Pride

Today i want us to look at another small word with just 5 letters but the results can be costly "PRIDE". We  read that Satan was cast out of heaven because of PRIDE. Just a quick recap so that you understand what I am talking about.Satan fell because of pride. He desired to be God, not to be a servant of God. Notice the many “I will...” statements in Isaiah 14:12-15. Ezekiel 28:12-15 describes Satan as an exceedingly beautiful angel. Satan was likely the highest of all angels, the most beautiful of all of God's creations, but he was not content in his position. Instead, Satan desired to be God, to essentially “kick God off His throne” and take over the rule of the universe. Satan wanted to be God, and interestingly enough, that is what Satan tempted Adam and Eve with in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:1-5). How did Satan fall from heaven? Actually, a fall is not an accurate description. It would be far more accurate to say God cast Satan out of heaven (Isaiah 14:15; Ezekiel 28:16-17). Satan did not fall from heaven; rather, Satan was pushed out of heaven.

 

Now that we have a background of what happened to satan who had the spirit called pride,lets look at what the scripture say in Proverbs 8:13. Pride is a demonic spirit as God through the Holy Spirit gives us the spirit of meekness (humbleness) because it is a spirit we must ask God to fill us with His spirit of humbleness we shouldn't be comfortable with the spirit of pride because it robs us of our inheritances of blessings. If you have noticed people with pride they are evil cause they have the spirit of competing (jealousy)with other people because good things should only belong to them.The kind of pride that stems from self-righteousness is sin and God hates it because it is a hindrance to seeking Him. Psalm 10:4 explains that the proud are so consumed with themselves that their thoughts are far from God: in his pride the wicked does not seek him, in all his thoughts there is no room for God. This kind of haughty pride is the opposite of the spirit of humility that God seeks. The proud are so blinded by the pride that they think they have no need for God or worse that God should accept them, as they are because they deserve His acceptance. The consequences of pride Proverbs 16:18-19, Isaiah 14:12-15 and Isaiah 14:22. Pride is sinful because pride is giving ourselves the credit for something that God has accomplished. Pride is taking the glory that belongs to God alone and keeping it for ourselves. Pride is essentially self-worship. Anything we accomplish in this world would not have been possible were it not for God enabling and sustaining us. Only God deserves the glory no one else and we should remember that we were created to glorify Him and exalt His Name.

Comfort Zone

John 5:1-8

The invalid in Bethesda was lying in his mat for 38 years old; I can assume that no one was changing this mat every day, week, month or years so it could have been a dirty mat. When Jesus instructed him to get up he immediately added "pick up your mat and walk"; Jesus could have just healed him but He(Jesus) understood the power of doubt we Christians have, the fear of the unknown we have; basically this mat is all this man knew for 38 years so if he had left the mat by the pool side wouldn’t he come back for it?, surely so he would have as we are scared to leave our comfort zone. We as Christians have different comfort zones that is contaminating our lives I won’t know yours but definitely I know mine and as we have come to Jesus He is saying today “Get up; pick up your mat and walk” leave that comfort zone, press forward and never look back so that you grow spiritually. You cannot expect to grow in the walk with God while you still have that dirty mat by the pool side. God says take everything but you are saying “I grew up like this / everyone at home is like this, we are known to be stubborn, He is saying if you are ready "get up, pick up your dirty mat and walk along the way He will prune you. Nothing is impossible with Him, He formed you in your Mother’s womb, He can change your character, do not think your generational strongholds He cannot handle,cause there is nothing impossible for Him to do. Move from your comfort zone and trust in His guidance.