Prison Sermon on Pride for December 2016

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is a cosmic battle going on, a spiritual warfare between two factions, pride on one side, humility, and meekness on the other.

I decided to teach this lesson by comparing the two factions and giving examples, as well as definitions of each.

My favorite joke is to say my greatest source of pride comes from how humble I am…. But seriously I use this to remind myself that pride can sneak up on you, you have to be very careful around this deadly poison (pride)  that seems to have a mind and purpose of its own, and that is to destroy its victims, for ever and ever and ever…..

I have often wondered about pride, I have talked about it, preached about it, but really what is it? How can I recognize it, know it when I see it? How can taking pride in my work be a sin?

I used to think the old bumper sticker “God is my co-pilot” was a positive thing, a good statement of faith, but what it’s really saying God is taking second place in my affairs, and I am in control of my destiny, this is pride…. No God is the pilot, and I am the flight attendant and my job is serving the others on board while we make this journey….

C.S. Lewis writes, in Mere Christianity, that pride is the “anti-God” state, the position in which the ego and the self are directly opposed to God: “Un-chastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”

But again, that is confusing, because we have all been taught to be proud of our accomplishments, or take pride in ourselves, family pride, pride of our son’s football team, or our daughters musical talents, or whatever they may be involved in.

How about taking pride in our work, meaning to do a good job, create a good product, and etc.

What about humility or being meek? Are these just other words for weakness? This is what I discovered:

Hubris

This is the type of pride C.S. Lewis is speaking of:

Hubris was a character flaw often seen in the heroes of classical Greek tragedy and The familiar old saying “Pride goeth before a fall” is basically talking about hubris.

In ancient Greek, hubris referred to actions that shamed and humiliated the victim for the pleasure or gratification of the abuser. The term had a strong sexual connotation, and the shame reflected on the perpetrator as well.  Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Definition of Hubris by Aristotle

From his book “Rhetoric”

 

“Hubris consists in doing and saying things that cause shame to the victim…simply for the pleasure of it. Retaliation is not hubris, but revenge. … Young men and the rich are hubristic because they think they are better than other people.”

Aristotle thus believed that people indulge in crimes like sexual misconduct and maltreating others only to fulfill their basic desire to make themselves feel superior to others.

A couple of examples:

Paradise Lost

In his famous epic “Paradise Lost”, Milton portrays “Satan” as a character that suffers from Hubris. He loses his glorious position through giving in to his excessive pride. It was his Hubris that made him try to take control over Heaven. Although he failed miserably, his pride lasts:

“Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav’n.”

The reason of his desire to rebel against his creator originates from his reluctance to accept the authority of God and His Son because he believed that angels are” self-begot, self-raised” and hence bringing his downfall in being thrown out of Paradise.

How often have we heard men boast “I am my own man” or how about that song by Frank Sinatra, and Elvis Presley…. I did it my way?

A good example of making God the co-pilot, second in command rather than first in their lives.

Doctor Faustus

An instance of Hubris can be spotted in Marlowe’s “Doctor Faustus”. Faustus’s arrogance and extreme pride in his scholarship and his irresistible desire to become superior to all other men of his age forces him to sell his soul to “Lucifer” by signing a contract with his blood. He learns the art of black magic and defies Christianity. Finally, he must pay for his arrogance and pride. The devils take away his soul to Hell and he suffers eternal damnation.

Let’s look at the other side of this cosmic battle….

What is the opposite of hubris?

Meekness and Humility

God’s Cure for Pride, Haughtiness, and Egotism

Two men came to lead their people; first Moses to lead the Jews out of Egypt, and then Christ to lead all men out of captivity.

Both men, came, gave up comfort, and lived by, and taught us God’s will.

Numbers 12:3 – Moses was very meek, above all men on face of the earth.

Matthew 11:29,30 – Jesus said, “I am meek and lowly in heart.”

These men were two of the greatest characters who ever lived. God chose both to be givers of His law. Jesus was the Divine Son of God. Surely, we should seek to be like these men.

Other verses emphasize the importance of these qualities

Matthew 5:5 – Blessed are the meek (gentle – NKJV), for they shall inherit the earth. Jesus declares a “blessing” (happiness) on those who are meek.

Galatians 5:22,23 – Meekness is one of the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit – qualities that we must possess if the Spirit leads us.

Definition: Meekness

This is a difficult word to understand, because we think “meek” implies weakness. Sometimes it is translated (NKJV) “gentleness,” but that also implies weakness.

The best way to know the meaning of a word is to study passages where it is used. As we do, we will see meekness is an attitude or quality of heart [1 Peter 3:4] whereby a person willingly accepts and submits without resistance to the will and desires of someone else.

The meek person is not self-willed – not continually concerned with self, his own ways, ideas, and wishes. He is willing to put himself in second place and submit himself to achieve what is good for others.

Meekness is the opposite of self-will, self-interest, and self-assertiveness.

This is a sign, not of weakness of character (as some think), but of strength. It requires great self-control to submit to others.

Think about it, we are born with only one thought, self, we know nothing of the outside world, the only thing we know is that if we are uncomfortable, or hungry we cry, because things are simply not going our way….

The job of the parent is to teach the child, to speak, walk, read, write, but more importantly to look to others, to put their needs and desires ahead of their own.

Jody’s focus when we teach a Sunday school class of little ones, is teaching them to share.

Our instinct is to gather for ourselves, work a job so we can have money to spend on ourselves. Not for others.  So, we must resist our natural instinct to be meek, and that takes great strength of character.

