Fearlessly Courageous
Desk of Dennis Piller
9/14/2022
God Said: I Will Bring You Down!
Jeremiah 49:16 “The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks, who occupy the heights of the hill. Though you build your nest as high as the eagle’s, from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.”
What a powerful warning to tame your tongue, corral your thoughts, and temper your temper, because Pride, hurt feelings, false or incorrect expectations, being tired or hungry (Hangry), all serve to think we have the right to say –
HOW DARE YOU! Or NOT TO ME YOU WON’T… OVER MY DEAD BODY!
We need help to see the fruits of pride in our lives, too often we walk alone in this regard. Sure we have a friend… maybe… but we don’t talk about stuff like PRIDE! I wonder if it’s pride that keeps you from joining a Christian group for spiritual growth, peace, and eventually maybe even… ACCOUNTABILITY.
Maybe after all of these habitual years of building this stronghold around our heart and mind of our own justification, we might consider investing in our family, relationships, and our own spiritual and mental health and seeing a counselor. What? Spend money on this kind of stuff?
It may prove to be the best investment you ever made for yourself
and your family!
What are the real issues behind that behavior? When was the last time you did an audit of your heart and motives for pride, specifically? What needs to change beyond what other people see or how well you camouflage what is really happening inside… ready to blow?
• Proverbs 16:2 “All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD.”
• Proverbs 21:2 “All a man’s ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs the heart.”
The Fruits of Pride:
1. I tend to be self-sufficient in the way I live my life. I don’t live with a constant awareness that my every breath is dependent upon the will of God. I tend to think I have enough strength, ability, and wisdom to live and manage my life. My practice of the spiritual disciplines is inconsistent and superficial. I don’t like to ask others for help.
2. I am often anxious about my life and the future. I tend not to trust God and rarely experience his abiding and transcendent peace in my soul. I have a hard time sleeping at night because of fearful thoughts and burdens I carry.
3. I am overly self-conscious. I tend to replay in my mind how I did, what I said, how I am coming across to others, etc. I am very concerned about what people think of me. I think about these things constantly.
4. I fear man more than God. I am afraid to take a stand for things that are right. I am concerned with how people will react to me or perceive my actions or words. I don’t often think about God’s opinion in a matter and rarely think there could be consequences for disobeying him. I primarily seek the approval of man and not of God.
5. I often feel insecure. I don’t want to try new things or step out into uncomfortable situations because I’m afraid I’ll fail or look foolish. I am easily embarrassed.
6. I regularly compare myself to others. I am performance oriented. I feel that I have greater worth if I do well.
7. I am self-critical. I tend to be a perfectionist. I can’t stand for little things to be wrong because they reflect poorly on me. I have a hard time putting my mistakes behind me.
8. I desire to receive credit and recognition for what I do. I like people to see what I do and let me know that they noticed. I feel hurt or offended when they don’t. I am overly concerned about my reputation and hate being misunderstood.
9. I want people to be impressed with me. I like to make my accomplishments known.
10. I tend to be deceptive about myself. I find myself lying to preserve my reputation.
I find myself hiding the truth about myself, especially about sins, weaknesses, etc. I don’t want people to know who I really am.
That would be embarrassing and very humiliating!
By Grace – Rid Yourself of Pride
1. Ask God to illuminate your heart so you can begin to see the fruits of pride in your life. Ask friends to point out the fruits of pride in your life realizing your heart is exceedingly deceitful.
2. You must meet the qualifications if you are to go on in God.
Humility is the attitude upon which everything else is built.
• Humility is the door to true freedom. How do you deal with things in your life? At the symptom level, problem level, or root level? Or do you just wait for it to go away?
• John 8:31-36 “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.
Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP2kZCigZKE
Steve Green Broken and Poured Out
Excerpts are taken from Hope Bible Church – Pride, Humility, Fruits of the Spirit by Natasha Penny.
