5. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Let us pray.

Most holy and gracious heavenly Father, we thank You for who You are and for what You do. Father, hide Your son behind the cross today that Your people would see You and not me. Dear Lord, as I decrease I ask that You would increase. Father, let the words of my mouth today and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. In Jesus’ Name.

And the people of God said amen. You may be seated in the house of God today.

And the Bible said, “And be clothed with humility.” In other words, wear humility. “For God resisteth the proud, and given grace to the humble.”

What does it mean to be humble? What does it mean to have the spirit of humility? It means freedom from pride. It means to be of a lowly and a meek heart. It means that I walk in modesty and in mildness.

In Deuteronomy chapter eight and verse two, we find that God humbles men to bring them to a place of obedience.

In Micah chapter six and verse eight it tells us it’s the supreme requirement of God that we be humble.

In Isaiah fifty-seven and verse fifteen it says that God dwells among the humble.

Also in Proverbs fifteen and verse thirty-three it says that before honor there has to be humility.

Glory to God today. What does it mean to be humble? What does it mean to be able to walk in the spirit of humility?

In Second Chronicles seven and verse fourteen, he said, “If My people which are called by My Name will,” do what? Humble themselves. And what? Pray. “And seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven. And I’m going to forgive their sins. And I’m going to heal their land.”

What does it mean to be of a humble spirit today?

Many of us, we started out and we start out on the trail of humility. Glory be to God. But what happens to us in the midst of that humble spirit. We get what is known as the head table mentality. Come on. Give God some praise today. We get the head table mentality.

You see, a lot of us are trying to make it to the head table. You see, you don’t have to try to worry about making it to the head table. All you have to worry about is what? Being humble.

Because the Bible says that what? He will raise up the humble. He resisteth the proud and giveth more grace to those that walk in the spirit of humility. I don’t have to worry about the head table. Because He’ll raise me up to that place if I have enough humility on the inside of me. Come on. Bless God today.

In the book of Luke chapter fourteen, verse eight through eleven. And this is a different version from the King James version.

It says when someone invites you to a wedding, to a wedding feast or conference, it says do not take the place of honor at the head table. For a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited you will have to tell you to move, give this man your seat. Then humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.

But when you are invited to take the lowest place... When you are invited (excuse me) to that wedding feast, automatically, immediately instead of trying to get that head table position, take the low seat.

Look at your neighbor and say, “I’m taking the low seat.”

So that when your host comes and he sees you in that low seat, he’ll say, “Friend, come up a little bit higher and take the high seat.”

You see, a lot of us don’t understand right now. It seems that we’re in the low seat. But let me tell you something. After while He’s going to raise you up. You see, I don’t have to worry about being in the background. Because after while I’m going to be what? In the front of everything and everybody else, if I continue to take the low seat.

It’s the low seat. It’s the low seat. We can’t get the head table mentality, that things are better at the head table. Do you hear what I’m saying?

We cannot be in that mentality that, “If I could only make it to the pulpit.” Come on. Talk to me today. “If I can only make it to” (glory to God) “The praise team.” If I can only make it to the intercessory prayer team.” I can’t get to that head table mentality that things are always better at the head table.

Just because you’re invited to the wedding doesn’t mean you’ve been invited to the head table. Do you hear what I’m saying? Just because you’ve been invited to the banquet doesn’t mean that (glory to God) at the head table there’s a spot for you.

Take the low seat, and allow God to raise you up into the high seat. Glory to be to God.

When we look at Esther... Go there with me, to chapter three. God is speaking to us today.

You see, many of us are afraid to take the low seat, because we’re not going to be seen by whom we want to be seen by. But if you go ahead and accept that place, then God will raise you up.

Look at Esther chapter three. It said,

1. After these things did king Ahasuerus promote Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, and advanced him, and set his seat above all the princes that were with him.

It’s something about having our seat raised. It’s something about having our seat raised.

2. And all the king's servants, that were in the king's gate, bowed, and reverenced Haman: for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence.

3. Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment?

Just because you have been raised up to the head table, you cannot make people bow down to you. See, somebody needs to hear this. Just because God has raised you up into a position... Come on. Talk to me.

You can’t demand the respect of anybody. Because they’re an individual. And if they want to give the respect, then they’ll give you the respect. Come on. Talk to me today.

They bowed down and they reverenced Haman because they wanted to. But see, Mordecai didn’t want to, because he wouldn’t bow his knee to anybody but the true and the living God.

You see, Haman had that head table mentality. “Because I’m at the head of the table you need to serve me.” Come on. Talk to me. “Because I’ve been raised up and I’ve been given a promotion, you need to bow your knee to me.”

But just because you’ve been raised up does not guarantee that there are going to be people that want to follow you. There’s got to be something about you that draws them to you and wants to make them serve you. They can’t serve your title. They can’t serve your position. There’s got to be something supernatural about you for a child of God to want to be able to serve you.

Haman had that head table mentality. He said, “Just because the king raised me up, you need to bow your knee. And you need to reverence me.” But since Mordecai would not do it, he set out to destroy him.

You see, just because somebody doesn’t respect your position... If God wants them to respect your position... Let me tell you something. They’re going to respect your position. But a lot of times God will test you, so that He can show you what’s really in your heart. Do you hear what I’m saying today?

When he was raised up into that position and he received his promotion, he got filled with what we call a spirit of pride. And the Bible says pride goeth before what? Destruction. And a haughty spirit goes before a fall.

So he said to himself, and he said to those around him, “Because Mordecai would not bow his knee, I’m going to destroy him. And I’m going to destroy his people also.” But don’t you know that head table can be your demise?

Over in chapter five we find Esther. And Esther is going to set this Haman up. She made a party and a banquet, just what Haman wanted.

Do you want somebody to serve you? Do you want to be the one at the banquet table? Come on. Talk to me. Just what

Haman wanted, that’s what he received. She set a banquet in his honor and invited only him. And he was so happy about it. And he was so joyous about it, because his heart wasn’t right. He wasn’t concerned about anybody else being there, because he was full of pride. He was concerned about himself being there. Come on. Talk to me today.

See, but when I get into a place, if I get a door open for me, I’m going to open up a door for you. You see, I don’t want to just be in that place all by myself. If I receive honor, I want you to receive honor also.

But he received just what he wanted, just what he wanted. And went home and he told his wife and his family and friends all that had befalled him that day. But he told them how Mordecai wouldn’t bow his knee. And his friends teamed up with him and said, “Well, we’ll hang him from the gallows.”

Saints of God, God wants to raise you up. But are you a person that just wants to be there by yourself, or do you want God to raise up somebody else along with you? Do you have the head table mentality? Because if you do it’s going to destroy you.

Humility is the way. Humility is the way. Let me say it one more time. Humility is the way. It’s the way to set yourself up for the blessing of the Lord.

Haman. The spirit of Haman. The spirit of wanting to be honored. The spirit of wanting to be out front set him up for destruction.

The Bible said that after he had set the Jews up and set Mordecai up, and after he had been set up, the Bible said in chapter seven, instead of Mordecai and the Jews being destroyed, Haman was hanged himself from the gallows.

What is in your heart today? Pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. Is there pride that has set up in us that we want to be the one? Do we want to be the one?

Satan wanted God’s position. He got jealous of God’s position, and lost it all. Because the Bible said pride set in.

What is in your heart today? When you and I are promoted to the head table, we still have to have the kitchen mentality. Oh, come on. Talk to me today. See, every now and then you need to visit the kitchen. See, you won’t know what’s really going on unless you can visit the kitchen. Do you hear what I’m saying? Every now and then I got to move from that head table, don’t I? And I need to visit the kitchen.

When we look at Jesus... And we’re not going to be long.

Come on, elders, and hold this up for me today. This is the only one I can find. You don’t mind about what color they are, do you? Lift it up so they can see it.

Here we have Jesus in the middle, in John chapter thirteen. And it said that they were getting ready to eat the Passover. And can’t you see all of the disciples at the head table? And one of them’s name was Judas. I don’t know which one he is. But he said Satan had already filled his heart in verse two. That’s what he said.

