Introduction

Good morning, brothers and sisters. We gather here today, bound by our faith, warmed by our fellowship, and guided by the Word of God. We are here to learn, to grow, to be challenged and comforted by the eternal truths found in the Holy Scriptures.

Opening Scripture Reading – Our focus today is a passage from the book of Isaiah, chapter 14, verses 12 through 14. Let's read: "How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, 'I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.'"

This passage, friends, speaks of a fall. A fall from grace, a fall from position, a fall from glory. It speaks of Lucifer, the morning star, who allowed pride to lead him away from his rightful place. This reminds me of a quote from G.K. Chesterton who once said, "Pride is the downward drag of all things into an easy solemnity. One's self is the easiest person to get on with and the hardest person to be."

Opening Prayer – So, let's bow our heads in prayer and ask for God’s blessing this morning. Dear Lord, we thank You for Your Word, for the truths it holds, for the lessons it teaches. As we reflect on this passage today, open our hearts and minds to understand the dangers of pride and the beauty of Your grace. Help us to humble ourselves before You, recognizing that all we have and all we are come from You. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Transition – So, let's prepare our hearts and minds to receive the Word of God today. Let's learn from the past, apply it to the present, and look forward to the future with hope and humility.

Lucifer's Lofty Lapse

We turn our attention to the figure of Lucifer, the morning star. This celestial being, once radiant and revered, experienced a profound fall. His fall was not physical, but spiritual, a descent triggered by a dangerous and destructive emotion: pride. Pride, in its most destructive form, is the belief that we are superior, that we are deserving of adoration and worship. This was the pride that consumed Lucifer, leading him to believe he could ascend to the heavens, raise his throne above the stars of God, and make himself like the Most High.

Application – This pride, this inflated sense of self, is a trap that we too can fall into. We might not aspire to ascend to the heavens or raise our thrones above the stars, but we can certainly fall into the trap of believing that we are superior to others, that we are deserving of adoration and worship. This is a dangerous and destructive path, one that leads us away from God and towards our own downfall.

Lucifer's fall serves as a stark reminder of the dangers of pride. It's a reminder that no matter how high we might rise, no matter how radiant we might become, we are always susceptible to the destructive power of pride. We must guard against this, constantly checking our hearts and minds, ensuring that we are not falling into the same trap that ensnared Lucifer.

A. The first aspect we need to consider is the nature of Lucifer's pride. It wasn't just a case of thinking highly of himself. His pride was so profound, so consuming, that he believed he could usurp God's position. He believed he could ascend to the heavens, raise his throne above the stars of God, and make himself like the Most High. This is a level of pride that is hard for us to comprehend, but it's a stark reminder of the destructive power of this emotion.

B. The second aspect is the consequences of Lucifer's pride. His fall was swift and severe. He was cast down to the earth, stripped of his radiance and glory. This serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of pride. When we allow pride to consume us, when we believe we are superior to others, we set ourselves up for a fall. And the higher we have risen, the harder we will fall.

C. The third aspect is the universality of this lesson. Lucifer was a celestial being, a morning star, yet he was not immune to the destructive power of pride. This serves as a reminder that no one, no matter how high they might rise, is immune to this danger. We must always guard against pride, checking our hearts and minds, ensuring that we are not falling into the same trap that ensnared Lucifer.

D. The fourth and final aspect is the hope that this story offers. Despite the severity of Lucifer's fall, despite the consequences of his pride, there is hope. There is hope in the knowledge that God's grace and mercy remain, even in the face of such a fall. There is hope in the knowledge that we can learn from Lucifer's mistake, that we can guard against pride, that we can humble ourselves before God. This is the hope that this story offers, the hope that we can avoid Lucifer's lofty lapse.

Pride's Perilous Path

We find ourselves in the midst of a narrative that speaks volumes about the perilous path of pride ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO