Isaiah 5:21Woe unto them who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight.
The fifth woe is pride and arrogance. God hates this sin! He banished Lucifer from Heaven because of pride. God responded to the pride of King Nebuchadnezzar by making him live like a wild animal until he decided to give God the respect and honor He deserved. The Pharisees were filled with so much pride they could not even accept the Messiah when He was right in front of them. We could go on and on with examples about this sin, but suffice it to say, God hates pride!
This subject is addressed time and time again in the Bible because it is something EVERYONE deals with and it will always end in destruction. Never will you find an example of God rewarding pride and arrogance; NEVER!
Pride is something that is very easy to see in someone else, but hard to see in ourselves. Satan is clever and he can manipulate our thoughts causing us to justify the pride in our own lives seeing it as confidence, independence,, etc.
Pride does not always look like pride. Satan disguises it and convinces us that it is a good quality in our lives. The following are just a few examples of pride masquerading as something else.
Wanting to dominate a discussion.
Wanting to be first in line, first to speak, first chosen, first to do anything.
Wanting to tell others what to do.
Wanting to have control over a situation.
Wanting to compete and win.
Thinking you are above helping and/or working.
Dominating other people.
Interrupting others when they speak.
Demanding the “last word” in a conversation.
Not asking for help.
There are many more examples of how the spirit of pride manifests in our lives. While these actions may not appear to be prideful, they are the result of prideful thoughts placed in our minds by the evil spirit of pride and arrogance.
Proverbs 16:5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Galatians 6:3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.
As we study the Word of God we gain the Wisdom of God. It is for our own spiritual growth. As we grow in the Wisdom of God, we find ourselves becoming smaller and God becoming GREATER! John said it all when he said,“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Through this study this morning, God has shown me some areas of pride in my own life. I rebuke this evil spirit of pride from my life in the Name of Jesus and I loose the spirit of humility. Lord, let me decrease that you may increase in my life and in your.
The Holy Spirit is our Teacher, Counselor and Guide. He convicts our hearts of the sin in our lives and He teaches us how to be more pleasing to God and guides us into a life in accordance and compliance with the Will of God. This should be the goal of every born again believer in Christ. Only God can do this and I praise Him for it!
Only God can……..turn the tide
Decreasing every day, Doreen
www.bettsministries.org
