BECOMING MORE HUMBLE
(week 30/13)
OLUBI JOHNSON
Humility is submitting to the will of God when your soul: will, mind and emotions and body do not feel like it; in particular when it makes you smaller than you think or know you are.
The two greatest examples of humility are seen in the incarnation and crucifixion of the Lord Jesus.
Philippians 2:5-8 AMP: Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] (6) Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, (7) But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. (8) And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross!
It took great humility for the Lord Jesus to agree to the divine plan of human redemption to be the Person of the Godhead that would take the risk and humiliation of being stripped of His divine attributes and taking the infinitely lower form of a created being: a Man, subject to the same weaknesses and temptations as ordinary men. The Lord humbled Himself and agreed to this plan BEFORE the foundation of the world:
Revelation 13:8 CJB: Everyone living on earth will worship it except those whose names are written in the Book of Life belonging to the Lamb slaughtered before the world was founded.
The Lord Jesus has set a very high standard of humility for us: if being God He humbled Himself so that the will of God to save us could be done, who are we, created men, not to humble ourselves to do the will of God when we do not feel like it?
Why is humility so critical NOW?
We are living in the perilous end-time in which iniquity is abounding causing the love of many to wax cold; in order to overcome this abounding iniquity, we need abounding grace, which will only come through increase in humility.
Matthew 24:12 KJV: And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Romans 5:20 KJV: Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
James 4:6 KJV: But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
Greater humility will give us access to greater grace and so greater measures of the life of God, which will in turn give, greater wisdom, greater power and thus exaltation!
Psalms 30:5 KJV: For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Proverbs 11:2 KJV: When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
1Peter 5:5-6 KJV: 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. (6) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
How do we become more humble?
1. By saying it with our mouths and praying to release the power of God to cause our wills to become more humble.
Deuteronomy 30:14 KJV: But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it.
2. Fasting:
Psalms 35:13 KJV: But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
3. Practice:
i. Taking lower positions in interpersonal interactions so that the will of God can be done.
Luke 14:7-11 KJV: And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them, (8) When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; (9) And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. (10) But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. (11) For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
ii. Staying small in your own eyes: you will stay small in your own eyes when you always see yourself as God sees you and not as men see you; you measure yourself by divine rather than human standards.
1Samuel 15:17 AMP: Samuel said, When you were small in your own sight, were you not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed you king over Israel?
2Corinthians 10:12 KJV: For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
In our article next week, we will see how humility will help us to overcome tribulation.
