The Poison of Pride

Transcript

JR 44
6/1/2025
The Poison of Pride
Selected Verses
Jesse Randolph

When I was in seminary, my beloved Theology professor, Dr. Jim Mook, would often share this maxim with the men in his Theology classes. He would always say: ÒHe who controls the definition controls the fight.Ó
ÒHe who controls the definition controls the fight.Ó Now, in context, in a systematic theology class where precision with definitions and terminology is absolutely essential what does it mean that Christ Òemptied Himself,Ó in Philippians 2? What does a ÒdayÓ mean in Genesis 1? We all know exactly what Dr. Mook was referring to. He was saying that definitions matter. And precision with our definitions matter. Because once-settled definitions of terms begin to shift . . . then our theology will start to totter as well. Fissures will start to form in the foundation of once-settled truths. And before you know it WebsterÕs Dictionary overrules the Word of God. ÒHe who controls the definition controls the fight.Ó LetÕs put Dr. MookÕs maxim to the test for just a few moments and do so with a real-time, real-life example.

Two weeks from now, on June 13-14, a few thousand people will descend upon our stateÕs Capitol on the other side of town. And theyÕll celebrate an event thatÕs called ÒStar City Pride.Ó And unless youÕve been living under a rock for the past 25 years. You know that that term Ð ÒprideÓ, in the context of the way it will be celebrated, has a specific meaning. This will be a rainbow-flooded, sin-celebrating soiree when men, women, and sadly Ð children ÒhimsÓ and ÒhersÓ and ÒtheysÓ and ÒthemsÓ will parade through the streets and theyÕll wave their flags, with their severely coarsened consciences. As they celebrate their sin, and as they champion their rebellion against the God who made them. TheyÕll be doing so under the banner and the name and the term Òpride.Ó ÒHe who controls the definition controls the fight.Ó

See, even those who lack a Biblical worldview . . . have been able to trace out the meaning of that term ÒprideÓ . . . over the past nearly 1000 years of the English language. We can see that back in the 12th century, when English was shifting from Old English to Middle English . . . which kind of resembles what we speak now. That that term ÒprideÓ meant, in the 12th century Òinordinate self-esteem,Ó Òan unreasonable conceit of superiority.Ó Then by the 14th century, a couple of hundred years later, that definition of ÒprideÓ had shifted to something like Òa reasonable form of self-respect.Ó So, even in that 200-year window in the Middle Ages, the definition of ÒprideÓ was changing from having more negative connotations: Òan unreasonable conceit of superiorityÓ to having more positive connotations: Òa reasonable form of self-respect.Ó Well, 200 years after that, as you get into the pre-Reformation and Reformation periods, the 1500Õs or so. As the scriptures were now translated from the dead Latin language that nobody could read or understand, into peopleÕs native tongues. As the Word of God was unburied from the secrecy of the Roman Mass and put into the hands of a common man. The word ÒprideÓ shifted again. The definition of the word shifted again. And it was actually seen for what it truly is. By the 1500Õs and 1600Õs the definition of ÒprideÓ was an Òunchecked self-importance, arrogance, an unwarranted focus on self,Ó and of course, Biblically, sin.

With that definition of ÒprideÓ, the one thatÕs rooted in scripture . . . the one that has largely negative connotations, i.e. sin . . . that definition of ÒprideÓ dominated for nearly 500 years. From the Reformation period on, that was the definition. Sure, there were exceptions. You could speak of Òpride of ownershipÓ of your home. Or ÒprideÓ that your youngest got straight As again. Or that Òpride of lionsÓ in a zoo . . . and not get into trouble by using the term that way. But the dominate definition of ÒprideÓ from the 1500Õs, until the late 20th century . . . was the Biblical definition. One that saw ÒprideÓ, not as a virtue but as a vice. One that say ÒprideÓ, not as something to embrace but rather to flee from, and quickly.

That all changed in the late 1960Õs and early 1970Õs. On June 28th of 1969, the NYPD raided a bar in the Greenwich Village area of New York City. The bar was called the Stonewall Inn. The raid was carried out because the bar was serving liquor without a license. The bar also happened to be a well-known gay bar. A place where homosexual men would congregate and meet up and hook up. And the raid was met with resistance. Fights broke out between the patrons of the bar and the police who were carrying out the raid. And when the barÕs liquor was confiscated and poured out. And when the place was shut down for illegally serving liquor, protests and demonstrations broke out in the surrounding neighborhoods, which became known as the ÒStonewall Riots.Ó

Those protests died down after a few days. But then, a year later, on June 28th of 1970. A march was held in New York City to honor the first anniversary of Stonewall. And describing what happened that day. A man named Michael Brown, a founder of a group known as the ÒGay Liberation FrontÓ, said this: ÒThis march is an affirmation and declaration of our new pride.Ó A different ÒMichaelÓ a man named Michael Kotis, another early gay rights activist, was at this march in 1970. And through his bullhorn, he screamed: ÒThe gay people have discovered their potential strength and gained a new pride.Ó And then the crowd around him chanted back: ÒSay it loud, gay is proud.Ó And this, secular historians say . . . was the birth of what is now known as the Ògay rightsÓ movement. And note the word that the movement is built around Ð Òpride.Ó

