PRIDE
Pride is behind every sin, that's where it started with Lucifer and that's where it starts with us.
Pride is what caused Satan's fall. He was thrown down with such force from heaven that in his wake there was a lightening bolt! (Luke 10:18) That was pretty hard, don't you think? Pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:8).
So we have to look at our lives and see how many times we have fallen. But there is also good news, the Bible says that a righteous man may fall seven times, but he can get back up without guilt, shame or condemnation. (Proverbs 24:6)
Satan fell and he can never get back up! He is trying to keep you down when you fall, it's up to you to get back up. It's not a time to get under guilt about it, it's time to just face it and address it. Then after he fell, the love of God was removed from him leaving him alone, abandoned, rejected, isolated, and angry which produced fear. Now he works day and night to get you to fear so that you are separated from the Love of God like he is. Don't let him have that control in your life any longer. He's a defeated foe, you are not!
Pride is behind every type of sin imaginable.
Indicators that we have pride:
A Person who is Humbled manifests the following:
While going through this teaching, and other areas of teaching, you may start to get a bit uncomfortable. You may want to run or question God what is going on, but the truth is, He may just be cutting away the pride in your life that is attached to your soul. Let Him do the work. Buckle your seatbelt and go for the ride. I had someone ask me one time what it meant to "buckle your seatbelt and go for the ride." It's like getting in a roller coaster, you cannot get off until the ride is over, and a roller coaster is supposed to be fun too. It's not what we go through that shows our faith, it's how we go through that shows our faith. So when something hard comes my way, I picture myself getting in a roller coaster, buckling the seat belt and raising my hands!! Just like the kids do when riding those kinds of rides... Let God take me for a ride knowing He is the seat I am buckled to, and enjoy the ride!
Exercise 1:
From the list above, do any ring true for you? If so, check them off. This is not to bring you under condemnation but to help you see where the root causes are behind your issues. Pride is a hidden enemy but once he is exposed, you are well on the way to peace and freedom. This is an area people don't even know they have because it is so hidden - we are being deceived by this sin - pride. It's identified as a major block to our blessings as discussed in the "blocks" teaching.
Exercise 2:
Since Pride is the root of sin, take the time to seek God on the matter. Ask yourself what your motive is behind the issue. Any thing you do to make yourself look good or feel okay is a pride issue. Ask Him to help you expose all pride, there may even be more indicators in your life than listed above. When you are dealing with a sin or area in your life that you are struggling with, ask Him where the pride resides? Then as the Lord shows you, take what you see and confess your sin (i.e. control and manipulation, fear, reputation, what people think, etc) , and receive forgiveness and restoration in that area. That may be the strong-hold keeping you bound.
Write down one or two areas in your life you are struggling with and then ask the Lord to show you where the pride resides: i.e: Getting your kids to sit still in church. In this case, what could be the motive? Not looking well to others - what will people think? This is pride and fear and people pleasing. We aren't actually disciplining the kids for them, we are disciplining them so we look good.
Personal Account:
Even though I teach many topics, I still get to grow stronger in every area. I still get to go through tests. I still deal with issues, and this is one of those times. For several years I have worked on getting pride out of my life. I would get breakthroughs, and see changes in the way I interact with people. Because frankly, we wouldn't have a problem with pride if there were no people! Anyway, one morning I was dealing with dread. You can read about it in that teaching. Suffice to say, it was a doozey. Out of that discovery of dread popped up pride. Ouch! Yep. It was still there but very subtle. So here's what transpired. One morning I woke up with the word "dread" in my head. Then after going through that, the word "pride." Came up. I said, "Surely, I'm not in pride any more." Then with a hearty laugh from the Lord... yes, I heard Him laugh in a loving way, I saw pride clearer than ever. As I ran through some of the scenarios of my days previous, I noticed I had a lot of pride. For instance. A friend of mine mentioned a book she was reading that has been blessing her every day, a devotional. Well, I thought, I wrote a devotional, how's come you aren't reading mine. Of course, I didn't say that out loud. Then the Lord showed me that was pride. Pride breeds jealousy and I was jealous of that book! My devotional has only been read by a handful of people... and didn't realize pride was behind me NOT wanting to pick up that book that ministers to so many. Ouch! You know don't you that I get to tell on myself in hopes of helping someone else! So as I began going over other conversations, decisions and thoughts, some were pride based. So right then, I took it to the Lord. Renounced its work in my life, repented for making room for it and submitting to it, and then ask the Lord to remove it. Not that I won't have opportunity to see pride work again, but it's getting lesser and lesser situations.
Did you know pride causes us to manipulate and control others? Did you know pride is behind jealousy and envy. Did you know pride is behind some of the decisions you have made that didn't come out so good?
