“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech (Proverbs 8:13, NAS).”

 “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another (I Peter 5:5, NAS).”

Pride was the first sin. As David E. Taylor points out in His book, Victory Over Pride, Lucifer manifested the only sin that can get in when everything else has been set in order. Pride is the only sin that can attack while in the presence of perfection. Pride is one of the hardest enemies to see or detect. The Scriptures say that pride goes before destruction. That means that pride itself is not destruction, but is sent as an ambassador before the destruction comes. Pride destroys God’s children daily. Rebellion, unforgiveness, bitterness, malice, hatred, envy, lies, fear, self-centeredness, and coveting are but a few manifestations of pride.

 You must allow God to reveal to you the hidden fruitless deeds of darkness buried deeply within. Pride causes God’s grace to be rejected in your life even though it has been activated in other areas. Grace comes only in the presence of humility.

“While people are saying, ‘Peace and safety,’ destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape (I Thessalonians 5:3, NAS).”

Daniel 4:4 reads, “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home in my palace, contented, and prosperous.” The reigning king, just before the wrath of God came against him, was content in his home. He had no consciousness of God whatsoever though he had been warned by Daniel. He thought himself superior; self-made. He commended his own hand for having brought himself such superiority among the nations. Pride only seems good for a season, but that season will end abruptly. Destruction came in an instant though it took twelve months to manifest from the time Daniel spoke the prophetic word of impending destruction. Just when the king became comfortable in the luxury of his home, destruction came. Prideful people rest in their wickedness when they need to be warring against the evil in their midst. Pride would not allow the king to humble himself so as to repent before God; he paid a steep price.

 It’s time for God’s people to take this application and put it to use in their individual lives. Have you allowed pride in your heart? Are you letting it destroy your family, job, health, finances or more importantly, your relationship with God? If you want transformation, you must search inwardly and allow God to reveal all pride that is lingering in dark crevices.

 Pride is extremely tricky and manifests differently from person to person. For the one who shows it outwardly, once they become aware of it, it is fairly simple to remove. However, for the rest of the Body of Christ, it is not so easily detected; those doing good deeds, going to church regularly, dressing modestly, not stealing, lying, cursing, drinking, smoking, doing drugs, preaching and teaching, prophesying, laying on hands of healing, etc. These are the people that are the most at risk of pride. Because Satan is deceptive, he slithers into God’s people unawares; he does not come in with forked tail and pitchfork but with deception to fool even the closest to God.

 Pride always leads to the high place whereas humility leads to the low place. Pride is whatever makes your head too big for a room, so to speak! David E. Taylor also points out in Victory Over Pride that, in the world, the leader in a chain of authority is positioned at the top. The pyramid is right side up; everyone at the bottom serves the one at the top. However, in the Kingdom of God, the pyramid is upside down. The person who is the greatest is servant to all. The pinnacle is still pointing toward the leader, but the leader is at the bottom serving.

 Jesus lowered Himself and served others and exalted all others above Himself, including His enemies. Even on the cross, He prayed for those who hung Him and hung beside Him. May we, God’s holy people, allow Yahweh to reveal every hidden area of pride so as to be cleansed of unrighteousness. This will benefit us, those around us, and the Kingdom of God. ^{~excerpt from Holy Spirit Who? by Alexys V. Wolf}

I hope you’ll come back next week for part V as we continue to explore the subject of humility.

Peace and blessings,

Alexys V. Wolf

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