Humility or Ability (was: Re: Attitude Question)

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In a message dated 98-02-14 07:16:55 EST, you write:

<< From:	grimel@icx.net (George R)
 
 On 02/13/98 at 01:39 PM, "Floyd E. Avery" <feavery@prysm.net> said:
 
 >And thank God this is a clean list. 
 
 Amen.
 
 >If I wrote an outstanding presentation on Oneness
 >Salvation and then put it on the internet so you all could see it but I
 >said you can't put it on your server and show it to your friends, WOULD
 >MY ATTITUDE BE RIGHT? I know we are not to judge, so don't judge me but
 >please give me your opinion about my attitude. This is a moot question
 >because I am a poor writer and not likely to write a great work. Whe I
 >get to Heaven and worship Jesus for a few million years, I am going to
 >ask Him to make me a good writer.
 
You:
 <IMNSHO, since you feel a total lack of ability, try to write your ideas
 and have someone proof-read/edit it.  Seems to me that the Bible is filled
 with examples of people lacking ability doing great things.  They were
 willing to let God do it HIS way and not interfere with their "great"
 talents. >>

Me:
God has an answer for all of us who question our own abilities.

MOSES (speaking to God)
Exod 4:10
10	And Moses said unto the LORD, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither
heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of
speech, and of a slow tongue.
(KJV)

GOD (speaking to Moses):
Exod 4:11-12
11	And the LORD said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the
dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?
12	Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou
shalt say.
(KJV)

SAUL (speaking to Samuel)
1 Sam 9:21
21	And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the
tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of
Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
(KJV)

SAMUEL (speaking to Saul):
1 Sam 10:6
6	And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with
them, and shalt be turned into another man.
(KJV)

SOLOMON (speaking to God):
IKing 3:7
7	And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my
father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.
(KJV)

GOD (speaking to Solomon):
IKing 3:11-12
11	And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not
asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast
asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to
discern judgment;
12	Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise
and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee,
neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
(KJV)

PETER and JOHN
LACK OF NATURAL KNOWLEDGE
Acts 4:13
13	Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they
were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of
them, 

ABUNDANCE OF SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE
that they had been with Jesus.
(KJV)


PAUL:
UNFIT ON HIS OWN MERIT:
1 Cor 15:9-10
9	For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an
apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

MADE FIT BY THE GRACE OF GOD:
10	But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed
upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not
I, but the grace of God which was with me.
(KJV)


Are humility and ability mutually exclusive? Not always:

PAUL'S "RESUME"
Phil 3:4-8

NATURAL ABILITY:
4	Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh
that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5	Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of
Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6	Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is
in the law, blameless.

HUMILITY:
7	But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8	Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all
things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
(KJV)


God honors a humble spirit:
James 4:6
6	But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but
giveth grace unto the humble.
(KJV)

Matt 23:12
12	And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble
himself shall be exalted.
(KJV)

Pastor (give me a saint with more humility than ability, anytime) Joe