People God Uses Humble

Humble Surrender

James 4:10 AMP

Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].

We have been discussing the areas of improvement that God works on in our lives to prepare us for His service

Last wee we looked at the area of faith

This week it is the area of humility!

Acts 3:12 KJV 1900

And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk?

Marvel - amazement and fear leaving an emotional mark on the seer

Peter realized that they were about to worship them!!!

Some have a hard time seeing God vs the instrument that God uses

People have a tendency to worship the person God uses vs worshiping the God that used the person!

It is just human nature - fleshly nature that is!

You need to be sure not to stand on the pedestal people try to put you on

The crowd saw Peter and John as having some special holiness or ability

Those who want to be used of God need to come to the end of the self-life!

Galatians 2:20 NLT

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Notice that the verse says the flesh “has been” crucified with Christ

It is already accomplished! Your victory over the flesh is obtainable “in Christ”

Romans 8:13 NKJV

For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Paul to the church at Corinth

1 Corinthians 15:31 NKJV

I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

Luke 9:23 NLT

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

This clearly meant that in order to follow Him something must die for the cross was a sentence of death!

Our flesh wants to be glorified, wants to be lifted up, and wants to be worshiped and in control

Just look around at governments today! It isn’t about by the people, or for the people, it is about “look how important I am so I am entitled to all these things and you are not!

When we get saved there is serious problem that we need to overcome…our life in the flesh for it has a mind of its own and does not what to surrender!

Paul to the Galatians

Galatians 5:24 NLT

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

Yet it is a daily struggle

1 Corinthians 9:24–27 NLT

Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

So intense is the battle for control Paul said he “daily” had need to take control! How much then do we need to daily take control?

Isaiah 42:8 NLT

“I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not give my glory to anyone else, nor share my praise with carved idols.

The old nature - the flesh nature wants to be praised!

Galatians 5:17 NLT

The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.

Clearly we will fight this battle until the day of Jesus Christ!

Romans 8:23 NLT

And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

My spirit has been redeemed but my flesh is fighting against that

You see our old nature - the flesh wants served - baby in the crib - let everyone know they are not happy! IT remains with us all our lives

Today many have not grown out of the crib, they are demanding, noisy, got to have their way or they are going to tear things apart - Things must go my way!

Its the “me first life”

Those who live according to the flesh let their desires known and promote others to accept it!

Romans 1:32 AMP

Though they are fully aware of God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them themselves but approve and applaud others who practice them.

So what are we to do? The answer is simple yet difficult

Galatians 5:16 NLT

So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.

Reformation of the flesh isn’t possible, only domination over its desires

Romans 8:13 NLT

For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.

The alternative

Romans 13:14 NLT

Instead, clothe yourself with the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And don’t let yourself think about ways to indulge your evil desires.

We are new creatures in Christ and that is now our heritage

2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Walking in the Spirit meant to fulfil 1 Cor love chapter

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 NLT

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!

When asked which is the greatest commandment Jesus responded

1 Corinthians 13:13 NLT

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

We need to remember that His working is about Him!

Judges 7:2 NLT

The Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many warriors with you. If I let all of you fight the Midianites, the Israelites will boast to me that they saved themselves by their own strength.

Peter said to the people

Acts 3:12 NLT

Peter saw his opportunity and addressed the crowd. “People of Israel,” he said, “what is so surprising about this? And why stare at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or godliness?

The people God uses are the ones who are willing to take a backseat to the limelight and be faithful in His orders!