Year of walking and serving with Humility before God.
The humbling of God's people
"Son of man, what is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?" Ezekiel 15:2
These words are for the humbling of God's people; they are called God's vine, but what are they by nature more than others? They, by God's goodness, have become fruitful, having been planted in a good soil; the Lord has trained them upon the walls of the sanctuary, and they bring forth fruit to His glory; but what are they without their God? What are they without the continual influence of the Spirit, begetting fruitfulness in them?
God should get the credit for parting the Red Sea to help His people escape from Pharaoh, even though Moses was the one who raised his rod (Ex. 14:26-27). All the Israelites and Moses gathered together and sang the Lord's praises: "Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" (15:11).
Everything you have is dependent upon the bounty fresh rivers of life of our Saviour Christ Jesus. Walk in Humility, giving your very best and considering the poor. You will then enjoy these bounties from His throne in peace.
Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble." Psalms 41:1
To those who consider the poor are walking in humility to reach out to the lowly, the Lord promises His own consideration in times of distress. He will bring us out of trouble if we help others when they are in trouble.
To think about the poor and let them lie on our hearts is a Christian humble duty; they remind us what we are for Jesus put them with us and near us when He said, "The poor ye have always with you."
Humility is going with God's plan
Humility is when you say, "I'm going with God's plan for my life, because my plan isn't as good." And the Bible says, "Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will lift you up" (James 4:10 NIV).
In Luke 1:50-53, Mary says, "God has displayed His power with many mighty deeds but has scattered the people who are proud and think they are the great ones. He has brought down mighty rulers from their throne but has raised up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but sent the rich away with nothing" (NCV).
God says the people who think they have it all together are going to fail, and the people who think they don't have it together are going to succeed. Those who trust God are the ones who are going to make it in the long term.
Do you put more emphasis on what God's Word says or what the celebrities say? None of the things our culture says is important will matter five years from now. But those who trust God humbly and know his Word are going to make it in the long-term, because that's what lasts.
Mary knew the Word of God enough that she could quote ten verses from the Old Testament and make a song out of it. If you want God's blessing on your life, you need to get into the Word and read it, study it, and start memorizing it.
Stephen humbles to be to be a Martyr
When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!"
Acts 7:54-56
Stephen was confronted by a hostile crowd in the days of the early church (Acts 6–7). A panel of religious authorities listened to lying witnesses accuse him of blasphemy (Acts 6:13). Stephen responded by speaking the truth of God's Word, which reinforced his faith in Christ. At the end of his speech, he said, "Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" (7:56). Then the crowd stoned him (v.58). Jesus, who was watching from heaven, welcomed Stephen home.
Most Christians aren't confronted with this much hostility. Yet we all need to say "Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved" (Phil. 4:1) when the pressure is on. We can't let others silence our voice for Christ. Speaking up for Jesus does not always win the crowd's favor here on earth, but it does ensure His approval in heaven, where it matters the most.
Humility is fear of the LORD
The fear of the LORD is wisdom's instruction, and humility comes before honor; The result of humility is fear of the LORD, along with wealth, honor, and life; For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Proverbs 15:33; 22:4; Luke 14:11
Where the fear of God is, there will be humility. And much is to be enjoyed by it; spiritual riches, and eternal life at last.
After the heart has been lifted up with pride, a fall comes. But honour shall be the reward of humility.
The fear of the Lord will position us to search the Scriptures with reverence; and it will cause us to follow the leadings of the Holy Spirit. While we humbly place all our dependence on the grace of God, we are exalted in the righteousness of Christ.
Even in the common actions of life, Christ marks what we do, not only in our religious assemblies, but at our tables. We see in many cases, that a man's pride will bring him low, and before honour is humility.
Our Saviour teaches that works of charity are better than works of show. But our Lord did not mean that a proud and unbelieving liberality should be rewarded, but that his guideline of doing good to the poor and afflicted should be observed from love to him.
Better a humble spirit
Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, Than to divide the spoil with the proud.; For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite one." ; Surely The Lord scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. Proverbs 16:18-19, Isaiah 57:1; Proverbs 3:34 (NKJV)
Pride is in the flesh: it walks along, and has destruction in its train. A proud spirit marches on, and ruin comes after. Haughtiness and pride mean self-confidence which produces carelessness, and hence a fall -- literally, "sliding." To divide the spoil -- that is, conquer.
Avoid the society of the proud. Humility, though it exposes to disapproval in the world, is much better than high-spiritedness. He that understands God's Word shall find good. God is seeking for those that are humble so that He can raise them and use them for His glory.
Are you a humble vessel ready for the Master's use?
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Then Samson prayed to the Lord, "Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time" (Judges 16:28).
Samson the long-haired Nazirite, was endowed by God's Spirit with super-human strength to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines (Judges 13:5).
Unfortunately, Samson became full of himself and fell prey to manipulation by the woman he loved (Judges 16:4). Eventually, Delilah persuaded him into revealing the secret of his strength, which she then used to betray him into the hands of his enemies (Judges 16:5-21)
Samson's foolish pride left him blind, weak, and in shackles. Publicly disgraced and chained between two massive pillars supporting the roof of a crowded Philistine temple, Samson humbled himself and asked God for one last feat of super-human strength. God granted Samson's request. And with one mighty push, Samson brought down the temple, destroying more enemies in his death than he did while he was alive (Judges 16:23-30)
Samson's life shows it's never too late to come back to God and do something great for Him. Even after we make huge mistakes, our lives can still be redeemed for His purposes if we humble ourselves by admitting and confessing our sins.
