WEBVTT 00:00:10.320 --> 00:00:14.080 This evening, the topic will be on pride and humility. 00:00:14.880 --> 00:00:18.160 There are several points on this topic I would like to focus on. 00:00:18.399 --> 00:00:28.320 What pride is and why it is not always a good thing, how it enters your life and its effects on it, and how to deal with pride and how to become more humble. 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:33.840 So our first point, what pride is and why it is not always a good thing. 00:00:34.079 --> 00:00:37.119 Please don't answer, but what is pride? 00:00:37.600 --> 00:00:38.799 Think about it. 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:43.840 Before I go into the definition of pride, what does the Bible say about pride? 00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:48.159 Throughout the entire Bible, there are many different examples of pride. 00:00:48.399 --> 00:00:54.159 I'll be summarizing these passages, so if you want to turn there, you're gonna have to be very fast. 00:00:54.960 --> 00:00:56.320 Genesis 11. 00:00:56.560 --> 00:01:04.719 The people thought they could build a tower to heaven, thought they could be God's equal, even or even greater than God. 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:10.159 And God scattered them by creating different languages among them. 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:15.760 In Daniel 4, King Nebuchadnezzar thought he was the greatest king in the world. 00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:17.200 He was the greatest person. 00:01:17.359 --> 00:01:19.920 He had made his kingdom all by himself. 00:01:20.480 --> 00:01:27.120 But God corrected him and by forcing him to live like an animal until he recognized God as God. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:38.799 In Acts 12, verses 21 through 23, when King Herod gave his speech before the people, he did not stop the people from saying that he was God. 00:01:38.959 --> 00:01:44.480 Therefore, God replied by sending an angel to strike him down in front of all the people. 00:01:44.719 --> 00:01:55.359 In all of these accounts, somebody would think he was either equal or greater than God, and it would always result in God's furious and inevitable response. 00:01:56.239 --> 00:02:01.359 It is clear from these passages that God hates pride. 00:02:02.640 --> 00:02:10.240 Now pride can be defined in different ways, but for this lesson we will use one definition. 00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:16.240 Pride is an overly large amount of self-esteem or self-confidence. 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:23.039 Proverbs 16 verse 18 says, Pride goes before destruction in a haughty spirit before fall. 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:29.120 Now pride is not always a bad thing, like in 1 Corinthians 1 verse 31. 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:32.879 Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord. 00:02:33.120 --> 00:02:37.520 In this case, it's a good thing, because it's pride in your God. 00:02:38.319 --> 00:02:39.199 Good thing. 00:02:39.360 --> 00:02:43.039 And even a reasonable amount of self-confidence is a good thing. 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:48.719 But becomes a bad thing when you start to use it just to inflate your head. 00:02:48.960 --> 00:02:52.639 And just it's a bad thing when you do that. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:58.800 Now on to our second point, how pride enters your life and its effects on it. 00:02:59.120 --> 00:03:02.560 Pride can be very hard to notice. 00:03:03.039 --> 00:03:06.800 Slip under your guard and inflate your head like gas prices. 00:03:06.960 --> 00:03:09.199 It also comes in many ways. 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:12.400 I want to focus on two ways. 00:03:13.199 --> 00:03:19.039 The first way is through compliments, or things that make you feel proud about yourself. 00:03:19.919 --> 00:03:25.759 Compliments can be good for you and other people, but it matters what you do with the compliments. 00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:39.919 In Mark 7, verse 22, Mark 7, 22, it says, For from within out the heart of man comes evil thoughts. 00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:44.479 And then a little later on says, pride and foolishness. 00:03:44.960 --> 00:03:49.599 Simply giving or receiving compliments, it is not a bad thing. 00:03:49.759 --> 00:03:55.439 But if you take the compliments simply to inflate your head, then it becomes a problem. 00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:57.919 A simple, you did a good job. 00:03:58.319 --> 00:04:03.599 Can easily turn into, huh, I did a good job, I'm better than that other person over there. 00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:08.879 So the process begins, you stand a little taller, you start looking down on people. 00:04:10.000 --> 00:04:14.879 And when someone tries to pop this bubble of illusion, but it doesn't go well. 00:04:15.039 --> 00:04:19.040 It ends up hurting both yourself and the other person involved. 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:20.879 And it causes disunity. 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:25.839 Second way is much more tricky, is self-reliance. 00:04:26.319 --> 00:04:28.959 Unlike compliments, just like compliments. 00:04:29.600 --> 00:04:35.360 Self-reliance can be a good thing, not being dependent on everyone for everything. 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:38.959 The devil can use this for bad. 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:48.160 He can tempt you with obvious, blatant sins, and so blatant that you can just knock them down no problem, right? 00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:54.959 And when you overcome these sins, he has pride at the very end. 00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:57.839 And he's like, did you really need God for that? 00:04:58.079 --> 00:04:58.959 Nah, you didn't. 