Let this Mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: # 15 Humility

Q: What does the Bible say about humility?

The Bible teaches that humility is about recognizing one's position before God and serving others selflessly, as exemplified by Christ. Humility is a foundational aspect of the Christian faith, deeply rooted in Scripture. In John 13:1-5, Jesus demonstrates true humility by washing the disciples' feet, an act that signifies both His authority and willingness to serve. He, knowing that all things were in His hands, chose to perform the lowliest task, setting an example for His followers. Humility is not weakness, but rather a posture of lowliness and service towards others, reflecting the meekness of Christ as mentioned in Matthew 11:29. The Beatitudes in Matthew 5 further underscore this, emphasizing that the humble are blessed. This attitude of humility is essential for believers as it aligns them with the heart of God and fosters genuine love and service to others.

Q: How do we know that Christ's example of humility is true?

Christ's humility is true and central to His nature as God and man, displayed powerfully through His actions and teachings. The reality of Christ's humility is evident in both His divine nature and His earthly actions. In John 13, despite being fully aware of His authority and divine sonship, Jesus humbled Himself to wash His disciples' feet. This act serves as a potent demonstration of His character—God Almighty taking the position of a servant. Moreover, He teaches us in Matthew 11:29 that He is 'meek and lowly in heart,' which calls believers to embody the same attitude. Christ's consistent display of humility, paired with His authoritative identity, affirms that His example is true and relevant. The call to have the same mind in us today is a reminder of His redemptive purpose in teaching us to forsake pride and embrace servanthood.

Q: Why is humility important for Christians?

Humility is crucial for Christians as it aligns them with Christ's character and enables them to serve others effectively. Humility is essential for Christians as it reflects the very nature of Christ and enables genuine relationships with others. In 1 Peter 5:5-6, we see that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. This teaches us that humility opens the door to receiving God's grace, empowering us to serve and love others as Christ did. Furthermore, embracing humility combats the innate human tendency towards pride, which can distort our perspectives and hinder our relationships. By modeling Christ's humility, believers fulfill the call to love one another and promote unity within the body of Christ. Ultimately, understanding and practicing humility helps Christians bear witness to the transformative power of the Gospel in their lives.

There we go. Lesson number 15, In the Mind of Christ, Humility. We're gonna be in John chapter 13, verse five verses. But before we go there, I wanna quote out of Lamentations one and verse 12, which is speaking in type or picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. It says, see if there be any sorrow, like my sorrow. That's Christ in prophecy, in type, speaking of himself.

So I'm going to use that as a springboard to state, see if there be any humility. See if there be any humility in the sons of men, in great men of history, or not so great men in history, or men we don't even hear about. See if there be any humility like our Redeemers. There wasn't. there wasn't at all. Now let's look at John chapter 13 and let's look at the first five verses.

Now before the feast of the Passover when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of the world unto the Father having loved his own which were in the world he loved them unto the end and supper being ended the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son to betray him.

Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things, not some, all things into his hands and that he was come from God and he was going back to God. Now what a glorious statement just that is right there. The angels rejoicing, the angels singing hallelujahs and all this that is going on in the mind of Christ and the thoughts of Christ. He knows that his Father had given all things into his hand. Right after that statement, that glorious statement of his character, his omniscience, his total perfections, he rises from supper, lays aside his garments, took a towel, girds himself, poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. And I know some churches practice this, but this is speaking of not the actions, but the attitude, the attitude of one who by the grace of God has been prostrated for the Lord Jesus Christ.

He's God Almighty, blessed forever. But what amazes me is this verse, this verse, Verse 3, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands. God the Father is sovereign. God the Son is sovereign. God the Holy Spirit is sovereign. Knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands. You mean Satan? That Satan put into Judas Iscariot? Yes, he had Satan in his hands. He could turn it one way or the other. What about Judas? Same thing. Same thing.

