Ephesians 4:1-10
Philippians 2:3-8
What are the Characteristics of a true follower of Christ?
They are Humble!! We don’t teach or preach this enough!! You see the dancing around. You see the falling out; but are you Humble?
Do you pick up your cross and walk right with Jesus daily? This isn’t an easy task but do you at least attempt to do it? Going to church every Sunday and Bible study doing the week doesn’t show you’re humble. Shouting back at the pastor when he or she says something you like doesn’t make you humble! Being at every church function when the doors are open doesn’t make you humble! Do you die to your flesh daily! When something doesn’t go your way do you say okay Lord not my will but your will be done! Are you really humble for the Lord?
In his book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life; Donald S Whitney shares these words: Jesus was the perfect Servant. His greatness is seen in the loneliness He was willing to experience in order to serve the most basic needs of His twelve friends.
When Jesus had washed their feet and put on his outer clothing, he reclined again and said to them, Do you know what I have done for you? 13 You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are speaking rightly, since that is what I am. 14 So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15 For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done for you.
16 Truly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his master,[a] and a messenger is not greater than the one who sent him. 17 If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. John 13:12-17 (CSB)
With astonishing humility, Jesus, their Lord and Teacher, washed the feet of His disciples as an example of how all His followers should serve with humility.
In this life there will always be a part of us (the Bible calls it the flesh) that will say, If I have to serve, I want to get something for it. If I can be rewarded, or gain a reputation for humility, or somehow turn it to my advantage, then I’ll give the impression of humility and serve. But this isn’t Christlike service. This is hypocrisy. Richard Foster calls it “self righteous service: Self righteous service requires external rewards. It needs to know that people see and appreciate the effort. It seeks human applause with proper religious modesty of course self righteous is highly concerned about results. It eagerly wants to see if the person served will reciprocate in kind. The flesh whines against service but screams again hidden service. It strains and pulls for honor and recognition. It will devise subtle, religiously acceptable means to call attention to the service rendered.
By the power of the Holy Spirit we must reject self righteous service as a sinful motivation, and serve in humility, considering others better than ourselves. (Philippians 2:3)
Can you serve your boss and others at work, helping them to succeed and be happy, even when they are promoted and you are overlooked? Can you work to make others look good without envy filling your heart? Can you minister to the needs of those whom God exalts and men when you yourself are neglected? Can you pray for the ministry of others to prosper when it would cast yours in the shadows?
In the Discipline of service, the issue is not always how well you serve, for even the world serves well when it leads to profit. But the Christian serves with humility because it leads to Christlikeness.”
How many people will raise their hands and say they are unified with Christ? That you are one with Him? That you have given your life completely over to Him? Do we really know what that means? We can’t be straddling the fence between lightness and darkness; the two were never meant to mix or mingle. We have to pick a side.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ came to show us so much but, more importantly; he came to show us how to walk right! There should be no question what is expected of us once we’ve made the decision to become one with God and follow the path that has already been laid out before us.
The Apostle Paul has laid it out for us so plain and clear. Once we’ve been connected as one with God the Father, his Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. We should be walking right. Paul was literally in prison when we wrote the book of Ephesians and he was still rocking with King Jesus! He was still preaching and teaching the Bible to those that would listen! His faith never wavered and He still humbled himself! While he was imprisoned! No matter the situation, no matter the trial and tribulation, we should still be all in for God and the will that He has for our lives. While we’re in the valley; we should be humbled. While we’re sitting on top of cloud 9 we should be humbled.
Jesus humbly stepped on the scene. He didn’t walk around puffed up and bragging about what He could do. He allowed the people that He encountered Him to see and marvel in His good works. Everything He was able to do He always gave credit to His Father in Heaven. He never forced himself on anyone; He was always a complete gentleman and was led by the leading of His Father. He never did anything than what He was sent here to do. He was always about His Fathers business.
Some of us are ready to throw in the towel over simple things! God hasn’t sent your husband yet and you are ready to go back to sinful living! Your money still acting funny after you have been praying about it for months and God still hasn’t shown up and you are ready to go out into the world to make some fast money. This isn’t how a Christian, a child of God is supposed to deal with life.
