The Power of Bowing Low Before God
Rejoice not because life is easy, but because God is faithful.
Brethren, humility is not weakness. It’s not silence, self-pity, or low self-worth. It’s strength under control. It’s the quiet courage to bow before the Almighty and say, “Not my will, but Thine be done.”
In a world that shouts, “Promote yourself!” the Spirit whispers, “Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). The Lord Himself said, “Whosoever shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:4).
Humility opens the heavens. Pride shuts them tight.
The humble hear the voice of God; the proud hear only themselves.
Praise the Lord, friends – it’s time to return to that childlike posture. The place where trust is simple, faith is pure, and obedience is quick. God is calling His children not to rise higher, but to bow lower – for in bowing, we are lifted.
1. David’s Anointing: Overlooked but Chosen by God
When Samuel came to Jesse’s house, everyone expected greatness to wear tall shoulders and strong arms. But God said, “Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).
David was just a boy tending sheep. Forgotten, uninvited, ignored. Yet God saw a king in the field. Brethren, that’s how God works – He looks where men refuse to look.
When Samuel poured the oil upon David’s head, the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him. The boy with a shepherd’s crook would one day carry a scepter. God delights to raise the humble.
So ask yourself: Are you willing to serve in the fields before standing on the throne? Are you content to be unseen, knowing God sees?
True greatness begins in the pasture.
Before God trusts you with a crown, He tests you with sheep.
2. Josiah’s Reforms: Humble Leadership That Changes Nations
Praise be to God – Josiah became king at just eight years old (2 Kings 22:1). Imagine that! A child on the throne, yet a man in obedience. Scripture says, “He did that which was right in the sight of the Lord” (2 Kings 22:2).
When the Book of the Law was found, Josiah didn’t hide from conviction – he tore his clothes in repentance (2 Kings 22:11). Brethren, that’s humility. He didn’t say, “I’m the king.” He said, “I’m a servant under the King of kings.”
He destroyed idols, cleansed the temple, and turned the hearts of a nation back to God. Why? Because one young man refused to rule from pride and chose to kneel before the Word.
Oh, how our homes, our churches, and our nations need such humility again!
When leaders tremble before Scripture, revival follows.
3. Solomon’s Request for Wisdom: The Humble Prayer God Loves to Hear
When God offered Solomon anything he desired, Solomon didn’t ask for fame or gold. He said, “Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people” (1 Kings 3:9).
Praise the Lord – what a prayer! A king asking to be taught like a child. Solomon’s humility pleased God so much that He gave him both wisdom and wealth.
Friends, humility always multiplies blessings. Pride limits them. The moment we stop thinking we know it all, the Lord begins to reveal what only He can teach.
Are you asking for understanding, or demanding your own way? God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Ask for wisdom, and He will give it liberally.
4. Samuel’s Call: The Power of a Listening Heart
The boy Samuel lay down in the temple when he heard his name called. Three times he thought it was Eli, but on the fourth, he said, “Speak, for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:10).
That’s childlike humility – no arguments, no excuses, just willingness.
Brethren, God still calls in the night. He still whispers to those who are quiet enough to listen. Many pray to speak, but few pray to hear. Humility begins with listening.
Samuel’s life reminds us that service starts with surrender. God doesn’t need eloquent talkers; He needs obedient hearers.
If you want God to use you mightily, start by saying, “Lord, I’m listening.”
5. Jesus Blesses the Children: The Kingdom Belongs to the Humble
When the disciples tried to push the children away, Jesus said, “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14).
Praise the Lord – He didn’t just tolerate the children, He embraced them! He laid His hands upon them and blessed them.
Friends, Jesus was teaching us that the posture of a child is the doorway to heaven. Simple faith. Unquestioning trust. Total dependence.
Adults complicate what children simply believe.
To receive the kingdom, you must kneel to enter.
6. Moses’ Meekness: Power Under Control
The Bible says, “Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3).
Here was a man who confronted Pharaoh, split the Red Sea, and spoke face-to-face with God – yet remained meek. Praise God, that’s true power.
When Miriam and Aaron criticized him, Moses didn’t fight back. He let God handle it. Brethren, that’s strength under surrender.
Pride defends itself; humility lets God defend.
Real leaders don’t roar to prove they’re right. They bow to prove they’re His.
7. Timothy’s Youthful Example: Humility Has No Age Limit
Paul told Timothy, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example… in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12).
Timothy could have been intimidated by older believers, but he led through humility – not by demanding authority, but by living with integrity.
Friends, God doesn’t measure maturity by age but by attitude.
The humble heart can teach the old how to walk with grace.
To every young believer: Don’t wait to be older to be obedient. Serve now. Speak truth now. Live pure now.
God promotes those who kneel early.
8. The Little Maid and Naaman: Humility Speaks Through the Smallest Voices
A nameless servant girl changed a general’s life. In 2 Kings 5:2-3, she said, “Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.”
That small, humble voice became the doorway to Naaman’s healing. When Elisha told Naaman to wash in the Jordan, he nearly refused – pride always resists simple obedience. But when he finally dipped seven times, he was cleansed (2 Kings 5:14).
Brethren, don’t overlook the quiet voices in your life. God often speaks through servants, not celebrities.
And when He says, “Go wash,” go wash. Healing follows humility.
9. Jeremiah’s Call: God Chooses the Humble, Not the Qualified
When God called Jeremiah, he cried, “Ah, Lord God! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child” (Jeremiah 1:6).
But God replied, “Say not, I am a child… for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee” (Jeremiah 1:7).
Praise the Lord – humility didn’t disqualify Jeremiah; it positioned him! God doesn’t use the confident, He uses the surrendered.
Jeremiah’s fear became faith once he trusted God’s word. That’s the beauty of humility – it takes our trembling and turns it into testimony.
10. Jesus Himself: The Ultimate Example of Childlike Humility
Finally, brethren, there’s no greater picture of humility than our Lord Jesus Christ.
“He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8).
The Son of God washed feet. The King wore a crown of thorns. The Creator let the created mock Him – and yet He prayed, “Father, forgive them.”
This is humility in its highest form: power choosing surrender, glory choosing service, the infinite choosing the lowly.
If the Lord of all could stoop to serve, how can we not?
Conclusion: Bow Low, Rise High
Friends, the world teaches us to climb, but the kingdom teaches us to bow. Every person exalted by God first learned to kneel.
Humility opens heaven’s windows.
Pride closes heaven’s doors.
So today, let’s make this our prayer:
“Lord, teach me to be humble like a child. Empty me of pride. Fill me with wonder. Help me to trust You, serve others, and walk in Your light.”
Praise the Lord, thank You Lord, for reminding us that Your strength is made perfect in our humility.
For “whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 14:11).
Amen.
Call to Action: The Question That Demands an AnswerIn Acts 2:37 Peter and the Apostles were asked the question – What Shall We do? And in Acts 2:38 Peter answered, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Do you understand this? After hearing the gospel and believing, they asked what should would do. The answer hasn’t changed friend, Peter clearly gave the answer. The question for you today is, Have you receieved the Holy Spirit Since you believed? If you’re ready to take that step, or you want to learn more about what it means to be born again of water and Spirit, visit: Come, and let the Spirit make you new. |
