Spiritual Warfare Series - When the Going Gets Tough; The Tough Get Humble.

The moment that we act from our flesh, is the moment we begin losing a spiritual battle. Our desire to be right, to be first, to be important...our pride, in all its forms, is a dangerous heart posture because we cannot win spiritual battles through our own effort!

Humility is the heart posture of spiritual warfare. 

Knowing Jesus is the first victory in spiritual warfare. Humility is how we walk in His victory. 

Here's a quick summary of the 4 main points from last week:

The first win for the enemy is to draw us away from complete dependence upon God. 

1. Pride Places us against God. - James 4:6

• Pride tells us we can handle it on our own. We know best. We don't need help.
• Humility keeps us abiding in Divine Dependency on Jesus. - John 15

The proud person attempts to live without dependence on God.
The humble person attempts to live in Divine Dependency on God for all things.

Andrew Murray: "Humility is the place of entire dependence on God."

2. Submission before Resistance - James 4:7-8

• We must submit to God, and then resist the devil....the order matters!
• Spiritual authority flows from surrender and submission to Jesus. 

3. Jesus showed Great Strength through Humility - Philippians 2:5-11

• The greatest spiritual victory in history came through the greatest act of humility! 

4. Humility receives Grace in Weakness - 1 Peter 5:5-9

• Peter's progression is to be humble and to humble yourselves and in that posture, stand firm against the enemy. 
• Humility is required to win spiritual battles. 
• In 2 Corinthians 12:9 Paul reminds us that weakness is not the enemy; self-sufficiency is the enemy. God's grace is given in full measure when we need it the most; but first we must consider our selves the most needful of it. 

Final Thoughts:

The strongest Christian is not the one whom needs God the least.

The strongest Christian is the one whom depends on God the most. 

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.