Meekness is what we must possess to fulfill the greatest commandant, to love God with all our hearts, minds, and souls, as well as the  2^nd greatest commandment to love each other, and by this men will know we are Christians…. Love is agape…. To put the others needs ahead of your own.   Fits perfectly doesn’t it?

Matthew 22:37-40  37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is  the  first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

 

“DYING TO SELF”

by Dr. D. W. Ekstrand

The world’s philosophy says LIVE FOR SELF… but God’s Word says DIE TO SELF!  Many people came to Jesus and asked to be His disciples, but most of them turned away because they were not willing to give themselves to Christ; i.e., make themselves a “slave of Christ” (Lk 14:26, 33; 16:13; Rom 12:1; 1 Cor 6:19-20; 1 Pet 1:18-19). Jesus said, “He who loves his father or mother or himself more than Me, he is not worthy of Me” (Mt 10:37-39). Thus Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20).

The essence of a being’s “existence” has to do with the fact that he is a “living reality” — if one no longer has or the functions of vitality, they are said to “no longer exist.” So, the essence of “death” is the absence of “life” – therefore when one dies “one ceases to exist.”

To carry the argument into the spiritual realm, when someone “spiritually dies    to self,” self ceases to exist – that is, SELF IS NO LONGER THE REASON FOR ONE’S EXISTENCE. 

As such, the individual is no longer concerned with “his own will or happiness,” because he is no longer in the picture… he is         no longer the center of his own little universe… he no longer continues to arrange the world around himself.

The individual who “dies to self” understands that God created him for a reason; that he is a part of God’s plan for the world. To be used of God one must understand the essence of who he now really is, and how it is that God can use him.

Every genuine child of God wants to be used by God to accomplish His purposes in the world

Jesus said, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples” (Jn 15:8).

That is the essence of God’s plan – we are saved to bear fruit; created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph 2:10).

We bear fruit when Christ lives His life in and through us (Jn 15:5; Gal 2:20). The apostle Paul said, “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil 1:21). The Lord wants us to live a godly and spiritually productive happy life.

Definition: Humility

This is an attitude or quality of mind [Acts 20:19] whereby a person holds low esteem or opinion of his own goodness and importance. Spiritually, one abases himself because he realizes his sinfulness and therefore he is willing to depend on God to meet His needs. It is the opposite of pride, haughtiness, and self-exaltation.

The goal of death to self and daily cross-bearing is “fellowship with Christ.” The goal of life for the believer is to “seek God” and make Him their all in all, their last end.

Jeff Alexander suggests the following five ways that we embrace the cross (www.cause-of-god.com) —

Humiliation – This is the essence of the Christ-life. Here God uses reproaches, abuse, poverty, loneliness, persecution, distress, seeming failure, disappointments, and the like. These things succeed when they cause us to lose our own will and let God take charge.

Rejecting the praise of men – Self thrives on praise and adulation; self-esteem is the hotbed of the self-life.

Embracing simplicity and child-likeness – Self feeds on things grand and glorious; Christ-likeness is child-like and simple.

Living by pure faith – Self depends on outward assurances; living by pure faith trusts the Word of God even when there is no indication of God’s presence or blessing.

Seeking our nothingness and His all-ness – We must make a daily habit to distrust ourselves, our own wisdom, and our strength, and look to Christ alone for what we need.

Now, let me offer a few examples of those who have displayed amazing humility and meekness: This is a story given to us by our pulpit preacher Mitch Wilburn a couple of weeks ago…

Michael W Smith met with Billy Graham for the purpose of planning Rev. Graham’s funeral. The famous evangelist was, at the time, 94 years old. He was confined to a wheelchair, on oxygen. His mind was sharp and spirits were high. But his body was seeing its final days. So he called for Michael. And he called for his pastor. He wanted to discuss his funeral. He told them that he had a request.

“Of course,” they said. “Anything you want. What is it?”

“It has to do with the funeral…”

“You cannot mention my name.  Just mention the name of Jesus.”

Billy Graham has preached to over a billion people. He has filled stadiums on every continent. He has advised every president of the last half century. He has consistently been at the top of every most-admired list. Yet, he wants to be unmentioned at his own funeral.

Mother Teresa was a teacher in a school in India, and all her needs were met in the convent where she lived.

However, she chose to give up her life in that convent to live with the poorest of the poor on the streets of Calcutta, taking care of the very sick and dying. She took care of people with whom no one else wanted to bother.

The Missionaries of Charity is the name of the religious order Mother Teresa started. Women who join this order give up their possessions and live a life of great simplicity. When they find people dying in the streets and the slums, they take them into their hospitals, clean them up, give them medical care, and if they cannot recover, provide a clean and sanitary place to die with dignity.

I have often stated my real hero is not the mother Teresa’s of the world, who are fine examples of humility, but the humble little nurse/ nun who gives up all her life, her happiness in a worldly sense, live among the poorest of the poor by choice, and we never even know their name. They live and die for others, without recognition, without glory or honor, they just do the work.

That is above most of us, certainly for me.

We should start each day with a prayer, and self examination. Starting the day with the prayer, and then with the determination that we will die to self this day, we will put all others first. And then at night, praying for forgiveness of our failure, examine those failures, what could we have done differently this day?

That is a form of dying to self, just having the goal, and working on it daily, and each day we will move a little closer to accomplishing that goal.

Thank you for having me, I pray we all go in peace and as we start the New Year, that we all are determined to move closer to being meek and humble:

I think we can see the difference, the two sides of the story are glaringly obvious now. We can recognize the prosperity preaching is not real teaching, at least Christian teaching, we don’t need self-help guides, we only need Christ, to die to ourselves is Christ, the greatest gain, the greatest of all victories.