God's Word Concerning Pride - Part 3

Today we will conclude on the topic (God's Word concerning Pride) we started 3 days back.

We will look at reasons why we should not be Proud, different kinds of pride, categories of proud persons and how to recover from Pride (The deadly disease, The Sin of all Sins).

SOME INSTANCES OF PRIDE IN THE SCRIPTURES

⦁    Kings of Tyre (Ezekiel 28:2)
⦁    Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:30-34, 5:20)
⦁    Belshazzar (Dan 4:5)
⦁    Herod(Acts 12:23.)
⦁    Haman (Esther 5:11, Esther 6:6)
⦁    Ahithophel (2 Sam 17:23)
⦁    Uzziah (2 Chron 26:16-19)
⦁    Naaman, refusing to wash in the Jordan River (2 Kings 5:11-13)
⦁    Amaziah Pride (14:8-14; 25:17-24)
⦁    Hezekiah, in displaying his resources (2 Chron 32)
⦁    Among others

PROMOTION COMES FROM GOD ALONE, DO NOT PROMOTE YOURSELF   

  

SCRIPTURAL WARNINGS AGAINST PRIDE

Some children in the Ephesian church were not respecting and obeying their parents, and Paul reminded them that the Fifth Commandment still applied (Eph 6:1-3).

The apostle John warned the saints to whom he sent his first epistle that the world was passing away, with all of its illusions, and that they had better keep themselves from idols (1 John 2:15-17; 5:21).
Jesus warned His disciples, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness" (Luke 12:15); Paul wrote to the Colossian believers that covetousness was idolatry (Col 3:5).
Paul cautioned the churches not to appoint young Christians to places of spiritual leadership, "lest being lifted up with pride [they] fall into the condemnation of the devil" (1 Tim 3:6). And John had to deal with proud Diotrephes who was running the church and wouldn't submit to the authority of God's apostle (3 John 9-11).
Alas, these sins are found in the church!
James was right: "My brethren [and sisters], these things ought not to be so" (James 3:10).

DON’T BE PROUD BECAUSE, IT IS

1.    Very offensive to God.
2.    unlike Christ.
3.    a source of misery to ourselves (it is ruinous).
4.    prevents people from hearing God’s voice
5.    a cause of serious evil both in the Church and the world.
       Among others


       

DIFFERENT KINDS OF PRIDE.

1. Race pride -- pride in ancestors.
2. Face pride -- pride in outward appearance.
3. Place pride -- pride in social position.
4. Grace pride -- pride in godliness.

We have 3 Categories of Proud Persons (according to J. Bolton)

(1)    Those that are very proud.
(2)    Those that are occasionally proud.
(3)    Those that are struggling against pride.

   

FURTHER FORMS OF PRIDE

1.    One form of pride is shame. Many kept from Christ because ashamed to come and give themselves up to Him. For fear of the paltry scorn, the momentary ridicule, the soul will risk eternity!
2.    There is the pride that conceals a wound. God's Word has stricken the heart; healing and joy could be had if we humbly go to God, yet hide the grief and unrest within, from man and Heaven.
3.    There is the pride of self-righteousness. What say when before the Throne that you were too good to accept the Gospel?


Man's fallen nature encourages pride. Carnal nature is completely opposite of Jesus’s Nature (our Lord who willingly emptied Himself to become a servant, and then died as a sacrifice for our sins Phil 2).

HOW TO RECOVER FROM PRIDE

i)    Accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour (being born again)
For Believers
ii)    Counsel
iii)    Prayer
iv)    Deliverance from the Spirit of Pride
v)    Study of the word of God
vi)    Walking with the humble (avoid keeping proud friends)
        John 13:1-17 and Phil 2:1-18.

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God's Word Concerinng Pride - Part 2

Yesterday we listed the various portions of scripture that referred to pride, Today we are going to  look at some definitions of pride and examine Hezekiah’s pride.

