Summary: Seeing myself like God sees me, no more, no less.
SPRING RETREAT – APRIL 14, 2007
“Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self.” - C.S. Lewis
Defined: Thinking of yourself differently than God thinks of you.
Rom.12:3 – Explain!!! (disagreeing with God, believing own opinion over His).
The truth about your identity without Christ (Phil.3:3):
Hitler, Stalin, Bin Laden, Enron, Ted Haggert all very much possible outcomes for my life.
The truth about your identity in Christ:
His son, Securely saved, loved eternally, accepted, being conformed to His character, huge purpose in life.
If you’ve ever thought…that’s pride.
Have to be right.
Satan and pride: Is.14:12-15
Jesus and Humility (our example): Phil.2:5-11
Why God hates it (James 4:6, 1Pet.5:5 – God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble)
Danger of it
What it will do to me
Prevents fellowship with God (God opposes the proud), it destroys relationships with others (divorce, loosing job, no friends).
What it will keep me from
Your life purpose
What it will do to eternity
The Great Commission suffers
Greatest accusation against Christians.
Pride is our natural condition, humility is not.
Selfishness and pride.
Humility and selflessness
Fear and pride
Humility and courage
Laziness and Pride
Humility and hard work
Time management example:
Pride and video games!!!
Apathy and Pride
Humility and commitment
Stubbornness and pride
Humility and willingness
Independence and pride
Humility and submission
James 4:7 – Submit to God
Eph.5:21 – Submit to one another
1 Peter 2:13 – Submit to the government
Heb. 13:17 – Submit to godly authority
Anger and pride
Humility and love
Having to be right vs. admitting wrong
Humility is God’s plan for us (Col.3:12 - So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience)
Humility is not natural and it is therefore the result of a process.
This process is God’s gift to you (Murray).
Many Christians fear and flee and seek deliverance from all that would humble them. At times they may pray for humility but in their heart of hearts they pray even more to be kept from the things that would bring them to that place. Andrew Murray
The process of humiliation
Not fun; death of self.
Lk.9:23-24 – “Then he said to them all, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”
Also found in (Mt.10:38-39, 16:24-25, Mr.8:34-35, Lk.17:33).
Taking up Cross Daily.
The daily cross, something which is to be the instrument of disgrace and execution is whatever gives occasion for ever deeper test of self surrender. L.E. Maxwell
Lose life to find it - The harder you try to hold on to your life the less of true life you’ll experience.
Jesus added in Jn.12:25 – “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”