Sessions 2 & 3 Notes Download

By far, most of the people Jesus spoke to were materially needy, poor. Most people throughout history were and still are impoverished; so, many disciples were substantially underprivileged. However, it is essential to recognize that poverty of itself is not a virtue that leads into the Kingdom of God. Because the needy had no refuge but God, poverty has come to have spiritual overtones and to be identified with humble dependence on God.

In moments of severe peril, when self-reliance was futile, David turned to prayer. Reflecting on his experience, he wrote, “This poor soul cried out, and Yahweh heard him; he saved him from all his troubles” (Psalm 34:6). He was not financially poor; rather, he was humble.

To Jesus, “poor in spirit” equals humble dependence on God. Humility is, first and foremost, the cornerstone of his teaching because all else hinges upon it. The proud or self-reliant reject submission to God striving to navigate life independently. “God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6). God cannot and will not collaborate with the prideful as they adamantly resist listening and obeying. Conversely, God delights in the humble and provides grace to them in

The significance of humility is evident in the frequency of Jesus’ teachings on the subject.

Matthew 18:1-4 Babies seem to understand their limitations and fully expect and even demand for their parents to provide for them completely.

Luke 22:24-27 The greatest is the humble servant. Jesus is the greatest example of humility.

JESUS IS THE EXAMPLE OF HUMILITY

Jesus’ humble dependence on God shines brightly throughout the Gospels, starkly contrasted with the egocentric arrogance of the religious leaders who constantly opposed him.

Jesus’ single concern was to “do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34).

John 5:19, 30; 6:38; 8:28; 12:49; 14:10; and 17:4

Luke 22:42 Many godly people were humble, but Jesus is the only one who was always humble, even to the point of his suffering and death. He is the perfect example of humility.

Philippians 2:3-8, 13 Be like Jesus.

Psalm 10:17 O Yahweh, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear.

Psalm 145:14-19 Yahweh sustains all who fall and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in due time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Yahweh is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds. Yahweh is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them.

Proverbs 8:13 The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverted mouth, I hate.

16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.

“Haughty” means blatantly and disdainfully proud; having or showing an attitude of superiority and contempt for people or things perceived to be inferior.

18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, but humility goes before honor.

28:25-26 An arrogant man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in Yahweh will prosper. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.

Psalm 107:11-13 This psalm highlights the pattern of human disobedience, suffering, humility, repentance, and God’s mercy. They emphasize that even when people turn away from God, He is always ready to rescue them when they call out to Him.

2 Corinthians 3:4-5 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate [sufficient] in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy [sufficiency] is from God.

The realization that we need God’s help too often comes when our backs are against the wall. Asa, king of Judah, was “good and right in the sight of Yahweh his God.” When faced with an Ethiopian army boasting a million soldiers and 300 chariots out numbering him by twice the force, he was humble and sought the help of God.

2 Chronicles 14:11 Because Asa humbled himself before God, the Ethiopians were overthrown and destroyed.

2 Chronicles 16:1-13 Rather than seeking God’s help as he did with the Ethiopians many years before, he hired mercenaries to fight for him. He tried to work out his problems on his own, which ended in his demise.

2 Chronicles 32:24 Hezekiah was sick unto death, with humility prayed, mourned his sin, asked forgiveness, and received 15 more years to live.

25-27 He always had the choice to depend on or to ignore God and live life on his own with the corresponding results.

1 Kings 21:25-29 Ahab was a wicked idolater who caused much harm to many people. Yet, when he humbled himself, God responded. For God to respond at all to Ahab gives testimony of how much He honors humility.

2 Chronicles 33:12-13 God’s mercy is so great that when an individual humbles himself, even if he is as evil as Manasseh, God will forgive and deliver.

The first time I watched Chuck counsel a drug addict, I was shocked at his confident straight forwardness. He told the man what was necessary for him to do in order to get free from his addiction. However, the man strongly resisted the suggestions. “I don’t have the time for all that, and I don’t want to go to meetings.” Chuck said, “Ok, keep on using. You haven’t suffered

Micah 6:6-8 God requires that we walk humbly with Him; no humility, no walk with Him.