In John 21:15-17 Jesus shows Peter, who denied Him three times, that He was not done with him.
In what ways do you need to come back to God? What makes it possible for you to return to Him?
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"Son of man, what is the vine tree more than any tree, or than a branch which is among the trees of the forest?" Ezekiel 15:2
These words are for the humbling of God's people; they are called God's vine, but what are they by nature more than others? They, by God's goodness, have become fruitful, having been planted in a good soil; the Lord has trained them upon the walls of the sanctuary, and they bring forth fruit to His glory; but what are they without their God? What are they without the continual influence of the Spirit, begetting fruitfulness in them?
God should get the credit for parting the Red Sea to help His people escape from Pharaoh, even though Moses was the one who raised his rod (Ex. 14:26-27). All the Israelites and Moses gathered together and sang the Lord's praises: "Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" (15:11).
Everything you have is dependent upon the bounty fresh rivers of life of our Saviour Christ Jesus. Walk in Humility, giving your very best and considering the poor. You will then enjoy these bounties from His throne in peace.
Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble." Psalms 41:1
To those who consider the poor are walking in humility to reach out to the lowly, the Lord promises His own consideration in times of distress. He will bring us out of trouble if we help others when they are in trouble.
To think about the poor and let them lie on our hearts is a Christian humble duty; they remind us what we are for Jesus put them with us and near us when He said, "The poor ye have always with you."
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Do you happen to have a problem in your life that simply will not go away?
"When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives, my brothers, don't resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the PROCESS go on until that endurance is fully developed, and you will find that you have become men of mature character with the right sort of independence." (James 1:2-4 )
Thankfulness is the mechanism that releases us from the bondage of life thereby giving God permission to use these challenges to mold our character into His. Once we release our anger, our control… our "rights," God is free to go to work… on us.!
Paul's unsolvable problem was a physical one. Relatively easy perhaps compared to yours. Three times he asked God to remove the problem… To no avail. But in releasing it to God, he discovered the two resources he most needed to live with: God's GRACE and God's STRENGTH:
"And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for POWER IS PERFECTED IN WEAKNESS.' Most gladly therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, that the power of Christ may dwell in me… for when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10b)
"The same sun that softens the butter hardens the clay." In living with our unresolved issues we have a CHOICE of becoming softened or hardened: Christlike or embittered. The choice is yours!
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Humility is when you say, "I'm going with God's plan for my life, because my plan isn't as good." And the Bible says, "Humble yourself before the Lord, and he will lift you up" (James 4:10 NIV).
In Luke 1:50-53, Mary says, "God has displayed His power with many mighty deeds but has scattered the people who are proud and think they are the great ones. He has brought down mighty rulers from their throne but has raised up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but sent the rich away with nothing" (NCV).
God says the people who think they have it all together are going to fail, and the people who think they don't have it together are going to succeed. Those who trust God are the ones who are going to make it in the long term.
Do you put more emphasis on what God's Word says or what the celebrities say? None of the things our culture says is important will matter five years from now. But those who trust God humbly and know his Word are going to make it in the long-term, because that's what lasts.
Mary knew the Word of God enough that she could quote ten verses from the Old Testament and make a song out of it. If you want God's blessing on your life, you need to get into the Word and read it, study it, and start memorizing it.
2011 year of Walking and serving with humility
My Daily Morning Prayer Guide
"Eternal Father of my soul let my first thought be of You."
"Let my first impulse be to worship You."
"Let my speech be Your Name."
"Let my first action be to kneel before You in prayer… "
"From these moments of quietness let light go forth, and joy, and power, that will remain with me through all the hours of the day;
"Keeping me chaste in thought: ("May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14)
"Keeping me temperate and truthful: ("Do not let any unwholesomeness talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Eph. 4:29)
"Keeping me humble in my estimation of myself: ("Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgement, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you." Romans 12:3b)
"Keeping me honorable and generous in my dealings with others: ("Freely you have received, freely give… Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Matthew 10:8b; Romans 12:10)
"Keeping me loyal to every hallowed memory of the past: ("Do not move an ancient boundary stone set up by your forefathers." Proverbs 22:28)
"Keeping me mindful of my eternal destiny as a child of yours: ("In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you." 1 Peter 1:3b, 4)
"Let me then put back into Your hand all that You have given me, rededicating to Your service all the powers of my mind and body, all my worldly goods, all my influence with others. All these O Father, are yours to use as You will… Speak in my words today, think in my thoughts, and work in my deeds… " In Jesus Name. Amen.
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God has purposed to amaze us with his blessings and to make us distributors of the same in 2011
¨ I will abundantly bless her provision.
¨ I will satisfy her poor with bread.
¨ I will also clothe her priests with salvation,
¨ And her saints shall shout aloud for joy. (Psalms 132:15-16)
God owns everything in this world and has already favored us to be distributors of His blessings. These blessings are to be transferred from one generation to another. We have already been appointed by God to transfer His blessings to the next generation. He has assured us just as He assured Abraham, that we will inherit the abundance of His blessings
Verses that reveal God's nature
Jehovah-Jireh- "The-Lord-Will-Provide" Gen. 22:14
Jehovah-Rophekha- "The Lord who heals you" (Ex. 15:26).
Jehovah-Nissi- "The Lord my banner" (Ex. 17:8).
Jehovah-Shalom- "The Lord our peace" (Judg. 6:24).
Jehovah-Roi- "The Lord my Shepherd" (Ps. 23:1).
Remember that in Philippians 4:19 My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
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