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THE BURDEN OF PRIDE

December 08, 2002

PRIDE IN THE LAST DAYS

2 Timothy 3:1-2,4

1This know also, that in the last days perilous [dangerous] times shall come.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves [self-love; self-significance], covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

THE WORLD OPERATES ON PRIDE

1 John 2:15-16

15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

LAST DAYS CHURCH IS FILLED WITH PRIDE

Revelation 3:14,17

14Jesus Christ said, “And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write…

17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

THE BEGINNING OF PRIDE

Ezekiel 28:14,17

14 Thou art the anointed cherub [Lucifer]…17 Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee.

THE FIRST SIN WAS PRIDE

1 Timothy 3:6

Not a novice [unskilled], lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

LUCIFER’S PRIDE WAS SAYING “I WILL”

Isaiah 14:12-14

12 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!

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 [or assembly], in the sides of the north [the furthest part of heaven]: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.

Pride was the sin of Adam

Genesis 3:5

5 The serpent said, “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

PRIDE DEFINED

Excessive confidence in and attention to one's own skills, accomplishments, state, possessions, or position.
Pride is easier to recognize than to define, easier to recognize in others than in oneself.
Some of the synonyms for pride include arrogance, presumption, conceit, self-satisfaction, boasting, self-esteem, vain-glory and high-mindedness.
It is the opposite of humility, the proper attitude one should have in relation to God.
Pride is rebellion and disobedience against God because it attributes to self the honor and glory due to God alone.
It is a part of our mind that tells us we are better than, greater than, more important than, more deserving than or more qualified than anyone else.
This attitude toward God finds expression in one's attitude toward others, often causing people to have a low estimate of the ability and worth of others and therefore to treat them with either contempt or cruelty.
Pride is what leads to hatred, to envy, to lust, to murder and all other things that place the importance of Self ahead of all else.
Pride is the term used when we think more highly of ourselves than is justified.
An inaccurate and inflated view of myself.
Pride is the motivation that lives in the belief that Self must come before all else and everyone else.
Some have considered pride to be the root and essence of all other sins, this is why many call pride the mother of all sins.

PRIDE IS IN THE HEART OF MAN

Mark 7:21-23

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

PRIDE IN THE HEART DECEIVES US

Obadiah 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?

A PROUD HEART PREPARES THE WAY OF SIN

Proverbs 21:4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin.

TEST YOURSELF FOR PRIDE

Answer these questions with a simple yes or no:
1. I talk a lot about myself?
2. I find it hard to laugh at myself?
3. I get jealous or envious of others easily?
4. I am very competitive toward others?
5. I sometimes enjoy watching others fall?
6. I hate to admit I'm wrong?
7. I think I am better than most people?
8. I brag a lot?
9. I like to look good in front of others?
10. I think I deserve to be the center of attention and receive recognition?

11. I think no one cares for me – self pity?

12. I put my own concerns above the concerns of others?

13. I think what I am going through is greater than what others are going through?

GOD HATES PRIDE

Proverbs 8:13

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate.(NKJ)

GOD HATES EVEN A PROUD LOOK

Proverbs 6:16-17

16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

PRIDE LEADS AWAY FROM GOD

Psalm 10:4

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

PRAYERLESSNESS IS PRIDE

2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

THE PROUD ARE A FAR FROM THE LORD

Psalm 138:6

Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.

GOD DOES NOT ANSWER THE PROUD

Job 35:12

There they cry, but none giveth answer, because of the pride of evil men.

ALL CONTENTION IS BASED ON PRIDE

Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

PRIDE CAUSES STRIFE

Proverbs 28:25

He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.

STRIFE AMONG THE BRETHREN

Luke 22:24-26

And there was also a strife among them [the apostles], which of them should be accounted the greatest. 25 And he [Jesus] said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. 26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

RELIGIOUS PRIDE LOOKS DOWN ON OTHERS

Luke 18:9-12

9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 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.

A PROUD HEART SLANDERS

Psalm 101:5

Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath an high look and a proud heart will not I suffer.

THE PROUD REFUSES TO HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD

Jeremiah 13:15

Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.

IN THE DAY OF THE LORD THE PROUD SHALL BE DEMOTED

Isaiah 2:11-12

11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. 12 For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:

PRIDE IS A BURDEN

Psalm 73:6

Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.