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Humility - A Contrite Spirit
May 28, 2017
God opposes the proud. Pride takes credit for the work done by God. We are of little use to God until our spirit is crushed and broken -- that is, contrite. Only then can He shape us into the people that He wants us to be. - Bernie Parsons
Humility – A Contrite Spirit
A sermon by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 05-28-2017
Presented to Load church of Christ on 06-04-2017
In the last lesson, I showed that God hates pride and the haughty spirit
that goes with it. This lesson examines the opposite condition, which is
humility with a contrite spirit.
God surrounds Himself with the humble and the contrite spirits.
Isaiah 57:15 "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth
eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with
him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit
of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."
Contrite means “crushed” as in “powder”, according to Strong’s
Exhaustive Concordance.
The self-exalted person shall be brought low while the humble one will
be exalted.
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,
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."
Jesus said that to enter the kingdom of heaven, one must become as a
little child.
Matthew 18:1 "At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying,
Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of
them,
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.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the
same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Jesus set an example by washing His disciples’ feet.
John 13:3 "Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his
hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel,
and girded himself.
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.
6 Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost
thou wash my feet?
7 Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but
thou shalt know hereafter.
8 Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered
him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9 Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands
and my head.
10 Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his
feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11 For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all
clean.
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?
13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought
to wash one another's feet.
15 For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to
you.
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.
17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."
The apostle Paul set forth the description of God’s chosen, describing a
humble mind.
Colossians 3:12 "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and
beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness,
longsuffering;
13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a
quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of
perfectness."
The apostle Peter reminds of humility and warns of pride.
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.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may
exalt you in due time:"
Jesus plainly lays out the case for humility and service, reminding that
the path to greatness lies through humble service to one another.
Matthew 20:20 "Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with
her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that
these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on
the left, in thy kingdom.
22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to
drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the
baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able.
23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be
baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my
right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given
to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.
24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against
the two brethren.
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.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among
you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
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."
James also reminds of the
pitfall of pride and how God favors the humble.
James 4:5 "Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,
The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud,
but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee
from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye
sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to
mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you
up."
Is there any doubt that pride is a sin and that God hates it? What more
must we hear of how God extends grace to the humble?
The pathway of righteousness
leads us to humility and away from pride.
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."
