Roads Less Traveled - A Lifestyle of Humility - Luke 14, John 13 and Philippians 2 - January 9, 2011

Bible Study – Travel – A Lifestyle of Humility – January 9, 2011

This is lesson two (2) in our series “The Roads Less Traveled.”
Our scripture is Luke 14:7-11; John 13:3-5, 14-15; Philippians 2:1-4.


Humility is a tough subject for most men. The male often thinks of humility as being a wimp and in fact to the early Greeks it was just that. CHRIST gave humility a new meaning. It carries the idea of being modest or respectful even though you have the power to do something your way. It is having the power, position, capability and ability to take a course of action for his/her benefit but choosing not to use them in order to achieve the greater good.


In our pervious lesson, we studied the Christian community. Humility is a vital characteristic for a unified Christian community. Humility deals with ego and who is in charge of your life – the flesh or the Spirit. In whom do we place our confidence and trust - tself/felsh or Spirit? Having the right relationship with GOD through CHRIST gives Christians a sense of security, belonging and purpose. When Christians are secure in their relationship with CHRIST and themselves, they do not insist on being first, sitting in special seats, being visible to those of prominence just to name a few areas where the wrong kind of pride raises its head.


Pride and self-esteem are important for every person but they need to be tempered with humility.


It boils down to attitude. Let’s consider JESUS. JESUS is GOD’S SON, ruler of the universe. HE did not have to come to earth and be born as a human to be GOD’S SON. HE was already GOD’S SON and dwelling in heaven. HE chose to leave heaven, come to earth and subject Himself to all the frailties of the human body while having the freewill to sin. He lived a sinless life as a human so that HE would be the perfect sacrifice for sin. HE willingly gave HIS life to pay the penalty for sin for all who would believe in HIM as the Promised Messiah. HE experienced the death of HIS earthly body but the Good News is that GOD raised HIM from the dead. HE had to trust GOD, HIS FATHER to guide HIM every step of the way on earth, through death and resurrection. HE did not have to do it but HE humbled Himself and came to earth for you and for me, that we might have the opportunity to be forgiven of our sins and to be born-again into the family of GOD. That is humility and the example for all Christians. Christians must remember who they are and who they represent. Paul explains what CHRIST did for Christians in our next scripture. Let’s read Philippians 2:5-11:


Christ’s Humility and Exaltation
5 Make your own attitude (a servant attitude and attitude of humility) that of Christ Jesus, 6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be used for His own advantage.[1]7 Instead He emptied Himself by assuming the form of a slave, taking on the likeness of men. And when He had come as a man in His external form, 8 He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death—even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God also highly exalted Him and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow— of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

JESUS is our example. CHRIST gave up HIS power and trusted GOD, HIS FATHER for all HIS needs while HE lived upon earth as a human. HE was scorned, beaten, humiliated and crucified for all who would believe in HIM. Because HE gave HIS life and HE lived a sinless life, GOD accepted HIM as the perfect sacrifice for sin. The proof is in the fact that HE died and GOD raised HIM from the dead. We serve a living SAVIOR WHO conquered sin and death. One day, “every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”


When we know what CHRIST did for us, Paul’s remarks in verses 1-4 become clearer. Just as HE humbled Himself, Christians should humble themselves to obediently serve GOD as HE leads and directs them.


Let’s read Philippians 2:1-4:
Christian Humility
1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. 3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look out not [only]* for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.


The word “if” can be interpreted “since.” Since his readers are true Christians, they know the encouragement they find in CHRIST, HIS love, HIS fellowship affection and mercy/grace. Paul in essence was saying, “Christians need to be encouraged since they know that CHRIST left heaven to come to earth for all who would believe in HIM. This fact shows the agape love GOD and JESUS have for all people. Christians know this because the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT confirms these facts in their hearts. HE did this out of HIS affection, love, mercy and grace for all people.” But only those who accept HIM as thier SAVIOR will benefit. Paul knew this and understood this. He wanted all Christians to know and understand this as well because when you do, your joy overflows abundantly. You will in turn show this same humility to fellow Christians. CHRIST came to earth and gave HIS life just for you. If you had been the only person in all eternity to accept HIM as your SAVIOR, HE would have given HIS life just for you. That is unselfish love and that is what CHRIST desires for Christians to do. When Christians understand this, they will show humility to others as well. They will not show rivalry or conceit.


This is not self denigration but a sense of considering others as well as yourself keeping in mind what CHRIST did for you. Just as CHRIST showed humility, Christians are to do the same. Can Christians do this in their own strength? In my opinion, no! Often Christians try until they realize that it is only through the knowing presence and power of the HOLY SPIRIT through CHRIST that this can be done as part of their Spiritual character through sanctification. That is why Christians must have the right relationship with CHRIST. Realize that CHRIST was no namby-pamby. HE was obedient to the FATHER in all aspects of HIS life, even unto death.


