Journey Into Better Relationship - Pride

Journey Into Better Relationship

BOAST AND PRIDE

Boast • Boast and proud refer to the same problem, PRIDE. • Boasting is the outward manifestation of pride on the inside. • Boasting is what a proud person does • To puff oneself up in speech

Luke 18:10-14 • 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. • 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. • 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. • 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. • 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Pride • the quality or state of being proud: as a: inordinate self-esteem : conceit b: a reasonable or justifiable self-respect c: delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship • 2: proud or disdainful behavior or treatment : disdain • 3 a: ostentatious display b: highest pitch : prime • 4: a source of pride : the best in a group or class • 5: a company of lions • 6: a showy or impressive group

Sin of Pride (Sin of Sins) • It was the sin that we’re told, which transformed Lucifer, an anointed Cherub of God into the Satan • Pride is the sin that led Eve to eat of the forbidden fruit. – St. Augustine of Hippo wrote “Pride is the commencement of all sin” because it was this which overthrew the devil, from whom arose the origin of sin and afterwards, when his malice and envy pursued man, they feel too.

Isaiah 14:12-20 • • • • • • • • •

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning ! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble , that did shake kingdoms; That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain , thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet . Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned .

Sin of Pride – Preoccupation of Self • The middle letter in pride is “I”, Pride is all about me, myself and I • The middle letter in sin is “I” • 1 John 2:16 – All that’s in the world is • The lust of the flesh • The lust of the eyes • Pride of life

More definitions of Pride • Pride is independence - humility is dependence. • Pride is an unwillingness to wait for God to act in His own time and in His own way. • Pride rushes in to take matters into its own hands. One of the greatest temptations true Christians face is getting ahead of God. It is acting without a clear mandate from God. It is taking things into our own hands when it appears that God is not working fast enough. It is impatience.

Humility is the opposite of Pride • Humility is – total dependency on God. It is trusting God to do the right thing at the right time in the right way. It is trusting Him to use you in the right way at the right time. Humility is patiently waiting on the Lord in a spirit of expectant faith

Sin of Pride – Dangerous enemy • The sin of pride is such a dangerous enemy simply because it puts you against your Maker, and God is an enemy to be feared! • "Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world [that is, whoever chooses to embrace the 'lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life'*] makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, 'The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously'? But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'"7