(Sharing my sermon notes from the series Fruitfulness in the Life of the Believer)

The fruit of the Spirit have a relational quality–they are on display in our relationships with others. His fruit flows from God to us, and then from us to others. How well am I demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit? Take a look at my relationships. What are my relationships like? Are there any disharmonious relationships? Therein will I discover where I am wanting godliness.

Humility, though it is not listed among the fruit of the Spirit, it is a characteristic of God that I must seek to develop for the sake of my relationship with God and my relationships with others.

How does God view a humble person?

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite” (Isaiah 57:15).

Think glory, majesty, transcendence=God is completely other! And yet, He is “with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit.”

Thus says the LORD: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?” (Isaiah 66:1).

How can there be a “built” dwelling place for God? Yet God also makes His place with the humble and contrite.

In speaking of the fruit of the Spirit, we are really speaking of godliness–exhibiting the characteristics of God and the desire to be like God. Can we read these verses and still say God is humble? We can examine the humility of Jesus:

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 made himself nothing, 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. (Philippians 2:5-8)

And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:35-45).

We want things. We are like James and John. Jesus says that attitude is worldly. Consider John 13, but in particular verses 3 and 4:

Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.

Had I known that about myself, what would I have done? Jesus left this example for us:

Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13:16-17).

I am not above that!

Three ways we need to have humility:

1) We need to exhibit humility before God. Having a right view of God will help me to have a right and proper perception of myself. A proper perception of myself will have an impact on how I interact with and behave before others.

2) We need humility to see ourselves for who we are. All that we are is a product of the grace of God. Salvation, gifts, talents and abilities, looks, personality, education, possessions: all are of God and His grace!

3) We need humility as we view ourselves in relation to others.

Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21).

Do nothing from rivalry 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 (Philippians 2:3-4).

Defer to others (especially in non-essential things), honor others before myself, and seek to serve others.

How can I correct myself?
1) Study the scriptures regarding humility,
2) Pray, asking God for humility,
3) Think of practical ways to do this and then do it.

Remember, the fruit is ONE fruit: The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I cannot show love without humility, and I cannot show humility without self-control, and so on and so on.