Well, fast forward now a couple more decades, to the late 1990Õs, and that term ÒprideÓ was officially etched into our nationÕs lexicon . . . when then-President Clinton acknowledged June to be ÒGay and Lesbian Pride Month.Ó And now, a quarter of a century later . . . post Clinton . . . June, of course is popularly known as ÒPride Month.Ó We all know by now that this month, June, the month weÕre now in, is not only about parades and concerts and festivals. But really, itÕs a 30-day marketing blitz . . . draped in the celebration of homosexual and now, transgender lifestyles. All of which is coupled with socially shaming those who donÕt get on the band wagon. So, in a matter of a few decades, weÕve gone from ÒprideÓ being something that is to avoid and detest . . . to ÒprideÓ being something that you celebrate and brow-beat up others when they donÕt celebrate with you. Which tells us what? Back to my theology professor . . . ÒHe who controls the definition controls the fight.Ó

Now, no matter what dictionary definitions have done to change. No matter what government officials have decreed. No matter how wildly the culture has embraced it. No matter how much the coast and the big cities, and the celebrities have championed it. The reality is that ÒprideÓ is poison. Not just Pride Month. But all aspects of pride. Pride across the board. Pride in general is poisonous. ItÕs a venom. ItÕs an acid which corrodes internally. ItÕs a toxin which slowly sickens everyone who has it, . . . spiritually.

ItÕs not just poisonous in its effects, weÕll get into some of those later. But pride, by definition, is sin. ItÕs an offense against the living God. And how? And in what way? Well, pride is all about self-devotion . . . and self-justification . . . and self-glorification. But itÕs not only those things, pride, ultimately, is about robbing God of His glory. ItÕs about functioning as though God doesnÕt exist. ItÕs about acting as though youÕre the center of the universe, when in reality, He is. ItÕs functional atheism. An old Puritan, Thomas Manton once wrote, that pride Òis a lifting up of the heart above God and against God and without God.Ó He was right, itÕs poison. ItÕs ungodly. ItÕs anti-God. ItÕs dangerous. ItÕs toxic. ItÕs deadly.

What weÕre going to do this morning is sort of hop, skip, and jump all throughout the scriptures this morning. What IÕm going to call a Biblical Theology of Pride. Where does pride come from? How far does pride reach? How does it manifest itself? Where does it lead? What weÕre going to see through the lens of scripture, GodÕs Holy Word, is that God absolutely detests pride. God isnÕt passive about pride. HeÕs not indifferent to pride. HeÕs not sort of figuring out His feelings about pride. He hates pride. Meaning, pride isnÕt something that anyone should ever delight in or champion or celebrate. Pride is something we should all flee from. No matter who we are. Or where weÕre from. Or what sin we struggle with.

Now. in terms of our outline for this morning. I have four sermon headings. WeÕre going to look .
First at: The Satanic Origins of Pride. Then weÕll look at: The Sinful Operation of Pride. Third will be: The Symptomatic Outworkings of Pride. And then the last will be: The Sole Option For Pride

LetÕs start with The Satanic Origins of Pride
As I mentioned, this will be sort of a Biblical Theology on the topic of pride. WeÕre going to quickly survey what the scriptures teach across the board about the sin of pride. Just so you know at the outset, this is not going to be a screed against disordered sexual desires. They are disordered, but thatÕs not my focal point this morning. This, rather, is going to be a sermon about the depths, the disgusting depths of sin and the sin of pride in particular. So, to build this out, we need to start with the origins of pride. When, how, was pride introduced to the world? And the answer is, through Satan, the devil.

Satan, we know from scripture, is a created being. HeÕs a created angelic being. He was created by God the Father, through God the Son Ð the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, turn with me over to Colossians 1. We have this long prayer from Paul here. Which is loaded with all these rich statements. We studied this a couple of years ago about Jesus Christ and His person and His power. Colossians 1, weÕll start in verse 9 it says, ÒFor this reason, also, since the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will.Ó

WeÕll stop there, just for a moment. That capitol word in verse 9 ÒHisÓ is a reference to God the Father. Paul is giving thanks to God the Father. Now, reading on in verse 9, he says, Òin all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and multiplying in the full knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Who rescued us from the authority of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of the Son of His love.Ó

So now, Paul is transitioned to talking about God the Son, Jesus Christ, the Son of His love. ItÕs in Him, verse 14, Òin whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.Ó Now, moving on in verse 15, Paul says, still referring to Christ: ÒWho is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation . . .Ó Verse 16, still talking about Christ here: ÒFor in Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities Ð all things have been created through Him and for Him.Ó

What is this telling us? We saw this in our Colossians study a while back, is that Jesus Christ is the Creator of all. ÒAll things have been created through Him and for Him,Ó verse 15. The passage specifically indicates all things that were created Ò. . . in the heavens and on earth.Ó That would include Angels. Angels were created by God through the Son, Jesus Christ.

So, the angelic realm is the creation of God. TheyÕve been created, Angels have been divinely by God, through Jesus. Now, because God is Holy, I John 1:5, ÒGod is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.Ó God cannot be involved in the creation of evil. Meaning, when He originally created angels, He didnÕt create angels as evil beings. He created them as holy angels. And we also know that He created all angels sometime before the creation of the heavens and the earth, which we see recorded in Genesis 1. That would include His creation of the angel that we now know as Satan.