CHRIST taught on humility in our next scripture.


Let’s read Luke 14:7-11:
Teachings on Humility
7 He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noticed how they would choose the best places for themselves: 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, don’t recline at the best place, because a more distinguished person than you may have been invited by your host.[3] 9 The one who invited both of you may come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this man,’ and then in humiliation, you will proceed to take the lowest place. 10 “But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when the one who invited you comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ You will then be honored in the presence of all the other guests. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”


JESUS gave a parable to teach about humility. HE noticed people as they arrived at a special event gravitated to the best seats. Some wanted to show their importance by sitting in seats reserved for those who were important. HE used the occasion of a wedding to drive home HIS message of humility. HE said, when a person invites you to a special event, don’t try to elevate your prominence by sitting in the best seats. If you do and a more important person has been invited, the host will ask you to move to the lowest seat. This would be very embarrassing to you and likely the host. Instead go to the lowest seat and let the host elevate you to a higher and more important seat. If this happens you will be honored and the other guests will take notice.


The person that exalts himself or herself will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. When the world humbles you it is not pretty and often very hard to rise above the embarrassment.


Christians need to keep in mind that they are children of GOD and obediently serving HIM is as good as it gets. They are VIP’S and do not need to promote their importance. Just as CHRIST, THE SON of GOD humbled Himself and left HIS home in heaven to come to earth, Christians need to be naturally humble as an attribute and character resulting from the work of the HOLY SPIRIT in their lives as they interact with the world. Christians can, through their own effort, be humble but when that is the case it is not the natural result of their relationship with CHRIST. If you are not naturally humble, confess it to CHRIST and ask HIM to reveal to you what is needed in your life for you to be naturally humble as the result of the work of the HOLY SPIRIT in your life.


Does this mean Christians are to be wimps? NO! When Christians are to take a stand, they should. When you are in right relationship with CHRIST you will respond as HE leads and directs you. Hopefully, this will become clearer in our next scripture.


Let’s read John 13:3-5, 14-15:
3 Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God. 4 So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. 5 Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him.


It is important that we know who we are and where we are going. Are we as Christians on the solid foundation of CHRIST? This is why we need to have a solid, loving, dynamic relationship with CHRIST. JESUS made it clear that HE knew the FATHER and HIS power came from the FATHER. Our power comes from the FATHER through the indwelling and manifestation of the HOLY SPIRIT. HE knew where HE came from. HE was solid in HIS union with GOD, HIS FATHER. HE was in the right relationship with the FATHER. HE did not need to prove Himself. HE knew who HE was and HE knew HIS mission. HIS life and relationship with HIS FATHER was sufficient. This assurance and confidence gave HIM the freedom to obediently serve GOD and serve others as GOD led HIM.


JESUS, GOD’S ONLY SON, demonstrated HIS humility by washing the feet of HIS disciples. This was a job reserved for the lowest person in the group. HIS disciples had not taken on the task that evening because they did not want to appear to be the least of HIS disciples. Washing the feet of guests was the job of a Gentile servant, the youngest child in the family or a woman when they arrived at a home. Washing of the feet was needed because when folks traveled in that day their feet got dusty or dirty. Let’s continue.


Verses 12-15:
12 When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His robe, He reclined[2] again and said to them, “Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call Me Teacher and Lord. This is well said, for I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example that you also should do just as I have done for you.


This was a teachable moment which CHRIST used to instruct HIS disciples then and Christians today. When HE finished washing and drying the feet of HIS disciples, HE taught. HE said, in essence, “If I being your Teacher and LORD, whose authority will be made manifest to you in the next few days, did not consider that I was too good to wash your feet, neither should you or any Christian consider any task to which the LORD calls you too menial.”


The key is that Christians must die to self and permit the HOLY SPIRIT to lead and guide their lives. When each Christian gives the HOLY SPIRIT permission to work in his/her life, HE produces change. This change is called fruit. The Apostle Paul gives us a clue about some of the fruit produced in our lives in Galatians 5:22-26:


22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,[5] 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit. 26 We must not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.


When the HOLY SPIRIT works in our lives, HE will deal with our various negative flesh characteristics through the relationship we have with CHRIST. JESUS said it best in John 15:1-8:


The Vine and the Branches
1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me. 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me. 6 If anyone does not remain in Me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be[1]My disciples.


Are you firmly grafted into the vine? If you are, then you are in the right relationship with CHRIST and HIS power, vision, vitality flows into you and through you. When you are in right relationship with CHRIST then HE will produce the right fruit in your life. Let HIM produce humility in your life naturally through the power of the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT.