Do the Humble Thing!

Maria
May 2, 2003

Keys to Victory series

How to have more love and unity!—By Maria

Maria #496 CM/FM 3251 6/99

Dearest Family,

1. I love you! As you read in Grapevine 65 about Peter's trip to South America, the Lord poured out an abundance of commendation and counsel for our precious Family there which we put together in special GNs just for them. Some of that counsel was particular to their situation and circumstances, and some of it was more generally applicable to all of us. I'd like to share some of the more general instruction in this "Keys to Victory" GN, and I pray that you all can apply it and benefit from it personally.

2. I hope it's all right with you‚ dear Family in South America, if we share some of the blessing of this wonderful instruction. If anything, it should encourage you that we all need to work on these areas. We're all striving for the same goal, and the Lord is asking us all to continue to make these steps of progress and keep moving forward for Him! Praise the Lord! We've edited out the more specific counsel pertaining to your field, so if you want to read over the full counsel that was given for you‚ please go back to the original GNs‚ "To My Latin Loves," parts 1 and 2.

3. We hope to publish a GN of the Lord's encouragement and commendation to all you faithful missionaries--also excerpts taken from the beautiful Words that He poured out to our Family in South America. He's so proud of all of you who lay down your lives to feed His sheep!

4. In this GN I'd like to share with you some of what the Lord gave along the lines of love, unity, and the root of what causes disunity—pride. Please really pray and ask the Lord to help you apply these messages personally. While they were originally given for a specific field, when we prayed and asked the Lord about sharing them with you, He made it very clear that it's something every area needs to work on and strive for. As this first message says, it's the most important goal of life!

5. Lord, help us all to take this to heart‚ to apply it to ourselves personally, and to let Your Words change us! We don't want to walk away from this reading unchanged‚ or worse yet, pointing the finger at someone else. We want to be open to hearing Your Words speak to us about our own hearts and lives and attitudes, and to learn how to be more loving, more humble, more in unity with You and our precious Family, in Jesus' name!

Let Love Be Your Goal!

6. (Jesus speaking:) What is the greatest goal in life? What goal have I given you to strive for? It's a twofold goal, but it has the same root of success to it—love. Thou shalt love Me with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself. This is the greatest goal, for it encompasses all things.

7. Love will redeem lost souls‚ repair any breaches, solve any problems, mend any heartaches, even heal broken bodies and bring about My plan for you. So if there's any one goal that is most important, it is love—love among the brethren, love for the lost‚ love for Me. This four-letter word embodies all that I am and that I wish you to be. So come before Me and ask Me to help you to love more in every way.

8. A greater increase in love will increase the witness you give‚ and the fruit of your witness. It will increase your supply, the finances that come in. It will increase your unity, which strengthens you, your Home, your children‚ your prayer power.

9. Love is all things and can do all things! It's the greatest power in the universe—not just on Earth, but also in the Heavenlies. My love is the only thing that will give you what you need to do the job ahead of you—to reach the lost.

10. In order to reach the lost‚ you must first begin at home and set things right within your hearts. Charity begins at home. Increase the warmth of your home fires‚ the love that emanates from the hearth. Then your love for the lost, for your outreach, for your ministering to others, will increase.

11. Love can cause marvelous chain reactions! As one reaches out to love Me, to love another, then it sets in motion a chain of love. Love begets love. So if you begin with a loving deed‚ a loving word, even a loving thought, it sets in motion the spiritual chain that continues and continues and continues.

12. Although to many this is simplistic and childish and a simple step to take, I say this is the greatest step you can take, for it is the step to Heaven, the step to make you more like Me, more Heavenly, more of a representation of My Father and of Me. Be My love for your brethren, for your children, for your mates, for your friends‚ for the lost, for the hopeless and helpless, the poor and the needy. This will I bless greatly.

13. If you love, you will bring down all the other blessings upon yourselves, upon your Homes‚ upon your sheep, upon your ministries. My love will beget love, and you will receive in great measure as you pour it out.

14. My goal is love; let this be your goal. Follow in My footsteps, looking forward to see who you can reach out to, who you can touch with My great love, forgiveness, comfort and peace. Give it freely, and freely I will repay and give manifold blessings to you in return. Let this mind and heart be in you—My mind and heart—a mind and heart which loves and loves and loves again unto the utmost.

15. I love you, My children. Seek to give and to share this love with others, and you'll be richly rewarded with My bounty, protection, supply, joy and freedom of spirit, all of which you can share and pour out to others. As you give, you receive; as you receive, you will have more to give. And so the cycle continues until all are overwhelmed and overshadowed by My perfect love. So love! I love you! (End of message from Jesus.)

Unity and Trust—

New Weapons for the Endtime

16. (Jesus speaking: ) One weapon you need to strengthen is the love of the brethren. My children, you each need to know without a shadow of a doubt that you would lay down your life for each other. The time is coming when all My Family will need to have that assurance in their hearts, that the other will be there for them.

17. You've made progress and have learned and grown in some areas of living the Law of Love and the "One Wife" vision, and I know you have it as one of your goals to work on more this year. But I must impress upon you the need and how important this weapon really is.

18. Some of you fight against this new move of the Spirit in your hearts. You struggle with selfishness‚ making ends meet yourselves, or wondering what battles the future would hold if you were to fully obey My Words. But the love I am talking about that I wish to give you will override all those things; it will overcome them, and it is the most important thing you could strive for right now. There will come a time in the not-too-distant future when material things and ministries will no longer be so important. The time is coming when you all will need to trust in each other's love just to survive.

19. It's like the story of the two brothers on the battlefield, when one brother was trapped in no man's land, mortally wounded. When the other brother found out about it, he came to try and rescue him, in spite of the certainty that he would be shot. Thus he sacrificed his own life trying to save his brother's. When asked why he did it, he replied with his dying breath, "Because he expected it of me." That's the kind of love and trust I'm talking about—knowing that you can count on each other.

20. This kind of love and trust and bond of unity is going to take a little while to nurture back to full health, as some of you have been hurt by others' selfishness. Selfishness is something that is common to all and is on both sides of the fence—you who have hurt others, and you who feel like you've been hurt. Some of you want more than your share‚ and you hurt others by not giving. Others of you feel like you deserve more, and so you're hurt when you're not given as much as you think you deserve. Then there are those of you who are giving, but have been taken advantage of. There are many hurts and wounds from selfishness. But now is the time to know that all have sinned and all have their selfishness. Now is the time to give each other the benefit of the doubt.

21. Now is the time to work on building more trust and unity in the Family, for this is one of the new weapons. Love‚ unity, trust, and selflessness are not just nice Christian virtues to strive for‚ but they are part of the new weapons that will protect and help you through the dark days ahead. All these work together with the other new weapons—loving Me intimately and so passionately that you know that I would never do anything to hurt you; knowing that I do all things for your good no matter what the outward circumstances look like; praising Me and hearing My voice to lead and guide and direct you; and trusting your brethren that they will be there for you, that they also hear from Me and will do the right thing. Such love, unity, trust, and selflessness will be a help and a comfort in the dark days to come. Now is the time to work on these weapons.

22. Just like with the other new weapons of My Spirit—praising Me, loving Me intimately, hearing from Me in prophecy—the way you will become skilled in using the weapon of love, unity, selflessness‚ and trust in your brothers and sisters is through using it. You might feel that you don't want to be the first one to step out, for you don't want to be hurt or taken advantage of. But those feelings are from the Enemy, as he tries to hold you back from using this very important tool that I've given you.

23. My loves, the days are coming when this love and strong trust and brotherhood between you will save your lives, if you have cultivated these things. And if you have not, you will be left wounded and vulnerable. The only way to become practiced and skilled in how to defend yourself with this weapon of love against the Enemy is to begin using it now. Ask Me how you can be more loving. Ask Me to show you the areas in your personal life where selfishness is manifested. Ask Me to speak to you about how you personally can go on the attack to break down the walls that have risen between you and your brethren, how you can manifest more trust, more faith, how you can share more and be a greater support to others.

24. This will not come easily‚ for the Enemy will fight you hard. But I tell you that it is a battle worth winning, for it will be your strength in the days to come. And along with hearing from Me directly, knowing of My intimate love for you, and being strong in the area of praising Me, this love and trust and unselfishness that will be built between you will be your defense, your strength, your salvation, your victory! (End of message from Jesus.)

25. (Mama: ) The Lord makes it very clear in that message that the unity He's asking us to have is not only so that we can be more fruitful or a better sample, happier, and receive more of His blessings, but because in the days to come our very lives and survival will depend on it! He said that it's one of the new weapons He's given us with which to defend ourselves against the Enemy and survive in the days to come. If we're going to continue to be His witnesses and be able to do the job He has for us right up until the End, then we'd better start preparing now in the ways that He shows us!

26. You might wonder what can be done to promote more unity, as it's such a big battle which has been going on for so long, and it takes everyone's commitment to bring about the victory. The Lord said in the above message that He's asking each of you to come to Him individually and ask Him what you can do. That will bring the victory—if you go to Him, and each of you is willing to humble yourself, obey, follow closer, and take the steps He outlines for you.

27. Maybe He'll ask you to apologize to someone, or suggest that you begin combining efforts with another Home on a project you've been working on. Maybe He'll speak to your heart about working closer with the other Homes in your city‚ or helping to care for the children of the single mom that's in your Home. Maybe He'll ask you to take in someone who asked to come to your Home, or to simply ask someone for a date and begin sharing sexually. Maybe He'll speak to you about comments you've made that have sown disunity, or remind you of some appropriate Word to read which will help to expose the problem in your life. Whatever it is, He will show you what steps you personally can take, and then it's up to you to obey and take them.

28. I know you want to, dear ones. You want to move ahead with the Lord and not be left behind, and using this new weapon of unity and trust is one of the very important ones the Lord says you need to work on.

29. He's serious about this‚ because He loves us and He wants us to make it through to the End! Lord help us to obey and follow, to be willing to lay aside our pride and whatever else is holding us back. In Jesus' name!

You Receive Power in

Direct Proportion to Your Love

30. In this next message the Lord gives a beautiful promise of His unfailing supply, protection and support during the difficult days ahead. But He makes it conditional upon our unity. He says that He will bless and prosper you in direct proportion to your love and unity!

31. (Jesus speaking:) You may feel that you've repaired the cracks and sealed the dykes. I'm proud of you for the small steps of progress you've made, but you must be more united! I expect much more from you—I expect wholehearted obedience! I ask you to look at your lives—the way you live and operate within your Homes and areas—and ask Me what more you can do to strengthen your spiritual defenses and to unite in My love.

32. Ask Me what more you can do to help your brethren and to be samples to each other of My love. Ask Me what you've been doing that is not a sample of My love. In the days to come, you'll be thankful that you took this time to sharpen your swords; you'll rejoice for the opportunities you've had to bolster your spirits and to grow in the "One Wife" vision of living the laws of My love, for these things will be your salvation.

33. I say to you, as I said to My friends and disciples during those last days that I spent with them after rising from the dead: Join together in obedience, humility‚ and love, in order for My promises to be fulfilled in you.

34. Only those who were united in obedience on the Day of Pentecost were filled with the white-hot flames of My Spirit and received the miraculous power and anointing to preach and to minister‚ to feed and to heal the multitudes. Do you long for that power? Do you seek the anointing to not only survive the troublous times and the economic perils of the days ahead, but to also have the power of My prophets and disciples to do the miraculous in order to be able to feed the multitudes of lost and hungry sheep?

35. The power that you seek is in the measure of your love. I promise you that you will survive and flourish in proportion to the measure with which you love and give and pour out to others. But you must begin now in order to build your faith. You must live lives of selflessness and giving‚ laying down your lives for the brethren, and trusting Me to take care of your every need.

36. Seek out opportunities to give and not to receive, for it is in living for others that you will be taken care of and fulfilled. But if you withhold your love, your goods‚ or the good deeds you could do for others, for concern that you will not have enough for yourself or your own, then you'll be left wanting. He who gives to others will not lack, while he who hides his eyes will not be blessed.

37. I've promised that I will do great and mighty things for you, My children, and that you will do great and mighty things for Me. And indeed you will—but only if you are prepared. Prepare now‚ for this is the day of preparation. (End of message from Jesus.)

The Beautiful Fountain,

And the Vital Importance of

Unity and Yieldedness

38. (Mama:) This next message was also originally given specifically for the Latin work. We asked the Lord if this could be applied to the work in any area, and He confirmed that it could. So with the Lord's permission, we've taken out the specific references to South America. Please prayerfully apply it to your area. It's a beautiful word picture, and demonstrates how much emphasis the Lord is placing on our yieldedness and willingness to work together as one.

39. (Jesus speaking:) The work of My Family is like a beautiful fountain that reaches high into the sky, and whose waters reach the lives of many. I am the One Who gives the water. I am the Source, and I freely give you water that you may pour forth unto others. I'm like the underground spring of fresh‚ living, lively, life-giving water. I'm always full and running over; you just have to tap into My source and pour forth My waters.

40. Each Home is like a little part of the fountain. Rarely do you see a beautiful fountain whose mighty jet of water shoots forth in one stream made of many little streams, from one spout made of many little spouts. Usually the most beautiful of fountains have separate pipes and spouts through which the water shoots to exhibit the overall beauty.

41. Each duct, each spout, each little pipe that shoots forth water from below must be clean and unobstructed so that the water can gush forth in full force‚ making the fountain, in its entirety, full, complete, even, and of perfect beauty. If one of the holes or pipes is clogged and the water is held back, the fountain is not complete, and all of the passersby notice the fault, the weakness, the problem. So it is with each of My Homes. Each Home is like a little pipe, a little duct, a little spout that makes up the fountain of My work.

42. I have created you as a fountain of life, a fountain of light, a fountain to refresh those who will taste of the goodness from your hands, those who will drink from this fountain of life—this fountain which is actually the fountain of My Words, the fountain of My love, the fountain of My truth‚ My rivers of living water which I pour through individuals and through Homes that are yielded to My will and allow Me to keep them clean and unobstructed from the things of this world, from the hindrances, from the roadblocks to unity.

43. How beautiful is this fountain when all parts are working together, when all parts are allowing Me, the fresh spring water, to flow through them! What a sight to behold, this beautiful fountain of My work, when all strive together in love and in unity. Every Home is needed, every person is needed‚ and the unity, the oneness that I desire is necessary.

44. You each have need of each other. You have need of the brothers and sisters within your Home and you have need of the brothers and sisters in other Homes. All must work together in love and unity if this fountain is to continue as a prize of beauty, as a tool of usefulness to Me‚ as a vehicle to feed, water‚ and nurture those whose throats are dry and barren without the Words of David, without the Words of My truth, without My Spirit.

45. You must clean your pipes and spouts. You must build love and unity‚ for all must work together towards My goals. If you allow yourself or your Home to become clogged, if you don't faithfully wash yourself with My Words, if you don't diligently seek Me for ways to stay clean and unobstructed, then soon My water will not be able to pass through you anymore. You'll be stopped up and I will not be able to use you.

46. At this point I will either have to shake you up real big and chip away at the problems that are clogging you and hindering you or your Home from being a clear, clean vessel, or I may just have to replace you with another new pipe and spout that is clean and clear and willing to be nothing—a holy hole for Me, a nothing, out of which I can make something.

47. I don't wish for you to be cast aside, and that's why I warn that you must constantly keep yourself clean through My Words and My guidance. You can't allow bitterness, disunity, and grudges to build up in your hearts and in your Homes. All must work together. All must be in unity to make the fountain of My Words‚ the fountain of My Family, bear the most fruit.

48. My fountain will flow constantly; I will see to that. But whether you remain a part of it is up to you. It's not a glorious job just being a vessel, a conduit of My Spirit, a messenger of My love, but it is a job that is greatly needed in this day of the weak and the humble. I will see to it that My fountain continues. My work will not stop, but it's your choice as to whether you wish to remain a part of that sparkling water that sprays forth to quench people's thirst, that sparkling fountain that all behold and look upon with admiration and respect.

49. The fountain is beautiful; it changes color with the seasons and the times, but the success of the fountain depends not on the great or the powerful or the strong. The success of My work depends on the willingness of the weak, the humility of the lowly, the unity of the Homes and of one with another, and the yieldedness of each one saying yes to Me. (End of message from Jesus.)

50. (Mama: ) Thank You Jesus for that very clear, beautiful word picture, which will stick with us and help remind us of how You see things. Please help us all to be willing to make whatever changes You're asking of us, so that we can continue to be flowing, useful vessels of Your life-giving waters to the thirsty.

Taking the Ball Down

The Field Together!

51. The Lord knows how to get our attention‚ and in this next message He uses a word picture incorporating a scenario that is dear to many of your hearts. You'll see what I mean as soon as you start reading—ha! Again, this was originally given for our dear Latin Family, but the Lord suggested that we publish it for all of you. He gave an additional paragraph and there are a few little places where He gave permission to delete or change a word or phrase in order to apply it to all of us. Praise the Lord!

52. (Jesus speaking:) My dear ones, how I love you each personally, individually, fully, and with all My heart! I picked you out from the grandstand around this big soccer field of My work to be teammates, joining arms, running alongside each other, passing the ball‚ and winning the gold medal that I have for each of you. And the medal is not just for you as a team, but for each one personally, for your effort in playing this game and giving Me all your time, strength and energy.

53. But you see, one can't play without the other. One can't just take the ball to the far end of the field and start kicking it about at will. There needs to be a plan, a strategy, and a united force that joins you together as a team. This you need to strive for, this muscle you need to build on.

54. You've seen weightlifting champions working on building different parts of their body so they can bear the weight without straining certain other parts of their bodies. Well, this is what I'm asking you to work on now. Start building the muscles of your camaraderie with each other. Build up the friendships among yourselves. Start today by reaching out to that one across the field who you see has the ball, but who is not quite sure what to do with it. From your perspective you can see a way to get it past your opponents and into the goal. Signal them‚ reach out to them, and together you can complete this segment of the game, till it be another's turn in the spotlight with that ball‚ and they likewise work together with other teammates to complete the goal.

55. Don't think it all has to be done by you alone. You don't have to do anything solely on your own, making things happen alone, maneuvering the ball all the way to the goal by yourself. You've got to work with your brothers.

56. My dear ones‚ see that sister or brother afar off on the other side of the field, who is struggling? Take them into your arms, embrace them in spirit and make them part of your team, if that's what they need and if that's what will make the victory come easily and more smoothly.

57. Why do you sometimes take the ball and run off with it on your own? Is it because you feel that that brother or sister doesn't hear what you are trying to say? Have you tried expressing yourself to no avail, and you are left with discouragement? Well, now is the perfect time to make those things right again—to not only open your mind to what others feel and need, but to likewise try to make amends, to share, once again, in love, what you've been feeling and needing in your life.

58. As you open your hearts and minds to each other, building bridges so others can cross the gap and enter into the fort of your life‚ you're going to see walls repaired where the Enemy was once able to enter, and where you had no guard of protection at attention. Those who come to join you in mind and spirit will be able to help safeguard you from future attacks of Satan on your work for Me, in this beautiful field that I've placed you in.

59. You can do it, team! You can accomplish the goal I have set before you! But none of you can do it without the other. Train as a team, run as a team‚ encourage each other, and you will win as a team! (End of message from Jesus.)

At the Root of Disunity Is Pride

60. (Mama:) Next is a message the Lord gave when we asked Him the question, "What is at the root of this disunity?" Obviously, our unity has been something He's been asking us, as a Family, to work on for a while, and we've made steps in the right direction. But we need to make a lot more progress, and in order to do that it helps to know what the root of the problem is, or what holds us back.

61. Please pay special attention to this message, because the Lord exposes the root of the problem. It's an area that we all fall short in and constantly need to be desperate with the Lord about—our pride. In a way, that's encouraging, because the key to victory is really quite simple: being willing to do the humble thing! Lord help us all!

62. (Jesus speaking:) My dear loves, some of you have seen this problem of disunity in your midst. You've tried to clip leaves off it. You've tried to cut back its branches. You have even tried to chop it off at the base, but it has always grown back. I know you don't like this tree of disunity. You wish to be rid of it, but you feel as if all your efforts to make it smaller or to cut it down have been to no avail.

63. Now I've come unto you‚ as the Master Gardener, to give you the solution, the key to victory over these problems which have been hindering you and frustrating you. As with any tree, any plant‚ it draws its nourishment from the root, and it is the root which keeps it alive and growing.

64. You must see, My dear ones, if you are to be rid of this problem with disunity, that it has a very strong root in pride. Pride of your accomplishments. Pride manifested in wanting to have the glory or the credit for your ministries, your fruitfulness‚ and thus you don't want to share with others. Pride manifested in your unyieldedness to each other, not wanting to yield to another's word or suggestion, for you feel yours is better. Pride in not wanting to share, feeling that you deserve something more than another. Pride which holds you back from using the new weapons as I would have you‚ and thus you are weakened in fighting these other battles. Pride‚ making you think you know better than Me‚ and thus you're not yielded to My checks and suggestions when I ask you to reach out and love, to apologize, to take the humble seat.