So, how do we get to this place Biblically speaking, where Satan was initially created as a holy angel? But now, we know him as a wicked angel. How do we reconcile that? How do we reconcile God creating him holy. But now heÕs described all over the scriptures as: Òthe tempterÓ, Òthe ruler of demonsÓ, Òthe evil oneÓ, Òthe [prince] of the power of the airÓ. Well, something happened in between; namely, Satan fell. Somewhere after Genesis 1:31, where ÒGod saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.Ó Somewhere before Genesis 3:6, where both Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit. Satan fell from heaven. And he did so on account of his sin. And weÕre going to see today, of the account of his sin of pride.

Before we turn to our passages for this, I do need to mention that there is not one single passage that lays out all that we would ever want to know about the fall of Satan neatly. But we do have some details, and we do have some clues. So, what IÕm going to encourage us to do is follow the Biblical breadcrumbs. Starting back in the Old Testament to see what is revealed to us about the fall of Satan. The two passages people will go to for the fall of Satan in the Old Testament are Isaiah 14, and Ezekiel 28. Isaiah 14, this grand work of history and prophecy from the prophet Isaiah, weÕll pick it up in Isaiah at 14:12. Again, this is the section that some, and I would even say many takes to be referring to the fall of Satan from heaven. Isaiah 14:12 starts this way:
ÒHow you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, ÔI will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.Õ Nevertheless, you will be brought down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit. Those who see you will gaze at you, they will carefully consider you, saying, ÔIs this the man who made the earth tremble, who caused kingdoms to quake, who made the world like a wilderness and pulled down its cities, who did not allow his prisoners to go home?ÕÓ

Now, I have to say, as I read that. There is much to commend for the view that sees this passage as describing the fall of Satan from heaven. ThereÕs mention of a fall. ThereÕs mention of a Òstar of the morningÓ which is typically an angelic reference. There are these five ÒI willÓ statements, which seem to fit really well with Satan and his self-willed, prideful nature:
ÒI will ascend to heaven.Ó ÒI will raise my throne . . .Ó ÒI will sit on the mount of assembly . . .Ó ÒI will ascend above the heights of the clouds.Ó ÒI will make myself like the Most High.Ó
So, though there is this clear, historic context to whatÕs happening here in Isaiah 14 . . . namely, GodÕs denunciation of Babylon and its rulers through the prophet Isaiah in his day. There is no doubt some aspect of this text, which seems to fit Satan to a tee. And which would seem to support the position that woven into IsaiahÕs prophetic words about Babylon in his time. Is this parallel description of the fall of Satan from heaven. So, in other words, I could be persuaded that Isaiah 14 is actually speaking of SatanÕs fall from heaven. But IÕll put it to you this way, IÕm not betting my house on it.

I actually think thereÕs a stronger reference, and itÕs the other one I just alluded to in Ezekiel 28. ItÕll be fun to go through these two passages. And I think itÕs the year 2029, when we go through angelology on Sunday nights and we can do this in a lot more depth. This is more of a survey this morning. Turn to Ezekiel 28 and look at verse 11, it starts this way: ÒAgain, the word of Yahweh came to me saying, ÔSon of man, take up a lamentation over the king of Tyre and say to him, ÒThus says the Lord Yahweh, you had a seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the ruby, the topaz, and the diamond; the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; the lapis lazuli, the turquoise, and the emerald; and the gold, the workmanship of your settings and sockets, was in you. On the day that you were created they were prepared. You were the anointed cherub who covers, and I placed you there. You were on the holy mountain of God; you walked in the midst of the stones of fire. You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created until unrighteousness was found in you. By the abundance of your trade, you were internally filled with violence, and you sinned; therefore, I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God and I have destroyed you, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Your heart was lofty because of your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom by reason of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I put you before kings, that they may see you. By the abundance of your iniquities, in the unrighteousness of your trade you profaned your sanctuaries. Therefore, I have brought out fire from the midst of you; it has consumed you, and I have turned you to ashes on the earth in the eyes of all who see you. All who know you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have become terrified, and you will cease to be forever.ÕÓÓ

Again, this is just survey level stuff here. I canÕt get into all the questions people have. I canÕt get into the objections people raise. Like, how can this be Satan if heÕs calling him the king of Tyre here? But I will say, for our purposes this morning . . . as we establish The Satanic Origins of Pride, that I believe that this Ezekiel passage is even stronger that the Isaiah passage. And I say that for two reasons, as establishing this being about SatanÕs fall.

First, is the reference back in verse 13, to the words Òyou were in Eden, the garden of God.Ó You would have to do some remarkable linguistic gymnastics to establish that a king, a human king was in Eden, the garden of God, at any point in his life. So, thatÕs one thought.
Second, are the words in verse 14 and 16 . . . these references to the cherub Ò the anointed cherubÓ. The Òcovering cherub.Ó ThatÕs angel language. The Cherubim, the seraphim, these are referring to angelic beings, not to human kings. So, this is a reference, I believe, to an angelic being. One who was cast down. One who was cast down by God, on account of his sin. Look at verse 16 again: ÒAnd you sinned; therefore, I have cast you as profane from the mountain of God.Ó And why? Verse 17, because: Òyour heart was lofty.Ó ThatÕs a description of the sin of pride. Satan, though originally this beautiful holy angel . . . allowed his pride to inflate his sense of self-worth. He thought he could be equal to God. And his prideful ambition led to his downfall. Turning him from this glorious angel to Satan, the adversary, the slanderer.

