From 2 Chronicles 7:14 we learn who the recipients of revival are, what the requirements of revival are, and what the results of revival are. Last time, we considered how God’s people are the recipients of revival. When we forget who we are, we tend to live in such a way as to bring dishonor to the name we bear. When this happens, we are in need of revival, a return to living for Christ in such a way as to bring honor to His name. Then spiritual awakening can occur among unbelievers, as they are drawn to Christ. Now today, we will begin to consider the four requirements for revival. The first requirement being that God’s people must humble themselves. (READ TEXT)
It should be no surprise to us that revival begins here, for pride is where rebellion begins. God’s people are in need of revival when they go the way of the world and decide to promote self, please self, and exalt self. It is only sensible then, that a reversal necessitates that we deny self, and humble ourselves.
“What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” - James 4:1-10 (NIV)
If we are going to experience revival, if we are going to represent the Lord well in this world, if we are going to be blessed with spiritual power and God’s divine presence in our midst, we must humble ourselves before God. But what is involved in biblical humility?
1. Awareness
Biblical humility is not to have a low view of oneself but to have a correct view of oneself. Biblical humility comes from getting a proper perspective of myself in comparison with God.
“The true way to be humble is not to stoop until you are smaller than yourself, but to stand at your real height against some higher nature that will show you what the real smallness of your greatness is.” - Phillip Brooks
One night, a Captain was on the bridge of his ship when off in the distance he spotted a strange light rapidly closing with his own vessel. Immediately he sent the message “Alter your course 10 degrees to the south.” The reply came, “Alter your course 10 degrees to the north.”
Determined that HIS ship would take a back seat to no other, the Captain snapped out the order to be sent, “Alter course 10 degrees - I am the CAPTAIN!” The response came back, “Alter your course 10 degrees -- I am Seaman Third Class Jones.” Now infuriated, the Captain fired back with the message, “Alter your course, I am a battleship.” The reply came back. Alter your course, I am a lighthouse.”
“I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his ‘steps.’” - Jeremiah 10:23 (NIV)
“A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.” - John 3:27 (NIV)
“Apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:5 (NIV)
“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.” - 2 Corinthians 3:5 (NIV)
True, biblical humility begins with an awareness of my absolutely necessary dependence upon God for everything. Such an awareness of our nothingness apart from God results in an . . .
2. Attitude
“Corrie Ten Boom was asked if it was difficult for her to remain humble. Her reply was simple, ‘When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday on the back of a donkey, and everyone was waving palm branches and throwing garments on the road, and singing praises, do you think for one moment it ever entered the head of that donkey that any of that was for him?’
She continued, ‘If I can be the donkey on which Jesus Christ rides in His glory, I give Him all the praise and all the honor.’”
The donkey’s reward wasn’t found in the shout of the crowd, but in the privilege of giving honor to Christ.
“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do - blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. And when you fast, don’t make it
obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.” - Matthew 6:1-6; 16-21 (NLT)
Where is your treasure found? In honoring God or in pleasing men? If you treasure the praise of men, your reward will be fleeting indeed; but if you live only for an audience of One, your reward will be eternal.
“I will not yield my glory to another.” - Isaiah 48:11b (NIV)
One who humbles himself before God never thinks of glorifying himself. He lives only to bring glory to his Lord.
Have you been called to serve where others tried and failed, and with God’s help and strength your efforts have prevailed? Touch not the glory!
Have you some special gift, some riches you can share, or are you called of God to intercessory prayer? Touch not the glory!
Has God appointed you to some great noble cause, or put you where you hear the sound of man’s applause? Touch not the glory!
A watching world still waits to see what can be done through one who touches not that which is God’s alone. Touch not the glory, touch not the glory, touch not the glory, for it belongs to God!
Words by Erma Davison from the song, “Touch Not The Glory,” (C) 1993 Ron and Patricia Owens.
True, biblical humility starts with an awareness of our nothingness without God, which leads to an attitude of desiring to give all glory to God, which is demonstrated by . . .
3. Action
When God’s people are truly, biblically, walking in humility before God, it will be demonstrated through their actions. It has been said that “it is amazing, what can be accomplished, when no one cares who gets the credit.” A biblical paraphrase would be, “It is miraculous, what can be accomplished by God’s people, when everyone is concerned only with God getting the glory!”
Why? Because God’s people come together in true unity, which results in God’s anointing and blessing!
“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.” - Psalm 133: 1-3 (NIV)
When God’s people come together with a common desire to see Him glorified, then His power and presence will be among us! But if God seems far away, guess who moved? “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” - James 4:8 (NIV)
How do we return? “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” - James 4:10 (NIV)
