Lesson 14: The Danger of Pride

Lessons From Acts

Pride

A high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in bearing, conduct, etc.

Arrogance or majesty; by implication, (concretely) ornament:--excellency, haughtiness, highness, pride, proudly, swelling.

Pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by oneself or another

PRIDEPr 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and

the perverse mouth I hate.

Pr 6:16-18 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, A

heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, false witness who speaks lies, And

one who sows discord among brethren.

PRIDE Psalms 18:27 – For You will save the humble people, But will bring

down haughty looks.

Ps 101:5 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, Him I will

destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart,

Him I will not endure.

It May Be Words, Clothing, Body Language, etc…

Pride

Synonyms Pride, conceit, self-esteem, egotism, vanity, vainglory imply an unduly favorable idea of one's own appearance, advantages, achievements, etc., and often apply to offensive characteristics. Pride is a lofty and often arrogant assumption of superiority in some respect: Pride must have a fall. Conceit implies an exaggerated estimate of one's own abilities or attainments

Pride

• Do We Know This Person?

• Who Has Had Something Special Destroyed by Pride?

• What Might It Have Done The Spread of The Gospel?–Had the disciples ever shown signs of pride?

• Might It Prevent One From Being Saved?

Pride (Examples)

• The Pharisee and Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)

• Pharisees to the Blind Man (John 9)– You were born in your sin, are you teaching us?

• Can you hear the tone in their voice?– Who do you think you?– Really your teaching me?

Could Pride Have ChangedThe Outcome …

• Hellenists Widows (Acts 6)

• Cornelius and His Family (Acts 10)

• Barnabas and Paul Argue Over John Mark (Acts 15:39)

• Berea - more fair minded (Acts 17:11)

Paul’s Background

Php 3:4 … If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Paul’s background2 Cor. 11:23-27 Are they ministers of Christ? —I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness …

If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my

infirmity.

Paul’s Attitude

Eph 3:1 ¶ For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles—Eph 3:7 …I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

Paul’s Attitude• 1Co 9:19 For though I am free from all men, I have

made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law…, that I might win those who are without law;

• Sound like Jesus’ teaching– Mt 20:26-27 "Yet it shall not be so among you; but

whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave--

Paul’s Attitude

1Co 9:22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

• Ex. Athens (To the Unknown God)

Paul’s Example

• Circumcision (Acts 15)–No small dispute–How could he have reacted when it was

decided he (an apostle) should go to Jerusalem to “the apostles and elders”?

• Are you more likely or less likely to respond properly when there is “no small dispute”?

Paul’s Example

• People Here Have Been Told You Teach Gentiles to Forsake Moses … Take This Oath (Acts 21)–Had Paul taught anything wrong?–What is our first reaction if we are accused

of teaching wrong?

• What A Great Example of Humility

Teaching by Jesus

• Mr 7:20 And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 "thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 "All these evil things come from within and defile a man."

Not for a Bishop (elder)

1Ti 3:1 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. 2 A bishop then must be blameless…

1 Ti 3:6 not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

Deserving of Death (spiritual)

Ro 1:28-32 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

From Such Turn Away

2Ti 3:1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be

lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving,

slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong,

haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its

power. And from such people turn away!

Reaction to Sin (Allen Dvorak)

Of great interest to me is Saul’s behavior after the confession of his sin. He pleaded with Samuel to go with him so that he could worship the Lord, evidently before the people. When Samuel refused, Saul seized and tore his garment. Samuel explained to Saul that in similar fashion the kingdom would be torn from him, but Saul still pleaded for Samuel to "honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel" (vs. 30). It appears that Saul was more concerned with how others would view him than consumed with remorse for his sin. Rebellion caused his sin; pride prevented him from properly reacting to his sin.

Reaction to Sin (Allen Dvorak)

We all sin. How we react to the knowledge of our sin is crucial. Those who understand the true nature of sin, that it is an affront to our Creator, are moved to sorrow for their sin. Those who view sin as "no big thing" will seek to protect their reputation. Pride often will not permit them to admit their sin. Godly sorrow, however, moves men to repentance and humility permits the confession of sin (2 Corinthians 7:10; 1 John 1:9). What is your response to sin?

Teaching by John

1Jo 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Pride in Proverbs

• Pr 6:16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

Pride in Proverbs

• Pr 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

• Pr 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

• Pr 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Pride in Proverbs

• Pr 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

• Pr 21:24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. {in proud...: Heb. in the wrath of pride}

• Pr 29:23 A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.