| |
Bible
Humility
"Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be
clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and
giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due
time." I Peter 5:5,6.
The word humble in the latter verse signifies to make self
low. In Prov. 6:3 the word has yet a deeper signification,
which is to trample on self. Taking these two texts we
have a very important thought before us. It suggest to our
minds the proper and scriptural position of self. Many
other references of Scripture could be added, but these, I
believe, are sufficient.
It is not the carnal nature or sinful self that is here
spoken of; for this has the death sentence pronounced upon
it. This must be crucified and cast off, the process of
which, of course, requires also a deep humiliation and
abandonment of our will to God in sanctification; but what
is to be made low, and trampled upon, and placed under the
mighty hand of God, is our individual, soul, life,
including body and all. The God life cannot be perfectly
manifested through us to the world until the self life is
brought into the depths of humility and kept in its true
position of subjection. It is a necessary part of us in
our existence, and also a necessary part of us in the
service of God. In its proper place it is the vehicle to
convey the God life to our surroundings, sustaining the
same relation to God, as our feet to our body. It is
therefore not to be destroyed nor considered as useless,
but in meek submission to the will of God it can be used
of Him to His own honor and glory.
Our every attitude toward God must be in this utmost
submission. Always ready and willing to glorify Him,
without the least desire for any glory to ourselves.
Always seeking to represent Him to this world, without the
least desire of self representation. Always seeking, as
Jesus did, "not mine own will, but the will of him
that sent me." Like the branch laden with the
delicious fruit of the vine, it is never spoken of for the
good fruit borne, but the vine receives the praise. So we
are to be so meekly and humbly the branches to bear the
precious fruit of Christ—always to honor Him in every
step, willing to be hid away out of sight that He may
always be manifest.
It is evident from the language of this text that this
yielding ourselves into this humility is within our own
power. Of course it is all through the grace of God, but
there is an essential part required of us. "Humble
yourselves under the mighty hand of God" is the
command. There are scriptural instances where God had to
humble His people, that He might be glorified and they
benefited, and other instances where the people humbled
themselves. The self humiliation is much more to the glory
of God and to the good of His people. In the one case it
is by compulsion, in the other it is an acceptable
service, and will be proportionately productive of greater
blessings to God's glory and our good. In the one case it
may be necessary in many instances, to secure the
salvation of the individual, without any profitable
service and fruit for God in the salvation of others,
while in the other case the whole life is one of continual
fruit bearing for God.
O beloved, let us humble ourselves under the mighty hand
of God! In these evil days there is no other place of
safety against the awful powers of the devil, who is
walking about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may
devour. The mighty hand of God is our sure defense; but it
cannot so be if we do not put ourselves under His power.
Through the depths of humility we enter and abide under
this glorious defense where that wicked one cannot touch
us. In this condition alone can we resist him steadfast in
the faith, and discern his wily schemes that would
overcome us.
The apostolic faith can never be attained without the
apostolic humility. This was shown me by the Holy Spirit
in a dream. I dreamed I was in company with some saints
praying for the sick, and casting out devils. The battle
was on. We were in the depths of earnestness, when
suddenly I began to feel myself sinking. The earth beneath
me gave way, and I saw we were all going down. We were not
alarmed, and held still. We began going down very rapidly
into immense depths, when at last we reached a beautiful
plane of open country; but all around were multitudes of
people with all manner of sicknesses, and those possessed
with devils. The sight of this so inspired us that we
again laid hold on God for the faith to claim deliverance
for these people. While thus looking to the Lord, the
people began to gather around us in throngs; some cried
out for help, others possessed with devils tried to flee
from us, but we called out to all around us that in the
name of Jesus they could all be delivered. We began to
touch those within our reach, and the experience of Acts
5:16 was repeated. I awoke with a conviction for apostolic
humility. The dear Lord had been doing much for us, and we
were sinking deeper; but, oh, there are such great depths
yet to attain! We all desire to rise to a higher plane but
this desire will only be realized as we sink deeper into
humility.
The dear Lord is revealing to me that I have failed both
in example and precept, to hold up definitely this
doctrine to the Bible standard as much as I should have
done, at all times, and I hereby humbly confess my lack,
and request prayers of the saints that I may redeem the
time. The lack has been upon worldly conformity,
permitting individuals to continue in unscriptural
adornments, such as wearing of gold and fashionable
apparel, without insisting as much as I should have done
against it—depending too much upon the individuals being
led into this light by the Holy Spirit.
It is with this subject just as with every other the light
usually comes through the preaching or reading of the
Word. If it were not for the false teaching upon these
matters, the Holy Spirit would easily lead everyone into
the clear Scriptural light of non conformity in dress. As
it is, the doctrines of error must be boldly withstood by
the faithful preaching of God's Word, so that every honest
soul may have the opportunity of reaching the Bible
standard of humility in every respect. Many dear souls
reach the glorious experience of entire sanctification,
who, of course, do not at the time comprehend the depths
of meaning in "Thy will be done," but who would
very soon, as the "Thy will" keeps unfolding,
find, if they were left alone under the guidance of the
Holy Spirit, that God's Word is His will, and would be led
naturally to measure up to every precept of the Word as
fast as light and knowledge is by the Spirit imparted.
Many false doctrines are everywhere advocated, teaching
there are many non essentials in God's Word; therefore, it
matters not about their observance, thus leading many
honest souls into the delusion that they are just as
acceptable to God by conforming to the vain fashions and
customs of the world. This makes it more and more an
incumbent duty of the ministry in the evening light to cry
aloud and spare not, to show a deluded and proud religious
world their sins, and also to keep back nothing that is
profitable to the Church of God, that everyone who has a
willing and obedient heart may measure up to the standard
of Bible humility. Dearly beloved, I mean by the grace of
God to lift up this standard more definitely.
|
|
