2026-06-07 Humility: The Heart of Kingdom Character

 (Eph 4:1-2)

We’ve been going through Ephesians and have just finished chapter three. Today, I had planned to look at Eph 4: 1–6. But as I was reading it, I felt led to stay on one phrase: “be completely humble.” We’ll come back to the whole passage next week. Let’s read v,1-6, As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

1, What Biblical Humility Is

Paul doesn’t simply say, “Be humble.” He says, “Be completely humble.” The Greek means “with all humility”, not humble in public but proud in private, not teachable when praised but defensive when corrected. Why is humility so important? Because it is at the heart of God’s character and foundational to His Kingdom. Isaiah 14 tells us how Satan became Satan, through pride: “I will ascend to heaven…I will exalt above others.. I will make myself like the Most High…” Pride puts self before God, and that is where destruction begins. Relationships and marriages break down, mental health suffers, peace is lost, and even our physical health can be affected. Without humility, spiritual gifts can lead to downfall, and leadership becomes controlling.

So what is biblical humility? When Isaiah saw God in the temple, he cried, “Woe to me! I am ruined!” (Isa 6:5). Biblical humility is seeing ourselves as God sees us. It doesn’t say, “I’m useless,” It confesses, “I am a sinner, saved by grace, loved by God, gifted for His purposes, and completely dependent on Him.” After God cleansed Isaiah, He called him to a hard mission to save Israel, Isaiah devoted his life to that call even when Israel refused to listen. He didn’t try to change others; he allowed God to change him. That’s biblical humility: putting God first and thinking of ourselves less.

Peter the apostle worked hard all night and caught nothing, but after listening to Jesus, he caught so many fish, Yet he didn’t say, “thank God for Your provision.” What did he say? “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8). Peter recognised who Jesus was and who he was. Humility is not comparing ourselves with others. It comes from comparing ourselves with Jesus, the Holy One. Then we repent and realise: God is Creator; I am created. God is King; I am His servant, but I have a sinful nature within me. God is perfect; I need His grace. Humility begins with dependence on God. It recognises that everything we have comes from Him, salvation, gifts, intelligence, health, finances, ministry, even every breath. When I first time read 1 Cor 4:7, “What do you have that you did not receive?” I knelt before God and said, “forgive me, Lord, for taking ownership of what I have. Everything I have comes from You.” Pride says, “I achieved this.” Humility says, “Without God, I have nothing, not even my next breath.”

Jesus Christ is our greatest example. Phil 2:8 says: “He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross.” Though Christ was King of Kings, He surrendered Himself to the Father’s will. The Son of God lived out Biblical humility, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” Humility is not simply being nice. It is embodied in surrender. And Jesus says: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” (Mark 10:43) Kingdom humility goes lower to serve others. But pride desires recognition, admiration, and control. Proverbs 11:2 says: “When pride comes, then comes shame, but with humility comes wisdom.” Whenever you feel ashamed, don’t immediately blame yourself or others. Instead, check whether there is pride within you and turn back to God.

Humility keeps us teachable, but pride resists correction and loses protection. Years ago, a sister came to me and said, “Can you ask God to stop correcting me through dreams? I’m tired of it.” I was shocked and said, “God corrects you because He loves you and wants to make you more like His Son.” But she couldn’t accept it. Pro 12:1, he who hates correction is stupid. Pro 15:10 says, he who hates correction will die. Later, she made foolish decisions and nearly lost her life. I visited her in hospital, she repented, and God graciously restored her. Now she serves God with humility. So humility is not weakness. Jesus was humble, yet He confronted religious leaders and rebuked demons with authority. Humility is strength under God’s control. That is why humility becomes the heart of the Kingdom, and foundation of unity.

2, What are the roots of pride?

Ultimately, pride began with Satan. Ezekiel 28:14,17 say, “You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you…17, Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth…” Satan was created as an angel, but because of the beauty and wisdom he received, he forgot who God was and who he was. Satan became proud of himself, and no longer wanted surrender or dependence on God. He wanted to control. Satan rebelled against God’s authority, he was cast out of heaven, and separated from God. Biblically, pride and rejection are often connected. Whenever you feel rejected. Cain felt rejected when God did not accept his self-righteous offering. Instead of humbling himself and repenting, he embraced rejection. Rejection fed pride, and pride produced anger, jealousy, unforgiveness, and even murder.

Similarly, King Saul felt threatened when people praised David. Rejection fed pride, which produced fear, jealousy, control, and eventually murder. The enemy still uses rejection to stir pride today. In marriage, a husband may react in anger: “You don’t respect me.” A wife may become defensive: “I must stay in control.” Rejection makes us believe lies about ourselves and others, trapping us in pride, fear, insecurity, and control. Jesus was truly rejected by people, but he walked in humility and remained secure in the Father’s love. So he says: “If you hold on to my teaching, you’re really my disciples, then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)

3, How do we grow in humility?

