murder, brutality, adultery, fornication, theft, rape, the
killing of police officers and every other conceivable evil is art.
*Unrighteousness must be preserved and protected, and correcting it is censorship, and thats bad.
*Virtue is religion, and should therefore never be encouraged.
*The majority of Americans believe it is wrong to have an abortion for convenience sake, because that
baby is a human being. But most of those same Americans strongly insist that if the pregnancy is the
product of a rape, abortion is just fine, because if you happen to be the product of a rape, you dont become
an actual human being until birth, whereas if you are wanted and planned, you are a human being much
earlier.
*And whatever sin I want to hang on to is OK, because
there are absolutely no absolutes, and
you should never point your finger,
and it is wrong for you to say anything is wrong,
it is immoral for you to say anything is immoral,
it is offensive for you to point out anything that is offensive,
and I feel it is my duty to point out to you that you are sinning whenever you point out my sin.
*We must march and protest and fight to preserve the right to use the Lords name in vain on TV and in
school and government, and we must fight even harder against anyone using His name not in vain.
How much more twisted could they become? Can you find any true, straight, pure, holy standard in Gods
Word that they havent twisted beyond recognition?
Why do they do all that?
Ro.8:7 the sinful mind is hostile to God.
They do that they become twisted and perverse out of a deep seated hostility toward God, and toward
the way He does things.
And we exhibit a very the same hostility toward God and the way He does things when we complain.
And so we dont complain. Instead we love God, and are thankful for what He does, and are content with
what He gives us, and instead of complaining, there is thanksgiving
and instead of griping there is praise
and instead of bellyaching, there is worship,
and instead of moaning, there is gratitude,
and instead of whining there is singing.
And when we take that kind of pleasure in who God is and what He does, and we exhibit that kind of
contentment and faith in the goodness of God, in the midst of the crookedness and twisted perversion of the
worlds hostility toward God, we stand out like lights.
in which you shine like stars in the universe
Possibly a quote from Dan.12:3, which talks about the fact that after the resurrection, the righteous will
shine like stars forever. They will be shown to be the ones who were in the right, and God will place them
in an exalted position forever. They will be shown to be the ones who were His true children.
2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and
everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the lights of the heavens, and those who lead
many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
Php.2:15 you shine like lights in the world
Dan.12:3 they shine like lights of heaven
fai,nesqe w`j fwsth/rej evn ko,smw|
fanou/sin w`j fwsth/rej tou/ ouvranou/
If so, there may be an allusion to the fact that we are to be leading many to righteousness.
It may be a similar idea to ch.1 where the fact that they oppose us is proof that they will be judged and we
will be saved. The eschatological shining as stars is already in this sense.
16 as you hold the word of life
hold To offer is a possible meaning, but uncommon (never in Sc.). Of the 4 other times it is used in the
Bible, 3 times it means to pay close attention to (the other time it means to remain in a certain place)
Another common meaning is to hold fast to something to cling to it or remain faithful to it.
What follows tends to call for the last meaning.
-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

Their remaining faithful to the Word that gives life holding fast to it all the way to the end will ensure that
Pauls lifes work wasnt a waste.
This is a convicting passage. It is one thing if a passage points out some little slip up you have over here, or
some little flaw over there but when a passage comes along and exposes an area in my life where there is
hostility toward God an area of unbelief, thats serious.
You need to be honest with yourself about this sin, because not all complaining is verbalized. Most of the time a
complaining attitude will find it is way into your conversation, but not always. It is possible to cultivate a
brooding discontent, and keeping it quiet, so no one knows.
Ps.73:25-26 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Earth has nothing I desire. God is my portion. Lets sing this song as either a song of repentance, or of reaffirmation of our commitment to seek satisfaction in God alone.

Philippians 2:15b-18 Shining Like Lights in the Universe

Php.2:14-18 Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and
pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like
stars in the universe 16as you hold the word of life-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I
did not run or labor for nothing.
Complaining is serious because
1.
It demonstrates a lack of faith
2.
It shows contempt for God
3.
It is a mark of ingratitude
4.
It is idolatrous
So God says, dont be like apostate, idolatrous Israel who are no longer My children.
Instead be blameless, and pure, faultless genuine children.
And what is the difference? What is the line of demarcation that separates the pure, holy faithful Church from
crooked and depraved apostate Israel? Complaining.
This is a convicting passage. It is one thing if a passage points out some little slip up you have over here, or
some little flaw over there but when a passage comes along and exposes an area in my life where there is
hostility toward God an area of unbelief, thats serious.
You need to be honest with yourself about this sin, because not all complaining is verbalized. Most of the time a
complaining attitude will find it is way into your conversation, but not always. It is possible to cultivate a
brooding discontent, and keeping it quiet, so no one knows.
in a crooked and depraved generation
Youre not the crooked and depraved generation, you are just in the midst of one.
crooked twisted, bent, out of alignment, deviating from the standard in 1 Pe.2:18 harsh, opp of kind and
gentle.
depraved very similar meaning twisted, distorted, misshapen, perverted.
Do I need to illustrate that? President Clintons approval numbers went up and down over the last 8
years, but never did they reach a higher point then right at the height of the Lewinski scandal. And there
were people who got on national TV and said that adultery is virtuous, but only if you lie about it.
Since our culture has dismissed God as a relevant factor in life, their morals have become so twisted and
perverse and convoluted that it is impossible to even follow them. They go back and forth between saying
wrong is right, and wrong is wrong but excusable and then back to wrong is right
*Dishonesty is compassion, and honesty is intolerance.
*Pornography is speech valuable, protected free speech, but the Word of God must be banned from
schools and all public life.
*If you have worked hard for a while, you deserve to get drunk. If you have put up with something for a
while, you deserve to get angry about it. If you have played by the rules and had a tough time, you
deserve to break the rules. If you do what you are supposed to do for a while, you somehow deserve to sin
against God.
*Music that not only depicts but also encourages murder, brutality, adultery, fornication, theft, rape, the
killing of police officers and every other conceivable evil is art.
*Unrighteousness must be preserved and protected, and correcting it is censorship, and thats bad.
*Virtue is religious, and should therefore never be encouraged.
*The majority of Americans believe it is wrong to have an abortion for convenience sake, because that
baby is a human being. But most of those same Americans strongly insist that if the pregnancy is the
product of a rape, abortion is just fine, because if you happen to be the product of a rape, you dont become
an actual human being until birth, whereas if you are wanted and planned, you are a human being much
earlier.
*And whatever sin I want to hang on to is OK, because
there are absolutely no absolutes, and
you should never point your finger,
and it is wrong for you to say anything is wrong,
it is immoral for you to say anything is immoral,
it is offensive for you to point out anything that is offensive,
and I feel it is my duty to point out to you that you are sinning whenever you point out my sin.
*We must march and protest and fight to preserve the right to use the Lords name in vain on TV and in
school and government, and we must fight even harder against anyone using His name not in vain
because that would violate that wonderful wall of separation between us and God.
How much more twisted could they become? Can you find any true, straight, pure, holy standard in Gods
Word that they havent twisted beyond recognition?
Why do they do all that?

Ro.8:7 the sinful mind is hostile to God.

They do that they become twisted and perverse out of a deep seated hostility toward God, and toward
the way He does things.
And we exhibit a very the same hostility toward God and the way He does things when we complain.
And so we dont complain. Instead we love God, and are thankful for what He does, and are content with
what He gives us, and instead of complaining, there is thanksgiving
and instead of griping there is praise
and instead of bellyaching, there is worship,
and instead of moaning, there is gratitude,
and instead of whining there is singing.
And when we take that kind of pleasure in who God is and what He does, and we exhibit that kind of
contentment and faith in the goodness of God, in the midst of the crookedness and twisted perversion of the
worlds hostility toward God, we stand out like lights against the blackness of the night sky.
in which you shine like stars in the universe
Possibly a quote from Dan.12:3
2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame
and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the lights of the heavens, and those who
lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.
Php.2:15 you shine like lights in the world
Dan.12:3 they shine like lights of heaven
fai,nesqe w`j fwsth/rej evn ko,smw|
fanou/sin w`j fwsth/rej tou/ ouvranou/
After the resurrection, the righteous will shine like stars forever. They will be shown to be the ones who
were in the right, and God will place them in an exalted position forever. They will be shown to be the ones
who were His true children.
Thats what Daniel is saying someday, after the Resurrection, you will be vindicated and placed in an
exalted position, and it will be patently obvious just by looking at you that you are a true child of God.
And Paul quotes that verse and applies it to us now. Even now you are already shining like stars in the
universe. You are already in an exalted position, and, when you live a life of confessing His goodness
instead of complaining about His works, when you live a life of praising instead of whining, when you
worship instead of grumble then there is a sense in which you already stand out as obvious children of
God, even now.
In ch.1 Php.1:27-28 he said that we fight as one man for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened
in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be
saved-and that by God.
The very fact that they oppose you is proof that they will be destroyed and you will be saved by God.
In the same way, the fact that they complain and we do not is proof that we are genuine children of God
and will shine in glory forever like the heavenly lights.
There is a debate among Christians over what is the best way to win the lost should we be like them, or
different?
Some say we need to be as much like them as we can, so they can relate to us. We dont want to come off as
too righteous and holy, because that will just turn them off. We need to show them that we arent perfect,
just forgiven that our character is just like theirs.
Thats what one side of the debate says. On the other side of the debate is the Bible, which says we are to
stand out against the backdrop of this world light the lights in the sky.
If we come off as being just like the world, they will be able to relate to us, they will like us, they will
welcome us into their lives, and they will be happy, because they are reassured that there is nothing wrong
with them and they dont need to change, and there is nothing we have to offer that is any different from
what they already have.
I read Friday in the Rocky Mt. News about a Christian Rock singer Michael Roe (the 77s). The headline
said it a was a Christian band, so I read the article.
Roe is quoted in the article as saying that he can do his music only by the grace of God, and he wrote a
song about how it is a awful thing that he sometimes is more anxious to get his phone messages than he is
to read the Bible.
So why a full-page article? He has found a way to get the worlds attention. For one thing he swears, and
is quoted doing so in the article. (Christians who are desperate to get the world to like them almost always
not only use obscenity and coarse language, but they showcase it and draw as much attention to it as they
can.
Look at me, not all Christians are goody two shoes.
Michael Roe: We were really deliberate about not wanting to be labeled (as a Christian band). We were
courting major labels. And the minute youre called a Christian band, it becomes a cartoon. We felt our
music and art were legitimate. We want to have the widest throw possible.

Thats the philosophy. Make the world comfortable with you, then you can get your message out. And
what is Michael Roes message? Our one message has been to be the person God made you to be. Dont
conform to what your parents wanted, what society wanted, Be who you are, and money and love will
follow.
You see, the more you capitulate to conform to the world so you will be accepted even if you have the
noble motive of wanting to get a platform to preach the Gospel the more you will find that your version
of the Gospel becomes altered.
We should be deeply distressed over the sin that is around us.
I have heard popular Christian speakers get up and tell a stadium full of men, Dont get uptight about
unbelievers around you who are living in sin. Unbelievers are supposed to sin. They cant help it.
Ill tell you one guy who didnt agree with that righteous Lot.
2Pe 2:7-8 Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8(for that righteous
man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw
and heard
Three times in one sentence Lot is called righteous just because he was distressed at the ungodliness in
the society around him.
There is a real danger is a society like ours of becoming inoculated to evil. We expose ourselves to it
through entertainment in such massive doses, that we become desensitized, and lose our ability to be
distressed by evil (except for the most extreme cases).
If you pick up a hot pan off the fire, and suddenly you smell burning flesh it is past time to let go. If you
are a fireman in a burning building and you collapse from the smoke, it is past time for you to have gotten
out.
In the same way, if you look at yourself and see an increasing tolerance for evil, and an inability to be
distressed at the forms of evil that our culture calls minor, it is way past time to come out from among
them and be separate.
How has our culture managed to draw the Church into so much of its twisted thinking? So that we are at
the point in many cases where we look at what the Bible says and it seems unduly harsh, extreme,
outrageous and the worlds point of view seems more reasonable. How did that happen?
One way is that our culture has replaced the classic struggle between good and evil with the struggle
between mild evil and gross evil.
It used to be there was a good guy with a white hat, and a bad guy with a black hat, and you root for the
good guy.
Now there is a sinful, immoral, lying, disobedient, proud, selfish guy with a gray hat, and then some
horrible monster who is the personification of evil, and you find yourself rooting for the lesser evil as if he
were good.
One unfortunate example of this is the Harry Potter books. If you read Lewis or Tolkin, you read a fantasy
about the struggle between good and evil. Evil is portrayed, but it is OK, because it is portrayed as evil.
In the Potter series, your find yourself rooting for the good guys, and the good guys lie, and cheat and
disobey authority but they are portrayed as the good guys, because they are not nearly as evil as their
opponents.
The result is that we train ourselves to regard evil as good, just because it is not as bad as other evil.
But Isa.5:20-22 says Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light
for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. 21 Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight. 22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing
drinks (and we could add, woe to those who consider them heroes)
The real danger, when you watch TV or read a magazine, is not so much the blatant immorality. The
things that you see and are appalled by, those are not the real dangerous things.
The real dangerous things are the things that should make you angry or upset, but really dont. The
biggest danger isnt when you see some maniacal mass murderer on a TV show the greatest danger is
that family show you watch, in which the likable, good character is portrayed as good when he loses his
temper or acts selfishly or pridefully.
The more you expose yourself to that kind of thing, the more reasonable those kinds of sins will seem to
you. And when you get to the point where the worlds point of view seems reasonable, and Gods seems
unreasonable, you have lost the battle, and you will tend to experience failure in the Christian life (because
it is impossible for us to live our lives contrary to the way things seem to us).
In Jn.17:14-16 Jesus prayed for His disciples:
14 I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more
than I am of the world. 15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect
them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
We have to live in this world, but we must constantly by on guard, because the world is a contaminating
influence, and the more you involve yourself in its system, the more you place yourself in danger.
Thats why we are forbidden to link ourselves up with unbelievers in any kind of arrangement in which
they influence us.

2Co 6:14-7:1 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness
have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15What harmony is there between
Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16What agreement is
there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God.
Thats a great description of shinning like lights in the night sky. Thats the contrast. You stand out in the
world like righteousness amid wickedness, like light in the darkness, like Christ next to Satan, like the
Temple of God next to idols.
And so obviously it would be foolish to join into a binding kind of relationship with them, since you have
nothing in common.
As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be
my people." 17"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean
thing, and I will receive you." 18"I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty."
7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that
contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
Ask yourself is your life a contrast to those in the world? Do you stand out, or blend in? Do you have a
lot in common with them, or not?
If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Apart from
your claims alone, would there be corroborating evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you are
committed to Christ?
Is there an obvious contrast? Is it apparent to the people in the world that you are not like them that you
have a different kind of heart, that you have a different ultimate goal in life, that above all things you love
God?
Mt.5;14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light
a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the
house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and
praise your Father in heaven.
What is hidden light? Darkness! (A day w/o sunshine is likenight) Light thats not there is not light
it is darkness.
Your R is like light if you hide it, it is the same as not having it at all.
You place a lamp in the most conspicuous place possible for the most efficient radiant effect dont put it
behind something or cover it. Lk.8:16 No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bed. You are the lamps
for the world place yourself in as conspicuous a place as possible like a mountain. Let the world see.
Jesus said, I am the light of the world. But here He passes that role on to us.
The role of providing light to the world was Israels job Isa 49:6 I will also make you a light for the
Gentiles, that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
Jesus is using terminology re. Israels duty and applies it to his disciples. It will be carried out by the
spiritual children of Abraham.
What will the result be? They will persecute you, but in the end they will praise your Father in heaven.
Jn.15:8 This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Some will see the light and be saved and glorify Him on the spot. Most
1 Pet 2:12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they
may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Instead of being worthless (like the salt that loses its saltiness), you will be responsible for God being
glorified! Someday every knee will bow before Christ, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. And
they will glorify Him and praise Him for the good things that He brought about throughout history
through you.
So Paul says, as you live this life of humble obedience without complaining, you will live a life of such
contrast to the world, that you will appear like stars in the sky.
This is not to say that you dont associate with unbelievers. 1Co 5:9-11
9I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people- 10not at all meaning
the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you
would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone
who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard
or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
We associate with them, we eat meals with them, we befriend them, we get as close as we possibly can to
them to win them. The term world refers not so much to the people specifically, as much as to the system
of evil.
We must come out from among them and be totally separate from their lifestyle, from their moral outlook,
from their daily habits, from their language and way of speaking and way of thinking especially.
We need to take great pains to see to it that it is we who are influencing them, and not the other way
around.
2 Things that were necessities in Jesus day were salt and light. The world could not get by w/o them.