So, I would say Ezekiel 28 is describing the fall of Satan. We have an Old Testament record of the fall of Satan. We also have a couple of New Testament references. You can just jot these down:
Luke 10:18 Ð we have the words of Jesus, where HeÕs telling His disciples: ÒI was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.Ó Which testifies not only to Jesus being eternal, because He was there at that fall. But also certifying that Satan fell from heaven. Another one is I Timothy 3:6 Ð where Paul, as heÕs in the middle of laying out the qualifications of an overseer, an elder, a pastor. It says that such a man must not be Òa new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation of the devil.Ó In other words, Paul is directly linking SatanÕs fall, with his conceit, with his pride and heÕs warning against rushing newer converts into pastoral ministry lest they become devilish in their pride and their conceit and cause wreckage in the church. So, tying it all together, how was the sin of pride first introduced into the world? Through Satan. When he was cast out of heaven, when he fell, those are: The Satanic Origins of Pride.

Our second point is this: The Sinful Operation of Pride
WeÕve seen how sin originated with SatanÕs fall. Now, what weÕre going to do, is build out this Biblical Theology of pride, is survey a few other places where we see sin, and the sin of pride specifically, rear its ugly head, since SatanÕs fall. We have limited time to work with here. IÕve only got a few to mention. But weÕll start with Adam and Eve.

You donÕt have to turn there, youÕre welcome too, but back in Genesis 3, of course, we come to this account of Adam and Eve and original sin. ManÕs sin and we tend to think when we go to that passage on this surface level of the various players on the stage in the Genesis 3 account. We think of God. We think of Adam. We think of his rib. His wife, Eve. We think of two trees. We think of a talking serpent. We think of the serpentÕs words of temptation. We think of a fateful bite of forbidden fruit. We think of original sin. We think of the words of Romans 5:12, Òthat through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men.Ó But what was really the undercurrent, not even the undercurrent, the riptide that was under that whole story? Pride.

Pride was undergirding the entire Genesis 3 account. HumanityÕs first couple had it all in the Garden of Eden. They had food. They had work to do. They had each other. They had the abiding presence of God. They had it all! But they wanted more. They wanted to be like God. They wanted to be like God in the sense of knowing good and evil and eating of that tree that they were not to eat of. So, they ate that one piece of fruit that God had forbidden them to eat. They bought the lies that were peddled to them by the crafty and willy serpent. They did so ultimately because they were blinded by their pride. Their pride is what caused them to disobey GodÕs command. Their pride is what caused them to be expelled from the Garden.

Or we move just a few chapters forward, to the Tower of Babel incident in Genesis 11. These folks had gathered on this plain at Shinar, and they had some real pride issues. Genesis 11:4 is really a testimony to the depths of the pride of these people. They said in Genesis 11:4, collectively: ÒCome, let us build for ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name, lest we be scattered over the face of the whole earth.Ó The pride of these individuals is just dripping from their words. They wanted to be like God. They wanted to build a tower whose tip would reach into the heavens the abode of God Himself. They even say it, they wanted to Òmake for [themselves] a name.Ó That statement epitomizes pride. Not lifting and praising the name of God our Maker but rather lifting up our own name. Praising ourselves. Worshiping ourselves.

HereÕs another example, Pharoah. In the early chapters of Exodus. Right? HeÕs been given this command, by God, through Moses to release the people of Israel from their captivity in Egypt. But over and over, he continues to refuse to do so. His heart was hardened, and it didnÕt matter which plague that God sent to Egypt. Water turning into blood. Frogs. Gnats. Flies. Dying livestock. Boils. Hail. Locusts. Darkness. None of it affected Pharaoh. His will was so strong, his heart was so hardened. His pride was so pervasive that he stubbornly refused to relent. The result was not only harm to him, but to his people. The soldiers that passed through the Red Sea, pursuing the Israelites - dead. The firstborn in Egypt on the night of the Passover - dead. Pride has consequences.

Then thereÕs King Nebuchadnezzar, the mighty ruler of Babylon. You might remember his story from Daniel 4. HeÕs out there strutting on the roof of his palace in Babylon. HeÕs marveling and boasting in all heÕs built. HeÕs claiming all the glory for himself, and his pride doesnÕt go unnoticed by God. God sets him straight. A voice from heaven declares that his royal authority is being stripped away. HeÕs driven out. HeÕs forced to get on all fours. HeÕs forced to eat grass like an ox, which is about the most humbling experience a prideful man could go through.

