Bible Study on Humbling Ourselves Before God

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Bible Study on Humbling Ourselves Before God

30 October 2009 2 Comments

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Humbling Ourselves Before God

God tells us that he recognizes and looks to a certain kind of person. What qualities does he notice and find important in the verse below?

Isaiah 66:2–”For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD “But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.
God looks to someone who is _______, ______________, and who _________ at his word.

Dictionary.com says that contrite means “repentant”, or “having sincere remorse”.

What does it mean to “tremble at God’s word”?

When we look to God for healing and renewal, he tells us how we need to respond to him. What 4 conditions does God set forth for his people in the verse below.
2 Chronicles 7:14–and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
1)__________________________________ 2)________________________________
3)__________________________________ 4)________________________________
Jesus brings to light a principle of humility. Those who try to lift themselves up will eventually be brought down. And those who humble themselves will be lifted up.
Luke 14:11–” For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The apostle Peter brought to light this same principle
1 Peter 5:6–Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time

What does it mean to humble yourself under God’s mighty hand?
When we think of God’s mighty hand what do we think of?

The passage below lists 7 things God hates. What is the number one thing God hates?
Proverbs 6:16-19
16There are six things which the LORD hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him:
17Haughty eyes, a lying tongue,
And hands that shed innocent blood,
18A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that run rapidly to evil,
19A false witness who utters lies,
And one who spreads strife among brothers.
Why do you think God hates haughty eyes?
Haughty means to be proud, to look down on others, and to be arrogant.
Proverbs 16:18–Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling.

What brings about destruction in our lives?
What will cause us to stumble?

Jesus tells a story about 2 different men: a religious leader and a sinner.
Luke 18:9-14
9And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
10″Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11″The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12′I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
13″But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
14″I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Why was the tax collector justified?
How was the religious leader proud and arrogant?
How did he try to justify himself?
Why is it so hard to humble ourselves?

Jesus is the perfect example of humility. He was God yet he became a man. He was heir to the throne of Israel, yet he sacrificed himself for us.
Philippians 2:5-8
5Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,
6who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
7but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.
8Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

What does it mean to “empty yourself”?
How is humility linked with obedience to God?

James 4:6-10
6But He gives a greater grace Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”
7Submit therefore to God Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
8Draw near to God and He will draw near to you Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
9Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom.
10Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Who is God opposed to?

There are 6 things God tells us to do from the above passage
1) __________ to God.
2) Resist the _______.
3) __________________ to God.
4) __________ your hands and purify your ____________.
5) Be miserable and _________ and weep (over sin).
6) _____________ yourselves in the presence of the Lord.

Ways to Humble Ourselves Before God
1) Recognize God’s power and authority
2) Recognize my sin and unworthiness
3) Submit myself under God’s hand
4) Ask for forgiveness of sin.
5) Ask for God’s mercy.