The Holy Spirit and the Humble Person

Writing concerning the Holy Spirit has truly made me look deep into my own walk with Jesus Christ. This blog especially makes me reflect even deeper into how I treat others. Humility in the world’s eyes is a sign of weakness and those are set aside in society because they lack influence or ambition. Humility is truly the opposite of the world’s view. The Holy Spirit is the one who is there, despite what the world thinks, to be your strength and power. Many people are humble by nature and their personality reflects that strength in them. There are also those who are not humble by nature and they are the ones who the Holy Spirit has to sometimes work on the hardest. The Apostle Paul was one of them. For the times, he had a right to be boastful. Saul of Tarsus was a Pharisee and the head of his class in training. His drive to serve God in everything drove him to the massive persecution of Christians. Saul had to have a personal encounter with the risen Lord Jesus Christ to even consider that what he was doing was the opposite of God’s call. He had to be humbled. Are you willing to be a humble Christian? Are you willing to live a humble life, even in the midst of persecution from those around you? Jesus did!

The Holy Spirit and the Humble Person

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

(Philippians 2:3-5 NKJV)

The human nature, because of its sinful tendencies, leans more toward selfish desires. Though most of the time we do not intend willingly to sin against another, we do. The fact is that human beings, by our very nature, sin many times a day. The Holy Spirit teaches the believer to be humble before the Lord. We are not only to be humble before the Lord, but before one another as well. It is very easy to be caught in the ways of the world. On the other hand, it is a difficult path for the Christian, who is trying with all their heart, to follow Jesus on their own apart from the Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God is given to the believer for comfort, strength, correction, power, and guidance. When Jesus was telling His disciples about Him leaving to go back to the Father, He explained that He had to go so that He could send the Comforter, the one who will bring clarity to all that He had taught them. Jesus, in all His teachings, always taught with authority. But, another distinguishing feature was that He was a humble man. Jesus came to set the example for us all to follow. When He told His disciples to follow Him, He meant to be like Him. Do what He does! Say what He says! Act in the same humbleness Jesus demonstrated daily.

When the Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Philippian church, this was a church that truly had everything in order. There are always a few small things that are off track in any church, but for the most part they did good. The second chapter of Philippians is telling the church that God paid the ultimate price because He humbled Himself more than humans could ever understand. The most glorious example of humility was shown to humanity when God the Son came down off His throne in heaven. If that wasn’t humble enough, then He made Himself as a man, a human man. Then, He went a step further, He was born as every other human, but He was born in a dirty stable and placed in a dirty feeding trough. He was cast out and rejected in His birth town. He did not have a home to call His own. This is a point that we take for granted. He said that foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head. Humanity screamed out for a Messiah, a Savior! But, we were blinded to Him even when He literally stared us in the face. How ironic!

This passage speaks to the simplicity of being a Christian. He says that we should let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. We cannot live the true Christian life on our own. The Holy Spirit is our guide and our strength. He gives power and authority, in the Holy Spirit, to those who truly humble themselves with all their heart. Humility is at the foundation of the vital and growing Christian life. It is lived in selflessness. Living and thinking of others more than yourself. It means going the extra mile, even when you cannot take another step. You serve others in secret, seeking nothing in return. This goes directly against the grain of everything the everyday human being knows and lives! Wow! Jesus did not ask for recognition. In fact, He told those He healed not to tell anyone what He had done. He served the Father in obedience.

 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven. (Matthew 5:3 NKJV)

Jesus, in all His glory and humility, taught first concerning the plan of salvation. The beginning of that plan started with a person’s necessity to be humble. They must first be poor in spirit. This means that we must push ourselves aside and give God the reigns of our lives. Jesus said that we must decrease for Him to increase in our lives. Many people say that because they care for a person who is disabled that makes them humble. We need to look at the motives for which we serve others. Is it for the money or the recognition or is it because we care? We might have all the degrees imaginable and titles after your name, but when the smoke all clears and we are standing before the Father in heaven how will He address you. Take care of the poor, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned. But, all of this means nothing when done without a humble and godly loving heart. Pride comes before the fall. The flip-side of humility is pride. Just as humility is at the core of the Christian life, so pride is the direct antithesis. Pride is the basis for all other sins. When the rich man asked Jesus what else does he need to do to be able to follow Him. Jesus answered him and told him to sell everything that he had and give the proceeds to the poor, then he would be able to follow Him. The rich man walked away sad and his head down. Are you this person?

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 will forgive their sin and heal their land.

(2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV)

God made this statement to King Solomon and directed to the people of Israel following the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. There are movements today in Christianity where this one verse in all scripture is the focal point. The beauty of this verse is that it is a basic conditional verse. God kept it simple for Solomon and the people of Israel. There were four basic requests of God. The first three hinged on the fourth. He makes this statement to His people who are called by His name. These are the chosen people. Today we need to look at this verse and the fact that we are also called by His name. This is a Covenant that God is making with Solomon and the people of Israel. The first part of the covenant is that they must humble themselves. How about that?! Remember the first words from Jesus’ mouth in His first sermon, blessed are the poor in spirit. The first thing we need to do is humble ourselves.

The second requirement in the Solomonic Covenant was to pray. Prayer should be the cornerstone of the Christian life. Communication with Jesus the Son through the power of the Holy Spirit is crucial to maintaining a growing relationship with God the Father. We should pray in the morning before our feet hit the floor and when our head hits the pillow at night. The prayers of the lost Christianity are empty and selfishly needy based. There are real prayer warriors in churches all around the world. This is true! But, the sad part is that the Christian today has lost the reverence and intimacy found in deep heart-felt prayers. I have seen miracles because of prayer. I have seen healings because of prayer. The catch is that one must come before the Lord with a humble heart and allow the Holy Spirit work through you. The selfish prayer is not a humble prayer. It probably will not reach the ears of God.

The third requirement by God in the Covenant was that they must seek His face. When a person truly seeks the face of God, they need to be truly reverent and humble before God. One cannot see God apart from humility. How can a sinful person see God when He cannot be in the presence of sin? When a person seeks for something, they never give up until the object is found. We stress about some of the smallest things, but God wants to help you with even the little things. Many people in the world seek after riches, fame, fortune, power, and all things concerning the pleasure that the world offers. The closer we get to God, the humbler we become.

The fourth requirement God gives is for the people turn from their wicked ways. We must turn from the sin of everyday life. Repentance is at the heart and the beginning of salvation. This was the second beatitude Jesus spoke to His disciples. Repentance is to turn in the opposite direction and go the other way. But, one cannot have repentance and not have humility. You cannot have repentance and not pray! The act of seeking the face of God is evidence of the need to repent. So, today are you willing to humble yourself, pray, seek the face of God and turn from your wicked ways? He said that if you do these things, then, He will hear from heaven, forgive your sins and heal your land. We are unable to walk in His light apart from the guiding power and grace of the Holy Spirit. He humbles me every day. How about you!? Consider this scripture from Philippians and choose to live a humble life as Jesus did and rejoice!! As we prepare for the coming Easter, the death and resurrection of our Savior and Lord, consider the price paid on that cross. An innocent man had to endure extreme torture and pain then death for you and me so that we could have eternal life. If this does not humble you, then I don’t know what will humble you!

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 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. (Philippians 2:5-8 NKJV)

 

Let us Pray:

Heavenly Father, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I love you with all my heart. I eagerly seek Your face and want to be able to stand in Your presence. Lord humble me so You will hear my prayers and forgive my sins. Through all things, I give praise and honor and glory forever and ever. In Jesus’ name, Amen