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Acts 20:21 “… repentance toward God, and
faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”
James says this in his epistle James 4:6 “… God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” It’s humbling to come to God to receive His free gift of salvation.
One of the greatest hymns of the Christian faith is one called “Rock of Ages” by August Toplady. Here are two verses of that great hymn.
2. Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law's commands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.
3. Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.
You see, Salvation comes only through the kindness of God and only to the sinner who comes humbly to Him. Ephesians 2:4 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
1. Humility is a chosen attitude.
2. Before honor is humility.
Here’s what the Bible teaches on the matter of humility. Proverbs 15:33 “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” Proverbs 18:12 “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.” Proverbs 29:23 “A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”
It’s true that one of the major paradoxes in Christianity is that God honors those who are humble. What makes is an even greater paradox is this. A truly humble man doesn’t look for any reward or benefit in being humble. Yet, anyone who humbles himself can expect God to fulfill His promise. He will honor those who humble themselves even though they aren’t seeking to be honored.
And the king, King David, has decided to do something for him in the kindness of God. Look at what he’s ready to do; verse seven. (7) And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.”
Look at verse ten. II Samuel 9:10 “Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Look at verse eleven. II Samuel 9:11 “Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons.
And here’s verse thirteen. II Samuel 9:13 “So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.”
Mephibosheth came in humility and he went away in honor. Don’t you often wonder why some people seem to be so blessed by the LORD? Here’s the simple reason. They have chosen the attitude of humility and they understand that before honor is humility.
Now, by way of application, what are you going to do this week with the Word of God? Will you just be a hearer? Or will you be a doer? James 1:23 “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. (25) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Here’s God’s command. James 4:6 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” I 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. (6) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:...” It’s your choice. The End
James says this in his epistle James 4:6 “… God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” It’s humbling to come to God to receive His free gift of salvation.
One of the greatest hymns of the Christian faith is one called “Rock of Ages” by August Toplady. Here are two verses of that great hymn.
2. Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law's commands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.
3. Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.
You see, Salvation comes only through the kindness of God and only to the sinner who comes humbly to Him. Ephesians 2:4 “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. (8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
1. Humility is a chosen attitude.
2. Before honor is humility.
Here’s what the Bible teaches on the matter of humility. Proverbs 15:33 “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” Proverbs 18:12 “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility.” Proverbs 29:23 “A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.”
It’s true that one of the major paradoxes in Christianity is that God honors those who are humble. What makes is an even greater paradox is this. A truly humble man doesn’t look for any reward or benefit in being humble. Yet, anyone who humbles himself can expect God to fulfill His promise. He will honor those who humble themselves even though they aren’t seeking to be honored.
And the king, King David, has decided to do something for him in the kindness of God. Look at what he’s ready to do; verse seven. (7) And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely show thee kindness for Jonathan thy father's sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually.”
Look at verse ten. II Samuel 9:10 “Thou therefore, and thy sons, and thy servants, shall till the land for him, and thou shalt bring in the fruits, that thy master's son may have food to eat: but Mephibosheth thy master's son shall eat bread alway at my table. Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.
Look at verse eleven. II Samuel 9:11 “Then said Ziba unto the king, According to all that my lord the king hath commanded his servant, so shall thy servant do. As for Mephibosheth, said the king, he shall eat at my table, as one of the king's sons.
And here’s verse thirteen. II Samuel 9:13 “So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king's table; and was lame on both his feet.”
Mephibosheth came in humility and he went away in honor. Don’t you often wonder why some people seem to be so blessed by the LORD? Here’s the simple reason. They have chosen the attitude of humility and they understand that before honor is humility.
Now, by way of application, what are you going to do this week with the Word of God? Will you just be a hearer? Or will you be a doer? James 1:23 “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. (25) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Here’s God’s command. James 4:6 “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” I 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. (6) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:...” It’s your choice. The End