The Marriage of Faith and Humility

The Marriage of Faith and Humility
(En Español)

We cannot advance spiritually without both faith and humility. Indeed, faith without humility inevitably becomes presumption, while humility without faith never ascends above oppression.

Consider: faith's nature, in part, is to possess the promises of God. Israel was commanded by the Almighty to possess the Promised Land. Scriptures tell us that without faith it is impossible to please God and that whatever is done without faith is sin (Heb. 11:6; Rom. 14:23). Thus, faith unites the human heart to God. As a result, the sinful appropriate God's righteousness, and those who were dead gain access to God's life. Christianity without faith is like a computer without electricity: the circuits of "proper knowledge" may be in place, but there is no light, no power nor functionality.
Yet where faith possesses, humility surrenders. Consider Christ as our example. There will be a time when every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:10-11); the kingdoms of this world will finally become the kingdom of our Lord (Rev. 11:15). However, Christ's reaction to subduing the world is He then "hands over the kingdom to the . . . Father" (1 Cor. 15:24). This is the humility of Christ: what He conquers, He then surrenders. In America we want the first part, having faith to conquer, but we're not sure we want the second part, giving it back to God. Yet this is the pattern of those who have followed God: Abraham believes God and a son is born; humility takes Isaac and offers him back to God. David conquers Jerusalem then dedicates it to the Lord, calling it the "city of God."
You see, the motive behind the exercise of our faith must mature until what we've appropriated through faith becomes an offering we now surrender back to God. Our goal is not only to create a better life here but, through surrender, to extend the Kingdom of God to earth. Faith brings to earth Heaven's provisions; surrender brings God's presence into those provisions.

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All of us serving here thank you for your prayers and support. May this new year see breakthroughs into the Lord's presence like never before!
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