65. In all these ways and others, My loves, is your pride manifested. This great problem tree has its root in pride‚ and if you want to get rid of the problems with disunity which you have struggled with for so long, you'll have to be willing to get at the root, dig it out, and kill it. Then will come the victory!

66. You ask how you can learn humility, for you've been proud for so long. The victory comes through simply obeying Me. I'm always there, ready to help you and check you about the humble thing to do. You just have to be willing to follow My checks. I warn you that it will not be easy. It will even be painful, for when your pride dies, it hurts you and makes you feel like a part of you is dying. But, oh, the beautiful resurrection of humility, love and grace which follows is well worth it!

67. So I challenge you to go on the attack immediately‚ My loves, to do the humble things which I ask of you. They will come in little ways—confessing to one another, sharing your hearts, asking for prayer, yielding to another's wishes, putting your ideas on the back burner in order to help someone else fulfill theirs. I will ask you to reach out and share, to give the better part of provisioning to someone else, to give the credit to others for the fruit being borne. It's not enough to just give Me the credit—you must also give it to others, and really believe in your heart that without them it would not have happened.

68. This victory will not come easily, but it's imperative that you fight for it—and that you continue to fight for it every day if you wish to continue to be used by Me. I'm moving My Spirit to those who are willing to lay down their pride and work together with others. And no matter how fruitful the work, or how much I have anointed you in the past‚ or how well you think you can function on your own, those days are now over.

69. I'm giving a clear sound of the trumpet, and I call you to come and cast off your dirty garments of pride, that you might receive My beautiful, clean, strengthening garments of humility. Do it now‚ My loves! Heed My checks. Ask Me what I would have you do personally—for there's a key to victory for each of you, a first step that I will require of you, that you might begin down the road to victory. Ask Me what it is for you personally‚ and then take it! Don't try to compromise or get out of it, for My Spirit is moving now and will not wait for those who choose to lag behind.

70. I love you, My dear darling ones, and have promised you the victory. It's within your hand to take hold of it and receive it. Therefore determine to fight through, to humbly ask for My help and strength, and together we will win! (End of message from Jesus.)

71. (Mama:) The Lord gives you two very important practical keys to overcoming this strong root of pride in your lives: 1) hear from Him in prophecy exactly what you as an individual need to do, and 2) do the humble thing. I know that we often say "do the humble thing," and it's possible that with time this has become almost a cliché to many of you. You might have forgotten that that phrase came into use when the Lord said in prophecy in February of 1996, "When there is a choice to do the proud thing or the humble thing, always choose to do the humble thing" (ML #3043:19, Lifelines 23).

72. Let's see if we can, as Peter sometimes says, "put some skin on" this do-the-humble-thing concept. The Lord gives some examples in the above message of what doing the humble thing could mean to you. He said you might need to: confess to one another; share your hearts; ask for prayer; yield to another's wishes; put your ideas on the back burner in order to help someone else fulfill theirs; reach out and share; give the better part of provisioning to someone else; give the credit to others for the fruit being borne‚ and really believe in your heart that without them it would not have happened.

73. I felt there must be lots and lots more ways that we could do the humble thing, so I asked the Lord to enlarge this list of examples. The more specifics we have in a situation like this, the more likely we are to recognize His still, small voice when He's nudging us to do something. If you have a deeply engrained habit of pride and you're not used to doing the humble thing‚ you won't be as attuned to His checks, or if you do hear them‚ you will easily blow them off and make excuses. So all the more reason to have specific practical tips from the Lord. When we asked the Lord for some examples, He answered with a very good list of ideas in how to progress in the "humble thing habit," something we all need more of!

How Jesus Learned

To Do the Humble Thing!

74. Before I give you the list of things the Lord gave when we asked Him for suggestions of how to "put skin on" the do-the-humble-thing habit, I want to share with you a very special message which I think will help you appreciate the list of tips even more. In this message, our sweet Jesus shares His Own lessons of humility from when He was here in the flesh. He says that this list of tips is gleaned from His very Own experience while here with us in the flesh, and that it helped Him tremendously! Thank the Lord! He also shares priceless insights into how He remained humble, and how we can do the same.

75. (Jesus speaking:) I had to constantly be aware of My sample to others—and needless to say‚ I had to stay very close to My Father in order to be the sample He wanted Me to be. I was in the flesh, so I could have made grave mistakes at any time if it were not for prayer and My strong connection with Heaven. I had to fight for it‚ because after all, being in the flesh, there were many times My flesh didn't want to do the humble thing right off. Flesh is flesh, and there were many times when, because of My human nature, I didn't feel like doing the humble thing.

76. Each time I was tested‚ I had to yield. I had to humble Myself. I had to step out and obey. In the flesh I had to show Myself weak, yet it was this weakness that was My strength. Yes, My loves, it was the strength of weakness that made Me strong. It was the strength of weakness that pulled Me through. It was the strength of weakness in the flesh that made Me what I was and enabled Me to pull down the power of Heaven.

