SATAN’S TRAPS: PRIDE (1 of 5)

Satan’s trap of “Pride” (1 of 5)
This is the first of a 5-part series about something God
hates, and does not want to exist in the lives of those
who belong to His family of believers.

Satan sets many traps for us and when we trip on one of
them it explodes with damaging consequences to our lives.
His traps are similar to an IED (Improvised Explosive Device),
which is constructed and deployed in ways other than
conventional military action;
commonly used as hidden roadside bombs.

We can’t necessarily see his traps because they are
hidden from our view, but we can step on one at
any time (especially during times of weakness).
We have to be aware of their existence on a daily basis.

Satan’s traps are going to affect:
– Our relationship with the Father
– Our relationship with others
– How we manage our life:
– What God can and cannot do in our life.
Note: It can ultimately end in self-destruction.

We need to be able to identify them and to detect them,
in order to protect ourselves from:
– Hurting our relationship with the Father.
– Ruining our personal testimony.
– Devastating others.
– Preventing God’s purpose and use for our life.
– Self-destruction.

One of his traps is “Pride”.
We will look at defining pride and how God feels about it.

Daniel 4
– Daniel interpreted a dream from Nebuchadnezzar.
Verse 27:
“Renounce your sins by doing what is right. Renounce
your wickedness and be kind to the oppressed. Do these
things so that God will God prolong the prosperity in
your life”.

Verses 29-30:
Twelve months later, we can see that Nebuchadnezzar
ignored the warning from God. In these verses we see,
“I”, “My power”, “My majesty” (one of the most
egotistical, and prideful statements in the bible).

PRIDE:
– One of Satan’s most deceptive traps.

– It is the one that is probably most difficult
   to identify in ourselves.
        – We don’t like the idea
           that someone would think we are prideful.
        – We are quick to deny its presence in our life.
        – We are usually the last ones to see it.

– Defined:
      – An over-emphasis, and an over-attention on ourselves;
      – A distorted view of who we are.
            – It’s how we see ourselves,
              in a way that is not pleasing to God
              (because the emphasis is on ourselves).
            – what I think.
            – what I feel.
            – what I have (and own).
            – what I want.
            – what I desire.
            – what my goals in life are.

Question:
What is God’s attitude about pride?
– The bible is very clear about God’s attitudes.

– When we know His attitude toward things,
   we know why we can’t tolerate them in our lives.

– Proverbs 6:16-17
– God’s attitude toward pride is: He HATES pride.
      – Anything that God hates does not belong in our life.
      – Anything God hates is a danger to us.
      – The first in His list
         of despicable things is “haughty eyes”.
      – “haughty” means:
            – An arrogant person full of pride.
            – Someone who looks down on others.
            – Someone who feels they are better than others.
            – Someone who is disdainful, overbearing,
              prideful and obnoxious.
           Note:
                 – These characteristics are obnoxious
                    and repulsive to God.

– Proverbs 8:13: God hates pride and arrogance.

– Proverbs 16:5: God detests the proud of heart.

– God hates pride, and what He hates does not belong in our lives.

Question:
Why does God hate pride?
1. Its one of the characteristics of Satan himself (Isaiah 14:13-14).
    Remember what Satan said to Eve:
    “If you want to be like God (knowing good and evil),
    here’s what you need to do – eat the fruit”
    Pride is at the heart of man’s sin.

2. Proverbs 11:2 – It brings dishonor to a person’s life.
   Proverbs 29:23 – A prideful person thinks highly of
                                  himself, but others do not (they have
                                  a low opinion of their attitude. They may
                                  say anything about the person’s prideful
                                  attitude because they know he or she
                                  will vehemently they are prideful.
   Proverbs 16:18-19 – Pride can destroy the life of a person.

3. It is a stumbling block in our life.
    – Whatever God hates:
          – Does not belong in our life.
          – Is going to ultimately bring us down.
          – Is going to cause us to stumble.
          – Can destroy us.

    – God mentions several sins, but He says He HATES pride.

    – Every other sin we commit
      is an indication that we have some need:
          – If we lie (we have a need of being accepted,
            improving our self-esteem (image), etc.).
          – If we lust (we have a need driven by hormones).
          – If we steal (we have a need driven by envy or greed).

    – Pride says, “I don’t need anything”.
      (the truth is, that’s not true – we need God).

    – Pride is:
          – Egotism.
          – Over-emphasis on ourselves.
          – A sense of selfishness.
          – Self-centeredness (wanting all the attention).
          – Self-sufficiency in all aspects of life.
                – None of us (not one) are self sufficient.
                – All of us depend upon God
                  (or at least we should, because we need Him).

4. God ‘hates’ pride, and it is very deceptive.
    – If someone said to you, “You are really prideful”,
      most of would be offended and respond defensively
      (probably more than on anything else someone
      would or could accuse us of being).

    – God knows that, and that’s why He says
      over and over again, He “hates” pride.