Last Sunday we had a great time.
We learned who some of us are and someone we don’t want to be.
There was Velma Vanity, Amy Accomplishment, Edward the Educated, Melvin the Middle Class, Ned the Name Dropper, Mike and Molly Materialistic, Bertha Better than You!
If you don’t know who I am talking about then get the tape.
All are someone you don’t want to be. They are first class passengers on the Pride Ride that is headed to Hell.
Proverbs 8:13 says, "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. "
Today I would like to bring to you Part 2.
Now as I started last week I ask how many of you felt like Job.
How many of you feel like him?
To the Minister-Let them raise their hands first! They will.
Well, Job had one serious problem, he was sinless!
Job 33:9 says, I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there any iniquity in me.
One of Jobs’ problems was pride.
Now how many of you want to be Job? I didn’t think so.
Job was a possible passenger on the Pride Ride. But God still Loved Him.
I. Pride pushes us away from GOD.
The Pride Ride distances us from GOD, if you have a lack of interest in worshiping GOD you may be on the Pride Ride.
The prideful person is not close to God and does not choose to make time for GOD.
If that person make their schedule, their dating life, vacation plans, or activities to be more important than worshiping GOD they are into worshiping themselves.
Pride causes a person to kick GOD out of the Oval Office of his heart.
Psalms 138; 6 says, “Though the Lord is on high, yet he regards the lowly; but the proud he knows from afar.
Have you noticed your prayer life lately? Is your prayer life dealing with me and me only?
But some of us need to realize that our prayers are becoming me-istic and we are slipping into the passengers seat on the Pride Ride headed for an ego trip.
When was the last time you prayed for someone other than yourself?
#1. Realize if pride pushes us away from GOD, it pushes us away from hands on ministry in the church.
A. Our lack of involvement in hands on ministry needs to be re-assessed!
Take a specific look at your involvement in this church. What are you doing for the Lord here?
People who are humble are involved in ministry.
Those who are prideful say that they are, “above all that,” that they are on another level in which direct ministry “is not required.”
How many of you want to be great when you get to heaven? I know I do.
There is nothing wrong with it. But I promise; I’m not tricking you there’s nothing wrong with.
Doing work for the Lord is something to feel great about and the Lord said that there will be great people in heaven.
The disciples were walking with Jesus one day, arguing about which one of them would be the greatest. Jesus overheard the conversation and said to them, “If you want to become great, become a
s-e-r-v-a-n-t.”
You know the disciples just didn’t get it. One week later the disciples were at dinner. At that time, it was really important to have your feet washed before dinner. The people wore sandals and their feet became very dirty and dinner was served in a semi reclining position so that one person’s feet could almost be in another person’s face. Dirty, smelly feet doesn’t mix well with good food.
No servant was present, so Jesus got up took the initiative and washed all of the apostle’s feet.
I have to admit there were times in my life when I have been just like the disciples. I have reclined, kicked back, and been concerned only about myself.
I have been to prideful to serve my wife, too prideful to help my daughter with her homework, and now have missed an opportunity to serve.
I have missed an opportunity to show the authentic message of Jesus Christ to those, I love the most.
What opportunities have you missed?
Are you involved in ministry in the church or are you too busy?
Pride not only pushes us from GOD; it also pushes us away from appreciation for God’s workmanship.
B. We have a lack of appreciation for God’s workmanship.
Yes, another sign of a passenger on the Pride Ride is those who lack appreciation for God’s workmanship.
Often in our lives, we will win something, get a promotion, have a creative idea, give a good talk, and we think, “I did it, I’m so creative, yes, that was me, I am such a leader.”
In this we take away the reality that it was God that did it, not you.
God is the one who gives us the ability to do what ever it is that we need to do. He is the one who blesses us, not by what we do, but what He does.
REPEAT AFTER ME!!!!!
Because of His Grace, we are who we are and where we are; if there is anything good at all, it comes from the Lord.
Deuteronomy 8:11, 17-19
Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:
And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth. 18 But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. 19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
That is pretty radical, but as I said, the Pride Ride is fatal!
Who is getting the credit in your Life? You of Jesus?
Listen, you want to know how to become that humble person. Not to be like the persons I spoke about, then there are three steps that you need to take.
1. You must confess your Pride. Then, discipline yourself to spend more time each day with God. You cannot stand next to the Almighty God and stick up your nose. You cannot stand next to the cross and say if it wasn’t for me you wouldn’t be here.
2. You must begin to thank God for all that He has done in your Life and appreciate all of His workmanship. Say, “Thank You,” but remember it was God the Father that gave you the power to earn, attain, acquire and achieve.
3. You must begin to do something for the Lord right now. No, you are not above ministry, Pride says when it come to work your not that type of person, or you know too much to serve there, you can’t handle that type of ministry.
Pride is a tough root to pull out of your life.
Don’t let The Pride Ride keep you out of Heaven, because it will.
Conclusion; has the father spoken to you dealing with your level of pride.
There is no upside to Pride, no long-term or lasting benefits to speak of, absolutely no eternal benefits.
Is there pride in your life today?
How about it, are you working in the church like you should or have you found every excuse know to mankind to get out of it?
Are you one of the passengers on the pride ride that say you don’t need to come to an altar, because there is no SIN in your life, remember JOB?
You need Jesus more right now than ever before.
He is waiting to help you, deliver you, and restore you. God Bless
