The Essential Grace of Humility, Part 1

In this part of the sermon: Pastor Martin introduces 1 Peter 5:1-11, focusing on verse 5b as a new directive from Peter to all believers. He addresses textual and grammatical considerations, asserting that…

Martin contrasts the privilege of having Bibles to read with the 'untold millions who have never seen a page of Holy Scripture' to foster gratitude for God's word.

Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about seeking whom he may devour, whom withstands steadfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world. And the God of all, who now ATP, isố skin that gath thyself into holy moment, the Lord Godkeeth thy thyself, theain thy Things thy hand weiteth, and thy life tis weary of yourble delight. The only work thou hast. Thyself. Do thyself.

1:40 - 2:34 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon's first main heading, 'Humility, the essential grace for harmonious relationships within the church of Christ,' begins by asking to whom this command is given. Martin…

He uses the analogy of 'ecclesiastical hash' or 'soup that has all the leftovers' versus 'gourmet soup' to critique church growth experts who advocate for homogeneous churches, contrasting it with the diverse early church.

And there are people that write books on it. If you want a successful church, go into an area, find the different sociological, economic, ethnic, racial groupings, and say, we're going to target this one. And then as you target that one, light will beget light. It is disastrous, they say, to try to have a multiplicity of economic, social, ethnic backgrounds and relationships all in one pot.

14:25 - 14:54 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not feel comfortable if you are naturally shy or wall-flowerish, as outward demeanor does not equate to inward humility.

Martin uses the metaphors of a 'whipped curd dog' (outwardly humble) and a 'peacock' (inwardly proud) to distinguish true humility from mere constitutional temperament or outward demeanor.

I hope you've made it already. As we dig into the text, some of you are going to feel a little comfortable when you shouldn't. Because temperamentally, people would look at you and say, oh, she's so humble, he's so humble. You can be outwardly the dropped head, the soft voice, the shifty eyes, the twitching fingers.

17:27 - 17:48 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin delves into the meaning of 'gird yourselves with humility.' He explains the verb 'gird' as fastening something like an apron, and the noun 'humility' as 'lowliness of…

He uses the image of a mother tying on an apron for intense kitchen work to explain the verb 'gird yourselves,' emphasizing fastening something to oneself so it goes wherever the person goes.

Your mother's going to engage in some intense work in the kitchen, and so she goes to the place where she keeps this item called an apron, and what does she do? She puts the loop over her head, she spreads out the broad part of the cloth, and then she ties it in a bow behind her. Now, if you were to describe what she was doing, this is the verb you would use. To tie something to oneself with a bow, to fasten it with a clasp, or with a knot, so that wherever mom goes, her apron goes.

19:34 - 20:09 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin delves into the meaning of 'gird yourselves with humility.' He explains the verb 'gird' as fastening something like an apron, and the noun 'humility' as 'lowliness of…

The analogy of a crossing guard's vest is used to illustrate how putting on an apron of humility identifies a person with a specific position and function, ready for service.

in a disposition of one who is ready to take the place of a slave in relationship to the service gladly rendered to his brethren. You kids, when you go to, not to Trinity School, but other schools, they have crossing guards. See, sometimes Trinity School is death to my illustrations because you don't have crossing guards out here in the parking lot. But the crossing guards generally will wear a vest that goes over whatever jacket, whatever outer clothing that man or woman may be wearing, and the moment you see that vest, you identify the person as to position and function.

21:45 - 22:29 Read in full sermon

Driving home: That's why Francis Schaeffer said, every man and woman who becomes a Christian is someone who's bowed twice. And his first bowing is to own the reality of creaturehood.

He quotes Francis Schaeffer, saying a Christian 'bowed twice,' first owning creaturehood, to emphasize the foundational recognition of our created nature for humility.

You are not. I am not. That's why Francis Schaeffer said, every man and woman who becomes a Christian is someone who's bowed twice. And his first bowing is to own the reality of creaturehood.

34:52 - 35:05 Read in full sermon

Driving home: I know that in me that is in my flesh listen to his words, dwells no good thing. Paul is saying if anything ever comes out of me that can be called good it didn't originate with me in terms of what I was by nature, in te…

The example of the publican in Luke 18, who 'would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven but beat upon his breast saying God be merciful to me the sinner,' illustrates true humble-mindedness before God.

And you see, you'll never know humble-mindedness until you own from the heart what you are not only as creature but as sinner. A sinner, natively guilty, hell deserving, depraved and polluted until you come to the place where that publican came described in Luke 18 who in the presence of God would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven but beat upon his breast saying God be merciful to me the sinner. Not a sinner generically. I'm a sinner.

36:18 - 36:56 Read in full sermon

Driving home: We are to imagine God has two hands one which like a hammer beats down and breaks in pieces those who raise up themselves the other which raises up the humble who willingly bow themselves down and sustain them like a fir…

Martin recounts seeing pictures from an outstanding astronomical photographer showing vast galaxies to emphasize the immense power of God, who 'made the stars also,' making His resistance to the proud a 'frightening statement'.

sitting in this place and he's giving grace to the humble it's always like God to do that he always has and ever shall until there are no more proud ones in his immediate presence now what is this activity toward the proud God is resisting the proud and this verb resist means to set oneself against it has military overtones it's the antonym you kids are learning antonyms the opposite hot cold it's the antonym of the verb that Peter uses all the way through his epistle hupotasso obey range yourself under the authority of another this is anti tasso this is God standing in military array against ...

48:47 - 50:15 Read in full sermon

Driving home: We are to imagine God has two hands one which like a hammer beats down and breaks in pieces those who raise up themselves the other which raises up the humble who willingly bow themselves down and sustain them like a fir…

He quotes John Calvin's vivid imagery of God having 'two hands,' one that 'beats down and breaks in pieces those who raise up themselves' and another that 'raises up the humble,' to powerfully convey God's active resistance to pride and favor to humility.

indication that he intends favor to us blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled Jesus said to the Laodicean church because you say I'm rich increased with goods and have needed nothing I'm about to puke you that's course the Greek is course spew you you never said that oh mother I went into the bathroom and spewed you said I vomited that's the standard Greek word I'm about to vomit you out why because you're full of yourself full of yourself full of yourself God resists the proud God continually gives grace to the humble listen to Calvin's vigorous wor...

53:11 - 54:40 Read in full sermon

The point: Be willing to take the role of a servant to one another, following Jesus' example of washing feet.

The story of Jesus washing the disciples' feet in John 13 is used as the supreme example of humble service, illustrating the 'guild of the towel and the basin' that believers are called to join.

at the foot of the cross when you sin and when you fail you don't go immediately to Christ it's your pride that keeps you from him it's your pride because you know if you live at the foot of the cross you'll have to say I am what I am by the grace of God me that is in my flesh dwells no good thing this grace dear people is to mark us in all of our interaction with one another I close by reminding you of a passage that may have been an incident in Peter's mind when he penned the words turn to John 13 as we conclude this morning in our relationships to one another we are all to be members of the...

59:01 - 60:30 Read in full sermon