Saturday, December 3, 2011

From Pride to Humility: 24 Manifestations of Humility


Manifestations of Humility:
1.       Recognizing and trusting God’s character.
a.       Psalm 119:66
b.      This attitude of humility says, “You are God and I am not”
2.       Seeing yourself as having no right to question or judge an Almighty and Perfect God
a.       Psalm 145:17; Romans 9:19-23
b.      This attitude of humility says, “You are the Potter, I am the clay”
3.       Focusing on Christ
a.       Philippians 1:21; Hebrews 12:1-2
b.      This attitude of humility says, “Jesus is my life”
4.       Biblical praying and a great deal of it
a.       1 Thessalonians 5:17; 1 Timothy 2:1-2
b.      This attitude of humility says, “O God, I need you”
5.       Being overwhelmed with God’s undeserved grace and goodness
a.       Psalm 116:12-19
b.      This attitude of humility says, “I will be your willing slave forever”
6.       Being thankful and grateful in general toward others
a.       1 Thessalonians 5:18
b.      This attitude of humility says, “The Lord has done this, praise His name”
7.       Being gentle and patient
a.       Colossians 3:12
b.      This attitude of humility says, “I will treat you how God has treated me”
8.       Seeing yourself as no better than others
a.       Romans 12:16; Ephesians 3:8
b.      This attitude of humility says, “I am the least of all saints”
9.       Having an accurate view of your gifts and abilities
a.       Romans 12:3
b.      This attitude of humility says, “I am saved by grace through faith, and that not of myself”
10.   Being a good listener
a.       James 1:19; Philippians 2:3-4
b.      This attitude of humility says, “What you have to say is important to me”
11.   Talking about others only if it is good or for their good
a.       Proverbs 11:13
b.      This attitude of humility says, “I want to be a faithful friend”
12.   Being gladly submissive and obedient to those in authority
a.       Romans 12:1-2; 13:1-2
b.      This attitude of humility says, “I will obey”
13.   Preferring others over yourself
a.       Romans 12:10
b.      This attitude of humility says, “You are more important than me”
14.   Being thankful for criticism or reproof
a.       Proverbs 9:8; 27:5-6
b.      This attitude of humility says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend”
15.   Having a teachable spirit
a.       God can use anyone to teach them. Balaam’s donkey (Numbers 22:22-35)
b.      This attitude of humility says, “What is God trying to teach me through this?”
16.   Seeking always to build up others
a.       Ephesians 4:29
b.      This attitude of humility speaks graciously for growth
17.   Serving
a.       Galatians 5:13
b.      This attitude of humility says, “What can I do for you?”
18.   A quickness in admitting when you are wrong
a.       Proverbs 29:23
b.      This attitude of humility says, “I was wrong. I’m sorry”
19.   A quickness in granting and asking for forgiveness
a.       Colossians 3:12-14
b.      This attitude of humility says, “God forgave me so much, I can’t withhold it from you”
20.   Repenting of sin as a way of life
a.       1 John 1:9
b.      This attitude of humility says, “Against You and You only have I sinned”
21.   Minimizing others’ sins or shortcomings in comparison to your own
a.       Matthew 7:3-4
b.      This attitude of humility says, “He needs the grace that God gave me”
22.   Being genuinely glad for others
a.       Romans 12:15
b.      This attitude of humility says, “Praise the Lord!” when others experience God’s goodness
23.   Being honest and open about who you are and the areas in which you need growth
a.       Philippians 3:12-14; Galatians 6:2
b.      This attitude of humility says, “I need help in my Christian walk”
24.   Possessing close relationships
a.       Acts 20:31-38
b.      This attitude of humility says, “I love you guys!”

Getting from Here to There

James 4:6-10 – “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. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

We must humble ourselves before God and then we can walk in humility. It takes humility to learn humility. That is why we cannot do it alone. We must seek humility from before the throne of God. It starts and ends with grace. We cannot be humble without grace and we cannot stay humble without grace.

To Remain Humble:
  1. Pray for God to help you put off pride and to produce humility in you.
  2. Read the Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Prophets often to gain a high view of God and proper self-view.
  3. Study Jesus (His earthly example of humility; especially in the Gospels).
  4. Ask others if you come across as proud in any way.
  5. Spend lots of time worshiping God (e.g. praising, prayer, reading and meditating).
  6. Practice the “one-another” principles.
  7. Work to put off pride and put on humility at the level of your thoughts and motives.
  8. Work to put off pride and put on humility at the level of your communication.
  9. Work to put off pride and put on humility at the level of your deeds.
  10. Have the mindset that humility must be a way of life (Philippians 2:3).

Christians should all be characterized by humility. Heed the Bible’s warnings against Pride. Pride lies behind every sin, especially strife and contention (Proverbs 13:10). Pride does not die once, but it must die daily.

Let us put to death the works of the flesh and its passions. “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” –Micah 6:8

“For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, who name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” –Isaiah 57:15

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