77. I was the pioneer of the weakness revolution! Believe Me, I know what it's all about. I know the glory of it, the wisdom of it, and the dire necessity of it. And this is why I'm requiring the same of My children today, for this is the only way you'll be able to do greater things than I did! It is given to this Family to do these "greater things"—greater things than I did when I walked in the flesh. But I must tell you, this will only be given to those who will follow closely‚ to those who are willing to show themselves weak so that My glory may shine through.

78. This is the key if you are to follow closely—you must walk in humility and show yourself weak. This is what I had to do, and this was My success. I was put to the test many times, just as you are put to the test day in and day out as you're presented with options‚ through many circumstances and conditions during the day when you must decide to do the humble thing or to pass it by.

79. I had to acquire the habit, just as you must, and it was through prayerfulness and daily seeking My Father that He helped Me each time and I was able to pass the tests. My Father taught Me and led Me and showed Me ways I could do the humble thing each time I looked to Him—and this is how I formed good habits. I was the originator of the "do-the-humble-thing" habit! Yes, I had to learn all the same lessons that you are having to learn today—and in this too I pioneered the way!

80. I want to share with you how it was I formed the humble-thing habit. I had to be aware. I had to be open to Heaven, open to My Father's voice and His suggestions. I had to ask for it—ask Him for ways, specifics, on how I could do the humble thing. I knew I didn't have it in Me—that is‚ in My flesh—to do what He was requiring of Me. I knew it had to come from Heaven, and that He was going to have to show Me what to do, how to act‚ what to say. I had to be very prayerful.

81. Doing the humble thing doesn't always come easy to the flesh, and this is why I had to learn it—I had to make it a habit. I learned that if I stayed in close contact with Heaven, I would be shown what the humble thing to do was in each instance. As I did this, I was able to create the habits, until they became part of Me.

82. I had to be the living Word to the people--to be humble and reflect the spirit of love, to walk in humility‚ simplicity, and lowliness of mind. I could not merely preach humility and love, I had to be humble and give love.

83. When I walked on the Earth, in order to truly walk in humility, showing Myself weak, I found I had to continually be on guard to not fall into pride. As you know, I was tempted in all points just as you are—and that means all, A_L_L. All points, including My pride. My human pride was tested time and again, for this was a point that Satan would have delighted to see Me fall in, since it was the crux of his own downfall.

84. Take a minute to think about it. It would have been very easy for Me to be lifted up in pride. After all, I was the begotten Son of God. Though I was weak in the flesh, I was strong in the Spirit. And though I was despised and eventually rejected of men‚ as news of Me spread abroad, as the crowds began to gather around Me everywhere I went, and as My Father wrought great miracles and mighty signs and wonders by My hand, as I grew in stature and learned to hone the gifts of the Spirit, this could have easily gone to My head—thinking it was in My flesh I was able to do such things.

85. I was tested time and again in many ways on My pride, whether I would take the credit to Myself or look to My Father and give Him all the glory. I was tested many times—whether I would do the humble thing or use My gifts to My Own end.

86. When I stood before magistrates and was asked why I did not send forces to vindicate My cause if I were a king‚ My pride was tested. In My flesh, I wanted to call down the legions of Heaven and show My force and power right there on the spot. But My Father knew a better way, and it was the humble way. My flesh didn't receive great glory in that moment as I stood and replied that My Kingdom was not of this world, for if it were, My armies would fight. But by taking the humble route, by standing back and letting My Father work in the way He knew best‚ the victory came, and all glory was given to Heaven!

87. It would have been easy to allow the blessings of the Spirit that were Mine to minister to My pride if I hadn't stayed in close touch with My Father. I had to learn to fight against the natural tendency of the flesh I walked in to think that it was so great.

88. When the news about Me went out and the crowds gathered from far and wide, that day when the 5,000 gathered and I fed them from the loaves and fishes, the praise of the people could have really gone to My head had I not resisted the temptation. As I worked miracle after miracle, each time My pride was tested—whether I would let it go to My head or whether I would give My Father the glory and honor that was His due, choosing to walk in humility.

89. A key for Me was in always giving My Father the credit, for in this way I was showing Myself humble. When the learned men of the world questioned Me, I told them, "I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me." And so it was. I found I had to always point to My Father and give Him all the honor and glory, as I replied, "If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father Who honors Me."

90. You see, the choice was Mine. As a man, I was tested in all points like you, and each time, with each test, I had to choose.

91. And now I want to bring to your attention something very special—something that will be of great benefit to you if you will put it to use. Do you know how My Father helped Me to resist the temptation to fall into pride? Do you know how I learned to walk in humility and in humbleness of mind and spirit? As My Father spoke to Me about these things, I made a list of the things I could do to help Me walk in humility. Does this surprise you? I'm a firm advocate of My children using to-do lists‚ checklists, guidelines, and reminders.

92. It's My Own personal "do the humble thing" to-do list that I've based this updated version on that I give to My Family now. Remember, I pioneered the way! Yes, this list is gleaned from My Own experiences, My Own lessons learned when I walked the Earth in the flesh. This list is the sum of My Own findings, My Own to-do list which I have added to and brought up to date and put in terms which you in the Family today can understand.

93. Putting this practical counsel into effect in My Own life on Earth was My secret to walking in humility and showing Myself weak. Therefore if you are to be the sample I want and need you to be‚ if you want to acquire the do-the-humble-thing habit, let this be your guide. Read this list often‚ pray over it, ask Me daily how you might apply it to your life that day, and I will guide you.

