Important Recall Notice
The maker of all human beings is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to the serious defect in the primary and central component, the heart. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units. This defect has been technically termed Subsequential
Internal Non-morality, more commonly know as SIN, as its primary symptom is a lapse of moral judgment.

Important Recall Notice
If one is susceptible to loss of direction, foul vocal emissions, lack of peace and joy, or selfish behavior, then one is inflicted with this defect.
The manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory authorized repair and service, free of charge, to correct this SIN defect, at numerous locations throughout the world.

Important Recall Notice
Continuing to operate the human unit without correction voids manufacturer’s warranty, exposing owner to dangers and problems too numerous to list, and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded.
Taken from Rick Ezell’s book, The 7 Sins of Highly Defective People, p. 7-8

The Sermon
Series

Pride
Scripture Reading
Genesis 3:1-7

Pride
Vince Lombardi story
All of us, at times, think we are God, or at least want to be God.
• Act as if the universe revolves around us
• Show off our power, flaunt our egos
• Take the throne to control our little worlds

Pride
To be Like God was the original temptation.
"You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Genesis 3:4-5

Pride
Pride comes in at least two editions:
“Pride can take the form of proper satisfaction in the achievement of excellence, the virtue of the diligent.
But pride can also take the form of inordinate self-congratulation, the vice of the pompous.”
Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be p. 81

Pride
Rick Ezell:
“It is exaggerating our worth and power, overrating our superiority, and possessing unreasonable conceit.
Its synonyms are vanity, conceit, arrogance,
egotism, boastfulness, selfishness, . . .
It has been recognized since ancient times as to be the root of cruelty and evil.”

Pride
“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
”
Proverbs 16:18
“To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.”
Proverbs 8:13

The Problem with Pride
1. Pride blinds us
2. Pride prevents growth
3. Pride distorts our judgment
4. Pride destroys relationships
5. Pride separates us from God

The Problem with Pride
Plantinga asks:
“What sin makes God more irrelevant?
God wants to fill us with his Holy Spirit, but when we are proud we are already full of ourselves. There’s no room for God.”
Dwight L Moody said:
“God sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves.”

The Problem with Pride
“Augustine characterized pride as the great political enemy in the City of God, the usurper that wants to unseat God and enthrone itself.”
Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be, p. 82

Overcoming Pride
Scripture Reading
I Peter 5:5-7

Overcoming Pride

Overcoming Pride
1. Pray that the Holy Spirit may open your eyes to pride in your life.
“Pride, the antithesis of humility, is a spiritual cancer that eats away at our spiritual eyes, rendering us blind. . . .
We cannot see our pride because we are so full of it.”
- Rick Ezell, p. 25

Overcoming Pride
2. Read the Bible for a true evaluation of who you are: a. Created in the image of God b. A fallen sinner c. Who needs a saviour

Overcoming Pride
3. Follow Christ on the path of humility
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Overcoming Pride
Your attitude should be the same as that of
Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death —
even death on a cross! Phil 2:1-8

Overcoming Pride
Do you have a pride problem?
Are you constantly comparing yourself to others who you think are a little lower on the ladder of success?

Overcoming Pride
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in
due time. I Peter 5:5-6

Overcoming Pride
Ron Pinkerton Story