IIChronicles 7:14
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.
Humility is one subject that we must not take for granted as Christians. Many great men of God and fervent Christians have gone down because of a lack of humility. The devil does not lure truly born again Christians and leaders to obvious sin (stealing, adultery, fornication, lying etc) directly. He uses sin such as Pride (opposite of Humility) as his major weapon.
To understand what humility is we need to know the opposite:
pride, arrogance, conceit, pomposity, pretentiousness, superiority, haughtiness, superciliousness, vanity, bumptiousness, disdain, egoism, egotism, loftiness, pompousness, presumption, presumptuousness, self-importance, selfishness, self-interest, self-esteem, self-centeredness, self-regard, egocentricity, self-obsession, self-conceit, self-seeking, loofness, complacency, self-adulation, bragging, self-opinions, self-centeredness.
So we are not just talking about pride, it could be any of the above or more. We must avoid any of these in our relationship if we will make it to heaven.
Two words clearly summarised all the opposite of humility- "SELF" and "I". Once you start to say "I" then you are beginning to operate like the devil. He is the first person that operated the "I" ministry.
Isaiah 14:13-14
For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
Note the "I" in the statement by the devil. This is his ministry.
Set yourself free from the "I" ministry by looking less at yourself and reducing your demand for self.
Having understood the opposite of humility, what then is Humility?
Humility is the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc
Humility is important if you will make it in life and secure your eternity in heaven.
Humility will guarantee the following:
1. Forgiveness from God. 2Chronicles 12:12. "And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well"
2. Answer to prayers. 2 Chronicles 34:27 "Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord'
3. Honour to the humble. Proverbs 29:24 "A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit"
4. Revival and restoration. Isaiah 57:15 "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones"
5. Lifting up. Luke 18:14 "I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted"
6. Grace to the humble. 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"
7. Shall be great in the kingdom of God. Mathew 18:4 "Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven"
Jesus is our perfect example of humility. If you are His son then you must demonstrate humility. If you can not be humble then you don't belong to him. Everyone who truly belongs to Christ will have it easy to demonstrate humility.
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