Humility Pathway to Elevation

Humility means submission. It is freedom from pride or arrogance. Humility is not thinking of yourself less, but its thinking less of yourself. The quality of not thinking that you are better than other people.

Colossians 3:12 God loves you and has chosen you and made you his holy people. So you should always clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Let us look at the story of Joseph; Joseph was taken as a captive to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s official. Joseph started working in Egypt as a slave in Potiphar’s house. While at Potiphar’s house Joseph worked so well that it pleased his master. Seeing the success of all he asked Joseph to do, he put him in charge of his house. He was given authority to oversee his house and in charge of all that he owned.

Thereafter came a setback. Due to Potiphar’s wife phony accusations, Joseph was sent to prison. Although God had revealed to him his future, he wasn’t embittered with the recent circumstance. He performed his duties well and God showed him his loving kindness and granted him favor with the prison warden. The warden put Joseph as manager of other prisoners.  Genesis 39:23 The warden paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s care because the Lord was with him; whatever Joseph did, the Lord made to prosper. Joseph humbled himself not looking to men but believed that elevation comes only from God.  How many of us appreciate where we are at in life and trust God with our future? Committing to what he has commissioned us to do?

While at Potiphar’s house, things seemed to be good for Joseph. Promotion from a slave to a personal assistant. Anent to this, It was likely that the next thing for him was another promotion. Maybe he thought Potiphar would probably mention him to his master and he would be promoted. But that was not the case.

Years later God made Pharaoh have a dream that only Joseph could interpret and God promoted him to be the governor of Egypt. Genesis 41:41-42 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you in charge over all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand, and dressed him in official vestments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.

Because of his humility, God separated him from his brothers and gave him a unique gift of dreams and revealed to him the future. Instead of complaining about the state where Joseph found himself; he choose to be humble and render his service as unto God. Though he was brought to Egypt as a slave he trusted that God would change his story. His humility saw him being elevated from one level to another. He was good at all he did, be it at Potiphar’s house or the prison. Any set back he encountered did not make him bitter towards God but he took charge of his responsibilities because he trusted God.

Joseph was so submissive to God and fully surrendered his life to him. It didn’t matter which stage in life he found himself. At the palace, Joseph wasn’t arrogant with his gift. But he acknowledged that it was God who enabled him. Genesis 41:16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “it is not in me to interpret the dream; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer through me. He gave the glory to God. God is looking for a people to work with so that he can display His glory.

Later when his brothers came to buy food in Egypt, he wasn’t arrogant but he humbled himself knowing that it was God’s plan for him to go ahead of them so that their lives would be preserved. Genesis 45

James 4:6-7…Therefore, it says, God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but gives grace to the humble who turn away from self-righteousness. So submit to the authority of God.

As the body of Christ we shouldn’t look at our circumstances and feel disadvantaged, we should realize that nothing in life is incognizant by God. Nothing is strange or news to God. He is aware of every chapter of our lives and wants us to be co-workers together with him to give him glory.   1 Corithians 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; His servants working together. You are God’s cultivated field, God’s building.

Humility enables you to accept God’s leading. When He leads you to a particular work, career or path in life you quickly submit unto him. Not working partially as looking for titles but being faithful and patient in His works.

Jesus is our shepherd and we are the sheep of his pasture. As the sheep of His pasture, it is paramount for us to humble ourselves for His leading. Sheep cannot lead themselves they require a shepherd so that when a lion or bear comes they will be protected. The shepherd knows where the grass is green. He may have to lead the sheep through a parched place but eventually they’ll come to the green pastures. They may pass through rocky places but that doesn’t mean they can camp there or that the shepherd is not concerned about them.

Jesus Christ leads us to the greatness he has for us. Every time we pass through a challenge, it is a test of growth on what we can handle for us to be elevated to the next level. Joseph submitted himself to God as a living sacrifice.(Rom 12:1)  this is the only acceptable service. Joseph’s character was being put to test. It was part of the lessons that he needed for the next level. The prison molded his character it sharpened his skills and gifts for the palace.

Rewards for Humility are Honor, Wisdom, Riches and Life.

Humility is the right attitude in doing everything. It is revealed in how we handle others great or not. Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit but with an attitude of humility, regard others as more important than yourselves.

Proverbs 18:12…But humility comes before honor.

James 3:13. Who among you is wise and intelligent? Let him by his good conduct show his good deeds with gentleness and humility of true wisdom.

Humility can also be reflected in our prayers. Our faith and attitude in prayer is what makes us receive answers from God. Mark 7:29 And He said to her, “Because of this answer reflecting your humility and faith, go knowing that your request has been granted; the demon has left your daughter.

Humility is the qualification of making to heaven. Luke 18:17 “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God with faith and humility like a child will not enter it at all.”

God desires for us to have the mindset that Christ had. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death-even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven, on earth and under the earth and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Phillipians 2:8-11  

God doesn’t look at things from the world’s perspective. Humbly submit to Him. Use your gifts diligently and soon you’ll find yourself in the place he has designated for you.

Honoring the Prophet.

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Prophets are God’s chosen servants. Divinely appointed as intermediaries to communicate God’s command to the people. The prophet is chosen to lead, shepherd, teach and counsel the people of God. The Bible says, by God’s word shall one be established and through the prophet shall one prosper. 2 Chronicles 20:20…Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established; believe and remain steadfast to His prophets and you shall prosper.

Prosper here means to thrive and flourish in all things. To have good success. Honoring the Prophet of God brings success to your life and causes you to flourish in all things.

God reveals his secrets to Prophets who in turn communicate to the people or intercede on their behalf. Genesis 18:19 For I have acknowledged him as My own, so that he may teach and command his children and the sons of his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is righteous and just, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham what He has promised him.”

Abraham was God’s chosen servant.He was sanctioned by God to impart God’s commands on his household and in response they honored him as God’s prophet. When God wanted to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah he disclosed his plans to his Prophet. Abraham was the Prophet that spoke on behalf of Lot. He interceded for Lot and his life was reserved. God did not reveal his plan to Lot, but to his servant Abraham first. If Abraham did not intervene for Lot, the number of his days would be cut off. Do you have a prophet that is interceding for you?

Would like us to understand that God reveals his heart to his prophets who step in the gap and intercede for the people. Sometimes we become dormant in life because we do not have a prophetic voice speaking onto our lives as is led of God. We stay in one phase of life for long without progress because no one is speaking onto our lives as God’s servant.

God’s servants are our covering its important for us to respect them. They can see sometimes what our eyes cannot see. Elisha’s servant saw them surrounded by an army with horses and chariots that the king of Syria had sent to seize the Prophet, and was terrified. But Prophet Elisha could see himself surrounded by chariots of fire that God had sent to protect him. 2Kings 6:17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “Lord, please, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha. The prophet here was his covering.

God revealed himself to his Prophet Moses. He used him to perform miracles for Pharaoh to release the children of Israel from captivity in Egypt. When they came to the red sea and Pharaohs army was right behind them, God used Moses to part the red sea and made a miraculous escape for them. While they were in the wilderness hungry and thirsty, God again used His prophet to provide for them.

God used Prophet Elijah to provide for the widow and her son at Zarephath in a season of severe famine.

Benefits of honoring the prophet.

When you honor a prophet you receive the prophet’s reward. The Prophet’s reward is the fulfillment of the word vaticinated.

The prophet can be used to recover things that were lost.

-When the Lord sent famine in the land, he informed Elisha his prophet and Elisha instructed the Shunamimite woman to leave the country for there would be famine in the land for seven years. She honored God’s word and left with the family and their lives were preserved. At the end of the seven years she came back from Philistine and recovered all that was hers.

-God used Prophet Elisha to recover an axe that fell into the Jordan River during construction. (2Kings 6)

 A Prophet can speak life to dead situations

Prophet Elisha was in Jordan when he was informed that the waters were bad and that the land was barren, so he spoke a word and the waters were purified and the land became productive.

When the son of the widow at Zarephath became sick and died, Prophet Elijah prayed for the son and his life was revived. (1Kings 17:22)

Through his Prophets God gives his people victory.

The Prophets hears God’s instructions for us.

