WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:10.679 Turn back to Luke chapter 18. That will be a great help for me tonight. We're looking at this parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector tonight. 00:00:12.800 --> 00:00:21.640 ! And broadly the theme of this evening is humility and pride. I wonder how humble are you? 00:00:21.640 --> 00:00:36.219 How humble are you? As a church, how humble are we? It's a good question, isn't it? But how would we tell? How can we tell how humble or proud we are? 00:00:36.539 --> 00:00:46.219 Humility by nature is of course a really hard trait to identify because by nature humility is, well, humble. It's shy, isn't it? 00:00:46.219 --> 00:00:52.100 You shout too loudly about your humility and you destroy it because you turn it into pride. 00:00:53.320 --> 00:00:56.340 But you know humility when you see it in other people. 00:00:57.560 --> 00:01:01.820 Ten years ago I had the chance to meet and interview one of my musical heroes. 00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:11.180 He's a composer who has conducted orchestras all around the world, written music that's been premiered at the proms and who's since been knighted by the Queen. 00:01:11.180 --> 00:01:19.640 But when I met him, well, he gave me freely of his time, bought me a coffee and offered to drive me to my next appointment. 00:01:20.340 --> 00:01:22.440 He was humble, was very impressed. 00:01:23.200 --> 00:01:26.200 And it makes me wonder, well, what about me? 00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:29.520 Would I do the same thing in his shoes? 00:01:29.820 --> 00:01:32.640 With his success, would I be like that? 00:01:32.640 --> 00:01:41.439 See, we learn about our own humility or pride only by looking at the humility of others and being confronted with it. 00:01:42.340 --> 00:01:54.579 And so in Luke chapter 18, Jesus asks us to examine our own claims of humility by confronting us with what humility looks like in someone else. 00:01:54.920 --> 00:01:58.519 And he also shows us the danger of pride. 00:01:58.519 --> 00:02:00.379 Yes, danger. 00:02:00.599 --> 00:02:09.379 For the shock of this little parable is that humility makes the difference between saving faith and false faith. 00:02:09.500 --> 00:02:12.139 Between the believer and the unbeliever. 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:22.099 That gives us a point to think about, but also another one, because it's not just saving faith that humility is central in. 00:02:22.099 --> 00:02:30.479 Here we see as well how important humility is in ongoing faith, which gives us two points, I think, this evening. 00:02:30.639 --> 00:02:34.560 First, see the dividing power of humility. 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:39.219 And then second, see the ongoing need for humility. 00:02:40.199 --> 00:02:43.939 First then, see the dividing power of humility. 00:02:44.659 --> 00:02:46.919 Now the context here is all important. 00:02:46.919 --> 00:02:50.559 Jesus is addressing the Pharisees in verse 9. 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:55.539 And so it's not surprising that the Pharisees is one of the stars of the parable. 00:02:55.959 --> 00:03:01.519 Verse 10, the Pharisee and the tax collector go up to the temple to pray. 00:03:02.139 --> 00:03:09.060 And the Pharisee, of course the religious elite, is proud and he boasts to God as he prays. 00:03:09.060 --> 00:03:16.500 But the tax collector, the sinner in that society, humbly throws himself on the mercy of God. 00:03:17.560 --> 00:03:23.039 And of course the shock of the parable is that it's the Pharisee, the religious guy who is rejected. 00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:27.140 Whereas the sinner is accepted, is justified. 00:03:28.199 --> 00:03:29.480 And what makes the difference? 00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:31.620 It's humility. 00:03:32.379 --> 00:03:32.860 Humility. 00:03:33.180 --> 00:03:36.360 This actually is what this whole chapter in Luke is all about. 00:03:36.360 --> 00:03:39.020 So we have this little parable. 00:03:39.160 --> 00:03:40.520 But notice what follows it. 00:03:40.780 --> 00:03:45.300 We have the account of Jesus calling children to come to him. 