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God Gives Grace to the Humble
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsGod sets Himself against the proud, that is, those who refuse to submit in obedience to Him. He gives lavishly of His grace to the humble, that is, those who surrender in full agreement to God's will. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. The word for proud is huperephanos which literally means one who shows himself above other people. Its real problem is that it is a thing of the heart. It means haughtiness. A person suffering from it might appear to be walking in downcast humility, while all the time there is, in his heart, a vast contempt for all others. The proud have an undue self-esteem. They have a high and unreasonable conceit of their own excellence or importance. This may extend to anything: to beauty, or strength, or accomplishments, or family, or country, or clothing, or position, or religion. People can be proud of anything that belongs to them, or which can in any way be construed as a part of or regarding themselves. People can be proud over how violent they are, or how good they are stealing or lying. A correct estimate of ourselves, or the mere knowledge that we may excel others in certain areas, does not constitute pride. It is possible to have a correct estimate of ourselves, and attach no undue importance to ourselves because of it. Every human being on earth has some pride. The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile toward God, because it does not submit to God's law, and in reality it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. By continually working to overcome pride, a person works toward the goal of having a heart that is not lifted up, that claims no undue regard for itself, that concedes to all others what is their due, and that is humble before God. A person who has this heart feels that all he has, and is, is nothing in God's sight. The humble person is willing to occupy his appropriate place in the sight of God and his fellow human beings, and to be esteemed just as he is. Pride gives to a person a degree of self-estimation which is not warranted by anything that he has. In contrast, God looks at things as they are, and consequently He detests and humbles arrogant claims.
God Works in Marvelous Ways (Part One)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughFalse doctrines cut people off from a wholesome relationship with God. Doctrinal purity is measured according to how one emulates Christ.
The Case Against Pride
Sermonette byThree symptoms of pride include (1) lying to protect our self-image; (2) competitiveness; (3) believing our personal ideas are more valuable than God's Truth.
Narcissists! Get Real!
Commentary by Martin G. CollinsAs Haman demonstrates, God deposes the proud and will bring them low. We must learn to humble ourselves under God's hand, and He will exalt us.
Drifting
Sermonette byHebrews warns us to resist the pernicious pulls of the world and the flesh that cause us to spiritually drift, particularly pride and double-mindedness.
Humility
Sermonette by James BeaubelleHumility is not an obsequious act we turn on and off at will, but a sober reflection of our true relationship to God and our spiritual siblings.
Faith (Part Seven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPride is a perverted comparison that elevates one above another. Because of its arrogant self-sufficiency, it hinders our faith. Faith depends on humility.
Honor Before Love
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughAgape love will not occur unless we first learn to honor, esteem, and cherish God and the preciousness of Christ's sacrifice for us.
Children of the Light
Sermon by Clyde FinkleaThe Beatitudes Mount contains Jesus' instruction primarily to His disciples, outlining seven unified character traits that define the 'children of light.'
New Covenant Priesthood (Part Nine)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPride elevates one above God, denigrating any dependence upon God, replacing it with self-idolatry. We ought to boast or glory in the Lord instead of ourselves.
New Covenant Priesthood (Part Four)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughSacrifices of thanksgiving, praise, and gratitude are required of God's called out priests. By meditating on the right things, we prepare ourselves for prayer.
Presumptuousness
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughIndividuals arrogating to themselves the authority to change doctrine are on extremely dangerous ground, presumptuously setting up idols in place of God.
Faith (Part Six)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughThe hallmark of Christian character is humility, which comes about only when one sees himself in comparison to God. Pride makes distorted comparisons.
Satan, Division, and Humility
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughCompetition is the root cause of war, business takeovers, and marital discord. Solomon describes man's rivalry with one another as a striving after wind.
New Covenant Priesthood (Part Eight)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPride leads to destruction, tricking us into thinking we deserve better than we have. Paradoxically, pride is a mark of inferiority, causing overcompensation.
New Covenant Priesthood (Part Seven)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughPride is the basis of resisting God, while humility is the key to a relationship with Him. We recognize it in others but we seldom see it in ourselves.
James and Unleavened Bread (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughThe epistle of James stresses both faith and works, emphasizing those factors necessary for growth, enabling us to produce a bountiful harvest of fruit.
Are You Living An Illusion?
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsReligious narcissists, who identify with the servant who received ten talents, cherry-pick Scripture to enhance their self-love and support their views.
Deuteronomy (Part 5) (1994)
Sermon by John W. RitenbaughParadoxically, humble obedience and dependency upon God strengthens us, while prideful self-sufficiency weakens us.
The Poor in Spirit
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughNothing that we could ever do could impress God, except for our contrition, acknowledgment of our infirmity, and remorse for our sins which displease God.
Limiting the Holy One of Israel (Part Two)
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsWe limit God through our willful sin and disobedience, pride and self confidence, ignorance and blindness, and our fear of following Him.
If You Do These Things, You Shall Never Fall
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Mark SchindlerGod has not set up us for failure, but if we can't control our inordinate pride, we could destroy our own chances of fulfilling God's purpose for us.