Good morning and welcome in everybody. Today we’re going to take a look at a passage of scripture from the book of Matthew, but before we do that I wanted to ask you a question.
If you got into your car, and wanted to go get groceries, what is the first thing that you must do? You must turn the key. If you got into your truck and wanted to take the family fishing, what’s the very first thing that you must do? You must turn the key. If you don’t turn the key, the vehicle is going nowhere.
This reminds me of the Christian Life.
In order for us to convert and become obedient to the will of God we must first turn the key of humility in our hearts, otherwise you are not going to get very far at all.
Matthew 18:1-4 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven? It is somebody who possesses the same heart and attitude that this little child had. When Jesus called out to the child, he humbly obeyed Christ and did what he was told to do. Conversion is a prerequisite to enter eternal life, and iIn order to become converted, it requires humble submission to the will of God. Genuine humility will result in lowering yourself, and placing yourself underneath those who have authority over you. Only through humbleness of mind can we yield to God’s purpose in our life.
1 Peter 5:5-6 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
The Heavenly Father resists those who are proud hearted. Three major qualities of the devil are pride, pride, and more pride. The devil does not want to submit to scriptural truth because he is a liar and the father of it. He doesn’t want to yield to God’s will, so he chooses to rebel and resist. He is the enemy of God’s authority and the places of authority that he himself created upon this Earth.
Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
We will always have an authority above us, whether a dad on the first day that we were born, or God at His eternal judgment on the day that we die. The carnal nature does not like being ruled or controlled, but chooses to live in a state of anarchy. Those who reject the path of humility will certainly be punished, both here upon the Earth and at the final judgment.
Hebrews 13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
It is only through a humble mind that you will submit to those who have the rule over you.
Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
Humility is the direct precursor to walking in daily obedience towards God.
Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
A humble person is meekly obedient, and will yield to God’s authority. Moses was used for great things by God, and was called the meekest of all men. He humbly submitted to God’s purpose and calling in his life, just as a wife is to submit to her own husband. God rewards obedience.
Ephesians 5:21-24 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
The Lord Jesus leads us by His perfect example of meek and humble obedience to the will of God.
Philippians 2:8-9 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
The only way to truly become converted and transformed is to yield yourself to God with a humble heart.
Romans 6:12-13 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
We must lovingly yield to God’s purpose, because sinful living and rebellion will only lead to death.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
God resists pride, and lifts up the humble.
Matthew 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Remember that when the Lord Jesus called out to men to repent, some chose not to. When He called out to men to follow him, some wouldn’t. When He called out to men to preach the gospel, some refused, but when he called this little child unto himself, the child humbly obeyed and stood by his side. Who truly is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven? It is they who possess the humble quality evidenced in this child. Humility is the first step onto the path of obedience to God.
James 4:6-10 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
If you really want to get down the path of conversion, you need to remember that it begins with humility, and it’s just a matter of….
……Turning the Key
Let’s think about these things for right now. We can be found on your web browser by searching, tlkjbc where you can find our diaries distributed through various platforms. We are not associated, nor affiliated with any other religious groups. You can get our entire podcast feeds directly, along with transcripts at tlkjbc.com or I suppose that you could find us somewhere up here, in the Great Northern Minnesota woods. Peace to you, and Lord willing, we will talk with you some more tomorrow. Till then, bye bye everybody. ❤️
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