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:52.960 And then following that, the account of the rich ruler who refuses to give up his wealth to follow Christ. 00:03:53.080 --> 00:03:56.000 All three accounts linked by the theme of humility. 00:03:56.680 --> 00:03:59.620 The humble tax collector trusting the mercy of God. 00:04:00.040 --> 00:04:03.040 The humble children who come to Jesus in faith. 00:04:03.039 --> 00:04:08.579 And the lack of humility in the rich man who won't humble himself enough to follow Christ. 00:04:09.419 --> 00:04:13.439 You see, Luke is giving us three pictures of humble faith. 00:04:14.359 --> 00:04:15.959 Faith that trusts in Jesus. 00:04:16.159 --> 00:04:17.779 Faith that comes to Jesus. 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:20.139 And faith that follows Jesus. 00:04:20.300 --> 00:04:21.199 Do you hear the message? 00:04:21.620 --> 00:04:25.319 Jesus is saying that real faith is humble faith. 00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:28.000 Real faith is humble faith. 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:32.040 And that makes sense when we see the question that comes just before our little parable. 00:04:32.579 --> 00:04:34.319 Chapter 18 and verse 8. 00:04:34.800 --> 00:04:37.639 Just look before the Pharisee and the tax collector. 00:04:37.819 --> 00:04:43.540 As Jesus says, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth? 00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:49.000 Which of course raises the question, what does real faith in this Son of Man look like? 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:55.240 And so through the three accounts that follow, Jesus says that what makes the difference is humility. 00:04:56.100 --> 00:04:58.740 It is the crucial element of saving faith. 00:04:58.980 --> 00:05:06.019 The difference between faith that brings you to Christ and so-called faith that actually separates you from him. 00:05:06.939 --> 00:05:10.779 See, friends, firstly, we have the dividing power of humility. 00:05:10.779 --> 00:05:18.139 Let's dig a little bit deeper then into this parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. 00:05:19.119 --> 00:05:22.500 They seem to be divided by their faith, so-called. 00:05:22.559 --> 00:05:25.279 We have two kinds of faith here, if you like. 00:05:26.139 --> 00:05:28.799 Let's see, the Pharisee's faith first. 00:05:28.939 --> 00:05:34.199 This is false faith, which is proud because it relies on good works. 00:05:34.199 --> 00:05:35.879 So verses 11 and 12. 00:05:36.179 --> 00:05:39.439 The Pharisee stands up by himself and prays, 00:05:39.439 --> 00:05:47.060 God, I thank you that I'm not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 00:05:47.420 --> 00:05:48.639 I fast twice a week. 00:05:48.920 --> 00:05:50.439 I give tithes of all that I get. 00:05:51.720 --> 00:05:57.040 Now, actually, we're not to see this prayer straight away as a sort of scandalous thing. 00:05:57.259 --> 00:05:59.879 This prayer is actually a model of a Jewish prayer. 00:06:00.000 --> 00:06:00.839 It's a model prayer. 00:06:01.259 --> 00:06:03.639 God, I thank you was the standard way to open. 00:06:04.560 --> 00:06:08.939 And this prayer echoes Psalm 26, which we had read. 00:06:09.439 --> 00:06:11.819 I wonder if you noticed the echoes of that psalm. 00:06:12.079 --> 00:06:13.219 Psalm 26, verse 4. 00:06:13.319 --> 00:06:15.839 The psalmist says, I do not sit with men of falsehood. 00:06:16.259 --> 00:06:16.759 Verse 5. 00:06:16.819 --> 00:06:18.480 I hate the assembly of evildoers. 00:06:18.719 --> 00:06:20.219 It's quite like this Pharisee. 00:06:20.860 --> 00:06:23.540 Here is an outwardly very godly Jew. 00:06:24.319 --> 00:06:26.060 He's keeping the Torah, the law. 00:06:26.279 --> 00:06:27.839 And actually, he goes beyond it. 00:06:28.659 --> 00:06:31.019 He doesn't need to tithe on everything he gets. 00:06:31.740 --> 00:06:35.360 And the law didn't prescribe that he had to fast twice a week. 00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:38.980 No, the Torah only prescribes fasting once a year. 00:06:39.939 --> 00:06:44.259 So we're to see this Pharisee as an outwardly very impressive Jew. 00:06:45.280 --> 00:06:48.400 But Jesus is making a very subtle point here, isn't he? 00:06:48.460 --> 00:06:52.560 That morality with God goes deeper. 