Sabbath Message 290436120

Dear Friends,

Why does God need to humble us? How does humility benefit us during our brief time on this earth?

Let us examine our Instruction Manual Our Loving God has given us to know more: The Bible. Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary defines “humility” as: prominent Christian grace. It is a state of mind well pleasing to God; it preserves the soul in tranquillity and makes us patient under trials.

God is dealing with us now. He says we are the clay in the potter’s hand. A gems cutter does as he pleases with his diamonds. We belong to God so we should submit ourselves to Him.

Jeremiah 18:6
Can I not do with you, O house of Israel, just as this potter has done? says the Lord. Just like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

He is going to humble us for his own purpose. God is testing us and teaching us so that we live on every word of God. In humility we regard others as better than ourselves (Phil. 2:3; Rom. 12:3). Humility, wisdom and good deeds develop each other (Jas. 3:13).

Deuteronomy 8:2-3
² Remember the long way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order to humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commandments. ³ He humbled you by letting you hunger, then by feeding you with manna, with which neither you nor your ancestors were acquainted, in order to make you understand that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.

Matthew 23:12
All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

1 Peter 5:6 
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that he may exalt you in due time.

Daniel 10:12
He said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words have been heard, and I have come because of your words.

When we seek forgiveness and repentance we humble ourselves before God through prayer and fasting.

2 Chronicles 7:14
if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Psalm 25:9
He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

We follow the example of our master and humble ourselves and seek to be willingly obedient. He requires our obedience rather than our material sacrifices. Pride comes before destruction so we should humble ourselves for our own good. God dwells with those who are contrite and humble in spirit (Isa. 57:15; Ps.51:17).

Philippians 2:5-8
⁵ Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, ⁷ but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, ⁸ he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a stake.

2 Chronicles 12:12
Because he humbled himself the wrath of the Lord turned from him, so as not to destroy them completely; moreover, conditions were good in Judah.

Psalm 149:4
For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory.

Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace; but wisdom is with the humble.
God lays down in His word what He requires of us. We must accept the authority of the elders chosen and ordained by God over us (1Tim. 3:1-12).

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Zephaniah 2:3
Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, who do his commands; seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you may be hidden on the day of the Lord's wrath.

1 Peter 5:5
In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

James 4:6
But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

Proverbs 15:33
The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility goes before honour.  

2 Peter 1:10-11
¹⁰ Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more eager to confirm your call and election, for if you do this, you will never stumble. 11 For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.

Ecclesiastes 12: 13-14 records it as follows:-
¹³ The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone. ¹⁴ For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. 

Let us remember everyone in our prayers as we run the rest of the race before us.

Alan Brach
Coordinator, South Asia