PRIDE PUFFS UP

There is nothing into which the heart of man so easily falls as pride. And yet there is no vice that is more frequently, more emphatically, and more eloquently condemned in Scripture. -Spurgeon

1 Corinthians 13:4, Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

We have all seen them; the individual so full of themselves that they can barely fit through the door because they have the big head. It’s kind of sad though, especially in the church. The Bible speaks so much about pride, arrogancy, and the results of each.

Pride will puff you up, friend. However, a loving, giving, sacrificial heart will promote others, push others to good works or right choices, and provide for others when the flesh desires to go the opposite way. Will you be puffed up today or will you humble yourself before the mighty hand of God?

JUST A LITTLE MORE HUMILITY

Being a humble instrument in the hands of our heavenly Father, I desire that all my words and acts may be according to His will; and that it may be so, I give thanks to the Almighty, and seek His aid. --Abraham Lincoln

Proverbs 16:19, Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Pride will rot a man or woman to the core. It will stifle any potential to grow in God’s grace. Ole Abe had some wise words for us to heed to and Solomon even says it better.

I wonder how much more the Lord could use us if we had just a little more humility…

QUIT BRAGGING

Pride is the mask of one's own faults. – Hebrew proverb

Jeremiah 9:23-24, Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

It is one thing to brag on Jesus, it’s another to brag on yourself! When we brag on ourselves and what we can do, instead of giving God the glory for the work He does in and through us, we attempt to rob Him of that glory. Friend, we are standing on dangerous ground when we don’t acknowledge the Lord work in and through our lives!

Quit bragging on yourself and begin exalting the work of the Saviour! He said if He is lifted up, He will draw all men unto Himself! Let’s brag on what He has done and what He is doing!

Pride

If a man has a shriveled-up heart and a big head he is a monster. - D.L. Moody

Proverbs 30:13, There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

            One major issue of our day is how a person views themselves. While the Bible clearly describes each of our wicked, vile hearts, this old world would have us to believe there is some good within everyone. How far from the Truth that is! But praise the Lord it doesn’t have to be!

            You see, while we were yet sinners; vile, uncompassionate, prideful, wicked, self-willed monsters, Jesus died to save us! For many, pride blinds them to their sin-sick state. Pride blinds them to the Grace of God. Pride blinds them to their need of the Saviour!

            This morning, do yourself a huge favor! GET UP, GET READY, and GO TO CHURCH, learning what the Bible says about you and what Jesus has done for you!

WICKEDNESS TO THE CORE

If a man has a shriveled-up heart and a big head he is a monster. - D.L. Moody

Proverbs 28:25-26, He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat. He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.

            Pride is a dominate characteristic in the world today. It’s not the good type of pride in which we take pride in our job or other responsibilities. We have the wrong type of pride in which we think we are all that in every aspect of life. We have the wrong type of pride in the place which we live, wrong pride of race, and even the wrong type of pride in the grace in which God has bestowed upon the believer.

            I’m thankful and proud that I’m an American. I believe it to be the greatest country on earth but that does not mean we are any better than anyone else. I’m content in the race God made me. Not because I’m white but because it is the race God wanted me to be. We ought to be thankful God created us the way He created us. I’m also thankful for the grace God bestowed upon my life. Not because I deserved it because I didn’t. I deserved hell! I deserved to be eternally separated from God but God, who is rich and mercy saved me from my sin! That ought to humble us unto obedience!

            What we need is a big ole dose of humility--Humbling ourselves before God in obedience to do His will for our lives. His will consists of: being saved, being sanctified, and serving Him all the days of our lives.

HE TOOTS HIS OWN HORN

It is better to toot someone else’s horn rather than to toot your own.

Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips. Proverbs 27:2

So often we hear of people tooting their own horn, patting themselves on the back, talking highly of themselves, or exalting themselves above others. God isn’t please with this behavior. In fact, “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

Child of God, it’s time for you to quit tooting your own horn. Do what God wants you to do and let others praise you when needed. Trust God to honor you for the work you do for Him. When we do, He will exalt you to plains you thought you would never reach!

ME, ME, AND NOTHING BUT ME

If a man has a shriveled-up heart and a big head he is a monster. - D.L. Moody

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

Many go about life with a bloating of pride that they cannot see the accomplishments of others. They look down their self righteous nose blinded by their own sin and corruption. It may a successful business entrepreneur that has built a legacy for generations to come. It could be a grandmother who has raised a family who brings her honor and glory. It could be the pastor behind the pulpit that has laboured hard in the ministry and has a congregation that even Paul would be proud of. If we take the glory from God for what He has done in and through us, we are no better that Satan himself needing to be kicked out of the place God has given us.

Child of God, be humble. Be meek pointing others to Jesus. Be one who is quick to praise God and others. Spurgeon said, “The more fit a man is for God's work, the lower he esteems himself.“

DO YOU SMELL WORSE THAN A DEAD CORPS?

Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. Proverbs 16:5

There is nothing into which the heart of man so easily falls as pride. And yet there is no vice that is more frequently, more emphatically, and more eloquently condemned in Scripture. –Spurgeon

I once went up to a dead possum that was hit by a car. It had been there on the side of the road for a few days. He was swollen up looking like a yeast roll fresh out of the oven. What a mistake that was! I rolled him over and the gases that had built up inside of his rotting corps came out like a bottle rocket on July the Fourth! It was one of the grosses smells ever to enter my nostrils!

I imagine a prideful person’s life smells even worse than that to the Lord. He speaks a lot of pride and how it impacts our lives in a huge negative way. It would do each of us good to follow the Word of God where He says, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” 1 Peter 5:6

VICTORY IN DEATH

Satan thought Jesus was defeated but God had other plans!

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? Luke 24:5

Many in this world are staggering around just like those women the first Easter morning; they are hopeless. Hopeless because they have never heard the Good News of the Gospel or they have rejected what they have heard because of pride. Many would rather stay right where they are at, in misery, rather than humble themselves. Many “live” defeated even though God has other plans for them, all they have to do is humble themselves.

Are you one of those people? Are you hanging on to a prayer prayed when you were young but there was never a change in your heart? Humble yourself! Do you feel unworthy of God’s salvation? He came seeking the mightiest of sinners so humble yourself!

Satan surely thinks you are defeated today just like He thought Jesus was but God has other plans for you! Would you like to remain defeated or would you like to have victory? All you have to do is humble yourself, asking God to forgive you of your sins, and trusting Jesus as Saviour!