Embracing Humility: The Path to God's Kingdom

 

Summary

In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 18, verses 1-4, Jesus addresses a profound question posed by His disciples: "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" In response, Jesus calls a little child to Him and sets the child in their midst, emphasizing that unless one is converted and becomes like a little child, they cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. This teaching highlights the necessity of humility and the relinquishment of self-confidence to truly understand and enter God's kingdom.

In our current world, filled with tension, uncertainty, and potential catastrophe, many people are searching for answers and hope. Yet, the tragedy lies in humanity's refusal to listen to the message of the Bible, which offers the only true solution. The core issue is humanity's wrong view of itself, leading to misplaced priorities and a focus on the temporal rather than the eternal. People are preoccupied with their physical existence and achievements, neglecting the soul and their relationship with God.

The disciples' question reveals a common human flaw: the desire for greatness and self-importance. Jesus' response underscores the need for a radical transformation in our understanding of ourselves and our relationship with God. The kingdom of God is not about self-assertion or confidence in one's abilities but about recognizing our utter helplessness and dependence on God, much like a child.

To enter the kingdom of God, one must admit their failures, abandon self-confidence, and acknowledge their inability to meet God's standards on their own. This requires a complete turning away from self-reliance and a humble acceptance of God's grace and mercy. Only by becoming like little children, in our helplessness and dependence, can we truly enter the kingdom and experience the peace and promises of God.

Key Takeaways:

- Humility and Childlike Faith: To enter the kingdom of heaven, one must adopt the humility and dependence of a child, recognizing that self-confidence and self-reliance are obstacles to true spiritual understanding. This transformation requires a complete turning away from self-centeredness and embracing a posture of humility before God. [07:57]

- The Tragedy of Self-Confidence: The greatest obstacle to accepting the gospel is humanity's fatal self-confidence. Despite the world's chaos, people continue to believe in their own abilities and solutions, ignoring the profound need for divine intervention and guidance. [09:20]

- Admitting Failure: A crucial step in spiritual growth is the willingness to admit personal failure and inadequacy. This admission is often resisted due to pride, but it is essential for genuine repentance and transformation. [15:16]

- Inability to Change: Humanity's inability to change its nature and overcome sin highlights the need for divine assistance. True transformation comes not from human effort but from acknowledging our helplessness and relying on God's power. [35:48]

- The Necessity of Divine Grace: The ultimate realization is that only through God's grace and the redemptive work of Christ can one be saved and enter the kingdom of God. This requires a complete surrender to God's will and a reliance on His mercy. [52:04]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Matthew 18:1-4
- [01:02] - The State of the World
- [02:16] - Humanity's Refusal to Listen
- [03:01] - The Wrong View of Self
- [04:35] - The Importance of the Soul
- [06:08] - The Disciples' Question
- [07:57] - Becoming Like Little Children
- [09:40] - The Kingdom of God
- [10:24] - Individual and Collective Failure
- [12:32] - Modern Self-Confidence
- [14:24] - The Path to Deliverance
- [15:16] - Admitting Failure
- [27:04] - Overcoming Self-Confidence
- [31:36] - Recognizing Helplessness
- [52:04] - Embracing Divine Grace

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Matthew 18:1-4

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Observation Questions:

1. What question did the disciples ask Jesus, and how did He respond to them? [00:09]
2. How does Jesus use the example of a child to illustrate His point about entering the kingdom of heaven? [00:26]
3. According to the sermon, what is the primary obstacle that prevents people from accepting the gospel? [09:20]
4. What does the sermon suggest is humanity's wrong view of itself, and how does this affect their priorities? [03:01]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why does Jesus emphasize the need to become like little children to enter the kingdom of heaven? What qualities of children is He highlighting? [07:57]
2. How does the sermon describe the relationship between self-confidence and spiritual understanding? Why is self-confidence seen as an obstacle? [09:20]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that modern self-confidence contradicts the teachings of Jesus? [12:32]
4. How does the sermon interpret the concept of "admitting failure" in the context of spiritual growth and transformation? [15:16]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you relied on your own abilities rather than seeking divine guidance. How did that impact your spiritual journey? [09:20]
2. The sermon emphasizes humility and childlike faith. What practical steps can you take to cultivate these qualities in your daily life? [07:57]
3. Consider the areas in your life where you might be resisting admitting failure. How can acknowledging these areas lead to personal and spiritual growth? [15:16]
4. In what ways can you shift your focus from temporal achievements to nurturing your relationship with God? [03:01]
5. Identify a specific area where you struggle with self-confidence. How can you practice surrendering this to God and relying on His grace? [09:20]
6. How can you create a habit of examining your life honestly in light of God's Word, as suggested in the sermon? [25:38]
7. Think of a situation where you need to embrace your helplessness and depend on God's power. What steps can you take to trust Him more fully in that situation? [35:48]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Childlike Humility
To enter the kingdom of heaven, one must adopt the humility and dependence of a child, recognizing that self-confidence and self-reliance are obstacles to true spiritual understanding. This transformation requires a complete turning away from self-centeredness and embracing a posture of humility before God. Jesus' teaching in Matthew 18:1-4 emphasizes the importance of becoming like little children, not in ignorance, but in the purity of heart and trust. In a world that often values self-assertion and independence, this call to humility is countercultural. It challenges believers to let go of pride and self-sufficiency, acknowledging their need for God's guidance and grace. [07:57]