00:06:52.560 --> 00:06:57.720 Obedience to the law goes deeper than just outward and surface. 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:02.759 Because we get an insight through his prayer into his heart, don't we? 00:07:03.740 --> 00:07:05.560 And we see he's not a very nice man. 00:07:06.220 --> 00:07:07.240 His heart is proud. 00:07:07.579 --> 00:07:11.019 We can hear his sense of superiority over others. 00:07:11.740 --> 00:07:13.459 His sense of self-importance. 00:07:13.759 --> 00:07:16.259 And even before God, his sense of entitlement. 00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:18.680 God bless me because I'm so righteous. 00:07:18.680 --> 00:07:22.800 See, he tries to come close to God in his good works. 00:07:23.280 --> 00:07:26.639 But verse 14, he ends up far away. 00:07:27.860 --> 00:07:32.960 See, false faith is proud because it relies on good works. 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:35.000 And it's a shock. 00:07:35.860 --> 00:07:38.199 It would have been a shock for the Pharisees who were listening. 00:07:38.660 --> 00:07:40.680 See, it's possible to have a very moral life. 00:07:41.360 --> 00:07:43.199 To have a life that looks very godly. 00:07:43.780 --> 00:07:47.460 But actually to have a heart that is far away from God. 00:07:48.680 --> 00:07:52.379 Or by contrast, see the tax collector's faith. 00:07:53.319 --> 00:07:54.840 And this is real faith. 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:59.120 This is humble faith that relies only on the mercy of God. 00:07:59.900 --> 00:08:02.040 So verse 13, notice the contrast. 00:08:02.439 --> 00:08:04.280 The tax collector stands far off. 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:06.699 He won't even look up to heaven. 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:09.519 And he beat his breast. 00:08:09.720 --> 00:08:12.660 Better in the Greek, he keeps on beating himself. 00:08:12.660 --> 00:08:14.740 It's a sign of mourning for sin. 00:08:14.980 --> 00:08:17.260 Of self-awareness. 00:08:17.400 --> 00:08:20.980 Of sort of repentance and sinfulness. 00:08:22.200 --> 00:08:24.260 And he says, God have mercy on me. 00:08:24.660 --> 00:08:25.340 A sinner. 00:08:25.600 --> 00:08:27.520 Or it could be, God have mercy on me. 00:08:27.920 --> 00:08:28.640 The sinner. 00:08:29.700 --> 00:08:31.740 Whereas the Pharisee looks at other people. 00:08:31.860 --> 00:08:34.600 And sees himself as standing a foot taller than them all. 00:08:34.980 --> 00:08:36.960 The tax collector sees everyone else. 00:08:37.040 --> 00:08:38.460 And sees himself as the lowest. 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:40.220 Of all sinners. 00:08:40.220 --> 00:08:43.080 It's a striking thing here, isn't there? 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:47.759 That the Pharisee is praying, as it were, before God. 00:08:48.720 --> 00:08:52.200 But only the tax collector really prays to God. 00:08:52.920 --> 00:08:55.460 For the Pharisee, God was like his audience. 00:08:55.580 --> 00:08:57.480 There to applaud him for his good works. 00:08:57.580 --> 00:09:00.840 But for the tax collector, God was his only hope. 00:09:01.899 --> 00:09:02.800 His saviour. 00:09:02.799 --> 00:09:07.479 And the verb for mercy here in the tax collector's prayer is interesting. 00:09:07.659 --> 00:09:10.659 It's not the usual New Testament Greek word for mercy. 00:09:10.839 --> 00:09:14.159 The kind of common garden variety of mercy that people ask for. 00:09:14.539 --> 00:09:18.399 No, it's the verb that is put in the mouth only once in the Old Testaments. 00:09:18.959 --> 00:09:21.099 Of the high priest at the Day of Atonement. 00:09:21.819 --> 00:09:24.819 And it speaks of kind of ultimate mercy. 00:09:25.819 --> 00:09:30.959 See, the tax collector is staking his entire eternity on this prayer. 00:09:30.960 --> 00:09:33.840 God have mercy on me. 00:09:34.620 --> 00:09:35.019 A sinner. 00:09:36.200 --> 00:09:37.280 Well, what was the result? 00:09:37.540 --> 00:09:38.460 He was justified. 