Embracing Humility: The Key to Spiritual Growth

Devotional

Day 1: Trusting God's Transformative Process

Description: Just as diamonds are formed under intense pressure, God uses life's challenges to shape us into vessels of His beauty and purpose. This process is often painful and confusing, but it is essential for our spiritual growth and future impact. Trust in God's hand at work in your life, even when you don't understand the reasons behind your struggles. Embrace the trials and tribulations as opportunities for God to mold you into a reflection of His glory. Remember, the pressure you feel today is preparing you for the blessings and responsibilities of tomorrow. [49:34]

Isaiah 48:10 (ESV): "Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction."

Reflection: Think of a current challenge you are facing. How can you see this situation as part of God's refining process in your life? What steps can you take to trust Him more deeply through this trial?

Day 2: Humility as a Key to Progress

Description: Humility is the hidden key to supernatural progress. It involves an honest self-appraisal and a recognition of our need for God and others. By voluntarily lowering ourselves, we allow God to lift us up. This principle is crucial in all relationships, fostering unity and favor rather than division and conflict. Embrace humility not as a sign of weakness but as a strength that aligns you with God's will and opens doors to His blessings. [01:14:27]

James 4:10 (ESV): "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle with pride? How can you practice humility today in a way that invites God's favor and progress in your life?

Day 3: The Power of Humility in Relationships

Description: Humility is essential for healthy relationships. Pride leads to conflict and division, while humility fosters peace and cooperation. In marriage, friendships, and church community, choosing to humble ourselves can prevent and resolve conflicts, allowing God's favor to flow in our lives. By prioritizing humility, we create an environment where love and unity can thrive, reflecting God's heart to those around us. [01:21:56]

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: Think of a recent conflict or tension in one of your relationships. How can you apply humility to bring peace and resolution to this situation?

Day 4: Experiencing God's Glory through Humility

Description: Humility is a prerequisite for experiencing God's glory and power. When we humble ourselves, God shows up in our lives, bringing His presence and blessings. This principle is true for individuals, families, and even nations. Humility opens the door to God's intervention and transformation, allowing us to witness His miraculous work in our lives and communities. [01:27:35]

1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV): "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."

Reflection: How can you humble yourself before God today to invite His glory and power into your life? What specific anxieties do you need to cast on Him?

Day 5: Jesus as the Ultimate Example of Humility

Description: Jesus exemplified ultimate humility through His life and sacrifice. He willingly lowered Himself, endured suffering, and was exalted by God. His example teaches us that true greatness and progress come through humility. By following His example, we align with God's will and experience His lifting and blessing. Emulate Jesus' humility in your daily life, and watch how God transforms and elevates you in His perfect timing. [01:30:47]

Philippians 2:5-8 (ESV): "Have 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. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Reflection: Reflect on Jesus' humility and sacrifice. How can you model His humility in your interactions with others today? What specific actions can you take to serve others selflessly?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we explored the profound journey of spiritual growth and the hidden key to supernatural progress: humility. Drawing from the analogy of diamonds formed under intense pressure, we reflected on how God uses life's challenges to shape us into vessels of His beauty and purpose. This process of transformation is not just for personal elevation but to reflect God's glory to others.

We celebrated Shiloh Church's 59 years of ministry, acknowledging the steadfast leadership of Pastor Javier and Pastor Melinda. Their journey, marked by integrity and resilience, serves as a testament to the power of staying rooted in faith and community. As Shiloh enters its 60th year, a biblical symbol of new beginnings, we are reminded that every threshold of opportunity often comes with adversaries. Yet, God promises to be with us, guiding us through battles to new victories.

The core of today's message centered on humility as the secret to unlocking God's favor and progress in our lives. Humility is not about self-deprecation but about having an honest self-appraisal and recognizing our need for God and others. It is a voluntary act of lowering ourselves so that God can lift us up. This principle is crucial in all relationships, whether in marriage, friendships, or church community, as pride leads to division, while humility fosters unity and favor.

We also delved into the biblical perspective of humility, emphasizing that it is a prerequisite for experiencing God's glory and power. Jesus exemplified ultimate humility through His life and sacrifice, and His exaltation by God serves as a model for us. By humbling ourselves, we align with God's will, receive His grace, and find rest for our souls.

In conclusion, we are called to embrace humility, trust in God's timing, and let go of our burdens, allowing Him to lift us up and lead us into the new and glorious things He has prepared for us.

###

Key Takeaways

1. appraisal and a recognition of our need for God and others. By voluntarily lowering ourselves, we allow God to lift us up. This principle is crucial in all relationships, fostering unity and favor rather than division and conflict. [01:14:27]
3. The Power of Humility in Relationships: Humility is essential for healthy relationships. Pride leads to conflict and division, while humility fosters peace and cooperation. In marriage, friendships, and church community, choosing to humble ourselves can prevent and resolve conflicts, allowing God's favor to flow in our lives.

