{"id":858,"date":"2013-03-03T16:34:29","date_gmt":"2013-03-03T16:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/?p=858"},"modified":"2013-03-03T21:35:07","modified_gmt":"2013-03-03T21:35:07","slug":"humility-in-hard-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/?p=858","title":{"rendered":"Humility In Hard Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Message by Chad Kelly<\/strong><\/h3>\n

rec0303-113122<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

John Selden (1584-1654)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Humility is a virtue all preach, none practice; and yet everybody is content to hear.<\/p>\n

And that is really the truth of our world and of all of us, except for the work of God in our hearts!<\/p>\n

Piper<\/strong><\/p>\n

Humility is not a popular human trait in the modern world.\u00a0 It\u201d\u2122s not touted in the talk shows or celebrated in valedictorian speeches or commended in diversity seminars or listed with core values.\u00a0 And if you go to the massive self-help section of B. Dalton\u201d\u2122s or Barnes & Noble, you won\u201d\u2122t find books on humility.\u00a0 The basic reason for this is not hard to find:\u00a0 humility can only survive in the presence of God.\u00a0 When God goes, humility goes\u201d\u00a6Our society is too sophisticated for God.\u00a0 We can stand on our own; we are prepared and ready to choose and define our own existence.\u00a0 In this atmosphere, humility cannot survive.\u00a0 It disappears with God.\u00a0 When God is neglected the runner up god takes his place, namely, man.\u00a0 And that by definition is the opposite of humility, namely, pride. \u00a0So the atmosphere we breathe is hostile to humility.<\/p>\n

And oddly enough, even when life is hard\u201d\u201dand clearly, too hard for us to handle, we still try to maintain and stand strong in our own pride.<\/p>\n

Thomas Merton<\/strong><\/p>\n

Pride makes us artificial and humility make us real.<\/p>\n

Humility in Hard Times<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Humility depends on God and serves others, even in hard times.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

1 Peter 5:5-7 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n

5 <\/sup>And all of you, serve each other in humility, for<\/p>\n

\u201cGod opposes the proud
\nbut favors the humble.\u201d<\/p>\n

6\u00a0<\/sup>So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7\u00a0<\/sup>Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.<\/p>\n

Let\u201d\u2122s quickly unpack these verses.<\/p>\n

Here\u201d\u2122s the starting point\u201d\u201dverse 5:<\/p>\n

God opposes the proud
\nbut favors the humble.<\/p>\n

Since that is true\u201d\u00a6 the only smart place to be is where we are receiving grace from God\u201d\u201dnot His holy\/almighty opposition.<\/p>\n

EVEN when times are hard\u201d\u00a6EVEN when you are suffering!<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Humility Under God<\/strong> (6-7)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

     <\/p>\n

    6\u00a0<\/sup>So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. 7\u00a0<\/sup>Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.<\/p>\n

    Humility isn\u201d\u2122t automatic\u201d\u00a6but we MUST pursue it, because\u201d\u00a6<\/p>\n

    God opposes the proud
    \nbut favors the humble.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Note the connection\u201d\u00a6\u201dso\u201d, or \u201ctherefore\u201d<\/p>\n

    Humble yourself under the mighty, ruling, all-powerful, able, controlling, sovereign-over-every-detail hand of God!<\/p>\n

    Even when God is allowing some of those multi-colored, various trials to flood your life!<\/p>\n

    Pride takes credit for what God alone does.<\/p>\n

    Humility gives glory to God.<\/p>\n

    Pride aspires to the place of God.<\/p>\n

    Humility is glad God is God.<\/p>\n

    Pride opposed the very existence of God.<\/p>\n

    Humility welcomes the presence of God.<\/p>\n

    Pride refuses to trust in God.<\/p>\n

    Humility must depend on God.<\/p>\n

    Pride is anxious about the future.<\/p>\n

    Humility trusts God concerning the future and has peace.<\/p>\n

    And notice in verse 7 what true humility before God does:<\/p>\n

    7\u00a0<\/sup>Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.<\/p>\n

    Humility prays and unloads anxiety on God, even in the hard times\u201d\u201despecially, in the hard times!<\/p>\n

    Psalm 37:5<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it.<\/p>\n

    Philippians 4:6-7<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.<\/p>\n

    Piper<\/strong><\/p>\n

    The secret of humility is being able to cast your anxiety on God\u201d\u00a6before you can put yourself humbly under God\u201d\u2122s mighty hand, you have to put your anxiety confidently in God\u201d\u2122s mighty hand.\u00a0 The humility Peter commands under God\u201d\u2122s hand is the peaceful, confident humility that comes because we have cast out anxiety on God with the confidence that He cares for us.<\/p>\n

