Embracing Humility: The Path to True Obedience
Summary
Humility is at the very heart of following Christ. Reflecting on my own journey, from the day I first trusted Jesus as a child to the humbling experiences of serving in unexpected roles, I have seen how God uses humility to shape us for His purposes. The world often values status, reputation, and self-promotion, but Jesus models a radically different path. In Philippians 2:5-11, we see that though Christ was fully God, He emptied Himself, taking on the form of a servant and embracing the lowest place—even to the point of death on a cross. This is not just a theological truth to admire, but a mindset and attitude we are called to imitate.
To walk in true humility, we must first embrace the principle of emptiness. This means letting go of our past status, our pursuits, and our pride. Jesus did not cling to His divine privileges or demand recognition; instead, He willingly set them aside to serve and obey the Father. Like the Apostle Paul, who counted all his achievements as loss for the sake of knowing Christ, we are invited to surrender anything that stands in the way of wholehearted obedience.
The second principle is elimination. We must actively root out the tendencies that keep us from humility: self-elevation, self-enthronement, and self-exaltation. These are the subtle ways we try to put ourselves above others or even above God. The stories of Eve, Lucifer, and even Abraham remind us that whenever we seek to elevate ourselves, we step into opposition with God. True humility is found in lowering ourselves, in obedience, even when it costs us dearly.
Finally, there is the principle of exaltation. God’s pattern is to exalt those who humble themselves. Jesus, after being minimized to the lowest point, was exalted above every name. God exalts the minimized, not for their own glory, but for His mission and magnification. Like Joseph, who was humbled and then raised up to save many, God uses our humility as the platform for His purposes. The ultimate goal is that through our lives, every knee would bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The question remains: Are we humble enough to obey, even when it means taking the lowest place? Will we trust God to use our humility for His glory and mission?
Key Takeaways
- True obedience to God is inseparable from humility. Prideful obedience is still disobedience, because it keeps us at the center rather than God. Only when we empty ourselves of status, ambition, and pride can we truly follow Christ’s example and obey from the heart. [02:54]
- The principle of emptiness calls us to let go of our past status, our pursuits, and our pride of life. Jesus, though fully God, did not insist on His rights or reputation, but made Himself nothing for the sake of others. This challenges us to ask: What are we holding onto that keeps us from serving God and others freely? [07:31]
- The principle of elimination warns us against the pitfalls of self-elevation, self-enthronement, and self-exaltation. Every act of pride is a subtle rebellion, a coup d’etat against God’s rightful place in our lives. Humility means dethroning ourselves and letting God be God, even when it means embracing the lowest place. [16:54]
- God’s pattern is to exalt the minimized. When we humble ourselves, God is able to lift us up—not for our own glory, but for His mission. Suffering and trials are not signs of God’s neglect, but opportunities for Him to refine us and prepare us for greater usefulness in His kingdom. [22:46]
- The ultimate purpose of humility is the magnification of God’s glory. Even when God exalts us, it is so that every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Our lives are meant to point beyond ourselves, so that God receives all the honor and praise He alone deserves. [25:51]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:59] - The Importance of Humility in Obedience
[02:54] - The “Dangerous” Prayer for Humility
[04:23] - Introduction to Philippians 2:5-11
[06:39] - The Principle of Emptiness
[09:10] - Emptying Past Status and Pursuits
[10:23] - The Example of Undercover Boss
[11:57] - Emptying the Pride of Life
[12:40] - Modern Examples of Humble Service
[14:36] - The Principle of Elimination
[16:54] - Eliminating Self-Elevation and Self-Exaltation
[18:48] - Jesus’ Ultimate Humility and Abraham’s Example
[21:02] - The Principle of Exaltation
[22:46] - God Exalts the Minimized for His Mission
[25:51] - Humility for the Glory of God
[26:32] - Joseph: From Humiliation to Exaltation
[27:56] - The Call to Humility in Obedience
[29:41] - Are You Humble Enough to Obey?
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Humility to Obey
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### Bible Reading
Philippians 2:5-11 (ESV)
