Whosoever Therefore Shall Humble Himself
A humble heart is essential for living among men and loving and saving them, and can be achieved by being simple, approachable, and human like Christ.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes that true humility comes from being born again through Christ, as humanity has lost its original simplicity and approachability. He encourages Christians to embody a childlike spirit, being relatable and loving towards others, rather than becoming stiff and self-conscious. Simpson illustrates this with the example of Christ, who approached people with genuine humanity and love, demonstrating that it is through simple acts of kindness that we can connect with others and lead them to salvation. The sermon calls for believers to seek a heart like Christ's, one that is warm and inviting, to effectively reach out to those around them.
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You will never have a humble heart until it is born from above, from the heart of Christ. For man has lost his own humanity and unfortunately too often has a wicked heart. God wants us, as Christians ' to be simple, human, approachable and childlike. The Christians who we know and love best, and who are nearest to the Lord, are the most simple. Whenever we grow stilted we are fit only for a picture gallery, or to be placed on a pedestal. But if we are going to live among men and love and save them, we must be approachable and human. All stiffness is but another form of self-consciousness. Ask Christ for a human heart, for a smile that will be as natural as your little child's in your presence.
How much Christ did by little touches!
He never would have reached the woman of Samaria if He had come to her as the prophet. Rather, He sat down, a tired man, and said, "Give me a drink of water. And so, all through His earthly life, it was His simple humanness and love that led Him to others, and that drew them to Him and to His great salvation.
Sermon Outline
- The Need for a Humble Heart
- Characteristics of a Humble Heart
- The Example of Christ
- Christ's humanness and love drew people to Him
- Christ's simple approach led to salvation
- Free from stiffness and self-consciousness
Key Quotes
“You will never have a humble heart until it is born from above, from the heart of Christ.” — A.B. Simpson
“All stiffness is but another form of self-consciousness.” — A.B. Simpson
“Ask Christ for a human heart, for a smile that will be as natural as your little child's in your presence.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- Strive to be simple and approachable in your interactions with others.
- Ask Christ for a human heart and a smile that is natural and childlike.
- Overcome stiffness and self-consciousness by being humble and childlike.