00:09:39.340 --> 00:09:41.220 He was accepted by God. 00:09:41.259 --> 00:09:42.220 Not the Pharisee. 00:09:43.200 --> 00:09:44.519 And what makes the difference? 00:09:45.660 --> 00:09:46.180 Do you see? 00:09:46.300 --> 00:09:47.080 It's humility. 00:09:48.280 --> 00:09:48.780 Humility. 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:51.040 Real faith is humble faith. 00:09:51.160 --> 00:09:54.040 It relies only on the mercy of God. 00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:58.960 We're to learn here that humility is the index of a truly regenerate heart. 00:09:58.960 --> 00:09:59.440 Heart. 00:09:59.920 --> 00:10:02.860 It's the sign of the real deal of a Christian. 00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:07.259 What does humility mean then in the context of faith? 00:10:08.440 --> 00:10:12.240 It means to realise that you have nothing good to offer God. 00:10:12.940 --> 00:10:16.320 Nothing good by which you can justify yourself to him. 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:20.360 And so you cling to him and his mercy alone. 00:10:21.720 --> 00:10:26.420 This evening, do you realise that you have nothing to boast about to God? 00:10:26.419 --> 00:10:30.819 I think there's a challenge and a comfort here. 00:10:31.899 --> 00:10:34.379 The challenge is sort of obvious, isn't it? 00:10:34.459 --> 00:10:36.799 What kind of faith do you have? 00:10:38.299 --> 00:10:41.819 What are you relying on to make you right with God? 00:10:42.679 --> 00:10:44.099 A good question to think about. 00:10:44.179 --> 00:10:47.399 I think it's an old evangelism explosion question. 00:10:47.839 --> 00:10:50.319 If you were to die tonight and God would have said to you, 00:10:50.320 --> 00:10:51.860 Why should I let you into my heaven? 00:10:53.160 --> 00:10:55.000 What's your instinct to say? 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:57.220 I was baptised. 00:10:57.920 --> 00:10:59.540 No, not on its own. 00:11:00.879 --> 00:11:02.500 I've gone to church all my life. 00:11:03.120 --> 00:11:04.320 No, it's not enough. 00:11:04.640 --> 00:11:06.879 I've tried to be really good and godly. 00:11:07.460 --> 00:11:07.860 No. 00:11:08.700 --> 00:11:11.240 On their own, they are not enough. 00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:16.779 And it's frightening that it is possible to look, speak, and even live like a person of faith, 00:11:17.139 --> 00:11:20.220 but be far from God in your pride. 00:11:21.399 --> 00:11:22.919 And I wonder if you can tell. 00:11:23.000 --> 00:11:23.700 There's a hint here. 00:11:24.019 --> 00:11:28.980 See, like the Pharisee, it's just interesting that the Pharisee doesn't talk about the character of God. 00:11:29.940 --> 00:11:31.500 Whereas the tax collector does. 00:11:31.539 --> 00:11:34.460 The tax collector talks about the mercy of God. 00:11:34.460 --> 00:11:39.840 But the Pharisee just talks about his own accomplishments and achievements for God. 00:11:41.340 --> 00:11:46.800 It's possible, isn't it, to be drawn to reformed Christianity because of its rightness. 00:11:47.900 --> 00:11:50.920 And a sense of kind of doctrinal or moral purity. 00:11:52.900 --> 00:11:58.840 But there's maybe a challenge here that, well, those outward things on their own are not enough. 00:12:00.780 --> 00:12:03.879 What kind of things are you relying on tonight? 00:12:04.460 --> 00:12:08.600 It's only the mercy of God in Christ that justifies us. 00:12:09.240 --> 00:12:12.220 That is the basis on which we obey God. 00:12:13.660 --> 00:12:17.960 But maybe some of you need to be comforted tonight by just remembering, actually, 00:12:18.040 --> 00:12:20.680 that you don't need to rely on your performance. 00:12:22.040 --> 00:12:24.759 You're conscious tonight, maybe, as you look back on your week, 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:26.639 as you look in your heart, 00:12:27.400 --> 00:12:30.560 that your performance, your obedience has been flagging. 00:12:31.540 --> 00:12:33.420 And you lack assurance tonight. 00:12:33.419 --> 00:12:34.599 You think, am I still all right? 00:12:35.939 --> 00:12:40.479 Well, remember that it was only ever the mercy of God that justified you. 00:12:41.620 --> 00:12:43.839 And it's true tonight that that is enough. 