Exaltation: The Path of Humility and Divine Providence
Summary
### Summary
Today, we delved into the concept of exaltation, focusing on the story of Esther 6. We began with a children's illustration to explain the idea of lifting something up, both physically and metaphorically, as a way to understand how we exalt God in our lives. The story of Esther 6 is rich with irony and divine providence, showcasing how God intervenes in the lives of His people. Haman, the antagonist, is a prime example of self-exaltation, while Mordecai represents humility and faithfulness. Haman's self-absorption leads to his downfall, while Mordecai, who seeks no recognition, is exalted by God in a turn of events orchestrated by divine providence.
We explored how our culture often promotes self-exaltation, encouraging us to put ourselves first. However, as Christians, we are called to a different path—one of humility and service to others. The story of Haman and Mordecai serves as a powerful reminder that self-exaltation leads to instability and destruction, while humility and faithfulness lead to true exaltation by God.
We also discussed the exaltation of Christ, which includes His resurrection, ascension, and eventual return. This exaltation teaches us about our complete dependence on God, the shared glory we have with Christ, our eternal security, and the ultimate glory that belongs to God. The exaltation of Christ is a model for us to follow, reminding us that our lives should be about glorifying God rather than ourselves.
### Key Takeaways
1. The Dangers of Self-Exaltation: Haman's story is a cautionary tale about the perils of self-exaltation. His obsession with his own honor and status leads to his ultimate downfall. This serves as a reminder that when we elevate ourselves above others and God, we set ourselves up for instability and destruction. True security and peace come from humility and putting God first in our lives. [46:09]
2. Divine Providence in Everyday Events: The story of Esther 6 is filled with seemingly insignificant events that God uses to bring about His purposes. From the king's sleepless night to Haman's presence in the court, we see that God is in control of all things. This reminds us that God can use even the smallest details in our lives to fulfill His plans, and we should trust in His providence. [49:51]
3. The Exaltation of Christ: The exaltation of Christ, which includes His resurrection, ascension, and eventual return, teaches us about our complete dependence on God. We are wholly reliant on Him for our salvation, grace, and eternal life. This dependence should lead us to a life of humility and service, recognizing that all we have comes from God. [01:14:10]
4. Shared Glory and Eternal Security: As believers, we share in the glory of Christ. This shared glory is a source of comfort and assurance, reminding us that our future is secure in Him. Despite the trials and sufferings we may face, we have the promise of eternal life and the assurance that nothing can separate us from God's love. [01:18:29]
5. Glorifying God in Our Lives: The ultimate purpose of our lives is to glorify God. Just as God glorified Himself by exalting Christ, we are called to exalt God in our daily lives. This means putting Him first, serving others, and living in a way that reflects His love and grace. When we make much of God and less of ourselves, we find true peace and fulfillment. [01:21:18]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[24:57] - Children's Illustration: Exaltation
[44:51] - Introduction to Esther 6
[46:09] - The Irony of Haman's Downfall
[49:51] - Divine Providence in Esther
[52:39] - Cultural Struggles with Self-Exaltation
[55:46] - The Foolishness of Self-Exaltation
[01:01:25] - The Destructive Nature of Self-Exaltation
[01:07:07] - The Exaltation of Mordecai
[01:14:10] - The Exaltation of Christ
[01:18:29] - Shared Glory and Eternal Security
[01:21:18] - Glorifying God in Our Lives
[01:28:26] - Closing Remarks and Benediction
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Esther 6: The entire chapter, focusing on the story of Haman and Mordecai.
2. Philippians 2:3-4: "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
3. James 4:6: "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"
#### Observation Questions
1. What events led to Mordecai being honored by the king in Esther 6? ([49:51])
2. How did Haman react when he realized that Mordecai was the one to be honored instead of himself? ([51:20])
3. What does Philippians 2:3-4 say about how we should treat others?
4. According to James 4:6, what is God's attitude towards the proud and the humble?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the story of Haman and Mordecai illustrate the dangers of self-exaltation and the benefits of humility? ([46:09])
2. In what ways does the culture around us promote self-exaltation, and how does this contrast with the biblical call to humility? ([52:39])
3. How does the exaltation of Christ, as described in the sermon, teach us about our dependence on God? ([01:14:10])
4. What does it mean to share in the glory of Christ, and how does this provide comfort and assurance to believers? ([01:18:29])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you sought recognition or praise. How did it affect your relationships and your sense of peace? How can you shift your focus to exalting God instead? ([55:46])
2. Identify a situation in your life where you have been tempted to put yourself first. How can you practice humility and put others' needs before your own in this situation? ([52:39])
3. How can you recognize and trust in God's providence in the small details of your life, as seen in the story of Esther 6? ([49:51])
4. Think of a specific way you can serve someone in your community or church this week without seeking recognition. What steps will you take to ensure your actions are motivated by humility? ([01:08:29])
5. How does understanding our shared glory with Christ change the way you view your current struggles and trials? ([01:18:29])
6. In what ways can you make your daily life more about glorifying God and less about seeking your own honor? ([01:21:18])
7. Reflect on the concept of eternal security in Christ. How does this assurance impact your daily decisions and interactions with others? ([01:18:29])
Devotional
Day 1: The Dangers of Self-Exaltation
Self-exaltation is a dangerous path that leads to instability and destruction. Haman's story in Esther 6 serves as a cautionary tale about the perils of being obsessed with one's own honor and status. Haman's self-absorption and desire for recognition ultimately lead to his downfall. In contrast, Mordecai's humility and faithfulness result in his exaltation by God. This narrative reminds us that true security and peace come from humility and putting God first in our lives. When we elevate ourselves above others and God, we set ourselves up for failure. Instead, we should seek to live humbly, recognizing that all honor and glory belong to God alone. [46:09]
Proverbs 16:18-19 (ESV): "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you sought recognition or praise. How can you shift your focus from self-exaltation to humility and service to others in similar situations?
