Bible Teaching

Calvary Temple Teaching Library

Tender Heart-Humble Heart Pt.4

Let's turn to the book of Philippians. I want to continue along the subject of Tender Heart, Humble Heart. We were studying the kings of Israel, looking at those hearts of humility that would allow their prayers to be heard of God and them to be delivered as a people, and how important it is for us to allow that great work of humility to manifest itself in our lives. The number one problem every one of us in this room has is pride--selfness, independence--all those things that, as children of Adam, are natural to us. The thing we have to understand, that we've been sharing in these last couple of sessions, is: It is universal; it's not unique. We seem to think, many times, that either we're the only people who have to deal with this (when we see it as an issue in our lives) or when we're blind and are preferring ourselves, thinking we deserve it, that we're better than everybody else, and that everyone should yield to our way. Regardless from which perspective we're dealing with that selfness--that pride--at the moment, it's our number one enemy. We must not be ignorant of his devices; it's never going away; you're going to deal with it every day of your life.

In Philippians, Chapter two, we were looking at Father showing us His heart in the person of the Lord Jesus. Jesus was bodily the manifestation of the fullness of God. In this Philippians passage, some very important principles are shared with us that I want us to grab a hold of this morning; we want to reemphasize them again. We saw that God resists the proud, in our last session, and gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). As we were studying that, we saw that it wasn't just that God wouldn't bless those of us who are prideful--it's not that God steps back and says, "Okay, I'm not going to bless you; you're on your own. You think you can do it by yourself; go ahead see what you can do." That's not all that there is to this thing: God resists us; He's against us. For us to begin to take our lives back to ourselves, for us to begin to vaunt our own will, our own abilities, in the presence of God is to cause a reaction on His part in which He must oppose us and break us. As we studied, we looked at the passage in Deuteronomy, and we saw how God opposed them, and kept them in the wilderness for 40 years to tempt them, to humble them, to prove what was in their hearts. Have you ever felt like you've been going around the mountain? Do you keep facing the same problems over and over again? You keep thinking, "Well, the problem is that I need to spend more time in prayer. The problem is these people. The problem is my schedule." No. The problem is your pride. God wants to humble you. The problem is that you're trusting in yourself. The problem is that God's opposing you and proving you, and revealing your heart through this process, [which brings] humility. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."

We're going to talk, this morning, about clothing ourselves in humility. What does it mean to clothe ourselves in humility? We saw that He said, "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves to the elder" (1 Peter 5:5). We talked about that a little bit (we'll make more references to it): the natural tendency of the adolescent to think he knows better, to want to control his own life. It's one thing to look at natural adolescents and point these things out and say, "Look, it's obvious this person is in his adolescence: he's reckless in his life, he thinks he knows more than he really does"--The Scripture speaks to all of us: "For I say...to every man...not to think of himself more highly than you ought to think but think; but to think soberly [and discreetly]" (Romans 12:3). We see adolescents being reckless, vaunting themselves, thinking they know better, thinking too highly of themselves; we look at it and we want to deal with it--but what about our spiritual adolescence. We have just enough Bible knowledge; we've been used of God to where we've prophesied; we've laid hands on the sick and seen them recover; we think we know the voice of God; we think we know the will of God. Because of that, we set certain courses; and not only do we set certain courses for our lives, but we set certain courses for other peoples' lives, and expectations of what they should be. If they don't live up to our expectations and our "revelations," we've got something to say about it. Because we're mature--we have "revelation," we have some experience--we're going to fix it. True spiritual maturity is moving out of the fix-it mode and into the rest mode, letting God do it.

Now, He might use you as an instrument. He might speak through you. He might cause you to be the one to go in the proper season. He might be the one Who causes you to be the contributor of your time or your resources to help some person. He might be the one Who causes you to speak words of reproof and bring instruction unto righteousness. But it's spontaneous, it's supernatural; it's not your plan. It's not based on your perspective. The mature individual moves in momentary revelation; the adolescent is the one who thinks he has it all figured out. The real mature, humble person knows he doesn't know how to go out or come in. These are some principles we want to effect in our lives.

