The "Ugly" Cloak of Humility

“…be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” [1 Peter 5:5 NKJV]

Few years ago, I read a book, and in it, the author mentioned that Jesus had given him a cloak in a vision to conceal the glory that increased upon his life as he walked closer with Jesus. According to the author, the cloak was somewhat “ugly”, a drab covering over what he described as great light and a shiny armor beneath it. He went on to explain that this “ugly” cloak that Jesus told him he would never be able to do without while on earth is humility.

I certainly believe that the man’s vision was from God, because it matches up directly with the opening scripture. Peter refers to humility as a clothing to immerse one’s self in. I once read a good definition in the Rhapsody of Realities Daily Devotional that describes humility as “subjecting one’s self so that others can be respected” [Romans 12:10].

Humility is not poverty. Many people have the mental idea that most poor people are humble and most rich people are proud. As Christians, I believe this is a misconception that we may need to correct in ourselves individually. The opening scripture goes totally against that “traditional” mode of thinking, because for the rich man to get rich, more than likely he must have needed God’s grace, which can only be earned with humility. And, we may also deductively reason that the poor man may have not been humble enough to receive that grace. When I use the word “poverty” here, I am not referring to an absence of required necessity; rather, I am pointing to a mindset – the kind that makes a man envy everyone above him and even speak/think evil of those who try to help him. The truth is that many rich people are humble, and many poor people may exhibit an unwarranted pomposity.

Humility is a quality of the human spirit. Sometimes we hear a person being described as humble because such a person dresses somewhat lower in our eyes than their actual financial “status”. Humility could not be more erroneously described. I love when God declared by Himself to Samuel in the Bible that “man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” [1 Samuel 16:7]. That a person dresses in a certain manner and tip-toes around as though wary of killing by-standing insects does not mean that he or she is humble. Humility is first of all a state of the heart, and it can only truly be recognized by God and the spiritually mature.

Humility is obedience to spiritual authority. The easiest way to recognize pride is through resistance to authority. King Saul was instructed by the prophet of God to destroy all the Amalekites and their livestock, but he thought that it may be wiser to preserve the king of Amalek and a few animals that he intended to sacrifice to God. That mindset cost him and his lineage the kingdom. God told him what to do, but he had a better idea than God Almighty. That is pride! Samuel went on to let Saul know that God is more concerned with obedience than any smart idea [1 Samuel 15:22]. Always learn to do what God wants the way He wants it. Never be that brother or sister that thinks the Pastor or his boss does not know what he or she is doing. Walk in obedience always!

Humility is believing and doing God’s Word. Never find yourself at cross-purposes with the Word. This is the part of humility that many have not understood. If God’s Word says, like it does in 2 Corinthians 8:9, that you are rich, you’ve got to talk that way. That’s what Jesus did! He did it so boldly that He was killed for it. If God says you are righteous and you turn around to say “I am only a sinner” in an attempt to be humble, you may have a problem. See Jesus in your heart talking to the most respected people [the Pharisees and scribes] in his day and saying [rashly] “ye are from beneath, I am from above” [John 8:23] or “I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself” [John 10:17-18]. He most certainly may have not “sounded” or “looked” humble while saying that, yet the Bible lets us know that he was humble [Philippians 2:8]. He was not braggadocios as some may have thought; rather, He was simply confessing what the Word had said concerning Him. Be humble according to God’s Word and not your own definition.

Samuel said to Saul in 1 Samuel 15:23, “rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and adultery. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee”. Pride is a rejection of the word, and it stinks before God.

Never find it hard to sincerely apologize for a wrong you’ve done. The way to be humble is through practice. Understand that humility is already in you as a Christian. All you need to do is act it out. You cannot make progress in God if you are not humble. Always be the one to admit that you are wrong when you are. Present your idea to your superior as a suggestion and not as a solution to his or her “stupidity”. Learn also that God’s house is not the place to be opinionated. The Church does not operate a democracy; rather, it functions in a theocracy. Therefore, you should learn to obey simple instructions that come through those people that God talks to the body through. With the cloak of humility on you, God is at liberty to make you great and do mighty things through you. Do not let anyone or any situation give you enough reason to take off that cloak. 

