Matthew 5:3–5 NKJV

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Philippians 2:5–8 ESV

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

John 3:26–31 NLT

So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the Man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the One you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to Him instead of coming to us.” John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for Him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at His success. HE MUST BECOME GREATER AND GREATER, AND I MUST BECOME LESS AND LESS. He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but He has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.”

Galatians 4:19 NLT

Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’M GOING THROUGH LABOR PAINS FOR YOU AGAIN, and they will continue UNTIL CHRIST IS FULLY DEVELOPED IN YOUR LIVES.

Galatians 4:19 NKJV

MY LITTLE CHILDREN, FOR WHOM I LABOR IN BIRTH AGAIN UNTIL CHRIST IS FORMED IN YOU.

John 12:24–26 ESV

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. WHOEVER LOVES HIS LIFE LOSES IT, AND WHOEVER HATES HIS LIFE IN THIS WORLD WILL KEEP IT FOR ETERNAL LIFE .If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

Matthew 4:17 AMP

From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, regret past sins, live your life in a way that proves repentance; seek God’s purpose for your life], for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Philippians 2:3 AMP

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves.

Isaiah 57:15 NLT

The high and lofty One who lives in eternity, the Holy One, says this: “I LIVE IN THE HIGH AND HOLY PLACE WITH THOSE WHOSE SPIRITS ARE CONTRITE AND HUMBLE. I restore the crushed spirit of the humble and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.”

James 4:6 NLT

And He gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “GOD OPPOSES THE PROUD BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

Malachi 3:16 NLT

Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In His presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared Him and always thought about the honor of His name.

Psalm 51:1–19 NLT

Have mercy on me, O God, because of Your unfailing love. Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin… Against You, and You alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in Your sight. You will be proved right in what You say, and Your judgment against me is just. For I was born a sinner— yes, from the moment my mother conceived me… Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Oh, give me back my joy again… Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence, and don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You… You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one… The sacrifice You desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.

2 Chronicles 7: 12–16 NLT

I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. THEN IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, I WILL HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SINS AND RESTORE THEIR LAND. My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where My name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to My heart.

Exhortation: Kingdom Virtue and Attitude—Humility, Descending into Greatness

The kingdom of God begins where the world least expects it because God’s reign does not align with human perspectives or expectations of authority, power, greatness, and dominance. While the world’s culture celebrates self-promotion, strength, and dominance, Jesus announces a kingdom accessible through repentance of sins, humility, and surrender to God. The kingdom people of God are not formed by climbing higher and over others to reach the top, but by bowing lower and choosing humility, repentance, and submission to God. Jesus spoke in Matthew 5:3–5 NKJV, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. BLESSED ARE THE MEEK, FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH.”

The world tells us that greatness is achieved by asserting ourselves, protecting our image, proving our worth, gaining influence, having more power, and accumulating material wealth. Being inundated with these worldviews, the same attitude and mindset can subtly creep into our Christianity and corrupt it. Consequently, our faith and spiritual life begin to shift and align not with the kingdom, but more with the values of the world than with the kingdom’s; where humility becomes optional, repentance feels like weakness, and submission to God is offensive. We resist being seen as lowly, broken, or needy because we fear losing significance. Nevertheless, this contradiction exposes a deeper spiritual issue: we want the benefits and blessings of God’s kingdom without adopting its posture and necessity of humility, submission to God, servanthood and repentance. Jesus’ first sermon in Matthew 5 is not about power, but about the poverty of spirit. “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” He says, “for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Repentance involves a complete turning away from sin. It is also a reorientation of the heart that acknowledges our absolute dependence on God. To repent is to descend by humbling ourselves before God, to lay down self-sufficiency, and to yield to God’s rule as we admit that we cannot rule our own lives. This is not a humiliation imposed by God, but humility chosen before Him.

In the kingdom, those who go low are lifted high. The meek inherit the earth, not because they are passive, but because they trust God as their defender and provider. Kingdom humility is not self-hatred; it is self-forgetfulness rooted in confidence in God’s grace. Those who empty themselves before the Lord are crowned—not with shame—but with righteousness, peace, and joy.

Pastor Kihā, a pastor in Hawai‘i, once described the kingdom attitude this way: “AS CHRISTIANS, WE DESCEND INTO GREATNESS. ”He illustrated this with the story of a Catholic priest, Father Damien, in the 1800s, who voluntarily moved to a remote Hawai‘ian peninsula called Kalaupapa. In this place, people suffering from leprosy were forcibly isolated from society.