In this second chapter of Philippians (let's go back to what we talked about a little earlier), he's talking about spiritual maturity, and unity in the body of Christ, and the need for the Philippians to come to that. He says, "Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory" (Philippians 2:2-3). We talked about spiritual competition. A lot of us haven't had our hearts changed. Many of us are the same prideful, competitive people: we're just competing in spiritual things, now. "I'm going to be more spiritual than these people. I'm going to show these people who's the most spiritual guy here." We're just taking what we are--egotistical, prideful, competitive--and putting it into the spiritual realm, into the church. Paul, speaking to that, says, "We can't have any of that. I don't want any strife or vainglory--that boasting, that putting ourselves forward--because "[love] vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own" (1 Corinthians 13:4-5). As Jesus spoke to [His disciples] while they were arguing among themselves [concerning] who was the greatest, He said, "Let me show you who the greatest is." He took that child, put him in their midst, and said, "Whoever becomes as a little child" (Luke 9:46-47, Matthew 18:2-4). Look what it says: He didn't say whoever is a child. He's talking to mature, capable people, saying, "If you will now decide to put yourself into innocence, into dependence"--I have the capacity to be independent; I can be a success in the natural, but I choose to subordinate, I choose to put myself under. Of course I'm smarter than the rest of you put together, but I choose to seek counsel. Amen? I know I am, but I'm humble, so I choose to seek counsel. That's what Paul's saying here: it is a choice. The reason we're talking about humility, the reason Paul's presenting it here, the reason Jesus presented it is because humility is what's going to meet the needs of everybody in the fellowship. If we would all humble ourselves, everybody's needs would be met because we'd all be serving one another, amen? That's love. That's the love of God. Love isn't "ooey-gooey" pats, hugs: "Bless you brother; be warmed and filled." Love is the genuine availability of your life in my time of need.

I received a phone call yesterday [concerning] one of these situations while we were out doing some things we had planned, that this need had arisen. Immediately, all the plans change, and we head back, and this person says, "I'm really sorry for having to call." I said, "Are you kidding? Sorry? What do you think we're here for? There's nothing more important than your need. There's nothing I would rather do than be used of the Lord and serve His body." Isn't that how you feel? See, as we move that way, this is what Father is doing in all our lives; it's very easy to change [plans]. How flexible are you? How many of you don't like to get out of your schedule, your comfort zone? If you don't like your schedules being broken, you sure wouldn't want to hang around with me. You go wherever the Lord leads you, amen? Or, to be spiritual, wherever the wind blows you: the "ruach," the breath of God. Amen? As He just blows you in this direction, and speaks in this direction, and moves you, you're just there; whatever God's doing, you're in a constant state of flux. You have no clue where you're going in the next hour, but you're ready to be used in whatever God wants to do.

As they were arguing [about] who the greatest was, the Lord took this child, and He said, "Whoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom, [the servant of all]" (Matthew 18:4). He speaks to us very clearly in Philippians. He said, "[Don't allow any vainglory to be manifested in your midst;] but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Now, the one thing you're going to find in this passage is the revelation of true humility. True humility is not that false humility of: "Oh, I'm nothing." True humility is not an underestimation or under-representation of what God has blessed you with and the talents He's given you. It's recognizing God as the source, amen? That's humility. What am I saying? Know what you're good at, know what God has blessed you with, and use it to the fullest extent for His glory. When people say, "Praise God; I just thank God for your wisdom," don't say, "Aw, I'm not really so wise; shucks." Say, "Do you know what? I stand amazed myself of what comes out of my mouth; but the fact is: God uses me to speak His wisdom." One thing I'm glad of is that wisdom isn't based on IQ. Not a false humility, but glorying in God: "Thank you. God is working this." Amen? It's not a false humility, but it's not vainglory--a boasting, a vaunting of self; it's the recognition of God as the source. We're not saying we're weak; we're saying God's strength is perfected in our weakness, amen? So, I'm not weak: I'm strong in Christ. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13). That's humility; that's boasting in the Lord. We're not going around saying, "I can't do this" and "I can't do that." "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." So don't get into that false humility aspect of it, but glory in the Lord, boast in the Lord.

"In lowliness of mind." You're going to see what that is in just a moment. "Let this mind be in you [he goes on to say] which was also in Christ Jesus." What is lowliness of mind? It's making the conscious decision to serve, to make myself less for the glory of God. I understand who I am and what my capabilities are. Now, lest you misunderstand, don't think more highly of yourself than you ought to think. Some of you who think you're pretty sharp: you're not. Then others of us are pretty sharp. Come to grips with who you are and how God has gifted you. But whether you are naturally sharp, naturally capable, or not, the one thing we all do have in common, regardless of where we are on the gift scale, we're all proud, we're all selfish, and we have to deal with that aspect. When he talks about this phrase "lowliness of mind," he's talking about the natural tendencies of vainglory, of boasting. He's saying, "Take what's natural and choose against it to humble yourself, to be clothed with humility, as Peter says." That phrase Peter is referring to [symbolically] is [literally] what Jesus did--and it's exactly the same in the Greek--when He took that slave garment, that towel, and girded Himself, and washed their feet. Divinity, Almighty God, the Creator, adorned in a servant's garment! Now, how does that work? It's through lowliness of mind. He could not become less than divine, but He became servant. He could not become less than Lord, but He wore the slave's garment. Look what it says: Choosing, having the same love, being in one accord, of one mind, "in lowliness of mind esteeming other better than [yourselves]. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." The lowliness of mind: "I'm going to choose to start looking outward instead of inward. I'm going to choose." It's a heart that's universal, but we all are more involved in certain individual's lives; our lives run in different circles. Of those you have relationship with, are you really consciously looking for opportunities to make them better Christians, to make them more Christlike--in the proper spirit?

We use this phrase, and sometimes we misunderstand it: "Iron sharpening iron." That doesn't indicate harshness; it doesn't indicate pride and arrogance; and it doesn't indicate superiority. "Iron sharpening iron" is two instruments coming in contact to put an edge that will make the task of bringing glory to God easier. We're making each other sharper. There's a purpose: the glory of God. It's for your good; I'm here for your good; I'm saying this for your good. If we are all humble, and love one another, and prefer one another, then when you come into my life, my preference or my assumption is that what you're saying is for my good. You love me; you wouldn't do anything to harm me. It's obvious that there is some blind spot in my life that I'm not seeing; otherwise, you wouldn't be here saying that to me. You wouldn't be giving me this counsel if you didn't think I needed more input to make the proper decision for the glory of God. I'm convinced that you're not looking out for yourself, you're not trying to lord it over me, you're not trying to vaunt yourself, you're not trying to press your will and your perspective on me; you're concerned for me, amen? Wouldn't it be nice to be able to come to that place in our relationships? Do you want to know how to get there? Now, let me show you how the natural mind thinks: "Yes, I know how we can get there: if that guy would humble himself when he comes to me, this thing would work right." Let me ask you the question: When somebody comes to reprove me, which one, do you think, needs the most humility, the one being reproved or the one reproving? Anybody have an idea? The answer is: Yes. But who usually assumes that the other person needs more humility? Everybody. This is what we're warring against; and once we begin to prefer others, and we come to [one of] them saying, "He's going to be thankful that I've come to him. This is a man who loves God. He's going to know that my motives are right and that we come in light." We're giving no place for the enemy to work: we're coming in innocence; we're coming in childlikeness; we're coming in simplicity; we're coming in the love of God; and we're going to see people strengthened. Don't come in assuming they're not going to take it. Don't come assuming that you have all the answers. Come assuming that we're fulfilling the role of each of us preferring the things of others. "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God." What's that say? Well, you can read commentator after commentator after commentator, and they'll all give you different answers; so let me give you the right one, since nobody can agree. "Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:" this isn't necessarily a statement trying to verify the divinity of Jesus. The context in which Paul is speaking here is the context of humility, and he's saying that there is no greater example than God becoming flesh and dwelling among us: God condescending to become a man. See man's perspective of himself: "I will be as God; I will be like the most high." That which he embraced with Lucifer in the Garden of Eden, man's deification of himself, the Holy Spirit speaks here and says, "The lowest thing I could become is a man." Well, that will get your attention. Jesus is saying, "I'm God, and I have a right to all that glory; I have a right to all the benefits of my divinity; and, through the incarnation, I choose to put those aside. What I'm doing here, I am not doing as God: I'm doing as a man." We see this in other parts of the Scriptures, which agree with this. You see, Jesus did not perfectly obey as divinity. He perfectly obeyed as a man, "in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Amen? He purposefully, as the God-man, condescended to this life of obedience (he goes on to say), "unto death, even the death of the cross." "If I can choose to subordinate myself to put on this slave's towel, and wash your feet, then who are you? I am somebody. You think you're somebody. I, as somebody, became servant; and you, who think you are somebody, need to become servants, and you'll realize then through that process what you really are, and not until you choose lowliness of mind. You'll never know who you are until you choose to become less than what you think you are.

It's very important to make these agreements. They're decisions. They're decisions. You'll notice what it says time and time again as we go through this study. You're going to see that these things are quality decisions that are made. Verse seven says, "He made Himself of no reputation." In other words: He had a reputation. What better reputation can you have than this: God, the Almighty? There's a rep! But He made Himself of no reputation. He came, and humbled Himself, and became humanity; and not only humanity, but He chose, God chose, to cause Him to be born in that little town of Bethlehem in Judea. He grew up with the stigma of being an illegitimate child. He worked in the menial shop of the carpenter, and was referred to as the carpenter's son. He was esteemed, not one of majesty, not the great sacrifice for our sins, but He was esteemed smitten of God, judged because of His blasphemy, one who would dare identify himself with God (Isaiah 53:4). What are we choosing today? Making ourselves of no reputation, we took on the form of a servant. How do you really see yourself this morning? We're encouraged to do it quite a bit, but as you search your own heart, how honest do you think you can really be? How many of you really have a desire to be totally honest with yourselves, let me see your hands if you have that desire? [Many hands raised]. How many of you think you are? [No hands raised]. Now, don't be overly humble: How many of you think you're really pretty honest with yourselves? Let me see your hands; hold them up. A couple. How many of you are not purposefully slanting your perspective in your favor? Let me see your hands. [Many hands raised]. Anybody know that you are and would like to change? No you don't need to...

 

We would seem to think that humility, then, would be in those who raise their hands and say, "You know, I really believe I know what I am." That's not humility: what are you doing about it? "Yes, I realize that I'm just a liar, a slanderer, and a slothful bum; and I'm so humble that I've come to realize that. No, humility is changing, amen? It's not just in knowing what we are, it's in becoming what God has called us to be: in the Christ-likeness. Jesus didn't just know the theory of humility: He was made sin with our sin. He came, and girded Himself with this garment. He made Himself of no reputation. He went against everything He deserved for the good of others. He was forgoing what was rightfully His, choosing others' good, to prefer others better than Himself. Verse eight says, "And being found in the fashion as a man, He humbled himself, [He made Himself of no reputation] He humbled Himself, and became [here's the key word; say it with me: obedient. And He became (say it): obedient. He became--he became--You're starting to become obedient. He became: [obedient]. That's better "...unto death, even the death of the cross." We've been talking a lot over this last year about our own personal cross--the embracing of the cross, not the enduring of it--the realization that: "This is good for me." Most of us here, I would say, have more of an appetite for death than we've ever had: personal death, not only the theology, but the desire to be Christlike, not just the desire to change to become a better Christian, not to win the competition of "most spiritual," but, "I'm tired of being like this; I want to be like You, Jesus, I want to be like You. I've got one desire: I want to be like You." Why? "Well, so I can walk on water, raise the dead, and be seated at the right hand of God." "No! I want to be like You because I've seen you for what You are, and I've seen myself for what I am, and how You loved me while I was a sinner. I'm a debtor. I just want to be where You are. I owe everything to You. Without You, I'm nothing; I can do nothing. I have no identity without You. I am not, as the bride of Christ, Mrs. Jesus-Scott. I have no identity without You." "Well, I want to keep my identity." When you get married, your identity is your husband; if you can't live with that, then don't get married. I want to identify with Jesus. I'm not my own; I've been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:20). Do you love Him, this morning? Are you lost in Him, this morning? Have you become lowly in your mind as to your identity? I have no identity outside of Jesus. Are you boasting in your natural heritage? Are you boasting in your job? Are you boasting in the neighborhood where you live? Are you boasting in the clothes you wear? Are you boasting in your outward humility? "Look at me: I have nothing." Are you boasting in that; are you delighting in that; or is it in the Lord, and in allowing Him to make us what He wants us to be?

