Janzie

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Pride makes God our adversary when we think we can do everything ourselves and that we don't need Him. It is important that elders and those under them act with humility towards one another. But especially before God himself, we must shred our pride and humble ourselves. God lifting us up in due time is when we are struggling and find no way out, we finally submit to God and let Him have His way. and He brings us out.

It is man boasting on what he has, money, cars, grand home or what he has done, bragging on what a great job he has, what vacations he has taken, etc. By keeping our focus on Christ and giving Him the glory. Stealing God's glory in taking the credit for what God has done. We must always give God glory for what he has done, and not take credit for it ourselves. It is wonderful to be a part of a miracle, to be used by God, but we must always point to Him, not to ourselves. It can be dangerous because God does not taker it lightly. "Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." (Exodus 34:14)

Listen to the customer and their needs, put them first, and be honest in their dealings and truthful in their advertising. Let another praise you and not your own mouth.

No, If you are flattering someone to impress them or manipulate them it is the wrong motivation. If you truly appreciate them in what they are doing or have done and are truthful it is encouraging. If we are doing it with a difficult person, we are doing it to help ourselves and it is really untrue, and insincere. God desires truth. If flattery is manipulative and deceptive it does not please God.

Ambition is the drive to achieve goals, excel, and make a significant impact. It involves setting high standards, seeking growth, and aspiring to success. Christian leadership must be marked by ambition: redeemed, redirected, self-sacrificing ambition, but ambition nonetheless. Without ambition, no leadership will occur.

Faith is Christian assertiveness. It makes us confident and not frightened to say what we want or believe. When we have faith and believe God and we know the Word is coming from Him, we have courage. Assertiveness is saying what needs to be said being confident and bold, it is good. Submissiveness on the other hand to God is good but in submission to other people when you know you've heard from God, is not good. Assertiveness is compatible with humility. Leaders might be kept from being assertive because of fear of people. Assertiveness displays itself in the heroes of faith by their boldness, obedience to God, their faith and courage they achieved greatness.

Moses is called the most humble man in the world because he was totally dependent on God. "Now Moses was a very humble man, more humble than anyone else on the face of the earth." (Numbers 12:3) The essence of his humility was total dependence on God. The essence of Jesus humility was to do nothing on His own but only do what He saw the Father doing. Lesson for leaders today is Jesus calls us first to be meek towards God. To repent, to submit, to obey, to follow -- these are the firstfruits of our humility. Leadership and humility can coexist but we need to trust in and depend on God rather than self.

We don't do acts of mercy, giving and service to be seen by men. Motives are so important to genuine humility. God doesn't look at the outward appearance, He looks on the heart. He know our motives. The heart is deceitful above all things. Who can know it. We need to repent and let God change our heart and give us pure motives. We need to guard our hearts in what we hear, see, speak and let Jesus be the center of our life. When we do this, He helps us with our motives and keeps us from sin and sinning.

Caring for orphans and widows constitute pure religion because they have nothing and cannot repay you. Helping those who can't help you show humility because you are not expecting anything from them. They have nothing to give you. You are imitating what the God would do. You should use whatever gift God has given you to serve others, administering God's grace. Dorcas and Mother Teresa are so inspiring because they are just serving the Lord, giving their all for others and expecting nothing in return. Giving of the gift God has given them.

They have in common a spirit of giving and compassion for those in need. Seeing those in need and blessing them with food and clothing, and giving to missions. We have 11th hour ministries that during the summer distribute pizza in the park, minister the word and pray for the homeless. Distribute turkey and Thanksgiving baskets to those in need at Thanksgiving time. Also distribute purses with personal needs for needy women in the area.

Jesus shocked the disciples by performing foot washing because it was usually done by a slave. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

World's pattern - prideful - thinking of oneself - Titles, Dominate others; Christ's pattern- humility, giving, serving and loving others. Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant. No, you cannot be a great Jesus follower. You must be a servant of all.

Pride makes us God's opponent, because we are choosing our way instead of God's way. When we are submitted to God we call upon Him and humble ourselves and do it His way. We wash our hands by repenting and stop sinning. We purify our hearts by asking God and submitting to His will, not ours. It requires us to repent. Because God cannot lift us up with a hard heart, we need to humble ourselves and then God will lift us up.

When we associate with them it is not thinking ourselves better than they are. We are all the same. People that Jesus loves and died for. And we are to be as Jesus receiving them and loving them in their need. Who knows, we may be in that situation one day. Usually in the city where rents are lower and conditions aren't as good. People from other countries, immigrants. Our church reaches out to them in food, prayer and witnessing, Thanksgiving and Christmas Baskets, Pizza in the Park- 11th Hour initiatives. Give and Participate in the above.

Little children are innocent. They believe everything you say. Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.