Just one more and for this one, weÕll pull in a New Testament example, King Herod. His account, his story, is given in Acts 12:21-23. Herod was the ruler over Judea in the days of the early church Ð the days of the apostles. As the story goes in Acts 12, after he delivered this public address. You know, raising oratory. The crowd surrounding him says: Ònot the voice of a man but of god.Ó HeÕs an impressive speaker. But because he craved admiration and he craved reverence and because he was swollen with pride. Instead of correcting the crowd and giving glory to God he soaked it all up. He loved the flattery. He reveled in being deified. He accepted their praise, and he did all of this without giving any inkling of glory or praise to God. His sin of pride was on full display. His pride was ultimately his undoing. His pride led to these disastrous consequences, where the angel of the Lord struck him down. He dies this horrific and gruesome death, where he is eaten by worms.

Now, what do all of those examples teach us? WhatÕs the lesson we can learn from that very fast survey of some of the Biblical examples of pride and its consequences? Well, the lesson is really straightforward. And itÕs really simple. It is one IÕve mentioned two or three times already, which is that Ð God hates pride. In fact, turn with me to Proverbs 6. You donÕt need to hear me say, God hates pride. You can hear God say, He hates pride. Proverbs 6:16 reads this way:
ÒThere are six things which Yahweh hates, even seven which are an abomination to Him; haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked thoughts, feet that hasten to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.Ó
WhatÕs the first thing listed there? And this is significant, grammatically in the Hebrew language. What is listed first, from the things that God hates? ÒHaughty eyes.Ó Prideful, arrogant eyes. Not eyes that look to others for assistance. Not eyes that look to the successes of others, with joyful contentment. But eyes, instead that are prideful. Eyes, instead, that are jealous. Eyes, instead, that are so puffed up with oneÕs own sense of value that they see everyone else around them as insignificant, or lesser than, or worthless. God says here, in Proverbs 6, that He hates it.

Staying in Proverbs, go over to Proverbs 16. As youÕre doing so, turning to Proverbs 16, I want to take you back to those Star City Pride festivities that will be happening downtown in just a few weeks. Now, I want to put a hypothetical before you. Ok? Imagine this. Imagine somehow, invitations get mixed up in the mail. And arriving at my house one day is an invitation to speak as the Grand Marshal at Star City Pride. Ok? Now, IÕve got before me, Proverbs 16:5. And not one to ever pass an evangelistic opportunity, I think, IÕm going to read Proverbs 16:5 to that crowd. I have brought my Bible. IÕve got the word. And hereÕs what it says:
ÒEveryone who is proud in heart is an abomination to Yahweh; assuredly, he will not be unpunished.Ó

Now, not only would I not receive a return invitation and forever be blacklisted and chased off the stage with a rainbow-colored pitchfork. But why? Why would I receive such a cold and dangerous reception if I were to read that passage at the Pride festival in Lincoln, in two weeks? Would I receive that reception because what is read here and what is said here is false? No, I would receive that reception because what is said here is true. And God haters no matter their color, no matter their stripes, no matter their persuasion, no matter their orientation God haters, hate the truth of God. Today, especially this month people all over the world are celebrating the very thing that God hates. TheyÕre celebrating pride. God has revealed over and over in His word that he hates pride.

Jonathan Edwards once wrote this, he says: ÒPride, is the worst viper that is in the heart; it is the first sin that ever entered into the universe, and it lies lowest of all in the foundation of the whole building of sin, and is the most secret, deceitful and unsearchable in its ways of working, of any lusts whatsoever; it is ready to mix with everything; and nothing is so hateful to God, and contrary to the spirit of the Gospel, or of so dangerous consequence; and there is no one sin that does so much let in the Devil into the hearts of the saints, and exposes them to his delusions.Ó ThatÕs right. ThatÕs right. Edwards was right. Pride is a poison. ItÕs an abomination. It is vicious and venomous and destructive. It is Òhateful to GodÓ, as he notes. God hates pride. He hates pride with a righteous hatred. He hates pride with pure disgust. Something weÕve never experienced.

Now, there might be a few here this morning who, you heard how I started this sermon, with the mention of Stonewall, and Star City Pride, and homosexuality, and transgenderism and you might have liked that. You might be thinking to yourself now. ÒPhew!Ó ÒThank the Lord I am not like them.Ó ÒI am straight as an arrow.Ó ÒIÕve never so much had a thought about, an inappropriate thought about someone of the same sex.Ó ÒI affirm GodÕs design for marriage as being between one man and one woman.Ó ÒI havenÕt bought into that transgenderism nonsense.Ó ÒI took a picture of the double rainbow yesterday.Ó ÒIÕm in.Ó Right? Well, if youÕre thinking thoughts like those. Or if youÕre entertaining thoughts that are even bordering on thoughts like those. YouÕre going to want to tune in to what comes next. Because the sin of pride has not only poisoned the waters of the month of June. And the sin of pride has not only poisoned the hearts of homosexuals and professed trangendered people. The sin of pride has affected every single human heart. So, itÕs important that we here, right now, on June 1st, do some spiritual heart surgery ourselves . . . to see how poisoned weÕve become. To see how poisoned our hearts might be. To see how much anti-venom Ð humility Ð we might need to cultivate.
Here's our third point: The Symptomatic Outworkings of Pride. IÕm going to run through this by way of question. I have a handful of questions for you and by handful, I mean 20.

