Childlike Humility
The Church's lack of humility and spiritual poverty is hindering a mighty visitation of the Holy Spirit, but God offers great hope if we humble ourselves and meet the conditions.
David Smithers preaches on the hindrance to a mighty visitation of the Holy Spirit, attributing it to the lack of humility and brokenness within the Church. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing our spiritual poverty and coming to the end of ourselves in childlike humility. Smithers highlights that God desires honest humility over new methods to remedy the Church's issues, as where humility is present, the Spirit of God dwells.
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What is it that continues to postpone a mighty visitation of the Holy Spirit? Why are our home groups and prayer meetings still less than glorious and fruitful? I believe the great hindrance in our midst is ourselves! We have not yet come to the end of ourselves in brokenness and childlike humility. The Church as a whole is still not UNITED in recognizing its own spiritual poverty. Standing in the shadow of broken promises and frustrated plans, many still refuse to admit their own failure. Many are searching for a new method to remedy the Church's dilemma, when all God wants is a little honest humility. Where humility is, the Spirit of God is always present. Where a deep sense of need is recognized the "I love you" of the Father is always heard.
Don't we believe the promises of God? "The humble He guides in justice and the humble He teaches His way." - Psalms 25:9. "He does not forget the cry of the humble." - Psalms 9:12. "The Lord lifts up the humble. He casts the wicked to the ground." - Psalms 147:6. "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." - Isaiah 57:15. God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives continual grace to the lowly and humble. James 4:6.
The problems facing the Church in our day seem endless and at times overwhelming.
Many with the best of intentions have created every imaginable ministry, equipped with an answer for every need. Yet many supposed needs are often only a shadow of the real problem. Are we busy answering questions that don't need to be answered? Have we been distracted, picking leaves that will only grow back, while never touching the root of our own stubborn pride? I am afraid that many have tried to improve the Gospel at the expense of Christ's call to childlike humility. The promises of God offers the Church GREAT HOPE!
That is, if we as a UNITED people will by God's grace meet the conditions. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says, "If My people who are called by My name will 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." Either God has lied to us or we are lying to ourselves!
Sermon Outline
- I. The Hindrance to a Mighty Visitation of the Holy Spirit
- A. The Church's spiritual poverty and lack of humility
- B. The refusal to admit failure and seek God's guidance
- II. The Importance of Humility
- A. The presence of the Holy Spirit in humility
- B. The recognition of spiritual need and the Father's love
- III. The Promises of God
- A. Guidance and teaching for the humble
- B. The Lord's favor towards the lowly and humble
- IV. The Church's Response
- A. Meeting the conditions for God's blessing
- B. Humbling ourselves and seeking God's face
Key Quotes
“Where humility is, the Spirit of God is always present.” — David Smithers
“Either God has lied to us or we are lying to ourselves!” — David Smithers
“The humble He guides in justice and the humble He teaches His way.” — David Smithers
Application Points
- We must recognize our spiritual need and humble ourselves before God to experience His guidance and teaching.
- The Church must meet the conditions for God's blessing by humbling ourselves and seeking His face.
- We must not be distracted by answering questions that don't need to be answered, but rather address the root problem of pride.