This powerful article is an excerpt from the Principles book from an article by brother Edgar called: Revival: God's Way Forward.
Below is the excerpt from the book:
A REVIVAL REQUIREMENT OF THE LORD: “HUMBLENESS”
Do we comply with God’s requirements for humbleness? “Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you,’ says the Lord.”691
“And I said: ‘O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens.’”692 “People shall be brought down, Each man shall be humbled, And the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled.”693 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart. These, O God, You will not despise.”694
“And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”695
“Let nothing be done through sel#sh ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”696
“But Jesus called them to Himself and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.’”697
“If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.”698 “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’”699
If we say we are humble is there proof? When is the last time we have wept for the sins of ourselves and our nation? Are we in lowliness of mind esteeming everyone better than ourselves? How? What is it that we do that proves to God that we are humbling ourselves? Is there any reason why God should listen to us? Mother Teresa had deformed feet. A fellow worker of hers explained when asked:” Every year we receive a hundred or so pair of shoes for all the workers. Mother Teresa insisted that all workers pick their shoes first. She would always keep the last pair regardless of size. Often she had shoes too small which deformed her feet.”
Pastor Wurmbrand had 18 deep torture wounds from the communists. His feet were broken many times and flesh removed to the bone. When he came to speak to a congregation in Toronto, Canada, he said: “Brothers and Sisters ask me to speak evil about the Communists. I cannot. You see I am at fault.” The audience gasped. He said: “ You see, I did not love them enough!”
Where have we shown such love for the lost among us? Are we walking on deformed feet or are we otherwise scarred for letting the truth of God shine through us?
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Footnotes:
691 2 Kings 22:19
692 Ezra 9:6
693 Isaiah 5:15
694 Psalm 51:17
695 Luke 18:13-15
696 Philippians 2:3-4
697 Matthew 20:25-26
698 John 13:14
699 Isaiah 57:15
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“Christianity was birthed in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and will only continue as we have this empowering from above. God is always looking for the willing vessels that will trust Him afresh for the impossible.” from: Principles for the gathering of Believers under the Headship of Jesus Christ.Since 2012, a growing group of believers in North America started to warn of coming persecution to western countries. This message was shared in a variety of ways. One of the responses to this was to compile a book taking principles from underground Churches around the world of how they thrived under pressure and persecution. The volume, Principles for the Gathering of Believers, had in a short time over 50,000 downloads in ebook format and much interest was shown. Some new house churches started through this and other existing groups were encouraged.