94. Do not fear, thinking this list is unattainable‚ but only take a step at a time. As you pray and seek Me daily, as you look to Me each step‚ I will lead you in the way of truth, until these steps become a habit and sink into the very fiber of your being. (End of message from Jesus.)

95. (Mama: ) Wow, thank You, precious Lord! What a precious glimpse into Your heart and the lessons that You personally had to learn. Please help us as we apply the counsel that You gave‚ so that we can be worthy of the calling You've given us.

96. The Lord says in that message that the only way we're going to do "greater things" is if we learn this humility and strength of weakness. That's a pretty heavy statement! Lord help us!

97. Okay, here's the list of tips from our Husband on the do-the-humble-thing habit. Please remember that these suggestions are to be applied in an age-appropriate manner, according to the guidelines of the Charter. And you, dear Family in South America, don't skip this list, because the Lord has made several additions to it since we published it for you! Praise the Lord!

Doing the Humble Thing!—

Practical Tips from

Our Wonderful Jesus!

Pass on the credit to others at every opportunity, in the little things as well as the big things. Make it a habit to always give others the credit, and soon you'll see more clearly yourself how much you need others, and how insufficient you are by yourself. For example‚ if someone helps you in the kitchen and someone compliments you on the finished product of a delicious meal, give credit where credit is due to the one who helped you. Or if you're working on a project and someone gives you a tip on how to do it better or easier, or catches a mistake before it causes a problem, when someone thanks you for your good work on the project, share the credit by saying, "Thank the Lord, so-and-so caught the mistake, so we were able to get it fixed," or whatever the case may be.
Compliment those around you‚ even those you are jealous or envious of.
Try talking more softly.
Listen to others more; show more interest in their situations and more sympathy for their battles, especially those you have a tendency to be critical of.
Spend time fellowshipping with those you rarely have personal contact with.
Ask your shepherds if they have anything to tell you, any correction or tips on how you can do better‚ or areas that you can improve in. Especially if you're fighting sensitivity—which is pride—this is a good way to go on the attack and make progress.
Ask your peers, friends, mate, or co-workers what areas you could improve in that would make things easier for them, or what areas they'd like to see you change or grow in.
Have "Loving Jesus" inspirations during which you read the more intimate portions of "To Jesus With Love" and personally say love words to Me.
Laugh at other people's jokes more than your own.
If you're overly competitive‚ forgo playing sports with your buddies for a while‚ especially if you're proud of your skills.
Share sexually with someone in need, even if you're not particularly attracted to him or her.
When someone needs help‚ stop what you're doing and go help them. Always thinking that what you're doing is more important than the immediate need is pride.
Love Me intimately on your dates, saying love words to Me. Say words of affection and encouragement to your partner as well.
Pioneer new ways to pray and praise Me during your daily devotions, even if it breaks your bottle.
Sing to Me in tongues.
When you hear someone share a lesson they've learned, ask Me how their lesson could apply to you and could help you as well. Encourage others that their lessons benefit you and others, and that you're thankful they shared them.
Work on appreciating others more. Ask Me to show you special things about different ones, especially anyone you don't get along with‚ and then tell them the things you appreciate about them. Everyone is special to Me in different ways—and seeing how much I love and appreciate each of you will help you to keep the right perspective on things.
Read the counsel in "Revolutionary Women" and "Man Looketh on the Outward Appearance" and learn about the simplicity of My Spirit. Apply this counsel as I lead you, when you come to Me to ask Me how you could improve in following Me more closely.
Use more simplicity and the natural look in your dress, hairstyle, and (for women) your make-up and jewelry. If you're not sure whether or not your appearance glorifies Me or contributes to your pride, ask Me‚ and be willing to accept My answer.
If you don't yet speak the language of the land well, step out more to learn and practice it, even though it's humbling to make mistakes and you feel like you're talking baby language. Likewise, if you're a national and you don't speak much English, step out by faith to learn or practice, humbling as it might be. On both sides you'll reap great benefits, gaining not only humility, but a new and useful skill that will help you in many ways.
Have a dance night with only slow music, and dance with every person of the opposite sex.
Women, dance with other women on dance nights when there aren't enough men to go around.
Have a special time of fellowship where your Home members share personal lessons—or even just share your intimate battles and fears with someone close to you, asking for prayer.
Praise out loud for something you realize I've done for you.
Give Me the glory when someone compliments you.
Raise your hands and praise when you have the chance, in meetings or whenever, even if no one else is doing it. I see it and I love it.
Take time to straighten the couches and chairs after movie night, wash some extra dishes after a meal‚ or pick up the clutter in the yard. Don't think you're too busy or important to do those little jobs.
Do what the Spirit leads you to do at that moment when I'm giving you a nudge, whether to give someone a hug, or take time talking with another, or sing a song with someone who's going through a battle. Do it then and there; don't wait till you feel more comfortable.
Be affectionate when you first see someone that day‚ and throughout the day. Don't hold back. It may be just what they need to get them through what they're battling.
Be kind, even if it means not saying all that's on your mind and not expressing whatever opinions you have. But prefer the other and speak kindly.
Let people know you're just a tool, just a vessel for My love. Tell them it's not of yourself that you're so kind or forgiving or whatever it is that they admire in you. Let them know that it's My Spirit in you making you this way.
