Using the term PRIDE to describe oneself can be offensive and no one wants it to be used to describe him. Pride: *can thwart access to the life of Christ (in and through you), *is the root of all our wrong actions, *is an attitude of the heart and rebellion is the action which results, - a total blindspot in the eyes of the prideful person.
ARE YOU A PERSON OF PRIDE? PRIDE: *is self reliance and independence from God, *was the original sin, *(Satan) Isaiah 14:13, Hebrews 4:12, *rooted in the heart - is not just the actions we do; although, actions are the outward evidence of a prideful heart. Mark 7:20-23 We flaunt pride, we guard our prideful condition carefully; yet it is in the category of the sin of Satan.
James 4:6 "God resisteth the proud, I Peter 5:5 "gives grace to the humble", Romans 8:31 "If God be against us?..."
The ANTIDOTE for pride is HUMILITY! GRACE is the very essence of Himself flowing in and through us. If you do not have grace, it is not God's fault, but YOURS. PRIDE keeps us from experiencing God's Grace. Grace is given to the HUMBLE!
HUMILITY is depending on God - a brokenness - the emptying of ourselves, realizing we cannot live an abundant, abiding life in God in our own strength. DEPENDENCE ON GOD = the key.
Biblical examples: Job 42:5-6, Isaiah "Woe is me...for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and ....." King Saul and King David (entirely different reactions to reveletion of sin in their lives). Peter, John 13:36, Matt. 14:28, 16:15-17...changed from self-life to totally dependent upon God. Luke 18 Pharisee and the Publican. The two women...one washed Jesus' feet with her tears and hair, one broke expensive perfume over his feet...Simon, a proud, self-sufficient self-seeking man was appalled.
We must come to the point of humility as Job, Isaiah, David, Peter, Publican, and the women came. Humility is the mark of a true Christian - will not come to us on its own. You must make a CHOICE! This is the only WORK of the Christian life = staying humble, dependent and keeping our eyes and ears solely on our Lord Jesus, obeying His every directive.
"Who is in charge in your life?" Self on the throne and your life built around your fleshly will? Luke 9:23...the only way that we can possibly fit together with the Lord is as a yielded vessel depending on Him to live His life through us.
We all would like to make a decision once and it would be done forever. That is not how it works...Luke "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross...DAILY!..." A DAILY decision: *deny yourself (putting down feelings, rights privileges and our way of thinking) *depending on the Lord.
CHALLENGE THIS WEEK: Memorize Galatians 2:20
Luke 9:24...the BEMA (Judgment Seat of Christ)...Only what the Lord does through us...His life in and through us will be the fine jewels left in the fire!
Philippians 2:8 "He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
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