So, it says here that He humbled himself, becoming obedient to the death of the cross. "I die daily" (1 Corinthians 15:31): the taking up of the cross and following Him. So, here we are, just being called to humble ourselves, and choosing to become servants of all. Go over to the Peter passage for just a moment, and let's look at one thing there that I think is pertinent. We were talking, you remember, in our last session on Wednesday about a couple of examples of humility. We were talking about Moses; and we were talking about David in exile, as Absalom was taking over the kingdom (2 Samuel 15:25-26). In both of those cases we saw that these two great men of God gave us some of the best examples of true humility: getting out of the fix-it mode, the self-vindication mode, and just saying, "Whatever God has for me, that's what I want. The Lord of all the earth--the Judge of all the earth--does right." You remember when David sinned, and God told him: "Go ahead and choose what you want: do you want plague; do you want the enemy; what do you want? He said, "I just want to fall into Your hands, Your justice, because I know that You will do me good all the days of my life" (2 Samuel 24). That's a heart of humility. How are you doing with the trial you're in right now? Is your employer unfair and "this just isn't right"? Your husband isn't making the right decisions and you're not being treated favorably? Your parents don't understand? How are you holding up under these different aspects of life? Are you able to just say, "Hey, Father's put me here, praise God; this is the will of God for my life. God is ordering my steps. There's something for me to learn here."

How many of you always want your way? I do. How many of you know that not getting your way all the time is good for you? How many of you know that not getting your way all the time is good for me--because that means I get my way every once in awhile, and we prefer each other? The point we're making is that it's what we are in the natural, that, if we're not embracing that daily cross and dying to the natural man, the natural propensity of seeking to prefer self--it's a choice--will not come naturally. It's a choice every day: don't wake up and expect it to just happen. It's a choice: choosing to obey, choosing to prefer, becoming of no reputation, resting in God. "Oh, so you mean I should just rest and believe that, finally, that idiot of a boss will come around to my way [of thinking]; and that idiot husband, and those stupid parents..." No! We're talking about your coming to the realization that God is humbling you; and if you'll choose to prefer others, you won't have to go around the mountain again. They don't need to change: you do. "But, how can that be? I'm right and they're wrong!" No, you're both wrong, and God's right (amen?), because where you are is where God wants you; it's not about your perception. "Yes, but this isn't fair." No, life is not, but God is just (amen?) and God takes all these injustices and works them for your good and for His glory. The humble mind just says, "Praise God; the will of the Lord be done." Amen? "Father, if it's possible, let this idiot pass from me; nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be done." Amen? God doesn't say we can't put in our two-cents-worth and say, "Lord, the way I'm seeing this..." or "My preference would be...but I choose to become of no reputation. I don't know enough to boss You around, Father. Here's what I'm seeing; but with my little peanut brain I'm going to get us all in trouble so, what I would like is this, but I really want what's best." That's humility. "My preference is this, but what I want is Your glory; I want what's best for myself, and for those around me, but primarily for You to be exalted.