Take a walk with someone and share your heart with them. Take them into your confidence and ask them to pray for you for some area that you're struggling with—but make sure you share it in love and that it doesn't reflect badly on any of your brothers or sisters. It will humble you and strengthen the love and communication between you.
When you get a prophecy, remind yourself and others that it's all My doing.
When you're being hit with a battle, or the Enemy's coming in with negative thoughts, fight him back verbally. Speak it out, say it out, sing and shout! Do whatever you've got to do aloud to chase him far away and bring yourself close to My side.
Confess your faults to others and let them know how you really need their prayers. Tell them you depend on them, need them, and appreciate them.
Make an adventurous move to learn a new game with others that you aren't as good at as they are.
Try to learn a new skill from someone who knows more about it‚ whether they're your peer or younger or older than you. Put yourself in a learning position, letting others instruct you.
Do a sexy dance for someone, whether on their birthday or some other special occasion. Humble yourself in this way, and My Spirit can come forth through you to them.
If you're naturally sensitive, go on the attack against it. Ask for united prayer. Ask people to please correct you and tell you things, and then really fight to thank them and be appreciative when they do. When they share a lesson or something with you, pray and ask Me how it applies to you. Then be honest about it and let them know how much you needed it. It will kill your pride, but eventually it will get easier!
Pray for victories for the times when you hold back and don't reach out, the times when it's hardest to burn free. I can help you conquer, whether it be praising Me aloud, giving affection, receiving public prophecies, or whatever.
Don't be afraid to be seen praying aloud in public, or just talking to Me throughout your day. I am a very real presence. So speak to Me, include Me, and don't worry about others' thoughts.
Write notes to people when I lead you to give some assurance or encouragement. Don't think they'll be bothered. Just freely give when I show you to do something.
Proclaim your love for Me throughout your daily interactions; make known your dedication to do what the New Wine brings out, the things you wish to do that you might follow Me closer. Not only will it inspire others to do the same, but it will give you a boost to follow through and do it and make it take place in your life.
Do the jobs that are humbling to do‚ that are more menial and less self-glorifying. You are a servant unto Me‚ so don't be afraid to be so to each other. You all need each other.
Mingle with people that you don't normally hang around with and don't even feel very comfortable with. Reach out to all, and bring all into the circle of your love.
Tell others how much you need them, and be specific about it. Honestly admit your weaknesses or inabilities‚ and how without them and their help, you wouldn't be complete or capable of doing the job.
Cherish each one in your Home. Don't think of yourself as either above or below them, but think of them as brothers and sisters‚ and treat them with respect and friendship.
Don't act one way with someone and then change your interaction because of fear or cover-ups with another. Be yourself, and try to show each person love without partiality, even if you don't feel like it. I can help you get over the barriers.
Have praise time with someone else. Reach out to the one near you. Maybe it's even someone you don't normally talk with. But invite them to join you, and love Me in praise together.
Ask for prayer when you're struggling, letting others know your needs when you're all together. You don't have to appear so competent all the time.
When you're going through the food serving line, take one of the smaller pieces and prefer your brethren. Give someone the bigger serving. When you do that you're saying that someone else might need and deserve it more than you do, which is love and humility.
When I tell you to go and talk with someone about something that's on your heart‚ pray about it and get My instruction so you can do it the best and most loving way, and then reach out and do it. You could go on a walk, or help them with meal prep‚ or wash the snack dishes together. Just get it out, and pray for My help in that area.
Don't be too proud to accept a simple compliment. Don't talk back and deny it, but thank the giver of it and sweetly give Me the praise. Those are My words of love to you, so don't push them aside, thinking you know better. See things as I see them, and love Me for it.
When I've given you a talent, don't be afraid to use it, even if you aren't as good at it as you wish you could be. Use it and I'll cause you to improve as you do. Don't deny the gifts I've given you for fear of failure or the opinions of others. Branch out and let Me help you improve.
If you struggle with giving prophecies in public, ask Me to help you, and then commit to give whatever you get at the next available opportunity. Your love for Me and humility to be My channel turns Me on and makes Me love you all the more!
If you don't know the answer to something you wonder about, or someone has spoken to you about something that you're not sure about or that you don't have much experience in, then ask. Be honest. Speak that question that's on your mind and get informed. You don't have to know everything; nobody does. Even someone who seems to know a lot doesn't know it all. You know things that they may not know, so humbly teach each other the things you've come to know, that are needed in your life.
Speak up when you feel something isn't quite right—in love and prayer. You don't have to just go along with everything that seems to be "the way to be."
Help someone, even if to you it means not doing the coolest thing. It may be humbling, but that's what love is—humble.
Prefer your brethren, both those in your Home and other Homes, even if you have differences with them and think they have faults. When they ask to borrow a vehicle or need manpower for a project, give it to them—remembering that you're all working for Me, and that their work is just as important as yours.
Ask Me to help you see the good points of those in your Home and in other Homes. Seeing them as I see them will make you want to help them all the more.
Take the first step to do the humble thing yourself, whether it's giving, helping, yielding‚ apologizing, or showing love in some other way. Even if others don't reciprocate, My love never fails and is always rewarded in some way. Be the person I ask you to be rather than expecting others to be that way before you will do so.