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Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Humility, the Beginning Point of Revival

Isaiah 57:15—For this is what the high and lofty One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.

Revival is nothing more than experiencing God. It is God having His rightful place in your life, your family, your ministry, etc. To experience revival is to experience God in His fullness.

Here’s the most important question of life: Are you experiencing God in your life right now? The key that will begin to open the door to God’s presence and power in your life is to bow in HUMILITY.

What kind of person does God dwell with? A person who demonstrates humility. Humility is a proper view of myself that leads me to admit my sin and acknowledge my need. The opposite of humility is pride.

Pride is having a better impression of myself than is really true, thinking I can live my life without God and others, and an unwillingness to admit my sin or acknowledge my need.

How does pride manifest itself in our lives? Through the sins of gossip, a contentious spirit, self-sufficiency, unforgiveness and bitterness, a judgmental spirit, superiority over others, fear of man, and stubborn spirit.

What does God think about my pride? God hates pride. He doesn’t tolerate, overlook, excuse, or even dislike our pride—He loathes it!

Proverbs 16:5—The Lord detests the proud; they will surely be punished. (NLT)

James 4:6—But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” (NLT)

In Luke 18 Jesus said that one day two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other, a tax-gatherer a man who was despised by his people.

The Pharisee wrapped his robes around himself and said, “God, I thank you that I’m not like other men . . . unjust . . . like this tax collector. I fast . . . give tithes. . . .”

The other man recognized his need so greatly that he couldn’t even lift up his eyes before God. He kept beating his chest over and over and simply crying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!”

Then Jesus says, “I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Are you humble? Do you clearly, continually, daily recognize your absolute inability to live life without God?

Humility, it’s the beginning point of revival.

Phil

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