Clyde Slick
December 2nd 07, 02:30 AM
Arny, i can see you have been having some difficulties these past two
days.
I am going to help you out by providing a sermon intended as a stop
gap
measure to get you through till your usual Sunday sermon.
I will be doing this from time to time, whenever
i see your tro0ubles mounting.
here it is
tonight's topic is:::::
"Humility"
By Pastor Lewis Collier
Calvary Baptist Church, Middleton, TN
Text: Topical - Humility
Introduction: True humility is an attitude of total dependence on God.
Without true humility we will not be content, God or men will not
honor us, and we cannot posses the righteousness of God.
I. Humility and Contentment.
A. God is Fair (Matt 20:1-7)
20:1 the kingdom of heaven is like unto - The Kingdom of Heaven is the
same as the realm of God's rule. Jesus is about to teach us something
important about the realm of God's rule and God Himself. A householder
- (The head of the family or the master of the house). Hire labourers
- The master of the house goes out early and hires laborers to work in
his vineyard.
20:2 he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day - A penny a
day was a day's wages during this time.
20:3 he went out about the third hour - The third hour of the day for
the Jews would have been 9:00am our time.
20:4 whatsoever is right I will give you - The master promises to be
fair to these servants who started a little later than the first
group.
20:5 the sixth hour and the ninth hour - This would have been 12:00pm
and 3:00pm.
20:6 the eleventh hour - This would have been 5:00pm.
20:7 whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive - Again, the master
promises to be fair.
All of us would say that these workers have not labored equally. Some
worked much longer than others. They were also working under different
conditions. Some of the workers hired later didn't have to work in the
hottest part of the day. The servant of the Lord doesn't decide the
terms of his service. Not all believers labor for equally long periods
or in equally difficult circumstances. The master decides these things
for us because He knows best. We should be content to just simply do
his will.
B. We Should Humbly Accept God's Rewards (Matt 20:8-16)
20:8 beginning from the last - The master begins to hand out the
payment or rewards beginning at those who he hired last.
20:9 they came that were hired about the eleventh hour - They received
a whole day's wage, a penny.
20:10 the first came - Those who were hired first received also a
day's wage, a penny.
20:11 they murmured - Even though they had agreed with the master for
a penny when they seen those who came last get a penny they supposed
they should have received more. They grumbled and complained because
they felt they were not treated fairly.
20:12 thou hast made them equal to us - They had borne a greater
burden than those who came later in the day. They were comparing
themselves with the other servants. 2 Cor 10:12 For we dare not make
ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend
themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing
themselves among themselves, are not wise.
20:13 I do thee no wrong - The master was fair, he gave them what he
told them he would. Their ill feelings toward the master were based on
a desire to have more than was promised.
20:15 is thine eye evil, because I am good - In his wisdom the master
was doing what was fair and right. The thoughts and feelings of these
who were complaining were evil because they were focused on self.
20:16 the last shall be first, and the first last - So shall it be in
the realm of God's rule.
There are some things we need to consider or remember about our judge
and reward giver the Lord Jesus Christ. 1. He wants us to do what He
tells us to do. 2. We will not be rewarded according to what our
circumstances were, how hard the work was, how long we had to endure
rough conditions, or what the results of our labors were. The Lord who
saved us and called us into His service will judge us according to how
faithful we were to do what He asked us to do. 3. It's Jesus who
chooses the field of service for each of His children if they will
allow Him to, and He will reward them according to their faithfulness
in that field. Envy has no place in the heart of the servant of the
Lord. What God gives to or does through others should never be a
source of irritation to us but a cause for rejoicing. John 21:20-22
Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved
following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord,
which is he that betrayeth thee? Pete! r seeing him saith to Jesus,
Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that
he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Jesus
indeed had a plan for John but it didn't concern Peter. Peter needed
to do what Jesus wanted for him.
II. Humility is linked to Honor. (Luke 14:7-11)
This is a parable concerning a wedding. We would all understand that
at a wedding there are seats which are reserved for special people,
such as, family, close friends, and even special guests.
14:8 sit not down in the highest room - There is a warning here from
Jesus that we ought not to honor ourselves. The reason why follows.
Those that honor themselves are setting themselves up to be
humiliated.
14:10 sit down in the lowest room - We ought to have an attitude that
gives the honor to those around us and not to ourselves. When we have
that kind of an attitude we are setting ourselves up to be honored.
14:11 Prov 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit
before a fall. Prov 22:4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are
riches, and honour, and life. James 4:6 ...God resisteth the proud,
but giveth grace unto the humble. The way down is up and the way up is
down.
III. Humility is linked to Righteousness. (Luke 18:9-14)
In order to go to heaven and live in God's presence we must have His
righteousness. To have His righteousness we must humble ourselves.
18:9 trusted in themselves - This parable is spoken to those who trust
in themselves. Those who trust in themselves have an attitude of
independence from God. The name for that kind of attitude is pride.
He states that they were righteous - This parable is also spoken to
those who are self-righteous. A self-righteous man is a man who
justifies himself by comparing himself to others. Rom 2:1-3 Therefore
thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for
wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that
judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of
God is according to truth against them, which commit such things. And
thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and
doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
18:10 one a Pharisee - A Pharisee was a separatist meaning he believed
that separation from the world was the most important part of his
spirituality. He viewed his separation as making him more righteous
than others.
The other a publican - A publican was a tax collector. They were
mostly Jews who collected taxes from their own people for the Roman
government. Most publicans collected extra taxes with which they lined
their pockets. For this they were hated by all the Jewish people and
looked at as the wicked of sinners.
18:11 God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men - This Pharisee
compares himself with other men and speaks of the sins that he does
not commit. He then reminds God of the righteous acts, which are a
regular part of his life. He doesn't judge himself by the law but by
the sins of others. In effect he justifies himself by the sins of
others. He is self-righteous. A self-righteous person doesn't see a
great need for God's Mercy, His Grace, or the salvation offered in
Jesus Christ.
18:13 be merciful to me a sinner - This publican who in practice
probably had little concern for religion just simply judged himself by
the law as guilty and seen himself a hopeless and helpless sinner. He
threw himself upon the mercy of God.
18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified - The
publican who seen his sin and came to throw himself upon the mercy of
God was gloriously saved while the Pharisee who refused to see his sin
went home the way he had came, condemned.
days.
I am going to help you out by providing a sermon intended as a stop
gap
measure to get you through till your usual Sunday sermon.
I will be doing this from time to time, whenever
i see your tro0ubles mounting.
here it is
tonight's topic is:::::
"Humility"
By Pastor Lewis Collier
Calvary Baptist Church, Middleton, TN
Text: Topical - Humility
Introduction: True humility is an attitude of total dependence on God.
Without true humility we will not be content, God or men will not
honor us, and we cannot posses the righteousness of God.
I. Humility and Contentment.
A. God is Fair (Matt 20:1-7)
20:1 the kingdom of heaven is like unto - The Kingdom of Heaven is the
same as the realm of God's rule. Jesus is about to teach us something
important about the realm of God's rule and God Himself. A householder
- (The head of the family or the master of the house). Hire labourers
- The master of the house goes out early and hires laborers to work in
his vineyard.
20:2 he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day - A penny a
day was a day's wages during this time.
20:3 he went out about the third hour - The third hour of the day for
the Jews would have been 9:00am our time.
20:4 whatsoever is right I will give you - The master promises to be
fair to these servants who started a little later than the first
group.
20:5 the sixth hour and the ninth hour - This would have been 12:00pm
and 3:00pm.
20:6 the eleventh hour - This would have been 5:00pm.
20:7 whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive - Again, the master
promises to be fair.
All of us would say that these workers have not labored equally. Some
worked much longer than others. They were also working under different
conditions. Some of the workers hired later didn't have to work in the
hottest part of the day. The servant of the Lord doesn't decide the
terms of his service. Not all believers labor for equally long periods
or in equally difficult circumstances. The master decides these things
for us because He knows best. We should be content to just simply do
his will.
B. We Should Humbly Accept God's Rewards (Matt 20:8-16)
20:8 beginning from the last - The master begins to hand out the
payment or rewards beginning at those who he hired last.
20:9 they came that were hired about the eleventh hour - They received
a whole day's wage, a penny.
20:10 the first came - Those who were hired first received also a
day's wage, a penny.