Matthew 11:25-26 (ESV): "At that time Jesus declared, 'I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.'"

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying on your own strength rather than trusting in God like a child? How can you begin to shift your perspective today?


Day 2: The Danger of Self-Confidence
The greatest obstacle to accepting the gospel is humanity's fatal self-confidence. Despite the world's chaos, people continue to believe in their own abilities and solutions, ignoring the profound need for divine intervention and guidance. This misplaced confidence leads to a focus on temporal achievements rather than eternal truths. The sermon highlights the tragedy of this self-reliance, urging believers to recognize their limitations and the necessity of God's wisdom and power. In a society that often glorifies self-made success, the call to depend on God is a radical shift. [09:20]

Jeremiah 9:23-24 (ESV): "Thus says the Lord: 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.'"

Reflection: Identify a recent situation where you relied solely on your own abilities. How might the outcome have been different if you had sought God's guidance and strength?


Day 3: The Power of Admitting Failure
A crucial step in spiritual growth is the willingness to admit personal failure and inadequacy. This admission is often resisted due to pride, but it is essential for genuine repentance and transformation. Recognizing one's shortcomings is not about self-deprecation but about opening oneself to God's transformative work. The sermon emphasizes that acknowledging failure is the first step toward embracing God's grace and mercy. In a culture that often equates failure with weakness, this perspective offers a path to true strength and renewal. [15:16]

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Reflection: Reflect on a personal failure you have experienced. How can you invite God into this area of your life to bring healing and transformation?


Day 4: Recognizing Our Helplessness
Humanity's inability to change its nature and overcome sin highlights the need for divine assistance. True transformation comes not from human effort but from acknowledging our helplessness and relying on God's power. The sermon underscores the futility of self-reliance in the face of sin and the necessity of surrendering to God's will. This recognition of helplessness is not about despair but about opening oneself to the hope and strength found in God's promises. [35:48]

Isaiah 64:6-8 (ESV): "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand."

Reflection: Consider an area of your life where you feel powerless. How can you invite God to work in this area, trusting in His strength rather than your own?


Day 5: Surrendering to Divine Grace
The ultimate realization is that only through God's grace and the redemptive work of Christ can one be saved and enter the kingdom of God. This requires a complete surrender to God's will and a reliance on His mercy. The sermon calls believers to embrace this grace, recognizing that it is not earned but freely given. In a world that often values merit and achievement, this message of grace offers a profound sense of peace and assurance. [52:04]

Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV): "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you struggle to accept God's grace? How can you practice surrendering this area to Him today, trusting in His love and mercy?

Quotes

"At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus saying who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and Jesus called a little child unto Him and set him in the midst of them and said verily I say unto you except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven." [00:16:44]

"Now we've been another number of Sunday evenings in succession looking at the teaching of the Bible in the light of the whole state and condition of mankind and the world at this present critical and difficult and serious hour in the history of the human race we are in a world of tension we're in a world of alarm we're in a world of uncertainty we're in a world faced by possible almost incredible horrors faced with the possibility according to some linear authorities that we may indeed actually be living in the very last days of civilization and of the story of mankind on the face of this globe." [00:51:30]

"The greatest tragedy a wall at the present time is the fact that men and women in this awful predicament refuse to listen to the message of this book for here is the only answer we've examined some of the other proffered remedies we've seen how hollow they are and how they always lead to disappointment in spite of the confidence with which they have been put forward in the past the world tonight is hopeless it's more or less admitting it at last but here's the trouble though it is hopeless and bankrupt it will not consider the message of this book." [01:30:41]

"Men's troubles all arise from one cause and that is is wrong view of himself that's men's essential difficulty and because he's wrong about himself this central matter he obviously goes run everywhere else no we came to this point last Sunday night we saw that men instead of being concerned about his soul and his relationship to God he is practically white and concerned about that all together and he's tremendously concerned and preoccupied about his body and his existence in this passing world of time." [03:03:94]

"Here are these disciples of all people these men who are following our Lord daily listening to his teaching observing him his prayer life seeing his reaction to the various vicissitudes of life having this unusual privilege of being at close quarters in the very presence of the Son of God seeing his miracles and everything and hearing especially this great teaching of his about the Kingdom of Heaven the kingdom of God but notice notice the question they put at the same time came the disciples unto Jesus saying who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." [06:15:21]

"Verily I say unto you except you be converted except you turn except you become something absolutely different from what you are and become as little children you shall not enter into the kingdom of him who so therefore shall humble whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child the same that's the men who is the greatest in the kingdom of him now then here you see our Lord I say is exposing the whole fallacy and tragedy of their position their whole notion of the kingdom of God is wrong and still more wrong is their view of themselves and their own capacity with respect to their kingdom." [07:50:19]

"The most amazing and astonishing thing to me he is MEMS extraordinary self-confident still his belief in himself and in his own capacity that it should be possible for him to be like this with the world as it will I say almost passes ones comprehension nevertheless it is the truth and this as our Lord chose us here is the supreme obstacle to men's turning to the gospel here's the answer the kingdom of God the kingdom of heaven the reign of Christ the rule of the son of God if only this came in if only men all submitted to him problems were already a finish there'd be no problem there'd be no tension there'd be no fear of war no fear of the bombs no fear of anything and our moral problems would be solved if only all belong to the kingdom of heaven." [09:12:51]

"Man is going to turn in the first place from his reluctance to admit his failure here's the first thing it's inevitable from what I've been saying there is nothing that men by nature more objective than to have to admit that he's been wrong or that he's a failure I say modern men he won't do it he won't do it even with respect to the world he won't do it with respect to himself this is the thing that he hates above everything else but it's the first thing in connection with the gospel it's the first thing you come up against when you're on the road that is facing the door of entry into the kingdom of God." [15:10:50]

"Men can't change his own nature he can't stop doing evil he can't start doing good he can't master these other elements that are in his own nature he's got to admit that he's got to admit his inability what's the use of talking about making a perfect world what's the talk of use of talking about application of philosophy and using reason when men has got all this conflict which is ever defeating him and bringing him into captivity to the law that is in his members he can't do that but then there's something else which he can't do even if he could master himself and these force is not a latent within him and asserting themselves or constantly he's equally helpless to master the forces of evil that are in the world round and about him." [40:25:13]

"Except he turned and become as little children ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven what else have I got to do I've got to admit my favour I have got to get rid of this fatal self-confidence well let me put it like this I've got to recognize my utter inability my complete helplessness that's after all the main characteristic of the child that's why are not took the child and set him in the myths you'll find comfortable teaching from our Lord when they brought infants to him and he took the infant's in his arms in their utter helplessness he says of such this is the quality that is essential before anyone can belong to the kingdom of God of such is the kingdom of heaven." [52:04:19]

"Create within me a clean heart O God and renew a right spirit within me i conduit wash me with hyssop wash me cleanse me and I shall be whiter than snow he can't do it the demands of God are entirely beyond him and then listen again to Psalm 130 verse 3 if the Lord should ask mark iniquities Oh Oh shall stem if God marks every iniquity every failure every transgression whose of stand there's nobody we are all lost the world lieth guilty before God there is none righteous no not one here my friend is the test here is the standard it's not just being a little bit moral and nice and good and protesting against bums and therefore you're perfect if you do that and you're a great Christian no no it's meeting God in His author absolute olena's and our God is a consuming fire he is light and in him is no darkness at all." [47:41:99]

"Except etern except he be converted and become absolutely different from what you are and as little children but in your helplessness look into his face and say just as I am without one plea but that thy blood was shed for me and that the Biff's me come to thee o Lamb of God I come at the moment you say that you've entered the kingdom you become a citizen of the kingdom of God and all the promises of God now apply to you he will keep you in life he will keep you in death and whatever may come to meet you you can know the peace of God which passeth all understanding there you become as a little child have you turned have you humble yourself have you cast yourself in your helplessness unreservedly upon the love and the Grace and the mercy of God in Christ Jesus do it now while there is still time." [52:04:27]

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Transcript
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