American Reformation Church Prayer Journal 50
ARC Prayer Meeting
As American Reformation Church approaches our last Wednesday night prayer service for 2024, we take the time to consider the wonder of our Mighty God humbling Himself to tabernacle among us. The Apostle Paul describes this truth in what is theologically known as the kenosis.
Kenosis means the “action of emptying.” In Christian theology, kenosis is a Greek word that refers to the act of Jesus Christ emptying himself of his divine attributes in order to become human (Philippians 2:5-10). As Christians, we are commanded to follow the Lord’s example to empty ourselves of our inherent selfishness to love and serve God and others.
When it comes to the birth of Christ, one has to be struck with the humility of His appearance. With all the predictions and prophecies that was invested to prepare the way of the Lord, His actual coming appears anti-climactic. There was no earthly fanfare, no red carpet treatment, and no trumpets announcing the coming of the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
While all the world’s attention was focused on the epi-centers of power like Rome, in an obscure little village, Bethlehem, God Almighty clothed in flesh, invaded this world with His Kingdom. A helpless babe in a stinky manger entered time, space, and matter to bring His blessing as far as the curse of the Fall is found.
According to Noah Webster, the father of American education, “Meekness is a grace which Jesus alone inculcated, and which no ancient philosopher seems to have understood or recommended.” It is this very meekness inculcated into God’s people that God’s word promises will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). Christ admonished us to receive Him and His meekness, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
To become an effectual prayer warrior, humility is foundational. In fact, the very act of praying strikes a blow against our inherent pride. The famous passage of Scripture in 2 Chronicles 7:14 forge the bond between humility and prayer, “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray…” It takes humility to reject the world’s pursuit to satisfy the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life and humbly seek the face of God.
This Christmas season, let us remember the humility of the coming of our Lord and the admonishment from Scripture, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). We must walk worthy of our calling brethren with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2).