PRIDE (THE MASTER SIN - SIN OF ALL SINS)

Many theologians believe that pride is the "sin of all sins," for it was pride that changed an angel into the devil (Isa 14:12-15). Lucifer's, "I will be like the Most High" (v. 14) challenged the very throne of God; in the Garden of Eden, it became, "You will be like God" (Gen 3:5). Eve believed it, and you know the rest of the story

  

THE THIRD DEVICE THE WORLD SYSTEM USES

The third device the world system uses to trap Christians (1 John 2:16) is the "boastful pride of life" (NASB). The Greek word for "pride" means a braggart who was trying to impress people with his importance. People have always tried to outdo others in their spending and their getting. The boastful pride of life motivates much of what such people do.
Why is it that so many folks buy houses, cars, appliances, or wardrobes that they really cannot afford?
But it is amazing what stupid things people do just to make an impression. They even sacrifice honesty and, integrity in return for notoriety and a feeling of importance.

PRIDE WORSE THAN SICKNESS

There is something worse than sickness, and that is sin, and the worst sin of all is pride. The healthy person who is rebelling against God is in worse shape than the suffering person who is submitting to God and enjoying God's grace. It is a paradox - and an evidence of the sovereignty of God - that God used Satan, the proudest of all beings, to help keep Paul humble.

THE FIRST PROUD PERSON

Pride started with Lucifer (Satan), the reason why his name changed from lucifer (morning star) to Satan (accuser, enemy). He was the first person to rebel against God (Isa 14:12-15; Ezek 28:11-18).


   

SOME DEFINITIONS OF PRIDE

    Bible commentator William Barclay said, "Pride is the ground in which all the other sins grow, and the parent from which all the other sins come.
    Pride is at the bottom of all great mistakes." Napoleon declared, "Pride never listens to the voice of reason, nature, or religion." "God resisteth the proud." "Those that walk in pride He is able to abase." Charles V. was so sure of victory when he invaded France, that he ordered his historians to prepare plenty of paper to record his exploits. But he lost his army by famine and disease, and returned crest-fallen. A South-American farmer had such large herds of horses, that he boasted, "I'll never want horses, not even if God wished it." Soon after, an epidemic destroyed them every one. "He that exalteth himself shall be abased." (H. R. Burton.)
        Pride consists in an immoderate self-esteem, and places its happiness in esteem and honour from others. No sin is more foolish than this, it springs from ignorance of God, of ourselves and other men, and by the very means which it uses for the accomplishments of its ends, ensures disappointment. In seeking glory it finds disgrace. Pride made Nebuchadnezzar a brute. It destroyed Herod with worms. It turned Lucifer into Beelzebub. (G. Lawson.)
        James Denney said, "No man can bear witness to Christ and to himself at the same time. No man can give the impression that he himself is clever and that Christ is mighty to save."
    The late radio comedian Fred Allen defined celebrities as "people who work hard to be famous so they have to wear dark glasses so as not to be recognized."
  

HEZEKIAH'S PRIDE (2 CHRONICLES 20:12-13; 32:27-30; 39:1-2).

Hezekiah was a man that walked in God’s ways but he had a problem with pride. His near-fatal sickness did humble him, but the visit of the Babylonian envoys made it clear that the old sin was still very much alive. The envoys came to Judah with two purposes in mind:
(1) To find out how strong the kingdom was, and
(2) To try to influence Hezekiah to unite with Babylon in opposing Assyria.

Because he didn't fully grasp their true purpose, Hezekiah assumed that it was a great honor to be visited by officials from the king of Babylon. At that time in history, Assyria was the strongest empire and Babylon was an empire on the rise. The envoys brought expensive gifts from the king of Babylon as well as personal letters expressing his pleasure that Hezekiah had recovered from his dangerous illness. (See 2 Chron 32:27-30.) Foolishly, Hezekiah gave them the grand tour and showed them his treasures and weapons. It appears that Hezekiah was better at managing his scribes and writing his psalms than he was at overseeing the politics of the kingdom. All that Hezekiah possessed came from the hand of God and belonged to God, so why should Hezekiah boast about it? He may have made a good impression on the envoys but he grieved the Lord and endangered the kingdom and the city.

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God’s Word concerning Pride – Part 1

Proverbs 16:5 TLB (The Living Bible)

Pride disgusts the Lord. Take my word for it-proud men shall be punished. 

Prov 16:5 - NLT (New Living Translation)

The Lord detests the proud; they will surely be punished.

