Pride Is Insidious

Shanna George

Jun 17, 2009

1Co 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

1Co 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

I know there are some who will not read from me because I have not attended some fine university or seminary, that doesn’t really matter to me because the Lord will deal with those who may not even recognize the insidious sin of pride is in them. They do not want to hear, and I only want to reach those with ears to hear.

God resist the proud and exalts the humble.

We are all prone to pride, I know I was raised around it, and even in marriage pride was evident in disagreements of who was right and who was wrong just as we see in the church today, believers getting angry at one another because they believe their view is right and the other wrong.

Insidious:

Pride is insidious, it seeks to entrap, it is seductive, the word of God speaks about it through out the whole bible.

Even speaking about pride is dangerous because I don’t want to put myself in a position to think I know it all, which is what has happened in much of the church today.

All I want to do is bring forth the word of God that has not been watered down, and changed to suit someone’s agenda.

Jesus taught first hand to all His disciples but Paul and the other Apostles were taught by revelation of Jesus Christ after he ascended to the right hand of the Father, anything that they had learned through the teachings of the Jewish faith they discarded unless they lined up with what Jesus Christ taught.

The word of God has been perverted by many false teachers, who are satisfying those with itching ears, and are able to manipulate to give large amounts to help them build big churches, make a name for themselves and to fill their own pockets.

I am not saying we should not be taught of men, because the Lord gave teachers, but it was to be the pure undefiled word of God. Not some of the truth preached and others thrown out as it didn’t seem relative for today’ s standards. Words changed, and taken completely out of context to suit an agenda.

Pride has now become the hallmark of the church today, there is so much arrogance toward one another, haughty, puffed up attitudes.

It is true that we sit in the heavenlies positionally with Christ, but we must remember that, though Christ thought it not robbery to be equal with God, He humbled Himself even to the point of death.

So must we. God honors those who first walk in humility and servant hood.

Jesus Christ walked on earth as a living example of the way He wanted the church to walk, He never took credit for anything, he gave all credit to God the Father.

In Luke we are told not to sit first at the highest place but sit lower and then be asked to come up.

1Co 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.

1Co 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

Luk 14:8 When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;

Luk 14:9 And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.

Luk 14:10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.

What He is saying is that we should not seek to be honored, but rather as we humble ourselves the Lord will honor us.

Luk 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

We see this further in Luke 14 12-14, that when we make a feast or supper do not invite your friends and rich neighbors, but invite the poor, the lame and the blind, because you cannot be paid back, but at the resurrection of the just you will be recompensed.

Yet we do not see this followed today, the proud hang around with their own kind those who have much head knowledge or financial gain, but we are all equal in God’s eyes, he is not a respecter of persons.

Then there is a false humility though it isn’t mentioned in this way in the bible, except in the worshipping of angels. col 2:18, and Col 2:23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

“True humility” is distinctly different from “false humility” ” which consists of deprecating ones own sanctity, gifts, talents, and accomplishments for the sake of receiving praise or adulation from others.

I pray for humility in my life, I sincerely do not want the praise of men, nor a name among men. I care for nothing in my life that will cause me to become proud. Financial wealth, things, recognition, praise, influential friends etc. .

For me to do the will of God and to obey what he tells me is worth much more then silver and gold. My hope and desire is to come to the end of my life and to hear “well done good and faithful servant”.

I believe being faithful is perhaps the greatest achievement we can accomplish in this life.

We all have some pride though we strive against it, if we think we do not, then we can know for sure we are proud, and know nothing.

It is so grievous to me to see pride abounding in the church, it grieves me to see people being lovers of themselves, boasters, proud, heady high minded etc.  These are truly perilous times.

2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

It is bad enough to see it in the society of the world, but to see it having permeated the church is very grievous indeed.

The answer for us all is in the Sermon on the Mount, but with today’s teaching in the church it is almost totally ignored as not being relevant to today’s modern church.

There is no room for pride in God’s economy, we are to lower ourselves and lift him higher for all the world to see.

The Lord says that the Meek shall inherit the earth.

One thing that disturbs many including myself, is that people give themselves titles, putting them before their name, announcing they carry that position or title, but few live up to the title and what it really represents in the church.

Most only use the title so that they will receive honor from men, rather then honor from God in the resurrection of the just as I mentioned before.

God does give gifts and callings, this is true, but they should not be flaunted, or used for personal aggrandizement

I see few who carry the title living as the early apostles did, laying their lives down for the cause of Christ.

But it is not for me to judge them. God will judge them, He alone knows their motives, He knows their heart, and if they are putting a title on in a prideful manner to get recognition, glory and honor from men or if they are truly given by God Himself and used in the same manner as the early church.

When we lack humility we are lacking love for the brethren which is our priority as the scriptures tell us. If we cannot love our brothers who we can see how can we love God who we cannot see.

We must not take on and look like the world, which is controlled by satan who rebelled in pride, and wanted to exalt himself and sit as god.

Is it any wonder this is the most hated sin by God, because it was satan who brought it into being. Satan is the author of all sin, and we are blinded to it.

If we are dead to sin and self, we have no more room for self exaltation.

Pride will not have a place in the kingdom of God, so we all need to continually search our hearts and ask God to create a clean heart in us, and to renew a right spirit within us.

Let us go lower so he can be exalted high to the world. God is so much higher, and we need to worship Him as the all together holy one.

We are sons and daughter of the King, but we need to walk and follow in His footsteps, by humbling ourselves even to the point of death.

Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Php 2:6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

Php 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Php 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: