Humility: An Essential Internal System of the Church (Matthew 5)
This sermon delves into humility as an indispensable spiritual attitude for every believer and for the church as a whole. It guides us through biblical texts to understand humility's foundational role in our relationship with God and one another.
This sermon explores humility as a core spiritual attitude and internal system essential for the church. It argues that humility is foundational for salvation and sustained Christian life, with Christ as its ultimate model.
Overview
The sermon is part of a series examining the "anatomy of the church," aiming to clarify its essential components during a period of identity crisis. Using the metaphor of the body of Christ, it seeks to understand biblical non-negotiables for church life from the Word of God, which is presented as the church's manual of instruction.
Having covered the church's "skeleton," the sermon now delves into "internal systems," which are the spiritual attitudes, motives, and convictions of the heart. Following discussions on faith and obedience, the preacher introduces humility as the third crucial internal system, emphasizing that it's "heart business" rather than external manipulation or fear.
Drawing heavily from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5), the sermon explains that true salvation begins with humility, characterized by being "poor in spirit," mourning over sin, meekness, and hungering for righteousness. It further illustrates this with passages like Matthew 18 and James 4, showing that entry into the Kingdom requires becoming like a dependent child who has achieved nothing, pleading for God's mercy.
For believers, humility remains vital. God actively works to cultivate it, even allowing "thorns in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12) or other adversities to prevent self-exaltation and perfect His power in weakness. The sermon concludes by presenting Christ's self-emptying and obedience to death (Philippians 2) as the supreme model for believers to regard others as more important than themselves.
Key points
- The sermon is part of an "anatomy of the church" series, focusing on understanding its essential elements from Scripture.
- "Internal systems" of the church refer to essential spiritual attitudes, motives, and convictions of the heart, built primarily by the Word of God.
- Humility is presented as the third crucial "internal system," alongside faith and obedience, and is foundational to spiritual life.
- Jesus' Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-6) describe humility through "poor in spirit," mourning, meekness, and hunger/thirst for righteousness, all essential for salvation.
- Humility requires recognizing spiritual bankruptcy and dependence on God, like a child who has achieved nothing (Matthew 18:3-4).
- God "is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble," a principle for both unbelievers seeking grace (James 4) and believers clothing themselves in humility (1 Peter 5).
- God allows adversity and "thorns in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12) to humble believers, ensuring His power is perfected in their weakness.
- Christ is the ultimate model of humility, emptying Himself and becoming obedient to death on the cross (Philippians 2:5-8).
In John MacArthur's words
“Legalism always is the companion of spiritual pride; true spirituality has the virtue of humility coming alongside.”
“God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: The Anatomy of the Church Series
- A. Purpose: Understanding essential elements in a time of identity crisis
- B. Methodology: Borrowing imagery of the body of Christ and relying on the Word of God
- C. Previously Covered: Skeleton (rigidity, framework) and first two Internal Systems (faith, obedience)
- D. Focus: Internal Systems as "heart business" cultivated by the Word of God
- II. Humility: An Essential Internal System (Spiritual Attitude)
- A. Context: Contrasting Jesus' teaching with the spiritual pride of Judaism (Matthew 23)
- B. Humility for Entry into the Kingdom (Matthew 5:3-6 – The Beatitudes)
- 1. "Poor in spirit": Utter spiritual bankruptcy, needing to beg
- 2. Mourning: Deep sorrow and agony over one's condition
- 3. Meekness: Timidity, fear to approach God due to unworthiness
- 4. Hungering and thirsting for righteousness: Recognizing one's lack and desperate need
- C. Becoming Like Children (Matthew 18:3-4)
- 1. Argument among disciples about greatness
- 2. Children as illustration: Absolutely dependent, achieved nothing
- D. God Gives Grace to the Humble (James 4:4-10)
- 1. Context: Addressing the unregenerate ("adulteresses," "friends of the world," "sinners")
- 2. Call to humility: Submit, resist the devil, draw near, cleanse hands, purify hearts, mourn, weep
- III. Humility for Ongoing Christian Life
- A. Ongoing attitude for believers (1 Peter 5:5-6)
- 1. "Clothe yourselves with humility"
- 2. God will exalt you at the proper time
- B. God's Means of Cultivating Humility (2 Corinthians 12:1-10)
- 1. Paul's surpassing revelations (caught up to third heaven)
- 2. The "thorn in the flesh" given "to keep me from exalting myself"
- 3. God uses adversity, trouble, character assassination, "messenger of Satan" to humble
- 4. God's grace is sufficient; "power is perfected in weakness"
- C. Paul's Continued Humility (Philippians 3:12-15, 1 Timothy 1:15, Romans 7)
- 1. "Not that I have already attained... I press on"
- 2. "I am the chief of sinners"
- 3. Comparing oneself to Christ keeps one humble
- IV. Manifestations of Humility (Philippians 2:3-8)
- A. Regard one another as more important than oneself
- B. Not looking out for personal interests, but for others'
- C. The Attitude of Christ Jesus (self-emptying, taking the form of a bondservant, obedience to death on the cross)
- V. Conclusion: Humility as the Church's Heart Work
Scripture references
- Matthew 5
- Matthew 23
- Hebrews 4
- Ephesians 6:6
- Luke 18
- Philippians 3
- Matthew 18:3-4
- James 4:4-10
- 1 John
- Matthew 13
- Psalms
- Proverbs
- Isaiah 55
- 1 Peter 5:5-6
- 2 Corinthians 12:1-10
- Romans 7
- 1 Timothy 1:15
- Philippians 2:3-8
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.
2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
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.
4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
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.
1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.
2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.
1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
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:
1 It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.
2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)
4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?
2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.
15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
Insights
True spirituality finds humility walking alongside.
The Kingdom belongs to those who know their spiritual bankruptcy.
God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Questions & answers
What is the broader context of this sermon?
This sermon is part of a series called 'Anatomy of the Church,' which aims to explain the essential components and functions of church life based on biblical principles, addressing a perceived identity crisis within the Western church.
What does the preacher mean by 'internal systems' of the church?
The preacher defines 'internal systems' as the spiritual attitudes, motives, and convictions of the heart. These are contrasted with external legalism and are primarily built through the work of the Word of God.
How do the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 describe humility in this sermon?
The sermon explains that the Beatitudes describe humility as being 'poor in spirit' (utterly bankrupt), mourning over one's sinful condition, meekness or timidity before God, and hungering and thirsting for a righteousness one knows they lack.
Why did God allow a 'thorn in the flesh' for Paul, according to the sermon?
The sermon explains that Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' was given to keep him from exalting himself due to his extraordinary revelations. God uses such adversities, even from Satan, to humble His servants so His power can be perfected in their weakness.
How does Christ exemplify humility in Philippians 2, as presented in the sermon?
Christ exemplifies humility by not clinging to His equality with God but emptying Himself, taking the form of a servant, and becoming obedient to the point of death on the cross. This demonstrates His willingness to prioritize others' interests above His own.
What is the sermon's main practical application of humility for believers?
The main practical application is for believers to continually humble themselves, recognizing their ongoing unworthiness and sinfulness. This involves being more concerned with one's own sins than others' and looking out for the interests and successes of others before one's own.
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Unofficial AI summary for study purposes. Watch the full sermon on Grace to You. Sermon Insights is not affiliated with or endorsed by the pastor or church.