CCF International Church

Perspective – Ps Alistair Pillay

Humility – Transparency
Learn from me

Matthew 11:28 Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest . Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light

The word learn is derived from the Greek word manthano. To increase one’s knowledge

When Jesus says learn from Me . He is not just speaking about teachings
To learn means adopting His attitude, character and way of life

Learning begins with a reverence for God and who He is
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge

To learn requires humility
When learning from someone, you have to admit you don’t have all the answers. Means being teachable, open and willing to be corrected
Pride resists instruction
Humility receives it

Proverbs 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser. Teach a just man and he will increase in learning

Characteristic of Humility is Transparency

Transparency refers to openness and honesty
A person who communicates clearly
A Transparent person is clear . There is nothing hidden

Job was open about his pain. Questions God
He spoke honestly.
We must be open and sincere about who we are as believers. Do not be ashamed

Apostle Paul says I am not ashamed of the gospel

2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth

This week we will begin to study the characteristics of humility

The first characteristic is Transparency 

Notes extracted from the book “Rest in the Day of Perils” –  Dr S.Y. Govender

“LEARN FROM ME”

Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

The word “learn” is derived from the Greek word “manthano” (G3129), and denotes “to learn” (akin to mathetes, “a disciple”), “to increase one’s knowledge” or “be increased in knowledge”.  (Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words)

“Meek” comes from the Greek word “praos” (G4235), which means meek, mild, gentle. (CWSB Dictionary)

Meekness is a total reliance on God rather than one’s own strength. 

According to Thayer, the word “lowly”, is derived from the Greek word tapeinos (G5011) and means :

Not rising far from the ground; Metaphorically ….. (a) as a condition, lowly, of low degree (b) brought low with grief, depressed (c) lowly in spirit, humble (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon)

Christ calls us to learn His meekness and lowliness – learn His humility in order to find His rest

Philippians 2:2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. 5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name

CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMILITY TRANSPARENCY

Matthew 18:4 Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus identifies humility as the premium trait that qualifies one to be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. The humility of a child is transparency – the quality of truth, sincerity and unpretentiousness. Transparency is the inability to hide or conceal anything

Revelation 21:18 The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass.

The context is the descending city – THE CHURCH The city is like transparent glass, a picturesque symbol of the Church as sincere, unsoiled and without mixture. This quality of humility ensures that nothing is hidden. There is no guile or deceit in humility. Transparency is a signature quality of the perfect church of Christ. 

Nathaniel had no guile

John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”

Samuel was transparent before the whole nation

1 Samuel 12:1 Now Samuel said to all Israel: “Indeed I have heeded your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you. 2 And now here is the king, walking before you; and I am old and grayheaded, and look, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day. 3 Here I am. Witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.” 4 And they said, “You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man’s hand.” 5 Then he said to them, “The LORD is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand.”And they answered, “He is witness.”

The apostle Paul walked in transparency 

2 Corinthians 1:12 For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.

2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

Christ epitomises transparency

1 Peter 2:22 “Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

Gehazi, Achan, Saul, Ananias and Sapphira failed the test of transparency.

TRANSPARENCY

Isaiah 60:2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you. 3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.

Believers can choose to embrace and normalise the “cloud of deep darkness” or we can allow the brilliance and radiance of the Glory of the Lord to be revealed through us, revealing His image. 

Psalms 119:130 The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

The declaration of the Word of God (truth)  brings enlightenment to a culture that is built on altars of evil, wickedness and deceit.

LAMPS WITHOUT OIL

Matthew 25:1 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.6 “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut.11 “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12 But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Light in the lamp is required for sight to navigate in this world that is shrouded in “deep darkness” 

So in this season, the believer represents the lamp, the vessel that gives light. Although the lamp itself can be in pristine, new condition (virgin), it lacks the oil that is necessary to produce light (internal spiritual preparation is lacking) 

The oil represents the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit and intimacy with the Lord.

1 Samuel 3:1 Now the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.

This was a time of great spiritual darkness and apathy in the nation of Israel. There was a corrupt leadership in the sanctuary (Eli and his sons). 

1 Samuel 3:2 And it came to pass at that time, while Eli was lying down in his place, and when his eyes had begun to grow so dim that he could not see, 3 and before the lamp of God went out in the tabernacle of the LORD where the ark of God was, and while Samuel was lying down, 4 that the LORD called Samuel. And he answered, “Here I am!”

Yet in the midst of this evil and corrupt generation, we notice that the lamp had not yet gone out in the Tabernacle – this reflects the mercy of God in the calling of the young boy Samuel. This change in leadership represents the people of God migrating from deep darkness to transparency and light. David knew that he had to be transparent before Almighty God 

Psalms 139:1 O LORD, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. 3 You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. 4 For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

The Apostle Paul demands integrity and transparency in relationships 

Ephesians 4:25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil. 28 Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.