Humility and Obedience

The Way of Obedience pt. 5

REMAIN HUMBLE OR BE HUMBLED

Uzziah, a descendant of King David, was crowned king at the age of sixteen. At first he sought God diligently. “As long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper” (2 Chron. 26:5).

But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. -2 CHRONICLES 26:16

Now, instead of reading their Bible with the intent of, “Lord, reveal Yourself and Your ways to me,” they use it to support their established doctrine, reading what they believe instead of believing what they read. No longer do they listen for God’s heavenly voice in the voice of their pastor. Instead they fold their arms and lean back with the attitude, “I’ll see what he knows.” They are experts in Scriptures but have forfeited their tenderness and humility of heart.

TWO FORCES THAT STRENGTHEN EACH OTHER

and a religious

Reveal Answer

go hand in hand. A religious spirit causes a person to think he is humble because of his appearance of spirituality. The truth is, he is proud. A proud person stays in bondage to a religious spirit because he is too proud to admit he has such a spirit! This is one reason pride is so well-camouflaged in the church.

Then Uzziah became furious; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense. And while he was angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead, before the priests in the house of the LORD, beside the incense altar. - 2 CHRONICLES 26:19

Uzziah became angry. Pride will always

itself. This self-defense will be coupled with anger. A proud person

Reveal Answer

everyone else while excusing himself.

OUR MOST DEADLY FOE

Pride is a subtle and deadly foe yet so easily camouflaged. Those in pride are ignorant of their

condition. Only humility can expose it. Pride is the very root of rebellion, and we see its influence right from the start-when Lucifer rebelled against God.

God gives grace to the humble while resisting the proud. You never find the grace of God in an individual who has forgotten where he came from and the One who brought him out.

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. - JAMES 4:6-7

We

the devil by our submission to God. Our humility and obedience usher in God’s grace, which is a mighty weapon against the evil one.

GRACE THAT REDEEMS

He gives us mercy and grace in order to help us. He is merciful toward our ignorance and weakness (1 Tim. 1:13; Heb. 5:2) but not toward willful disobedience (Heb. 10:26-31). He supplies the grace necessary to overcome our weakness.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9)

The greater the grace, the greater our capacity to serve and glorify the Lord. And remember, God’s Word says the pathway to grace is

.

A LIFE THAT EXEMPLIFIES HUMILITY

We are to walk continually in humility, for God gives His grace only to those who are of a contrite spirit (James 4:6-7), those who are utterly dependent upon Him.

Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am; I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities … for when I am weak, then I am strong-the less I have, the more I depend on him. -2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10, TLB

HUMBLING VERSUS DEFENDING OURSELVES

We believers need to battle against the foe of pride rather than

for our rights or privileges. We waste so much time defending ourselves.

Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. -MATTHEW 18:4

When we humble ourselves by

God’s Word, then His favor, grace, and righteous judgment rest upon us.