Humility - A Work of God
Hi Friends,
Today I am writing about a five part vision I received this past Monday morning. It concerns humility and having faith like a child. We can become so worldly, so “adultlike” in our thinking that we cannot see things as the Lord would have us see. We need to see God’s order and understand how we fit into the bigger picture of God’s design.
This is the vision:
1. The Sheer Drapery
First I saw a sheer drapery panel in front of me. I took a pair of scissors and placed within its blades two vertical folds of the panel. Then I cut the panel fabric. I knew at this point that the remaining piece of the panel needed to be cut, so that the drapery length would be cut in half. I realized also, that if the lower section of the panel were cut away, I would be able to see beyond the curtain. All I needed to do would be to stoop down and look.
The panel itself was sheer, so that there was some view directly through the fabric, but once it is cut, and taken out of the way, the view would be unhindered. What I believe that God is showing me is that in order to see what God wants us to see, we must be willing to stoop down, or kneel down. By lowering ourselves, or humbling ourselves before God, he will allow us to experience more of him. The things that we did not understand before, through humility and prayer, by kneeling down, and showing respect, giving honor to the Lord, we will be given understanding.
I noticed too, that the scissors in my hand were the instrument by which the panel would be cut. Some may say, "Why did you have to damage the drapery, it no longer conceals the window or view." Some might say, "Why didn’t you just open the curtain, and see what you wanted to see and then conceal the view when you do not need it? I believe that cutting away is a drastic measure. Once it is cut, it cannot be returned to normal.
God does not want people to seek him, or to seek understanding, only when it pleases them. I had to choose to cut the panel. And in the vision, the panel was not fully cut. It was an action that had begun, but not yet completed. The scissors were in my hand, and I believe that God intends for me to continue cutting away the panel.
The panel represents anything within us, or anything around us that needs to be removed from our lives. I am praying that God will continue to work in me, so that there will be nothing that stands in the way between myself and him.
Pride is the opposite of humility. I believe this is a good place to start cutting. Help us Jesus, cut away the pride, and the worldly views that keep our view obscure.
“Open my eyes, Lord, I want to see Jesus! To reach out and touch him, to say that I love him.”
2. Two Child-size Cars
Next, I saw a man standing next to a child-size toy car. He held a camera up to take a picture of two women who were standing in front of him. There was a little girl’s pink car between the two young women. The man’s toy car was like a jeep, or convertible, without a roof. The young women were very animated, and “having fun” talking with the man. Their car was “Barbie-like” in a hot pink.
This part of the vision speaks of the things, or possessions that we keep around us. The things that we consider part of us, or tell others who we are. Some possessions speak of our lifestyle, our wealth, our education, the things we value. We also judge others by those same things. We are judged by the car we drive, the clothes we wear, the jewelry, or hairstyles we choose. We are judged by our speech, our friends, our homes, our neighborhoods, our jobs and our education. Everyone is categorizing us and we are doing the same with them.
Jesus in the sermon on the mount tells us "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2
Yet only 13 verses later, Jesus warns us to use judgment regarding certain people. He tells us that we need to be able to discern between true prophets, and false prophets; and true disciples and false disciples. “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” Matthew 7:15-20
God’s manner of judging is different than our way of judging others. Rather than looking at material possessions, we should look at the heart. Is grace found in someone’s speech or is their words critical in nature? Is a person helpful when seeing someone in need, or is this person one to look the other way? Does the person mistreat others, or speak of them unkindly or is he a loving person who forgives easily?
Jesus noted that he too was judged by people. “John came neither eating or drinking and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” Matthew 11:18-19
3. A Small Boy Lying Prostrate on the Floor
Next I saw a small boy behind me lying face down on the floor. I only saw his legs and feet, the rest of his body, I couldn’t see. I knew immediately that this was a position of humility.
Just about two years ago, I had quite an unusual experience. I was taking a walk in the hall with one of my neighbors and her four year old daughter. We stopped for a moment, and she had her daughter lay prostrate before me. I asked my friend, “What is she doing?”
She told me that she had been training her daughter to bow down before her parents and other adults, for they were to be honored and worshipped as gods. I told her, “No! Please don’t have her do it! There is only one God, and I am not him!” She told me, that her husband told her, that it wasn’t a good idea. He did not want her to be trained to do this. I wish it was because he knew there was only one God. However I am sure it was simply to fit into the American culture.
I was praying Monday evening with a pastor and his wife. The Spirit of God was very strong, and suddenly, he fell prostrate before the Lord in worship. This was the very same day that I had received this vision. God was showing me that the pastor was willing to surrender his will and his all to the Lord. What a truly wonderful way God speaks to us. He confirms again and again his answers to our questions.
