Humility Over Pride: Trusting God's Guidance
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor urging the congregation to actively engage with their community, particularly in the wake of a recent tragedy. The pastor then delves into the story of Nebuchadnezzar, drawing parallels between Nebuchadnezzar's pride and the congregation's own lives. He emphasizes that pride often blinds us from recognizing our need for God's guidance and provision. The pastor also cautions against the societal promotion of self-help and personal success as the key to solving problems, encouraging the congregation to pursue humility and rely on the grace of God.
The pastor continues to discuss the story of Nebuchadnezzar and the lesson of pride, emphasizing that pride never wins and that refusing to submit to God or others will ultimately lead to downfall. He also discusses the difference between being impressed by God and being humbled and changed by Him. He uses the story of Nebuchadnezzar as an example, highlighting how many people can relate to being impressed by God but not fully submitting to Him or allowing Him to change their lives.
The pastor then discusses the concept of pride and humility in relation to God's love and grace, explaining that when we are prideful, we may face challenges and difficulties as a natural result of our sin. He concludes the sermon by reflecting on the story of King Nebuchadnezzar and the fiery furnace from the book of Daniel. He emphasizes that Daniel, who has experienced exile and constant threats, has learned to trust in the Lord. The pastor encourages the congregation to trust in God and rely on Him in times of difficulty.
The pastor also discusses the concept of knowing about someone versus truly knowing them. He uses the example of knowing facts about Joe Biden, but not actually having a personal relationship with him. This is related to Jesus, explaining that many people may claim to know Him and even do things in His name, but if they have not humbled themselves and submitted to Him, they do not truly know Him. The pastor then draws a parallel to Nebuchadnezzar, who had experiences with God but never allowed himself to be changed by Him due to his pride.
The pastor shares personal experiences of struggling with internet connection and seeking help from a customer service representative. Initially skeptical of the representative's ability to fix the issue, the pastor is amazed when the suggested solution actually works. This leads the pastor to reflect on the importance of listening to others and following their guidance, even when it goes against our own beliefs or instincts. The pastor relates this experience to other areas of life, such as following instructions from a teacher or coach, and emphasizes the need to trust and obey in order to achieve desired outcomes.
Key Takeaways:
- Nebuchadnezzar's story serves as a reminder that pride and self-reliance can lead to downfall. Despite witnessing God's power, Nebuchadnezzar clings to his own control and comfort, illustrating the dangers of resisting God's will ([12:45]).
- The difference between knowing about someone and truly knowing them is highlighted. Many people claim to know Jesus, but without humbling themselves and submitting to Him, they do not truly know Him. This is paralleled with Nebuchadnezzar's experiences with God, which did not change him due to his pride ([22:30]).
- Material wealth and success are superficial and do not hold true value. Nebuchadnezzar's dream reveals his impending loss of control, emphasizing the futility of relying on worldly wisdom instead of seeking guidance from God ([34:15]).
- The connection between comfort, pride, and downfall is discussed. Our desire for comfort often leads to pride, as we believe we know what is best for ourselves. This pride is evident in our attempts to protect our comfort and control, leading to downfall, as seen in Nebuchadnezzar's story ([45:50]).
- The importance of listening to others and following their guidance is emphasized through the pastor's personal experience with a customer service representative. This experience is related to other areas of life, highlighting the need to trust and obey in order to achieve desired outcomes ([58:30]).
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1) Acts 17:22-31 #!!13:44!!#
2) Matthew 20:28 #!!16:46!!#
3) Genesis 50:20 #!!22:26!!#
Observation Questions:
1) In Acts 17:22-31, how does Paul use the culture and beliefs of the Greeks to introduce them to the true God?
2) In Matthew 20:28, what does Jesus say about his purpose on earth and how does this contrast with the world's view of success and comfort?
3) In Genesis 50:20, how does Joseph view the harm intended for him by his brothers?
Interpretation Questions:
1) How does Paul's approach in Acts 17:22-31 inform our approach to engaging with our culture today?
2) What does Jesus' statement in Matthew 20:28 reveal about the nature of true greatness and service?
3) How does Joseph's perspective in Genesis 50:20 help us understand God's sovereignty in the midst of suffering and injustice?
