See also Religion, Humility, and False Humility — Part 2
In my study on Humility, this is my definition: I personally believe that to be humble is to have a modest opinion of self, and to disregard all concern for rank and privilege or whatever authority you hold.
By keeping The LORD first in our lives and giving God all the glory, not self-serving but in self less serving.
Biblical humility is to live a life of service and to prefer even to the least of those in the body because you did it as unto The LORD.
To know humility — in my modest opinion — is to study the life of Christ who was our perfect example of humility before God.
False humility masks pride; it’s subtle. In all interactions with others, it is good daily in prayer to ask The LORD to keep us humble, broken and lowly of heart.
False humility is cloaked pride and not easy to spot. For instance, I may demean myself, for I am no one, I work as the janitor, or I work in a kitchen, and you may not realize it, but it is negative attention to be seen or known, and its false humility for man’s sake.
Everything we do we should do as unto The LORD without expecting anything from anyone.
What we do in secret will be rewarded openly. What we do in secret is what God judges. When we do it for someone else to see our demeaning actions, we may not even realize it, but we are twisting our actions for negative attention.
We got our reward already. By discrediting self, you may appear humble, but this is false humility, and it is cloaked pride.
Also giving should be in secret, not so people see what you give. Remember the woman giving a mite? It’s a very small contribution, but Jesus said she gave more than them all. (Mark 12:41-44)
“God is watching what we do in secret. He rewards what we do in secret.” Matthew 6:4
“Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:19 KJV
Reader, this is something God taught me at his feet, something I lived through not something I learned by theory or at a Bible college — and The LORD inspired me to share a few of my experiences with you.
Religious spirits are very apt with their level of influence to work against the mind, heart, and desire of Christ through The LORD’s faithful messengers.
The same spirit worked in Saul before he became Paul. Jesus said, “Saul why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4)
Religion plain and simple is a return to bondage. Religion is not a loving, accepting, working, growing, faith filled relationship with Christ.
Many Churches are filled or a mixture with a religious spirit, and it can operate in God’s People when they are immature or off base in part of their lives.
But if it is on the leadership it will get on the flock. It can be extremely spiritual, but you need to ask what spirit is it?
It is very deceptive, and it will look, feel, and seem like the real thing. That is why it is so dangerous!
You cannot base anything at face value or by feelings. Feelings and looks are fleeting and if we base our lives by that we will be tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine….
The religious peddle their wares and brand offering their people what they have. Birds of a feather flock together.
They do it to win control, they will manipulate you right into their way of thinking and once you seem to be part and settled in what you thought would be the group, they drop you!
The question is, why are you letting them manipulate you and lead you when you should be asking God to lead you in secret?
All conflicts in Jesus’ life were in dealing with the religious spirits of his day. This type of spirit still abides and resides in a lot of mixture-Churches and religious-Churches.
When a self-confessed believer who thinks they are discerning you or a busybody in other people’s affairs they think that their so-called discernment is actually the accuser of the brethren. There are signs we must be aware of. Let no man move you from your steadfast faith in Christ.
“Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God.” Colossians 2:18-19
It is not some sort of social club where you are to be initiated into the core group!
HEY, they say, “Let us coax this one in and include them in the group,” and with their invitation they exclaim, “YOU WILL BE LIKE US!” Sounds familiar doesn’t it?
They seek people to number and manipulate them then once they get you they drop you and the politics begins. It seems to me that it is Eden all over again this time all that was left was the apple core. (2 Corinthians 2:17)
Look at their leader’s charisma and the influence they have. They are quite popular, self-seeking, but with motivation without a sincere heart and desire for the truth.
Their speech can be very daunting and backed with scripture no less but twisted! However, there is something so subtle going on and if we don’t see it can bring us under the same bondage of that religious system.
The Bible says to study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that needed not to be ashamed rightly dividing The Word of Truth. (2 Timothy2:15)
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore, you will receive greater condemnation. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves.” Matthew 23:13-15 NJKV
Now Study the whole chapter!
See also Religion, Humility, and False Humility — Part 2
In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey
New Beginning Christian Ministries International 