God wants our worship. He wants all of us, not just a token, or a small piece of devotion, a word or two. No, he wants our hearts. “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm -- neither hot nor cold -- I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelations 3:15-16
This is a message of correction and rebuke. Jesus follows with these words, “You say , ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.” Revelations 3:17-18
We need to see our need for the Lord. Jesus again warns us about our lackadaisical attitude towards God. “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.” Luke 12:4-5
4. A Woman and a Sofa
Next I saw a woman sitting on the floor in front of a cream colored sofa. Her knees were bent with her legs placed to one side. For me sitting on the floor is normal, since I got rid of my sofa almost three years ago. But the vision is speaking of humility once more. But this time, it really shows humiliation - what one does to another to show a lack of respect.
I was reminded of this passage in James: “Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also come in. if you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ‘Here’s a good seat for you,’ but say to the poor man, ‘You stand there’ or ‘Sit on the floor by my feet,’ have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?” James 2:2-4
When we treat one person differently than another simply because of their clothing, and the status it represents, we sin. We are giving honor to one, but we are dishonoring the other. Wouldn’t it have been better if the man had told the poor man, “You can have my chair.” James reminds us of what we call the Golden Rule: “If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.” James 2:8-9
No one wants to be humiliated in the eyes of others. This kills the spirit. It makes a person feel unworthy and unwanted. There are too many kids these days whose spirit has been broken and who feel unworthy, unwanted and unloved. These kids out of self loathing, will hurt themselves and even commit suicide. This is why Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” Matthew 5:21-22
We must fear God and watch what words come from our lips. “But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every idle word they have spoken.” Matthew 12:36
5. Peanut Butter
In the last piece of the vision, I saw a knife in a peanut butter jar. With a turn of the hand, the knife scooped up a knife-full of peanut butter. Peanut butter is a common food for a child. It can be an inexpensive source of protein.
But, anytime I think of peanuts, I think of George Washington Carver, a great scientist and a great man of faith. The following is an excerpt of an article, "Will the Creator Show You a Secret?" Brian Del Turco Nov. 25, 2011
The son of a slave, George Washington Carver was born in 1864 near the end of the Civil War. He was orphaned as a baby. When slavery was abolished the following year, his “owners,” Moses and Susan Carver, raised George and his brother as their own.
He was taught to read and write, and later attended various schools and colleges, eventually earning a Master’s degree from Iowa State University.
“I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour if we will only tune in.”
Carver served on the faculty at Tuskegee University, teaching sustainable farming. His students’ character development was as significant to him as their intellectual achievement.
He became a world-class expert in botany and agriculture.
World leaders Mahatma Gandhi and Joseph Stalin sought his advice.
“Together, we can remake the world,” Thomas Edison told Carver, offering him $100,000 per year (astounding for the time) and state of the art facilities.
Henry Ford offered him enormous resources to do research for his company.
Passionate about helping his fellow man and the nation, Carver preferred to work in his laboratory: “God’s little workshop.”
What would be revealed to us if we really asked with desire and humility? What discoveries and opportunities are possible?
He would begin each day with prayer that God would reveal secrets to him about plants and vegetables. It is reported that once Carver prayed, “Mr. Creator, show me the secrets of your universe.”
“Little man, you’re not big enough to know the secrets of My universe, but I’ll show you the secret of the peanut,” was the reply.
His prayer and heaven’s response launched him into a lifetime of discovery.
I believe that God wanted me to write about this truly humble man, who had a true faith and intimate relationship with God. The Lord was more than willing to share with Carver, the things that he longed to know. There was a true partnership, probably as God had with Adam before the fall. God wants us to have a deep and intimate relationship with him. “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you unsearchable things that you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3
In the very beginning of this vision, there was the sheer panel of fabric. If I were to cut the remaining portion of the panel, I would be able to stoop down, or kneel down and see clearly, rather than through the sheer. It is a matter of humbling ourselves, to seek God, for understanding, for wisdom, for what he desires, for what he would like for us and for how he would like to use us.
As George W. Carver sought God and communed with him, the Lord showed him over 300 uses for the peanut and over 100 uses for the sweet potato. He turned the South’s agricultural methods and economy around with his discoveries!
Do you remember what Jesus said about the kingdom of God? "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-450
Carver, was a humble man, not desiring wealth, but rather wanting to help people. When our heart is right with God, and we have a love for people, God will use us.
This entire message has been about humility. If we humble ourselves before the Lord, and seek him, and turn away from the things that keep us “busy.” We may find that God can use us in greater ways and we can be an instrument in his hand. We could be a Washington Carver, and give God the glory for what he is doing in our lives!
Be blessed!