2 Kings 4:5-6. So she left him and shut the door behind her and her sons; they were bringing her the containers as she poured the oil. 6 When the containers were all full, she said to her son, “Bring me another container.” And he said to her, “There is not a one left.” Then the oil stopped multiplying.

This is a scenario were the widow had a predicament in her life and went to seek for counsel from a Man of God. She was unable to pay her creditors who wanted to take her sons to work as a slave in payment for the debt owed. The Prophet gave her an instruction which she honored and she was able to clear her debt and provide for herself and her son.

Naaman a commander of the army of the King of Syria was a leper. He left for Samaria to see the Prophet because of his leprously and was instructed to wash in the Jordan seven times for his flesh to be restored. Naaman was hesitant to the instructions given but when he fully submitted to the authority of God and did as commissioned he was healed.

You cannot honor your Prophet unless you walk by God’s revelation and are a God fearing person

When the Shunammite woman learnt that Prophet Elisha passed by Shunem, she and her husband arranged for a room on the house top,so that whenever the servant of God passed by he would rest there. The Shunammite woman was honoring the man of God and as she did this, God remembered her. The Prophet prophesied that she would have a son the same season the following year. Though her husband was old, the following year she gave birth to her son.

The prophet can also be sent to rebuke people who have gone astray from God’s command. For example, Prophet Nathan was sent to David when he struck down Uriah with the sword and took his wife.

What happens when you dishonor the prophet?                                 Genesis 12:3 And I will bless (do good for, benefit) those who bless you, And I will curse [that is, subject to My wrath and judgment] the one who curses, despises, dishonors you. And in you all the families (nations) of the earth will be blessed.”

This shows how significant or powerful a Prophet is; if you dishonor him or have contempt for the Prophet the wrath of God shall befall you. But if you bless and do well to the prophet then God’s blessings shall be upon you.

There are repercussions of dishonoring the Prophet.

Numbers 12:1-2 Now Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married; and they said, “Has the Lord really spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken also through us?” And the Lord heard it. 

When the Lord heard the murmurings and how disrespectful Miriam and Aaron were towards his servant Moses, he summoned them and Miriam became leprous. This are the effects of dishonoring God’s servants. God’s servants are divinely appointed and once you understand this you will be wary of your conversations.

Dishonoring the Prophet can make you lose your place or position.

1 Samuel 15:2-3 Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘I will punish Amalek for what he did to Israel, how he set himself against him on the way when Israel came up from Egypt. Now go and strike Amalek and completely destroy everything that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”

Prophet Samuel instructed King Saul on what to do as they went to war with the Amalekites but Saul disobeyed God’s instructions therefore dishonoring him. He spared Agag the king of the Amalekites, the best of sheep, the oxen, lambs and everything that was good. But only destroyed that which was worthless. He was sent on a mission to totally destroy the sinners and eliminate them. As a result of dishonoring God’s instruction through the prophet, God rejected Saul as king of Israel and in his place another was appointed.

Dishonoring the Prophet can cause premature death

2 Kings 7:1-2 Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord, ‘Tomorrow about this time a measure of finely-milled flour will sell for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’” Then the royal officer on whose arm the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “If the Lord should make windows in heaven [for the rain], could this thing take place?” Elisha said, “Behold, you will see it with your own eyes, but [because you doubt] you will not eat of it.” 

There was a great famine in Samaria and God sent his prophet to prophecy, but the royal officer despised God’s prophecy.  The following day, the king appointed the royal officer to be in charge of the city gate and the starving people trampled him at the gate as they struggled to get through for food and he died. The prophecy was fulfilled. He saw it but did not partake of it because he dishonored the Prophet. 

Do not regard a prophet with contempt

Isaiah 7:9 And the head (the capital) ofEphraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son (Pekah). If you will not believe and trust and rely on God and on the words of God’s prophet instead of Assyria, surely you will not be established nor will you remain.

It is very essential for us to understand the role of the prophets and honor them. 1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who perform the duties of their office well be considered doubly worthy of honor.   Recognize the authority of the man of God that God has placed in your life.1 Thessalonians 5:12  Now also we beseech you, brethren, get to know those who labor among you [recognize them for what they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them all]—your leaders who are over you in the Lord and those who warn and kindly reprove and exhort you.