Bulletin 1 Peter 5: 6 (NIV) 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. For every storm, no matter its degree of potential danger, there is a way to remain standing after its passing. For that way to be taken, however, there has to be acceptance that the status quo is no longer adequate, that following this offered way is not just an option, but an essential requirement. The door of humility must be passed through on the way to successful weathering of the storm. As long as the solution is seen as positioned below, it will not be followed. Only when self is brought down through humility will there be hope for effectively accessing a refuge from the storm’s raging. While becoming humble is necessary for storm navigation, there is a need for understanding what this lowering is in relation to. Oftentimes there is a perception that humbling yourself requires thinking badly about both your present status and your future potential. Humility, however, has nothing to do with insecurity, self-consciousness, timidity or self-doubt. The required lowering of self is in relation to the wealth of understanding yet to be received. There is also a positioning below those who will be best served by any acquisition of knowledge or understanding. The only worthwhile significance in being exalted is to better serve others. When this is the motive, acceptance of all necessary understanding is activated with a passion for utilizing it for taking others through the storm as well. This is the required “weathering-humility” – lowering self in order to utilize all available resources, anticipating increased effectiveness in service. Jesus Himself modeled this for us so very well. He humbled Himself in coming to earth as a man, completely open to all that the Father would direct Him to. In His humility He was able to follow the way that would lead to His own weathering of a great storm with a purpose of raising up all those who will simply take on His same mindset of humility. Philippians 2:3-11 Notes Why is humility necessary in a storm? (Humility – lowered self) The lower you are, the greater the possibility of responding to an offered solution. To be in pride about your own assessment is to be in danger of refusing salvation because it is beneath your perspective. To lower self is to be positioned for both accepting and administering help. Proverbs 18:12-13 (NIV) 12 Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. 13 To answer before listening— that is folly and shame. Proverbs 18:12 (TPT) 12 A man’s heart is the proudest when his downfall is nearest, for he won’t see glory until the Lord sees humility. Proverbs 18:12 (AMPC) 12 Haughtiness comes before disaster, but humility before honor. Humility- Is not: Insecurity Self-conscious Inept self-image Self-doubt Lacking in confidence Is: Positioning below In relation to another perspective An opportunity to serve Looks like compliance What/who you are below is what/who you respond to Is evidence of developed love Moses Numbers 12:3 (NIV) 3 (Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth.) His humility: His position before God and his people Evidenced in His service Deuteronomy 8:2-3 (NIV) 2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. Jesus Philippians 2:5-11 (NIV) 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Our hope in the storm – humility before God/His Word Isa 66:2 Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word. Daniel 10:12 (NIV) 12 Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. James 4:6-10 (NIV) 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.