Humility
by Patricia Dailey
Senior Pastor,
If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble
themselves,
and pray, and seek My face, and
turn from their wicked ways;
then will I hear from heaven,
and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
II Chronicles
7:14
DEFINITIONS: HUMILITY AND PRIDE
That word humble means to have or to show a consciousness of one's shortcomings. In
other words, realizing you have some defects and
shortcomings in your life.
A proud person has the attitude that says, Look at me! I'm great! I can do things
better than anyone else can. After all, there's nobody quite like me!
Pride is the opposite of humility.
A proud person won't admit that there are any defects or shortcomings in their
life.
I Peter 5:5
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
When we approach unto God,
we should approach Him in true humility - or He will resist us because of our
proud attitude.
II Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.
Some are proud of their
intellectual ability, proud of their eloquence - not realizing that it is God
who has made us, and it is God who anoints us. It is God who gives the gifts of
His Holy Spirit to work in and through us. Thus, we have nothing to boast
about.
When one puts great emphasis
on their capabilities they only hinder the pure anointing of God.
Zechariah 4:6b
Not by might, nor by power, but by My spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.
When
God's people humble themselves, He will pour out His Spirit upon them and
anoint them: able to use them for His honor and glory.
But those who are confident
in self will only find that the god they made out of self will one day crumble.
They will find themselves being brought low and in need of the Lord.
While they were lifting
themselves up, building their own little kingdom, they felt they didn't need
God. They thought they were sufficient in themselves to do the job: but found
out that their sufficiency failed them.
I'm so glad that God doesn't
choose us because of our capabilities. I'm so glad He doesn't choose us because
of our accomplishments or talents.
Recently,
I heard a poem describing various types of vessels. It spoke of vessels
of gold, silver, china, brass, and wood - then went on to
describe a cracked and
broken vessel of clay.
As God passed
by each one of these fine vessels, one vessel said, I
am so capable!
Surely, I will be chosen as the one to do it.
Another said, I am sure I'll be chosen,
because I am so finely made.
But
the vessel that was finally chosen was that broken clay vessel. God reached
down and said, Surely, this is a vessel I can use. He picked
up that broken vessel
and mended it, making it fit for His use.
Oh, what a beautiful poem
that was. And what a powerful meaning it had.
Psalm 51:17
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise.
Some people try to climb up
the ladder in their own strength. They try to reach the top rung without having
to step on the other rungs: but soon find themselves falling flat on their
face . . . and great is their fall!
Philippians 2:5-7
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.
Even though He was the Son
of God, Jesus wasn't seeking to exalt Himself. He wasn't striving to build
Himself a position among men. The purpose of His life was to glorify and exalt
the Father.
And God exalted His Son, giving
Him a name above all names. You see, Jesus didn't exalt Himself - it was God
who exalted Him.
Philippians 2:9-11
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus
made no reputation for Himself, and neither should we try to make one for
ourselves. Our lives should be purposed to lift up the Lord, bringing all the
glory and all the honor unto Him. We should be out
there lifting up Jesus Christ before the world, that they might be drawn unto
Him. We should be telling the world about His death and resurrection. Pointing them to the way of eternal life.
Genesis 11:4
And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
Many love to be looked up to
because they have a title before their name. They want everyone to know they
are Rev. So and
So, or Dr. So and So, or Evangelist So and So, Deacon So and So,
Father So and So - these man-made titles often stretch on and on.
And many who carry these impressive,
saintly titles aren't even saved! They feel important because they have a
title before their name; and, thus, people will think they're spiritual. But
a title won't give them a position in heaven.
Realize that the way up with
God is down. When you come down to walk in humility - humbling yourself before
Almighty God and before men - God will exalt you in due season.
The people at
Many ministers try to do
this. They flash their picture and name all over the place. They even have
their picture put up on large billboards!
Instead of exalting Jesus
Christ, they exalt self.
Instead of building up the
God wasn't pleased with what
the people were doing at
And God isn't pleased when
we try to make a name for ourselves. What power do we have in our name? Our
name doesn't have the power to heal anyone. It doesn't have the power to save
anyone's soul.
The devils won't respond if
we take authority over them in our name. It is only the name of Jesus Christ
that gives one power to do these things - a name above all names; a name that
has authority.
So why should anyone strive
to take credit or gain recognition for what Jesus is doing?
This is why many of the
people of God aren't receiving what they should be receiving from Him. They
haven't humbled themselves: and God says that He resists the proud.
It may look like God is
using them, but that doesn't necessarily mean He is.
God wants all the glory that
is due Him: and will abase those who are out to make a name for themselves.
So many say they are doing
a work for God, when they're really just using the Lord to make a name for
themselves! They're using the Lord as a means of success. But their day is
coming! you just watch and see. God will bring them
low in due season.
