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Beg God for the Miracle of Humility
John Piper

John Stephen Piper (1946 - ). American pastor, author, and theologian born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Converted at six, he grew up in South Carolina and earned a B.A. from Wheaton College, a B.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a D.Theol. from the University of Munich. Ordained in 1975, he taught biblical studies at Bethel University before pastoring Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis from 1980 to 2013, growing it to over 4,500 members. Founder of Desiring God ministries in 1994, he championed “Christian Hedonism,” teaching that “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” Piper authored over 50 books, including Desiring God (1986) and Don’t Waste Your Life, with millions sold worldwide. A leading voice in Reformed theology, he spoke at Passion Conferences and influenced evangelicals globally. Married to Noël Henry since 1968, they have five children. His sermons and writings, widely shared online, emphasize God’s sovereignty and missions.
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This sermon emphasizes the dangers of pride and the importance of humility in the eyes of God. It highlights how God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble, as seen in Psalms 31:23, where the Lord preserves the faithful but repays the prideful abundantly. The message draws from Isaiah 2, illustrating God's opposition to all that exalts itself above Him, emphasizing the need to exalt the Lord alone. The call to war against pride is rooted in recognizing God's infinite value and seeking soul satisfaction in Him alone.
Sermon Transcription
The Lord preserves the faithful, but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Psalm 31 23. God hates pride. The Apostle Peter said, clothe yourselves all of you with humility, for God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. And that magnificent description in Isaiah 2, where it says, the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is lofty, against all that is high, against all that is lifted up. And he lists things like the arrogance of the cities and the culture that they made and the ships of Tarshish and the high towers and the 45 cities. And he says, the Lord of hosts will be exalted in that day. God hates pride. And there are two reasons. One is God alone is of infinite value and greatness and beauty and glory and worth. God alone and man alone can find happiness, satisfaction only in this great and glorious God in exalting himself. He insists on doing what is righteous, namely himself being recognized as infinitely valuable and us being satisfied by not diverting our attention to anything lesser than what is all satisfying. So for the sake of God's glory and for the sake of your own soul satisfaction, make war on every vestige of pride in your life and cry out to God every day for the miracle of humility.
Beg God for the Miracle of Humility
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John Stephen Piper (1946 - ). American pastor, author, and theologian born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Converted at six, he grew up in South Carolina and earned a B.A. from Wheaton College, a B.D. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a D.Theol. from the University of Munich. Ordained in 1975, he taught biblical studies at Bethel University before pastoring Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis from 1980 to 2013, growing it to over 4,500 members. Founder of Desiring God ministries in 1994, he championed “Christian Hedonism,” teaching that “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” Piper authored over 50 books, including Desiring God (1986) and Don’t Waste Your Life, with millions sold worldwide. A leading voice in Reformed theology, he spoke at Passion Conferences and influenced evangelicals globally. Married to Noël Henry since 1968, they have five children. His sermons and writings, widely shared online, emphasize God’s sovereignty and missions.