Prov 16:5 MSG (The Message Bible)

God can't stomach arrogance or pretense; believe me, he'll put those upstarts in their place.

The scripture is very plain as regards pride. God hates THE PROUD but gives grace to the humble. It is pride that caused Satan’s fall, still the same pride that made Adam & Eve to elevate themselves against GOD’S WORD by eating the forbidden fruit (Gen 3:4). Pride is one of Satan's weapon in making the great to fall

Below is a compilation of God’s Word concerning pride

• Proverbs 29:23 TLB
• Proverbs 26:12 TLB
• Proverbs 27:2 TLB
• Proverbs 30:12 TLB
• Proverbs 25:27 TLB
• Proverbs 25:14 TLB
• Ezekiel 28:17 TLB
• 2 Chronicles 26:16-19 TLB
• Psalm 101:5 TLB
• Proverbs 28:25 TLB
• Psalm 138:6 TLB
• Proverbs 29:8 TLB
• Job 37:24 TLB
• Leviticus 26:19 TLB
• Proverbs 28:11 TLB
• 1 Samuel 2:3-5 TLB
• Psalm 75:4-6 TLB
• 1 Corinthians 4:6-8 TLB
• Obadiah 1:3 TLB
• Romans 1:22 TLB
• 1 Corinthians 1:29 TLB
• Romans 1:29 TLB
• Romans 1:30 TLB
• Luke 1:51 TLB
• Luke 1:52 TLB
• Philippians 2:3 TLB
• 1 Timothy 2:9 TLB
• 1 John 2:16 TLB
• 2 Timothy 3:2 TLB
• 2 Timothy 3:4 TLB
• 1 Timothy 3:6 TLB
• Revelation 3:17 TLB
• 1 Corinthians 3:18 TLB
• Revelation 3:18 TLB
• James 4:6 TLB
• 1 Corinthians 4:7 TLB
• 1 Corinthians 4:10 TLB
• Ephesians 4:17 TLB
• Daniel 4:30-34 TLB
• 1 Peter 5:3 TLB
• 1 Peter 5:5 TLB
• 1 Corinthians 5:6 TLB
• Isaiah 5:8 TLB
• Isaiah 5:15 TLB
• Galatians 6:3 TLB
•  Timothy 6:3 TLB
• 1 Timothy 6:4 TLB
• Esther 6:6 TLB
• Proverbs 6:16 TLB
• 1 Timothy 6:17 TLB
• Proverbs 6:17 TLB
• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 TLB
• Mark 7:21 TLB
• 1 Corinthians 8:1 TLB
• 1 Corinthians 8:2 TLB
• Proverbs 8:13 TLB
• Psalm 9:20 TLB
• Jeremiah 9:23 TLB
• Jeremiah 9:24 TLB
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 TLB
• 2 Corinthians 10:12 TLB
• 1 Corinthians 10:12 TLB
• Proverbs 10:17 TLB
• 2 Corinthians 10:18 TLB
• 1 Corinthians 10:30-33 TLB
• 1 Corinthians 10:31 TLB
• Proverbs 11:12 TLB
• Romans 11:25 TLB
• Luke 11:43 TLB
• Romans 12:2 TLB
• Romans 12:3 TLB
• 2 Corinthians 12:7 TLB
• Proverbs 12:9 TLB
• Proverbs 12:15 TLB
• Romans 12:16 TLB
• Mark 12:38 TLB
• Job 13:2 TLB
• 1 Corinthians 13:4 TLB
• Job 13:5 TLB
• Jeremiah 13:15 TLB
• Jeremiah 13:17 TLB
• 2 Kings 14:10 TLB
• 1 Corinthians 14:38 TLB
• Proverbs 15:12 TLB
• Romans 15:17 TLB
• 1 Corinthians 15:31 TLB
• Proverbs 16:18 TLB
• Proverbs 16:19 TLB
• Proverbs 17:19 TLB
• Job 18:3 TLB
• Revelation 18:7 TLB
• Proverbs 18:12 TLB
• Proverbs 21:4 TLB
• Proverbs 21:24 TLB
• Matthew 23:10-12 TLB
• 2 Kings 5:11-13 TLB

               

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