The Pride Ride Pt 1 Series

Intro; I am starting a series on the "Seven Deadly Sins."

Today’s message is the first one entitled the

"The Pride Ride Part 1."

Pride is defined as “An inordinate amount of self-esteem.”

The synonyms for the word PRIDE are not pretty; they are conceit, arrogance, and boastfulness.

Pride is puffed up, stiff-necked and stuck-up.

When we think of pride we think of people that are loud-mouthed, obnoxious, and outlandish person.

In reality most are very meek, mild, calm, cool, and very calculated.

Pride blinds itself to its own presence.

Pride tells us that we have done all that we could, even though our walk doesn’t show it.

Pride is the forerunner of all sins.

Pride puts the “ME’FIRST” theory into play, whether it’s first in church, family, of even your job.

Pride whispers to the over-spender “You deserve it”, even though you’re maxed out on your credit cards, but “you deserve it.”

Pride whispers to the Alcoholic “go ahead you can stop anytime you want.” Do a little bit more Cocaine, you can stop anytime you want.

Pride whispers to the Control Freak “If you don’t orchestrate their life who will.”

Pride whispers to the Blamer “It’s the Pastor’s fault”, it’s the Deacons fault for why you act like you do. It’s your parents fault, It’s your ex-wife, or your ex-husbands fault.

Pride says “it’s not me, but “it’s them.”

Pride whispers to self you can do anything, no one can live with out me.

Me,Me,Me,Me,Me,Me!!!!!!!!!!!

There are those who teach self esteem and say “you need to do whatever it takes to make you feel good about yourself."

Well, just feeling good about yourself can included a multitude of sins.

A person can feel good about himself in a state of intoxication, self indulgence or rebellion.

Passengers on the Pride Ride feel pretty good about themselves.

Listen, Pride started a long time ago.

I. Satan started the pride ride

Isaiah 14:13-14 says

For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 1

I will… I will…, I will… Five times this me-istic being named himself above God.

He was the first, first class passenger on the Pride Ride, an ego trip. And GOD cast him out of his presence. As God will do to all of those on the Pride Ride.

Lucifer convinced Adam and Eve to take the Pride Ride. His foremost temptation to them was this; “you will not surely die! For God knows that in the day you eat of its fruit your eyes will be open, and you will be like GOD.”

Note the parallel. Satan said, “I will be like the most high. He told Adam and Eve, “you will be like GOD,” his words are the very essence of pride. “I can be like GOD. I can make my own decisions, my own judgments, my own laws and rules.

When Adam and Eve took the Pride Ride they took us along with them. And we had been struggling with pride ever sense.

II. The First class passengers on the Pride Ride.

Let me tell you about a few of these First class passengers on the Pride Ride.

There is-

1. Velma Vanity,

She’s extremely concerned about her appearance.

Everything must be just right about her for her to feel good about herself.

She tends to look down on others that are not like her.

Psalm 10:3 says, for the wicked boast of his heart’s desire, and bless the covetous, which the LORD abhors.

Ecclesiastes 1:2

Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

Her justification, of course, is that she just wants to look nice.

It’s entirely acceptable to want to look nice or to look your best, but pride requires a person to be perfect, the best, the most beautiful or handsome person in the room.

Velma vanity requires the same out of family, so no one makes her look bad.

She comes to church all prim and proper; she won’t do anything that would make her look bad among her friends.

Listen, if we cannot worship God in church because of who we are out there (in the world) then we need to change who we are out there so you can worship God in church.

Now Velma Vanity is more worried about what people think about her than God.

Because of this status she is a first class passenger on The Pride Ride.

The second first class passenger on the Pride Ride is

2. Amy Accomplishment.

She has awards, titles, an honors pinned all over her.