International School of The Bible
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Chapter 2
Watchman Nee wrote, "What is humility? It is not looking at the good as well as not looking at the bad in oneself. Hence, true humility is not looking at oneself at all."
I add, humility is allowing God access to look at oneself.
We stated in a previous chapters that often proud people cannot be convicted of their pride until they are healed from inner wounds, and that often that does not take place until "breakings" in their lives.
If you are a "below the line person" then these following comparisons could help to convict you. If you are an above the line person, then may God have mercy on you! Hurry up and reach your desperation point, and then enjoy your journey back to life.
Warning: We are banished from God's presence by pride.
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Lies |
Truth |
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Does not respect authority |
Quick submission to authority |
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Always talking about one's self |
Usually more concerned with someone else |
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Often attempting to promote themselves |
Rejoicing when others are promoted |
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Often looking for affirmation |
Giving affirmation to others |
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Cannot stand to be convicted or corrected of wrongdoing |
Quick to repent to correction |
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Full of self will |
Always submitting to God's will |
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Pr 11:2 When pride comes, then comes shame. Often shame causes pride, then a vicious cycle occurs |
But with the humble is wisdom. |
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Pr 13:10 By pride comes nothing but strife, |
But with the well-advised is wisdom |
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Eze 16:49 “Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. |
Imagine the opposite of Ezekiel 16:49 |
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Ob 3 The pride of your heart has deceived you
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Humility keeps you from being self deceived |
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Zep 2:10 This they shall have for their pride, Because they have reproached and made arrogant threats Against the people of the LORD of hosts. |
Humility does not speak against God's people |
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Believing your own feelings and thoughts |
Believing the Word of God |
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Justifying one's self |
Allowing God to justify |
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Constantly blaming others |
Accept proper blame on one's self |
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Bragging about one's accomplishments or knowledge |
Allowing God to exalt you in due time, or not at all |
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Correcting a wrong doer with arrogance |
2Ti 2:25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, |
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Speaking evil of others |
Tit 3:2 to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men. |
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Demanding your own rights |
Allowing Jesus to be your advocate, lawyer |
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Feeling that others should serve you, and always expecting others to do the menial tasks. |
Being a servant and seeking menial tasks. |
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Complains |
Does not complain |
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Judges others |
Allows God to judge him/herself |
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Hides the root wounds and negative issues |
Brings to light wounds and sin |
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Imagine the opposite |
1 Co 13:4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily |
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Imagine the opposite |
1 Co 13:5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. |
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Imagine the opposite |
1 Co 13: 7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. |
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Imagine the opposite |
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. |
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Imagine the opposite |
Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. |
Humility is not an emotion, it is an act of the will.
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering” (Colossians 3:12).
“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. 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” (1 Peter 5:5).
7 down and 7 up. The way up is the way down.
Taken from the audio teaching of Derek Prince.
Philippians 2:5-11 shows the seven steps down that Jesus took into humility. Even He needed to put on humility. It then shows the seven steps up wherein God exalted Him.
Seven down.
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.
1. who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God
2 but made Himself of no reputation
3. taking the form of a bondservant
4. coming in the likeness of men.
5. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself
6. became obedient to the point of death
7. even the death of the cross.
Seven up.
1.Therefore God also has highly exalted Him
2. and given Him the name which is above every name
3. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow
4. of those in heaven,
5. and of those on earth,
6. and of those under the earth,
7. and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord
to the glory of God the Father.