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:00.639 It's all by yourself. 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:02.879 You're doing great overcoming these sins. 00:05:03.040 --> 00:05:03.759 Keep on going. 00:05:03.920 --> 00:05:05.920 You don't need God's help anymore. 00:05:06.240 --> 00:05:14.959 So slowly, very slowly, almost unconsciously, you drift away without even knowing it. 00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:23.040 Maybe you slowly stopped praying or stopped studying your Bible as much, or even consistently thinking about God. 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:31.360 These are what may seem like small things, but they aren't. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:39.519 They affect your spiritual life and your physical life so much that you just didn't notice because you'd forgotten about God. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:45.600 Now pride doesn't only destroy your relationship with God, but with other people. 00:05:46.879 --> 00:05:52.399 Even if it starts out as just thoughts, it can develop into words about other people. 00:05:52.560 --> 00:06:01.040 And as James constantly constantly warns throughout the book of James, the tongue has more power than any other person could imagine. 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:06.800 It can create and break relationships faster than you would have ever thought imaginable. 00:06:07.360 --> 00:06:18.639 Being that guy or girl who acts like the main character or the most important person in the world can distant others from and distance others from you and cause division within God's church. 00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:22.000 This is shown in 1 Corinthians 12. 00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:28.639 Throughout this passage, it heavily emphasizes the importance of an entire whole body. 00:06:28.959 --> 00:06:37.439 The body cannot function properly if one thinks he's better than another, especially as everything in the body matters. 00:06:37.680 --> 00:06:44.240 This is truly what the devil used this for, to destroy the Christian church and your relationship with God. 00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:51.439 And it all starts out with a few seem like simple, small internal thoughts. 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:53.759 But then how do you deal with this? 00:06:56.639 --> 00:06:59.839 How to deal with pride and how to become more humble. 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:04.480 There are several ways to deal with pride that I found very helpful. 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:09.680 But before we get into that, however, let us observe what the Bible has to say on this. 00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:13.920 In Philippians 2, verses 3 through 5. 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:18.319 Philippians 2 verses 3 through 5. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:32.240 It says, Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourself. 00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:42.879 The next six verses go into Jesus' humble sacrifice and how he was not prideful. 00:07:43.199 --> 00:07:49.600 He had the mindset of a willing servant, always looking for a way to be a servant for other people. 00:07:51.360 --> 00:08:01.279 Part of following Jesus' example is becoming a servant like he was, and doing it not to be seen, but because you love God and you love people. 00:08:02.480 --> 00:08:06.800 Putting yourself in this mindset can also help bridge yourself of pride. 00:08:07.920 --> 00:08:14.079 But is it important, it is important to remember, being in a servant mindset is something to be cultivated over time. 00:08:14.240 --> 00:08:16.480 It's not going to happen overnight. 00:08:16.959 --> 00:08:18.879 It requires practice. 00:08:20.399 --> 00:08:29.279 Though every person has their own system for dealing with pride, I have found these three methods to be the most useful and are found in scripture. 00:08:29.600 --> 00:08:34.559 Constant watchfulness, constant prayer, and blunt force trauma to the head. 00:08:37.200 --> 00:08:45.600 The scripture that covers all of these is in 1 Peter 5 verses 3 through 8. 00:08:47.200 --> 00:08:50.799 1 Peter 5 verses 3 through 8. 00:08:53.840 --> 00:08:58.559 Not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples in your flock. 00:08:58.879 --> 00:09:02.480 This part is talking about the elders and talking to the elders. 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:07.600 And when the chief shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:12.159 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to your elders. 00:09:12.399 --> 00:09:20.799 Clothe yourselves all of you with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:29.039 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you. 00:09:29.519 --> 00:09:33.039 Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 00:09:33.360 --> 00:09:35.600 Be alert and sober minded. 00:09:35.759 --> 00:09:40.159 Your enemy the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour. 00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:46.080 First point constant watchfulness. 00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:50.399 This paragraph, the verse of this paragraph, is verse eight. 00:09:50.720 --> 00:09:55.120 Your enemy the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. 00:09:56.000 --> 00:09:59.679 Being on constant watch for pride helps immensely. 00:10:00.080 --> 00:10:04.240 Look in the mirror every morning, not just the physical one, but look in that one too. 00:10:04.480 --> 00:10:06.080 Look inward on yourself. 00:10:06.240 --> 00:10:07.600 What are you thinking? 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:08.960 What have you been doing? 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:13.679 Have you been praying, thinking about God, studying your Bible? 00:10:15.039 --> 00:10:17.679 Have you been acting strange? 00:10:18.240 --> 00:10:20.399 Seeing people as less than yourself. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:25.679 Look, every single day, this should be a daily thing. 00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:31.519 It doesn't matter if you're struggling with pride or not, this is for any sin. 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:36.240 Second point is being constant in prayer. 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:42.320 In verse 7, it says, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 00:10:42.559 --> 00:10:57.120 Now, being constant in prayer, casting all your anxieties on him, doesn't mean always walking around with your eyes closed and your hands clasped in front of you, and it's sounding like you're muttering incantations under your breath makes you look insane. 00:10:58.480 --> 00:11:06.080 But being in constant prayer means to be constantly thinking of God, to be in a prayerful mindset at all times. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:08.879 If something comes up, pray to God. 00:11:09.039 --> 00:11:15.120 It doesn't matter if it's five seconds or five hours, it's a silent prayer or a loud cry to God. 00:11:16.240 --> 00:11:18.000 Always be in that mindset. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:29.279 And when you are in prayer, be careful not to view yourself as, not to view God as your servant. 00:11:30.799 --> 00:11:33.360 View Him as higher than yourself. 00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:39.679 This can help you keep you in the mindset that God is greater than you are. 00:11:42.159 --> 00:11:47.759 My final point for the evening is applying blunt force trauma to the head, which probably confused y'all. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:56.720 Now, by this, I don't mean if you feel pride coming on, or if you see someone being prideful, to grab your Bible and just start whacking them on the head or whacking yourself on the head. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:11:59.279 Because God doesn't want you to do this. 00:12:00.320 --> 00:12:06.159 Instead, confront yourself with these basic truths that help deflate your pride. 00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:08.480 Pick yourself apart. 00:12:08.879 --> 00:12:12.799 No matter how ruthlessly, be brutally honest with yourself. 00:12:13.120 --> 00:12:23.679 But if this doesn't work on yourself and you're so in deep in pride that you can't do this, you can have a friend do it for you, or ask the elders to help you. 00:12:23.840 --> 00:12:26.559 And first, oh it sounded bad, I'm sorry. 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:30.960 In 1 Peter 5, it starts out by talking to the about the elders. 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:41.440 The elders, though they are not our chief shepherd, because that is God, part of their purpose here is to guide us, to give us correction and encouragement. 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:47.200 So talking to an elder, asking him, can you pray for me about pride? 00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:48.879 Can you help me with this? 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:50.879 They will do it for you. 00:12:51.039 --> 00:12:56.240 They will do everything they can possibly, they possibly can to help you. 00:12:57.600 --> 00:13:10.720 And if you don't have an elder present, it's always good to have that one brutally honest friend around who will always set you straight and they they do not censor their thoughts. 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:12.960 They're brutally honest. 00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:25.600 But if you are that friend that someone comes to when they're feeling pride, or if you notice that friend feeling pride, choose your words according to that person. 00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:38.399 If they are one of those people where you definitely need to like hit them over the head, uh, not literally, but you hit them over the head with the truth, then do that. 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:42.399 But if there's someone more fragile, you want to be gentle about how you do it. 00:13:42.559 --> 00:13:48.639 You don't want to go at them with the sword and then them thinking we're a bunch of Bible-whacking Christians. 00:13:48.720 --> 00:13:50.000 They're so scary. 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:54.720 You never want to discourage someone from the gospel that way, or anyway. 00:13:56.000 --> 00:14:01.519 Our goal is to get people to the gospel, to Jesus. 00:14:03.200 --> 00:14:11.679 Though you've used these tactics, you can go to the opposite end of the spectrum and begin to have self-doubt or self-worthlessness. 00:14:11.919 --> 00:14:15.679 And this goes back to my second point on dealing with pride. 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:19.440 Pray to God and He will fill you. 00:14:19.840 --> 00:14:24.720 It may take some time, but He will fill you with the necessary fulfillment. 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:27.120 That's one of the amazing things about God. 00:14:27.759 --> 00:14:36.240 He can fill you and will fill you with what He knows you need to accomplish His work. 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:44.879 When you are baptized into Jesus Christ, He fills you with the Holy Spirit, which He knows you need to accomplish His work. 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:51.440 As we go into this new week, let us all be earnestly seeking to abstain from sin and practice. 00:14:51.600 --> 00:14:59.200 In 1 Peter 5, verse 5, it says, God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:06.879 This applies to baptism as well, by humbly admitting that you are a sinner and in need of grace. 00:15:08.080 --> 00:15:20.320 Now, if you know that Jesus died for your sins, that he was raised again on the third day, and that he is the Son of God, and that you need baptism for your eternal salvation, please come forward as we stand and sing.