He will control Pilate, later on, Herod, even those vile and cruel soldiers that stabbed him, that spit upon him, put the crown of thorns on him. He's got all things, all things are given into the hands of the son. All things, this is totally inclusive, this is complete authority, this is full domination. It didn't look like it, as it is today, you know, church, what good are we as a little few people here who are preaching the gospel, the gospel of God's grace, the only gospel, the one true gospel, preaches about the one God who rules over all. Yet, he picks up this, just the two almost seem such contrast. He picks up a towel, pours water in a basin, and begins to wash the disciples' feet. All things in heaven and earth and beneath the earth, they bow to his lordship. He could have spoken or not spoken, and all things would obey his will. Yet he kneels before men. He voluntarily performs the simplest yet lowliest of tasks. Voluntarily, no one made him.

This he did for sin and uncleanness. This he did for Rahab the harlots. This he did as we saw last week. This he did for strangers. This he did for those who knew not God. This he did for those who were born in sins, trespasses and sins. This he did for, as we sang in that hymn, the elect, his people.

It's just amazing to have, and again, we're looking at to have the same mind. To have the same mind. Oh, to have the same mind also in us. Yes, the very God of gods, very man of men, to whom we will one day cast our crowns at his feet, took the towel, basin, water, and washed and dried his disciples' feet.

If you look, let's turn to Matthew chapter five. This isn't coincidence, I don't think. Obviously, the scripture's inspired and written of God, so there's no error in here, but I don't think this is a coincidence, but Matthew chapter five, the first three Beatitudes have to do with humility. And seeing the multitude, Christ went up into a mountain and when he was set, his disciples came unto him, he opened his mouth and he taught them saying, blessed are the poor, blessed are they that mourn, blessed are the meek. Now I don't know why, I just know that the first three Beatitudes say the same thing, and they have the same attitude. They're rich in humbleness, and that word humbleness is, meek is gentleness.

It's not weakness. I know a lot of people say, oh, if you're humble, you're weak, it has nothing to do with it. This is like, have the mind of Christ. Did Christ seek self-aggrandizement? No. Did he seek a reputation? No, it says he made himself of no reputation. or to be of higher esteem or seeking higher esteem. As a matter of fact, I don't know if I've got it, I don't think I wrote it down, but it says, I'm among you as one that serves.

Turn with me to Matthew chapter 11, that famous passage in Matthew 11 and verse 29. This is what his own self-description In verse 28, Christ says, Come unto Me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me. Let this mind be in Us that is also in Christ. For I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest under your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden light. Since Adam fell, whether you want to admit it, we want to admit it or not, We've been seeking peace and we can't find it. Seeking peace in our work, seeking peace in money, seeking peace in material things, seeking peace in our health.

How much money? I was typing something in Google about my cortisone shot in the knee and all that stuff, and now that's all I'm getting. How do you, you take this emu stuff and it's, and then, oh, if no, that doesn't work, you do this. And then there's, we looked at a guy named Brad and Bob, they're therapists, they're physical therapists.

And they're, you know, we watched them and everybody's got a solution. Seeking for peace, or try to live longer. It isn't gonna happen. Our peace has been purchased for us, which we could not do, by the doing and dying of the Lord Jesus Christ. So, look to Him. Live for Him. Let this mind that Christ is portraying here be also in us.

This was the description of our example, our master, our best friend. He washed the disciples' feet. And then, these were His chosen. And the thing is, is several hours after this, if you look at the chronological order, several hours after he did this, The disciples were going to argue who was going to be the greatest.

Isn't that like us? Isn't that like us? We're going to be the greatest. And usually when we compare ourselves with others, that's what the scripture says not to, because we compare ourselves to those who are below us and we lift ourselves up. How sad this is that this is our commentary is that we are so much unlike our Lord of this humility.

The old man, he's still there and he dies hard and his death is very, very slow. So expect that. But it doesn't mean, that situation happened the other day. And it upset me. And I'm like, you know, what do I do? And then all of a sudden, I had already prepared a message. I got done Monday for today's message. And so I'm like, oh, let this mind be in me. Humility. And it went away. Just forgot about it. It's no big deal. It's no big deal.