He did not arrive with credentials or earthly authority. Father Damien descended into one of the most forsaken places on earth—not to be served, but to serve. He chose solidarity with the suffering, and in that descent, he became a vessel of Christ’s love and healing. His famous sermon transitioned from “you lepers” to “we lepers,” marking his complete identification with the broken and the lowly. THIS IS THE POSTURE OF THE KINGDOM: GREATNESS IS NOT FOUND IN DISTANCE FROM PAIN, BUT IN PROXIMITY TO IT. Philippians 2:7–8 ESV declares, concerning Christ’s descending in humility to be the Lamb crucified to provide salvation for all humanity:

But Christ emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus descended all the way to the cross so that we might ascend into resurrection life. Father Damien’s descent into Kalaupapa to live among the lepers mirrors this kingdom pattern: voluntary self-abasement for the sake of love leads to eternal impact. When we choose to go low, we walk in the footsteps of Christ Himself.

John the Baptist Declared Concerning Christ, “He Must Increase, but I Must Decrease.”

John understood the truth that Jesus must increase (become greater and greater), but he must decrease (become less and less). When John’s disciples, with great concern, informed him that Jesus, whom he baptized, was also baptizing people and that many more were now going to Him instead of coming to them, John replied that Christ must increase, but he must decrease. John 3:26–36 NLT gives the account :

So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the Man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the One you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to Him instead of coming to us.” John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I AM NOT THE MESSIAH. I AM ONLY HERE TO PREPARE THE WAY FOR HIM.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at His success. HE MUST BECOME GREATER AND GREATER, AND I MUST BECOME LESS AND LESS. He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but He has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else. He testifies about what He has seen and heard, but how few believe what He tells them! Anyone who accepts His testimony can affirm that God is true. For He is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives Him the Spirit without limit. The Father loves His Son and has put everything into His hands. And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

John the Baptist understood with his whole being the privilege, blessing, and necessity of humbling himself and having the honor to be appointed a servant of the kingdom of God, one who was to prepare the way for the Messiah. He was of the kingdom of God, embracing kingdom virtues of humility, submission to God, and servanthood toward others because he held to this kingdom truth—“I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for Him…Therefore, I am filled with joy at His success. HE MUST BECOME GREATER AND GREATER, AND I MUST BECOME LESS AND LESS. ”John also knew the truth that not only he, but all humanity, must decrease, while Christ must increase because:

• Jesus is the Messiah, but John was sent to prepare the way for the Messiah.
• Jesus is the Bridegroom, but John was the Bridegroom’s friend.
• Jesus is from above (heaven) and is greater than anyone, but John and all humanity are of the earth .
• Jesus is sent by God, His Father, and speaks the words of God, and God gives Him the Spirit without limit.
• God loves the Son and has put everything in His hands, but not so for any earthly person .
• Only faith in God’s Son can give eternal life, not faith in any earthly person.

John knew the unchangeable truth—Christ is eternally preeminent over all! King Jesus must increase, and all others must decrease. John embraced, with willingness, humility, joy, and grace, the lower station and Jesus Christ taking the preeminent place. John displayed kingdom greatness by descending lower, and Jesus elevated him as the greatest man on earth and one called to prepare the way for the Messiah. He was also more than a prophet.

• Matthew 11:11 ESV : “Truly, I say to you, among those born of women THERE HAS ARISEN NO ONE GREATER THAN JOHN THE BAPTIST.”
• “Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. ‘What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people who wear beautiful clothes and live in luxury are found in palaces. Were you looking for a prophet? YES, AND HE IS MORE THAN A PROPHET. John is the man to whom the Scriptures refer when they say, ‘Look, I am sending My messenger ahead of You, and he will prepare Your way before You.’ I TELL YOU, OF ALL WHO HAVE EVER LIVED, NONE IS GREATER THAN JOHN.” —Luke 7:24–28 NLT

John was conceived and called from his mother’s womb to a unique and unparalleled ministry in the kingdom of God, yet for him to walk and fulfill his assignment, he understood that he must decrease that Christ may increase in him. Andrew Murray’s quote on what it means to be God’s humble servant is fitting for John the Baptist.

The highest glory of the creature is in being only a vessel, to receive and enjoy and show forth the glory of God. It can do this only as it is willing to be nothing in itself, that God may be all. Water always fills the lowest places first. THE LOWER, THE EMPTIER A MAN LIES BEFORE GOD, THE SPEEDIER AND THE FULLER WILL BE THE INFLOW OF THE DIVINE GLORY.

