Pride Series

Virus: Hidden Infections of the Spiritual Life

Pride – Lk. 18:9-14

Review: We’re halfway in a series on the (7) deadly sins entitled Virus. The obvious question is why (7) and why deadly? The list was created by theologians in the Middle Ages. They studied the Bible for attitudes and character traits they deemed detrimental to a person’s relationship w/ God. They looked for sins that kill a person’s spiritual potential, cut off their ability to enter into the fullness of God’s blessings. These were the (7) that rose to the top.

Insert: But what is sin? Sin is an attitude and action contrary to God’s plan and purpose for our lives. Sin is missing the mark of God’s perfection.

Insert: Sin isn’t a consensus agreement about what is right and wrong. God hasn’t conducted a CNN poll or focus group to solicit our opinions on His nature and our depravity. He measures sin solely against His perfect/righteous character.

Verse: All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Rm. 3:10

Note: According to the Bible we sin in two basic ways:

1. Commission – Will-full activity against God’s directives.

2. Omission – Activity we could’ve, would’ve or should’ve done, but didn’t.

Quote: Sin has two causes; either from not seeing what we ought to do, or from not doing what we see needs to be done. Augustine

Trans: We’ve looked at the dispositions of laziness, lust, and anger – today is PRIDE.

Note: Pride is the worst and most prevalent of the (7) deadly sins b/c it is either the source or chief component in all of the others. Pride is the instigator of all sin.

Pride convinces LAZINESS that someone else should do it for me.

Pride convinces LUST that my pleasure comes before God’s priorities.

Pride convinces ANGER that if I don’t get my way someone will have to pay

Pride convinces GLUTTONY that I better get my fill.

Pride convinces GREED that the more I have the more I will be satisfied.

Pride convinces ENVY that I deserve better than you.

Define: The American Collegiate Dictionary defines pride as a "high or inordinate opinion of one’s own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority." We use terms like egotistical, arrogant, selfish, vain, conceited, boastful, and big-headed.

Note: Pride is arrogant self-worship. It’s the sin of exalting oneself and placing one’s own interest above the interests of others. Pride craves admiration and adoration, and will not share the limelight. Pride deludes its victims into believing they have no peers and drives them to try to destroy anyone who takes recognition from them. The proud are in love w/ themselves and seek to call attention to their admirable qualities. Campolo

Note: Pride thinks it’s all about ME! Pride is the worship of me, myself, and I. (clip)

Trans: Pride is a beast. It goads us into trying to make a name for ourselves in the headlines of the world. Some of us are convinced pride is essential for us to accomplish our objectives, to get a slice of the pie of life, but in reality, pride casts us further into the spiritual desert of barrenness.

Quote: For pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense.” C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity

I The ROOT of Pride Lk. 18:9-14

A Self-RIGHTEOUS

Note: Look at the Pharisee’s attitude. He wasn’t as bad a sinner as these others. He was more spiritual b/c he was more pious and religious. Truth is he knew how to put on a better show. He thought he would show God why God needed and deserved him.

Note: Self-righteous people think their goodness can get them into heaven and meet w/ God’s approval. They see heaven as a place w/ a pecking order. But look at Eph. 2:8-9. It says, “Not of works so that no man can boast.” God is not impresses w/ self-righteous pride. We are forgiven only by God’s grace.

Note: Some people get so caught up in their own holiness that they look at the Trinity for a possible vacancy. John MacArthur

Note: We have a difficulty giving up the worship of self to honor God. We think we deserve praise. Until we understand we have no righteousness on our own and we’re just sinners saved by grace, we’ll continue this line of stinking thinking. You’re no better than I, nor I’m no better than you – we’re all sinners in need of a Savior.

Verse: There is none righteous, no not even one. No one seeks after God. Rm. 3:23

Funny: A CEO of F500 noticed his wife talking w/ the station attendant. Come to find out she dated him in school. As they got on there way the CEO says, “I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, I’m glad I married you instead of him or else I’d be the wife of a gas station attendant instead of the wife of a CEO of a F500 business.” W/out missing a beat, the wife says, no! I was thinking if I’d married him, he’d be the CEO of a F500 company and you’d be a gas station attendant.