“From the Heart” teaching by Drs. Rodney & Adonica Howard-Browne.
Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne. Matthew 11:29-30 AMP
Jesus offers rest for our souls, a yoke that is easy, and a burden that is light—if we will be prepared to take His yoke upon us and learn of Him. That means that we submit ourselves to His guidance, that we learn about Him and also come to know Him personally. We cannot experience the blessing of truly knowing Him unless we will humble ourselves to submit to Him, to His word and His Spirit.
For all these things My hand has made, and so all these things have come into being [by and for Me], says the Lord. But this is the man to whom I will look and have regard: he who is humble and of a broken or wounded spirit, and who trembles at My word and reveres My commands.
Isaiah 66:2 AMP
So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. James 1:21-22 AMP
If we want to be successful in life, we must have a deep respect for the authority of God’s word in our lives; we must be teachable; we must acknowledge that we don’t know everything and that we have something to learn. We must believe that God is speaking to us personally and receive it as such. Being teachable requires that we also receive and even welcome discipline and correction with a good attitude. This requires humility, repentance, and a willingness to change. When you come to a place in your life that you think you’ve arrived and you know everything—you have just proved that you know absolutely nothing. Be open to learn something new every day that you live! Know, and always remember this: God will pay attention to the man who pays attention to Him and honors Him—the man who trembles at His word and reveres His commands—and is a doer of them!
He leads the humble in what is right, and the humble He teaches His way. Psalms 25:9 AMP
The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord brings instruction in Wisdom, and humility comes before honor. Proverbs 15:33 AMP
Haughtiness comes before disaster, but humility before honor. Proverbs 18:12 AMP
The humility to receive instruction brings wisdom and wisdom brings honor. Haughtiness and an un-teachable attitude will lead to disaster.
I warn and counsel the elders among you (the pastors and spiritual guides of the church) as a fellow elder and as an eyewitness [called to testify] of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a sharer in the glory (the honor and splendor) that is to be revealed (disclosed, unfolded): 2 Tend (nurture, guard, guide, and fold) the flock of God that is [your responsibility], not by coercion or constraint, but willingly; not dishonorably motivated by the advantages and profits [belonging to the office], but eagerly and cheerfully; 3 Not domineering [as arrogant, dictatorial, and overbearing persons] over those in your charge, but being examples (patterns and models of Christian living) to the flock (the congregation). 4 And [then] when the Chief Shepherd is revealed, you will win the conqueror’s crown of glory. 1 Peter 5:1-4 AMP
The Lord speaks to those who are called as teachers and leaders to have a humble attitude as they tend the flock that is their responsibility. They are not permitted to be domineering or manipulative or selfish, but must rather be a godly example to the congregation.
Likewise, you who are younger and of lesser rank, be subject to the elders (the ministers and spiritual guides of the church)—[giving them due respect and yielding to their counsel]. Clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another. For God sets Himself against the proud (the insolent, the overbearing, the disdainful, the presumptuous, the boastful)—[and He opposes, frustrates, and defeats them], but gives grace (favor, blessing) to the humble. 6 Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you. 1 Peter 5:5-6 AMP
God requires that we all humble ourselves to respect and receive from those in authority over us. Many people have gone astray because they would not listen to the godly counsel of those who are older and wiser. It is foolishness for you to have a know-it-all, you-can’t-tell-me-anything attitude. You demonstrate wisdom in your own life, by your willingness to listen to and receive counsel.
Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom. James 3:13 AMP