    Isaiah 64:4<\/strong><\/p>\n

    From of old, no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides Thee, who works for those who wait for Him.<\/p>\n

    Will you prayerfully humble yourself under God when life is hard by throwing all of your cares\/worries on Him?<\/em><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \u00a0Humility Towards One Another<\/strong> (5)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

       <\/p>\n

      5 <\/sup>And all of you, serve each other in humility<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      We are to always be clothed with the readiness to serve one another!<\/em><\/p>\n

      \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

      EVEN when our life is hard!<\/em><\/p>\n

      Remember\u201d\u201dthe folks to whom Peter writes were being persecuted.\u00a0 And this was no minor persecution\u201d\u201dNero was one of the cruelest Roman emperors.\u00a0 He was known for making streetlights out of Christians burning alive on stakes!<\/p>\n

      1 Peter 4:12-13 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n

      12\u00a0<\/sup>Dear friends, don\u201d\u2122t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.<\/p>\n

      That\u201d\u2122s a tough place to be humble\u201d\u00a6such a climate provokes self-preservation and self-assertion for survival!<\/p>\n

      MacDonald<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Sometimes when you are suffering, it\u201d\u2122s hard not to think that you\u201d\u2122re the center of the universe or that you are hurting worse than anyone else.\u00a0 Humility demands that you remain concerned about others.<\/p>\n

      Because the reality is\u201d\u00a6<\/p>\n

      Humility towards others proves humility before God.<\/span><\/em><\/em><\/p>\n

      Pride is self-satisfaction.<\/p>\n

      Humility is committed to pleasing God.<\/p>\n

      Pride is self-sufficiency and self-reliance.<\/p>\n

      Humility depends fully on God.<\/p>\n

      Pride considers itself above instruction.<\/p>\n

      Humility is teachable.<\/p>\n

      Pride is insubordinate.<\/p>\n

      Humility accepts God\u201d\u2122s authority\u201d\u201dand the authority of those God allows to have authority.<\/p>\n

      Pride exults in being made much of.<\/p>\n

      Humility makes much of God and others.<\/p>\n

      Humility towards others proves humility before God.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

      Will you prove your humility before God, even when life is hard, by looking around and seeing how you can serve others?<\/em><\/p>\n

      It is possible, if we\u201d\u2122ll really throw our worries on God.<\/p>\n

      AND\u201d\u00a6<\/p>\n

      It is an amazing way to live!\u00a0 Trusting God with all that concerns us and loving others by His grace, even from the middle of the storm or trial!<\/p>\n

      Only JESUS can enable that kind of abundant living!<\/p>\n

      Humility depends on God and serves others, even in hard times.<\/em><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

      Conclusion<\/em><\/p>\n

      Jesus was humble before God and it was proven by how He served others, especially in the very worst of times.\u00a0 Even when facing crucifixion, Jesus humbly submitted to God and served others.<\/p>\n

      Philippians 2:5-11 (<\/strong>NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n

      5\u00a0<\/sup>You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.<\/p>\n

      6\u00a0<\/sup>Though he was God,
      \nhe did not think of equality with God
      \nas something to cling to.
      \n7\u00a0<\/sup>Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
      \nhe took the humble position of a slave
      \nand was born as a human being.
      \nWhen he appeared in human form,
      \n8\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0he humbled himself in obedience to God
      \nand died a criminal\u201d\u2122s death on a cross.<\/p>\n

      9\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
      \nand gave him the name above all other names,
      \n10\u00a0<\/sup>that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
      \nin heaven and on earth and under the earth,
      \n11\u00a0<\/sup>and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
      \nto the glory of God the Father.<\/p>\n

      Peter is calling us to live like Jesus did.<\/p>\n

      1 Peter 5:5-7 (NLT)<\/strong><\/p>\n

      5 <\/sup>And all of you, serve each other in humility, for<\/p>\n

      \u201cGod opposes the proud
      \nbut favors the humble.\u201d<\/p>\n

      6\u00a0<\/sup>So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor<\/em>. 7\u00a0<\/sup>Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.<\/p>\n

      GOD will lift us up in honor!\u00a0 THAT is the result of true humility.<\/p>\n

      And when He does, Jesus will receive the glory through our lives because He\u201d\u2122s the one who has given us the grace to humbly endure the hard times and serve others while we ourselves are hurting\u201d\u201djust like Jesus did!<\/p>\n

      Humility depends on God and serves others, even in hard times.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Message by Chad Kelly rec0303-113122   John Selden (1584-1654) Humility is a virtue all preach, none practice; and yet everybody is content to hear. And that is really the truth of our world and of all of us, except for … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-858","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-messages"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=858"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":861,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/858\/revisions\/861"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=858"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=858"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crossroadchristianfellowship.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=858"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}