Application Questions:
1) How can you leverage a cultural event or practice in your community to point people to Jesus, similar to how Paul did in Acts 17:22-31?
2) In what specific ways can you serve others this week, following the example of Jesus in Matthew 20:28?
3) Can you think of a situation in your life where you felt wronged or harmed? How can you apply Joseph's perspective from Genesis 50:20 to that situation?
4) How can you demonstrate humility in a specific area of your life where you've been clinging to comfort or success?
5) What is one specific circumstance or situation in your life that you need to surrender to God, trusting Him first rather than trying all your ways first?
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace the Missionary Mindset
As Christians, we are called to be missionaries in our everyday lives, not just within the confines of the church. This means engaging with our communities, understanding their cultures, and leveraging these understandings to point people to Jesus. This is not about changing the culture to fit us, but about us fitting into the culture to bring about change ([18:11]).
Acts 17:22-23 - "Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: 'People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.'"
Reflection: How can you leverage your understanding of your community's culture to point people to Jesus?
Day 2: Trusting God in the Midst of Chaos
In times of confusion and chaos, it's easy to question God's presence and purpose. However, it's in these moments that we must trust the God of the universe to make sense of the senseless, to bring peace in the chaos, and to provide joy in the midst of sorrow and heartbreak ([19:59]).
Isaiah 55:8-9 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."
Reflection: What situation in your life is causing you confusion and chaos? How can you trust God in the midst of this?
Day 3: The Power of Humility
Humility is a powerful tool in our Christian walk. It's not about self-deprecation, but about recognizing our dependence on God and submitting to His will. This humility may not always seem like it's working, but just like Jesus on the cross, it may seem like all is lost until it isn't ([01:18:03]).
Philippians 2:5-8 - "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!"
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to practice humility? How can you submit these areas to God?
Day 4: The Importance of Community
Community is not just about being in the same place at the same time. It's about building relationships, serving one another, and pointing each other to Jesus. It's about creating spaces where people can stay, have conversations, and build relationships ([13:44]).
Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Reflection: How can you create spaces in your community where people can stay, have conversations, and build relationships?
Day 5: Surrendering to God
Surrendering to God is not about giving up control, but about trusting God with our lives. It's about acknowledging that our ways are not always the best ways and that God's ways are higher than ours. It's about giving God our uncertainties, doubts, anxieties, and fears, and trusting Him to guide us ([01:20:32]).
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Reflection: What uncertainties, doubts, anxieties, and fears do you need to surrender to God? How can you trust Him to guide you in these areas?
Quotes
"Can you imagine if we were the crypt of night to that, so to speak, and instead we pursued humility, we lived obviously following the ways and the wills of something or better yet someone else, and the grace that we receive, and the real peace, not comfort that comes as a result, that's where people begin to see Jesus." [01:18:03]
"Pride never wins. Pride comes before a great fall. Thinking, you know what is best, and I don't have to listen to God, and I don't have to submit myself to Him, or anyone else, or anything else, it just isn't going to work." [01:11:50]
"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, I praise and glorify and honor the king. Now that is a statement of humility. He's the king, not me. He is the most powerful, not me, I've learned that the hard way, but now I've gotten grace." [01:13:38]
"Being impressed by God is not the same thing as being humbled and changed by God." [01:01:49]
"That's exactly where Nebuchadnezzar is, that's why I think a lot of us can relate to him. He's been impressed by God. He's had God experiences, but he's never been changed because he never submitted his pride to say, I don't want to do it anymore." #!!01:04:21!!#
"Because comfort and pride go hand in hand. And so Nebuchadnezzar is foreshadowing for us that my pride is about to be my downfall." #!!49:40!!#
"Pride looks like it's working until it doesn't. It looks like I'm comfortable, it looks like I'm prospering, it looks like I'm resting even and then it catches up with me. It looks like I know what's best, it looks like I know God because I've been so impressed by Him but I'm not going to submit and then it catches up." #!!01:15:51!!#
"Everything that I thought that I knew I needed to do did not work and once I finally listened to someone else and did what they said to do, I got what I really wanted." #!!38:58!!#
"That comfort, that control that you think you have, that prosperity that you point to, as evidence that you're doing everything right, it's a fool's gold. It's just shiny on the surface, but it amounts to nothing." #!!51:53!!#
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