Humility and Self-Abasement VS Fearing and Honoring God－極大的奧秘

Humility and Self-Abasement VS Fearing and Honoring God

1 Peter 5:6 "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time"

Proverbs 1:7 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"

Proverbs 22:4"Humility is the fear of the Lord; its wages are riches and honor and life"

Theme	Humility and Self-Abasement	Fearing and Honoring God	Relationship Between the Two
Definition	- Voluntarily lowering one's status and pride - Acknowledging personal limitations and weakness - Willingness to submit to a higher authority	- Attitude of reverence and honor towards God - Respecting God in every matter - Recognizing God's greatness and omnipotence	- Interdependent spiritual qualities - Twin wings of spiritual growth - Shared pathway to intimacy with God
Biblical Basis	- James 4:10 "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up"	- Psalm 86:11 "Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness"	- Psalm 25:9 "He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way"
Distinction	- Focuses on personal internal attitude change - An active choice of self-abasement - Emphasizes self-awareness	- Focuses on attitude and response to God - Expression of devotion and worship - Emphasizes knowledge of and submission to God	- Humility is an internal state - Fear of God is an external manifestation - Mutually causal and inseparable
Practical Application	- Avoiding competition and self-exaltation - Willingness to serve others - Accepting criticism and discipline	- Avoiding evil - Respecting God's will - Submitting to God in life	- Humility enables true fear of God - Fear of God leads to deeper humility - Jointly shaping spiritual character
Spiritual Significance	- Pathway to spiritual growth - Preparing to receive God's blessing and elevation - Breaking self-centeredness	- Obtaining the beginning of wisdom - Protecting believers from sin - Receiving God's mercy and grace	- Marker of spiritual maturity - Bringing closer relationship with God - Opening spiritual insight
Internal Motivation	- Out of love and submission to God - Recognizing one's true nature - Voluntary self-abasement	- Out of reverence and honor for God - Recognizing God's greatness - Actively honoring God	- Arising from deep knowledge of God - Response to God's love and sovereignty - Total surrender to God
Outcomes	- God will elevate - Spiritual growth - Closer intimacy with God	- Gaining wisdom - Pleasing to God - Life guided and protected	- Receiving God's guidance - Experiencing God's blessing - Continuous life transformation
Negative Counterparts	Pride, self-importance, self-centeredness	Irreverence, rebellion, disrespect	Self-centeredness, disobedience, spiritual pride

Theme

Humility and Self-Abasement

Fearing and Honoring God

Relationship Between the Two

Definition

- Voluntarily lowering one's status and pride

- Acknowledging personal limitations and weakness

- Willingness to submit to a higher authority

- Attitude of reverence and honor towards God

- Respecting God in every matter

- Recognizing God's greatness and omnipotence

- Interdependent spiritual qualities

- Twin wings of spiritual growth

- Shared pathway to intimacy with God

Biblical Basis

- James 4:10

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up"

- Psalm 86:11

"Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness"

- Psalm 25:9

"He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way"

Distinction

- Focuses on personal internal attitude change

- An active choice of self-abasement

- Emphasizes self-awareness

- Focuses on attitude and response to God

- Expression of devotion and worship

- Emphasizes knowledge of and submission to God

- Humility is an internal state

- Fear of God is an external manifestation

- Mutually causal and inseparable

Practical Application

- Avoiding competition and self-exaltation

- Willingness to serve others

- Accepting criticism and discipline

- Avoiding evil

- Respecting God's will

- Submitting to God in life

- Humility enables true fear of God

- Fear of God leads to deeper humility

- Jointly shaping spiritual character

Spiritual Significance

- Pathway to spiritual growth

- Preparing to receive God's blessing and elevation

- Breaking self-centeredness

- Obtaining the beginning of wisdom

- Protecting believers from sin

- Receiving God's mercy and grace

- Marker of spiritual maturity

- Bringing closer relationship with God

- Opening spiritual insight

Internal Motivation

- Out of love and submission to God

- Recognizing one's true nature

- Voluntary self-abasement

- Out of reverence and honor for God

- Recognizing God's greatness

- Actively honoring God

- Arising from deep knowledge of God

- Response to God's love and sovereignty

- Total surrender to God

Outcomes

- God will elevate

- Spiritual growth

- Closer intimacy with God

- Gaining wisdom

- Pleasing to God

- Life guided and protected

- Receiving God's guidance

- Experiencing God's blessing

- Continuous life transformation

Negative Counterparts

Pride, self-importance, self-centeredness

Irreverence, rebellion, disrespect

Self-centeredness, disobedience, spiritual pride

In-Depth Analysis of the Relationship:

1. Mutual Interdependence
- * Humility is the foundation of fearing God
- * Fear of God is the motivation and direction of humility
2. Dialectical Relationship in Spiritual Growth
- * The more humble, the better able to truly fear God
- * The more one fears God, the more guided towards humility
3. Shared Characteristics
- * Both require active choice
- * Both are core to relationship with God
- * Both involve self-surrender
4. Spiritual Significance
- * Breaking self-centeredness
- * Establishing God-centered living
- * Opening spiritual insight

Practical Recommendations:

1. Daily examine inner pride
2. Seek God's presence in prayer
3. Learn to grow through submission
4. Cultivate a spirit of reverence to God

*Please refer to Thanksgiving 2024 International Conference: Living the Christian Life and Church Life under God's Administration for God's Economy - First Message: God's Administration for God's Economy