00:12:45.120 --> 00:12:50.599 Come back in humility tonight to that mercy expressed at the cross. 00:12:50.600 --> 00:12:55.180 And I wonder, as a church, do we preach the mercy of God? 00:12:55.740 --> 00:12:58.440 Is this the foundation of our obedience? 00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:04.639 See then first the dividing power of humility. 00:13:04.639 --> 00:13:08.259 But I think there is more here for us. 00:13:08.259 --> 00:13:12.799 For in the tax collector, I think we have actually a kind of model believer. 00:13:13.659 --> 00:13:19.100 So this little moment in the tax collector's life, it's a snapshot of his real faith. 00:13:20.199 --> 00:13:25.860 We're to see that humility, because it's sort of index of his heart, marks his whole life. 00:13:25.860 --> 00:13:32.580 And so therefore, secondly, see in the tax collector the ongoing need for humility. 00:13:33.480 --> 00:13:38.700 See, it's the truth, isn't it, that we always go on in the Christian life in the same way that we enter it. 00:13:38.700 --> 00:13:47.920 So humility is not just the crucial factor in saving faith, but it is also the crucial component of ongoing faith and godliness. 00:13:48.820 --> 00:13:52.420 And we can learn much about humility here for our Christian lives. 00:13:52.680 --> 00:13:55.820 Notice that humility starts before God. 00:13:56.600 --> 00:13:58.440 Humility starts before God. 00:13:59.280 --> 00:14:04.580 The tax collector is humble in the context of his relationship first with God. 00:14:04.580 --> 00:14:11.480 See, Christian, your attitude towards others is determined first by your attitude towards God. 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:16.320 If you're proud before him, then you will be proud before others. 00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:22.540 But if we start before God in humility, empty and mournful and dependent, 00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:26.800 well then that will flow out in our relationships with others. 00:14:27.820 --> 00:14:32.680 I'm most aware of this on the days when I neglect to pray in the mornings. 00:14:32.679 --> 00:14:40.399 When I neglect that kind of time when my heart gets the chance to kind of bathe in the love of God 00:14:40.399 --> 00:14:44.359 and be reminded of its true status before God. 00:14:44.399 --> 00:14:48.979 When I forget to do that, my relationships with other people in the day are always harder. 00:14:49.819 --> 00:14:52.739 They're always more bumpy because my heart is more proud. 00:14:52.979 --> 00:14:55.559 It's more brittle, less soft. 00:14:55.559 --> 00:15:02.219 But start the day being humble before God and that will bring a humility to your relationships. 00:15:03.339 --> 00:15:07.619 It's a good test to ask yourself tonight, how is your prayer life with God? 00:15:07.699 --> 00:15:10.879 Do you start your humility before him? 00:15:11.699 --> 00:15:15.119 Is God your audience like the Pharisee? 00:15:15.199 --> 00:15:17.939 There to applaud you for your righteous life? 00:15:18.079 --> 00:15:19.819 Or is God your only hope? 00:15:19.820 --> 00:15:26.720 It's just so good, isn't it, to be together in worship tonight because that's what worship does. 00:15:27.820 --> 00:15:31.640 Worship humbles us communally before God, corporately. 00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:36.200 That means that we go into the week more humble. 00:15:37.700 --> 00:15:38.940 Humility starts before God. 00:15:39.040 --> 00:15:42.760 Notice too that humility grows through an awareness of sin. 00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:48.460 So the tax collector was humble because he realised and he felt his sin. 00:15:48.939 --> 00:15:53.259 And crucially, he feels it before God rather than before others. 00:15:54.220 --> 00:15:56.200 It's another truth of the Christian life, isn't it? 00:15:56.200 --> 00:16:00.379 That the longer you go on as a Christian, in a sense, the worse you feel 00:16:00.379 --> 00:16:06.480 because the more you are aware of your sin, the more you see that you're capable of. 00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:11.779 I wonder tonight if you do see clearly your own sinfulness. 