THE HUMBLE

standardYou Will Save
On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.”

Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him.  And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.  But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow.

And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” Mark 4:35-41

When evening had come, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us cross over to the other side” and they obeyed and followed Him.  But a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling.  But Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. The fearful disciples were not proud or arrogant to admit that they needed Jesus’ help. So they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

Jesus did care and He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

But if the disciples were too proud to wake up the Lord and ask for His help, what would have happened?  They would have suffered needlessly and would not have seen the miracle of the Lord saying to the sea, Peace, be still!” And the wind and the sea obeyed Him!

The word of God has much to say on the subject on humility and being humble that determine if men are blessed by God or are cursed by Him:

Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. When He avenges blood, He remembers them;  He does not forget the cry of the humble. Psalm 9:11-12

For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks. Psalm 18:27

The LORD lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground. Psalm 147:6

For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Psalm 149:4

Being proud and arrogant comes naturally to man and these are sins that God hates. As a matter of fact God goes out of His way to humble a proud person. The bible records for our profit about what God does to the proud ones:

Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His? Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and array yourself with glory and beauty. Disperse the rage of your wrath; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.  Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place.  Hide them in the dust together,  Bind their faces in hidden darkness.  Then I will also confess to you that your own right hand can save you. Job 40:9-14

For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks. For You will light my lamp;  The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.  For by You I can run against a troop,  By my God I can leap over a wall.  As for God, His way is perfect;  The word of the LORD is proven;  He is a shield to all who trust in Him.  For who is God, except the LORD?  And who is a rock, except our God?  It is God who arms me with strength,  And makes my way perfect.  He makes my feet like the feet of deer, And sets me on my high places.  Psalm 18:27-33

Yes, the Lord saves the humble people but He also looks on everyone who is proud, and humbles him.  He looks on everyone who is proud, and brings him low. For God resists the proud,  but gives grace to the humble. His word is unchanging:

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? 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. James 4:1-10

Those who humble themselves in the sight of the Lord He lifts them up. He will also forgive their sins and heal their land. For His word is true:

“When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.2 Chronicles 7:13-14

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

“The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.  ‘I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’

“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!’

“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.” Luke 18:9-14

God really loves and defends those who are humble. Children are very humble and God really loves and cares for them.  God’s true children who have  humbled themselves just like little children  are also really loved and  meek and humble. And God  has warned men not to touch or hurt His humble ones or there will be severe consequences. His word is true:

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

“Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  “Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

“Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!  “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. Matthew 18:1-18

http://billyburke.org/PrayerMinistryRoom/JourneyofYourPrayerRequest/tabid/142/Default.aspx

EXTRACT FROM Be Filled
http://walthope.tripod.com/befilled.htm
https://walthope.wordpress.com
https://plus.google.com/u/0/100302133262254344211/posts

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