Old behaviors should be put away and new behaviors learned! We should know and act like we are one of His children called and chosen by Him to go out and be fishers of men. Be His disciple. Be a willing vessel for His Kingdom. When He says Whom Shall I send; our response should be Here I am Lord send me; Isaiah 6:8…
How do you respond when your back is against the wall and you’re being cornered with the difficulties of life? Do you lash out in anger? Do you run and hide? Or do you go to God and pray for guidance and clarity? When we have humbled ourselves we want to respond differently than we would’ve previously! You may be asking well how does that look? What should I do? What should I say? It can be something simple like this: Father God I need you to show me how I can think and act differently in this situation. I’m so used to getting angry and lashing out but that was the old me; help me to do better. In your son Jesus name. Amen. When we run and hide we give the enemy the impression that we are scared or fearful of him and we have to remember that as a child of God that we shouldn’t be fearful because God’s word says that He will never leave us nor forsake us! Deuteronomy 31:6 and He doesn’t give us a spirit of fear! 2 Timothy 1:7
Just like the Disciples that walked with Jesus; they had to go through the process to be able to walk right. Jesus needed them to be effective for ministry; how could they walk with Him; be called and chosen; to be His Disciples and not walk right? They had to leave their family, friends, and their lifestyles. They had to be completely transformed by the renewing of their minds. A worldly mindset and Kingdom mindset can’t mix. Our flesh has to be submissive to God and the calling on our lives. This didn’t happen overnight for His disciples but they had something that we also need to have: determination! They had the same determination that Ruth had with her mother in law Naomi! The same determination of Daniel! The same determination of David! The same determination of Mary & Joseph!
Can you imagine what would’ve happened if any of these people weren’t determined and hadn’t humbled themselves? Ruth wouldn’t have met Boaz! Daniel wouldn’t have made it out of the Lions Den! David couldn’t have beat Goliath! And Mary & Joseph would’ve probably both laughed at being used by God to be earthly parents to His son Jesus!
Allow me to share this with you…
10 characteristics of a Humble Person:
- A humble person is teachable. Humility believes it can always learn from the education and experiences of others. A humble person is a growing person who is quick to read, invite feedback, and ask good questions.
- A humble person is at peace with themselves and others. Humility embraces contentment and simplicity. It doesn’t need to have the nicest or be the best. Humility puts relationships before the need to be right. Humility enjoys balance and harmony.
- A humble person is grateful. Humility isn’t entitled. Humility believes it doesn’t deserve a darn thing and is thankful for the many blessings received in life.
- A humble person is slow to offend and quick to forgive. Humility is keenly mindful of the grace it has received and is quick to extend that grace to others.
- A humble person asks for help. Humility helps us know who we are and who we are not. Humility allows us to live authentically. Humility sees assistance and support as an opportunity to develop and not as a sign of weakness.
- A humble person treats everybody with respect. Humility teaches us to believe that we are not much better or worse than anybody else, all people have great value, and all people deserve to be treated as such.
- A humble person is patient and doesn’t easily get frustrated with the imperfection of others. Humility knows that mistakes and inadequacies are part of life. Humility is tolerant of self and others when deficiencies appear and failures happen.
- A humble person recognizes their own limitations. Humility doesn’t have a negative view of self. Humility has an accurate view of self. Humility leads us to the powerful and beautiful place of living out our strengths and passions in life.
- A humble person celebrates the accomplishments of others. Humility sees others as co-pilgrims and collaborators and not competitors. Humility genuinely rejoices when others prosper and triumph.
- A humble person is open to a deep relationship with God. Humility knows God is the creator of the world and people are created. Pride elevates self over God. Pride leads us to worship the idols of control, sex, money, and power. Humility leads us to Jesus.
Source: http://craigfinnestad.com/?p=1738
Ask yourself these questions:
Now that you’ve been saved, are you walking right?
Now that you’ve been filled with the Holy Spirit, are you walking right?
Now that you’ve been called, are you walking right?
Now that you’ve been chosen, are you walking right?
Now that you’ve been licensed and ordained and commissioned by the Holy Spirit; Are you walking right?
Are You a Prisoner of the Lord?
Written and published by Pastor Tamara
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