SATAN’S TRAPS: PRIDE (2 of 5)

Satan’s trap of “Pride” (2 of 5)

Question:
What causes pride in a person’s life?
(we may think someone is else prideful,
but others may say that we are prideful).

There are several causes for pride in a person’s life.
Here are just a few.

CAUSES FOR PRIDE

1. Self-centeredness (their life is wrapped up in themselves).
    – We are more concerned about:
          – Our feelings.
          – Our desires.
          – Our wishes.
          – Our goals.
          – Our performance.
          – Our attention.
          – Our position.
          – Etc.

– We are more concerned about these things
  than we are about:
      – Other people.
      – The will of God.
      – The purpose of God.
      – The plan of God for their life.

– As a result of these feelings and these attitudes,
  we develop pride in our life.

2. A cover-up for feelings
    of insufficiency and inadequacy.
    – An indication of someone who has a feeling
      of inadequacy within themselves will:
          – Talk the loudest.
          – Want to be out front.
          – Want to be the center of attention.

    – When a person:
          – Talks loud.
          – Wants to be first.
          – Wants to be on center stage.
          – Wants to be recognized.
          – Wants to be seen.
         Usually it is an indication of something missing
         in their life; they have a big emptiness, so they:
             – Have to be seen.
             – Have to be heard.
             – Have to be recognized.
             – Often have to be catered to.

3. They are given opportunities and
    positions in life that they are not ready for.
    – This is why Paul warned Timothy about young pastors
       …before you send them out, be sure they are ready.

    – In the secular world, sometimes someone is given
      a position they are not quite ready for.
          – Some are given an authority with that position
             (if they are not ready for it, they will want to
             exercise that authority in the wrong way).

         – They become prideful and end up losing
             their testimony, and possibly their position
             (Why? Because they can’t handle it).
               – It can happen in high positions,
                  but it can also happen to those without authority.

    – God knows how much to give us, in order
       to get us ready for the next step in our life.
       But, sometimes we want to push people ahead.
       Example:
          – Someone may have a wonderful testimony.
          – Others start putting them in front of different groups.
          – Then, Satan devastates them.
          – Question: Why?
                – Because they were not ready for:
                      1. All the approval.
                      2. All the applause.
                      3. All the recognition.
                      4. All the acceptance.
                      5. They weren’t ready for all the accolades because
                           they lack the spiritual maturity to handle it.
               Note: This can happen to anyone in the ministry
                           (especially if they are not spiritually mature).
                           They get a little recognition and they start
                           believing what they hear from others,
                           rather than listening to God.

4. Believing and enjoying the praise from others.
    – Whether it is preaching, teaching, singing, speaking
       or some other form of service,
       we KNOW if we are enjoying the praise;
       we KNOW if we are enjoying the acceptance.

    – Some may say, “I’m doing this for Jesus”
       (if they weren’t, then they shouldn’t be doing it anyway).

    – When we enjoy the praise, and enjoy the attention,
       we are on the brink of stepping into something that’s
       going to hinder and hurt us in our Christ-like walk.

    – We need to recognize the fact that we are all susceptible to it.

    – All of us are susceptible to being prideful
       in some area (or areas) of our life.

    – The results of being prideful can:
          – Damage our relationship with God.
          – Damage our personal testimony.
          – Hurt the ministry where God has called us to serve.
          – Cause us to self-destruct in some fashion.

    – Whatever gift He gives us, we have to be sensitive to God,
       as opposed to enjoying the praise and accolades of others.

    – Question:
      Should we NOT enjoy praise and acceptance?
          – Enjoying it is one thing, but loving the approval
             (“heap it on”) is where we get into danger.
          – Constantly asking, “How did I do?”.
          – Doing whatever we can to solicit praise.
          – Manipulating others to get more praise.
          – Example:
                – When a preacher senses approval, he may start
                    getting louder and more emphatic…he ends up
                    preaching to the gallery instead of honoring God.

    – We should ask ourselves:
          – Do I really want to help someone else?
          – Do I really want to help someone
             discover where God is in their life?
          – What is it I’m after?
          – Is approval what I’m after?
          – Does it satisfy something in my life that is carnal?

5. Failure to recognize God
    as the source of everything we have.

    Question:
    What is something good we have
    that didn’t come from God?
          – His goodness, love, mercy, and grace
             come through the cross of Jesus.

          – It is only His sacrifice that…
                – Paid for our sins.
                – Makes us forgiven.
                – Allows us to walk holy before Him.

    – When we fail to recognize God as the source
       of everything good in our lives, then pride steps in.

    – When we push God out, we make room for pride.

    – Question:
      Why do so many people not believe in God?
            – Some say, “If there is a God, then
               bad things wouldn’t happen to little children”.

           – Some say, “If there is a God, then He
              wouldn’t narrow salvation to just one way”.

          – Some cannot detect a difference in 
             those who claim to be Christians.

          – Some don’t see a need to believe in God
             (they have a good job, doing well,
             good health, making plenty of money, etc.).