Pride
(One of The Seven Deadly Sins)

Proverbs 16:18-19, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud."

I. What Is Pride?

A. Pride is Sin.

Proverbs 21:4, "An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin."

B. Pride is a sin that Binds.

Psalm 73:6, "Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment."

C. Pride is an Abomination To God.

Proverbs 16:5, "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished."

II. From Where Does Pride Come?

A. Pride come from False Wisdom.

Romans 1:22, "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools," --- V. 28, "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;"

B. Pride come from Conceit.

Proverbs 26:12, "Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him."

C. Pride come from Within.

Mark 7:21-22, "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:"

D. Pride Is The Basis of Self-Righteousness.

Luke 18:11-12, "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess."

1. Self-righteousness of the Lost.

2. Self-righteousness of the Saved.

E. Pride Is The Basis of False Self-Esteem.

Haman --- Esther 5:11. "And Haman told them of the glory of his riches, and the multitude of his children, and all the things wherein the king had promoted him, and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king."

III. How Does Pride Affect The Individual?

A. Pride brings Deception.

Galatians 6:3, "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."

B. Pride brings Shame.

Proverbs 11:2, "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom."

He fails in many things because of a refusal to seek advice.

C. Pride Brings A Man Low.

Proverbs 29:23, "A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit."

D. Pride Hardens The Mind

Daniel 5:20, "But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:"

Have you ever tried to reason with a prideful man?

IV. Why Is Pride Dangerous?

A. Pride bring Material Loss.

Daniel 5:20, "But when his heart was lifted up, and his mind hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:"

B. Pride brings Punishment.

Uzziah --- 2 Chron. 26:16-21, "But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of incense. 17 And Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him fourscore priests of the LORD, that were valiant men: 18 And they withstood Uzziah the king, and said unto him, It appertaineth not unto thee, Uzziah, to burn incense unto the LORD, but to the priests the sons of Aaron, that are consecrated to burn incense: go out of the sanctuary; for thou hast trespassed; neither shall it be for thine honour from the LORD God. 19 Then Uzziah was wroth, and had a censer in his hand to burn incense: and while he was wroth with the priests, the leprosy even rose up in his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, from beside the incense altar. 20 And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him. 21 And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land."

C. Pride leads to the Condemnation of The Devil.

I Timothy 3:6, "Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil."

V. How Can Pride Be Cured?

A. By Sober Thinking.

Romans 12:3, "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

Everything we have and everything we know, we got from others.

B. By Humility.

James 4:6, "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."

C. By the Fear of The Lord.

Psalm 111:10, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever."

This is the opposite of Pride or an Independent spirit.

VI. What Happens When Pride Is Cured?

A. The Fruit of The Spirit will come.

Galatians 5:22-23, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

B. The Love of The Brethren will come.

Ephesians 4:1-2, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;"

C. The Instruction of Others will come.

2 Timothy 2:25, "In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;"

VII. What Happens When A Sinner's Pride Is Cured?

A. It Must Be Cured in order for him to be Saved.

Matthew 18:3, "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

B. You are then Ready To Accept the Lord as your Saviour --- rather than looking to yourself.

John 1:12-13, "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

C. What happens if the Sinner Keeps His Pride:

a. He shall be Destroyed.

Proverbs 29:1, "He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy."

b. He will spend Eternity In Hell.

Matthew 10:28, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

Mark 9:43-44, "And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44 Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."

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