Walking in pride inhibits FATHER’S grace toward us!
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 4:
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
I am here today because of FATHER’S great grace and mercy! I was brought up by an earthly father who promoted and expected worldly success. Walking in pride was part of it. I became performance-based in all my activities… I hated to lose or come in second place. I was led by my carnal mind. FATHER has had to have more than one corrective interview with me over time. I have had to place my competitiveness on the cross. HIS mercy is truly great.
It is written by THE SPIRIT in 2nd Chronicles 26:
3 Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.
4 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
5 He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.
15 And he made devices in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and large stones. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong.
16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the Temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.
Said another way:
But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the LORD his God by entering the sanctuary of the LORD’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.
Deception is a primary means used by the adversary to move us away from the Highway of Holiness. By definition, we do not know when we are being deceived. This is why it is vital that you and I be led by The Holy Spirit in all areas for HE only guides us by Truth.
As we mature and grow strong in THE SPIRIT, let us critically assess our daily speech and activities to verify that pride is in no way entering in.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 12:
1 Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be His Sacred, living sacrifices. And live in Holiness, experiencing all that delights His Heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.
2 Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His Eyes.
3 God has given me grace to speak a warning about pride. I would ask each of you to be emptied of self-promotion and not create a false image of your importance. Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem.
If you feel like you have hit a wall and don’t perceive HIS Presence and/or direction, you might want to do a “pride” assessment. I have had to do this more often than I would like to admit. Only by HIS great grace and mercy am I still here on this earth!