We'll start preparing to unhook with this. Romans 12: Don't think of yourselves more highly than you ought to think. How many of you think that would be a good Scripture to memorize? How many of you have it memorized--and try not to apply it as much as possible? The next time you come into a conflict, why don't you let that be the first thing you say: "Okay now, don't think of yourself more highly..." I just love it. We've talked about it before, but I love it: They go up with their microphone, they have this guy come out of his cardboard box on the grate down there, and say, "What do you think about the President's decision?" And he has an opinion, doesn't he? "And, bless God, my opinion's as good as yours." No. It's not. You stink, you live in a cardboard box, you've never been outside the city limits of the District of Columbia, and you want to tell me how to run the world. Don't think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. It's a poor illustration, but at your best you're the guy in the box. Amen? Now, when you come to grips with that as it pertains to God's wisdom, His ordering your steps, Him allowing you to be involved in the situations you are today, that's where you are. Don't think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Stop giving God instructions in how to change this guy's life and that guy's life. Pray in faith: "Thy will be done."

The reason most of us can't pray that in faith is that we don't trust God. We really don't want God's will; we want our will. We want God to come around to our way of thinking, but the Scripture says in 1 Peter 5:5, "Likewise ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder." How many of you think that's a law? Do you think that's a law? It is. It's not talking about chronological age: it's talking about spiritual maturity, the great cloud of witnesses, being followers of those who through faith and patience have inherited the promises of God, the admonitions of the men of God who say, "Follow me as I follow Christ." This is a law. Now, you're going to find that the next law is one the elders being referred to here always follow. Look at the next phrase: "... younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another." The mature man, the wise man, always does something: what is it? He always seeks counsel. There is safety in a multitude of counselors (Proverbs 11:14). The elder, the mature, the one who is not an adolescent, knows that he doesn't know everything, knows he needs help, knows he can learn from everyone around him, including the younger. See, the younger doesn't think he can learn from the elder, but the elder knows he can learn from the younger. The mature always understands that he has more to learn. As Peter is speaking here, and giving us these principles to live by, "Younger, less mature, be subject to the more mature," there's safety. "Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak (James 1:19), and be clothed with humility." Can you see Jesus for just a moment? You know, who you literally are in your own mind, whatever it is, what you actually are--not what you perceive yourself to be, but what you actually are. Jesus was the King of Glory. David was the king of Israel, and he chose to strip himself [of his royal robes] and dance before the Ark; and his wife was horrified at the spectacle the king made of himself. What's being spoken to us here is this: Regardless of what position we occupy in life, every one of us is admonished to clothe himself with humility--to take these servants' robes. I might be a king, literally. I might have on my purple and my gold, but in the kingdom it's going to be covered with this simple linen apron and towel, because that's who I am in Christ. I will not deny the fact that I am the head of this corporation. I will not deny that I have these intellectual capacities, this financial position, this social reputation; that's what I am in the eyes of men. But here's who I am in the kingdom of God. Humility is not denying that you're the CEO; humility is using it for the glory of God and saying, "Everything I have I've received of the Lord," not "Look what my hands have gained me." See, that's what he told the children of Israel. He said, "As you go into the land and I bless you, you're going to think you did it; then I'm going to have to humble you, and send wild beasts, and other nations, to bring you down, because you're going to think you did it."

Humility: This morning, beloved, regardless of what place you occupy, God put you there. Are you going to glory in it? Are you going to give Him the honor? "Yes, when He promotes me a little more and I get a raise." Why don't you just put the apron on and "humble yourselves therefore before the mighty hand of God," verse six says, "that He may exalt you in due time?" "Oh, do you mean there's a raise coming?" No, there's exaltation coming. Exaltation is freedom from self. To be exalted in the kingdom is to be free from self. To be exalted in the kingdom is to come off the throne and embrace the cross. Exaltation is being used up for the glory of God, trusting in Him. Look at what verse seven goes on to say. You see, the thing that keeps us from being humble is the fear that we'll be taken advantage of, that we're going to fail, that everybody else is going to succeed but us: "I'm going to become the least." "[Cast] all your care upon Him; for He careth for you" (James 5:7). Amen? That's humility: Whatever God wants for me. Do you really mean that? Whatever God wants for me. "Do you mean things like driving a Ford and eating at McDonalds?" Whatever God wants for me. Have you cast it over onto the Lord? Do you believe the steps of the good man are ordered by Him (Psalm 37:23)? Do you believe that if God is for you, nobody can be against you (Romans 8:31)? Do you believe that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His eternal promises and purposes (Romans 8:28)? Humility is just trusting in God's desire of good for you, and not evil, as we have said. Now watch (and we'll end with this): Knowing all of this, what would hinder us, then, from making this decision? It's a very logical decision to humble myself, to become as a little child, to embrace the cross, assures me of eternal life, victory, and God's presence. Nobody can be against me; no weapon formed can manifest itself. Why would I not make that type of choice, having come to understand this? "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil [as the accuser of the brethren, as the accuser of God] walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered [endured] a while, [been proven, died, humbled yourself, laid down your own agenda, become servant,] will make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you" (1 Peter 5:8-10). Praise God. That's the end of this thing, but there's a devil out there telling you it's not going to work: "It won't work for you. People are going to take advantage of you. Don't do it; you're better than that. You've already been proven; you've already sacrificed; you've already been through a lot; you don't need to go through anymore." "[God will] exalt you in due time."

