To day I will look at humility enjoined as it applies to those who seek to return to GOD. But again I want to look at what was written by Pastor Hoekstra as found in my e-sword program. And then using the ESV translation look at our being enjoined by humility.
"The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ"
"For you know the Grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (2Corinthians 8:9)
"GOD wants us to know His Grace. He wants us to learn about it, and then to experience it at work in our lives. Grace has been described as "unmerited favor." But as we have been learning it is more the Benefit of our Benefactor. The acrostic, "GOD's Riches At Christ's Expense," catches more of its majesty. Grace is GOD freely providing for us (as we trust in the work of His Son) all that we will ever need, all that we will ever yearn for, all that He has commanded us to walk in and committed and commuted to us, realities that we could never produce on our own, could never earn, and could never deserve. Grace offers what every human desperately needs, but what GOD alone can provide.
This Grace is found only in a person, the LORD Christ Jesus. It is the "Grace of our LORD Christ Jesus." Thus, it is accessible only through an ongoing personal relationship with Him.
Grace was made available to us by Jesus' willingness to take our spiritual bankruptcy upon Himself, that we might be able to partake of His spiritual richness. Before coming to earth below, Jesus enjoyed heavenly riches above ("that though He was rich"). He knew the infinitely rich fellowship of the Father and the Spirit. He received the rich worship of angelic beings. He enjoyed the limitless prerogatives of deity.
Then, for our benefit, Jesus voluntarily became poor ("for your sakes He became poor"). He humbled Himself to walk as a man among sinful humanity. He who was adored above became despised below. He Who shined forth in glorious Divinity in heaven was clothed in humble humanity on earth. He Who created all things was slain by those He created. He Who always existed in eternity past died in time. He Who was Holy took our sin upon Himself.
Through these workings of His Grace, all who believe Him would become spiritually rich ("that you through His poverty might become rich"). Now, we whose "righteousness were as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) have become "the righteousness of GOD in Him" (2Corinthians 5:21). We "who once were not a people . . . are now the people of GOD" (1Peter 2:10). Now, we have been "blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).
Humility Enjoined:
Micah 6:6-8 "With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before GOD on high? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?" He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Luke 14:7-11 Now He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by Him, and He Who invited you both will come and say to you, 'Give your place to this person,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Luke 22:24-27 "A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves. For who is the greater, one who reclines at table or one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am among you as the one who serves."
Romans 11:17-24 "But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. (Paul here reveals a secret that is hidden in the LORD) Then you will say, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if GOD did not spare the natural branches, neither will HE spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of GODd: severity toward those who have fallen, but GOD's kindness to you, provided you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off. And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again. (this is the ancient promise to the heirs of Abraham, as his natural seed) For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree."
Romans 12:1-8 "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of GOD, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to GOD, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the Will of GOD, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the Grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that GOD has assigned. For as in One Body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are One Body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the Grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness."
Philippians 2:1-11 "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from Love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of One mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Having this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though He was in the form of GOD, did not count equality with GOD a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore GOD has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of GOD the Father."
James 4:1-10 "What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your own passions. You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity (hostility) with GOD? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of GOD. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that He has made to dwell in us"? But He gives more Grace. Therefore it says, "GOD opposes the proud, but gives Grace to the humble." Submit yourselves therefore to GOD. Resist the devil, and he will flee from your fleshly members. Draw near to GOD, and HE will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the LORD, and He will exalt you."
1Peter 5:1-7, 8-11 "So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of GOD that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as GOD would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. When the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "GOD opposes the proud but gives Grace to the humble." Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of GOD so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.
Be sober-minded; be watchful for your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the GOD of all Grace, Who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen."
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