I have a friend that I have helped along the way. It seemed EVERY TIME I helped her, I would get into deep water. We would have a relationship fall out, I would get sick, it would cost me more money, etc. Well, it happened again this week. It cost me money! A mistake I made in haste cost me financially. It wasn't anyone's fault but my own. I wanted something done MY WAY and when it didn't, it cost me! I told this to my husband and he said one of his one liners: "You can't put limits on anything not in your control." I was trying to save money... but it only cost me. So it's true, haste makes waste, and it comes from pride of DOING IT OURSELF! So again, I repented. I told God I was sorry. And now moving on... Pride wants to make us feel guilt and shame. Pride causes us to think of ourselves way too much. Pride is behind self-pity. Do you see how pride is behind just about every sin? SO let's get to the root of things, face that strongman of pride, admit he is there and get free. As you know one of the hardest things to admit to is that you have pride. I encourage you to find a safe person to share this with. Sometimes we don't want to because we don't want others to see this. But when we confess our faults one to another, we may be healed... So choose today to do something about it. First recognize it's there. Then repent. Then cast it out in the Almighty name of Jesus. If you need someone to pray for you, let us know, or find a friend you trust.
Closing Comment:
This teaching isn't to bring you under condemnation or guilt, but to help you see so that you can be free. I had pride, and I still do in some areas, but God is working it all out of me because one thing He stated that He hates is pride. He doesn't hate me, but he does hate the sin. And as long as we agree with Him on that, we are well on our way.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father. Thank you for exposing the spirit of Pride in me. I choose to fall out of agreement with it. I know it's the devil's nature and character and I no longer want any part of him. I repent for allowing it to rule in my life. Thank you for helping me admit it so I can be free. I receive your love that casts out all fear and torment, and pride is fear and torment at its best. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for cleansing me from all unrighteousness. I ask you to continue working this out of me cause I know I have been "trained" to be prideful. Help me change my thoughts. Help me to think more about others than myself. Help me to see clearly Lord so I can continue walking in freedom. Thank you for restoring me in my heart to myself, others and You. In Jesus name, Amen."
Pride is what caused Satan's fall. He was thrown down with such force from heaven that in his wake there was a lightening bolt! (Luke 10:18) That was pretty hard, don't you think? Pride comes before a fall (Proverbs 16:8).
So we have to look at our lives and see how many times we have fallen. But there is also good news, the Bible says that a righteous man may fall seven times, but he can get back up without guilt, shame or condemnation. (Proverbs 24:6)
Satan fell and he can never get back up! He is trying to keep you down when you fall, it's up to you to get back up. It's not a time to get under guilt about it, it's time to just face it and address it. Then after he fell, the love of God was removed from him leaving him alone, abandoned, rejected, isolated, and angry which produced fear. Now he works day and night to get you to fear so that you are separated from the Love of God like he is. Don't let him have that control in your life any longer. He's a defeated foe, you are not!
Pride is behind every type of sin imaginable.
Indicators that we have pride:
- When we do what we want out ahead of God
- Frustrated with others because they don't do it our way
- Irritated by others
- Always correcting others - pointing out the obvious
- Wanted to be proved right - and finding joy when found right
- Critical
- Rebellion
- Impatient
- Control and Manipulation
- Fear
- Needing to be needed
- Needing approval and acceptance
- Get embarrassed easily
- Sensitive and hurt easily
- You say, "I'm a good person" but you don't feel appreciated
- "I can do it better than them"
- Don't they know who I am and what I have to offer?"
- You think everything that happens is because of you
- You think everything that happens is about you
- Offended continually
- Feeling guilty
- Self-exaltation - Bragging and exalts own achievements
- False Humility - looking for someone to notice their humility
- False sense of responsibility (false burden bearing) - You are not Jesus!
A Person who is Humbled manifests the following:
- Nothing anyone says hurts them, they are never offended and if they are, they repent
- Overlooks faults in others
- Submits to authority
- Forgive quickly and unconditionally
- Esteem others over own self and desires
- Trust God in every area of their life
- Peace, stability and soundness
- Teachable
- Admits when they are wrong
- Sees the good in everyone
While going through this teaching, and other areas of teaching, you may start to get a bit uncomfortable. You may want to run or question God what is going on, but the truth is, He may just be cutting away the pride in your life that is attached to your soul. Let Him do the work. Buckle your seatbelt and go for the ride. I had someone ask me one time what it meant to "buckle your seatbelt and go for the ride." It's like getting in a roller coaster, you cannot get off until the ride is over, and a roller coaster is supposed to be fun too. It's not what we go through that shows our faith, it's how we go through that shows our faith. So when something hard comes my way, I picture myself getting in a roller coaster, buckling the seat belt and raising my hands!! Just like the kids do when riding those kinds of rides... Let God take me for a ride knowing He is the seat I am buckled to, and enjoy the ride!