Father, we thank You for Your Word, this morning; and we just ask that You would have Your way in our lives. Father, I don't have a clue as to how to go out or to come in; I don't know what I'm doing. I've just stumbled through life and found myself here, and have come to realize that You brought me. It's not my own wisdom or my own ability, and it's not fate. I'm right where You want me, and I thank You for that, Father. I don't know; but I know too much. I don't know; but I know too much, so I ask You: restore me to innocence; bring me back to a childlikeness. I don't want to think I know; I want to get up like a little child, and not have any worries, and just go play. I want to go play in the kingdom. I want to go out and play; as I'm playing, I just want to cast out devils, and heal the sick, and preach the kingdom, and see people saved, just out playing. No worries, because I have no treasures in this life. There's nothing here that I'm working for; I'm just playing: playing heaven, playing the kingdom. I'm not worried about bills; I'm not worried about status; just playing. Just coming in and out of the inner chamber boldly, having access to my Father, crying "Abba." I wake up in the morning, and there are Pop Tarts or manna: whatever God provides. I just cast my care upon You because You care for me. I have no care: I've got a Dad who loves me. I'm not as the Gentiles; my Father knows what I have need of (Matthew 6:8). "Man, you've done a great job. You own that beautiful home; you own that car; and you founded that business." No, I'm actually just a little rich kid: I haven't really done anything; this is all my Dad's, and He just lets me use it. I've got a good Dad. "You must really be sharp to have accomplished that." No, actually I'm an idiot; my Dad's a genius, and He just lets me play in the business. "Well, what do you know?" Nothing, except that I've got a good Dad. You ought to meet Him. You ought to meet Him; He'll change your life; He'll be good to you, too. Oh, your dad isn't that way? You're dad's a hard taskmaster? Oh, you mean the wages of your business are death? I get paid eternal life around here. "What do you do?" Nothing; I play; I'm a rich kid; I don't do anything. "What can you do?" Nothing. I can't do anything; but when my Dad shows up, everything gets done, praise God. He shows me how to do it: He says, "Do that," and it works; it's really cool. "Well what is that which you did?" I don't remember. I did that last week. I don't know how to do that, but when He shows up I'll know how. He'll say, "Go do that," and it will work. The innocence of a little child: no cares, no reputation, no guile. Just come and invite all your friends to play at Daddy's house. Be glorified we ask, Father, in Jesus' name, amen.

Let's stand before the Lord. As Gary plays for us, we'll take just a moment and glorify Him. Are you worried about things? You're too proud; there's not enough humility working. Are you fearful? You're too proud. Are you ambitious? Too proud. Self-righteous? Too proud. Legalistic? Too proud. Ultra-grace? Too proud. I've got nothing to prove: no reputation. Let's sing it together. Oh, just bless Him as you're singing.

You've said, "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5). We choose the cross. We choose to become of no reputation in this kingdom, that we might be great in Yours, Father. We humble ourselves, that in due time You might exalt us. Free us from ourselves. Raise us up in Your kingdom, for Your glory, in Jesus' name, amen.

Before you go, turn to somebody and say, "He gives grace to the humble." Amen. Go in peace: God's love go with you.

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