Your presence in the world is essential. You are their only hope. W/o you they would be plunged into
hopeless darkness and bitter ignorance.
Keep yourself separate from the evil in the world, but dont withdraw altogether. God has a lot He wants
to do in this world, and He will do it through you.
This is the first thing the NT says about our mission to the world. The most important element is for us to
live righteous lives. You want to support missions? The best support you can give is to be righteous. To
act as salt and light, so that when the missionary tells someone the Gospel it will have credibility.
You are the light of the world. You are all windows that let the light of heaven into the dark room of this
world. Funny thing about windows, the better the window the less you see it. If you try to look out the
window to see your front yard and you cant see the yard all you can see is the window, it is time to
wash.
In ch.6 Jesus says, Dont do your acts of righteousness before men to be seen by them. Dont be stained
glass windows for everyone to stare at and admire. But here He is saying, Do be clear windows into
heaven, so this world can be lit up with the glory of God.
Light is often equated with knowledge and understanding. By displaying our righteous deeds to the world,
we are revealing to them Gods Word. You are the only Bible some will ever read. They wont see the
Gospel according to Matt, or the Gospel according to Luke. What will they see when they read the Gospel
according to you, which is the only one they may ever be exposed to?
What is the Gospel according to your life?
Another interesting thing about Dan.12:3 the ones who, after the resurrection will shine like stars
forever are the ones who led many to righteousness. Thats part of our role as the light of the world.
How is all this done?
16 as you hold the word of life
hold To offer is a possible meaning, but uncommon (never in Sc.). Of the 4 other times it is used in the
Bible, 3 times it means to pay close attention to (the other time it means to remain in a certain place)
There are two common meanings:
To pay close attention to something to study something intently (the normal use in the NT),
2. to hold fast to something to cling to it or remain faithful to it.
Both could fit this context, but #2 seems to fit best.
-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
Their remaining faithful to the Word that gives life holding fast to that which is the source of their spiritual
life all the way to the end will ensure that Pauls lifes work wasnt a waste.
Hold fast to the Word.
There will be times when it seems dry, times when it seems like nothing but a bunch of words on a page, there
will be times when it seems wrong.
The times will come when you are tempted to just get all your Bible teaching at church, and let your Bible sit on
your shelf untouched all week at home.
There will be nights that you think you are too tired to read, and mornings when you are too rushed,
afternoons when you are too busy, and evenings when you are too lazy to read Gods Word.
There will be other books that will sound more interesting.
Hold fast to the Word that gives life.
There may be times when it seems like a full life will come through some relationship, or through some
religious experience, or through some great Bible teacher, or
Hold fast to the Word that gives life.
The time will come when it seems outdated, when you are embarrassed because the world is embracing
something else. People will come along and say that it is archaic, sexist, intolerant, or just plain incorrect.
Hold fast to the Word that gives life.
Dont ever loosen your grip on the Word, because despite the way things may appear, it is your source of
spiritual life.
It will keep you from falling.
It will keep you from being shoved into the mold of this worlds ungrateful, idolatrous, unbelieving
complaining, and contempt for Gods providential plan for your life.
It will transform your attitude from rejection of Gods providential will to a grateful, enthusiastic acceptance
of it.
Constant immersion into the Word is what will protect you from the contamination of this world, and that will
make you shine like stars in the sky.
The Word that gives life will revive your soul.
It will make you wise.
It will give joy to your heart.
It will give light to your eyes.
It endures forever, it is altogether righteous.
It is more precious than gold, sweeter than honey,
It promises great reward to those who keep it

-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
The other day I heard someone talking about one of the great saints of the past who said, I never go more
than a half hour without thinking about the second coming.
Sometimes I wonder if Paul ever went a half a minute without thinking about it. It leaks out into every chapter
he writes. It dominated his thinking. It is all he lived for the total success of failure of his life was completely
wrapped up in that one Day.
I was convicted this week about the fact that so often, the Day of Christ is not at the forefront of my conscious
thinking.
For example, I want more than anything for all of you to grow and progress spiritually. But generally when I
think about that, I think your life on this earth, or the history of this church. I think about where we will be as a
church and as believers a year from now, 5 years, 10
I work hard at studying a passage so that you will learn and grow today, and so that you will be more godly
tomorrow but for Paul the greatest, over-arching concern was always the Day of Christ.
It wasnt enough for Paul to simply have done his best or made a valiant effort. He wanted success.
Paul lived with the driving motivation of fear.
1Co 3:9-16
9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. 10By the grace God has given
me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be
careful how he builds.
12 If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 13his
work will be shown for what it is , because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire,
and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. 14If what he has built survives, he will receive his
reward. 15If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping
through the flames.
16Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17If anyone
destroys God's temple, God will destroy him; for God's temple is sacred, and you are that temple.

1Th.3:4-5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was
afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
Gal.2:2-3 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the
Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had
run my race in vain.
Gal 4:10-11 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11I fear for you, that
somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
Col.1:28-29 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may
present everyone perfect in Christ. 29To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so
powerfully works in me.
This should be our motivation as well.
2Jn 8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
It is interesting how Paul described his ministry: run or labor
If you do some small job, you dont want it to be in vain, but if you do something that requires
extraordinary effort, and costs you dearly, you really dont want it to be in vain.
If you are vacuuming the floor and someone comes along and tracks dirt thats frustrating.
If you spend hr. washing your car, and then it rains that day, that can be annoying.
If you donate $500 to a charity that gives gifts to poor children at Christmas, and you read in the news
that someone broke in and stole all the gifts, that would be upsetting.
But what was it that Paul was concerned about it turning into a wasted effort? What did Paul voluntarily
do that could have turned out to be for naught?
hard work, frequently imprisonments, severe floggings, exposure to death again and again
Five times he received 39 lashes
Three times beaten with rods
once stoned
three times shipwrecked
he spent a night and a day in the open sea
he was constantly on the move
in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from his own countrymen, in danger from
Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false
brothers.
He labored and toiled and often went without sleep
He knew hunger and thirst and often went without food

I was cold and naked.

And besides everything else, he faced daily the pressure of his concern for all the churches.
How would you like to do all that for nothing? What made Paul so effective for the Lord? He was so
heavily invested in the kingdom of God it was absolutely essential that he not fail, and he would do
anything to see to it that the work was completed. He had nothing else going in life.
Running involves vigorous effort, and continual pressing forward
labor denotes arduous effort, constancy, careful attention and especially weariness.
1Co.10:1-12 1 our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. 5
Nevertheless God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.
6Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.
9 We should not test the Lord, as some of them did-and were killed by snakes. 10And do not grumble,
as some of them did-and were killed by the destroying angel.
11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom
the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't
fall!
Why did God destroy them? Because they grumbled! (same word)
And the record of God destroying them for grumbling was written as an example for us, so that we wouldnt
do the same thing.
Our life between conversion and heaven is often compared to the time in the desert. It is that difficult time of
testing before entering paradise. During that time of testing, most of the Israelites failed the test and were not
allowed in. They failed because of their complaining and unbelief.
In the same way we are called to persevere to the end. We must accept the difficulties of this life without
disappointment with God.
-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

Philippians 2:16b Boasting on The Day of Christ

Php.2:15-18
so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved
generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16 as you hold fast to the word of life-in order
that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
Since the world rejects Gods plan for their lives, and complain about the circumstances He sends, and we are
the opposite instead of complaining we sing praises and exhibit gratitude for the circumstances God sends,
we shine like stars in the universe.
But it wont happen unless we hold fast to the Word that brings life. We must remain faithful to Gods Word.
-in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.
Boasting
The word boast is not a verb it is a noun (in order that I may have a ground for boasting)
It is a strange word impossible to translate. We dont have a word that is anywhere near the same range of
meaning.
It is nothing like bragging. Bragging is a verbal thing, this is an attitude.
It has more to do with the orientation of your life than with what you say.
Ro.2:17-24 Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and boast in God;
23 You who boast about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?
To simply say that you rely on God or on the Law doesnt mean you actually do.
Bragging is always prideful and sinful, this is neutral. It is a sin or a virtue depending upon what you boast
in.
So boast is a very misleading translation. Lets translated it glory.
That which you glory in is that which you consider valuable, noteworthy, of uppermost importance. That
which you think of as being most of the greatest value, the most reliable, that which you depend upon, etc
thats the thing you glory in.
take a look at Jer.9
There are two basic usages:
1. It is an important theological term regarding salvation right up there with faith, grace and works. When
Paul wanted to make it clear that it is God who saves us, and not our own human effort, once or twice you see
him say that it is not of works (which is the phrase we have picked up on), but much more often he says it this
way:
You are saved when you glory in God and not in your own human effort or any other human thing.
Like most major doctrines of salvation by grace, it comes from an OT passage.
Jer.9:23-24 This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man
boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, 24but let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and
righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD.
Everyone places his confidence and security in something. And there are really only two possibilities: trust in
your own, human resources, or trust in Gods. Being a believer trusting in God being a child of God
being saved, means placing your full confidence in God.
Loose paraphrase: Let him who highly values something, highly value the Lord, not his own resources.
Eph.2:9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
1Co 1:28-31 He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are
not-to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. ...31 Therefore, as it is
written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
He chose an unimpressive bunch like us, so that none of us would be tempted to hold any of our own
credentials as highly valuable. He tends to choose lowly nobodies like us, so that none of us will be tempted to
fall back on relying on our own resources.
This is a very fundamental part of the Gospel.
Ro.3:21-4:3 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known 22This
righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.
27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded.
4:2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about-but not before God.
Since it is He who has accomplished our salvation, and not our own efforts, where does that leave having selfconfidence and self-reliance? Self-reliance, spiritually, is excluded. You cant be a Christian if you are going to
rely on yourself or anything but God.
Ro.5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now
stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

We place all our confidence in that hope. We dont rely on anything in this world all our hope, all our trust,
all our confident everything that we regard to be of highest value is wrapped in up the glory of God that is
to be revealed on that day.
3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces
perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us,
because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
We also place our confidence and trust in our own sufferings, because those sufferings also tend to re-orient us
toward that hope.
In v.11 he adds a third thing: Ro.5:11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God
So the confidence of the Christian is only in God and that which God has promised.
Php.1:26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account
of me.
Shouldnt be translated joy. Means the same thing as other places that they will place high value on Christ,
and rely on Him all the more as a result of Pauls coming.
Php 3:3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in
Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the fleshHeb.3:6 And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.
A Badge of Honor
You can tell a mans character by what he considers a badge of honor.
If you think it is a badge of honor to be able to beat everyone up, that reveals something about your character.
If you consider it a badge of honor to be known as a servant, as humble and selfless, thats good.
Jas.1:9-10 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10But the one who
is rich in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.
The Corinthian church considered their tolerance of sin a badge of honor.
1Co 5:1-6 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, A man has his father's wife.
2And you are proud!
6 Your boasting is not good.
You should not regard that as a badge of honor. The fact that you consider that a mark of distinction is a
character flaw.
But if you regard something that God honors as a badge of honor, thats good:
Ro.15:17 Therefore I glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God.
The greatest badge of honor anyone could pin on my chest would be one that says, Gods errand boy.
I highly value this ministry, it is of great value to me because of the fact that God called me to it and because of
all the fruit.
So you can gauge a mans character by what he glories in by what he considers a badge of honor.
1Co 3:21 So then, no more boasting about men!
Dont cling to men as a badge of honor.
Another inappropriate boast is when you take something that was given to you by God, and act as though it
originated with you.
1Co 4:7 What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as
though you did not?
1Co 9:15-17 In 1 Co.9 Paul chronicles his rights as an Apostle specifically his right to receive a
salary. 15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing this in the hope that you will
do such things for me. I would rather die than have anyone deprive me of this boast.
I consider it a badge of honor that I did not demand this right.
16Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not
preach the gospel!
But really I cant even consider that a badge of honor, because I am required by God to do it.
1Co 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud
Implied, it does not boast in it is own resources. That is, love is not focused on self.
2Co 10:7-8 You are looking only on the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to
Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he. 8For even if I boast
somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you
down, I will not be ashamed of it.
2Co 10:12-11:1 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.
When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not
wise. 13We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field
God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you. 14We are not going too far in our boasting, as
would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ.

15Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your
faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand, 16so that we can preach
the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another
man's territory. 17But, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord." 18For it is not the one who commends
himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
2Co 11:8-21 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you.
10As surely as the truth of Christ is in me, nobody in the regions of Achaia will stop this boasting of
mine.
12And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an
opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about.
16I repeat: Let no one take me for a fool. But if you do, then receive me just as you would a fool, so
that I may do a little boasting. 17In this self-confident boasting I am not talking as the Lord would, but
as a fool. 18Since many are boasting in the way the world does, I too will boast.
21 What anyone else dares to boast about-I am speaking as a fool-I also dare to boast about.
2Co 11:30-31 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.
My greatest badge of honor is my weakness.
2Co 12:1-6 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and
revelations from the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third
heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know-God knows. 3And I know that this
man-whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows- 4was caught up to
paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. 5I will boast about a
man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6Even if I should choose
to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will
think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say.
2Co 12:9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's
power may rest on me.
Gal 6:13-14 they want you to be circumcised that they may boast about your flesh. 14 May I
never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Jas 4:16-17 As it is , you boast in your pride. All such boasting is evil.

What do you glory in?

What is most precious in your life?
What do you consider a badge of honor?
What do you glory in?
An athlete may glory in an Olympic medal (that is, if you are an athlete, chances are, an Olympic medal would
be especially meaningful to you you place a high value on it).
A writer may glory in a best selling book, or name recognition, or the Pulitzer Prize. If you are a writer, those
are the kinds of things that you would consider to be a great value worthy of striving for.
A scientist or someone in public life may glory in the Nobel Prize.
Someone who is into white water rafting would consider a first decent to be a big honor.
The actors all glory in Oscars (or Golden Globes, Academy Awards, Doves, Emmys Grammys, Tonys...)
If for some reason I ended up acting in a movie, and someone gave me an Oscar, it would mean nothing to me.
If someone heard me playing the trumpet and gave me whatever award they give trumpet players, it would
mean very little.
Other things, on the other hand, are more of an incitement for me. If I were honored as the worlds greatest
public speaker, that would be something I would be tempted to glory in.
Be honest. Dont just spit out a standard religious answer. Take a close look at your life and ask, What am I
glorying in?
What do you daydream about getting in your greatest fantasy?
The difference between a Christian and someone in the world is that the things they consider to be great
honors are earthly, temporal things, and the things we consider to be badges of honor are eternal, spiritual
things.
That which you consider to be an honor is what will motivate you.
What is it that you regard so highly that it gets you off the couch and gets you moving? What do you tend to
work for? What is so important to you in your life that it brings you to the point of working hard, sweating,
struggling, toiling?
Some people glory in $ or possessions, and those people will work real hard for a raise.

Some people glory in being highly regarded by others, and those people will work up a sweat striving for
recognition or respect or fame.
Some people glory in being loved, and those people will break their back trying to initiate or improve certain
relationships.
Some people glory in their skills, and those people will work their fingers to the bone at some skill or talent, just
for the sake of excelling at it.
The fact that those things serve as such a motivation shows that thats what they glory in.
What gets you moving? What would you be willing to crawl over broken glass to get?
What are you willing to suffer adversity for?
There is another way to look at it from the negative side. What do you fear the most? What would be the
most tragic loss you could imagine?
What failure, if it happened to you, would be more devastating than any other failure?
What loss would you do anything to avoid?
Whatever it is that you would be willing to suffer adversity to get, or whatever it is that would be most
devastating if you lost it that is what you glory in.
The primary badge of honor that that was the driving motivation of
Pauls life was the success of the churches.
1Th 2:19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord
Jesus when he comes? Is it not you?
1Co 15:31 I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.
2Co 7:4 I glory greatly in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.
14 In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus was,
because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14I had boasted to him about you, and you have not
embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus has
proved to be true as well.
But it wasnt so much in their present progress. What Paul gloried in, what motivated him was the purity and
godliness of the churches on Judgment Day.
2Co 1:14 Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the
world, and especially in our relations with you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God. We
have done so not according to worldly wisdom but according to God's grace. 13For we do not write
you anything you cannot read or understand. And I hope that, 14as you have understood us in part,
you will come to understand fully that you can boast of us just as we will boast of you in the day of the
Lord Jesus.
2Co 5:11-13 Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is
plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. 12We are not trying to commend ourselves
to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who
take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.
2Co 8:24 Therefore show these men the proof of your love and the reason for our pride in you, so that
the churches can see it.
2Co 9:1-3 There is no need for me to write to you about this service to the saints. 2For I know your
eagerness to help, and I have been boasting about it to the Macedonians, telling them that since last
year you in Achaia were ready to give; and your enthusiasm has stirred most of them to action. 3But I
am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you in this matter should not prove hollow,
but that you may be ready, as I said you would be.

Paul looked to That Day

He lived in constant, excited, unfaltering, unswerving, unwavering, unceasing, unabating, untiring,
unconquerable, tireless hope in that Day.
It was his favorite daydream receiving praise the Lord on that Day. He literally spent himself working
toward that one goal.
If the Day of the Lord came and went, and Paul didnt receive commendation from the Lord if he didnt
hear those words, Well done, good and faithful servant all would be lost. His whole life everything,
would be a complete waste. All the effort he expended his whole life would be for naught.
The other day I heard someone talking about one of the great saints of the past who said, I never go more
than a half hour without thinking about the second coming.
Sometimes I wonder if Paul ever went a half a minute without thinking about it. It leaks out into every chapter
he writes. It dominated his thinking. It is all he lived for the total success of failure of his life was completely

wrapped up in that one Day.

