Humility
- Thread starter Vince Massi
- Start date
Vince Massi said:
I would think that humility makes one aware of grace, and the need for it, more than producing grace, but it's a fine line.
SEC
yeah, I can't beleive Alabama gave up the lead they had, shockingrsc2a said:
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2013
- Messages
- 1,829
- Reaction score
- 40
- Points
- 48
Walt said:
Valid point, Walt, but I cited three verses that teach that God gives grace to the humble.
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2013
- Messages
- 1,829
- Reaction score
- 40
- Points
- 48
Grace gives you the ability to succeed in God's work. And God gives grace to the humble. So how do you become humble?
There is more than one way, but let me show you one of them:
" Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God," 1 Peter 5:5-6
" God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God." James 4:6-7
Submission to authority produces humility.
There is more than one way, but let me show you one of them:
" Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God," 1 Peter 5:5-6
" God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore submit to God." James 4:6-7
Submission to authority produces humility.
Vince Massi said:
Yes, I saw the verses. Perhaps the humble man, aware of his need for grace, asks God for the grace that He then gives to those who ask Him.
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2013
- Messages
- 1,829
- Reaction score
- 40
- Points
- 48
Once again, Walt, you make a valid point. A humble man is more likely to pray for grace.
There is more than one way to get grace, and prayer is one of them.
There is more than one way to get grace, and prayer is one of them.
Vince Massi said:
I would leave out the "to authority"; submitting to one another is not an authority thing. My choosing to submit to others is more about me not insisting on my way. It doesn't mean that others have authority over me.
Submission to authority is certainly taught in the Scriptures; I'm just saying, as far as humility goes, that they key is merely "submission" -- which comes from not thinking too highly of one's importance, or, as noted, insisting that I get MY way.
Good thoughts and posts -- have kept me thinking about the subject.
Wow. Thank you Walt and everyone for your posts.
I'm learning and will be thinking more on this subject too.
The point about it not referencing only authority really helps me! It's about preferring others above myself.
That will be helpful in my dealings with a couple people.
Thank you! Great thread!!
I'm learning and will be thinking more on this subject too.
The point about it not referencing only authority really helps me! It's about preferring others above myself.
That will be helpful in my dealings with a couple people.
Thank you! Great thread!!
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2013
- Messages
- 1,829
- Reaction score
- 40
- Points
- 48
Grace gives you the ability to serve God successfully. Humility gives you grace. Submission produces humility. How?
The Scripture tells us to submit to one another because God gives grace to the humble. How?
Shortly after getting out of HAC, I was put in charge of our church's bus ministry and children's church, which was running about 175. Several of us worked hard, and God gave us about 300. But a coalition of women, led by the pastor's wife, seized the children's church and had brought it down to ten children three years later.
When I taught college in Oklahoma I learned that some of my colleagues had similar experiences, and I also saw it later when teaching Christian school. A person would be blessed with a successful ministry and suddenly enraged people would step forward, demanding the status for themselves. Without exception, I know of no case in which someone seized a ministry God gave to someone else and then made a success of it.
One way to submit to one another: stay out of church plots, power struggles, and conspiracies. People involved in those sins are not blessed by God with success in His work.
The Scripture tells us to submit to one another because God gives grace to the humble. How?
Shortly after getting out of HAC, I was put in charge of our church's bus ministry and children's church, which was running about 175. Several of us worked hard, and God gave us about 300. But a coalition of women, led by the pastor's wife, seized the children's church and had brought it down to ten children three years later.
When I taught college in Oklahoma I learned that some of my colleagues had similar experiences, and I also saw it later when teaching Christian school. A person would be blessed with a successful ministry and suddenly enraged people would step forward, demanding the status for themselves. Without exception, I know of no case in which someone seized a ministry God gave to someone else and then made a success of it.
One way to submit to one another: stay out of church plots, power struggles, and conspiracies. People involved in those sins are not blessed by God with success in His work.
Vince Massi said:
I'm not sure what "church plots" are, or what might be considered a "power struggle". Fully agree about staying away from conspiracies -- if nothing else, they tend to produce pride in the "I know things that others don't know".
However, one comment regarding church plots and power struggles -- it is every church member's responsibility to ensure that his church is adhering to the truth; if the leadership is abandoning the truth, it is honorable to fight... some may see this as a power struggle or a church plot.
I'm applaud the deacon in FL who stood up for righteousness and truth and was kicked out more than 50 people who KNEW that sin and unrighteousness were going on, but just left quietly and allowed the sin to continue.
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2013
- Messages
- 1,829
- Reaction score
- 40
- Points
- 48
And now time for a comical story.
The Baptist church we attended here in Mexico served cookies and coffee after church. My wife and I had started attending thirty minutes early to clean things up, fix broken things, and set up the refreshments. A small number of people joined us, including "the cookie nazi."
An elderly lady in bad health, she would count the number of cookies, divide by the number of attenders, and make sure that no one took more than their fair share. Technically, none of us had any authority, but my wife allowed her to arrange the cookies any way she wanted, and this made her very happy. All of us became her friends, and we would pray for her health, as she was in frequent pain.
one day some women showed up and began re-arranging the refreshments, rudely stating that that was how they wanted it. But we generally ignored them and let them re-arrange the plates. One of them explained that they had "seen the need," organized a committee (without the church's permission) and appointed her in charge of the refreshments. But there was little problem: we ignored them and did the work, and they stood in a group and took the credit.
And then one of them re-arranged the cookies on a plate.(Some people just love power). I was able to step in and stop the hysteria, and I ordered them to leave the cookie nazi alone.
The cookie nazi (who had actually been a nice lady) is in Heaven now, and two of the committee members were later involved in seizing the church and ruining it, which is why my wife and I attend an Assemblies of God church now.
The Baptist church we attended here in Mexico served cookies and coffee after church. My wife and I had started attending thirty minutes early to clean things up, fix broken things, and set up the refreshments. A small number of people joined us, including "the cookie nazi."
An elderly lady in bad health, she would count the number of cookies, divide by the number of attenders, and make sure that no one took more than their fair share. Technically, none of us had any authority, but my wife allowed her to arrange the cookies any way she wanted, and this made her very happy. All of us became her friends, and we would pray for her health, as she was in frequent pain.
one day some women showed up and began re-arranging the refreshments, rudely stating that that was how they wanted it. But we generally ignored them and let them re-arrange the plates. One of them explained that they had "seen the need," organized a committee (without the church's permission) and appointed her in charge of the refreshments. But there was little problem: we ignored them and did the work, and they stood in a group and took the credit.
And then one of them re-arranged the cookies on a plate.(Some people just love power). I was able to step in and stop the hysteria, and I ordered them to leave the cookie nazi alone.
The cookie nazi (who had actually been a nice lady) is in Heaven now, and two of the committee members were later involved in seizing the church and ruining it, which is why my wife and I attend an Assemblies of God church now.
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2013
- Messages
- 1,829
- Reaction score
- 40
- Points
- 48
No, we left because a small group of people seized the church after the pastor resigned. The church had been successful, and they pretty swell ruined it. This happened months after the incident with the cookies.
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2013
- Messages
- 1,829
- Reaction score
- 40
- Points
- 48
He felt called to be a missionary evangelist, and he is being blessed. It's been a couple of years, but when he is in this area, he stops in for a visit. Although he is a Baptist, my AOG church has had him as a speaker twice. He preaches mostly in Latin America, including South America, but mostly in Mexico and Mexican churches in the US.