00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:18.720 And if you've lost that humility before God, well then you won't feel your sin so strongly. 00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:20.980 See, it's all about perspective. 00:16:21.279 --> 00:16:24.740 I used to live up in the Peak District and loved it up there. 00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:27.539 I was often amazed by the beauty of the hills. 00:16:28.440 --> 00:16:30.379 They're so big, I used to think. 00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:34.419 But one summer a few years ago, I went walking for the first time in Scotland 00:16:34.419 --> 00:16:39.439 where they've got really big mountains, about twice the size of anything in the Peak District. 00:16:39.939 --> 00:16:44.659 And I remember getting the train back from Scotland and going through Edale in the peaks 00:16:44.659 --> 00:16:47.360 and looking out the window and thinking, those aren't hills. 00:16:47.679 --> 00:16:48.480 Those aren't mountains. 00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:51.559 No, Scotland has the big hills. 00:16:51.939 --> 00:16:55.059 See, my vision, my perspective had changed. 00:16:55.980 --> 00:16:57.440 That's what we must do with God. 00:16:57.440 --> 00:17:02.760 We must keep, if you like, the big mountain of the holiness of God in view 00:17:02.760 --> 00:17:09.680 so that we won't think that our small efforts are anything to be proud of. 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:13.779 Live close to God and you will be aware of your sinfulness. 00:17:15.120 --> 00:17:17.000 It's another good question, isn't it? 00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:19.559 When you sin, how do you feel? 00:17:20.779 --> 00:17:23.180 Do you worry more about your own reputation 00:17:23.180 --> 00:17:26.220 or do you tremble at the judgment of God? 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:29.600 Humility grows through an awareness of sin. 00:17:29.720 --> 00:17:34.140 And lastly, we see that humility is reflected in how we treat others. 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:40.279 So it's striking in the Pharisees' prayer that it was his contempt for those around him 00:17:40.279 --> 00:17:42.259 that really displayed his pride. 00:17:43.660 --> 00:17:47.940 We're not very good at knowing the extent or not of our humility, 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:52.700 but others are always better placed to judge whether we are humble. 00:17:52.700 --> 00:17:56.220 How pushy are we in our relationships? 00:17:56.640 --> 00:17:58.360 How keen are we to get our own way? 00:17:59.380 --> 00:18:01.940 How good are we at giving others the spotlight? 00:18:03.019 --> 00:18:04.319 How good are we at serving? 00:18:05.180 --> 00:18:07.840 As a church, how good are we at serving others? 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.720 It's a good test. 00:18:09.860 --> 00:18:11.539 How do we see other people? 00:18:12.039 --> 00:18:14.460 Do we look down on them because we think we're right? 00:18:15.180 --> 00:18:17.100 Or do we look up in humility? 00:18:17.099 --> 00:18:22.240 These kinds of questions will reveal the state of our hearts this evening. 00:18:23.639 --> 00:18:25.619 Which leaves us with a final question, doesn't it? 00:18:26.879 --> 00:18:29.299 How can we grow in humility? 00:18:30.179 --> 00:18:32.439 How can we grow in our humility? 00:18:32.759 --> 00:18:34.219 Humility is a beautiful thing. 00:18:35.619 --> 00:18:36.639 It's a beautiful thing. 00:18:36.699 --> 00:18:37.659 How do we grow in it? 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:41.359 I mean, we think of ourselves too much, don't we? 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:47.459 If you've ever done this, just think of your mind in neutral in the day 00:18:47.459 --> 00:18:52.759 and how, like a compass needle going to north, we just naturally think of ourselves. 00:18:53.919 --> 00:18:57.439 You know, I am the center of my own thoughts without even trying. 00:18:58.500 --> 00:19:02.859 I justify myself constantly and I'm always thinking about myself. 00:19:03.740 --> 00:19:04.659 It's what we're like. 00:19:05.439 --> 00:19:06.259 We are sinful. 