1 Th.2:19-20 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of
our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
2 Co.1:13-14 we will boast of you in the day of the Lord Jesus.
Col.1:28-29 We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may
present everyone perfect in Christ. 29To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so
powerfully works in me.
The Day of the Lord was all he cared about. It was everything. Nothing else mattered. And you can tell
by how often it colored his speech. He is forever talking about Christs coming, His appearing, the Day of
the Lord, the Day of Christ, the coming wrath, the Judgment, the day of our being gathered, the
resurrection, etc.
1Ti.6:14 keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ
He charged Timothy: 2Ti 4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and
the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2 Preach the Word
2 Ti.4:8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, not only for me, but also to all who
have longed for his appearing.
Tit 2:13 we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus
Christ,
twice: the coming wrath
In 1 Th.4:15-18 he talks all about the coming of the Lord 16For the Lord himself will come down
from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God,
and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up
together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18Therefore encourage each other with these words.
For Paul that was the most encouraging reality there is. Gods kindness to us in this life is wonderful, but
nothing compared to His coming.
1 Th.5:23 May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
In 2 Th.2 he writes again about the coming of the Lord: Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus
Christ and our being gathered to him and goes on to talk about the splendor of His coming.
It was such a constant topic of Pauls writing and speaking and thinking that sometimes he just calls it
that day. (1 Thes.5:4, 2 Thes.2:3, 2 Ti.1:12,18)
2 Ti.4:8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will award to me on that day
So the fact that everything Paul cared about would take place on that day, and that Day would be an
evaluation of what he did in this life, you can see why he had such energy for carrying out his calling.
Run or Labor
It is interesting how Paul described his ministry: run or labor
Probably more than just using two synonyms poetically. In the Gr. it is run for nothing or labor for
nothing. The repetition of for nothing seems to indicate a specific focus on each.
run
Paul thought of his life as a race, and his greatest concern was finishing it.
2 Ti.4:6-7 the time has come for my departure. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I
have kept the faith.
It was focused and directed. He was not out for a jog. He was running toward the finish line.
1Co 9:24-26 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in
such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They
do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I
do not run like a man running aimlessly
How much of your life do you spend with your eye on the finish line?
Sure there is some satisfaction you can take in the progress along the way, but nothing like the satisfaction that
is found at the finish line.
If you glory in the completion of your task, nothing can stop you. Obstacles make you fight all the harder.
But if you glory in things in this life, once you have those things, there is no more motivation only
discouragement, because you will find that those things dont bring satisfaction.
Many times the only thing that keeps people in the world going is the thought that once they attain what
they are chasing after, they will find meaning and fulfillment - their lives will matter.
Thats why in places where people have attained what they have been chasing, people tend to be the most
miserable.
We live in an affluent area, and are surrounded by a high percentage of people who are living out their
dream. I looked up the suicide rates of the 50 largest U. S. Metropolitan Areas, and the Denver-Boulder

metro area has the highest rate: 17.6 per 100K compared to 11.3 nation wide.
(Boston 7.2)
It is so tempting to glory in the temporal, and so fruitless and discouraging. Theres nothing in this world
worth glorying in.
Thats why people hit mid life crisis. When you are young, you figure, By the time I reach age ?, I could very
well be on top/rich/etc. Then when you begin to approach that age, you begin to see that you are on track to
be, at that age, a very average Joe. So you get discouraged.
Or maybe you thought you would have extraordinary kids, and now you start seeing that your kids have the
same problems that you always thought was a result of lousy parenting. And you look at your parenting, and
still think it is because of lousy parenting.
Maybe when you were young you dreamed you would end up with some incredible husband. And you look at
him now, and you see that he is on track to be an average Joe, or even below average Joe.
Glorying in earthly things is always disappointing. And it is draining. Sooner or later everything you glory
in disappoints you, and you are left with nothing but depression.
You always hear about the alarming suicide rates among teens and that is a problem. But people over
age 65 kill themselves 50% more often than teens.
Fulfillment doesnt come through attaining anything this world has to offer. And no matter how many
experiences you go through, you wont find meaning in your resume. What really matters is not your
resume, but your epitaph.
Imagine your funeral. Suppose the eulogy has been give, your life has been described to the people, and
everyone is shaking their heads tsk tsk, a wasted life.
That possibility was such a terrifying thought to Paul, that there wasnt anything he wouldnt do to avoid
it. He wanted his life to count not because of pride or self-importance, but because he understood that
when God calls you to do something, that thing must be important.
It wasnt enough for Paul to simply have done his best or made a valiant effort. He wanted success.
It should be the same for us.
2 Jn 8 Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully.
This will have an effect on the way you live. If your ministry is one of encouragement, if you have a temporal
perspective, you might think, I said something encouraging to her, but shes still discouraged. I did my part
the rest is her problem.
But if you think of your calling as a task that must be completed, you wont be satisfied until she is encouraged,
and you will climb any obstacle, endure any adversity, put forth whatever effort is required
You will rack your brain to think of another approach, Satan will try to stall out your efforts and make it seem
useless, but you will not be deterred.
The imagery of a race highlights the idea of continually pressing forward. Are you just letting time carry
you along through life, or are you pressing ahead, pushing forward?
There is something very intentional about running a race. You dont randomly react to things and say,
Ill just see where I end up. In a race, you are fixed on a certain direction, and you move as quickly as
possible in that direction in order to arrive there.
labor literally means to weary oneself denotes arduous effort, constancy, careful attention and especially
working to the point of weariness.
The run pictures the whole life from the time of conversion to death thats your race.
The labor zeros in on each point along that line and highlights the effort expended.
If you do some small job, you dont want it to be in vain, but if you do something that requires
extraordinary effort, and costs you dearly, you really dont want it to be in vain.
If you are vacuuming the floor and someone comes along and tracks dirt thats frustrating.
If you spend hr. washing your car, and then it rains that day, that can be annoying.
If you donate $1000 to a charity that gives gifts to poor children at Christmas, and you read in the news
that someone broke in and stole all the gifts, that would be upsetting.
But what was it that Paul was concerned about it turning into a wasted effort? What did Paul voluntarily
do that could have turned out to be for naught?
2 Co.11:23-28
hard work, frequently imprisonments, severe floggings, exposure to death again and again
Five times he received 39 lashes
Three times beaten with rods
once stoned
three times shipwrecked
he spent a night and a day in the open sea
he was constantly on the move
in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from his own countrymen, in danger from
Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false
brothers.
He labored and toiled and often went without sleep

He knew hunger and thirst and often went without food

I was cold and naked.
And besides everything else, he faced daily the pressure of his concern for all the churches.
How would you like to do all that for nothing? What made Paul so effective for the Lord? He was so
heavily invested in the kingdom of God it was absolutely essential that he not fail, and he would do
anything to see to it that the work was completed. He had nothing else going in life.
Paul lived with a continual fear. There was the ever-present possibility that all that he had worked for
could be lost.
We talk a lot about how the most important thing to God is your motives, and thats very true. But thats
not to say the outcome doesnt matter. Paul cared deeply about what ended up happening in all the
churches. Because if they ended up falling or cooling off, or being led astray everything he had done
with his life would be meaningless.
Gal.2:2-3 I set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those
who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain.
Gal 4:11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
1Th.3:4-5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid
that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
He wanted his efforts to matter.
This explains why Paul was so focused on the Coming of Christ. We all realize that we are supposed to live in
light of the second coming, and that should influence our lives at every point. But as long as we are pouring
our resources into this world, thats where our attention will be.
CONCLUSION
If we succeed in fixing our attention on the finish line if we can bring ourselves to believe Gods promises
enough to where we glory in that Day alone, all the energy we need for ministry will take care of itself.
God gave you a natural drive for wanting meaning in your life. Use that to your advantage. Every one of
us crave meaning, and we want what we do to matter. And every human being will naturally tend to strive
and work and do whatever it takes to achieve that which they think really matters.
So if we can convince ourselves that the only thing that ultimatly matters is what takes place on that Day,
everything else in the Christian life will take care of itself.
That desire for meaning is what drove Paul. It was the rocket engine that supplied is indefatigable
strength and zeal. It is a strong force that is in every human being.
recently on Focus on the Family: of all the teenagers who are attending church right now, within only 2
years 80% of them will have left the church permanently! When they did surveys to discover why, they
were surprised at the answer the students gave. The number one reason by far they gave for leaving was
lack of opportunity for involvement..
All other answers paled to insignificance in comparison.
They found that no matter how they analyzed the data, every time this element came out on top. Any
question that had something to do with that brought out the strongest emotional responses.
I feel like I am an important part of the ministry of our church STRONGLY DISSAGREE
Im not good enough for God to use me AGREE
I would be shocked if someone asked me to do something important in my church. STRONGLY AGREE
I have a lot of opportunities for service in my church STRONGLY DISSAGREE
Teens something to live for a reason to get up in the morning. They want to know their life matters.
Adults crave the same thing. Use that. Convince yourself that all meaning to your life is wrapped up in
what will take place at the Judgment Seat of Christ, and your drive for meaning will direct you to being
faithful to your calling.
It may be hard for you to imagine now, but I promise you, it will matter to you more than anything on
Judgment Day, when the Lord evaluates your work. No matter what effort you put forth and what it cost you
to carry out your calling as a faithful servant, I promise you wont regret it on Judgment Day.
But you will regret everything else, and the fact that Paul believed that is what made him so focused.
to watch all his work be burned up like wood, hay and stubble, and to end up being one of those people
who will be saved as one escaping through the flames the possibility of that terrorized him.
And thats not all. If his task were not faithfully accomplished, it is not just that he would experience the
frustration of meaninglessness. There is an even greater danger than that to arrive on Judgment Day
and to receive censure from the Lord.
Will there be regret for the believer on that Day? Is God going to bring up negative things? Ecc.12:14
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
2 Co.5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is
due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
The penalty for those sins is eternity in hell, and for the believer thats paid.We will have to give an
account.
for every word - Mt.12:36

on gray areas and issues of conscience - Ro.14:10-12

for ministries and responsibilities - Heb.13:17
What does it mean to give an account? To give an explanation for something that went wrong (Acts
19:40)
No excuses will fly - Heb.4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered
and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
God is going to demand an explanation for each sin and we arent going to have them.
Then what?
- shame Php.1:20
- suffer loss 1 Co.3:15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss
There is a temptation to think that this is no big deal (Just as long as I make it to heaven, thats enough even if Im in the crummiest shack there.) That attitude demonstrates a lack of faith. God says that the
riches of heaven are worth seeking. If you dont seek them, it shows you dont believe. But it is
characteristic of believers to seek heavenly riches (v.7)
We are kidding ourselves if we think that way anyway. It wont bother me to lose a few crowns Oh
really? Does it bother you to lose your wallet? your car? you watch? your keys? your $? a book?
Are you saying that when you suffer loss of earthly, temporal, temporary things that have absolutely no
eternal value or significance it bothers you, but you wont be bothered when you lose eternal riches? sure
You mean something negative might happen to me on Judgment day as a result of my sin? Why do you
think 1 Pe.1:17 says
Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here
in fear.
JAS 2:12 Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,
James 5:9 Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at
the door!
12 Above all, my brothers, do not swear-- not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your
"Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.
So we need to be reminded of both the positive and the negative. We are to have a healthy fear of censure on
that Day, and we are to run and labor to the utmost of our ability at the prospect of reward on that Day.
And it all comes down to what you regard as more important this life, or that Day.
Think of the difference between that and glorying in the Day of the Lord.
As it is , some of you wake up to your alarm clock and think, O brother another day. Another day of
sweeping the same floor I swept yesterday, another day of doing the same dumb laundry I do every month,
etc.
So you drag out of bed, you grind your way off to work, endure your day at work, and grind your way home.
Try to endure the conflicts at home, and then go to bed.
What a contrast to glorying in the Coming of our Lord! You lay down at night, close your eyes, and think, Ah,
the Day of Christ! The day of reward. The day when we will all be gathered to Him, and we will see Him face
to face.
The day when I may receive a commendation from the Lord Himself!
And maybe you did well today or maybe you had failures, but you forget what is behind and just think,
Tomorrow I have a chance to faithfully carry out my calling! I have a chance to build the Kingdom of God! I
have a chance to fulfill my commission from the Lord and complete another leg in my race, and move that
much closer to that finish line!

Philippians 2:17- A Drink Offering

Php.2:17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming
from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you too should be glad and rejoice with
me.
A puzzling passage. What is a drink offering, and why does Paul characterize his life that way?
And whats so important about it that it ends up in Scripture?
In what way is this verse useful for correcting and rebuking and training in righteousness so that the man of
God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work?
And why does it start out with but even if? What is the contrast? (I want to glory on the day of Christ
BUT, on the other hand)
And why the if? Is this something that may or may not be the case?
Structure
But even if Paul just got done talking about the possibility that they could fail and thus render his whole
life meaningless. But he said that not to imply that they appear to be going that direction just to
demonstrate how important it is to him to see them succeed.
So lest they think he is too pessimistic about them, and lest they think he is concerned only with his reward and
not really about them
he says, Although I want to be able to rejoice in a job well done on the Day of Christ, even if you dont even
consider the future, even if there were no day of reward, and the only real significance is what is going on
right now, I will rejoice in that.
Why? Because of the significance of what was going on.
Drink Offering
I am being poured out like a drink offering
What is a drink offering?
take a look at 2 Sam.23
A drink offering was wine or some liquid that was poured out on the ground as an act of worship to God. It
was a particularly beautiful act of worship. The symbolism was that of taking something you would normally
enjoy, and pouring it out for God to enjoy instead.
The animal sacrifices, afterward, were eaten by the priests. But no portion of a drink offering was consumed
by anyone it was all poured onto the ground.
It was an act of self-sacrifice. When you dump a drink out on the ground, it is gone. There is no retrieving it or
enjoying it in any way after that.
It is also an act of faith. You would never do that unless you really believed God is real, and that He would be
pleased with it there is no other explanation for taking some perfectly good wine and dumping it in the dirt.
2 Sa.23 records the exploits of Davids mighty men of valor.
13 During harvest time, three of the thirty chief men came down to David at the cave of Adullam, while
a band of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim (on the north side of Bethlehem). 14At that
time David was in the stronghold, and the Philistine garrison was at Bethlehem. (where David grew
up) 15 David longed for water
He was in that stronghold and was thirsty. Evidently there was no water around, and his mouth was dry. He
wanted a drink, but thats not all he wanted. He was tired of being on the run, and he was homesick. He was
distressed that the Philistines had his home town.
He must have got to thinking about back when he was a kid, taking care of the sheep or at this time of year
working the harvest, all the times he would go to the well and get water.
and said, "Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!"
David did not intend that they respond, he was just wishing out loud. But these men so loved David, and were
so devoted to him, that as far as they were concerned, Davids wish was literally their command.
16 So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine lines
They start walking through the mountains over rough terrain. They walk past spring after spring and
stream after stream. They could have gotten water numerous places, but they keep going.
I dont know how long it took them to travel 10 to 15 miles in that terrain, but Im sure it was a significant
journey (imagine walking from here to the north side of Longmont).
Finally they arrive at Bethlehem where the Philistine outpost is.
The Philistines are dangerous people. Obviously David and his army were not able to drive them out of
Bethlehem at this time.
The most heavily guarded place would be the gate especially near the well. The water source would be
essential to survival. The guards posted at the gate and the well were trained killers.
These three guys come close enough to scope out the situation, and then they are faced with the decision:
should we try to sneak in some way, or just draw our swords and charge up there and try to break through?

They choose the latter. They figure, We will just attack, and if we die, we die. So these three guys attack the
Bethlehem stronghold.
They were extraordinarily strong and skilled fighters, and they break through the guard at the gate. They
fight their way to the well, and somehow draw water (maybe two of them fought while the third got some
water).
Well, now they have the water, but they also have a problem. They are surrounded. They are right in the
middle of the Philistine stronghold. Now they need to get out. By now Im sure the Philistines would be
mobilized.
So the one guy holds the water, and it is a life or death struggle to get out. They fight their way back to the
gate, and they make it out. They escape into the mountains, and the Philistines either cant keep up, or after
seeing all their comrades chopped to pieces by these three guys swords, maybe they dont have the courage to
pursue.
So they got the water, and escaped with their lives (although it is hard to imagine they made it out without any
injury at all)
You suppose at this point those guys were thirsty at all after all that? Im sure their throats were parched, and
their bodies in great need of hydration at this point, but they will die of thirst before they will touch this water
they are carrying.
So they begin walking until they can find a water source to satisfy their own thirst.
Now they are on their way back. Another 10-15 mile trek back down to Adullum.
Meanwhile, back at the cave, David is oblivious to what is going on. Hes just sitting in there daydreaming
about his home village.
16 drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem and carried it back to David. But he refused to
drink it; instead, he poured it out before the LORD. 17"Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this!" he said. "Is
it not the blood of men who went at the risk of their lives?" And David would not drink it.
I always loved this story as a kid except that part. They went to all that trouble just to satisfy his thirst, and
now he wont drink it?
And then he dumps it on the ground? If he didnt want it, the least he could have done is give it to them to
drink.
I never understood this until this week when I studied the significance of a drink offering. A drink offering is
some drink that you would enjoy yourself, but you give to God instead. You sacrifice your enjoyment for His.
So the more you would have enjoyed the drink, the greater the offering.
If David had drunk that water, those men would have considered it a great honor that the King would take
pleasure in something they gave him.
So out of respect for them, what David does is turn it into a bigger honor. If they would have been honored to
have King David take pleasure in what they gave, how much more are they honored if what they gave is used
to bring pleasure to God!
And the more pleasurable it would have been for David to drink it himself, the more of a sacrifice it is , the
more of a gift of love it is , and the more God takes pleasure in it.
Now back to Php.2. Paul endured constant, relentless, severe suffering for the sake of the Gospel. He did that
because he considered his life a drink offering.
His life was like that water to a thirsty king in a cave. His life was like fine wine to the ancient Israelite. It was
something that, if he took it for himself, he could have used it for his own enjoyment. But instead of enjoying it,
he dumped it out onto the ground as a love offering to God.
Every one of us comes into this world with a full cup in our hand. You can think of your life like a drink of your
favorite beverage. Imagine yourself, parched and dry, thirsty, and you have a tall glass of your favorite drink.
Whats in the glass is all there is.
It is your choice. You can enjoy it yourself, or dump it out on the ground before God as a love offering to Him.
You can chose to use your life for the pursuit of enjoyment, or for the pursuit of honoring God.
And you can tell which one of those you have chosen by how you respond to suffering and trials. Do you
complain or rejoice?
Think of the trials in your life the painful, inconvenient, difficult things. What is your attitude toward those?
Paul endured incredible suffering terrible, unfair treatment incessantly, constantly, without a break, and
yet you never hear him say, Why? We never hear him say, How come the Philippians are free and Im in
prison? If I have to go through this, they should too.
He didnt ask why, because he did not consider his suffering an intrusion but an offering a high privilege.
It is often assumed that the pouring out = Pauls death based on the use in 2 Ti., but I dont think it fits the
context here. It is a present tense, and a few vv. later he says he will come to them soon.
The Sacrifice
on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith
Sacrifices, in the OT, had two functions: They served as
pictures of atonement