Day 2: Divine Providence in Everyday Events
The story of Esther 6 is filled with seemingly insignificant events that God uses to bring about His purposes. From the king's sleepless night to Haman's presence in the court, we see that God is in control of all things. This narrative illustrates that God can use even the smallest details in our lives to fulfill His plans. It encourages us to trust in His providence, knowing that He is always at work, even when we cannot see it. By recognizing God's hand in everyday events, we can find comfort and assurance in His sovereign control over our lives. [49:51]
Psalm 37:23-24 (ESV): "The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent event in your life that seemed insignificant at the time. How might God have been working through that event to fulfill His purposes for you or others?
Day 3: The Exaltation of Christ
The exaltation of Christ, which includes His resurrection, ascension, and eventual return, teaches us about our complete dependence on God. We are wholly reliant on Him for our salvation, grace, and eternal life. This dependence should lead us to a life of humility and service, recognizing that all we have comes from God. The exaltation of Christ is a model for us to follow, reminding us that our lives should be about glorifying God rather than ourselves. By focusing on Christ's exaltation, we can better understand our role as His followers and live in a way that honors Him. [01:14:10]
Ephesians 1:20-21 (ESV): "That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come."
Reflection: How does the exaltation of Christ influence your daily life and decisions? What specific actions can you take to live in a way that glorifies God?
Day 4: Shared Glory and Eternal Security
As believers, we share in the glory of Christ. This shared glory is a source of comfort and assurance, reminding us that our future is secure in Him. Despite the trials and sufferings we may face, we have the promise of eternal life and the assurance that nothing can separate us from God's love. This understanding of shared glory and eternal security can provide us with hope and strength to endure difficult times. It also encourages us to live with an eternal perspective, focusing on the promises of God rather than the temporary challenges of this world. [01:18:29]
Colossians 3:3-4 (ESV): "For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself of your eternal security in Christ during times of trial and suffering? How can this assurance change your perspective on current challenges?
Day 5: Glorifying God in Our Lives
The ultimate purpose of our lives is to glorify God. Just as God glorified Himself by exalting Christ, we are called to exalt God in our daily lives. This means putting Him first, serving others, and living in a way that reflects His love and grace. When we make much of God and less of ourselves, we find true peace and fulfillment. By focusing on glorifying God, we can align our actions and decisions with His will, leading to a more meaningful and impactful life. [01:21:18]
1 Corinthians 10:31 (ESV): "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Reflection: What specific steps can you take today to glorify God in your daily activities and interactions with others? How can you make glorifying God a central focus in your life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We consistently are told to make our lives about ourselves, to do what makes us happy, to not necessarily think of and put others first, but to think a certain way and to behave in a certain way in which you are, the most important. We want control. And we're told that we can have control over certain things, when in reality, as you read Esther 6, there is no control." [52:39] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When you stop exalting yourself and stop making life all about you, you will find great joy and great security and stability in life. Not a lack of hardship and a lack of suffering and trials, but stability and security. When you try to control everything, it does not go well. It's hard." [01:18:29] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "It's not in finding a way to be exalted above others that we find peace and blessing, but only in bowing before the exalted Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, and fleeing to take refuge in Him. Why? Because Ephesians 2 says, we are His workmanship, God's workmanship, not ours, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, all for the glory of God." [01:21:18] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "God sent his one and only son to come into this world to live a perfect and holy life that you and I could, and that we continually mess up every single day. And he did that for us so that those who turn in faith would find forgiveness for their sins and the promise of eternal life. And that's the gospel." [01:15:35] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "When everything in life is taken away or shown to be futile what do you have in the end and if all you have is Jesus Christ that's all you need and that's good enough." [01:06:27] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Self-exaltation is when we put ourselves above others, typically where we should not have elevated ourselves. We praise and we highlight our accomplishments, our status. And what does Matthew 23, what does Jesus say? He says, the greatest among you shall be what? A servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled. And whoever humbles himself will be exalted." [55:46] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The exaltation of Christ includes his resurrection, his ascension to be with the Father and his glorious return, which is coming for us. And there's a great benefit for us to understand the exaltation then of Christ. And there's four things I want to leave you with then on what this says and leaves for us. Complete dependence on God is the first thing." [01:14:10] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "The exaltation of Christ reminds us that we so badly need God, and yet we can take credit for that, and we shouldn't. God should get all the glory, all the glory for overcoming sin, all the glory for us pursuing and being able to bear fruit, leading to good works that honor God. That's all God." [01:16:35] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "The wisdom of God's providence as he lines up so much of this story to display his power and his control over the affairs of men. The king could not sleep. There was no reason given, probably of God, but he didn't have a dream like Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel. God didn't have a dream to reveal to the king. He just couldn't sleep, and he just couldn't sleep, and he just so happened to say, well, let's bring the book of the Chronicles of the Deeds." [01:08:29] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We are wholly, wholly dependent on God for everything. Pardon for sin, deliverance from hell, acceptance into God's favor, grace, forgiveness, eternal life. All of those things we are completely dependent on God for. Our mediator, Christ, is someone upon which we have absolute dependence. And it's through him that we receive everything that we have." [01:14:10] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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