“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, LET US LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT, AND THE SIN WHICH SO EASILY ENSNARES US, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
Hebrews 12:1 (NKJV)
• There are sins that easily ensnared.
ALSO, there are blatant sins—open and unashamed sins.
Easily ensnared SIN could be in one's life without knowing, especially the sin of pride.
Many are carrying lorry-load of pride without knowing.
Note:If pride is found in you, God will not be able to use you.
Remember, God will never subscribe to pride: “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “GOD RESISTS THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE" (James 4:6).
Pride is so subtle and can be hidden under confidence, boldness, or assertiveness.
• There are things that can trigger pride in a believer's life:
KNOWLEDGE can trigger pride: "Knowledge PUFFS UP [makes arrogant], but love edifies [builds up]" (1 Corinthians 8:1).
PAST achievements can trigger pride: "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ" (Philippians 3:7).
PRAISE OF MEN can trigger pride: "Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others..." (1 Thessalonians 2:6).
MONEY, position and attainment in life can trigger pride: "But from those who seemed to be something—for whatever they were, it makes no difference to me..." (Galatians 2:6).
NOBILITY—one's background or hereditary titles can trigger pride.
THINKING of yourself more highly than you ought to think can also trigger pride: "But I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, NOT TO THINK OF HIMSELF MORE HIGHLY THAN HE OUGHT TO THINK..." (Romans 12:3).
• Pride is a product of superiority complex:“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; PRIDE AND ARROGANCE and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate" (Proverbs 8:13).
GOD resists the proud (1 Peter 5:5).
IF you toe the path of PRIDE, you cannot but be humiliated (Proverbs 11:2).
GOD will see to it that a proud person is humbled (Proverbs 29:23).
• The truth is: If you are always humiliated probably God is calling your attention to the pride in you.
God will not approve any work done in His kingdom with element of pride.
Any iota of pride makes every effort of yours a waste.
God does not permit flesh in His work.
• Whatever emanates from the flesh will not be approved, blessed by God.
God always sanctions every proud servant of His.
HUMILIATION is the cane for pride: "People shall be brought down, each man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled" (Isaiah 5:15).
Watch Your Thoughts
Pride starts from the mind, when you begin to think yourself more than you ought to (Romans 12:3).
Remain small in your own eyes.
AFTER a great feat people tend to commend you.
Commendations can be an encouragement, if it is well handled, however, if it not well handled, it can lead to pride.
Some have lost their place in God's kingdom because of commendation.
When people begin to commend you for a great feat, success, or achievement, remain small in your own eyes.
“But “he who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”
For not he who commends himself is approved, BUT WHOM THE LORD COMMENDS.”
2 Corinthians 10:17,18 (NKJV)
• The glory of every success that brings people's commendations should be given to God.
If people PRAISE you for what God has done through you, when you get home, prostrate for God and tell Him that all the glory, commendations and praises, belongs to Him.
If you want to last in the ministry work, do not share His glory (Acts 12:20-23).
To avoid humiliation, shame and ridicule, give every glory and honour to God.
When you begin to think your past results are because of your ability, skill or prowess, know that you have set your feet on the path of destruction—PRIDE (Isaiah 10:12-16).
Watch your thoughts as you begin to succeed.
MANY could not manage success and it has led to their downfall: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18).
• Do Not Allow Flattering!
Some ministers like surrounding themselves with sycophants—flatterers.
SOME like to impress the people and want the people to praise their good deeds (Luke 18:9-14).
If some of the things mentioned above are found in your life, you subtly have pride in you.
Some people would only want to help or favour those who praise them, this also is a manifestation of flesh, also known as pride: “… And a flattering mouth works ruin" (Proverbs 26:28).
• If your good deeds are done to attract praises from people, know that such deeds attract no reward from God (Matthew 6:3,4).
If you begin to compare yourself with others, thinking you are better than them, then you need to be watchful, pride has begun to set in (2 Corinthians 10:12).
If you think you are better than those who are ahead of you in the ministry work, it is a sign of pride.
If you are serving under a leader and you always think you have better idea, opinion, than that of your leader, it means you have pride and it is a sign of rebellion (2 Samuel 15:1-6).
• Low Self-esteem
IRONICALLY low self-esteem could also cause pride.
• Trauma
TRAUMATIC experiences can lead to pride also.
• Somebody with low self-esteem in an attempt to cover his shyness, complex, may put up a bold face and be arrogant to intimidate others.
In fact majority of those who intimidate others are having low self-esteem.
Insecure people are always restless when they meet other people who seem to be a threat to them.
• Some ministers are not secure about other Ministers' success.
Even some ministers or leaders are not secure when the people around them, their subordinates, or those who are under their leadership, are making progress or increase.
SUCCESS of other people is a threat to them!
If you have this in your life, it is a sign of low self-esteem—insecurity.
If God has made you the leader in a place, you are the leader by God's grace on your life.
It is not how you frown your face to intimidate the people around you that will make others know you are the leader there.
The grace of God on your life is the proof of your leadership, NOT the threatening and intimidations of the people around you.
Your low self-esteem could be as a result of traumatic experiences in your life.
It is only God who heals traumas, makes one forget distressful experiences.
Allow God to heal your wounds, and do NOT vent it on the people around you.
• Ministry Leadership is about love (Galatians 5:13).
Do not allow your past experiences to limit your God-given assignment (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2-4).
Stop intimidating the people whom God has given you to watch over: "NOR AS BEING LORD'S [masters] OVER THOSE ENTRUSTED TO YOU, BUT BEING EXAMPLES TO THE FLOCK" (1 Peter 5:3).
Show love to everyone who is under your leadership (Romans 13:8).
• Timidity should also not be allowed because people may think you are proud as a result of it—they would not know it is shyness.
Apostle Paul said:
“FOR GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR [timidity], but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Not Ashamed of the Gospel
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.”
2 Timothy 1:7,8 (NKJV)
Some who are timid, shy, which is a product of fear may want to avoid People, which some people may count as pride.
A timid person could be reserved and introverted, but some people might think it is self-conceit—whereas it is not.
The bottom line is, you should let your heart be Right, be truthful and sincere in your relationship and dealings with other people.
• God works with our hearts, the motive with which we do things.
You cannot deceive God, He knows the intent of your heart.
David's charge to Solomon:
“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; FOR THE LORD SEARCHES ALL HEARTS AND UNDERSTANDS ALL THE INTENT OF THE THOUGHTS…”
1 Chronicles 28:9 (NKJV)
• If the thought of your heart is pride—to give glory to the self, God knows.
God will judge everyone based on the thoughts, motives, and intents of their hearts (Romans 2:5,6).
If you are being humiliated, check your heart condition, the intent of your heart, might have an element of pride in it.
Any iota of pride will receive a resistance from God.