Have you ever thought about what it means to be humble? I think all too often we get humility confused with self-deprecation. This is really not what humility is at all. Dictionary.com defines humility as “the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc.” Humility really is a proper assessment of who we are. When it comes to humanity and our standing before God humility takes on such an important role that it cannot be overstated.
Jesus Humbled Himself completely.
· John 5:19 Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do
· John 5:30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
· John 7:28 I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.
I believe in the end one of the clearest passages for Humility is in Philippians where Paul commands “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, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
We see humility clearly in the life of Jesus and as He was humble so we must be.
· John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
· Luke 18:14 for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted
If we are to seek God then we must come with a humble heart understanding that in me, that is in my flesh, dwells no good thing.
In II Chronicles 7:14 God speaks to King Solomon after the dedication of the temple and tells him that He will bring hardship on the people if they ever turn their hearts away from Him. But if they will “humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Humility is the first thing God mentions to Solomon.
Here is why. You see without Humility, we will never pray and seek the face of God. We will rest in our grave of self-sufficiency never tasting the power of God lived through us. If we never seek the face of God then we are not confronted with His Holiness. And if this never happens then there will not be any repentance and forgiveness of sin…if no forgiveness then sin and death remain and there will be no healing of our land.
If there is ever going to be healing in the land. If your city or countries are going to be changed it will be because people have sought God and have humbled themselves.
Prayer does change things but people will not pray with power and fervor unless their hearts are humble before God. Many of us try to drive ourselves into prayer. We end up exhausted and discontent with our prayer life. When humility is a key disposition of our life we will be drawn into prayer because of our true sense of deep need. It becomes our only course.
We cannot change lives for eternity. Jesus changes lives. We cannot manufacture a movement of God. Only His Holy Spirit can blow like the wind across your life and city to change it.
It’s not trying harder but understanding that we are utterly helpless and bankrupt before God. We are dependant. This is only be understood by the humble heart.
Jesus Humbled Himself completely.
· John 5:19 Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do
· John 5:30 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
· John 7:28 I have not come of Myself, but He who sent Me is true, whom you do not know.
I believe in the end one of the clearest passages for Humility is in Philippians where Paul commands “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, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
We see humility clearly in the life of Jesus and as He was humble so we must be.
· John 13:14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.
· Luke 18:14 for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted
If we are to seek God then we must come with a humble heart understanding that in me, that is in my flesh, dwells no good thing.
In II Chronicles 7:14 God speaks to King Solomon after the dedication of the temple and tells him that He will bring hardship on the people if they ever turn their hearts away from Him. But if they will “humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Humility is the first thing God mentions to Solomon.
Here is why. You see without Humility, we will never pray and seek the face of God. We will rest in our grave of self-sufficiency never tasting the power of God lived through us. If we never seek the face of God then we are not confronted with His Holiness. And if this never happens then there will not be any repentance and forgiveness of sin…if no forgiveness then sin and death remain and there will be no healing of our land.
If there is ever going to be healing in the land. If your city or countries are going to be changed it will be because people have sought God and have humbled themselves.
Prayer does change things but people will not pray with power and fervor unless their hearts are humble before God. Many of us try to drive ourselves into prayer. We end up exhausted and discontent with our prayer life. When humility is a key disposition of our life we will be drawn into prayer because of our true sense of deep need. It becomes our only course.
We cannot change lives for eternity. Jesus changes lives. We cannot manufacture a movement of God. Only His Holy Spirit can blow like the wind across your life and city to change it.
It’s not trying harder but understanding that we are utterly helpless and bankrupt before God. We are dependant. This is only be understood by the humble heart.
- inspired by Andrew Murray - Humility
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