30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 18 9-14 The journey of humility 10 Richness in Christ due to humility
📖 Luke 18:9-14
18Sep2020 - *Richness in Christ due to humility* - _Luke 18:9-14_ - THE JOURNEY OF HUMILITY 10 – Bible reading: _Romans 8:9-11_
_Luke 18:13-14 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' (14) I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."_
Yesterday, we understood that it is from the base of humility that we learn all the other tenets of our relationship with Jesus. The wonderful quality that the tax collector had was the value of humility because of which he was able to repent and as he repented, he was forgiven of his sin.
We understood that this is the starting point of our journey with the Lord, which is repentance and forgiveness of our sin. It is because we are forgiven that we have the boldness to enter the sanctum sanctorum of God to have fellowship with Him. As much as we have boldness, we always acknowledge our unworthiness and always acknowledging that our worth comes only from Jesus. All of this is by faith, which is based out of humility.
Humility is therefore the cross-cutting base from which all of the other truths are learnt and developed in us.
All through life we must keep in mind that in our flesh, nothing good dwells. _Romans 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find._
Many of God’s people are seeking to please God by their sincere effort. They are trying their best and are claiming to be humble in trying to please God. They are not realising that it is not only, not possible, to please God by their effort, but this is actually a trap of the devil, in which they have fallen.
How is this a trap of the devil? The agenda of the devil is to always glorify the self, which was his own downfall and which was how he brought sin into the human race. Adam and Eve chose to listen to Satan and exalted their self over God. When we try to please God by our sincere effort, we glorify the self in us (subtly). _Romans 8:8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God._
We can only please God as we walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. Humility is, therefore, the prerequisite for us to desire to be filled, led, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. In humility, we deny the self and give access to our entire life into the hands of the Holy Spirit. Being filled, led and empowered by the Holy Spirit is indeed very simple.
All that is needed is for us to constantly empty ourselves and keep surrendering and yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit. It is this life of fullness in the Holy Spirit that makes us be His. _Romans 8:9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God._
The Holy Spirit empowers and enables us to overcome sin and to accomplish all that God intends from us. Life becomes beautiful and thrilling, for we are not trying to please God but in humility, we lie at the bosom of our Lord and the Holy Spirit energises and galvanises us to accomplish great exploits for the glory of God. _Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. John 8:29 And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him."_
At the end of the day, we will look back and fall prostrate before God, thanking and praising Him for all the He has accomplished through us. Even when people praise us for the results that are emerging from our lives, we will receive the tribute, graciously, but in truth be able to say, I am only a Doulos of Jesus and the glory goes to Him alone.
The purpose of this parable that our Lord taught us is for us to learn the lesson of humility.
*Thought to ponder*
Will the lesson of humility be your heritage?