So whatever’s in your heart at the head table, it will be revealed. Come on. Talk to me.

And they were sitting there. Glory be to God. And I’m sure they felt like they were the elite, because they were at the head table. Surely we are the chosen of God, of Almighty God. And as they sat there, Jesus began to speak to them.

Brother, go up there and get me that basin. And get me the pitcher.

See, every now and then... I don’t care what your position is at the head table. You got to come down. Glory be to God.

The Bible said in verse four that Jesus got up. The Bible said that He rose up from the table. The Bible said when He got up from the table after they had already taken the Passover, the Bible said that Jesus girded Himself with a towel.

You see, just because God done raised you up to be an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, or teacher, that don’t mean that you don’t have to come down from that table every now and then.

Go ahead and set it down on the floor, brother.

The Bible said after he girded Himself with the towel... I can see them now. Can’t you hear Peter in the background saying, “No, Lord. No, Lord. You’re not going to wash my feet”?

But Jesus said, “If I don’t wash your feet, you’re not going to have any part with Me.”

Then Peter said, “Lord, not just my feet, but wash my head, every part of me, Jesus.”

The Bible said that He came down from the table. See Jesus right there? Now Jesus is not at the table no more. Jesus got down after He girded Himself, and He began to pour the water in the basin. Glory be to God.

And one by one the disciples came. Come on. Talk to me today. One by one the disciples came. And they dipped their feet into the basin. Glory be to God.

Come on over here, Pastor Adrienne. Somebody give her a chair in the middle right here. Glory be to God. Stay with me now. Oh, you going to get your pantyhose wet today. Glory be to God. Take your shoes off.

And as they were there, and as He poured the water into the basin, He began to wash their feet. He began to say, “This is what I’m calling you to. You see, I’m not calling you to stay at the table. I’m calling you to serve your brothers. I’m calling you to serve your sisters. I’m calling you not to make a name for yourself.” Glory be to God. (Tongues.) “But this is what I’m calling you to.”

You got to come down from that table. You got to get amongst the crowd. Because the work at ain’t the table, somebody. The work is in the midst of the crowd.

Jesus came out (hallelujah) from the head table, and He began to wash their feet. And He began to show them what it’s really all about.

You may be called to the head table today, but don’t have the head table mentality. Don’t have that head table mentality. Glory be to God. (Tongues.)

Oh Father, I thank You and I praise You. I give You glory today. I give You honor. (Tongues.) For the table, Father, God, that You have called us to. For, Father, we won’t have the head table mentality. Father, we’ll keep the kitchen mentality. And we’ll visit the kitchen in the Name of Jesus.

Come on. Give God a handclap of praise today. Hallelujah.

She didn’t know I was going to wash her feet and make her put her feet in a cold basin of water today. Hallelujah. Glory be to God.

He’s calling us. He’s calling us. He’s calling us down from the head table. And see, many of us are striving to get there. See, don’t exude all of your energy trying to get to the head table. You’ve already been invited to the banquet.

But before you sit down, ask Him where He wants you to sit. Ask Him. “Lord, what seat is mine? Because I don’t want to take the wrong one? I want the seat that You got for me. And Lord, no matter what seat it is, I’m going to be satisfied.”

We’ve got to stop in the body of Christ trying to raise ourselves up. The Bible says promotion comes from who? The Lord. It comes from Him. I can raise you up all I want to. But if God ain’t telling me to raise you up, it ain’t going to work. It ain’t going to stick. It’s not going to stick if He doesn’t do it.

Let Him do it. Let Him be the one that raises you up. Stop trying to struggle to get to the head table.

In Matthew chapter five... Go there with me. Hallelujah. Thank You, Lord. He came down from the head table, didn’t He? And He showed them what it was really all about.

In Matthew chapter five. Look at verse three. And look at verse five. Here’s what it says,

3. Blessed are the (what?) poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Look at verse five.

5. Blessed are (the what?) the meek: for they shall (do what?) inherit the earth.

Jesus made it clear that humility was the cornerstone. Glory to God. And it had to be a part of our character. Humility is the way. I don’t care what anybody does. I don’t care what anybody says. If they raise up at you, after while they going to have to apologize.