expressions of worship.
In the NT, #1 is fulfilled, and the references to our making sacrifices are all #2.
The word service is a reference to the priestly activity of offering worship in the Temple. In the Temple
worship the drink offering was poured out on the ground around the altar as a completion of some sacrifice.
The sacrifice was already acceptable as it was the drink offering was just an added touch to make it a little
more sweet smelling to the Lord.
God prescribed a regular morning and evening sacrifice, and it involved a drink offering.
Ex 29:38-41 "This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. 39 Offer
one in the morning and the other at twilight. 40With the first lamb offer a quarter of a hin of wine as a
drink offering. 41Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and its drink offering as
in the morning--a pleasing aroma, an offering made to the LORD by fire.
The lamb itself had to be acceptable. It had to be without blemish, etc. So just the lamb was already a pleasing
aroma to God. The drink offering just made it a little bit more pleasing.
The ministry of the Philippian church was the offering, and Pauls ministry was just an added touch.
You can sometimes gain insight into a persons character by the way he uses himself in an illustration. Paul
doesnt say that he set up his life as a monument in honor of God so future generations would see it. Many
people have that as a goal to be remembered and to make a difference for generations to come.
Paul doesnt think of his life as a monument. He doesnt even think of his life as a sacrifice on the altar. He
doesnt say, I offer my life to God as a choice lamb
He looked at his life like a drink offering. Just hours after the sacrifice, there is no trace of the drink offering.
There is no lasting element to it, it is just for the purpose of increasing Gods pleasure for that one moment.
Paul: Even if there is no Day of rewards, even if there is nothing for me to look forward to, even if all my life
amounts to is a little icing on the top of the cake of what you are offering God, thats enough for me to be full of
joy.
**********
It is worth noting that he considered their ministry to be more significant than his. That shows the importance
of a local church. The ministry of a local church is a more profound offering to God then the life of an Apostle.
Your ministry, your offering to God is the main event. And if I can just play some supporting role to make it a
tiny bit better, I am full of joy.
If Paul can rejoice in being a small contribution to the major sacrifice of the Php. church, just think how much
they should rejoice in being the major sacrifice! And just think how much we can rejoice, because guess what
we are a church!
Dont ever disparage the significance of the local church. Christ didnt promise to build and preserve and build
His kingdom through Christian camps, or through campus ministries, or through disaster relief agencies, or
through television programs, or radio ministries He said I will build my Church and the gates of hell will
not prevail against the church.
All those other things are great if they are like Paul, and exist for the purpose of enhancing the ministry of
churches, but it is the ministry of the churches that is primarily pleasing to God.
I am eternally grateful for the work many of those parachurch organizations do. Much of it has become
necessary, precisely because the church has been negligent in many of its responsibilities. However, those
organizations are not churches.
Many times they think they are. I know of one Christian camp that schedules its workers to work Sundays, so
they cant attend church. The manager says, We have Bible studies, and we pray together. There are
Christians all around, so theres fellowship.
But the dont baptize or celebrate the Lords supper, they dont practice church discipline, they dont have
biblically qualified elders and deacons in leadership they are not churches.
The goal of every Christians ministry should be to enhance the offering made to God by the local church.
Maybe you are a stone in the altar, maybe you are the kindling to get the fire going, maybe you are the animal
itselfor maybe all you are is some little, momentary drink offering dumped out on the ground and soaked
into the dirt and forgotten, that just makes the offering of that church a little sweeter to God for that moment.
But whatever your role, the focus is on the ministry of the church.
Maybe you think your role isnt important enough. You have this little gift to offer and that little gift to offer.
You help clear tables after a fellowship meal, or something like that. Maybe you are poor, and your offerings
for the whole year wouldnt even buy the paper we print bulletins on.
Maybe you are giving all that you can, but it doesnt seem like much, and you wish you had some bigger gift,
or some greater role in the overall offering.
But Paul said, Even if all I am is a drink offering dumped out on the ground, Im full of joy.
**********
The point of this passage is to highlight the incredible privilege, in the present, of worshipping God. That alone
is worth everything.
And in one sense it is a privilege we wont have in heaven (worshipping in faith).
That makes all the suffering worth it. That says a lot about Paul, but even more about God.
The more worthless a person is, the less you would be willing to suffer for their pleasure.

You might be willing to undergo some suffering to bring pleasure to your wife or husband (assuming it wasnt
too much suffering, and it was a lot of pleasure), but you wouldnt for some thug or child molester, and
certainly not for Hitler.
So the more you are willing to suffer to bring someone pleasure, the more worthy that person must be.
So if it is worth a whole life of unthinkable pain just to bring a little added pleasure to a single act of worship
to God, what kind of God must He be to be worthy of that!
One of the things you notice about God is that the people who know Him best will sacrifice anything to please
Him. That says a lot about how great He is and how worthy He is.
Remember I told a drink offering is an act of faith? You might offer a lamb with mixed motives (you want to
worship God, but you are also looking forward to some nice lamb chops afterward). A drink offering is pure
faith. Only God benefits. It is pure worship.
The Joy
even if I am being poured out like a drink offering I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 So you
too should be glad and rejoice with me.
The word for glad and rejoice are the same word. Lit: I rejoice (just on my own), and I rejoice with you, and
so you should rejoice and rejoice with me.
So he talks about rejoicing 4 times in one half a sentence.
He is absolutely filled with joy. Why? Because his life is a drink offering.
The Philippians were very concerned about Paul. They heard about all his suffering and imprisonment, and
they sent money and gifts and Epaphroditus. They prayed for him and supported him and worried about him.
(Just imagine a pastor you dearly loved, who led you to the Lord and taught you and who dearly loved you
and he goes off to another country and you get word that he is being beaten and is in prison facing possible
execution.)
The book of Philippians is a thank you letter for all that support. And in the thank you letter Paul says, You
are concerned for me listen, dont worry about me Im as happy as I have ever been. I see your faith, and I
get the privilege of even adding to it a little thats my boast! It is all I care about! Dont cry for me, my
wildest dream is coming true!
You see this kind of joy in the lives of those who have sacrificed the most. If you want to read about joy, read a
book about the martyrs. They are always filled with joy.
What an amazing joy! Have you ever been that happy? Have you ever been so full of joy that you could be
whipped and beaten and imprisoned and stoned and shipwrecked and mugged and chased and hunted and
starved and cold and impoverished and still be genuinely full of joy?
Thats the kind of joy that comes from pouring out your life as a drink offering.
I stand up here week after week and urge you to take pleasure in God to hope in Him. To glory in the Day of
reward and not in earthly things. Ive told you repeatedly that earthly things wont ultimately satisfy.
But those things do bring pleasure. Possessions, worldly things - even sinful things, etc. all bring me a lot of
happiness.
I dont dispute that. But compare the caliber of that joy to this kind.
What possession would fill you with so much joy that you would sing for joy while being burned at the stake
for that possession?
What relationship or pleasure in this world is so wonderful, and fills you with so much joy that you would
literally sing for joy while being whipped or beaten for it?
You may be thinking, That kind of joy is not even on the map in my life.
Why have many of us never known that kind of joy? Is it even real?
Think about what joy or happiness is: Happiness is a pleasant feeling that comes as a result of either getting
something you want, or something happening that you wanted to happen.
The degree of your happiness depends upon 2 things:
How important the thing is to you
How important the thing is period (intrinsically good the thing is)
A kid may really want a certain toy, and it may be very important to him, but when he gets it, it doesnt bring
lasting joy because it has little intrinsic value.
Or if you want something of high intrinsic value such as the salvation of someone who is lost, or something
that advances the Kingdom, but it is not very important to you, still little joy.
Want joy? First fix your sights on #2, then work on #1 through the Col.3 principle.
#2 Begin looking to the right things for joy.
One reason why many people have never known joy like that is because in order to get that kind of joy you
have to give up lesser joys. You cant have that joy while trying to glory in earthly things.
Jer.9:23-24 "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, or the strong man glory in his strength or the rich
man glory in his riches, 24 but let him who glories, glory in this: that he understands and knows me
declares YHWH.
Jesus said it this way: Mt.6:24 "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the

other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Paul referred to it as crucifying self.
God will put this joy in your hands, but not while something else is in there.
You cant try to take your joy from earthly things and from the Lord. You have to pick one or the other. If you
pick earthly things, they will give you some feelings of pleasure, but those feelings will come and go with
circumstances.
That kind of joy is frustrating, because it is always highs and lows and highs and lows It is not dependable.
Is there some joy? Yes. But Satan can take it away any time he wants, people can take it away, circumstances
can take it away
But if you take your joy from the Kingdom of God, nothing can touch your joy. God doesnt come and go.
I have been down and discouraged many times in my life, but never as a result of something I have sacrificed
for the Lord.
It is amazing we are reluctant to give to the Lord in a sacrificial way, we are reluctant to give up this or that
earthly thing for the Lord, because we are afraid it might cost us some happiness.
And yet, can you ever think of a time when you became depressed and discouraged as a result of something
you gave the Lord?
On the other hand, there have been other times in my life when I have decided to get my happiness and joy
from money, and then Ive lost money or not had as much as I wanted, and I was depressed.
That will happen when you seek joy from possessions, or relationships, or experiences, or vacations, or any
earthly thing.
So #2 solves the problem of getting the things you want. If you want spiritual blessing and the success of the
Kingdom of God if thats what you want, then you can always have what you want. So you can always have
joy.
The other problem, though, is getting to the point that that is important to you (#1). You wont take much joy
in those things if they are not important to you.
#1 Set you minds on things above.
The more you learn about God, and the more time you spend each day thinking about things from a spiritual,
eternal perspective, the more those things will become attractive to you the more important they will become
to you.
What have you sacrificed? What have you said no to to say yes to building the Kingdom of God?

Timothy Php.2:19-24
We are studying a letter written about 2000 years ago from the Apostle Paul to the church in the city of
Philippi. Paul was in prison, waiting to find out if he would be released or if he would lose his head.
The way mail was delivered was if you had a friend who happened to be going where the letter was to go,
you sent it with the friend. In a letter like this, the standard practice was to have a section in the letter
commending the bearer of the letter like a letter of recommendation.
So in vv.19-24 Paul commends Timothy. The thing is, Tim isnt the one bringing the letter! Timothy isnt
even coming. Paul simply indicates that he hopes to send him in the future once he knows how things will
turn out.
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news
about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For
everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has
proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I
hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord
that I myself will come soon.
So why not commend Tim with another letter when he does send him?
The reason becomes apparent as we read on. Im sure part of the reason was to give them hope and
encouragement as they have something to look forward to.
But even more importantly, I think Paul talks about Tim because, as we will see, Tim is such a great
example of everything Paul has been teaching in ch.2.
I think we tend to do too many character studies we want to focus on men instead of God. But every
once in a while Scripture sets before us a spiritually mature man or woman as an example we are to
follow.
So thats the reason for these comments about Tim.
For the last few months we have heard principles. But sometimes principles are hard to put in place in
your life - abstract. Sometimes we need to see it lived out.
Like a coach trying to explain some complex movement of the body with angles and diagrams, and finally
just says, Here, let me show you.
Paul says, Let me show you what Im talking about.
So this week and next we can just sit back and watch two remarkable examples of these principles lived
out.
Try to resist the temptation, as we examine these men, to just beat up on yourself and condemn yourself at
every point where you fall short of this example. That doesnt seem to be the mood in which the material is
given.
I think a better approach would be to just sit back and enjoy hearing about these men who so honored God,
and let your heart be warmed by knowing that these things are possible, and by seeing what a lovely
result comes from following these principles.
I hope when we are done with this study we dont leave here depressed because we fall short, but
encouraged and aspiring to more Christlikeness.
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon that I also may be cheered when I receive news about
you.
If he already knows the news is good, why does he need to send Tim?
I think this is a lot more than a news-gathering errand for Timothy. A lot of people could go there to get
news. Paul sent Tim to help that church to create the good news to teach, exhort, encourage, edify,
rebuke, comfort, train all the things Paul did.
The point is that Pauls goal of boasting on the Day of Christ and being a drink offering will all be realized
if Tim. goes there.
As an aside
How often do we send missionaries to minister to established, healthy churches? Paul did.
You would be hard pressed to find anyone in history more mission minded than Paul, and yet Pauls
greatest concern was the health of the churches, and the spiritual well-being of the Christians in those
churches.
What a contrast to the philosophy many have today that seems to only be concerned with getting as many
heads in churches as possible. Sometimes there is such an emphasis on the unchurched, that as long as a
person is churched, there is no concern for him.
As long as every Sunday he goes in some building with the word church in its name, we dont have to
worry about that guy all we care about is getting those people who arent attending anywhere. Once we
get them attending somewhere, they are fine.
The first question other pastors ask me is, How many are coming to your church? The second question
is, How many of those came from other churches, and how many were unchurched?
The assumption underlying that question is the people who came from other churches dont really count,
and I should be ashamed of myself for stealing those sheep from another fold.

Paul had a very different approach. He was mainly concerned about the churched.
In 2Co.11:28 he characterized his greatest burden eclipsing even all the beatings and whippings and
dangers and torture the heaviest load of all for him was his concern for all the churches.
You might expect him to say it was his concern for the lost. No one had a heart for the lost like Paul (he
was even willing to go to hell himself if by doing so the Jews could be saved)
Ro.9:1-3 I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit-- 2 I have
great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off
from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel.

It is hard to imagine anyone having more of a heart for the lost. And yet his greatest concern was always
for the churches because he knew that they are the key to reaching this world.
In Pauls mind, it is always the church that is the central focus on earth (the main offering, to which
everything else is just a drink offering and we are a church!)
Luke wrote a gospel and a sequel. The Gospel was about what Jesus began to do and teach (Acts 1:1), and
the sequel to that was a book about what Jesus continued to do and teach. Acts is about the work of the
Lord on earth, and the whole book is about the church.
20 times you see references to the Church. Zero times do you see references to parachurch organizations.
Every ministry that takes place takes place as a function of the Church.
There are missionaries, but they are always sent from churches to either start new churches or to help
existing churches.
The Church is the Body of Christ on earth (not part of the body it is His body Eph.1:22,5:23,
Col.1:18,24 1 Co.12 ). The Church is the presence of God in the world, and it is what God has chosen to
work through. The closer connection you have with the Church, the greater your capacity to accomplish
Gods work.
According to Eph.3:10, Gods whole plan was to make His wisdom known to the rulers and authorities in
the heavenly realms, and to do so through the Church!
According to Eph.3:21 God the Father receives glory two ways: through Jesus Christ and through the
Church.
The Church is Gods household (1 Ti.3:15)
The thing that made Paul the worst sinner of all was the fact that he persecuted the Church. (1 Co.15:9)
And when God wanted to give the final revelation of Himself to the world, He did it in written form in
letters addressed to local churches.
I hope you understand how absolutely vital it is that the local churches are healthy. It is not enough that
people are just in a church.
Our mission is not to make it so the unchurched become churched. The very fact that the word church has
become a verb shows how little our modern church strategy culture understands what the Church is.
I grieve for the lost, and I long to see the multitudes come to know Christ, but the greatest heartache I have
the greatest pain and anxiety of my soul is for the churched for the countless thousands and millions
who are in unhealthy churches that have unqualified leadership,
churches that wont practice church discipline and who tolerate unrepentant sin,
churches that minimize the Holy Scriptures in favor of human wisdom, starving the sheep to death
churches that teach false doctrine, a false Gospel, false Christs or who allow such teaching in their midst.
So Paul sends his greatest protg, the most valuable disciple he had, to go to this wonderful church to help
them through some struggles.
And it had to be Tim. not because Tim was the most gifted, or the most talented, or the most experienced,
or the most godly, or the most respected.
He may have been all of those, but the reason Paul says it has to be him is
20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.
genuine interest Anxiety (same word as ch.4)
For Paul the most important thing wasnt communication skills or people skills or leadership skills or any
skill. The most important thing was that it be someone who is humble enough, and selfless enough, that he
worries about your welfare rather than his.
God uses people who have a deep concern for the spiritual well-being of people.
Paul said, I want so much to get to the Day of Christ and see that my efforts in Philippi werent wasted. I
want so much to see them succeed. I need to send someone there. Who should I send?
One thing for sure: it has to be someone who does nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in
humility considers others more important than himself. He has to be someone who looks not only to his
own interests, but also to the interests of others.
His attitude has to be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made

himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in
appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!
He must be a person who is continuing to carry out his salvation with fear and trembling living out a life
of humble obedience, doing everything without complaining or arguing, standing out against a crooked
and depraved generation, like stars in the universe
It had to be someone like that, so it had to be Tim.
If you can find someone who cares more about other people than he does himself, that is more important
than any amount of giftedness.
And Tim was like that.
21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
Everyone else has selfish worry.
Notice the contrast - you expect you but he says, Christ To be interested in others is to be interested in
Christ.
So when your own affairs are a priority, then those of Christ are not, and that is a disqualification for
usefulness.
He certainly couldnt send the preachers from ch.1
1:15 some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, out of selfish ambition,
I suppose those preachers were good speakers, interesting, funny (the people listened to them for some
reason). But they could be the worlds greatest, funniest, most moving, motivating speakers, but Paul isnt
about to send them - they were into self-fulfillment, self-actualization and self realization.
The kinds of problems in Philippi seemed to be relationship problems. No doctrinal issues are addressed,
but there seems to have been a lot of anxiety and frustration that was eroding personal relationships.
The last thing you want to do in a situation like that is send some proud person in there. The last thing the
Philippians need is some model of selfishness
He will try to work with the situation, and before long someone will turn on him, insult him, attack him in
some way, and if he reacts in anger and becomes defensive now you have just increased the problem.
Lack of humility is a disqualification for ministry with people. When you read about the selfish preachers
in ch.1, you think, How could men like that ever gain a following? And yet you look around and see it all
the time.
I know a number of pastors who lose their temper in board meetings, get offended whenever they receive
criticism, cuss people out during the week when they get upset, etc. (I know one pastor that lost his temper
with the congregation during a sermon and a doctor in the congregation ended up putting him on Prozak)
Certainly there were other godly men in Rome.
We should understand that v.21 is not saying that everyone looks out only for his own interests and not at
all for those of Christ. If that were the case, that would mean there are not even any believers in Rome.
They were concerned primarily about the affairs of Christ over their own, but in this case their concern for
their own affairs interfered with their devotion to Christ.
Maybe Paul bounced the idea of a trip to Philippi off a number of them, and got a cool response.
Will you go?
Now is a bad time for me career-wise.
How about you?
I cant afford it right now.
You?
Im not up to the journey physically.
Im working on completing my education.
Sorry Paul, but my kids are doing real well here we dont want to uproot them.
Timothy?
When do I leave? What do you want to me accomplish? When do you want me back?
And when Timothy responded that way, it must have struck Paul that attitude is exactly what the
Philippians need. If they could just learn that kind of humility, all their problems would be solved.
So Paul tells them about Tims attitude in this section about humility.
In v.20 he says Tim takes a genuine interest. It was natural for him.
That kind of humility seems like such a high, lofty goal almost unrealistic. And yet, why should it be?
What would be more natural, if we believe the Bible is true, than pouring ourselves completely into the
Kingdom of God, and caring very little about temporary, earthly things?
lit: Who will take (future)
It is not that Tim is especially burdened for the Philippians. In fact, hes probably at this time mostly
concerned with the Romans. But Paul knows his heart enough to know that as soon as he arrives in
Philippi he will be concerned about the Philippians.
Skip down to v.23
I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.
Notice he doesnt say, I hope to send him as soon as his affairs are in order. In fact, you never hear about
Tims affairs in the NT.

Acts 16:1-4
Timothy was a young man growing up in Derbe with a Jewish mother and a Greek father. The people in
that town spoke well of him he had a good reputation, and Im sure he enjoyed his life there.
One day Paul came into town, met Timothy, and said, How about you uproot yourself, leave your home
town, leave all your family and friends, and travel with me and dont worry about all the beatings and
floggings those are generally mostly directed at me.
So Timothy went. Then Paul said, O, one more thing you need to be circumcised just so none of the Jews
are offended.
So in the next ch. they end up in Berea, where the Jewish leaders stirred up the people against their
ministry. The situation became so dangerous and life-threatening, that the brothers told Paul, You need
to go immediately.
So Paul told Tim, I have to go because of the danger why dont you stay here.
So he did.
Later on Paul ended up in Athens and sent for Tim. to meet him there. So Tim up and left.
For the next two chapters they are on the move from place to place, and then in ch.19 Paul sends Tim to
Macedonia.
In Ro.16 he is in Rome with Paul.
In 1 Co.4:17 Paul is sending him to Corinth.
In I Thes.3 Tim is in Athens with Paul, Paul sends him to Thesselanica, then he returns to Athens.
Later Paul sends him to Ephesus to depose the established, respected leaders.
In Hebrews 13 he is in prison, about to be released, at which time he will be sent to the recipients of the
letter to the Hebrews.
In the 25 times we see Timothy in the NT, every single time he is either on the move or staying in some
unpleasant place somewhere for a certain work..
We never see him making any plans for himself. He is always being told what to do, where to go and what
to say. We never hear anything about his plans, his agenda, his dreams or aspirations, his goals.
What must that have been like? Imagine the constant severing of relationships. It is hard to imagine he
owned anything beyond what he carried with him.
What a servant!
22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son (child) with his father he has
served (slaved) with me in the work of the gospel.
Timothy proved his character not just by slaving along side Paul, but by doing so with the attitude of a
child with his dad. (The word is not son, it is child) It is not talking about a grown son.
The picture is like Josiah wanting to help me with some job. Whenever I get my tools out to fix something,
Josiah runs and gets his toolbox and says, Can I help daddy? Please? That was Timothys attitude.
Beautiful imagry. This is not oppressive or burdensome
In Mt.11:30 Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden light. This is part of the reason. When you have
this attitude, you see any work or sacrifice not as a burden but a privilege and a joy.
Saturday afternoon I was sick, very tired, and in no mood to do all the stuff that needs doing on
Saturdays.
Saturday is my least favorite day, because all the fun part of my work is over, and theres just all the
mundane, busy work.
And as my energy was draining away, my thoughts were drawn back to Timothy working under much
more difficult circumstances with the enthusiasm and eagerness of Josiah helping me on a project.
How do you get that? What is it that makes Josiah so excited to do something so mundane?
It is because he has an innate desire to do adult stuff. He wants to be like an adult.
Timothy had that attitude not because he was getting to do adult things, but because he was getting a
chance to do divine things!
He was doing the work of heaven.
Suddenly I realize, there is no mundane work for the Kingdom. Is it mundane for me to drive to Longmont
when Im sick and pick up some O transparencies for service to the King of Heaven?
Is it hum-drum work to walk through and put the pens in the backs of the pews so that people can put into
their remembrance eternal, spiritual truths about God?
There is no menial task done for the King of kings, and it is an exciting privilege for me to do anything for
Him.
That attitude proved Timothys humility.
From Pauls perspective, Tim was a fellow-slave. Thats an insight into Pauls humility. So from Pauls
point of view, he considered it just a co-laboring two slaves working side by side.
But from Timothys perspective, Tim was like a child working at his fathers side.
For a young man, it is easy to get a big head in the ministry (especially if you have a world-wide ministry
like Tim). Im sure there are some areas where Tim was gifted more than Paul.
The preachers in ch.1 didnt even like Paul. They thought the old man was a has-been, and they were hot
stuff.

But Timothy looked at his ministry at Pauls side and thought of himself like a little boy helping his dad
with a project. He was humble, willing to learn, receptive to advice or criticism or rebuke.
Are you fit to be sent?

PHP 2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive
news about you. [20] I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. [21] For
everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. [22] But you know that Timothy has
proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. [23] I
hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. [24] And I am confident in the Lord
that I myself will come soon.
PHP 2:25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker
and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. [26] For he
longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. [27] Indeed he was ill, and almost
died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon
sorrow. [28] Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may
be glad and I may have less anxiety. [29] Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like
him, [30] because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you
could not give me.
This is the story of an amazing love triangle. There are no principles taught - it is a case where we learn
by example. This is a great way to learn, because it does something that meare principles cannot. We
constantly read about the standards of behavior we have, and it can get discouraging. When we see
someone do it, it encourages us (Someone is pulling it off!)
Hope in the Lord.
This is how we are to approach our desires - hope for what we want, but always subject it to the plan of
Christ.
So I may be cheered Love always trusts.
Timothy: An amazing man. A portrait of usefulness.
I have no one like him - lots of Xians in Rome, even preachers. So important to reproduce yourself.
Genuine interest This is the word in 4:6. Also Mt.6:25, 10:19, Lk.10:41,
One the other hand, it is in 1 Co.7:32-34, 12:25 and here
So there is a good kind of worry and a bad kind. What is the difference? (Worry about others, not self).
Everyone else has slefish worry. Notice the contrast - you expect you but he says, Christ To be
interested in others is to be interested in Christ.
proved To prove through testings. You really find out a persons charecter when they are suffering.
(Driving?)
served with me like a son with his father A great picture. Lit slaved with me. Not slaved under me. Paul
looks to T as an equal, but T gave respect like a father. Thats how spiritual leadership should be.
Beautiful imagry. Like working w/ my dad. Girls love to help me.
Paul is waiting, because he had matters he needed T for. What do you think it would have been like to be
at Pauls constant beck and call? This is sacrificial living. He comes, goes, stays, helps, waits, etc. All
based on Paul.

Timothy & Epaphroditus Php.2:19-30

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news
about you. 20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 21 For
everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know that Timothy has
proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 23 I
hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord
that I myself will come soon.
We are studying a letter written about 2000 years ago from the Apostle Paul to the church in the city of
Philippi. Paul was in prison, waiting to find out if he would be released or if he would lose his head.
The way mail was delivered was if you had a friend who happened to be going where the letter was to go,
you sent it with the friend. In a letter like this, the standard practice was to have a section in the letter
commending the bearer of the letter like a letter of recommendation.
So in vv.19-24 Paul commends Timothy. The thing is, Tim isnt the one bringing the letter! Timothy isnt
even coming. Paul simply indicates that he hopes to send him in the future once he knows how things will
turn out.
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon
So why not commend Tim with another letter when he does send him?
The reason becomes apparent as we read on. Im sure part of the reason was to give them hope and
encouragement as they have something to look forward to.
There wasnt anyone more valuable to Paul than Tim, and there were a lot of churches all around Asia
Minor and Palestine that Paul was concerned about and Tim could only be in one place at a time. So for
Paul to send him to Philippi was a significant gift to them, and something that would bring them great joy.
But even more importantly, I think Paul talks about Tim because, as we will see, Tim is such a great
example of everything Paul has been teaching in ch.2.
I think we tend to do too many character studies we want to focus on men instead of God. But every
once in a while Scripture sets before us a spiritually mature man or woman as an example we are to
follow.
For the last few months we have heard principles. But sometimes principles are hard to put in place in
your life. Sometimes we need to see it lived out.
Like a coach trying to explain some complex movement of the body with angles and diagrams, and finally
just says, Here, let me show you.
Paul says, Let me show you what Im talking about.
So this week and next we can just sit back and watch two remarkable examples of these principles lived
out.
Try to resist the temptation, as we examine these men, to just beat up on yourself and condemn yourself at
every point where you fall short of this example. That doesnt seem to be the mood in which the material is
given.
I think a better approach would be to just sit back and enjoy hearing about these men who so honored God,
and let your heart be warmed by knowing that these things are possible, and by seeing what a lovely
result comes from following these principles.
I hope when we are done with this study we dont leave here depressed because we fall short, but
encouraged and aspiring to more Christlikeness.
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon that I also may be cheered when I receive news about
you.
Paul wants to receive good news, but I think this is a lot more than a news-gathering errand for Timothy.
A lot of people could go there to get news. Paul sent Tim to help that church to teach, exhort, encourage,
edify, rebuke, comfort, train all the things Paul did.
The point is that Pauls goal of boasting on the Day of Christ and being a drink offering will all be realized
if Tim. goes there.
How often do we send missionaries to minister to established, healthy churches? Paul did.
You would be hard pressed to find anyone in history more mission minded than Paul, and yet Pauls
greatest concern was the health of the churches, and the spiritual well-being of the Christians in those
churches.
What a contrast to the philosophy many have today that seems to only be concerned with getting as many
heads in churches as possible. Sometimes there is such an emphasis on the unchurched, that as long as a
person is churched, there is no concern for him.
As long as every Sunday he goes in some building with the word church in its name, we dont have to
worry about that guy all we care about is getting those people who arent attending anywhere. Once we
get them attending somewhere, they are fine.

The first question other pastors ask me is, How many are coming to your church? The second question
is, How many of those came from other churches, and how many were unchurched?
The assumption underlying that question is the people who came from other churches dont really count,
and I should be ashamed of myself for stealing those sheep from another fold.
Paul had a very different approach. In 2Co.11:28 he characterized his greatest burden eclipsing even all
the beatings and whippings and dangers and torture the heaviest load of all for him was his concern for
all the churches.
You might expect him to say it was his concern for the lost. No one had a heart for the lost like Paul (he
was even willing to go to hell himself if by doing so the Jews could be saved)
Ro.9:1-3 I speak the truth in Christ--I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit-- 2 I have
great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off
from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel.

It is hard to imagine anyone having more of a heart for the lost. And yet his greatest concern was always
for the churches because he knew that they are the key to reaching this world.
So Paul sends his greatest protg, the most valuable disciple he had, to go to this wonderful church to help
them through some struggles.
And it had to be Tim. not because Tim was the most gifted, or the most talented, or the most experienced,
or the most godly, or the most respected.
He may have been all of those, but the reason Paul says it has to be him is
20 I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.
genuine interest Anxiety (same word as ch.4)
God uses people who have a deep love for people. Moses could have agreed with God. (Ex.32:10ff)
Jeremiah wept. Paul would have forfeited his salv! (Ro.9:3)
For Paul the most important thing wasnt communication skills or people skills or leadership skills or any
skill. The most important thing was that it be someone who is humble enough, and selfless enough, that he
worries about your welfare rather than his.
Paul said, I want so much to get to the Day of Christ and see that my efforts in Philippi werent wasted. I
want so much to see them succeed. I need to send someone there. Who should I send?
One thing for sure: it has to be someone who does nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in
humility considers others more important than himself. He has to be someone who looks not only to his
own interests, but also to the interests of others.
His attitude has to be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made
himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in
appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!
He must be a person who is continuing to carry out his salvation with fear and trembling living out a life
of humble obedience, doing everything without complaining or arguing, standing out against a crooked
and depraved generation, like stars in the universe
If you can find someone who cares more about other people than he does himself, that is more important
than any amount of giftedness.
And Tim was like that.
21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
Everyone else has selfish worry. Notice the contrast - you expect you but he says, Christ To be
interested in others is to be interested in Christ.
So when your own affairs are a priority, then those of Christ are not, and that is a disqualification for
usefulness.
He certainly couldnt send the preachers from ch.1
1:15 some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, out of selfish ambition,
I suppose those preachers were good speakers, interesting, funny (the people listened to them for some
reason). But they could be the worlds greatest, funniest, most moving, motivating speakers, but Paul isnt
about to send them - they were into self-fulfillment, self-actualization and self realization.
The last thing the Philippians need is some model of selfishness.
Certainly there were other godly men in Rome.
We should understand that v.21 is not saying that everyone looks out only for his own interests and not at
all for those of Christ. If that were the case, that would mean there are not even any believers in Rome.
They were concerned primarily about the affairs of Christ over their own, but in this case their concern for
their own affairs interfered with their devotion to Christ.

Maybe Paul bounced the idea of a trip to Philippi off a number of them, and got a cool response.
Now is a bad time for me career-wise.
I cant afford it right now.
Im not up to the journey physically.
Im working on completing my education.
Sorry Paul, but my kids are doing real well here we dont want to uproot them.
Timothy?
When do I leave? What do you want to me accomplish? When do you want me back?
And when Timothy responded that way, it must have struck Paul that attitude is exactly what the
Philippians need. If they could just learn that kind of humility, all their problems would be solved.
So Paul tells them about Tims attitude in this section about humility.
In v.20 he says Tim takes a genuine interest. It was natural for him.
That kind of humility seems like such a high, lofty goal almost unrealistic. And yet, why should it be?
What would be more natural, if we believe the Bible is true, than pouring ourselves completely into the
Kingdom of God, and caring very little about temporary, earthly things?
lit: Who will take (future)
It is not that Tim is especially burdened for the Philippians. In fact, hes probably at this time mostly
concerned with the Romans. But Paul knows his heart enough to know that as soon as he arrives in
Philippi he will be concerned about the Philippians.
The problems in Philippi seemed to be relationship problems. No doctrinal issues are addressed, but there
seems to have been a lot of anxiety and frustration that was eroding personal relationships.
The last thing you want to do in a situation like that is send some proud person in there. He will try to
work with the situation, and before long someone will turn on him, insult him, attack him in some way,
and if he reacts in anger and becomes defensive now you have just increased the problem.
Lack of humility is a disqualification for ministry with people. When you read about the selfish preachers
in ch.1, you think, How could men like that ever gain a following? And yet you look around and see it all
the time.
I know a number of pastors who lose their temper in board meetings, get offended whenever they receive
criticism, cuss people out during the week when they get upset, etc. (I know one pastor that lost his temper
with the congregation during a sermon and a doctor in the congregation ended up putting him on Prozak)
22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son (child) with his father he has served
(slaved) with me in the work of the gospel.
Timothy proved his character not just by slaving along side Paul, but by doing so with the attitude of a
child with his dad. (The word is not son, it is child) It is not talking about a grown son.
The picture is like Josiah wanting to help me with some job. Whenever I get my tools out to fix something,
Josiah runs and gets his toolbox and says, Can I help daddy? Please? That was Timothys attitude.
Beautiful imagry. This is not oppressive or burdensome
In Mt.11:30 Jesus said His yoke is easy and His burden light. This is part of the reason. When you have
this attitude, you see any work or sacrifice not as a burden but a privilege and a joy.
That attitude proved Timothys humility.
From Pauls perspective, Tim was a fellow-slave. Thats an insight into Pauls humility. Paul worked
harder than all the others, yet he spoke very highly of them.
So from Pauls point of view, he considered it just a co-laboring two slaves working side by side.
But from Timothys perspective, Tim was like a child working at his fathers side.
For a young man, it is easy to get a big head in the ministry (especially if you have a world-wide ministry
like Tim). Im sure there are some areas where Tim was gifted more than Paul.
The preachers in ch.1 didnt even like Paul. They thought the old man was a has-been, and they were hot
stuff.
But Timothy looked at his ministry at Pauls side and thought of himself like a little boy helping his dad
with a project. He was humble, willing to learn, receptive to advice or criticism or rebuke.
23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.
Notice he doesnt say, I hope to send him as soon as his affairs are in order. In fact, you never hear about
Timothys affairs in the NT.
Acts 16:1-4
Timothy was a young man growing up in Derbe with a Jewish mother and a Greek father. The people in
that town spoke well of him he had a good reputation, and Im sure he enjoyed his life there.
One day Paul came into town, met Timothy, and said, How about you uproot yourself, leave your home
town, leave all your family and friends, and travel with me and dont worry about all the beatings and
floggings those are generally mostly directed at me.
So Timothy went. Then Paul said, O, one more thing you need to be circumcised just so none of the Jews
are offended.