00:19:06.459 --> 00:19:08.519 So how do we grow in humility? 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:08.680 Humility. 00:19:09.879 --> 00:19:14.779 Well, I think there is a final example of humility here in Luke chapter 18. 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:19.660 See, look just over the page at verses 31 to 33. 00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:23.400 The structure of this chapter is interesting. 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:26.680 We have these three accounts that seem to be linked by humility. 00:19:26.920 --> 00:19:30.639 And then in verse 31, Jesus takes the 12 disciples aside 00:19:30.639 --> 00:19:34.900 and tells them that he's about to go to Jerusalem to die and rise. 00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:40.500 See, there is another example, the ultimate example of humility 00:19:40.500 --> 00:19:44.240 as Jesus predicts his death and resurrection. 00:19:44.840 --> 00:19:47.380 See, I think there's a point here, isn't there, 00:19:47.400 --> 00:19:51.300 that we grow in humility first by looking at Jesus 00:19:51.300 --> 00:19:58.200 and his acts of humility as he goes to the cross for proud sinners like us. 00:19:58.200 --> 00:20:03.940 See, the power for our own humility comes directly from Christ himself. 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:09.480 See, the order in the parable is humility and then exaltation. 00:20:09.880 --> 00:20:14.700 And that's because it mirrors Jesus' own obedience as he dies and then rises, 00:20:15.539 --> 00:20:18.059 as the cross is the route to the resurrection. 00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:22.180 And Christian, you follow him tonight. 00:20:22.180 --> 00:20:25.160 The pattern of our lives is the same. 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:30.180 It is glory through the cross or exaltation through humility. 00:20:31.100 --> 00:20:35.400 We follow a humble saviour whose humility looked like suffering, 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:43.000 which is why actually God often brings suffering into our lives precisely to humble us. 00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:47.160 It is perhaps the chief means by which he humbles us. 00:20:47.160 --> 00:20:54.620 We grow in humility as we share, as Peter puts it, in the sufferings of Christ in multiple different ways. 00:20:56.019 --> 00:21:01.740 And maybe tonight you're struggling because you're just not quite sure what God is up to in your life. 00:21:03.380 --> 00:21:05.840 Well, maybe God's design is to humble you. 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:12.420 And so the way to respond tonight to him is to draw near the saviour, 00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:16.820 draw near Christ in your suffering, in your struggle. 00:21:16.819 --> 00:21:22.500 And ask him to shine his resurrection life through your brokenness. 00:21:23.259 --> 00:21:28.599 And as a church, I wonder, are we prepared to follow Christ in obedience, in his death? 00:21:29.480 --> 00:21:34.299 See, the way of humility may be the way of suffering and sacrifice. 00:21:35.480 --> 00:21:39.799 Sacrificing as a church perhaps our reputation, our gifts for him. 00:21:40.799 --> 00:21:43.179 Because that is the way to glory. 00:21:43.180 --> 00:21:51.320 Humility, then, I started by saying, is a hard trait for us to identify, a hard trait to talk about. 00:21:52.620 --> 00:21:54.580 And it's right that it is. 00:21:54.620 --> 00:21:58.400 It's in the nature of humility that, of course, we cannot boast about it. 00:21:59.860 --> 00:22:05.539 Our humility as a church and as individuals is not another feather in our cap before God. 00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:12.659 Rather, it is the natural response to grasping, as Schaeffer put it, the finished work of Christ for us. 00:22:13.920 --> 00:22:18.399 And so tonight we rest in him and we rest in that cross. 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:21.279 Let's pray together. 00:22:21.279 --> 00:22:21.319 Let's pray together. 00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:51.299 Let's pray together.