Genuine Revival: Humility

Genuine Revival – Pt 2 

What Does Revival Look Like?

Our answer from last week: Revival looks like a renewed first love for God! 

Answer from this week: Revival looks like Humility. 

Text: 2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Revival always begins with humility! 

• When humility is abandoned, you invite the resistance of God. 

• James 4:6  God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 

Pride is the greatest roadblock to revival. 

• Isaiah 66:2“This is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite and in spirit and trembles at my word.”

The more of God’s power you want revealed, the more humility you will need.

• Paradoxical: Trust in our own strength is our greatest weakness. 

• Revival is uncommon because the people of God will not practice growing in the discipline of humility. 

• Not one miracle or healing in the Bible occurred in the presence of pride. 

• Humility was always present just before a miracle. Just ask Naman, Zacheaus, the Jarius (synagogue official) etc. All three men of status lowered themselves before a healing occurred. 

Humility is our responsibility; God will not do it for you! 

• “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” 1 Peter 5:6

• Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10 

Pride prevents the church from perceiving and enjoying the glory of God.

1. The glory of God was lost in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve sinned. 

   1. Humility has to do with reclothing ourselves to reflect His glory. 

   2. 1 Peter 5:5 Be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

2. Later, Moses longed to see God’s glory, but he had to be hidden in a cave with God’s hand covering him so that the glory passing by would not destroy him. The Bible says that no one can see the face of God and live; Moses saw only God’s back and experienced His glory.

   1. Moses returned from the experience, and the glory shown on his face, and he covered his face to accommodate the people

   2. Later, the glory faded because man is never the source of glory, only the reflector of glory. 

   3. Why is there a 6,000-year battle between darkness and light over the souls of man?

   4. David asked, “What is man that thou art mindful of him?” 

      1. Man is an image bearer of God’s glory – the whole Earth will be filled with His glory as we reflect it!

      2. Satan wants that glory and in pride, the first sin. 

      3. Satan said, “ Isaiah 14:13 You said in your heart: ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God. I will sit on the mount of assembly, in the far reaches of the north. 14I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”…

      4. Pride stands in direct opposition to the glory of God.

      5. It is the act of seeking glory for oneself or seeking glory outside of the presence of the one true God, to whom all glory belongs. 

3. When the Ark was removed from the tabernacle, Eli declared “Ichabod,” meaning “the glory has departed.” 

   1. As a result, the temple, which was meant to be a place of worship, no longer had the glory of God, just as the Garden of Eden, once a place of worship, no longer had worshipers covered in God’s glory.

Revival begins with humility, which creates space for the glory of God to dwell with humanity. 

4. When Solomon built and consecrated the temple to the Lord, God appeared to him and spoke the words found in 2 Chronicles 7:14: “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and heal their land.”

Summation: Today, God’s glory does not reside in a garden, a tabernacle, or a temple. 

• Instead, God’s glory resides within us.

• Paul wrote, “Do you not know that your bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit?” 

• If there is pride within us—if we are seeking our own glory—there is no room for God’s glory. 

Humility, therefore, creates the space and place for the glory of God to reside.

The first step to revival is humbling ourselves before God. Revival cannot come without it.

1. Humility is not insecurity. 

   1. Many confuse the two, but they’re quite different. Insecurity stems from a lack of self-confidence—it’s actually another form of pride because it’s still self-focused. 

   2. Insecurity is preoccupied with how others perceive you, constantly worrying about their opinions. 

   3. True humility shifts the focus away from yourself. It’s about serving others, not worrying about what others think.

2. Humility is not false spirituality. 

   1. We’ve all met people who take humility to the extreme—those who wear false modesty like a badge of honor.

   2. Their constant self-deprecation can be exhausting to be around. When complimented, they say things like, “Oh, don’t thank me, thank Jesus! I’m just His humble servant.” 

   3. While there’s truth in giving glory to God, there’s also a counterfeit humility that’s really just fishing for praise.

3. Humility is not our first instinct. We aren’t born humble. 

   1. Babies are very self-centered. If they wake up hungry at 2:00 a.m., they don’t say to themselves, “My mom really needs to sleep, so I think I’ll just lie here and wait until morning.” 

   2. No! Babies instinctively cry out for their needs to be met immediately. As we mature, we should learn the importance of placing others above ourselves.

4. Humility is not a one-time decision. It’s not something we can check off and move on. 

   1. Humility is a daily discipline—a continual choice. Our selfish, prideful nature constantly fights against humility. 

   2. Satan whispers, “Don’t be a wimp,” “Stand up for your rights,” “Don’t be disrespected,” or “It’s your body, your choice.” And too many times, pride wins.

   3. But let me ask the real question, “What if I’m really humble and no one notices?” That’s the point! All we notice is God’s presence. 

5. Ultimately, humility is placing God’s will above all else. 

   1. The Latin root of humility is “humus,” meaning earth or ground.

      1. When Adam sinned, God reminded him, “You came from the earth, and to earth you shall return. – You’re just dust!”

      2. When we reflect on our humble origins compared to God’s awesome, eternal nature, we are reminded to approach Him with humility.

He gives more grace. Therefore, it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6 ESV).

• This should be one of the most terrifying and exciting verses in the Bible at the same time! 

• If you want to know how to be opposed by God Himself, then allow pride to control your life.

•  On the other hand, if you want all the grace you need, you will find it in humility.

Self-humbling is Essential:

• No one is exempt from the need to deal with pride.

• God does not make us humble; He calls us to humble ourselves.

• God can humiliate, but only we can choose humility.

• True humility comes when the Holy Spirit moves our hearts.

• Humility is not an emotion or a feeling; it is a decision expressed in action.

The Universal Law of Humility

• Jesus’ Teaching (Luke 14:7-11):

  • At a banquet, Jesus observed people choosing the best seats.

  • He taught: Take the lowest place; then you can only be raised, not shamed.

  • “Whoever exalts himself will be abased (humiliated), and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

  • This is a universal law—no exceptions.

• Practical Application:

  • Humility is shown by our choices—do we seek the highest place or take the lowest?

  • Humility is a decision, not just talk.

The Pattern of Jesus (Philippians 2)

• The ultimate example of humility is Christ’s death on the cross. “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus… He humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:5, 8b).

• Contrast: Lucifer vs. Jesus

  • Lucifer sought the highest place and fell.

  • Jesus had equality with God, but humbled Himself to the lowest place and was exalted.

• Key Point: The way up is down—the lower we go, the higher God can raise us.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

• Self-examination:

  • Don’t try to probe your own character deeply; the heart is deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9-10).

  • Only God, through the Holy Spirit, can reveal our true condition.

  • The Spirit convicts of sin, righteousness, and judgment—He puts His “finger” on the specific issue.

1. Acknowledge Responsibility to Humble Yourself Daily in Prayer

• Prayer or Pride is the question. 

• God commands us to humble ourselves—He does not do it for us.

• Humility is a decision of the will, not an emotion or a feeling.

2. Practice Fasting

• Fasting is a biblical, appointed way to humble yourself before God

• Ezra 8:21 “Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions.”

• Matthew 6:16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

• Fasting is not about earning merit but about expressing dependence on God and breaking pride.

3. Adopt a Servant’s Attitude

• Clothe yourself with humility—take a servant’s role, as Peter describes “putting on the apron of humility” (1 Peter 5:5).

• Choose the lowest place, not seeking honor for yourself (Luke 14:7-11).

Key Takeaway: Humility is not a feeling, but a deliberate choice and action. The only remedy for pride is to humble yourself before God and others through confession, repentance, and obedience to the Holy Spirit. The lower you go in humility, the higher God can lift you.