So in the next ch. they end up in Berea, where the Jewish leaders stirred up the people against their
ministry. The situation became so dangerous and life-threatening, that the brothers told Paul, You need
to go immediately.
So Paul told Tim, I have to go because of the danger why dont you stay here.
So he did.
Later on Paul ended up in Athens and sent for Tim. to meet him there. So Tim up and left.
For the next two chapters they are on the move from place to place, and then in ch.19 Paul sends Tim to
Macedonia.
In Ro.16 he is in Rome with Paul.
In 1 Co.4:17 Paul is sending him to Corinth.
In I Thes.3 Tim is in Athens with Paul, Paul sends him to Thesselanica, then he returns to Athens.
Later Paul sends him to Ephesus to depose the established, respected leaders.
In Hebrews 13 he is in prison, about to be released, at which time he will be sent to the recipients of the
letter to the Hebrews.
In the 25 times we see Timothy in the NT, every single time he is either on the move or staying in some
unpleasant place somewhere for a certain work..
We never see him making any plans for himself. He is always being told what to do, where to go and what
to say. We never hear anything about his plans, his agenda, his dreams or aspirations, his goals.
What must that have been like? Imagine the constant severing of relationships. It is hard to imagine he
owned anything beyond what he carried with him.
What a servant!
Are you fit to be sent?
Are you a watchful Christian?
24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow
soldier, who is also your messenger, and caretaker of my needs. [26] For he longs for all of you and is
distressed because you heard he was ill. [27] Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on
him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. [28] Therefore I am all the
more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.
[29] Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, [30] because he almost died for
the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.
This is the story of an amazing love triangle. There are no principles taught - it is a case where we learn
by example. This is a great way to learn, because it does something that meare principles cannot. We
constantly read about the standards of behavior we have, and it can get discouraging. When we see
someone do it, it encourages us (Someone is pulling it off!)
E = the hero of the common man.
Epaphroditus name from Gk god Aphrodite, goddess of love and luck. Ep means favorite of Aphrodite
Common name and word. Gamblers would say E when rolling the dice. In fact Vb. Form means to roll
the dice.
5 titles
BROTHER Xian and comradery and Fship (pers Rship)
FELLOW WORKER ministry relationship
FELLOW SOLDIER honor used to elevate a soldier to the commander or king. Paul always puls others
right up to his level. (Rather than decending to thier level).
YOUR MESSANGER apostle (the 12 sent by X, small a by ^).
CARETAKER leitourgos. Preistly, religious service People very patriotic regarding their city-states.
Certain rich benifactors would contribute huge $ to strengthen their city state. At great pers. Expernse
they would benefit the community - true of E.
So E was sent, but now here he is, What are you doing here? Paul gives exp.
It is necissary After making him out to be the most valuable man imaginable?
Why? V.26 he longs for all of you There it is - homesick (good ol Php.cooking, friends, wife, weather)
Distressed The kind of confused, restless distraction Mt.26:38 (ass. W/ some trauma) but look at the
reason - distressed cuz their distress!
Great compassion on part of E and P (no get act together)
Paul takes a break form his agenda to meet peoples needs.
because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died.
What disease do you get from serving God? 2 Co.12 (remember T was in prison too) Look at how Rome
treats nicely - I find nothing wrong with this man - just scourge him Jn.18:38, 19:1, Acts 5:40
Remember vb form means roll the dice? E rolled the dice w/ his life. Gambled with them asthe wnners
either way.

In the early ^ there was a group called the paroboloni who had E as their hero. Ministered to infectious
diseases. Made mission to unhesitatingly, unflinchingly, and boldly proclaim the Gosple in any
circumstances.
We tend to insulate ourselves to the point that there is no risk. We wont do anything unless all the basis
are covered ahead of time.
But 2 Sam.24:24.
E not upset about his brush w/ death - but cuz they are upset. He cant stand the thought of them being
uncomfortable - an outward focus even in the midst of great suffering. When life in danger, usualy 1
concern - self. (hunting and rafting)
mercy We always think that the normal state of affairs should be healrth and safty. When suffering
comes, we are shocked and we panic until relief, then we think things are back to normal It is about time,
now bless me. But we should expect suffering (1 Pe.4:12)
Imagine you are a kid who did nothing wrong and folk come and spank the snot out of you. Surprise!
Now suppose your one who beat up your little sis, drove the car thruthe living room, and stole some $,
now expect suff, humbly ask for mercy. That is to be our outlook. Everything good is mercy and grace.
to spare me sorrow upon sorrow strong - wave fater wave of grief (sea billows)
This is a deap love. We should seek this kind of Rship w/ one another.
Reluctantly? No, all the more eagerly (love) The action he ends up taking has nothing to do with what is
best for him
Each face great suffering but you never hear any complaining - see only obedience. P sends E but they
arnt even asking for him, E goes, they had sent him, etc. Everyone is suff, no one takes care of self.
Think of someone you deeply love in the Lord (list reasons) Lets pursue these traits!
Compare this to the worlds role models. If they just give one millionth of their money to a charity, they
dont constantly brag, they stay married and they dont get thrown in jail we call them a role model.
It is especially amazing to me what passes for humility in the world.

Epaphroditus Php.2:25-30
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow
soldier, who is also your messenger, and caretaker of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is
distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on
him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the
more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.
29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30 because he almost died for the
work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.
5 titles 2 from their perspective, and 3 from Pauls.
your messanger apostle (aggeloj = one sent with a message, apostoloj = one sent on a
mission/commission.)
What was the mission?
caretaker of my needs referred civil servants or benefactors, as well as to those who rendered priestly,
religious service (LXX). Given all the sacrificial language connected with the Philippians gift, I think it is
the latter.
leitourgo.j A word used to describe the activity of priests offering sacrifices in the OT. It means religious
service. It carried the idea of offering a gift in a worship context.
The Philippian Church sent E to go help Paul, and that help was a sacrifice offered to God.
This was no small task. Think of an 800 mile journey on foot, in a hostile, persecuting environment. I
dont know what the longest trip you have ever been on, but if you are like me, you cant even relate to
traveling for a month or two before arriving at your first destination.
So thats who E was from their perspective. From Pauls he was:
brother highlights the close personal friendship. It lifts E right up to Pauls level. Paul always refers to his
subordinates as peers.
fellow worker emphasis on labor. E had come to Rome and worked hard. He wasnt lazy or inefficient
he worked hard at Pauls side.
fellow soldier Going to help Paul meant taking on all Pauls enemies.
Paul was in prison facing capitol charges. He was at the mercy of a maniac named Nero and his ruthless
government.
If they took a personal dislike to you, they could be brutal. Remember Pilate: I find nothing wrong with
this man - just scourge him The defendant is totally innocent, so just give him 39 lashes and be done with
it.
The Romans were brutal even when they were being nice.
Paul had Nero for an enemy, Rome for an enemy, the Jewish leaders for enemies, the people who crucified
Jesus as enemies, the Judaisers as enemies, many within the church not to mention Satan and all the
powers and thrones and authorities under his control in the heavenly realms.
And from the human perspective, it appeared as though Paul was losing in a very lopsided fight.
And yet E didnt hesitate to come right along Pauls side on the front line and expose himself to all the
vicious attacks of Pauls enemies and Christs enemies.
Reason For Sending
25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus
Why? He just got done making him out to be the most valuable man imaginable, and now hes sending him
back?
26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you,
28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, (Im sending him sooner than I would have) so that
when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.
longs and distressed are both very strong terms.
The first word refers to an intense craving
the second to a confused, restless distraction. It is the word used of Jesus in the Garden. Mt.26:38 (ass.
W/ some trauma)
because you heard he was ill
Is this a little strange that E would have to go all the way back just because the Philippians were sad about

his illness? Not really.

Keep in mind they had no phones. News only traveled by personal messenger. The Philippians knew he
got sick, but didnt know he recovered.
If we reconstruct the events from what we know, it seems that evidently E became sick early on maybe
even on the way to Rome or shortly after arriving.
When traveling with a large sum of money, there is no way they would send anyone on just a journey
alone. Certainly there were others that accompanied him. As soon as he become so ill, either one of the
traveling companions or some traveler headed in the other direction took the news back.
Later, E made a surprising recovery (in those days, not many people came close to deaths door and
recovered). So E goes on with working with Paul in Rome we dont know how long but the whole time
he thinks of his dear friends in Philippi, thinking he is deathly ill, crying out to God to heal himand the
whole time E is just fine!
And whenever E thinks about that, it bothers him (lit: He kept longing for you and kept being in distress).
He loves those people, and he doesnt want them to be in anguish.
I also think there is a good chance that there was more to this than just their being worried about his
condition.
The only explanation for why Paul devotes so much of this letter to talking about church unity and
humility is that he had some knowledge of some relationship tensions that existed in the church (and we
see evidence of that later).
Something was stirring up problems among the Philippians, and I think it is very possible that part of it
was agitation over the situation with E.
This whole passage begins with Paul saying 25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you
Epaphroditus
That same word necessary was used in ch.1 of that which was in the Philippians best interests spiritually
(1:24) perhaps it was in their best interests for E to come, because they were having spiritual, relational
problems partly over the anxiety over E.
Maybe they didnt all fully agree that he should be sent. And now, all they know is that he was deathly ill,
and now is probably dead. You can imagine how that could cause some friction in the church. (You can
imagine how you would feel if the church made a decision you didnt agree with, and then it turned out to
be disastrous just like you warned everyone.)
This is all conjecture, but I think it helps explain why E was so distressed, and he so wanted to come back
to Philippi. If Tim had anxiety and worry for them, and Paul did, you can imagine how E felt since that
was his home church family and friends especially considering that some of the problems may have
been due to him.
Gods Mercy
27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him,
It was merciful for God to spare his life. How can that be if he would have gone to heaven? This life is a
gift from God. Even though it involves pain, it is good.
Ch.1 Paul longed to depart and be with Christ, yet for now he would rather remain on earth, so he could
carry on with his calling. As much as Paul wanted to go to heaven, he wanted even more to complete his
earthly mission first.
He understood that your impact on eternity is determined during the brief moments you are on this earth.
1 Co.9:25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will
not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
1 Tim 4:8 For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise
for both the present life and the life to come.
And so it is Gods mercy that allows us to continue on in this life.
and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.
We would do well to think of our lives, and the lives of those we love, and health, as merciful gifts from
God. So often we expect life and health as if God owes it to us.
You hear of people who say, I prayed and prayed for God to spare my loved one, and He didnt. So now
Im mad at Him.
We get so we expect mercy. We demand it. And if He doesnt supply it, we think He owes us something
(ER doctor God owes us one).
We always think that the normal state of affairs should be health and safety. When suffering comes, we
are shocked and we panic until relief, then we think things are back to normal It is about time.
But we should expect suffering (1 Pe.4:12), and when it is nt present thats something extra to praise God
for.
sorrow upon sorrow - wave after wave of grief. You would only grieve like that for someone very close.

Honor Men Like Him

29 honor men like him, 30 because he almost died for the work
We ought not gloss over this command to honor men like E. The type of person we honor says a lot about
what we regard as important. The world honors the wrong people. They are way off in the people they
make into heroes.
Instead of men of integrity, honor, courage, etc. our culture clamors around celebrities many of whom
are devoid of character. We have as our heroes almost exclusively athletes and performers many of
whom are actually criminals! Yet they are idolized and emulated.
You would think for the Church honoring truly honorable men and women would be the most natural
thing in the world, but, unfortunately, very often they go without much honor. Missionaries give their
lives in difficult labor in difficult places, and we reward them by making them come back every few years
to raise money. And when it comes time to retire, they are on their own.
Sadly, people in the church have often done the same thing as the world. We honor the opinion of
Christian pop singers over theologians and scholars. We clamor around the talented and the beautiful,
make celebrities out of those who can entertain us.
Meanwhile those who are right now all around the world risking or even losing their lives in the service of
Christ are mostly unknown and unnoticed.
You wonder, if our children put posters of those people on their walls instead of some unbeliever who can
run fast or throw a ball what kind of impact that might have on the direction of their lives.
1 Ti.3 starts out saying, If anyone aspires to be a pastor, he aspires to a noble task. This is one of the
reasons why we are so committed to high standards for leadership in the church so that the children can
grow up and see the character of those remarkable men and aspire to someday be a pastor or deacon.
If we want our children to aspire to true greatness, it will never happen until we honor those men that are
like E.
Suffering For Christ
29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30 because he almost died for the
work of Christ, lit He approached to the point of death for the sake of the work of Christ.
The phrase to the point of death in all of Pauls writing in all his books, he uses this phrase only one other
time and it is in this same chapter.
v8 being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of deathPaul was pointing out the Epaphroditus had the same attitude as Christ Himself humbling himself even
to the point of death the ultimate act of humility.
What disease do you get from serving God? Some germs came into his body. So how can Paul say that it
was for the work of Christ? How does he know those same germs wouldnt have come into him had he
been doing something else?
Any difficulty you endure while serving Christ is considered by God to be a difficulty you
endure for Christ.
Sometimes we think the only way to suffer for Christs sake is to have someone say, Renounce Christ or Ill
torture you.
But it doesnt have to be that direct. Any time you suffer anything while serving Christ, you suffer that
thing on Christs behalf.
And so we should honor men like E. It is rare to find someone willing to serve that way. Usually, when an
opportunity for ministry comes up, whats the first thing that goes through your head? (Is this going to be
too much of a commitment? I dont want to over-commit myself.)
There is wisdom in that. You dont want to make commitments you cant keep, and many people in the
church would do well to learn to say no once in a while.
But what a refreshing, inspiring thing when someone like E comes along. Can you imagine trying to
recruit someone for this ministry?
Can you imagine in the Philippian bulletin:
Wanted: someone willing to leave home for an indefinite period of months or years, walk 800 miles to
Rome to be a servant to Paul, who is in prison. Must be willing to face the hazards of travel, must be
willing to labor alongside Paul, and must be willing to take on all Pauls enemies. If you are interested,
please indicate on your response card
Talk about a commitment!
Most of the people probably responded like you and I would, but E stood up and said, Ill do that. That
takes a humble, selfless person.
When we encounter men and women like that we are to honor them.
Giving
What service was he rendering to God? We know it was significant. It is referred to twice by a word that
means priestly service. It was worth the Philippians loosing a key member over. It was obviously a great

value in Pauls eyes.

What was it? Was he a great preacher or evangelist? Was he going around planting churches? Did he
write a definitive work on some great subject?
Not only was his ministry of extraordinarily high value in the sight of the Philippian church and of
extraordinarily high value in the sight of Paul, but it was very important to E himself. He put his own life
at risk for it you dont do that for just anything.
Maybe you highly value your role at Creekside, but would you die for it? You may be very committed to
working in the nursery, but if doing that placed you in a position where you would almost certainly die if
you kept on with it, would you continue?
So what was it that was such a high calling?
The passage doesnt tell us. We could guess, or we could try to figure it out. Or we could just go to ch.4
and find out for sure:
Php.4:15-19 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the
gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and
receiving, except you only; 16for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid again and again
when I was in need. 17 Not that I am looking for a gift, but I am looking for what may be credited to
your account. 18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have
received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice,
pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ
Jesus.
They had been support Paul financially, and Epaphroditus task was simply to bring the money.
That was what was such a big deal giving an offering? No, not giving an offering. Just delivering an
offering that someone else gave.
Why is that such a big deal?
Because the offering itself was a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.
Evidently this particular offering was given with the right motives and was a sacrificial gift.
We dont know how much it was, but certainly it would have been substantial. They arent going to send
someone on an 800 mile journey in life-threatening conditions to deliver $20. It was enough money to
where many months later Paul says that he is no longer in need and he is amply supplied.
Why is it so significant? Flip back to ch.1
Php.1:4-6 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the
gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you
will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Paul considered their financial support to be a partnership in the Gospel. So everything Paul did while
being supported by the Philippians, the Philippians did. So on the day of Christ we can expect to see the
Philippian church be rewarded for all the things that were accomplished through Pauls ministry.
The fruit of that ministry will continue until the Day of Christ. You cant say that about most churches.
But even though all those people are long dead, the fruit from their giving will continue until the Day of
Christ through Pauls ministry.
Theres no doubt that E did much more than just deliver the money (he also labored and fought alongside
Paul, and served Paul), but the gift is what Paul highlights in the book.
I have heard people disparage giving, as if it were a secondary, inferior way to participate. It is easy for
us to just write a check, rather than go ourselves and help. Paul didnt see it that way he held the
writing of the check in as high a regard as actually going.
You can tell how God wants you to participate in the ministry by what you have been given.
Have you been given the ability to preach? If so, you are negligent if you dont preach.
Have you been given the ability to sing? Then you ought to contribute that way.
Have you been given the ability to earn large amounts of money? Then it seems obvious that that is the
way God has designed you to contribute to the ministry.
Risking His Life
30 risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.
When Peter thought his life was on the line, he denied Christ. But the threat of death did not deter E.
risking is a play on Es name. E = favorite of Aphrodite the goddess of luck, among other things. We
have records of people back then gambling, and when someone got a lucky roll they would say,
Epaphrotidus! Lady Luck is smiling on you.
The verb form of E means to roll the dice.
The word risking is paraboleu,omai to risk or be reckless with ones life. Some say it was also used in
connection with gambling for a gambler who would risk everything one a roll of the dice.
E risked his life. He exposed himself to such danger, it was like going to Los Vegas and placing his own life
on the table and rolling the dice.

In the early church there was a group called the paroboloni who had E as their hero. They named
themselves after this word.
They ministered to people with infectious diseases. Went out during the great pestilence of 252 AD cared
for the sick and buried the dead bodies of their enemies bodies which had been left out because of the
plague.
They made it their mission to unhesitatingly, unflinchingly, and boldly proclaim the Gospel in any
circumstances.
We tend to insulate ourselves to the point that there is no risk. We wont do anything unless all the bases
are covered ahead of time. We buy insurance against every conceivable difficulty.
Some people want to run the church that way no risks of any kind. If there is any chance at all of future
difficulty, a ministry wont even be tried.
E took a chance. He faced a decision in which he could choose option A and back off of the ministry until
he recovered, option B press forward to accomplish the ministry.
With option B, the odds dictated he would probably die. But when faced with that he said, Ill roll the
dice.
Was he being reckless? Foolish?
No, it wasnt foolish or reckless. This was a form of gambling that is very different than in Las Vegas. You
see, this is a very rare form of gambling known as sure thing gambling. Guaranteed a 100 to 1 payoff
every time you play.
Mk 10:28-31 Peter said to him, "We have left everything to follow you!" Mt.19:27 What then will there be
for us?" (Whats the payoff?) 29"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers
or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundred
times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields-and with them,
persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.
So whatever you risk, you are guaranteed to receive 100 times that plus eternal life thrown in as a bonus
just for playing.
Conclusion
This is quite a scene. There are 3 parties (4 with Tim), each facing great suffering, but we hear no
complaining. No one is doing what is in their own best interests.
Paul is sending away his dear friend and faithful worker,
E goes where he is needed at the expense of his own life,
the Philippians send their beloved E to Paul. Everyone is suffering, but no one is taking care of their own
interests.
This is how God designed the body of Christ to function. It is beautiful, isnt it?
Think of someone you deeply love in the Lord, and pursue those traits.
If you have been in the habit of thinking of the Bible as a rule book or a theological textbook, or a book of
religious regulations, looking into todays passage should awaken us to the fact that the Bible is a book of
very personal communications between real people in real life situations.
In this little paragraph we see the struggles of travel, deep friendship, a personal love that is moving,
sickness, death of a loved one, sacrificial giving, sorrow, joy, anxiety, etc. It is a thoroughly human
account.
It is a reminder that in most cases, even for Bible characters, God did not normally intervene
supernaturally or miraculously in day to day events.
This whole problem could have been avoided if God would have just immediately healed E, or not let him
get sick in the first place. Or if God would have supernaturally revealed to the church in Philippi that E
had recovered. He didnt.
Im sure to Paul and E it must have been hard to understand why the Lord didnt after all, they were
doing what God called them to do. The ministry was so important why would God allow it to be so
hindered?
But we can see why. E had an opportunity to give God the highest honor, and that great act served as an
example and inspiration to others.
Paul had the opportunity to demonstrate self-sacrificial love.
The Philippians received back their beloved E.
E received the intense desire and longing of his heart. In the end E was rejoicing, the Philippians were
rejoicing, Paul was rejoicing and God was honored in all of it.
When God send painful difficulties in your life even sickness or death, or a major hindrance to a
ministry Instead of sitting around saying, Maybe God is trying to tell me something perhaps we
should say, Maybe God is giving me an opportunity to live out faithfulness, and to glorify Him in my
response.

