AUDREY DICKEY MINISTRIES
Glory International Center
"A Center for God's Presence"
Questions – Have YOU become the standard for everyone you know?
Should not the BIBLE be our standard in how we view others?
There are three ways to live:
The EASY way, learning from other people’s mistakes;
The HARD way, learning from your own mistakes; or
The TRAGIC way, not learning from either.
WHAT HUMILITY/MEEKNESS/KINDNESS SAYS OR DOES:
A humble person doesn’t think they are humble but are always striving to be humble and fighting against pride. They are teachable people and line up with what the Bible says.
A humble person is very thankful and has a tender conscious; sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
A humble person will ask for help, get help from God and then will give liberty to others to work and not always insist they do it their way (of course this depends on the type of job to be performed).
A humble person is quick to forgive and is slow to give or take offense because their lives do not revolve around themselves. When you retaliate God’s way this will involve controlling what you say to others (James 3:2-6).
A humble person possesses self-control and doesn’t react negatively even if he is being falsely accused, slandered, afflicted, and even persecuted. He will respond after seeking the Holy Spirit for instructions and direction. He will also wait for God to vindicate him at the appointed time if the Holy Spirit has instructed him to let it go and to trust Him to handle the matter. If you attempt to protect your reputation, you are being influenced by fear and are hindering God from acting on your behalf.
A humble person realizes they are forgiven of much and are quick to forgive others and are not easily offended. He will also pray for his enemies to repent and turn around while they still have a space of time to do so before God acts.
A humble person realizes their weaknesses, thoughts and failures.
A humble person is patient and long suffers with the weaknesses of others.
The reward of humility and the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life Prov. 22:4.
Humble people are peacemakers and peace lovers; willing to be quiet when things get too heated; they can let things go if the Holy Spirit says to drop-it, and they do not have to have the last word or need to be right.
The humble are first to apologize and willing to adapt themselves to other people; they don’t expect everyone to be just like them.
A humble person realizes everyone shows love in a different way and no particular way is exactly the right way or the wrong way. They know that some are not capable of giving love the way they expect to receive it, realizing the person simply does not know how to show love in that fashion or it is not in their natural make-up or character. The humble person knows that the other person or persons have a right to be themselves in how they choose to express love. The humble person is learning to just accept people the way they are. (Love is a gift and the gift on the inside, regardless of the outer wrapping, will nevertheless be the same gift on the inside once opened. – take your eyes off of the outer flesh and see what God sees as He looks at someone’s heart and not just what they are wrapped in).
A humble person makes others look good and he gives credit to others when it is due, instead of them doing all the work and he or she taking all the credit.
A humble person builds up, edifies and compliments others.
A humble person happily serves others with the right motives because he is not pre-occupied with himself.
A humble person is a giver in every sense of the word.
A humble person will do minor or unpleasant tasks.
True humility is in how you treat people who cannot do anything for you. This shows the humble person’s true nature and character. He will treat all people the same because he realizes that even though someone is not important to him, they are still important to God. To live in harmony you must recognize and respect the right of others to disagree with you, and you must do so with a good attitude.
Humility has rewards: (1) It gives us the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. Humility gives us access to God’s wisdom and favor; (2) It brings us wealth because a person is yielded to God’s way and they listen, learn and seek to serve; (3) It brings honor, it can be love and respect from family, friends, co-workers, and so on; (4) It brings good health. These are a few of the rewards that God empowers us with when we choose to humble ourselves to His Word and His way.
PRIDE SAYS OR DOES:
Proverbs 6:16-17
Romans 12:3
I Peter 5:5
Pride is a spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others for whatever lie they were told by satan that convinced them they are better than someone else. (Satan’s job is to cause division however he can, God says we are all His children and to love one another regardless of our individual stations in life).
Pride has the attitude = I’m right and you are wrong (usually based on wrong motives or standards other than the Bible). The wrong attitudes or behavior can cause one to lose everything in a day (a very short period of time, because we reap exactly what we sow).
Prideful people cannot be easily corrected.
Pride does not like being told what to do, difficult to submit to authority of any kind.
A hardened-heart when grounded in pride indicates that our will has been taken captive by sin and is unwilling to change. Therefore certain sins will harden our hearts in areas such as our speech (gossip, disrespect of leaders, slander, angry outbursts, judgmental, contention, divisiveness); resources (refusal to tithe, refusal to give offerings above the tithe, lack of compassion, materialism, greed, envy); relationships (refusal to end ungodly relationships. Saving souvenirs from ungodly relationships, fantasies concerning ungodly relationships); health (refusal to turn from habits and activities that harm our health. This includes overeating, overdrinking, overwork, lack of rest, and lack of exercise); our minds (intellectualism, holding false doctrine, rejecting the ministry of the Holy Spirit); sins of the eye (lust, pornography, unwholesome entertainment) and others.
Pride will make you over estimate yourself, think more highly of yourself. People usually will go one or two ways, either they think too highly of themselves, or they think too lowly of themselves. An example of a person who thinks too lowly would think they are “nothing or worthless” and so as a man thinks, SO IS HE. Instead, don’t think in those terms but know that to think lowly of yourself is not to think you are “worthless” but rather not to think you are better than others. Don’t go from one extreme to the other but keep a balance in how you judge or see yourself. Don’t justify thinking you are better than others because of various reasons and don’t correct it by going to the other extreme in thinking you are not anything, both are incorrect and out of balance.
