TOPIC: PRIDE VERSUS HUMILITY
TEXT: PSALM 138:6
A. Definition Of Pride:
1. Pride is defined as a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction in an achievement, an accomplishment, or in someone else or something else.
2. Pride is described as conceit, egotism, vanity, vainglory, all over one’s own appearance or status in life and not just something that’s been accomplished.
3. Pride is an inwardly directed emotion that can easily offend others and carries with it a connotation that displays an inflated sense of one’s own worth or personal status and typically makes one feel a sense of superiority over others and can easily make someone look condescendingly at others, [Proverb 17:6].
Note: When you refused to say sorry or apologised to the person or people, [Church/Saints] you did wrong to, or even those that wrong you.
See Matthew 5:23-26; 18:15-17.
B. 7 Signs To Show You Are Proud:
Pride is subtle, and it all started with Lucifer.
a. He was a very important angel in heaven. God had given him a position above many other angels, but that was not enough for him.
b. Hs pride questioned his position as he found himself worthy of being like God.
c. He created a rebellion among the angels, and so God had to kick him out of heaven along with all the angels who rebelled with him.
d. Lucifer was an angel who became the devil. This is the origin of pride, that is why sin is rooted in pride, [Revelation 12:7-13].
1. A proud person does not recognize their mistakes and does not accept to be rebuked. They do everything not to be rebuked, and apparently, it’s because they don’t want to displease or disappoint anyone. But in reality, they don’t want to go through the humiliation of being disciplined.
2. A proud person does not ask for help. And when they ask it is because it’s too late, when there is no return.
3. A proud person does not ask for forgiveness. They may even regret it, but are unable to expose their repentance, it’s humiliating for them, they prefer to pretend that nothing happened.
4. A proud person does not submit easily. They may be submissive but only to those who have authority over them. Most gifted and talented people won’t want to submit to the aged and the experienced one.
5. A proud person likes their independence, in fact, they hate relying on others. They like to do everything on their own, so that they don’t have to say that they needed someone’s help. They are independent even of God, they don’t pray or look for Him, they think they are self-sufficient.
6. A proud person wants everything their way because they think they know what’s best, they understand what’s best, and know what’s best. They don’t want to know God’s will and sometimes insist using their “faith” that their way is the best. And when they don’t receive what they asked God for, they revolt against Him as if God were wrong.
7. A proud person likes to give their opinion about everything, they don’t like to take nonsense from anybody, and they don’t hesitate confronting someone to say what they think is right.
Note: Jesus on the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16-17.
C. What Make People To Be Proud:
1. Pride of achievement, [Job 40:11-12].
2. Pride of beauty, [Psalm 10:4; Proverbs 31:30].
3. Pride of dressing/appearance, [1 Timothy 2:9].
4. Pride of power/position/strength, [2 Chronicles 26:15-16].
5. Pride of walking, [Proverbs 11:2; 29:23].
6. Pride of tribe/country people, [Isaiah 13:11].
7. Pride of race/racist, [Romans 12:3].
8. Pride of talking, [1 Samuel 2:3].
9. Pride of spiritual gift/endowment/talent, [2 Kings 10:16].
10. Pride of the heart, [2 Chronicles 32:25-26].
D. How To Overcome Pride:
Since we know that God resists the proud and the Bible describes pride as being at the root of all sin, we should humble ourselves or God will do it for us. Pride can cause us to fall flat on our face. See Proverbs 11:2; Matthew 23:12; 1 Peter 5:6.
The good news is that God has given us way out on how to overcome pride from the followings:
1. Identified and accept your own pride as pride, and knows that they are sin, [Psalm 51:3].
2. Confess the sin of pride, and seek for forgiveness and repentance, [2 Chronicles 7:14].
3. Pray for the spirit of humility, and remains humbled in contentment and godliness, [Micah 6:8].
4. Whenever the thought arises from your heart, silent it permanently, and never entertain the thought again, [Psalm 119:11].
5. Speak no more arrogantly but keep quiet in righteousness, [1 Samuel 2:3].
E. Prayer Points:
1. I command the spirit of pride in my life, die by fire, in the name of Jesus Christ.
2. I received by fire, spirit of humility now, in the name of Jesus Christ.