We just need to look off ourself and look onto Him. Yet blessed be that great and tender God. He shall not reign over. The old man shall not reign over us, but we shall see our Savior by and by with a pure heart and glory. We're getting there. We're not getting any better.

That's another false thing is we think we're getting more sanctified or we call it progressive sanctification Sin is always sin like we we were talking the other day Abraham when he died those two boys the flesh and the spirit ishmael and isaac they were at the funeral And that's the way it's going to be that's the way it's going to be.

So as I usually do with these these Studies we look at christ And then we look at us Turn to me with me to first peter chapter five So we looked at Christ. First Peter chapter five. First Peter chapter five. and verse 5 and 6, 1 Peter 5 verse 5 and 6, likewise you younger submit yourselves to the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another and be clothed with humility for God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God that he may exalt you in due time.

And that's what salvation is, it's exaltation And we can't do that. He's got to do it for us. And this word humility means modesty or lowliness of mind. Let us be content to take the lowest place. We don't always have to have the most, the best. Let us be content to take the lowest place. And then you don't have to turn there, but Proverbs 25 verse six and seven. Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men. For better it is that it be said to you, come up hither, than that you should be put down lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen." That's just a general, way to be called up, way to be called up. And then we have that, we won't turn there, but 3 John chapter, 1 in verse 9 through 11, there's a man in the 3rd epistle of John named Diatrophes, and we're familiar with him because we had somebody like him years ago.

He loved to have the preeminence. He wouldn't let anybody come in to preach, and he, what we would say today, he'd excommunicate people, clean the house. Now, this is a fellowship. It's not a one-man rule at all. The Lord takes me out. Thankfully, I've got three other men that I have confidence in, and I don't have to worry if I go somewhere, the gospel's going to be preached. No, this is not a one-man rule. May we say basically what John... I know Joe and I talked about this quite a bit. May we say, rather, as John the Baptist, he must increase, but I must decrease. Who's the he? Christ. Christ Jesus.

What does it mean to increase? Well, the Greek is to be enlarged or to grow. And in our sight, that's having the mind of Christ, that may he grow in our sight, may he grow in our senses, may he grow in our talk and how, when we go work or wherever we go day to day, may we live for Christ, may he be enlarged. May we talk about him. not self, and may we decrease, that's us, that means to make lower or lessen in rank. That's our position. That's our position.

But he does say in Peter, be clothed in humility, for God resists the proud, gives grace to humble yourselves, therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. Our exaltation is based solely on the worth, work, and accomplishments of our humble one, the Lord Jesus Christ. May we be as the ripening wheat. You've heard this illustration before. When it gets started growing, when it gets ready to get ripened and harvest, it heads bows, it bows. So let us be that way.

And then also when I close, let's look at Isaiah 57. I hadn't seen this before. Shame on me. Isaiah 57. I do love it when the Lord opens the word to me and I see things I hadn't seen before. May we quote this. May we meditate upon this verse. And may we duplicate it. Look at Isaiah 57 and verse 15.

For thus saith the high and lofty one that inhabits eternity. We know who that is, whose name is holy. I dwell in a high and holy place with him that also is of a contrite and humble spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and revive the heart of the contrite ones. That's what David, remember when David sinned? Lord Brokom, humble and contrite heart. That's humility.

Oh, to have this thought. And as Peter says, may we arm ourselves with the same mind. That's what we're talking about. Let this mind, this example, this mind, this attitude, this nature be in us that was also in Christ. And if we're believers, We will. He will accomplish. That which he started, he'll finish. And if you're not sure, go to him. Cry to him for mercy. Ask to be like his son. And this is one of his qualities. May the Lord bless you. Bruce, would you close us?

Let this Mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: # 15 Humility

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What does the Bible say about humility?

How do we know that Christ's example of humility is true?

Why is humility important for Christians?

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Let this Mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: # 15 Humility

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about humility?

How do we know that Christ's example of humility is true?

Why is humility important for Christians?

Sermon Transcript

About Drew Dietz

Comments

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