Humility is a Kingdom Virtue, Pride is a Trait of Satan

Kingdom virtues, or godliness, are the result of the inhabitation of the Holy Spirit, who works in believers to will and to do of God’s good will. It is birthed and nurtured in our inner being by the Holy Spirit and His work of grace through intimacy with Jesus Christ as we yield to Him. Christlikeness is neither forced nor an outward imitation of Christ’s behavior, but it is a natural outflow from a godly heart yielded to King Jesus. In intimacy with Jesus, we see Him clearly for who He is as our spiritual eyes and understanding are enlightened. We perceive Him distinctly, causing our whole being to behold Him in awe, wonder, and holy fear. We are humbled, transformed, and conformed to His image. The formation of Christlikeness in believers does not require the law, because it is not the outcome of human effort trying to produce godliness through compliance with the law. IT IS BIRTHED AND EMPOWERED BY THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH SEEKING AND ABIDING IN HIM FIRST, ULTIMATELY, LIVING AND WALKING IN HIM IN FULL SURRENDER.

Humility is a kingdom virtue, and being humble is a kingdom attitude. GOD LOVES HUMILITY AND HATES PRIDE .He welcomes and elevates the humble, but He hates pride and resists the prideful. Humility is of Christ Jesus. Pride was spawned in satan’s heart by choice because his heart was lifted up with self-importance, self-aggrandizement, and self-centeredness. He envied God and sought to be like the Most High. He aspired to ascend above God, sit on a throne above the stars of God, and be worshipped like the Almighty. Pride is evil because it will always reject the lordship of God and make oneself the lord. Satan was judged, totally rejected by God, and violently ejected from heaven. Isaiah 14:12–15 NKJV is an account of satan’s pride and God’s judgment on him. It says,

HOW YOU ARE FALLEN FROM HEAVEN, O Lucifer, son of the morning! HOW YOU ARE CUT DOWN TO THE GROUND, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: “I WILL ASCEND into heaven, I WILL EXALT MY THRONE above the stars of God; I WILL ALSO SIT ON THE MOUNT of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I WILL ASCEND above the heights of the clouds, I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH.” YET YOU SHALL BE BROUGHT DOWN TO SHEOL, TO THE LOWEST DEPTHS OF THE PIT.

Lucifer, once a glorious archangel of God, was cast down, stripped of all splendor, driven from the presence of God, and ultimately, brought down to Sheol, which is the lowest depths of the pit. PRIDE IS AN EVIL TRAIT OF THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS, BIRTHED IN THE HEART OF SATAN. HUMILITY IS A VIRTUE OF CHRIST’S KINGDOM ISSUING FROM HIS HUMILITY AND SUBMISSION TO GOD WHEN HE DECLARED IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE TO HIS FATHER, “NOT MY WILL BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE! ”

Are We of Christ or of the World?

The Church, all who are disciples and followers of King Jesus, must pray for our hearts to be enlightened by the revelatory knowledge (Holy Spirit’s revelation) that John the Baptist had—King Jesus is the Messiah, Bridegroom, the One sent from above, He was given the Holy Spirit without limit and He alone has the power to save all who believe in Him. All believers are none of these! We are only servants of King Jesus, like John the Baptist, no matter what titles, names, positions, successes, ministries, recognition, popularity, or honor have been accorded to us by the whole world. We are not the Bridegroom but His friends, so we do not take joy over who we are or how successful and sought after we are, but we take joy in the Bridegroom, King Jesus, and all He has done. When we hold on to this revelatory knowledge, we are humbled and grateful to be His servant—serving Him and serving others. When our heart, spirit, and soul know this very well, and we, too, will declare as John did in John 3:30 NLT, “HE MUST BECOME GREATER AND GREATER, AND I MUST BECOME LESS AND LESS!” We will abhor being elevated, thinking ourselves better than others, seeking approval, respect, and honor, and expecting to be served rather than serve. Embracing humility, being willing to descend so that others ascend, and Christ be lifted up becomes a joy, a privilege, and an honor. We will always seek the lesser place, not the place of honor. We will rejoice when others are recognized, applauded, or promoted. When our hearts are filled with kingdom virtues of humility and servanthood, there is no place we will not go and no one we will not love and serve where and when the King sends us. We will count it a privilege, a blessing, and an honor .

