Me, Myself and I-The Battle with Pride
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Matthew 23:5-12; Luke 18:10-14
Matthew 23:5-12; Luke 18:10-14
Introduction:
Introduction:
Just a quick drive around on a Saturday morning or a look at Facebook marketplace will lead you to believe that we buy a lot of “exercise” gadgets, we keep them for a while and then we get rid of them…for a whole lot less than we paid for them!!
I suppose that all of it was purchased with good intentions, but the intentions went by the way side and now it sits, unused and unwanted, and the purchaser sits unchanged.
Why? Because change is uncomfortable.
It’s one thing for us to pay $2500.00 for a Peloton bike and remain unchanged...
But when Christ purchased you and me, He did so for the specific purpose of change; to change us into His likeness.
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Today, we address the issue of pride.
As we approach this giant, the question is not “Does this giant exist in my life?” but rather “Where does this giant exist in my life.”
The most sinful attitude possessed by men or angels is pride.
Pride is condemned more often than adultery, cheating, stealing, or lying.
Pride has the tendency to slip into the hearts of those that are very “religious” in their lives.
Pharisees are examples: kept the Law of Moses, 600+ unwritten rules and laws, proudest group of the day.
People are proud in different ways:
Proud of their humility
Proud of their ignorance
Proud of their sweet disposition
Proud because of their perceived knowledge
Proud because their “daughter” is not the one that is pregnant.
And, regrettably, there are many today that remain unchanged in their prideful ways and continue to reflect the power of self rather than the power of Jesus Christ, who was the very perfection of the One clothed in humility.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
We don’t hear much about humility today, but we see the glorification of self everywhere.
We must understand that the presence of God cannot abide with our pride, and only in the presence of God can we enjoy true humility.
Questions: How many of you struggle with pride? How many of you are clothed with humility?
The legendary golfer Arnold Palmer described how pride once brought him low on the very brink of great success: “It was the final hole of the 1961 Masters tournament, and I had a one-stroke lead and had just hit a very satisfying tee shot. I felt I was in pretty good shape. As I approached my ball, I saw an old friend standing at the edge of the gallery. He motioned me over, stuck out his hand and said, ‘Congratulations.’ I took his hand and shook it, but as soon as I did, I knew I had lost my focus. On my next two shots, I hit the ball into a sand trap, then put it over the edge of the green. I missed a putt and lost the Masters. You don't forget a mistake like that; you just learn from it and become determined that you will never do that again. I haven't in the 30 years since.”
That brief moment of pride—when he accepted congratulations for a victory not yet won—took a certain victory away from Palmer. His story holds a powerful lesson for us. There may be no human attitude more destructive than pride.
Though we are tempted to take the credit for our efforts and accomplishments, every good thing that we do is the result of what God has given us, and we have no basis for taking credit for ourselves.
Pride places us on a dangerous path, and it harms our relationships with God as well. James 4:6 says, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”
When we humbly acknowledge Him as the source of all of the good things we have and do, we continue to receive His grace to help us deal with the challenges and temptations of life.
In Luke 18 There were two types of worshipers at the temple in Jerusalem and, we can assume, those same two types are here today. One went away justified before God, and the other justified before self.
When we read this passage of Scripture, we often find ourselves saying, “I thank thee, that I am not as this Pharisee…” instead of recognizing the picture that Christ was leaving for us. It is the hard truth that we are the Pharisee.
The Pharisee was deceived. He was deceived into thinking that his righteousness came from what he did or did not do.
Pride’s ultimate goal is to preserve self, to protect self, and to promote self.
It may take many different forms, but ultimately it must preserve, protect, and promote self. It is then robbing God of the glory that belongs solely to Him and to Him alone.
Pride was birthed with original sin when Lucifer attempted to ascribe glory to himself that was God’s alone.
13 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: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
And pride continues to be the great divide between God and man today.
For anyone to come to Christ, he must understand his own sinfulness and that he has no possible means whatsoever to remedy his problem apart from admitting his own inability.
I. The Problem of Pride
I. The Problem of Pride
A. Defined
A. Defined
It is that which defends and commends self while it offends and contends with God.
It resists instruction and submission. Pride is hidden when it is coddled, and it flares when its demands are denied. It easily finds fault in others and struggles to give genuine praise. It is hellish in every form.
While pride may take the form of contending for supremacy with others, it is ultimately a dissatisfaction with the way we want things done—in a way that pleases self.
Pride takes many forms, but its goal is always the exaltation of self. Self must win.
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: Pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, And the froward mouth, do I hate.
God’s hatred for pride is pure, and it comes from His holiness. It is that which makes Him actively, positionally, and constantly opposed to those who succumb to this giant.
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
The word resisteth means that God opposes the proud. He positions Himself opposite the person walking in pride. It means to oppose as in battle. Let me ask you, do you want to go to battle against God?