John Ruskin said, I believe that the first test of a truly great man is his humility. I don't mean by humility,
doubt of his power. But really great men have a curious feeling that the greatness is not of them, but
through them. And they see something divine in every other man and are endlessly, foolishly, incredibly
merciful.
The modern notion of the self-made man, pulling himself up by his own bootstraps and, by the sweat of
his own brow, climbing to the pinnacle of success is so deeply imbedded in our consciousness that any
other possibility seems foreign. Its humbling to recognize that God is more responsible for the
achievements of our lives than we are, that we are people who have been given our abilities, time and
opportunities. These things are not our possession; they are gifts from God and we will ultimately give an
account for what we do with what we have been given.
Everything in us strains against this notion, for to accept this as fact is to be humbled.
And humility naturally leads to submission. Thats really the issue, isnt it? We dont want to admit that
God is the giver of every good gift, because that would mean that we have to yield to his agenda. Humility,
submission and obedience go together.
This doesnt come easily, and it is certainly not natural; we need help to learn how to live this way. This is
one reason why we have the Bible. In the pages of Scripture we find many examples of humility. From
them we can gain insight and assistance as we endeavor to be the kind of leaders God desires and our
world so desperately needs.
2
This doesnt come easily, and it is certainly not natural; we need help to learn how to live this way. This is
one reason why we have the Bible. In the pages of Scripture we find many examples of humility. From
them we can gain insight and assistance as we endeavor to be the
kind of leaders God desires and our world so desperately needs.
The Humility of God
Let us first examine the supreme biblical example of humility: the incarnate God who made himself known
in our world. In Philippians 2, we learn about Christs self-emptying servant nature. Here we find an
important principle in Scripture: before honor comes humility. The
cross comes before the crown; the person who seeks honor will ultimately be humiliated, but the person
who humbles himself will later be honored (Matt. 23:12).
Humility is such an illusive virtue, isnt it? As soon as you think youve got it, you dont. Thats part of the
problem: When I finally achieve humility, I get proud of myself. My humility cries out for recognition.
Humility is terribly fragile.
Part of the reason for this elusiveness is that humility has a difficult time co-existing with self-awareness.
True humility comes when we are consumed with awareness of Another.
Saying youre humble or thinking of yourself as a modest man is actually a perverted form of pride. The
key to humility is to get your eyes off yourself and onto the one from whom and for whom and through
whom all things are (cf. 1 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16-20).
The church in Philippi was experiencing some tension, and in Philippians 2, Paul tells us that one of the
keys to unity in the church is being focused on the same thing.
(Philippians 2:1) If

there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any

fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,(Philippians 2:2) Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be
likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.(Philippians 2:3) Let nothing be
done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than
themselves.(Philippians 2:4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the
things of others.
To avoid disharmony in the body of Christ, we must all have the same love Jesus Christ.
The more we love Jesus, the more we have a capacity to love one another. Then, and only then, can there
exist a united sense of purpose. Then we can refrain from manipulation or self-serving actions. Then we
can serve others selflessly.

These are not easy things to do. It isnt natural for us to consider the needs of others before our own. The
only way youll be able to do that is if you follow the model of Christ. Jesus was able to serve others
without regard for receiving service in return because he was so
completely secure in his identity. We see this clearly in John 13 where Jesus performs the visual parable of
washing the feet of the disciples.
The Scriptures tell us that he understood three things before he assumed the role of a lowly servant and
began to wash the feet of the disciples: Jesus understood where he had come from, that all things had been
given to him and where his final destiny would lead Him (John
13:3). In other words, he understood his true identity, true dignity and true significance. He knew who he
was, why he had come and where he was going.
Likewise, you and I, as new creations in Christ, can have the same security. We have transferred our trust
from ourselves to him, and in so doing we receive the abundant life he promised us (John 10:10). We are
no longer in the line of Adam; we are in the line of Christ (Rom. 5:12-21). The significance of this may
escape us, but this means nothing less than that we have come forth from God (John 1:12-13; 3:6). It
means that every spiritual blessing has been given to us (Eph. 1:3). It means that our eternal destiny is at
home in heaven (Phil. 3:20-21).
From a biblical and theistic perspective, we understand that this longing is really something that is Godgiven (Eccl. 3:11). When God wants to carry a point with his children, Emerson said, He plants his
arguments into the instincts. We each carry this desire, this
nostalgia for heaven. Its an instinct for a place we have not yet seen. We dont have any memories of
heaven, yet we long for it. And we realize that the great joys and pleasures of this life are only hints of
home, patches of godlight in the woods of our experience as Lewis
called them. There are little patches here and there, but theyre not meant to be confused for home. They
are not the thing itself; they point beyond themselves, like signs, to the thing we long for.
As pilgrims, aliens and strangers in this world, we must realize that we long for
something this world cannot provide or sustain. Once you admit that, then you will understand that the
most foolish thing we can do is put all the freight of our desires upon a world that was not designed to
sustain them. If you look to the world for fulfillment, it will let you down every
time. There is always something that is not quite enough, and we long for more. We long for a security, a
significance, a satisfaction that this world simply cannot provide. Jesus knew this. Thats why Paul writes,

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:6) Who, being
in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (Philippians 2:7) But made himself of
no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
(Philippians 2:8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient
unto death, even the death of the cross.
(Philippians 2:5)

So far, its not a very inspirational text. But thats just the first part. Exaltation follows the humility:
(Philippians 2:9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above
every name:(Philippians 2:10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in
heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;(Philippians 2:11) And that every tongue

should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
From this beautiful passage we learn three things about our Lord that model for us the essence of true
humility. First, Jesus didnt selfishly cling to the outer expression of his divinity. Instead, he took the form
of a servant. Richard Foster, in his book Celebration of Discipline, writes:
More than any other single way, the grace of humility is worked in our lives through the discipline of
serving. One of Fosters friends, the late Jamie Buckingham, took this sentiment a bit further saying, You
really know you are a true servant when you have a positive reaction
toward people when they treat you like one.
In other words, the true test of humility comes when you are treated like a servant. It is one thing to choose
to serve others, but its another thing entirely to choose to be a servant. A servant is often to be taken for
granted, overlooked, unnoticed. A servant gives up the right to be in charge of whom they serve, when they
serve and how long they serve. Everything in us screams out against service like this, especially if this
service is rendered in secret. Our society has trained us well in the art of assertiveness, and we fear
anything that even remotely resembles
passivity. The notion of being taken advantage of is abhorrent to us, and we most fear becoming like the
old comic strip character, Casper Milquetoast, a walking doormat with no assurance or
strength. in charge of whom they serve, when they serve and how long they serve. Everything in us
screams out against service like this, especially if this service is rendered in secret. Our society has trained

us well in the art of assertiveness, and we fear anything that even remotely resembles passivity. The
notion of being taken advantage of is abhorrent to us, and we most fear becoming like the old comic strip
character, Casper Milquetoast, a walking doormat with no assurance or strength.
On the contrary, humility, biblically speaking, actually comes from disciplined strength and otherscentered power. It is, in fact, the strength and understanding of ones great dignity and identity in Christ.
It is only through our willingness to serve that we may avoid
manipulating people to get our needs met. Because of our new identity in Christ, we can serve and we
dont need to be noticed or rewarded here on earth. We understand that we serve one who always sees and
who has promised to reward us in eternity (Eph. 6:8).
The second thing we see in this passage is that Jesus demonstrated his humility through obedience to the
Father. Instead of trying to impose our will on God, we submit to Gods will for us, knowing that his
agenda is better than what we would have chosen. When you trust God
enough to take him at his word, you know that Gods plans for you are plans to prosper you and not to
harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11).
God longs to bless and reward his people, but it is essential that we be willing to turn to him and repent of
our unfaithfulness and disobedience. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart
(Jer. 29:13, emphasis added). We serve a God who rewards
those who earnestly seek him (Heb. 11:6). God actually enjoys bestowing benefits on those who turn to
him in dependence and trust.
Third, we learn the necessity of patiently waiting for Gods timing. Jesus waited for his Father to lift him
up. We dont grab for power; we patiently wait for God to provide the increase in his time. Jesus didnt
come as a king, but as a helpless infant (Luke 2). Although he was
perfectly God and perfectly human at the same time (John 1:14), he lived his life as a humble laborer. After
he began his ministry, he demonstrated humble service to others in the miracles he performed, as well as
in his instructions to his disciples. When the time came for him to die, he submitted to his Fathers divine
will (Mark 14:36). And now, seated in power at the right hand of God, he intercedes on our behalf (Acts
5:29-32). As the perfect model for godly leadership,
Jesus set the perfect example of humility.
Jesus Surprising Self-description
The Bible does not contain any physical descriptions of Jesus. However, there is an interesting passage
where Jesus tells us what his character was like. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, Come to me, all you who
are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Most people are, to some extent, weary and burdened;
they carry a lot of unnecessary weight on their shoulders. This is nothing new. People have been hurried
and harried since the Fall, no doubt, and far too often,
religious leaders hinder, rather then help, people in their search for peace and rest.
Unlike the Pharisees and other religious teachers of his day who added so many rules to Gods Law that it
had become a terrible burden (Luke 11:46), Jesus invites us to walk in peace and in rest, even in the context
of turmoil and adversity, even in uncertainty. In fact, since we are completely helpless in our pursuit,
Jesus offers to give his followers rest and peace (John 14:27). In placing our trust in him, we trade our
incompetence for Christs overwhelming competence. And if he is as competent as the Bible paints him to
be, then the universe is, in Dallas Willards words, a perfectly safe place for us to be.
Of course, this is only a comfort once we realize how little control we have. There is tremendous instability
and uncertainty in this world. Most of the stress we endure comes because we dont know the outcome of
things. There are any number of things that could happen in the course of the day most of them are
completely out of our control. If we buy into only that which we see and hear, we will become weary and
burdened, because the anxieties, the uncertainties, the tensions of life can impose themselves upon us and
make us anxious and fretful. But Jesus invites us, instead, to take all our anxieties to him, and he says, In
exchange for your worries and troubles I will give you rest.
But the offer of rest for our weary souls is open only to those who will come to him and learn from him:
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me (v. 29a). In the ancient Middleeast they would train an
animal by yoking it with a stronger animal. Theyd yoke the two animals together, but it would be the
larger of the two animals that would really carry the burden of the plowing. The other would be built up
and trained so, eventually, it could take its full load.
The imagery of this light yoke is that Jesus says, Unlike the yoke of the Pharisees who want to burden you
down with all sorts of excesses and dos and donts and regulations, Im offering you something different.
This is not loyalty to some code; this is dedication to a Person.
He says, Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart. There arent
many people who can say, I am gentle and humble in heart and get away with it! If I were to say such a
thing, youd wonder, Who does this guy think he is? Yet when Jesus makes this audacious claim, it has
the ring of authority. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

In Hebrews 5:8 we read that Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered. Christs humility was
evident in his perfect obedience to the authority and will of his Father. His mission statements from Luke
19:10 and Mark 10:45 portray the servant nature he so clearly modeled, For the Son of Man came to seek
and to save what was lost; and, For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to
give his life as a ransom for many.
Anyone can claim to be a servant, but Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, was treated as one and never
complained about it. Jesus Christ, the most powerful man ever to walk on the face of the earth, was also
the most humble man who ever lived. His agenda was never to promote himself, but to please his Father
by loving and serving others. We are called to emulate that humility.
The Humility of Moses
If Jesus was the perfect example of humility in the New Testament, Moses personified humility in the Old
Testament. In Numbers 12:3 there is a parenthetical statement that was inserted into the text, (Now,
Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) Moses was a man
of authority and power and charisma, but he manifested this disciplined strength through his utter
willingness to be pleasing to the Father.
In Isaiah 57:15 God says, I live in a high and holy place, but also with Him who is contrite and lowly in
spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. Later in Isaiah 66:2, we read,
This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word. The Bible
repeatedly emphasizes that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (Ps. 138:6; Prov. 3:34;
Matt. 23:12; James 4:6; 1 Pet. 5:5).
Those who are proud have an inappropriate and inflated view of themselves. They attribute their
accomplishments to their own efforts and fail to acknowledge that everything they are and have comes
directly from Gods hand.
One way to summarize the Bibles message is that it is God telling us, I am God, and you are not. The
quality of humility flows out of a proper assessment of ourselves before God.
Moses was a powerful man, but he was also a humble man because he saw himself in the light of God and
sought Gods honor and reputation, not his own.
When people come to grips with their desperate need for the grace and mercy of God, there are three
characteristics that become evident. First, they have a teachable spirit. They understand that they are
constantly under construction. When were young, we struggle with focus and direction and foolishness. In
our middle years, we struggle with double-mindedness and entanglement. But the struggle of our older
years is that we have a tendency to become unteachable. We suppose we know it all. People like that are
very difficult to be around.
If anything, as the years go by, we should begin to realize how little we know and be astounded at our
ignorance. It takes a certain measure of knowledge to know how little we know. Thats ironic, isnt it? But
the best authorities in any given field are the ones who know enough to know how little they know. When it
suddenly becomes clear that you dont have it all down, it can be a difficult adjustment, especially for
people who have enjoyed a modicum of success as the world defines it. Still, the first quality of true
humility is a teachable spirit.
The second quality we see in a humble person is a willingness to seek wise counsel.
Humble people are never too proud to seek out the wisdom of others before making important decisions.
The Bible advises, Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they
succeed (Prov. 15:22).
The third quality of humble people is that they are willing to be under authority. This is a difficult concept,
especially if youre an entrepreneur, a leader, a self-made man. Ultimately, we all must submit to the
authority of God, but we must also yield to the authority of those he has placed us under pastors, elders,
governmental leaders. In some mysterious way, to rebel against them is to rebel against God.
Peter, as an older, wiser leader in the church writes, Humble yourselves, therefore, under Gods mighty
hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety upon him because he cares for you (1 Peter
5:6-7). Anxiety builds up in all of us from time to time.
When it does, weve taken a burden back on ourselves that we were never meant to carry. We can give it
back to God and put ourselves under his mighty hand, knowing that he cares for us and will take care of
recognition at the proper time. Nothing that we do for his pleasure will go unrecognized.
Solomons Homily on Humility
Perks and privileges usually accompany successful leadership. Many leaders enjoy being in charge,
making decisions that affect the organization, delegating implementation of those decisions to others,
running the show, having others defer to them in meetings and the like. As one gets ahead, its hard not
to get a big head!
As a leader, King Solomon enjoyed all these perks and much more. Like few leaders before or since, he had
wealth, power, wisdom and plenty of servants. Other rulers traveled long distances to listen to his wisdom,
and other entrepreneurs came to marvel at his wealth. Yet from this lofty position Solomon cautioned, It
is not goodto seek ones own honor (Prov. 25:27). Doing so, he says, is like eating too much honey. Sweet

as it is, and healthy as it is in proper amounts, too much of this good thing will make you sick and sick of
it.
Honor accompanies a job well done. If a leader is effective, he or she will get all the honor he or she can
stand. But a person who has to go looking for honor has his or her hand in the wrong hive. Solomon
learned that focusing on a job well done is the way to earn honor.
Focusing on honor cuts into the time and energy needed to do the job well.
Most of our lives we have a hidden impact. Most of our lives, we dont know our impact. Every so often,
God will give show you your impact through a word of encouragement, maybe a note, maybe somebody
will tell you something when youre down.
Every so often, you may get a little feedback just to let you know youre on the right course. But if he gives
you too much of that, youll start to live for it. Thats a dangerous path to walk.
Jesus asks a pointed question in John 5:44 that we would do well to wrestle with, How can you believe if
you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?
Honor comes from God, and it comes as counter-intuitive as this seems as the result of downward
mobility. Jesus chose downward mobility, a descent from the heights of heaven to a teenagers womb to a
cattle trough to a peasant home to a dusty road to a cross to a tomb.
Jesus didnt surrender a little; he surrendered everything completely, confident that his Father would take
care of the outcome. The most powerful person who ever walked on the planet calls us and says, I served
you, and now Im asking you to serve others. A servant is not greater than his master. If I did this for you,
you must do this for one another. Ill take care of your dignity.
You dont have to take yourself so seriously, because I take you seriously.
If a man does not understand that, he will live in constant insecurity. We all know what insecure people
look like. Always searching for approval, they cannot relax. Theyre driven.
They never reach the mark, so theres a perfectionism that torments them and everyone around them.
Often, their self-esteem is tied to their material possessions, and its so important to always have
something a little bit newer, a little bit better than the other guy. Because insecurity and envy often go
together, they relentlessly find faults with others. Pride seeks the higher place; envy has to do with
resenting others good fortune. An insecure person is so focused on image rather than substance that they
have a persona. They have an image that they have to sustain, and our culture supports that. Proud people
are defensive. They cannot handle criticism or rebuke. They cannot receive it, and, therefore, its hard for
them to be teachable, because they always have to defend that image, that position.
Humility in the Face of Prosperity
Israels pride led them to disobey Gods commands, so God invested 40 years in developing their humility
and obedience. God took them into the desert to show them how vulnerable they were (and how vulnerable
we are). In Deuteronomy 8, we see the relationship between prosperity and humility and between
difficulty and pride:
(Deuteronomy 8:10) When

thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for
the good land which he hath given thee.(Deuteronomy 8:11) 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:(Deuteronomy 8:12) Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built
goodly houses, and dwelt therein;(Deuteronomy 8:13) And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply,
and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied; (Deuteronomy 8:14) 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;(Deuteronomy 8:17) And thou say in thine heart, My power
and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.(Deuteronomy 8:18) 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.
Moses exhorts the people to remember, after they take the land and flourish, that everything they
have has come to them as a gift from the Lord. They are to walk in humility before their God
and not think they have achieved these things themselves. One of the great dangers of success is that we
deceive ourselves into the arrogant belief that we ourselves have brought it about. We
are like Bart Simpson who prays at the dinner table, Dear God, we paid for all this stuff
ourselves, so thanks for nothing.
God can give wealth, and he can give poverty. He can raise you up; he can take you
down. Sometimes it is the severe mercy of God to impoverish you because you were getting too
cocky. He may need to take away some of your toys until you get the message.
We are all born with closed hands. Babies come into the world with their hands balled
up into tiny, little fists. As we get older, we learn to hold tightly to things handlebars and
lunchboxes, bats and balls, other peoples hands. When we start out in the business world, we

grab the lowest rung on the corporate ladder, and we hold on for dear life until we can clutch the
next one. We clutch and scrape for whatever position or prestige we can garner. Perhaps one
day well find ourselves hanging on to canes and walkers or even the edge of a hospital bed. We
cling tightly to life itself until we die. Then, perhaps because our focus will no longer be on
ourselves and this earthly realm, we can finally relax our grip.
What a contrast between our hands and the hands of God. Throughout the Bible story
God opens his hands to provide food, protection, blessing, love and support. The Psalmist
writes, You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing (Ps. 145:16). When
God came to this earth in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, he taught, loved and blessed. But
mostly he opened his hands and touched. He refused to clutch or cling tightly to his rights and
privileges. Instead, he opened his hands and, in the most startling example of humility the world
has ever known, stretched out his arms to pay for our failures.

