3 Examples by Brother Duke Hansen

         This morning's message is going to be about humility. We will be in several different places in both the old and new testament to add scripture to 3 examples all of us have been in through life. Three scenarios that call for humility. 

        Our first scenario is this. When I get ready to walk through a door that's open and it closes suddenly, it's important that I remain calm in the moment and remember to trust in God and know his hand of protection is on me.

        Now, many many times, an opportunity presents itself that seems good and closes all of sudden, and our immediate reaction is to be angry and lash out. Let's go to 2 Corinthians 10:5 and read.

        5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

        Often times we have false expectations in our life which leads to the imagination. We are imagining the best case scenario to something before even beginning it. As the scripture says, you need to tear down those imaginations because they aren't proven.

        Now, let's go to Psalms 62 and read verses 5-8.

        5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

        6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defense; I shall not be moved.

        7 In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

        8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.

        This psalm is written by a man who made mistakes in his life but also did some things right. David says you need to trust God with all your heart regardless of the situation being good or bad. This is why humility is so important in your life and your spiritual walk.

        We are going to go to the book of Romans. Chapter 8 of Romans and read verses 5 and 6.

        5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

        6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

        The goal for you and I is to not walk in the flesh. It's not to be carnally minded but be spiritually minded. Carnal minded is all wrapped in emotion. All the highs and lows with no grounding. Being spiritually minded is to have a peace because you have already allowed God to take charge of your life. You are living for him and not the next paycheck, or the next vacation, or the next fancy toy.

        Let's now turn to the book of Isaiah chapter 55. We will be reading verses 8-10.

        8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.

        9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoguhts than your thoughts.

       10 For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not thither, but waters the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.

        The prophet Isaiah designates what our thoughts are and what God's thoughts ar. The struggle is when we are operating in emotion and forget God's thoughts. You need to learn of the things unholy in you and stomp it out.

        Our second example is this; When I do something good and right in man's eyes, I don't get puffed up and there's no pride. We all are guilty of this. We are going to go to 1 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 2.

        2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.

        A definition of puffed up is coming from pride. The church in Corinth was experiencing a lot of issues with pride. There's another part to this in that when you are puffed up you end up turning on one another. Let's go to 1 Corinthians chapter 8 and verse 1.

        Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but charity edifieth. 

        The 3rd part is being conscious of what is wrong but doing wrong anyway. Many of us have knowledge to varying degrees. We know the difference between right and wrong, but do we have understanding? Many people have a lot of wisdom but lack the understanding to use that wisdom. knowledge can make you pirdeful and it prevents you from being taught.

        Knowledge is not enough. We need understanding to comprehend and follow through in your life.

        The 3rd example I have for you is this. If I feel God has taken the heathen's side over mine. He blesses the heathen just to aggravate my flesh. I need to remember that God is not a respecter of persons. 

        We are going to a few places for some scripture support on this. The first place is Acts 10:34.

        34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons. 

        This verse is in the chapter where the gospel is given to the house of Cornelius. By verse 34, Peter knew that God didn't confine his gospel to one nation or or group. He is not a respecter of persons. We will go to a couple of proverbs in reading next. chapter 3 verse 4 and chapter 12 verse 2 in Proverbs.

        4 So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

        2 A good man obtaineth favor of the Lord; but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

        How do we split the statements that God is not a respecter of persons but also he shows us favor? It's in the blessings God provides for us daily. In having favor, it's a fundamental understanding of sowing and reaping. 

        We are going to the book of Romans chapter 2 next. We will read verse 11.

        11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

        Now we will go to a couple of places in Psalms. the first is chapter 5 verse 12 and the second is chapter 30 verse 5.

        12 For thou, Lord, will bless the righteous; with favor wilt thou compass him as with a shield.

        5 For his anger endures but a moment; in his favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

        God has instructed the believer to put on the whole armor of God, starting with the shield of faith. When we are in the heat of problems we dwell often of the why's of them instead on looking ahead to better times ahead as David wrote about in Psalms 30.

        We are going to one last spot this morning. In the book of Ephesians chapter 1 and we will be reading from verse 4.

        4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

        The whole earth is blessed from the bloodlines of the 12 tribes which were established in the beginning. In the book of Matthew, it was the tribe of Judah. After Jesus' time on earth, the bloodlines which had been cast out were allowed back in again. Your faith is strengthened by your obedience. You need to have humilty to build your faith.

        5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.

        6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

        7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

        So, to repeat from the beginning and bring all the examples together. When I get ready to walk through a door that's open and it closes on me, it's important to remain calm in the moment and remember that you continue to trust God and his hand of protection is over you. When I do something good and right in man's eyes, I don't get puffed up and there's no pride. If I feel God has taken the heathen side over mine and he blesses them just to aggravate my flesh. I need to remember God is not a respecter of persons.

        Humility by definition is seeking to honor God and looking out for the interest of others.