How to ascend spiritually, first step: humility

Beloved, I am glad to share with you today on the sermon of Christ on the mountain, starting point of what has been called “the temple of truth’’. This spiritual ascension takes place in eight successive steps, the first of which, the initial step, is humility. It is then that one arrives on the esplanade of the temple in question, and that we will be to exploring during the coming months.

Therefore, these progressive steps allow all those who want it, to reach the heights of the spiritual life, at the end of the eight steps of the temple of the truth mentioned above. Recall that humility is that virtue that gives us the feeling of our weakness, which represses in us the movements of pride. It is also deference, submission, lowering. The Lord Jesus Christ gave us the best example of humility by leaving heaven to live on earth as a mere carpenter’s son, leading a normal life until the day of his baptism by John the Baptist.( The exception was mentioned in our previous message when he went to the temple at the age of twelve to speak with the doctors of the law).

Humility therefore highlights the fact that we are aware of our need. Hence this point of departure, when the Lord Jesus says: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” In other words, those who recognize themselves spiritually poor will receive the blessing of God. And these are those who recognize their spiritual misery and have learned in the trial, to depend fully and solely on God and his grace. Jesus Christ points the way to becoming a people who lives according to the will of His Father.

But, how to live humble?

• to be Christ servant: Mat 20:28  just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”  

John 13: 4-5 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.  

Ph 2.7  rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

• To repent : Examples: Israel in the time of Ezra: Ezr 10.1 While Ezra was praying and confessing, weeping and throwing himself down before the house of God, a large crowd of Israelites—men, women and children—gathered around him. They too wept bitterly. 

Job : Job 42.6  Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”  

Peter: Mark 14.72  Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.  

The prodigal son: Luke 15.21  “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’  

The tax collector: Luke 18:13  “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 

• Christ endured humiliation: Mat 27.38   Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 

Luke 22.37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

Ac 8.33  In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”  

2 Corinthians 8.9     For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.  

Ph 2.8   And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 

• Examples of humility: Jacob: Gen 32.10   I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. 

King David: 2 Sam 7.18    Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said: “Who am I, Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 

King Solomon: 1 Kgs 3.7    “Now, LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.” 

John the Baptist: Mat 3.14  But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 

The centurion: Mat 8.8   The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

The Canaanite woman: Mat 15:27  “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” 

Paul: 1 Tim 1.15   Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

• self-abasement: Gen 18.27    Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 

Ex 4.10  Moses said to the LORD, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”  

Mark 1.7   And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 

1 Corinthians 15.9   For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 

What can the humble expect:

• for spiritual service: Matt 10.42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”

Mat 25.23 And his master said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful in a few things, I will confide much to you; enter into the joy of your master.

Luke 6.35   But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 

Rom 2.10   but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 

• for having endured the suffering: Mat 5.11-12 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. 

Heb 10.34   You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 

Rev 20.4    I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

The joys of the humble will come from different crowns : 

The incorruptible crown : 1 Cor 9.25  Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 

The crown of righteousness : 2 Tim 4.8    Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. 

The crown of life : James 1.12  Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.   

The crown of glory : 1 P 5.4   And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.  

The crowns of glory must be thrown at the feet of Christ : Rev 4.10   the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:  

The humble will receive benefits relative to their humility:

Prov 11.2  When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. 

Prov 15.33   Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor. 

Prov 18.12  Before a downfall the heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor.

Prov 16.19   Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. 

Prov 22.4  Humility is the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life.  

Prov 29.23 The pride of a man lowers him, but he who is humble of spirit obtains glory.

Job 5.11  The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety. 

Isaiah 57.15-16   For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. 16 I will not accuse them forever, nor will I always be angry, for then they would faint away because of me— the very people I have created. 

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. 

Mat 18.4   Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

Ps 18.28   You, LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light. 

Ps 25.9   He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

Finally, we find through the above verses that  we need to lower ourselves to serve others, considering ourselves inferior to them, in addition to remaining faithful to all Jesus’ words. And then our crown of glory will be reserved for us by the Lord Jesus Christ in heaven. Don’t you want this crown already? I encourage all of you. Your spiritual ascension is well launched. Our prayers are for your effotrs in this matter.

PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS ​​CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR

I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows :

Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.

I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.

I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.

To you all adoration, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!

I would be glad to revert to your queries and comments if necessary, before sharing with you next week the spiritual realm or the kingdom of heaven.

May the Almighty  Lord bless you profusely.

David Feze, Servant of the Lord of hosts.