Day 21
Humility will Lift us Up
Just as Satan is the perfect example of pride bringing us down, Jesus is the perfect example of humility lifting us up. Philippians 2 explains how Jesus humbled Himself to the obedience of His Father by becoming a sacrifice for us. Verse 8 says, “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Because Jesus humbled Himself by giving of Himself as a perfect sacrifice, the very next phrase in verse nine says, “for this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name.” The reward for Jesus great act of humility was the highest of all exaltation.
Although there will never be any other name exalted above the name of Jesus the Bible assures us that if we humble ourselves in obedience toward God He will exalt us. As we have already discussed, Peter says in I Peter 5:5, “God is opposed to the proud. The good news is that the rest of the verse say but gives grace to the humble.” With this statement in mind, Peter says in the next verse, “therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.” The consistency of God is clear throughout his Word that He humbles the proud yet He exalts the humble.
Sometimes we feel as though we should be honored or that we deserve exaltation. We may feel as though we deserve special recognition because of who we are, what positions we hold, how gifted or how well-educated we may be. However, with the humility of Christ in mind Philippians 2:5 says, “Have this attitude in yourself which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:6 tells us that Jesus is God; yet, verse seven says, He “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” If anyone deserves exultation it is the Son of God, the God who took upon flesh, Jesus Christ. Yet, He chose to humble Himself. To have the attitude of Christ is to have a humble attitude.
Paul stated in Philippians 3:4, “If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more.” He wasn’t bragging; he was right. He began to state his credentials in the next few verses as being a man who had everything according to the flesh going for him. When you examine his life, you realize that he was born into the right family, he was born into the best citizenship, he had the greatest education of the day, and he greatly excelled in his former occupation. He had every reason in this world to proudly stick his chest out and brag in the flesh. Yet he stated in Philippians 3:7-10, “but whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
Paul demonstrated in every area of his life as having the attitude of Christ. Although he was a well-accomplished man, he chose only to boast in the Lord. His life was by no means an easy life. I often look at Paul’s life and ask myself, could I have been strong enough to endure all he went through in his life for the Lord? One of the most misused verses in the entire Bible is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Him, (Jesus), who strengthens me.” To hold that verse in its context, Paul is saying that regardless of what I face in life (good or bad), in Christ He will get me through it. If I humble myself before Him, He will lift me up.
Day 21 Prayer Guide
- Ask God to reveal any sin or mindset that would prevent Him from hearing your prayers.
- Repent of any such hindrance and ask for God’s forgiveness.
- Ask God to remove any doubts and keep you focused on Him.
- Seek the Holy Spirit to consume you during this time to lead you. Be obedient to Him.
- Spend some time praising God for the fact that He is able. Quote some scriptures or some of His characteristics to Him in praise.
- Pray that the people of God will repent of sins and mindsets that dishonor and hinder Him.
- Pray that God would reveal prideful attitudes of self-sufficiency and bring about repentance.
- Pray that the body of Christ will have the mind of Christ-humility.
- Pray that the church would never put their hope in man and their hope would be in God alone.
- Pray that the people of God will stand in faith knowing God can reclaim this land.
- Pray that our churches would be devoted to, and peruse the things that honor God.
- Pray that the people of God would see the need for revival and begin to seek God for it.
- Pray specifically for revival in your church. Pray for your pastor and church leaders.
- Pray for humility upon the people of God that leads to total obedience.
- Pray for humility upon the people of God that leads to total dependency on Him.
- Pray that the people of God will be broken hearted over the lost.
- Pray that the church will be a gospel centered church with a heart to evangelize the world while starting in their own back yard.
- Pray that the power of God would fall on the church moving them to prayer and sowing the gospel seed.
- Pray for a great awakening in your community. Name off streets and neighborhoods.
- Do not be judgmental in this, but pray that if there is any within the church who do not have a genuine relationship with Jesus that God would convict their heart and save them.
- Make a list of individuals who are not saved and begin petitioning God for their salvation.
- Pray for repentance of sin and a great awakening in our nation.
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