Exercise 1:
From the list above, do any ring true for you? If so, check them off. This is not to bring you under condemnation but to help you see where the root causes are behind your issues. Pride is a hidden enemy but once he is exposed, you are well on the way to peace and freedom. This is an area people don't even know they have because it is so hidden - we are being deceived by this sin - pride. It's identified as a major block to our blessings as discussed in the "blocks" teaching.
Exercise 2:
Since Pride is the root of sin, take the time to seek God on the matter. Ask yourself what your motive is behind the issue. Any thing you do to make yourself look good or feel okay is a pride issue. Ask Him to help you expose all pride, there may even be more indicators in your life than listed above. When you are dealing with a sin or area in your life that you are struggling with, ask Him where the pride resides? Then as the Lord shows you, take what you see and confess your sin (i.e. control and manipulation, fear, reputation, what people think, etc) , and receive forgiveness and restoration in that area. That may be the strong-hold keeping you bound.
Write down one or two areas in your life you are struggling with and then ask the Lord to show you where the pride resides: i.e: Getting your kids to sit still in church. In this case, what could be the motive? Not looking well to others - what will people think? This is pride and fear and people pleasing. We aren't actually disciplining the kids for them, we are disciplining them so we look good.
Personal Account:
Even though I teach many topics, I still get to grow stronger in every area. I still get to go through tests. I still deal with issues, and this is one of those times. For several years I have worked on getting pride out of my life. I would get breakthroughs, and see changes in the way I interact with people. Because frankly, we wouldn't have a problem with pride if there were no people! Anyway, one morning I was dealing with dread. You can read about it in that teaching. Suffice to say, it was a doozey. Out of that discovery of dread popped up pride. Ouch! Yep. It was still there but very subtle. So here's what transpired. One morning I woke up with the word "dread" in my head. Then after going through that, the word "pride." Came up. I said, "Surely, I'm not in pride any more." Then with a hearty laugh from the Lord... yes, I heard Him laugh in a loving way, I saw pride clearer than ever. As I ran through some of the scenarios of my days previous, I noticed I had a lot of pride. For instance. A friend of mine mentioned a book she was reading that has been blessing her every day, a devotional. Well, I thought, I wrote a devotional, how's come you aren't reading mine. Of course, I didn't say that out loud. Then the Lord showed me that was pride. Pride breeds jealousy and I was jealous of that book! My devotional has only been read by a handful of people... and didn't realize pride was behind me NOT wanting to pick up that book that ministers to so many. Ouch! You know don't you that I get to tell on myself in hopes of helping someone else! So as I began going over other conversations, decisions and thoughts, some were pride based. So right then, I took it to the Lord. Renounced its work in my life, repented for making room for it and submitting to it, and then ask the Lord to remove it. Not that I won't have opportunity to see pride work again, but it's getting lesser and lesser situations.
Did you know pride causes us to manipulate and control others? Did you know pride is behind jealousy and envy. Did you know pride is behind some of the decisions you have made that didn't come out so good?
I have a friend that I have helped along the way. It seemed EVERY TIME I helped her, I would get into deep water. We would have a relationship fall out, I would get sick, it would cost me more money, etc. Well, it happened again this week. It cost me money! A mistake I made in haste cost me financially. It wasn't anyone's fault but my own. I wanted something done MY WAY and when it didn't, it cost me! I told this to my husband and he said one of his one liners: "You can't put limits on anything not in your control." I was trying to save money... but it only cost me. So it's true, haste makes waste, and it comes from pride of DOING IT OURSELF! So again, I repented. I told God I was sorry. And now moving on... Pride wants to make us feel guilt and shame. Pride causes us to think of ourselves way too much. Pride is behind self-pity. Do you see how pride is behind just about every sin? SO let's get to the root of things, face that strongman of pride, admit he is there and get free. As you know one of the hardest things to admit to is that you have pride. I encourage you to find a safe person to share this with. Sometimes we don't want to because we don't want others to see this. But when we confess our faults one to another, we may be healed... So choose today to do something about it. First recognize it's there. Then repent. Then cast it out in the Almighty name of Jesus. If you need someone to pray for you, let us know, or find a friend you trust.
Closing Comment:
This teaching isn't to bring you under condemnation or guilt, but to help you see so that you can be free. I had pride, and I still do in some areas, but God is working it all out of me because one thing He stated that He hates is pride. He doesn't hate me, but he does hate the sin. And as long as we agree with Him on that, we are well on our way.
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father. Thank you for exposing the spirit of Pride in me. I choose to fall out of agreement with it. I know it's the devil's nature and character and I no longer want any part of him. I repent for allowing it to rule in my life. Thank you for helping me admit it so I can be free. I receive your love that casts out all fear and torment, and pride is fear and torment at its best. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for cleansing me from all unrighteousness. I ask you to continue working this out of me cause I know I have been "trained" to be prideful. Help me change my thoughts. Help me to think more about others than myself. Help me to see clearly Lord so I can continue walking in freedom. Thank you for restoring me in my heart to myself, others and You. In Jesus name, Amen."