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
---
### Observation Questions
1. According to Philippians 2:5-8, what specific actions did Jesus take to demonstrate humility?
2. In the sermon, what does the “principle of emptiness” mean, and how did Jesus model this? [[06:39]]
3. What are the three tendencies the sermon says we must eliminate to walk in humility? [[16:54]]
4. What is the result of Jesus’ humility, as described in verses 9-11?
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does the sermon say that “prideful obedience is still disobedience”? What does this mean for someone trying to follow God? [[02:54]]
2. The sermon mentions that Jesus “emptied himself” and did not insist on his rights or reputation. Why is this significant for Christians today? [[07:31]]
3. How does the story of Abraham sacrificing Isaac illustrate the principle of elimination? What does it reveal about true humility and obedience? [[18:48]]
4. According to the sermon, why does God exalt those who humble themselves? What is the purpose of this exaltation? [[22:46]]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon asks, “Are you humble enough to obey?” Can you think of a recent situation where pride made it hard for you to obey God or serve others? What would it look like to respond with humility next time? [[29:41]]
2. The “principle of emptiness” challenges us to let go of our past status, pursuits, and pride. Is there something you are holding onto—like a title, achievement, or personal ambition—that makes it hard for you to serve God or others freely? What step could you take to “empty” yourself this week? [[07:31]]
3. The sermon warns against self-elevation, self-enthronement, and self-exaltation. Which of these do you struggle with most, and how does it show up in your daily life? [[16:54]]
4. The pastor shared about working as a janitor and being asked by God, “Are you willing to be my bondservant, even in the lowest place?” If God asked you to serve in a role that felt beneath your status or comfort, how would you respond? [[28:37]]
5. When have you seen God use a season of “minimization” (being humbled or overlooked) to prepare you for something greater? How did that experience shape your faith? [[22:46]]
6. The ultimate purpose of humility is to magnify God’s glory. In what ways can your life point others to Jesus, rather than to yourself? [[25:51]]
7. The sermon mentions that suffering and trials are not signs of God’s neglect, but opportunities for Him to refine us. Is there a current struggle where you need to trust God’s refining work? How can your group pray for you in this area? [[22:46]]
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help each person in the group to empty themselves of pride, to eliminate self-centeredness, and to trust Him to use their humility for His glory and mission.
Devotional
Day 1: Humility as Modeled by Christ
True humility is found in adopting the mindset and attitude of Jesus, who, though fully God, did not cling to His divine status but emptied Himself, taking on the form of a servant and living among us as a man. This act of self-emptying was not a loss of His divinity, but a voluntary laying aside of His reputation and privileges for the sake of obedience and service. To follow Christ’s example is to let go of our own past status, pursuits, and pride, and to be willing to serve in whatever way God calls us, even if it means being minimized in the eyes of the world. [07:31]
Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV)
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are holding onto status, reputation, or pride? How can you intentionally “empty” yourself in that area today to serve others as Christ did?
Day 2: The Danger of Pride and the Call to Humble Ourselves
Pride places us in opposition to God, while humility opens the door to His grace. Scripture warns that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble, urging us to humble ourselves under His mighty hand. It is more dangerous to avoid humility than to pray for it, for pride not only blocks our relationship with God but also leads us away from true obedience. Choosing humility is not weakness, but the path to experiencing God’s favor and presence. [04:23]
1 Peter 5:5-6 (ESV)
"Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you."
Reflection: In what situation do you sense pride resisting God’s work in your heart? Will you ask God today to help you humble yourself before Him, even if it means letting go of your own way?
Day 3: Eliminating Self-Elevation and Self-Exaltation
Humility requires us to eliminate the desire to elevate or enthrone ourselves, following Jesus who, though He could have claimed the highest place, chose the lowest—obedient even to death on a cross. The pitfalls of self-elevation, self-enthronement, and self-exaltation are subtle but deadly, leading us to rebel against God’s rightful place in our lives. True obedience means letting God be God, surrendering our ego, and refusing to place anything or anyone—including ourselves—above Him. [18:01]
Genesis 22:9-12 (ESV)
"When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, 'Abraham, Abraham!' And he said, 'Here I am.' He said, 'Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.'"
Reflection: Is there something or someone you are placing above God in your life? What would it look like to surrender that to Him today, trusting Him fully?
Day 4: God Exalts the Humble for His Mission
When we humble ourselves and allow God to minimize us, He is able to exalt us in His timing and for His purposes. God’s pattern is to use those who have been refined through humility and suffering, just as He exalted Jesus after His humiliation and Joseph after his trials. Exaltation is not for our own glory, but so that we can fulfill God’s mission—impacting others and pointing them to Christ. God’s grace lifts up the humble, not for self-promotion, but for the advancement of His kingdom. [23:34]
Philippians 2:9-11 (ESV)
"Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Reflection: Where have you experienced being minimized or humbled? How might God be preparing to use that experience for His mission and glory in the lives of others?
Day 5: Humility to Obey—Are You Willing?
The ultimate test of humility is our willingness to obey God, even when it means taking the lowest place or serving in ways that go unnoticed. God calls us to be His bondservants, to serve Him not for recognition but so that through our humble obedience, He receives all the glory and honor. The question remains: are you humble enough to obey, to let go of your own ambitions, and to serve wherever and however God asks, trusting that He will use your life for His purposes? [29:41]
Romans 12:1 (ESV)
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship."
Reflection: What is one specific act of humble obedience you sense God asking of you today? Will you say yes, even if it means taking the lowest place?
Quotes
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