4. Experiencing God's Glory through Humility: Humility is a prerequisite for experiencing God's glory and power. When we humble ourselves, God shows up in our lives, bringing His presence and blessings. This principle is true for individuals, families, and even nations. Humility opens the door to God's intervention and transformation.

5. Jesus as the Ultimate Example of Humility: Jesus exemplified ultimate humility through His life and sacrifice. He willingly lowered Himself, endured suffering, and was exalted by God. His example teaches us that true greatness and progress come through humility. By following His example, we align with God's will and experience His lifting and blessing.

### [74:27]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:49] - The Diamond Process
[01:59] - Celebrating Shiloh Church
[04:57] - The Journey of Leadership
[06:32] - The Secret of Spiritual Progress
[08:02] - Entering the 60th Year
[09:49] - Facing Adversaries at the Door
[11:22] - Prayer for Breakthrough
[12:56] - The Key to Humility
[14:27] - Understanding True Humility
[16:04] - The Importance of Community
[17:31] - Humility in Relationships
[19:12] - Personal Humbling Experiences
[20:33] - Clothe Yourself with Humility
[21:56] - God's Favor and Opposition
[23:22] - The Consequences of Pride
[24:45] - The Blessings of Humility
[26:10] - The Power of the Holy Spirit
[27:35] - Humility and National Healing
[29:14] - Jesus' Example of Humility
[30:47] - The Exaltation of Jesus
[32:03] - Humility in Action
[34:09] - Finding Rest in Humility
[35:30] - Trusting God and Letting Go
[36:18] - Prayer for Healing and Hope
[37:20] - Receiving God's Grace

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

According to James 4:10, what is the promise given to those who humble themselves before the Lord?
In 1 Peter 5:5-6, what are believers instructed to do, and what is the result of following this instruction?
How does Philippians 2:5-9 describe Jesus' example of humility, and what was the outcome of His humility?
In the sermon, what analogy is used to describe the process of spiritual growth and transformation? ([49:34])

Interpretation Questions

Why does the sermon emphasize that humility is not about self-deprecation but about an honest self-appraisal and recognizing our need for God and others? ([01:14:27])
How does the concept of humility in relationships, as discussed in the sermon, help prevent and resolve conflicts? ([01:21:56])
What does the sermon suggest is the relationship between humility and experiencing God's glory and power? ([01:27:35])
How does Jesus' example of humility, as described in Philippians 2:5-9, serve as a model for believers in their pursuit of spiritual progress? ([01:30:47])

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent challenge or struggle in your life. How might viewing this situation as part of God's transformative process change your perspective? ([49:34])
In what areas of your life do you find it difficult to practice humility? How can you take practical steps to humble yourself in these areas this week? ([01:14:27])
Think about a relationship in your life that is currently experiencing conflict. How can you apply the principle of humility to foster peace and cooperation in that relationship? ([01:21:56])
Have you ever experienced a moment where you felt God's presence and blessings as a result of humbling yourself? Share this experience with the group and discuss how it impacted your faith journey. ([01:27:35])
Jesus' humility led to His exaltation by God. How can you follow His example in your daily life, especially in situations where you might be tempted to assert your own importance? ([01:30:47])
The sermon mentioned that humility is essential for experiencing God's favor. Identify one specific area in your life where you need God's favor and discuss how practicing humility could open the door to His intervention. ([01:23:22])
How can you incorporate the practice of humility into your spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, Bible study, and serving others? Share one specific action you will take this week to cultivate humility in your walk with God. ([01:32:03])

