Alex Adegboye

Alex Adegboye

Senior Pastor: Word Alive Ministries International

The Secret Place 5

Halleluyah! Nigeria has overcome the dreaded Ebola Virus Disease (EVD). It wasn’t just medicine and washing of hands that did that. Jesus did. We attacked it both spiritually and medically. It was in the wake of EVD, I started this series to make us see that we need a little bit more than what doctors, lawyers, accountants, architects and every professional can give us in the days we live to successfully survive. These are dangerous days and will get even more dangerous. If you don’t dwell in the secret place God has provided in Himself, you can find yourself in miseries and all kind of woes.

In the first part of this series, I talked about what, where and how to dwell in the secret place. In part two, we considered what it means and what to do to dwell in the secret place. Part three exposed us to the tenets of obedience because God must be obeyed. Also, it is an essential requirement to stay in there. You can’t expect to enjoy the benefits of whom you disobey. The city of refuge was the high point in part four. God has created for man Hebron¾the City of Refuge, as a place of safety to keep those who have fallen from grace and come short of His glory, from the avenger and their sins. In this part, we shall be looking at an essential virtue in the Christian life called humility.

The destroyer is running after everyone and the only one it cannot catch is the man who safely dwells in the secret place. It is better to be safe than sorry. It is dangerous to think or assume that you are dwelling there when actually you are not.

Humility

Protection is a solid promise from God to all His children. This safety is free and does not cost anything. Certain virtues will surely guarantee your safety in there; one of such is humility. Humility is a very important Christian grace. It is a virtue that accompanies salvation. Pride which is its opposite is sure to bring anyone evil. You can be proud and never know it. It will expose you to the enemy without you knowing.

In 300 AD, Saint Augustine gave a famous answer to a straight question when he was asked what the most important Christian grace is. He answer was ‘humility’. He was asked what the second and third is. He went on with same answer ‘humility’. The scripture clearly enunciates that pride led to the exit of satan from heaven. Walking with God requires you underscore this very important attribute.

Can two walk together unless they are agreed? Amo 3:3

According to Proverbs 6:16, God has a hate list. The first on the list is pride [a proud look]. A person with bad breath condition may not know until he is told. So is pride. A proud person may be unaware of this weakness. It takes a lot of spiritual strength to be humble particularly when you achieve some things or succeed. It takes a lot of strength to be level headed and be truly humble when you have power over people. That was the case of satan. He was so beautiful; as beautiful as the rising sun. He became bigheaded because of his beauty and wisdom. For this reason, God kicked him out of heaven. The one that was covering the throne of God suddenly became estranged; he became an enemy of God. Eze 28:14-19

14 You were the anointed cherub that covers, and I had put you in the holy height of God where you were; you have walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. 15 You were perfect in your ways from the day that you were created, until iniquity was found in you. 16 By the multitude of your goods they have filled your midst with violence, and you have sinned. So I cast you profaned from the height of God, and I destroy you, O covering cherub, from among the stones of fire. 17 Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; you have spoiled your wisdom because of your brightness. I will cast you to the ground; I will put you before kings, that they may behold you. 18 By the host of your iniquities, by the iniquity of your trade, you have profaned your holy places; so I brought a fire from your midst; it shall devour you, and I will give you for ashes on the earth, before the eyes of all who see you. 19 All who know you among the peoples shall be astonished at you; you shall be terrors, and you will not be forever.

Thoughts and comments on pride

  1. Pride is on God’s hate list. Pro 6:16.
  2. God expects us to have humility of mind. Col 3:12.
  3. The hallmark of true humility is obedience to God and His word. 2 Chron 36:12.
  4. Jesus is an epitome of true humility. Eph 2:8.
  5. God wants us to serve Him with humility of mind. Acts 20:19.

Your humility to God is measured by your obedience to His word. When your will clashes with God then you need to humble yourself to take His. Satan was closer to God than the other angels. He became too big for his shoes and was cast out immediately. No proud person can walk with God. God can’t exalt some people because they’ve already exalted themselves. It takes spiritual strength to do things well and be successful, and also handle the praises of men wisely.

The blessings of humility [the blessings of the secret place]

  1. It guarantees answered prayers. Pro 10:17, 9:12.
  2. It promotes. James 4:10, 1 Pet 5:6, Isa 2:11
  3. God gives grace to the humble. James 4:6, 1 Pet 5:5.
  4. Humility brings deliverance and healing. 2 Chron 32:26, 33:12, 1 Kings 21:27-29.
  5. A humble person is able to handle praises and achievements properly.

Manifestation of Pride

  1. Pride shows off in words. It has an undue emphasis in Me, Myself and I. Isa 14:12-17, Deut 8:2.
  2. Undue emphasis on what you possess and have achieved.
  3. Undue emphasis on your plans for the future. James 4:13-16.
  4. Undue emphasis on your achievements.
  5. Undue emphasis on what you wear. 1 Pet 3:3-4, Col 3:12, 1 Pet 5:5.
  6. Disrespect to other people particularly to our spouse and children. 1 Pet 2:17.

Conclusion

Examine yourself where necessary. Just make little adjustment for your sake. It’s not tough. Humility is the divine dictum that rules our lives and makes us abide in the place of answered prayers, prosperity, safety, and all the good things that come from God. There is a demon called pride. It restrains its victims from stepping out for deliverance. It uses arrogance, self-defense and self-justification to prevent their acceptance for help and correction.

Food for thought

When asked who the greatest is in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus said only the humble is the greatest. Mat 18:1-4

1At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Who is the greater in the kingdom of Heaven? 2And Jesus called a little child to Him and set him in their midst, 3 and said, Truly I say to you, Unless you are converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven. 4 Therefore whoever shall humble himself like this little child, this one is the greater in the kingdom of Heaven.

2 Cor 13:5 examine yourselves, whether you are in the faith, prove your own selves.

People may avoid you for been proud but the devil doesn’t leave you, rather he exposes you to evil in installments until you fall terribly. It takes obedience to God to be humble. Humility will keep you in God’s secret place, but pride will drag you out.

God is speaking; let the church listen.

Prayer

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults.

Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Psalms 19:12-13

Quote
You must be acceptable to God before you can make the gospel acceptable to people.

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