Question 1: Are you a thankful person? Are you a grateful person? Proud people think they deserve whatever good has happened to them, or whatever good theyÕve received. So, they naturally fail to give God thanks for what they do have. A passage for this one would be Romans 1:21 though itÕs set in the context of Paul describing that slide into sexual immorality that will happen in cycles in the future. He brings out this principle: ÒFor even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish heart was darkened.Ó So, the prideful person, even though he or she may claim to know God, routinely fails to express gratitude to the God they claim to know.

Question 2: Do you pray? Prideful people, proud people tend not to pray or pray very much. Well, you might say, ÒI donÕt pray as much as I ought.Ó No, you donÕt pray because you donÕt feel the need to. You donÕt think you have to. You are not dependent on God. You think, ÒI can handle this on my own.Ó ThatÕs pride. Proud people, when they do find the occasion to pray . . . their prayers will inevitably be centered on themselves. God: ÒBless me.Ó ÒBless my food.Ó ÒBless my health.Ó ÒBless my family.Ó ÒBless this, that or the other thing.Ó But itÕs all about them. Rather than reflecting a true devotion to God and a real concern for others, even their prayers are poisoned with their pride.

Question 3: Are you an angry person? A proud person is naturally self-focused. So, when they think that their ÒrightsÓ are being trampled on and their expectations are not being met, they lash out. Some might lash out by way of expressive outbursts or anger. Their face gets red, or they get just upset, vocally and verbally and outwardly. Some will mope and pout. Some will icily withdraw, as a way to punish the person who offended them. ItÕs all anger. None of it is holy. None of it is godly. All of it is prideful. James 4:2, ÒYou lust and do not have, so you murder. You are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel.Ó Pride!

Question 4: Do you have an inflated view of your own importance, gifts and abilities? Proud people have a very strong perception of themselves. A very high view of themselves. Mom said they were special and they never let go of that. They have all these awards and accolades from their high school days. They are the 51-year-old that tries to cram himself into his letterman jacket. You know the kind of guy. They struggle with pride. They canÕt let go of the past. They have this inflated view of who they are, or who they think they are, or who they once were. If you need to pop the ballon of your inflated sense of self, you need to heed these words from
I Corinthians 4:7, ÒWhat do you have that you did not receive?Ó In other words, what gifts and abilities do you have, or do you think you have. What accolades or trophies or medals that you have. That werenÕt ultimately given to you by God? Which takes us back to the first question, do you give thanks to Him for any of it?

Question 5: Do you talk too much? Proverbs 10:19 says, ÒWhen there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who holds back his lips has insight.Ó Proverbs 21:23 says, ÒHe who keeps his mouth and his tongue, keeps his soul from troubles.Ó Does that describe you? Are you like James 1:19, Òslow to speakÓ? If not, if youÕre the opposite. If youÕre the person who tends to dominate the conversation. ItÕs likely because of pride. Proud people talk too much. They talk too much because what they think is that what they say is more important than what anyone else has to say. Especially, they are adept at talking about themselves in a way that praises themselves. TheyÕre really good at not letting the lips of another praise them Ð Proverbs 27:2. But, having their lips praise themselves. They are self-promoters. TheyÕve mastered the art of the humble brag. TheyÕve completely ignored the words of Galatians 6:3, ÒIf anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.Ó

Question 6: Are you a perfectionist? Pride and perfectionism go hand and hand. ThatÕs because deep down, the perfectionist typically wants everything to be perfect or to appear perfect so that they can feel good within themselves or look good for other people. Even if, on the outside, some of their perfectionist practices and tendencies appear to be for other people. Like putting out just the right amount of balloons at the graduation party. Or mowing in very straight lines . . . IÕm convicted. Under the surface, and more often than not, those perfectionist tendencies are in service of self, and they are rooted in pride. Like the Òfoolish GalatiansÓ, thereÕs this sense in which Galatians 3:3, they believe they are Òbeing perfected by the flesh.Ó

Question 7: Do you always need to be in control or to act independently? See, proud people have a very difficult time submitting. They have a very difficult time being under authority. They often have to be their own boss. They can be headstrong and stubborn. And rigid and intimidating. Rather than adopting PaulÕs terminology in Ephesians 5:21, to be Òsubject to one another in the fear of Christ.Ó Proud people tend to put fear in others by saying ÔitÕs my way or the highway.Ó

Question 8: Are you unteachable? Proud people tend to be know-it-alls. They may never say it this way but they see themselves as superior. They are impressed by their own knowledge. They can never seem to learn anything from anyone else. They have rejected the wisdom of Proverbs 19:20, ÒListen to counsel and receive discipline, that you may be wise in the end of your days.Ó

Question 9: Are you consumed with what others think? Proud people are hyper-concerned with the opinions of others. They are continually trying to seek and gain the approval and the esteem of others. They are constantly trying to impress others. They are focused constantly on how they come across to others. They are overly self-conscious. And again, it all comes back to them . . . to self. Pride is all about promotion and protection and elevation of self. The proud person is a man-pleaser rather than a God-fearer. And they live contrary to the words of Galatians 1:10, ÒFor am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a slave of Christ.Ó

Question 10: Do you crave credit and recognition? Proud people like people to see what they do. And to let them know that theyÕve noticed what theyÕve done. Proud people are hurt and offended when others donÕt recognize what theyÕve done and give them credit. Proud people look a second time to see whoÕs watching. Proud people fish for compliments . . . and when they get no bites they are bothered. They want others to be impressed with them. It irks them when they donÕt get the applause and the credit and the acclaim, they think theyÕre due.

