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Sow In Humility, Reap In Holiness People are not naturally holy. Biblical requirements such as blood sacrifice, circumcision, baptism, and different types of consecrations are examples that prove our need to be brought into holiness. The greatest hindrance to walking in holiness is a lack of humility. Jesus made Himself of no reputation. Paul considered himself base among men. Peter was a good example of a man filled with zeal but lacking in holiness before he endured the trials that brought him to nothingness. So who are we to think it should be any different for us today? (1 Pet. 5:5-6 KJV) “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” Yes, we are told to approach the throne of grace boldly, but we can only stand in the presence of God after we have first humbled ourselves before Him. If we chose to stand before Him in our own strength we won’t make it past the outer court. (Heb. 9:8 KJV) “The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:” If Christ is in us, we should acknowledge that we are the tabernacles. Before we asked the Lord to live in our hearts we had only the old nature, but now we have a new nature deep inside. The old must give way for the new to come forth. Our tabernacles, in the likeness of the biblical tabernacle, have an outer court and an inner court. The outer court is likened to our soul life, or old nature. It is the view of life as seen through the mind and emotions of our natural man. The natural man always focuses on the outward. In the outer court, man is ruled by his circumstances instead of being led by the Spirit of God. The inner court is a place where the spirit of man can actually touch the Spirit of God. If we are going to enter there and bring the fruit of inner court relationship to the surface, there is a requirement; we must humble ourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God. (James 4:6-10 KJV) “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” It is the holiness of God that shows us the error in our ways, and it is also the holiness of God that will change our ways to His ways if we humble ourselves in His presence. There is a day approaching when everyone will stand in the presence of God. On that day every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that He is Lord of all, but only those who believed Him enough to do it now shall remain with Him. -Kurt Thurston February Newsletter 2001 | Great Peace | Mind Your Own Business - part 1 of 2 Pastor's Journal February 2000 | Sow In Humility, Reap In Holiness | Inside-Out & Upside-Down - part 2 of 3
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Biblical Counseling for Leaders
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