Please, share your thoughts about humility with the rest of us. God bless you!

What Is Good for the Giver and the Soulwinner

“Blessed are the poor in spirit…blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake…theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” [Matthew 5:3 & 10]

Discovering that the only two actions that result in the same blessings in Matthew 5 are “giving” and “soulwinning” was like finding a treasure. And, it is indeed a treasure to those who would take the time to observe and soak themselves in this truth that many have so comfortably done away with. Few years ago, I remember my Pastor saying to me that “there are two people God cannot do without – a giver and a soulwinner”, and I also remember making up my mind that day to always be both.

To step back a little, many have wondered what it means to be “poor in spirit”, so I think it’ll be a good question to answer first. Poor in spirit does not mean living an impoverished life or being “poor in one’s spirit” as many have erroneously believed. 2 Corinthians 8:9 states with no ambiguity that “though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich”. Here, Paul was not referring to spiritual riches since Jesus was never spiritually poor, being heir of all things; rather, the Apostle was speaking of material abundance. Also, we see in 2 Peter 1:3 that God has given us “all things that pertain to life and godliness”, so there is no way we could be termed as “poor in our spirits”. What, then, does it mean to be poor in spirit?

To be poor in spirit is to have all and yet have nothing. It is to possess all things but be willing at any point to lay them aside for Jesus or for someone else. To be poor in spirit is to hold on to nothing and live without holding back in giving. In order to be that man, there should be nothing [absolutely nothing] that is too big for the Christian to give. Every monetary figure that is too big to give to God or to someone else is not worthy to be in a Christian’s possession; in fact, it is dangerous as it is inevitably Lord over such a one. Can God tell you to give that expensive possession [pen, watch, car, or house] you just purchased, after much saving, and you will do it without batting an eyelid?

The true foundation of being poor in spirit is trust in the Lord and His Word; if you believe [truly believe] in His Majesty and eternal provision for you, giving will never be a hassle. You may be a student, but have you ever imagined giving a thousand dollars [or whatever amount some may consider ‘outrageous’]; if it has never crossed your mind, then maybe you are not trusting of God enough or you are not bringing forth enough from within to be called that man in Matthew 5:3. You should, at the very least, have a desire to give that much and even greater.

There’s not much to be said about the soulwinner, since many are already acquainted with him, but it is important to know him a little more. We refer to the one that is persecuted for righteousness sake as the soulwinner, because you cannot be persecuted unless you are standing up for Christ and proclaiming Him without reserve. And, if you are doing that, then you are already a soulwinner. Soulwinning is a consistent heart’s cry. It is a lifestyle of prayer with tears, love, and the consequent joy. The true soulwinner does not just talk. He mourns in intercession for lost souls, and when he is comforted through the salvation of that soul, it is with joy beyond human comprehension.

In Proverbs 11:30, we see that “he that winneth souls is wise”, but God gives us more light into the reward for the soulwinner when He moves a little further to say “they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmaments and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever”, associating the soulwinner with wisdom. What a blessing! To shine as the firmaments means that such people will glow with special studs on their crowns in heaven. They’ll be the ‘superstars’ in God’s eyes.

It may also be great to know that the soulwinner is a giver and the giver is a soulwinner. Giving, first and foremost, should be primarily towards the things of the kingdom and one’s local church assembly before any other charitable organization or individual. This is because giving in church supports soulwinning through sponsorship of media evangelism, church missions, and other means of reaching the lost. As such, the giver indirectly wins souls that are credited to his account by God. The soulwinner, on the other hand, gives his time, effort, and prayers into the life of the soul he wants to lead to Christ. Do you see now why both have the same reward?

When Matthew 5 says “theirs is the kingdom of heaven”, it is saying something important. The kingdom of heaven is God’s government in the earth established through the church and headed by Jesus. Therefore, it should never be a surprise that those who are selected by the HolyGhost to lead in His house are the soulwinners and givers, because “theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. Never think it is a result of favoritism from the Pastor; no, it is a spiritual principle that begets its own results automatically.

If you have not started winning souls unto God through evangelism, now is the time to start. You may think “but how”? The only answer is “just start”. Never consider what you’ll tell people. Open your mouth and just trust the HolySpirit to fill it with words. And, please, don’t be afraid to make mistakes; they are a part of the process of mastering the lifestyle of a soulwinner. If you haven’t started giving big also, now is the time to start. Give out of love and trust; have no attachment to any material thing, and you’ll truly be ready to be master over all things.

Please share your testimonies and comments on the subject of giving and soulwinning with the rest of us. We’re always so glad to hear from you; God bless you!

One Vision, No Division!!!

“the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such” [John 4:23]

After weeks of prayerful preparation, the students of Morgan State University converged at an approximate midpoint of their school’s campus for the sole purpose of giving the Father just what He deserves and requires. Several minutes before the time “True Worship: One Voice, No Division” was slated to start, students could already be seen braving the downpour as they made their ways to the University Chapel. By 6:38PM, tens of students were gathered together to prepare their hearts for the presence and power of God they were expecting from their 7:30PM meeting, through heartfelt prayers and worship. “True Worship”, a program organized by several different fellowships on Morgan State’s campus, was designed to unify the body of Christ on the campus and cause God’s glory to fill the campus [2 Chronicles 5:11-14].

Amidst much excitement and claps of joy, Bisola Karim, an industrial engineering student of Morgan State University, started off the much expected program of events. Through her introductory words, students were stirred up and even more readied for God’s power, glory, and grace as prophesied about the program a night before. In the course of the beginning stages of what would be more than “a night to remember” for many, Rev. Bernard Keels, the Director of the Chapel admonished attendees concerning unity. In explaining to the excited young minds the truth of Jesus’ intention for His people, Rev. Keels mentioned that all Christians should “rise above a senseless sense of just being comfortable with those [you’re] comfortable with”. Those words and many others not only challenged the motive behind the associations that many Christians form with one another, but they also showed all those in attendance how to be the change that Jesus is waiting for in His body.

Towards the middle of the “True Worship” experience, Nonso Amuchie, a Biology Master’s student from Towson University, mounted the podium to, very much like Rev. Keels positively challenge the core of modern believers’ motives. Speaking on the subject “the heart of worship”, Mr. Amuchie explained that worship is beyond the music, dance, and instrumentals that many believers have come to adore above their God. In his very words, “we were created to reflect the glory of God” through a lifestyle of worship. Nonso went on to encourage all those present to worship God every moment of the day by studying His word [learning of Him] and praying [communing with Him]. Ending with words on the importance of having the strength to “produce” for God, Nonso Amuchie said to the hearing and delight of the diversity of students present, “if you seek God with all your heart, you will find Him”.

Of course, not much can be said about a program called “True Worship” without mentioning the intensity of worship that took place there. As though sinking into an ever-increasing depth of the ocean, Christians and unbelievers alike began to experience God personally as the group called “Heart of Worship” ministered in the fullness of God. Heart of Worship [the group] definitely did not bring in members from as far as Pennsylvania to perform a show. No, they came for sincere worship! And, as worship arose from the mouths of God’s people, the tangible presence of God was manifested for all to know [experience intimately]. Some people sang and danced in the spirit while others could not help pouring tears before their Savior and One True Love – Jesus Christ. Indeed, it was a marvelous sight to behold.

Many at the event also had the opportunity to worship through rap and spoken word led by Bdo and Aisha Woods respectively. Certainly, no life was left the same after the program. Let it be written in the chronicles of life that the children of God at Morgan State University came together with one voice and no division to offer a worthy sacrifice of “True Worship” to their Heavenly Father.

Please, share your experience at "True Worship" with the whole world so that the blessing can reach others as well. But, if you were not at the program, you can also share comments on the subject of worship. God bless you as you enjoy the following video.