Humility.
2 Chronicles 7:14. If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
The first requirement for God to hear and answer our prayers is humility.
Definition of humility: The quality of having a modest or low view of one's importance.
James 4:6-10.
God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
Humility is the foundation of repentance.
Jesus taught on humility.
Luke 14:7-11. When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:
When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, Give this person your seat. Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, Friend, move up to a better place. Then you will be honored in the presence of all the other guests.
For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Jesus disciples and humility.
Jesus disciples continually argued amongst themselves as to who was to be the greatest in the Kingdom of God. Mark 9:33-37.
They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, What were you arguing about on the road?
But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.
He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.
Jesus disciples and humility.
Luke 9:46-48. An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside him. Then he said to them, Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.
Jesus disciples and humility.
Mark 10:35-45.
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. Teacher, they said, we want you to do for us whatever we ask. What do you want me to do for you? he asked.
They replied, Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory. You don’t know what you are asking, Jesus said. Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with? We can, they answered.
Jesus said to them, You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.
Jesus disciples and humility.
Mark 10:35-45 (continued)
When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.Jesus called them together and said, You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
Jesus disciples and humility.
Luke 22:24-27.
A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.
Jesus said to them, The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors.
But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves.
For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table?
But I am among you as one who serves.
Jesus disciples and humility.
John 13:3-17. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet,
drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him… …….
Jesus disciples and humility.
John 13:3-17 (continued)
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. Do you understand what I have done for you? he asked them.
You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.
I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Humility was necessary for the Israelite slaves.
Humility is not attached to one’s wealth, or position in society, pride is a problem with the entire human race.
Deuteronomy 8:1-3. The Israelites were slaves
Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors. Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.
Humility was necessary for Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 4:20-27.
The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds.
Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.
Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground.
Humility was necessary for Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 4:20-27 (continued)
Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.
This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven.
Humility was necessary for Nebuchadnezzar.
Daniel 4:20-27.
Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules. Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed.
It may be that then your prosperity will continue.
Job was humbled.
After defending himself, Job is spoken to by the Lord and this brings about a change of heart. Job 42:1-6.
Then Job replied to the LORD: I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.
My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.
Humility is not low self esteem.
The mistake is made that humility is having an inferiority complex or a low self esteem, but that is not so, even inferiority and self pity is used to gain attention.
Jesus, God incarnate, humbled Himself and chose to put the interests and well being of others ahead of His own.
Philippians 2:3-5.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.
Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Humility is not low self esteem.
Philippians 2:6-8.
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death even death on a cross!
Beware of false humility.
Collosians2:18-23.
Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you……
Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules:
Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings.
Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Humility is vital for those in leadership.
1 Peter 5:1-3. To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
Humility is vital for those in leadership.
1 Peter 5:4-6.
And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.
In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders.
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Humility is vital for those in leadership.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Characteristics of true repentance.
True repentance is a gift of God. ---- Acts 5:31.
Repentance follows Godly sorrow. ---- 2 Corinthians 7:9-10.
Humility accompanies true repentance. ---- Job 42:1-6.
A hatred of sin accompanies true repentance. -- Ezekiel 36:26-31.
Shame accompanies true repentance. --- Jeremiah 31:19.
True repentance necessitates a verbal confession. -- Hosea 14:1-2.
True repentance is demonstrated by action. ---Acts 26:20
A Clear Understanding of the Gospel is needed for repentance.
True Personal Faith in Jesus is needed for repentance.
True repentance is demonstrated by humility.
Jonah 3:5-10. So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them.
Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published throughout Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; do not let them eat, or drink water. But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily to God; yes, let every one turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. Who can tell if God will turn and relent, and turn away from His fierce anger, so that we may not perish?
True repentance is demonstrated by humility.
Luke 15:17-20.(The Prodigal son)
When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.
So he got up and went to his father.
Humility is better than sacrifice.
Micah 6:6-8. With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
Humility is better than sacrifice.
Isaiah 66:1-6.
Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.
Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things,
and so they came into being? declares the LORD.
These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.
But whoever sacrifices a bull is like one who kills a person,
and whoever offers a lamb is like one who breaks a dog’s neck; whoever makes a grain offering is like one who presents pig’s blood, and whoever burns memorial incense
is like one who worships an idol. They have chosen their own ways, and they delight in their abominations;
Humility.
Proverbs 15:33.
Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor.
Proverbs 22:4.
Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.
The fastest way to humility is the way Christ chose. Serve others.
Mark 10:45.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…”
Humility is a decision.
Colossians 3:12.
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Romans12:16.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Isaiah 58:5-11.
Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD?
Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter when you see the naked,
to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
Isaiah 58:5-11.
Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
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