Leadership and Humility
A. “THE PRIDE OF GRACE.”
1. The notion that we are self-sufficient – our strength is ours (2 Cor. 3:4-5).
2. We are better than our brother (Rom. 14:10; Luke 18:9).
3. We are not to compare ourselves to others (2 Cor. 10:12).
B. GOD’S ANSWER –
1. HUMILITY (Rom. 12:3; 2 Cor. 10:17-18).
2. TRUST in the Lord (Eph. 6:10).
C. ILLUSTRATED IN BIBLE CHARACTERS.
A. MOSES AT AGE 40 THOUGHT HE WAS QUALIFIED TO LEAD.
1. Moses asserted himself by murder (Ex. 2:11-12).
2. His estimation of his own power and influence was inflated (vs. 13-15).
B. 40 YEARS AS A SHEPHERD CHANGED HIS ATTITUDE.
1. Moses didn’t appoint himself, but was chosen by God (Ex. 3:1-10).
2. Moses’ immediate response reflected his newfound humility (vs. 11).
A. Judges 6:11-12. GIDEON WAS CALLED BY GOD A MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR.
B. vs. 13-14. HE WAS CALLED TO DELIVER HIS PEOPLE FROM A SORRY STATE.
C. HOW DID GIDEON SEE HIMSELF? (vs. 15).
D. GOD’S PROMISE (vs. 16).
A. SAUL AS DESCRIBED BY INSPIRATION (1 Sam. 9:1-2).
B. SAUL, WHEN HE WAS CHOSE HAD A SIMILAR ATTITUDE.
1. When Samuel told him he was chosen, his reaction was this (vs. 21).
2. When he was to be present to the people, he hid (10:21-24).
3. His humility led him to spare his detractors (10:27; 11:12-13).
C. HE BECAME PROUD AND HIS PRIDE BROUGHT HIM DOWN.
1. His rule a tragedy of acting with a high hand. He was disobedient.
2. His humility was a thing of the past (15:17).
3. As a result, the kingdom was wrested from him (15:19, 26).
A. ISAIAH (Isa. 6:5).
B. JEREMIAH (Jer. 1:6).
A. Matt. 22:33-35. “I WILL NEVER BE OFFENDED.”
B. Luke 22:31-32. “WHEN ONCE THOU HAST TURNED AGAIN.”
C. HUMILIATION TO HUMILITY (vs. 61-62).
A. OUR FIRST DUTY è HUMILITY AND SUBMISSION (1 Pet. 5:6-7).
B. IT ALSO INVOLVES SERVICE (1 Pet. 5:5; Matt. 20:26-28).
C. WHO ARE WE WORKING FOR? (1 Pet. 4:11).