Christ’s virtues are kingdom virtues and they are completely contrary to the world’s. Humility always takes and maintains the right and holy posture and attitude before God because of being in alignment with Him. It yields to Him and allows Him, as God, to do all according to His heart. The humble is also submissive and obedient because it is impossible for the humble to be stubborn and rebellious. They may be tempted, but will not yield to temptation. HUMILITY SEES GOD AND CELEBRATES GOD; PRIDE ADORES AND CELEBRATES SELF. PRIDE CARRIES THE STUBBORNNESS, REBELLION, AND SELF-ELEVATION OF SATAN, THE FATHER OF PRIDE .

Is the Church living with kingdom virtues or the world’s value systems? Until we live completely as Christ’s, we are unable to let Christ increase; and we decrease. Our lives will be tainted by the world’s culture, perspectives, and value systems. Our devotion to King Jesus is compromised; our commitment is negotiable; our submission to God is optional; and the call to Christlikeness is resented and therefore avoided. We resent having to humble ourselves to love our enemies, forgive those who have wronged us, or bless those who curse us. The fearful deception is when we are blind and cannot see these sins because we are still consistently doing ministries, paying our tithes, casting out demons, and doing miracles. We are blind to the truth that God is resisting us because of our pride and rebellion. We are living in the flesh and not in the Holy Spirit. The works of the flesh are evident in our character, ways, and ministries, yet we cannot see them. The tragic danger is becoming so at ease and comfortable with our backslidden state, presuming that we must be under God’s favor because of our works, successes, and extensive recognition from others, we fail to recognize God’s displeasure. We must awaken to the truth concerning our state, be appalled, and cry out to God in repentance. LET US SEEK GOD AND LIVE! LET BELIEVERS FLEE FROM THE DANGER OF GOD’S JUDGMENT THAT HE WILL NOT SPIT US OUT OF HIS MOUTH BECAUSE WE ARE NEITHER COLD NOR HOT .

The bride of Christ must be holy, pure, and spotless through the power of the Holy Spirit. It means that the bride of Christ must be Christlike—having kingdom virtues. Our being, character, attitudes, and ways must exude the fragrance of Christ .

The Call to Repent Because the Kingdom of God is at Hand

How do we repent? Andrew Murray once said, “PRIDE MUST DIE IN YOU, OR NOTHING OF HEAVEN CAN LIVE IN YOU.” Jesus says in John 12:24–26 ESV,

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. WHOEVER LOVES HIS LIFE LOSES IT, AND WHOEVER HATES HIS LIFE IN THIS WORLD WILL KEEP IT FOR ETERNAL LIFE. If anyone serves me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there will My servant be also. If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor Him.

Repentance begins with humbling ourselves before God in full acknowledgment of God’s verdict concerning us according to His Scripture. We choose to deny self and die to all of self and flesh so that the Holy Spirit has full access to and reign over us. We are humbled and yielded to Him. WHEN WE WILLINGLY DIE TO SELF-LIFE BY HIS GRACE AND HATE LIFE IN THIS WORLD, REPENTANCE IS DEEP AND THOROUGH. THERE IS NO STRUGGLE, JUST A SURRENDER. THERE IS NO RESISTING, JUST A SUBMISSION. It is true repentance, as patterned by David in Psalm 51, when he cried out in brokenness and contrition, submitting to God’s confrontation and judgment of him concerning his sins. David did not justify himself or argue. He was contrite and broken by the truth as he saw his transgressions through God’s eyes. He saw his wretchedness as he accepted all that God said of him. He cried out for God’s mercy, forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration. He pleaded with God not to take His Holy Spirit from him .

Now is the time in absolute humility for us to repent as David did. The invitation today is simple yet profound: come down so God can lift us up. Lay aside pride, control, the need to be right, and every form of ungodliness. KINGDOM PEOPLE WALK SOFTLY, REPENT QUICKLY, AND TRUST DEEPLY. As you descend into humility, you will discover that the kingdom has been within reach all along.

Humanity needs humble believers, willing to descend into places where the broken, lowly, hurting, and condemned are, for they need a Father Damien to bring the Good News to them that Jesus loves them, has died and risen again to save them, and He was beaten to heal them. The Church must be willing to live in a manner that Christ becomes greater and greater, and we become less and less, for we are Christ’s ambassadors, giving up all to love all as Christ loves, that all may come into His kingdom as His children.