Luke 14: When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? 9 The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!

10 “Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests.

11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

LEARNING THE LESSON OF HUMILITY IS IMPERATIVE FOR BLESSING AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH.

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Jesus Truth!!!

WE CRAVE FOR THE ATTENTION OF OTHERS TO HELP AFFIRM WHO WE ASPIRE TO BE!

WHEN PEOPLE ARE THE SOURCE OF OUR VALIDATION, THEY THEN BECOME THE GREAT DETERMINER OF OUR IDENTITY!

IF I ALLOWED YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF ME TO DETERMINE MY IDENTITY, I WOULDN’T BE PREACHING THIS SERMON TODAY!

MATTHEW 6: 5 “When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. 6 But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

IN ORDER TO CHANGE OUR PRIDE WE HAVE TO EXAMINE AND CHANGE OUR MOTIVATION.

THE TRUTH IS: HUMILITY IS ENACTED BY OUR CHOOSING WHO WE DESIRE TO PLEASE AND HONOR.

WE CANNOT APPLY OUR DIFFICULTIES WITH DYSFUNCTIONAL MAN TO A PERFECT GOD!

SUBMISSION IS HUMILITY IN ACTION!

Ephesians 5: 21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

James 3: 13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

1. PLEASING GOD AND WALKING IN HUMILITY BRINGS A GODLY REWARD.

Proverbs 29: 23 Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor.

Matthew 5:5 God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.

James 4: 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.

1 Peter 5: 5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for

    “God opposes the proud

      but gives grace to the humble.”

6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

1. GOD SUPERNATURALLY GIVES PROMOTION TO THE HUMBLE.

EPHESIANS 3: 8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.

UNFORTUNATELY, THE PRIDEFUL ARE NOT ALWAYS CHANGED TO BECOME  HUMBLE!

HUMILITY ENABLES US TO SERVE GOD WITH THE RIGHT MOTIVATION!

1. THE PATH TO SUPERNATURAL PROMOTION

1. RECOGNIZE EVIL (PRIDEFUL) MOTIVATIONS AND REPENT.
2. BY FAITH, ALLOW GOD TO BE THE REWARDER.
3. YIELD TO RIGHT OF WAY TO OTHERS AND SHOW HONOR.