James 4:6 says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” If God opposes us because of pride, what blessing can we receive? But He opens doors to the humble. So how to grow in humility? A, Live in the Presence of God. Pride cannot survive in God’s presence. Spend time worshipping, praying, reading His Word, and obeying Him. In the presence of God, Isaiah immediately recognised his need for cleansing.

B, Push back against feelings of rejection. Rejection says, “You’re not loved… you must prove yourself… you must stay in control… get even…” Push back with truth: “Lord, forgive me. I am Your child. Your blood shows I am loved. My identity is in You. As I obey Your Word, I remain in Your love.” Humility grows when we are honest with ourselves and others, stop pretending, stop chasing people’s approval, and rest in God’s love, serving and loving others from the inside out. C, Practise daily surrender. If you can’t surrender small things to God, you won’t surrender under pressure. Humility grows as we choose Christ, not self, on the throne of our hearts. Real humility is powerful. Do you know there was once a king who ruled the most powerful kingdom on earth? King Nebuchadnezzar declared, “Is not this the great Babylon I have built?” But while pride was still on his lips, heaven answered: “Your kingdom has been taken from you.” He lost everything, even his sanity, and was driven into the wilderness, eating grass like an ox, until he finally recognised God’s sovereignty. Then he praised the Most High God and said, “His dominion is an eternal dominion… Those who walk in pride He is able to humble.”

Sometimes God allows wilderness seasons to remind us that we are only dust and not in control. We need Him even for our next breath. Humility often grows when we come to the end of ourselves and return to dependence on God. Humble repentance opens the door to God’s grace. Humility is where unity grows, self decreases, and Christ increases in us.

So where are you today? Are you tired of carrying everything yourself? Tired of striving and trying to stay in control? Jesus is calling you back to depend on Him. He wants to heal you, restore you, and carry you through every season of life. Will you humble yourself before God again?

Prayer:

Thank You Jesus for the blood. When we were lost, broken, and far from God, thank You that through the blood You shed on the cross, we were brought near, forgiven, accepted, cleansed, and called Your children. Thank You for Your sacrificial love. Today, we’re going to take communion together. 1 Cor 11 tells us that communion is a moment for believers to remember what Jesus has done for us. V,28 says, “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.”

So as we come before the Lord’s table, let’s close our eyes, with our hearts open before Him, and say, “Come, Holy Spirit. We welcome You to examine our hearts before we take the bread and cup.”

Now, if you’re willing, you can follow my prayer and say: “Father, thank You for calling me back to depend on You again. Forgive me for listening to the old way of thinking, ‘I can do it myself,’ and for focusing only on getting things done instead of depending on You and seeking Your will.

Instead of asking, ‘Father, what is Your will? Let my will die, and let Your will be done,’ I often yield to the natural way of doing things. Then self arose, rejection sneaked in, and I began trying to prove myself, defend myself, compare myself with others, and complain about others and even about You.

Lord, today I confess that when I felt rejected, I fed pride and shame. It was not because of others, but because I didn’t follow Your example on earth. I listened to the enemy’s lies instead of remaining in Your truth. Forgive me, renew me, and help me forgive myself and others. Humility begins when I trust that You are my Strength, Provider, Defender, Shepherd, and that You are in control.

In the name of Jesus, I break every agreement with rejection, pride, fear, self-protection, insecurity, bitterness, comparison, and independence from You. I surrender my own will, unhealthy expectations, and selfish desires to the cross, let Your peace and truth guide me. Holy Spirit, heal me mentally, spiritually and physically. Help me in true humility, trust in You and make me a blessing to others and bring glory to You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Now, those serving Communion, please come forward. The rest of us can continue to worship and pray as we wait for everyone to receive the bread and cup.

Now, as we take the bread, we remember the body of Jesus broken for us. Through His humility and surrender to the Father’s will, we are welcomed into God’s family. And as we depend on Him, He will carry us through life.

Let’s take the bread together.

And now, as we take the cup, we remember the blood of Jesus shed for us. Through His blood and forgiveness, we can be healed from the pride, fear, rejection, and striving that kept us far from Him. Lord Jesus, You’re trustworthy.

Let’s take the cup together.

Father, we thank You for sending Your Word to heal us. Holy Spirit, help us to seek Your heart first, not just results. Teach us to depend on You daily and to walk in true humility, obedience, surrender, and trust in Your goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Small Groups Discussion:

1, What stood out to you most from the sermon today about humility?
2, Why do you think pride and rejection are often connected? Have you ever     experience that? How did you deal with it?
3, In what areas of life do you find it hardest to depend on God? How can we break through and learn to trust Him more deeply?
4, Have you ever noticed fear, comparison, control, or striving affecting your relationship with God or others?
5, What is one practical way you can grow in humility and dependence on God this week?