Pride will cause false humility. Example = A person will speak badly about themselves saying things God did not say about them, confessing negative things about themselves in order to appear humble in someone else’s eyes, so others will think you are sacrificing for God and being strong about living in defeat. Example: I’m a poor sinner just making ends meet but God is good all the time, I think he may come through for me, if He doesn’t, well I’ll make it somehow. (This kind of thinking is an abomination to God, it shows a lack of faith and rejection to the sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross for us). False humility is also when you refuse to call yourself what God calls you. Example: not saying you are a prophet or a pastor or a child of the King or that you are Blessed, etc. will cause you not to walk in the blessings or gifts that come with that particular office or the position God has placed or promoted you to.
Pride wants to take credit that belongs to God, it wants to share in His Glory.
Pride will cause you to mistreat other people.
Proud people try to do things without God’s help (you are to pray, seek God and wait for an answer before you go forth in your own strength with your own plan, remember He knows what He purposed for your life and which path is the better one to take).
Prideful people care too much about what other people think.
Pride will cause you to stop being thankful for something you were once thankful for.
Pride will cause a person to be “touchy” (easily offended). Devil can always find someone to offend you and get the wrong reaction or the wrong response causing strife and you losing ground in the spiritual realm.
Pride causes one to be judgmental and critical of others. To look your nose down on others, not to value another person’s opinion is one example. (Good rule of thumb in how to measure = see the person’s heart and character then go by that rather than just looking at their financial structure or their way of living). When you compare yourself to another person and conclude they are not as good as you – say to yourself “But for the Grace of God, there go I.” It is all by His grace and mercy that you have what you have and do what you do. Be thankful and help someone else who may not have come to the place where you are right now. (There is nothing that says you have to ‘stay there.’ Realize it is by His grace and nothing you did).
Prideful people will become spiritually blind and they won’t be able to discern or are they aware that they are making wrong choices and decisions that will cause them to stumble and bring destruction into their life.
Pride is sin and God hates it and whatever God hates, we should hate also God hates pride and if you’re full of pride, you are full of yourself therefore there is no room for God. It is an open door for satan to operate in you and lead your life into destruction. The Heavenly Father is only warning you against pride to protect you and what He has given you.
CONFESSIONS OF HUMILITY
(When confessions are in God’s will and are made in faith, then God can honor your request).
The most humble person whoever walked the face of the earth is said to be Moses but we know the true most humble person was Jesus Christ:
Philippians 2:8-9:
And 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! Therefore, [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name…
Philippians 2:4-5:
Let each of you esteem and look upon and be concerned for not [merely] his own interests, but also each for the interests of others. Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in me which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be my example in humility].
Deut. 8:17-19:
And beware for fear that I say in my mind and heart, my power and the might of my hands have gotten me this wealth. But instead I shall earnestly remember the Lord my God, for it is He who gives me wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to my fathers, as it is this day. And if I forget the Lord my God and walk after other gods and serve them, worship them, God will testify against me this day that I shall surely perish.
Ephesians 4:29-32:
I will not slander others, depreciate, dishonor, blaspheme, curse, attack, gossip, backbite, judge, speak evil of and so forth. Furthermore, I will let no corrupt communication (complaining, cursing, doubt, negative speaking, unwholesome talk) proceed out of my mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And I will not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, whereby I am sealed unto the day of redemption. I will get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander along with every form of malice (spite, resentment or hatred). I choose to be kind and compassionate to others, forgiving others, just as in Christ God forgave me.
Thank You that I have the right attitude about life, money and myself based on Your word and I am not receiving fear, doubt or negative thoughts but resisting them and only receiving God’s Word with His continued hedge of protection for myself and my love ones.
John 15:5:
I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.
Psalms 25:9:
He leads the humble in what is right, and the humble He teaches His way. (If I am humble in what is right, God will teach me His ways).
Psalms 147:6:
The Lord lifts up the humble and downtrodden; He casts the wicked down to the ground.
Proverbs 15:33:
The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord brings instruction in Wisdom, and humility comes before honor. (Fearing the Lord with respect for Him and His teachings/commandments, teaches a person to be wise and they soon realize that humility precedes honor).
Proverbs 29:23:
A man’s pride will bring him low, but he who is of a humble spirit will obtain honor.
Luke 9:48:
… For he who is least and lowliest among you all –he is [the one who is truly] great.
James 4:10:
I humble myself [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt me [He will lift me up and make my life significant].
James 4:6-7:
…God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it). Be subject to God (humble yourself)…resist the devil [stand firm against him], and he will flee from you.
Proverbs 18:12:
Haughtiness (proud, overbearing, and arrogant) comes before disaster (destruction), but humility before honor (good name, outward respect, a person of superior standing, purity, integrity [reverence, and obedience]). If you are full of yourself you can easily be lead astray.
Proverbs 11:2:
When swelling and pride come, then emptiness and shame come also, but with the humble (those who are lowly, who have been pruned or chiseled by trial, and renounce self) are skillful in godly Wisdom and soundness.
Matthew 5:5:
Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous with life-joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth! (Empowered to prosper)
Matthew 10:39:
Whoever finds his [lower] life will lose it [the higher life], and whoever loses his [lower] life on My account will find it [the higher life]. (He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.) The Message Bible = If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to Me, you’ll find both yourself and Me. Ps 37:11; Ps 149:4-5; Isa 29:19
I Peter 5:6 NASB
Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.
Compiled by
Audrey L. Dickey, PhD
Christian Love Fellowship Church
HUMILITY VERSUS PRIDE
Colossians 3:12-14
Psalm 147:6
Proverbs 29:23
Proverbs 18:12