The Seventeen Evidences of a Lack of Humility

1. To think that what one says or does is better than what others say or do
2. To always to want to get your own way
3. To argue with stubbornness and bad manners whether you are right or wrong
4. To give your opinion when it has not been requested or when charity does not demand it
5. To look down on another's point of view
6. Not to look on your gifts and abilities as lent
7. Not to recognize that you are unworthy of all honors and esteem, not even of the earth you walk on and
things you possess
8. To use yourself as an example in conversations
9. To speak badly of yourself so that others will think well of you or contradict you
10. To excuse yourself when you are corrected
11. To hide humiliating faults from your spiritual director, so that he will not change the impression he has
of you
12. To take pleasure in praise and compliments
13. To be saddened because others are held in higher esteem
14. To refuse to perform inferior tasks
15. To seek to stand out
16. To refer in conversation to your honesty, genius, dexterity, or professional prestige
17. To be ashamed because you lack certain goods

Humility I have worked hard to cultivate it, sustain it, and perfect it. After all, its an essential quality of
both Christs and Moses character (Matthew 11:29; Numbers 12:3). Without humility, one can neither
receive Gods grace (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5) nor be saved (Job 22:29; Psalms 76:9; James 1:21). As a
result, prior to truly knowing Christ, I
diligently tried to humble [myself] under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt [me] at the
proper time (1 Peter 5:6).
Nevertheless, to my dismay, that proper time never occurred, and instead I found myself stumbling
through life in a consistently ignominious fashion. Fortunately a close Christian friend told me that I was
unbiblically making humility an object of personal pride. He said I was building and rebuilding my
spiritual house on sand, not on rock (Matthew 7:26-27). I had made a career of falling down, because, in
my arrogant attitude and behavior, I was actually displeasing to
God. I was unaware that I failed to heed Pauls warning to the church at Corinth when he wrote, let him
who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall (1 Corinthians 10:12). My question to this friend was,
How then does one achieve a level of humility that is pleasing to God?
His reply: the same way King Nebuchadnezzar obtained humility . . . not by actively pursuing it, but by
passively receiving it. Prideful people never obtain true humility by their own efforts. They may cultivate
or carefully craft an image of humility, but they can only become truly humble by being humbled.
Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His
ways just, and He
is able to humble those who walk in pride (Daniel 4:37, emphasis added).
When I checked my Concordance for the one, two or perhaps three words that are translated into English

as some variant of humility, I learned there were over a dozen such words. Most of them are translated
afflicted, oppressed, weakened or other similar words describing how someone is truly humbled.
For example, when Naomi returned to Bethlehem with Ruth from Moab after her two sons had died, she
told those who knew her that the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me the Almighty has afflicted
me (Ruth 1:20-21).
Naomi had been humbled. While she could not see Gods overall plan in her affliction, she clearly
acknowledged His sovereign hand in bringing calamity upon her.
Naomis affliction from the Lord was not unique only to her. As the LORD told Isaiah, The One forming
light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating calamity; I am the LORD who does all these
(Isaiah 45:7).
Job learned that God-ordained calamity falls on both the righteous and unrighteous (Job 3l:3, 23). The
difference is how each responds to calamity. We can either become hardened or humbled. Only the latter
receive Gods grace (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5).
For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity
(Proverbs 24:16).
Gods affliction through some form of calamity can represent His judgment and may also be meant to
make us listen, repent, and become teachable. The LORD told Jeremiah regarding the suffering prophesied
for the house of Judah, Perhaps they will listen and everyone will turn from his evil way (Jeremiah
26:3a).
He leads the humble in justice, and He teaches the humble His way (Psalms 25:9).
Gods purpose for calamity is always for good, because He is forever holy, just, and righteous.
The LORD has kept the calamity in store and brought it on us; for the LORD our God is righteous with
respect to all His deeds which He has done, but we have not obeyed His voice (Daniel 9:14).
My avid pursuit of humility to please God and impress others was essentially a works-based salvation
process. After falling numerous times until I hit what seemed like rock bottom, God sent a friend to show
me the biblical path to true humility and subsequent salvation. This path was not of my own doing but was
completely the result of the person and work of Gods Son, Jesus Christ. Until then, my feigned humility
was based on a false gospel that, in reality, made me
Biblical Perspectives in Everyday Life HUMILITYGODS PATH TO
EDIFICATION & EXALTATION into a false believer.
At some point in the process of being truly humbled through His affliction on me, His Spirit regenerated
me, made me a new creation in Christ, and opened my ears and eyes to His truth. I began to read Bible
passages I had read for years as if I were reading them for the very first time. They were finally
understandable and were directed with laser-like focus on my deservedly pitiful thinking and prideinduced circumstances.
By being brought low through divine providence, I realized my exalted position in Christ. With other
brothers and sisters of humble circumstances, I began to glory in the high position I now had in my
wonderful Savior (James 1:9). And, like Asaph, I can genuinely cry out, Let the afflicted [the humbled]
and needy praise Your name (Psalm 74:21).
Since then, my periodic consumption of humble pie has often turned me away from evil that physically and
mentally was causing both harm and grief and, instead, turned me toward a trusting dependence upon
my Savior. In some instances, He has delivered me from the affliction; in others, He has sustained me
through some difficult and trying circumstances. In all cases, He has used these occasions to open my ears
to His voice.
He delivers the afflicted in their affliction, and opens their ear in time of oppression (Job 36:15).
For You save an afflicted people, but haughty eyes you abase (Psalms 18:27).
Like Paul stated in 2 Corinthians 12, I have grown spiritually in these situations.
And He has said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly,
therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore
I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for
Christs sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
I have learned that Gods peace and joy are available in trying times, many of which humble me.
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith
produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).
God has ordained a path for believers to be edified here and now with a promise for eternal exaltation
later. Humility is the gateway to that path, and on-going steps of humility are necessary to continue the
journey. Every step of the way, those on the path know that humility, brought about by being humbled, is
truly a gift from God.

MEEKNESS VS. ANGER

YIELDING OUR RIGHTS TO GOD SO HE CAN DEMONSTRATE HIS PEACE AND POWER
THROUGH US.
Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall
find rest unto your souls.
Matthew 11:29
DEFINITION OF MEEKNESS
The Hebrew word for meekness is anavah. It comes from a word that means to abase oneself, to chasten
and
humble oneself, to look down.
The Greek word for meek is praus, which simply means humble. The Bible writers often use the word
meekness in combination with other words such as lowliness (see Eph. 4:2), righteousness (see Ps. 45:4),
gentleness (see II Cor. 10:1), and fear (see I Pet. 3:15).
SIGNIFICANCE OF MEEKNESS
The Lord Jesus demonstrated the importance of meekness by using it to describe Himself: Learn of Me;
for I
am meek and lowly in heart (Matt. 11:29). Thus, the more we understand and develop meekness, the more
we
take on the nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, Jesus began His discourse on discipleship by praising the
qualities of meekness: Blessed are the poor in spirit Blessed are they that mourn Blessed are the
meek
(Matt. 5:3-5).
REWARDS OF MEEKNESS
1. Knowing Jesus Christ
The Apostle Paul stated as his goal to know Jesus Christ and to the power of His resurrection. (See Phil.
3:10). The sacrifices Paul made to achieve his goal shove the importance he placed on it. Yea doubtless,
and I
count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have
suffered
the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ (Phil. 3:8).
2. Comprehending the Gospel
God makes the good news of salvation available to everyone. However, only the meek will understand it
and
respond to it. Jesus explained this when He opened the scroll of Isaiah and read, The spirit of the Lord
GOD is
upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek (Isa. 61:1). David
wrote,
The LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation (Ps. 149:4). He will
save
all the meek of the earth (Ps. 76:9).
3. Transforming our souls
Through meekness one can make Gods Word a vital part of his mind, will, and emotions and thereby
conquer
the destructive habits of life. Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in
humility [meekness] receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls (James 1:21, NASV).
Since
Jesus is the Living Word of God, the more we know about Him, the more we will understand Gods Word.
(See John 1:1).
4. Receiving Gods guidance
Every Christian faces the challenge of making wise decisions. Experience shows us that we often make
choices, confident in their wisdom, that turn out as terrible mistakes. How, then, do we gain the judgment
to
make wise decisions? The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way (Ps. 25:9).
5. Developing true character
Scripture explains the importance of a person adorning the hidden man of the Heart over dressing up the
outward appearance. This adornment is to be meekness. Whose adorning let it not be that outward
adorning of
plaiting the hair, and of wearing of god, or of putting on of apparel: But let it be the hidden man of the
heart, in
that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of

great
price (I Pet. 3:3-4).
6. Enjoying life to the fullest
Many people own possessions but do not enjoy them. They eat food, but it does not satisfy their appetites.
However, The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall
life
for ever (Ps. 22:26).
7. Getting a lasting inheritance
Jesus promises: Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth (Matt. 5:5). Psalm 39:9-11 gives an
expanded explanation of this promise: For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD,
they
shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider
his
place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the
abundance of
peace.
BASIC FUNCTIONS OF MEEKNESS
Since meekness describes the nature of Jesus Christ, then the basic functions in the life of one of His
followers would require meekness.
Producing spiritual fruit - The Christian begins to bear the fruit of the Spirit only after he gives up his
rights to live in the works of the flesh. But the fruit of the Spirit is meekness (Gal. 5:22-23).
Restoring a fellow believer - Restoring an erring brother will be effective only if one yields his right to
feel
superior or to think that he cannot fall like his brother did. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye
which
are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted
(Gal.
6:1). With gentleness (meekness) correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them
repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth(II Tim. 2:25, NASV).
Walking worthy of Christ - The ability to walk worthy of our profession requires that we yield our
rights to
hold grudges against fellow believers. I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk
worthy
of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing
one
another in love (Eph. 4:1-2). Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering,; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one
another, if
any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye (Col. 3:12-13).
Respecting authorities - The proper respect for God-given authorities means that we yield our rights to
give
bad reports about them. Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates,
to be
ready to every good work, To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness
unto
all men (Titus 3:1-2).
Doing good works - In doing good works, one must yield his right to get the credit for them and defer
the
honor to others. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good
conversation his works with meekness of wisdom (James 3:13).
Explaining our hope - When people see our lives, they should marvel at the hope that we have about the
future, but they will not notice this unless we yield our right to have a life without trials and sorrows. But
and
if ye suffer for righteousness sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But
sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you
a
reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear (I Pet. 3:14-15).
HOW DO WE LEARN MEEKNESS?
We learn meekness by coming to Christ with the recognition of our own weaknesses and being united with
Him
by belief in His finished work on the cross. Then we must grow in the experiential knowledge of Christ,
Who

humbled Himself for us, that we might be conformed to His image.

Christian Character Meekness

Ps. 37:1-11
Introduction:
Col. 3:12-14 - Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility,
meekness, longsuffering; {13} bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a
complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. {14} But above all these things
put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
Meekness is also translated as gentleness or humility.
Because of this, we can see how it is closely associated with humility.
I. Meaning of Meekness
II. Manifestation of Meekness (Examples of meekness in the Bible)
III. Making the Most of Meekness (Applying meekness to our lives).
I. Meaning of Meekness
A. There are two views of meekness.
1. Negative
a. Meekness is viewed as weakness.
b. Someone who is meek is often viewed as a lazy person.
c. A meek person is one who is said to compromise or have peace at any price.
2. Positive
a. According to Nelsons Bible Dictionary, meekness is An attitude of humility toward God and gentleness
toward men, springing from a recognition that God is in control.
b. Meekness is strength under control.
c. In the time of Christ, when someone would tame an animal, it was said that the animal was meek (their
strength was under control.)
d. Meekness is not weakness, but rather it is strength.
B. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus quotes from Ps. 37:11.
1. Mt. 5:5 - Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
2. Ps. 37 is a psalm about meekness.
a. The overall theme of the psalm is The blessings of the righteous, and the destruction of the wicked.
b. Ps. 37:1-11
3. To be meek means to:
a. Do not fear evildoers or their deeds (37:1).
b. Put your trust in God (37:3-6).
c. We rest in the Lord (37:7).
d. We wait upon the Lord (37:9-10).
e. To be meek means that we control our strength by making a conscience decision to put our faith in God!
C. Meekness looks up to God and out to men.
II. Manifestation of Meekness (Examples of meekness in the Bible)
A. Abraham
1. God had blessed Abraham with tremendous blessings.
a. Gen. 12:1-3 - Now the LORD had said to Abram: Get out of your country, from your family and from
your father's house, to a land that I will show you. {2} I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and
make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. {3} I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse
him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
b. Abraham was very wealthy and had a great number of possessions.
2. Even with all this wealth and fame, Abraham is a very meek person.
a. Gen. 13 Abraham gives Lot the choice of the land when there was a division among them.
b. Gen. 14 Abraham rescues Lot when he is captured.
c. Gen. 18 Abraham intercedes for Sodom before it is destroyed.
B. Moses
1. Moses also was a man that had a tremendous gift from God.
a. Moses showed his meekness when he went to Egypt and demanded that Pharaoh free the Israelites (Ex.
5-12).
b. Moses demonstrated his meekness when he pleaded for God to save Israel instead of destroying them
(Num. 14).
2. Notice what is said about Moses.

a. Num. 12:3 - (Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the
earth.)
b. Heb. 11:24-27 - By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's
daughter, {25} choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing
pleasures of sin, {26} esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he
looked to the reward. {27} By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as
seeing Him who is invisible.
C. Jesus
1. Jesus showed meekness in all aspects of life.
a. He was constantly showing compassion towards others as they needed it.
b. When Jesus was wronged, He took it patiently (I Pet. 2:18-25).
2. Many times we see paintings or pictures of Jesus that depict Him as a weak person.
a. However, notice:
1) Picture came from a drunk in a bar.
2) If He was weak, He could not have intimidated those in the temple to flee when He cleansed it.
3) If He were weak, He would not have stood up to the Pharisees the way He did in Mt. 23.
b. The fact of the matter is that Jesus had great strength, but His strength was under control.
1) Mt. 11:28-29 - Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. {29} Take
My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your
souls.
2) This is the only compliment that Jesus paid to Himself.
III. Making the Most of Meekness
A. Notice why we need meekness.
1. To receive Gods word.
a. Js. 1:21 - Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the
implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
2. To be able to teach others.
a. II Tim. 2:24-26 - And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient,
{25} in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that
they may know the truth, {26} and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil,
having been taken captive by him to do his will.
3. To restore the fallen Christian.
a. Gal. 6:1 - Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a
spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.
4. To give a reason for our hope.
a. I Pet. 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone
who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;
5. Meekness is important in living the Christian life.
a. Eph. 4:1-3 - I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which
you were called, {2} with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in
love, {3} endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
B. If meekness is not added to our lives, we are not putting on the new man (Col. 3).
1. If we are not putting on the new man, we are not pleasing to God.
2. If we are not pleasing to God, we have no hope of eternal life with Him.
3. It is important that we learn to put on meekness.
4. Meekness is not natural, but rather it is a fruit of the Spirit.
a. Gal. 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, {23} gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Conclusion:
MEEKNESS
An attitude of humility toward God and gentleness toward men, springing from a recognition that God is
in control. Although weakness and meekness may look similar, they are not the same. Weakness is due to
negative circumstances, such as lack of strength or lack of courage. But meekness is due to a person's
conscious choice. It is strength and courage under control, coupled with kindness.
The apostle Paul once pointed out that the spiritual leaders of the church have great power, even leverage,
in confronting a sinner. But he cautioned them to restrain themselves in meekness <Gal. 6:1; 5:22-23>.
Even toward evil men, a man of God should be meek, knowing that God is in control.
Meekness is a virtue practiced and commended by our Lord Jesus <Matt. 5:5; 11:29>. As such it is part of
the equipment which every follower of Jesus should wear <2 Cor. 10:1; Gal. 5:23; 6:1; Eph. 4:1-2>.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary)
(Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)