Humility is the way.

In Matthew chapter eleven... Go there with me. Chapter eleven. Verse twenty-eight. He said,

28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

By humility Jesus drew men to Him to follow Him. By the humility of His character.

If nobody respects you and nobody references you and nobody wants to be with you, check that part of humility out. How humble are you? Do you hear what I’m saying?

You see, when you walk in humility people want to know things about you. They’re going to try to figure you out. They came around Jesus. And they were trying to figure this man out. How can He be so humble, yet preach and teach with such authority? They’re going to try to figure you out. Your Anointing is going to speak for itself.

Humility is the way.

Now, True Vine, here’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to rise up from the table, and we’re going to serve. Oh, come on. Give God some praise today.

I understand. I understand that, you know, a lot of you want to be armor bearers and stuff like that. I already have six. About to have seven or eight. And there’s some that are out of town that are trying to be an armor bearer. And I just don’t want to tell nobody no. But I can’t tell everybody yes. Do you hear what I’m saying?

Humility is the way. And if your season or your time has not come yet, I guarantee you it’s going to come.

Let them cuss you out. Let them talk about you. Let them beat you. They slap one cheek. Turn the other cheek. Do you hear what I’m saying? Forgive them. But be humble. Be humble. Be humble.

There is a false humility. Don’t let your humility be false. Let your humility be real. Because after while if it stays false then what’s really under the bottom, what’s really being hidden is going to come out. And then it’s going to shock everybody.

But if your humility is real, you can get angry sometimes and folks will still... You know, you mad as the devil. And folks will still be in your face talking about, “You so humble.”

And you be saying to yourself, “How in the world they saying I’m humble?”

Do you hear what I’m saying? Humility is the way. Humility is the way. God will fight your battles for you if you stay humble. But the moment you rise up, God ain’t in it no more. He’s not in it any more.

What does it mean to be humble? Somebody needs to hear this today. What does it mean to have a spirit of humility? It means that no matter what seat I’m in I’m satisfied. No matter what seat I’m in I’m satisfied. Do you hear what I’m saying?

You can be among the richest folks in the world. And they can look at you like you just a little scrub. But be satisfied. Do you hear what I’m saying?

You can be amongst the most intellectual men and women that there are. And they can speak things that you have never heard of. And the... But the intelligence that you have, be satisfied with it. And as you gain more knowledge, still be satisfied with what you have.

Humility is the way. It’s the way. It’s the way. He’s not going to let anybody walk over you. It may seem like they’re stepping all over you. But as they stepping, you going to see them going down further and further and further and further, if your humility is real.

Some people say, “It’s just not a part of my character.” You got to make it a part of your character. You have to make it a part of your character to be humble. Don’t always want to have the last word. Be humble.

I’m working on it. Are you? I’m working on humility. Are you? I know I need to be more humble. I know I do. I’m working on it. I’m working on it. (Tongues.) I’m working on it.

He gives more grace to the humble. He resisteth the proud. He resisteth, resisteth the proud. And giveth more grace to the humble.

You want more grace? You need more grace? I do. Then I need to walk in new levels of humility. We walk in new levels of love. Walk in new levels of humility.

Take the low seat. Give somebody else the high seat. And do not worry that you’ve given your blessing away. The principle of God is true. Give and it shall be given unto you.

You see, the reason why Jesus was able to come down from His throne in glory and to become as man and flesh, because He understood humility. The Bible said He made Himself of no reputation. But see, when you make yourself of no reputation, you will have a reputation.

He came down because He trusted God. And with the humility that He walked in to go to the cross and to die, God raised Him up with a Name above all names. That’s what He did.

He wasn’t afraid of losing His seat. Do you hear what I’m saying? Somebody need to hear. He wasn’t afraid of losing His seat up there.

Don’t be afraid of losing your seat if you’re walking in humility. Don’t be afraid of it. Don’t be afraid of it. As long as you walk in humility your seat is there. And God’s going to raise you up higher than you were before. That’s what He’s going to do.

Come on. Give God a handclap of praise today.