Four times in the Bible you see something coupled with humility.  There is a richer blessing when you humble yourself and do this other thing that we will discuss tonight.

Fear of God coupled with humility – Prov 22:4.  1 Pet 5:5 says, “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble”.  We need humility to access God’s grace.  And we need the fear of God.  However, the nations that were moved into Israel after the Assyrian captivity feared the Lord, but they didn’t humble themselves, 2 Ki 17:32-41.  And they didn’t fair very well.

Therefore, we must fear the Lord and humble ourselves.  When you humble yourself and fear God, God promises you riches, honour, and life.  These are the durable, unsearchable riches of God.  This is the honour that comes from God only, Jn 5:44.  And this is the eternal, abundant life of Christ.

Obedience coupled with humility – Phil 2:8.  You must humble yourself and obey God, like Jesus did.  We all have pride and we all have to deal with it.  Jesus Christ made himself of no reputation.  And He became a servant.  And in this humility, e became obedient to the death of the cross.  You are not going to obey a command like this, Mk 8:34, if you are not humble.

Acceptance coupled with humility – Lev 26:41.  You should humble yourself and accept the chastening of the Lord that brought about your desire to humble yourself.  Some kings humbled themselves and the wrath of God came not in their days… 2 Chr 12:7, Rehoboam when Judah was attacked by Shishak. 1 Ki 21:29, Ahab after hearing the prophecy of his destruction after Jezebel killed Naboth.  2 Chr 32:26, Hezekiah after hearing the prophecy of the Babylonian captivity.  2 Chr 33:12, Manasseh after he was afflicted.  

But Is 57:15 says, “…I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones”.  That is when you not only humble yourself, but accept the punishment you suffer for your wrong, God revives your heart and deals with you in a very special way.  For example, Nehemiah humbled himself and accepted the punishment inflicted on Israel, Neh 1:4-11.  Daniel humbled himself and accepted the punishment inflicted on Israel, Dan 9:4-19.   And God blessed these men in a very special way.

Prayer coupled with humility – 2 Chr 7:14.  According to this verse, you must humble yourself and pray. This is what Josiah did in 2 Ki 22:19, 2 Chr 34:27.  It’s so easy as Bible believers to point the finger at people in positions of authority and remark at their failures and injustices.  But when you do that, have you not lifted yourself up in pride?  How can you then humble yourself and pray for those in authority, when you have lifted yourself up to be their judge?  I submit to you that you can’t.  We need to humble ourselves and pray that God would continue to allow us to live quite and peaceable lives in all godliness and honesty, 1 Tim 2:1-3.