Rise Up the Jesus Way: Humility
For the next six weeks, we’re exploring what it means to Rise Up the Jesus Way. This journey isn't about striving to become a better version of ourselves by worldly standards. It’s about embracing the radical, upside-down Kingdom that Jesus introduces in the Sermon on the Mount.
At the heart of this manifesto—these Kingdom values—are the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5:3-12. They aren’t sentimental sayings for social media captions. They are revolutionary declarations of what life looks like under God’s rule. They challenge the values of our culture and invite us into a deeper, fuller way of living—a way that brings true blessing.
Today, we begin with the foundation of all Kingdom living: humility. Jesus starts with humility because it’s the soil where every other virtue grows. If we want to Rise Up the Jesus Way, we must first learn to bow low.
1. Humility is the Doorway to the Kingdom
Jesus opens His sermon with:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)
To be “poor in spirit” is to recognize our complete dependence on God. It’s acknowledging that we have nothing to offer Him—no righteousness of our own, no power to save ourselves. It’s the posture that says, “God, I need you. I can’t do this without you.”
This is the starting line of spiritual transformation. When we empty ourselves of pride, self-sufficiency, and ego, we make room for God’s presence to flood our lives. This kind of humility doesn’t repel God—it attracts Him. Scripture tells us again and again that God draws near to the humble. With less of us, there is more of Him.
If we’re going to rise up the Jesus way, we must first get out of the way. Humility is the doorway to the Kingdom.
2. Humility Feels What God Feels
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)
This isn’t only about mourning the loss of a loved one. Jesus is calling us to mourn over our sin, to grieve the brokenness in our lives and in our world. This kind of mourning is rooted in humility. It comes from a heart that sees the gap between God’s holiness and our humanity—and it responds with repentance.
But it doesn’t stop there. Humility also compels us to feel what God feels about the world. It breaks our hearts for the things that break His. Injustice, poverty, oppression, abuse, sin, hatred, division—when we truly see these things through God's eyes, it should move us to tears, prayer, and action.
True humility is emotionally and spiritually aware. It doesn’t harden itself in self-preservation; it opens itself up to God’s heart and responds accordingly. When we lament and repent, God doesn’t reject us—He meets us with comfort, healing, and transformation.
3. Humility is Not Weakness—It’s the Posture of Strength
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5)
Let’s be honest—meekness doesn’t usually make the list of qualities we admire in leaders or influencers. But Jesus flips the script.
Meekness isn’t weakness; it’s strength under control. It’s not passivity; it’s power surrendered to the will of God. Meekness is choosing gentleness when you could retaliate, choosing grace when you could judge, choosing peace when you could escalate. That is real strength.
Jesus modeled this perfectly. He had the power of heaven at His command and yet He knelt to wash feet. He remained silent before His accusers. He surrendered Himself to the cross. His meekness was not the absence of power—it was the fullness of power under divine control.
To live meekly is to live boldly under God's authority. It is the posture of those who trust God's justice more than their own vengeance. It is the posture of those who choose humility over hubris, and peace over platform.
4. Humility Releases Heaven’s Resources
“Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are those who mourn… Blessed are the meek…”
When we walk in humility, we unlock heaven’s blessings. The Kingdom of Heaven, divine comfort, spiritual inheritance—all are promised to the humble. Why? Because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). And where grace flows, God’s resources follow.
We often pray for God to move, to heal, to restore, to bless. But 2 Chronicles 7:14 reminds us that before healing comes, there must be humbling:
“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.”
Humility opens the floodgates of heaven. It’s not weakness—it’s worship. It’s surrender. It’s what invites the presence of God to dwell among us and work through us.
If we are going to Rise Up the Jesus Way, we begin not by climbing—but by bowing low. Because those who humble themselves will be lifted up.
5 Applicational Questions:
- Where in your life are you relying more on your own strength than on God’s?
What would it look like to surrender that area to Him? - When was the last time you truly mourned over your own sin—or the brokenness in the world?
How might God be calling you to feel what He feels? - Do you tend to confuse meekness with weakness?
What does “strength under control” look like in your relationships or leadership? - What area of your life needs more humility in order for God to move?
Are there areas where pride or self-sufficiency may be blocking His blessing? - How can you intentionally cultivate humility this week?
Consider your words, your posture, your priorities—how can you reflect the character of Christ more fully?
To rise up the Jesus way is to lay down our pride and pick up His posture. Let humility be more than a virtue we admire—let it be a daily reality we live. Because from humility flows the Kingdom of God.
Jon Baldwin, Associate Leader, Home Church