HOLY WEIRDNESS - PART 3 “When God Drops the Mic”
“PRIDE BRINGS A FALL”
Proverbs 11:2, 2 Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
Pride-filled people lack wisdom. We have studied wisdom and how important it is to seek wisdom that comes from God, so that we are not led astray by the lies of the enemy. Our wisdom is outwardly visible to others when we live lives of humility. Let us ask God to help us live lives of humility grounded in His wisdom to avoid stumbling because of pride.
Proverbs 3:34, 34 The Lord mocks the mockers, but is gracious to the humble.
James 4:6-10, 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy.10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
Pride keeps us from walking in the fullness that God has for our lives. It causes a rift in our hearts between God’s goodness and the cares of this world. James calls believers to repent of this division of our spirits so that we can return to worshipping God alone in humility and allow Him to be the one to elevate us in His timing and for the right reasons to spur us on to greater things for His glory.
Jeremiah 9:23-24, 23 This is what the Lord says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. 24 But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!
The only thing that we as believers should boast in, is that we are blessed to know God and that we understand He is the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love, bringing justice and righteousness to the earth!
PRIDE IS A SNEAKY, LURKING SIN THAT IS EASILY DISGUISED. ASK GOD TO REVEAL ANY AREAS OF YOUR LIFE WHERE YOU NEED HEALING FROM PRIDE AND THE ABILITY TO TRUST HIM THROUGH FULL SURRENDER, SO YOU CAN BOAST ONLY OF KNOWING HE IS LORD OF ALL.
2 Corinthians 10:17-18, 17 As the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” 18 When people commend themselves, it doesn’t count for much. The important thing is for the Lord to commend them.
Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 10 that the only thing we can truly boast about is the Lord. We owe God everything. Who we are and what we have – it all comes from God alone.
1 Timothy 6:17, 17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.
Paul exhorts Timothy to remind those he shepherds that their trust is to be in God alone, the giver of all things. When we place our trust in anything besides God, the rich giver of all, we can know that we will face disappointment. God alone deserves our full trust, love, and dependence.
PUTTING THIS INTO PRACTICE
In Daniel 4 we see another example of how pride brought a fall. Nebuchadnezzar faced a different outcome than Herod. Can you think of a time that your pride resulted in unpleasant consequences?
Read Daniel 4.
How was Nebuchadnezzar’s response different from Herod’s? Why do you think this was so?
Share with your small group of a time that God revealed an area of pride in your life and how you responded to that revelation.
If anyone had reason to boast of his work for God, it would likely be Paul, that is why Paul is such a great example for all believers in how to handle the temptation of pride. What is one area where you really struggle to remain humble?
Read 2 Corinthians 10. Sit with this passage for a moment and try to really take in all that Paul is imparting to the believers at Corinth.
What are your thoughts on the authority to which Paul is referring?
Can you think of another example in Scripture where we see how we are given authority by God to do His good work?
Spend some time considering why it is so important to give glory where glory is due – to God alone.
Write out a prayer asking God to continue to refine your way of thinking and help your focus truly be on seeking to give Him glory in every situation. Share with a trusted friend or your small group.
Read 1 Timothy 6:11-21. What verse or verses resonate with your spirit today? Write them out to post as a reminder.
Thank God for his mercy in sending Jesus to save us from judgement. Where can you offer mercy and grace to those in your life this week? Identify one relationship in your life where God is prompting you to step out and be more merciful and grace-filled and practice that this week.
