Luke 14:7-11

Humility must be manifest in the life of a true child of God.  One must be humble and hold an overly esteemed opinion about one\'s self.  The opposite of this character trait is pride - which manifests itself in so many negative ways, such as haughtiness, anger, disrepect, foolishness, negative competition and the list is endless.  Philippians 2:3 admonishes us to have a true spirit of humilty - "³Do nothing from factional motives [through contentiousness, strife, selfishness, or for unworthy ends] or prompted by conceit and empty arrogance. Instead, in the true spirit of humility (lowliness of mind) let each regard the others as better than and superior to himself [thinking more highly of one another than you do of yourselves]."(AMP)

Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior was the ultimate embodiment of humility.  Philippians 2:5 (AMP) "⁵Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]"   One can only imagine the humility that was needed for the Son of God to reduce Himself to a lowly estate of becoming man in the flesh in order to reserve for us a future for the Almighty Father in heaven.  In humbling Himself on the cross at Calvary, salvation came to you and me and every other individual who confesses Him as Lord and asks for the forgiveness of sins.  This utlimate outcome of this level of humility is explained to us in Philippians 2:6-11 - "⁶Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained,  ⁷But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being. ⁸And after He had appeared in human form, He abased and humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the cross! ⁹Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name,  That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹And every tongue frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (AMP) .  Jesus\' humilty led to obedience.  In other words, for us as spiritual beings, it would be very difficult to be obedient to God without the spirit of humilty.

In our reference passage, Jesus descibes the need to allow God to exalt you and not operate in self-exaltation.  Some of us seek the ivory towers, the upper chambers, the high tables, the special rooms in a gathering of men.  Some people believe it is just being assertive and authoritative as a child of God, but take it to the extreme. Proverbs 25:6-7 (AMP) admonishes that we should  ⁶Be not forward (self-assertive and boastfully ambitious) in the presence of the king, and stand not in the place of great men; ⁷For better it is that it should be said to you, Come up here, than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whose eyes have seen you.

Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us the same thing and confirms the need to be bidden or called to a place of honor rather than to occupy or assert oneself out of pride and arrogance in Luke 14-7-11.  "⁷Now He told a parable to those who were invited, [when] He noticed how they were selecting the places of honor, saying to them, ⁸When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, do not recline on the chief seat [in the place of honor], lest a more distinguished person than you has been invited by him, ⁹And he who invited both of you will come to you and say, Let this man have the place [you have taken]. Then, with humiliation and a guilty sense of impropriety, you will begin to take the lowest place. ¹⁰But when you are invited, go and recline in the lowest place, so that when your host comes in, he may say to you, Friend, go up higher! Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit [at table] with you. ¹¹For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled (ranked below others who are honored or rewarded), and he who humbles himself (keeps a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly) will be exalted (elevated in rank). (AMP)

A child of God needs the Holy Spirit to walk in humity - so it is essential to pray for the Holy Spirit to operate in you every moment of your life.  James 4:6 states that "⁶But He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). (AMP)

⁶Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, (AMP) - 1 Peter 5:6

Grow in grace and retain the sprit of humility.  Your season of miracle is here!!

God Bless You!!!!