Jonathan Edwards called pride, “The worst viper that is in the heart,” and “the greatest disturber of the soul’s peace and sweet communion with Christ.” He ranked pride as the most difficult sin to root out and “the most hidden, secret and deceitful of all lusts.” He said, “What a foolish, silly, miserable, blind, deceived poor worm am I, when pride works.”
Quote: “Pride ruins pastors and churches more than any other thing.”
Quote: Pride is the dandelion of the soul. Its root goes deep; only a little left behind sprouts again. Its seeds lodge in the tiniest encouraging cracks. And it flourishes in good soil: the danger of pride is that it feeds on goodness.
B. The characteristics of pride
B. The characteristics of pride
1. It is deceptive.
1. It is deceptive.
3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, Thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; That saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?
Its deceptive powers blind us to the truth.
It is the lens of the soul that distorts our vision of others, of God, of authority, and of self.
Its deceptive powers are the birthplace of rebellion (which is believing a lie).
2. It is destructive.
2. It is destructive.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.
Illustration: During the Battle of the Wilderness in the Civil War, Union general John Sedgwick was inspecting his troops. At one point he came to a parapet, over which he gazed out in the direction of the enemy. His officers suggested that this was unwise and perhaps he ought to duck while passing the parapet. “Nonsense,” snapped the general. “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this dist—.” Before finishing the sentence, Sedgwick fell to the ground, mortally wounded.
23 A man’s pride shall bring him low: But honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
The giant of pride will destroy your testimony. It destroys your service. It destroys your marriage. It destroys your peace. It destroys your usefulness. It will destroy our church.
3. It is devouring.
3. It is devouring.
32 And the most proud shall stumble and fall, And none shall raise him up: And I will kindle a fire in his cities, And it shall devour all round about him.
Illustration: Benjamin Franklin wrote in his autobiography, “There is perhaps no one of our natural passions so hard to subdue as pride. Beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive. Even if I could conceive that I had completely overcome it, I should probably be proud of my humility.”
4. It is divisive.
4. It is divisive.
10 Only by pride cometh contention: But with the well advised is wisdom.
It is the source of wrong contention and of a contentious spirit.
24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, Who dealeth in proud wrath.
The wrath found here in our Scripture means an outburst. It means that it flows out of you naturally because pride is flowing within you. The word wrath means “overflowing fury” or “an outburst.”
5. It is defying to Almighty God.
5. It is defying to Almighty God.
3 And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me? let my people go, that they may serve me.
23 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: 24 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.
Pride, then, becomes the proverbial “fist in the air” directed toward God.
II. The Power of Humility
II. The Power of Humility
A. Defined
A. Defined
Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness.
B. Blessed
B. Blessed
Think, for a moment, of what is available for those who walk humbly before God.
1. God lives with the humble.
1. God lives with the humble.
2. God listens to the requests of the humble.
2. God listens to the requests of the humble.
27 Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the Lord.
12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: He forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
3. God loadeth the humble with benefits.
3. God loadeth the humble with benefits.
19 Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loadeth us with benefits, Even the God of our salvation. Selah.
What kind of “benefits” can those who walk in humility expect? Grace!
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
4. God lifts up, exalts, and promotes the humble.
4. God lifts up, exalts, and promotes the humble.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
5. God likens the humble to the truly great.
5. God likens the humble to the truly great.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Humility can be attained only by an honest evaluation of who we are and who He is.
Humility can be attained only by an honest evaluation of who we are and who He is.
Honest evaluation can only be done in the light of God’s Word, not in the recesses of our own sinful heart.
Honest evaluation can only be done in the light of God’s Word, not in the recesses of our own sinful heart.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
The Prophet Jeremiah reminds us of the heart’s depravity when he said:
The Prophet Jeremiah reminds us of the heart’s depravity when he said:
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
The Pharisee was deceived by his own heart’s wickedness when he said to himself:
The Pharisee was deceived by his own heart’s wickedness when he said to himself:
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.
He was praying to himself about himself and couldn’t see himself for who he really was.
He was praying to himself about himself and couldn’t see himself for who he really was.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
In his book, The Calvary Road, Roy Hession quotes a verse from an African Hymn that says:
Lord, bend that proud and stiff-necked I,
Help me to bow the head and die,
Beholding Him on Calvary,
Who bowed His head for me.
The truth is, the only truly beautiful thing about the Christian is Jesus Christ.
You and I can leave here today proclaiming our innocence or we can “justify God” and enjoy peace, fellowship, and new victory through the blood of Jesus.
Remember the question is not: Do I have pride, but it is Where does Pride live in me?
Humility is honestly assessing ourselves in light of God’s holiness and our sinfulness.
What will you do?