20:11 they murmured - Even though they had agreed with the master for
a penny when they seen those who came last get a penny they supposed
they should have received more. They grumbled and complained because
they felt they were not treated fairly.
20:12 thou hast made them equal to us - They had borne a greater
burden than those who came later in the day. They were comparing
themselves with the other servants. 2 Cor 10:12 For we dare not make
ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend
themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing
themselves among themselves, are not wise.
20:13 I do thee no wrong - The master was fair, he gave them what he
told them he would. Their ill feelings toward the master were based on
a desire to have more than was promised.
20:15 is thine eye evil, because I am good - In his wisdom the master
was doing what was fair and right. The thoughts and feelings of these
who were complaining were evil because they were focused on self.
20:16 the last shall be first, and the first last - So shall it be in
the realm of God's rule.
There are some things we need to consider or remember about our judge
and reward giver the Lord Jesus Christ. 1. He wants us to do what He
tells us to do. 2. We will not be rewarded according to what our
circumstances were, how hard the work was, how long we had to endure
rough conditions, or what the results of our labors were. The Lord who
saved us and called us into His service will judge us according to how
faithful we were to do what He asked us to do. 3. It's Jesus who
chooses the field of service for each of His children if they will
allow Him to, and He will reward them according to their faithfulness
in that field. Envy has no place in the heart of the servant of the
Lord. What God gives to or does through others should never be a
source of irritation to us but a cause for rejoicing. John 21:20-22
Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved
following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord,
which is he that betrayeth thee? Pete! r seeing him saith to Jesus,
Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that
he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Jesus
indeed had a plan for John but it didn't concern Peter. Peter needed
to do what Jesus wanted for him.
II. Humility is linked to Honor. (Luke 14:7-11)
This is a parable concerning a wedding. We would all understand that
at a wedding there are seats which are reserved for special people,
such as, family, close friends, and even special guests.
14:8 sit not down in the highest room - There is a warning here from
Jesus that we ought not to honor ourselves. The reason why follows.
Those that honor themselves are setting themselves up to be
humiliated.
14:10 sit down in the lowest room - We ought to have an attitude that
gives the honor to those around us and not to ourselves. When we have
that kind of an attitude we are setting ourselves up to be honored.
14:11 Prov 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit
before a fall. Prov 22:4 By humility and the fear of the Lord are
riches, and honour, and life. James 4:6 ...God resisteth the proud,
but giveth grace unto the humble. The way down is up and the way up is
down.
III. Humility is linked to Righteousness. (Luke 18:9-14)
In order to go to heaven and live in God's presence we must have His
righteousness. To have His righteousness we must humble ourselves.
18:9 trusted in themselves - This parable is spoken to those who trust
in themselves. Those who trust in themselves have an attitude of
independence from God. The name for that kind of attitude is pride.
He states that they were righteous - This parable is also spoken to
those who are self-righteous. A self-righteous man is a man who
justifies himself by comparing himself to others. Rom 2:1-3 Therefore
thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for
wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that
judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of
God is according to truth against them, which commit such things. And
thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and
doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
18:10 one a Pharisee - A Pharisee was a separatist meaning he believed
that separation from the world was the most important part of his
spirituality. He viewed his separation as making him more righteous
than others.
The other a publican - A publican was a tax collector. They were
mostly Jews who collected taxes from their own people for the Roman
government. Most publicans collected extra taxes with which they lined
their pockets. For this they were hated by all the Jewish people and
looked at as the wicked of sinners.
18:11 God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men - This Pharisee
compares himself with other men and speaks of the sins that he does
not commit. He then reminds God of the righteous acts, which are a
regular part of his life. He doesn't judge himself by the law but by
the sins of others. In effect he justifies himself by the sins of
others. He is self-righteous. A self-righteous person doesn't see a
great need for God's Mercy, His Grace, or the salvation offered in
Jesus Christ.
18:13 be merciful to me a sinner - This publican who in practice
probably had little concern for religion just simply judged himself by
the law as guilty and seen himself a hopeless and helpless sinner. He
threw himself upon the mercy of God.
18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified - The
publican who seen his sin and came to throw himself upon the mercy of
God was gloriously saved while the Pharisee who refused to see his sin
went home the way he had came, condemned.