Question 11: Are you unable to receive criticism? Because they have such a high view of self, proud people struggle with hearing that they are not perfect. Or that what they thought was an area of strength is actually an area of weakness. In other words, they have a really hard time accepting who they truly are. They donÕt respond with gratefulness or appreciation for the input of others; instead, they resent those who attempt to correct them. They grow bitter towards those who try to help them, and they eventually withdraw from them. They reject the words of Proverbs 13:1 Ð which tells us that Òa scoffer does not listen to rebuke.Ó

Question 12: Are you sarcastic or degrading? Proud people tend to be very unkind people. They not only grunt and sigh and scowl physically but they make it a sport to belittle other people. TheyÕll say that theyÕre doing so in jest. And that itÕs all in fun. But in reality, what theyÕre doing is being cunning. Deep down, thereÕs this streak of pride in them which is leading them to want to elevate themselves above whoever else it is theyÕre cutting down even only they say, if itÕs in jest. TheyÕre rash words, theyÕre prideful words. Proverbs 12:18 are Òlike the thrusts of a sword.Ó

Question 13: Do you have difficulty admitting when you are wrong? Proud people make excuses, because they are always out to protect Ònumber one.Ó They blame shift. They have a difficult time Òowning up.Ó The blinding effects of their pride prevent them from seeing their own sin. And humbling themselves as they seek forgiveness from others for that sin.

Question 14: Do you minimize your own sin and shortcomings, while maximizing the sin and shortcomings of others? Proud people think that their own sin is no big deal, but itÕs other people who are the problem. Proud people reject the words of Jesus in Matthew 7 they obsess over the speck in their brotherÕs eye failing to notice the log in theirs. In anything, again, to protect their fragile notion of self.

Question 15: Are you a jealous or envious person? Proud people have a difficult time finding joy in other peopleÕs successes and blessings. They donÕt want others to appear better than them. TheyÕre convinced that they are more worthy and deserving of privileges and advantages than anyone else they know. ÒTheir kid got into what school?Ó ÒShe has how many grandchildren?Ó ÒHe has now many cars?Ó ÒHow could someone whoÕs clearly not as wonderful as I am, have all of that?Ó They blow right through PaulÕs words in I Corinthians 13:4 ÒLove is patient, love is kind [and] is not jealous.Ó

Question 16: Are you greedy? At its core, greed is the unrestrained desire to have more for ourselves than God wishes or permits us to have. Pride is what stokes those desires. As C.S. Lewis once said: ÒPride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man.Ó He was right. HeÕs describing what we call the Òkeeping up with the JonesesÓ mentality. And itÕs sinful. Because itÕs rooted in pride.

Question 17: Do you use other people? Proud people donÕtÕ focus on how they can minister to and serve other people. Rather, what theyÕre focused on is getting what they can get. And whenever they can get it from other people. Everything is about them and for them. Their interests. Their needs. Their wants. They ignore the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:12 Òwhatever you want people to do for you, so do for them.Ó They ignore the words of Paul in Philippians 2:3 Òdoing nothing from selfish ambition or vain glory, but with humility of mind regarding one another as more important than yourselves.Ó

Question 18: Do you cover up your sins, faults and mistakes? Do you regularly clear your browsing history, so your wife doesnÕt see it. Do you crumple up those receipts and shove them in the bottom of the trashcan, so your husband doesnÕt see it. Proud people will do just about anything to avoid being caught or cornered. They are experts at covering their tracks. Because again, if they were caught, what would that say about them? The focus is always on them.

Question 19: Do you lack close relationships? Proud people tend to be closed off. Yeah, they might join certain social settings. They might go to the birthday party, or the 4th of July cookout. They might even attend church. But they donÕt let anyone in. No one really knows them, or anything about them and they like it that way. What theyÕve done though, is ignored the warning or Proverbs 18:1 ÒHe who separates himself seeks his own desire, he breaks out in dispute against all sound wisdom.Ó

Here's a final question, I think this is number 20. Are you having difficulty receiving these questions and these words of exhortation IÕm sharing with you right now? That itself could be pride. Pride may be the very reason you donÕt like me calling you out for your pride. If so, I give you Proverbs 26:12, ÒDo you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.Ó DonÕt be a fool. Heed these words. Heed these principles from scripture about the symptomatic outworkings of pride. Be willing to go home and think through these. And pray through these. And talk with some other believer about these. And earnestly strive to put to death the pride that is still in your heart.

And that brings us to our fourth point for this morningÕs message. This would be, fourth point: The Sole Option For Pride. You know, I began this message with these references to Pride Month, and Star City Pride, and Stonewall and the sin of homosexuality. How those homosexual and transgender movements have shamelessly, and I would really say shamefully put the lipstick of pride on the pig of their sin. But what weÕve also seen is that ÒprideÓ is a sin that is not limited to one specific camp of sinners who are enslaved to on specific type of sin, which is paraded all throughout the month of June. No. Pride, as weÕve seen, is historical. Meaning, itÕs roots can be traced all the way back to the fall of Satan. Pride is pervasive. WeÕve seen it all over the pages of scripture. Pride is far-reaching. WeÕve just done 20 questions worth of heart surgery. Pride is something God hates. Pride then is no small matter. Pride is not one of those so called Òrespectable sinsÓ that we can just sort of sweep under the rug. You know ÒItÕs no big deal; heÕs just a prideful guy.Ó Or ÒitÕs no big deal; I just struggle a lot with pride.Ó ÒWeÕre all such messes.Ó [You know, nervous chatters erupt.] No, God hates it and because God hates pride, we should too. We should want to be rid of it. We should long, earnestly, for a remedy for it.

Thanks be to God; HeÕs given us a remedy. The sole option for pride is one word itÕs repentance. Repentance to repent means to turn to turn from oneÕs sin. And while itÕs certainly true that those who are enslaved by their disordered homosexual desires or enslaved to their homosexual practices. Though itÕs absolutely true that folks in that camp need to repent of their sin and place their faith in Jesus Christ, and be saved, and be spared from the wrath to come. ThatÕs all true. ThatÕs what IÕve always called Òcapital RÓ repentance. The form of repentance that always accomplishes faith in Jesus Christ. God can and God does grant Òcapitol RÓ repentance to those who are enslaved to those specific sins, that are being celebrated this month.

I have to just take a quick aside here. I canÕt even tell you how many times I have prayed, since moving her to Lincoln three years ago. That God would fill the seats in this auditorium with repentant homosexuals. Not so that you would be extra comfortable, but so that God would get glory. I canÕt tell you how many times I have prayed that God would take people that have been physically mangled by their decisions to take their bodies and hack it and transform it in ways that are grotesque. That God would do spiritual heart surgery on them and bring them to saving faith. And they would be sitting right here with us, worshiping the risen Savior with us. And we would rejoice and praise God for that. IÕve prayed for women who in this phase of life they are in, sell the baby that they carried to two men who are masquerading as married people. And that she could come here, and with the guilt that sheÕs carrying, understand that Jesus died for that sin. And if she puts her faith in Him, she can have eternal life, which is the greatest gift she could ever receive. Are you praying those prayers? For those people, out there, given over to their sin . . .celebrating all month long. I encourage you. I exhort you. That you do so.

So, Òcapitol RÓ repentance, those out there, those who are unsaved, no matter what sin they are enslaved to. Need to repent. But we also must repent daily as a part of a walk as a Christian, we must be repenting. At the core of the Christian life is repentance. So, if youÕve heard of one of those 20 questions, yea, I struggle with that or I struggle with all of that and you are a follower of Jesus Christ. What are you to do?

What does repentance look like for you? For starters Ð pray. Pray that God would, as you study His word, shine the spotlight on any barnacles of pride that are attached to the hull of your soul. Right? Pray God show me the pride that is still clinging. Not only that, plead with Him. Plead for conviction when you identify that sin thatÕs still there. Pray that God would break your heart over it. Pray Psalm 139:23-24 ÒSearch me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me and lead me in the everlasting way.Ó God will answer that prayer.

In addition to praying, seek counselors Ð friends, family, pastors, leaders Ð to help you point out any evidence of pride in your life. Be open and transparent with them. Be willing to share with them where youÕre seeing the struggle in your heart. Ask them to hold you accountable.

Confess, confess your pride to God. Do it topic by topic, issue by issue, point by point. Ask Him to cleanse you from all unrighteousness, including the unrighteousness of pride. And 1 John 1:9, He will do so.

Then, this last one is important humble yourself. I Peter 5:6 says, Òhumble yourself under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.Ó

Friends, that is the ultimate antidote to pride, humility. James 4:6 ÒGod is opposed to the proud yet gives grace to the humble.Ó Where can we go for a worthy example of humility? Well, of course, we go to the Word, and we go to the Word who became flesh . . . the example of Jesus Christ our Lord. It was the scripture reading for this morning, but IÕll give you a reading of just a section of it. Philippians 2:5 ÒHave this way of thinking in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although existing in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a slave, by being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.Ó Amen.

As our world, and now a days in our city as they celebrate Pride Month this June. What I want all of us to do is commit. To commit as a church made up of members on one another to repent of the pride that still clings, and to pursue Christ-like humility in every aspect of our lives.
Then, with the SpiritÕs help, letÕs be committed to being these pure and humble vessels not these polluted, haughty vessels. Who can actually go with credibility to this lost world around us and share the message of hope and reconciliation through Jesus His death and His resurrection.

LetÕs pray.
Father, we thank You for this time in the Word this morning. I know itÕs been a bit more of a survey style message. But I do pray that the large point, the major point has landed. Which is, that pride is a serious sin. Pride is a sin that you hate. Pride is a sin what we all still struggle with. And pride is a sin we must repent of. So, God, I pray that by Your grace and with Your strength, we would be a people who earnestly seek, with the SpiritÕs help, to put aside the sin of pride, progressively in our hearts. And to put on humility. Help us to be a humble people. A Humble church, that brings You great glory. In JesusÕ name. Amen