Philippians 2:8
And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
Jesus is our example. And,
though He is so high and mighty, He humbled Himself before God the Father. And,
if Jesus saw fit to humble Himself, what makes us think we don't have to humble
ourselves?
Colossians 3:8-10
But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
Lie not one to another, seeing
that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man,
which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him
Here we are told, as
children of God, to put off many things. Then it goes on to tell us of some of
the things we are to put on:
Colossians 3:12
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Our new man is after the
image of Christ.
One thing we are told to put
on with this new man is humbleness of mind. We are to put aside pride, with
its arrogant thoughts, and walk in humility before God.
Daniel 4:4
I Nebuchadnezzar was at rest in mine house, and flourishing in my palace...
God
had allowed King Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom to be mightily blessed: but
Nebuchadnezzar was just like a lot of God's people are today - at rest and
flourishing.
Watch out when you're at
rest! Watch out when you're flourishing! If you're not careful, you can get too
comfortable.
Christians in
Ezekiel 16:49
Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister
Watch out when you are
relaxed and full. Watch out when you're filled with pride. If you're not
careful, you'll get into serious trouble. If you have abundant time on your
hands, you need to get busy for Jesus.
Daniel 4:5, 6
I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the
thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me. Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of
These wise men were unable
to interpret the king's dream, so he called for Daniel. God was dealing with
Nebuchadnezzar through this dream, and gave the interpretation to Daniel that
he might warn the king to humble himself while there was time.
And when we become proud and
at ease God will deal with us, because He wants us to be free from all sin -
including the sin of pride. He will let us know that we need to humble
ourselves.
Like
any other sin, the sin of pride will take us to hell, unless we humble
ourselves and repent.
Read the rest of Daniel 4 and
you will see how God gave Nebuchadnezzar a period of time to make things right
- but, at the end of that time period, Nebuchadnezzar
was still walking in pride.
God gave Nebuchadnezzar the
opportunity to humble himself. He gave him time to repent. But.
like so many do, the king pushed aside the dealings of
God.
Yes, many push the dealings
of God to one side. He deals and deals, until it becomes wearisome to them.
They know it's the dealings of God, but they avoid facing it. And, as they turn
their back on Him, it only causes His dealings to grow stronger.
Proverbs 29:1
He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.
This is God's Word!
God
is a merciful, loving God. He is not willing that any should perish. He desires
that we all should come to repentance - but the decision is ours to make.
Daniel 4:29-32
At the end of
twelve months he walked in the palace of the
While the word
was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king
Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; the kingdom is departed from thee. And
they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of
the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall
pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of
men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.
Many have troubled minds
today because they have rejected the dealings of God. They refused to pay heed
to what He was saying to them: all they were concerned with was having their
own way.
Notice that Nebuchadnezzar
had twelve months to repent. Twelve months! My, if nothing happens to us right
away, we think God has changed His mind. We think He has forgotten the
chastisement.
He warns us through His Word:
but, because nothing happens right away, we disregard His warnings, thinking
He is pleased with us just as we are. We feel things aren't as bad as they
were made out to be - that God understands, and is winking at our sin.
Realize one thing, though: a
proud person won't make it into heaven.
We
must humble ourselves while we have time. The Word of God states that pride is
a sin - and God does not change His Word.
Proverbs 16:5
Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
Yes, you will be punished if
you allow this sin to remain in your life. Humble yourself under the mighty
hand of God. If you keep putting it off, you might find yourself in a terrible
situation.
Daniel 4:34
And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured Him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation.
Nebuchadnezzar finally was
brought to the place where he acknowledged God Almighty. He lifted up his eyes,
and saw the High and Mighty One. He could see, now, that it was only through
God that he had become great.
Yes, Nebuchadnezzar got the
message - but it didn't have to take so long. He didn't have to go through such
a long, hard trial.
If only he had paid heed to
the Lord when he was first warned, those seven long years out in the fields
would not have been necessary.
Do you want to go the hard
way? or will you humble yourself?
Don't let the Word of God
slide in one ear and out the other. Let it take root and lodging in your heart.
Acts 12:21, 22
And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
Herod didn't have to allow
the people to lift him up. He had it in his power to rebuke them for calling
him a god - but he loved to hear those flattering words.
And many love to be exalted
and lifted up in the eyes of others. They wouldn't think of rebuking someone
for giving them the honor and glory that is due only to the Lord.
They fail to realize that we
can do nothing worthwhile apart from the Lord. In John's Gospel, Jesus said, Without Me ye can do nothing - John
15:5.
Acts 12:23
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
We find Herod being eaten by
worms - just because he allowed people to lift him up. He robbed God of His
glory, and did nothing to put a stop to it.
Are you like this? Do you
like to hear people use flattering words about you? Do you look for the praises
of men? Or, would you rather hear the praises of the Lord? Well done, thou good and faithful
servant (Matthew 25:21).