Humility

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

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.

PRIDE AND HUMILITY IN ACTION

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!

HAVING CHRIST'S ATTITUDE

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.

THE WAY UP WITH GOD

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 Babel decided they were going to make a name for themselves.

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 kingdom of God, they build their own little kingdom. They want people to see what they are doing for God - instead of glorifying God for what He is doing.

God wasn’t pleased with what the people were doing at Babel. He confounded them, causing them to speak in many different languages.

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.

JESUS, OUR EXAMPLE

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, 13
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.

NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S EXAMPLE

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 America have too much idle time. They have too many material things. They feel they have need of nothing. In their abundance, they find it easy to become careless in their experience, easy to get in trouble.

Ezekiel 16:49
Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

Sodom was a city taken over by homosexuality. The people of that city were full. They had an abundance of idleness. And we are also told that they were proud. Because of their iniquity, they became careless and fell into gross abominations.

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 Babylon before me, that they might make known unto me the interpretation of the dream.

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.

PUSHING ASIDE GOD'S DEALINGS

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 kingdom of Babylon. The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

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.

THE NEED TO HUMBLE OURSELVES

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.

WHICH WAY WILL YOU GO?

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).