Sermon Clips

1. "You didn't know then why there was so much pain and pressure and suffering you didn't connect it to your future but god your father was forming a diamond he was bringing all the elements together because he saw in you that which you did not see in yourselves and the lord said son and daughter now i'm promoting you and blessing you and allowing you to serve in this new position and you will be faithful in that but you will also reflect my beauty you will reflect my beauty to many says the lord and each facet that is in you that i have built in you will shine forth to bring inspiration to me." [49:34] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "These last 59 years have not been a picnic basket filled with cupcakes rainbows and butterflies this has been a hard hard work it's been a glorious work god has done some great and amazing things but the last 10 years have been you know like like your life filled with challenge and i have seen pastor javier and pastor melinda so courageous so strong standing with such integrity and just having a steady hand on the helm and shiloh would not be where it is today without these two so i would love for you to express your love and gratitude to pastor javier and pastor melinda come on when you have good leaders you got to say hallelujah." [01:06:32] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "You are entering your 60th year you've completed 59 years and you're entering 60 years and it's interesting the bible message of 60 means threshold it means entering into something new and i started thinking about that and pondering that because so many of us are on the threshold of something but we can't quite seem to move into it it's already but not yet and maybe that's you today one of the hebrew words for threshold uh is a serpent and i think that's um the threshold is what keeps the critters out uh from underneath the door but paul said in first corinthians chapter uh 16 verse 9 he said a great and effective door has opened to me i love that but here's the fine print there are many what adversaries so what we find in life certainly in the things of god is that there's a devil at every door there's a devil trying to stop you and i trying to stop a great church like shiloh from entering into uh the next thing that god has the enemy always wants to limit us but god wants to promote us and bless us and bring us to the next level of glory from glory to glory." [01:08:02] (86 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "I believe jesus came not only to die for your die for our sins but he came to see us healed in our bodies and see us moving forward and living an abundant life can i have an amen here and so i want to pray for you and then i'm going to ask holy spirit to drop this key into your heart in a way that you will never forget it you'll always know when i'm stuck this is what i'm going to do and i believe the next time i see you this place is going to be filled with testimonies of how god moved people through the door into the new." [01:11:22] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Humbling ourselves is the hidden key to supernatural progress. And in God's economy, if we take a lower position, he will promote us to a higher one. If we are willing to see ourselves as less worthy of attention, the Lord will make us the focus of his attention. If we want progress, we must learn the counterintuitive, secret humility. So what is humility? What does it look like? A lot of people get jumpy when you hear the word humility, because what they think is that, you know, humility means we have to hurt ourselves, or we have to hate ourselves, or we have to grovel in the dust. And people that have lived in pain like you and I, we don't want to grovel anymore. We're looking for healing. We're not looking for groveling. We're not looking for abuse. We're not looking for more pain." [01:14:27] (61 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "If we will do the humbling, God will do the lifting. Now, let me give you another verse or two here before we finish this message. First Peter chapter five verses five and six says in the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves. Again, we do the submitting, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves. There's a lot of yourselves in this verse. Who's doing the clothing? Who's doing the submitting? We are. It's a voluntary act. All right. So it's not, no one's oppressing you. You're actually humbling yourself, clothing yourself with humility toward one another. Now, this is very important. If you want your relationships to work, you cannot be filled with pride. The only way you're going to be in relationship with other people is to be humble." [01:20:33] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "If you're in a place of maybe, being stuck in your marriage or something's not working, maybe you're like this. Maybe you're saying, I do not know what's going on. Why isn't this working? I'm doing everything they told me to do. I read the marriage book. I'm at, man, this is, I am being defeated again and again and again. I feel so defeated in life. I cannot move forward. What is happening? If you're in that place, you need to step back and ask yourself a question. Is God opposing me? Is God the one? You say, that doesn't sound like God at all. God wouldn't do that to me. God loves me. Yeah, he loves you. And that's why he's not going to let you drive off a cliff filled with pride, filled with arrogance. He's not going to give you his power. He's not going to give you that promotion because in your present state of pride, in my present state of pride, I will do more damage than you can do." [01:23:22] (62 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "So the pathway, the pathway to everything that God, as for us, is always through the cross, never miss an opportunity to die. Never miss an opportunity to humble yourself. Never miss an opportunity to crouch down and go through the door of humility so you can move into the glory and the safety and the blessing that God has for us. It's the hidden key. And let me just give you one more and then I want to pray for us. It's time for us to go eat fried chicken. Jesus spoke about, a lot about humility. He washed the disciples' feet and told them to serve each other and love each other." [01:32:03] (53 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Do you know how tiring it is to try to control everyone and everything? How devastatingly exhausting it is to try to make it happen in your own strength. And Jesus said, let it go. Lay it down. Take my burden. I'm not asking you to run the world. I'm not asking you to fix your family. You can't! Lay it down. And let me humble yourself. If you'll do the humbling, I'll do the lifting. And when Jesus does the lifting, you and I don't get tired. We'll have energy. We'll have strength because he's doing all the heavy lifting. Come on. He's going to lift your life. Look at me. Jesus is going to lift your life but it's going to come not from you and I pushing and shoving fighting and scratching controlling and manipulating it's going to come when we let it go casting our cares on him trusting him to care for us." [01:34:09] (83 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "The Holy Spirit is here to fill you with fresh hope don't lose your hope keep trusting God humble yourself and watch what he does let's bow our heads we're going to pray Father just feel the pain in this room thank you that you're our healer you came for so much more than just the forgiveness of our sins we need the forgiveness of our sins and thank you Jesus for dying for us on the cross but there's so much more our hearts need to be healed our families need to be healed our souls need to regain hope purpose and direction Lord I pray for each person in this room and everyone watching online give them the miracle they need and I pray also Lord for Shiloh Church on this occasion Lord where we're marking your faithfulness we're not bragging in ourselves we're marking your faithfulness but Lord we're asking that you take us across the threshold as a church family move us into the new Lord move us into the next level that you have for us let us continue to march forward teach us to move in humility and to see great things happen for your glory this is our prayer this is our praise." [01:36:18] (110 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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