PRIDE

God Gives Grace To The Humble

When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. Proverbs 13:10

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." James 4:6

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." 1 Peter 5:5

Many of God’s people are crying out to God to bless them and don’t find an open heaven but trials and tribulations, many of which are caused by their own foolishness. It’s a fact that Apostle Paul suffered greatly when he became a Christian because he reaped what he had sown in murdering Christians especially Stephen. God is not to be mocked whatsoever a man sows so shall he reap applies to every one. And Apostle Peter told us:

Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.  Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.  For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God.  For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:  "Who committed no sin,  Nor was deceit found in His mouth";  who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;  who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed. 1 Peter 2:17-24

And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?  But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed. "And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled."  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;  having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.  For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 1 Peter 3:13-17

If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters.  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.  For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?  Now  "If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?" Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. 1 Peter 4:14-19

There is no credit if you are beaten for your faults?  If you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you are blessed but if you suffer for being a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters there is no glory in this?  It is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil? We better wake up to the fact that God is not the cause of all of man’s suffering even though He works it all for good to them that love God and are called according to His purposes. Many sufferings are needless because God’s people don’t use their faith to be healed and delivered of them. God’s word is unchanging:

Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He has broken the gates of bronze,  And cut the bars of iron in two. Fools, because of their transgression,  And because of their iniquities, were afflicted.  Their soul abhorred all manner of food,  And they drew near to the gates of death.  Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them,  And delivered them from their destructions. Psalm 107:15-20

Why did God call these children of men fools? Because they were afflicted because of their transgression and their iniquities just like Jesus warned men about:

"For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.  "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.'  "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,  "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. "Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Matthew 5:20-25

"And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew 23:12

He has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly. Luke 1:52

Proud and arrogant ones don’t consider the possibility of the reality of the judgments of God upon them in the current time of life because they are after all Christians, the apple of God’s eyes and once saved always saved? They forget that that judgment begins in the house of God (1 Peter 4:7) and But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your "Yes," be "Yes," and your "No,"  "No," lest you fall into judgment (James 5;12). Yes we get into great trouble and tribulation by saying the wrong words in life.  And that is why wise King Solomon wrote and stated:

You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. Proverbs 6:2

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

Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked. Proverbs 10:6

Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction. Proverbs 10:14

He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. Proverbs 13:3

A proud and arrogant person has to have the last say in any matter and all things have to meet his approval otherwise it cannot be accepted or true. At the root of most stumbling through unbelief and disobedience (self-will) is that primary ingredient of man's fallen nature which the scripture calls pride. We read in Proverbs 16:18 that "Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a FALL," Pride is simply the ADULATION of SELF, wanting to be a law unto oneself, independent, with a feeling of importance, and a desire for acclaim from others. There are DEGREES of pride, of course, and ALL of us have a measure of this problem whether we are willing to admit it or not. The very methods of God's dealings with us from salvation on, are designed to strike at this root problem of our carnal nature, so that "no FLESH should glory in his presence" (1 Corinthians 1:29). Pride makes a person inflexible, unyielding, and unteachable, and through it one is deceived into trying to justify SELF in many ways.  Especially there is a tendency to maintain one's own worth, works or merit, as a means of gaining favor with God, or acclaim in the sight of men.

Due to pride, which makes a person inflexible, unyielding, and unteachable and to act in ignorance, neglect or willful rejection, many of God’s people reject for today His healings, signs, wonders, miracles and tongues. These things recorded in the book of Acts are merely a sample of the things which Jesus began to do in working with His disciples through the power of the indwelling Holy Ghost after He had gone back to heaven.

It’s a fact that many of God’s people haven’t learn to keep their mouth shut because their pride and arrogance forces them to speak. They forget that a picture is worth a thousand words and a true anointing on a person speaks for the person and not his words! They forget that pride is one of the greatest of all sins and is a sin which God hates. As a matter of fact God goes out of the way to humble a proud person. God’s word is unchanging:

Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: "Now prepare yourself like a man;  I will question you, and you shall answer Me: "Would you indeed annul My judgment?  Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?  Have you an arm like God?  Or can you thunder with a voice like His?  Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor,  and array yourself with glory and beauty. Disperse the rage of your wrath;  Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him.  Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low;  Tread down the wicked in their place.  Hide them in the dust together,  Bind their faces in hidden darkness.  Then I will also confess to you  That your own right hand can save you. Job 40:6-14

It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord:  I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows-such a one was caught up to the third heaven.  And I know such a man-whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-  how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.  Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities.  For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.   And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelation, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.  Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.  And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:1-9

Because Paul was a proud boastful person, a thorn in the flesh was given to him, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest he be exalted above measure. And this thorn was not removed from him even though he pleaded with the LORD three times because God contends with the proud and gives grace to the humble. The root cause of Paul's demonic thorn was his pride and the fact that the LORD hates pride and arrogance, the evil way and the perverse mouth and pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Hence less Paul be destroyed by it and take a great fall like many TV Evangelists and Pastors that we know, God purposely gave Paul a demonic thorn in the flesh lest being puffed up with pride he would fall into the same condemnation as the devil. Yes, pride was the number one sin that caused the devil to fall and causes many of God’s people to fall! God’s word is unchanging:

"How you are fallen from heaven,  O Lucifer, son of the morning!  How you are cut down to the ground,  You who weakened the nations!  For you have said in your heart:  'I will ascend into heaven,  I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation  On the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,  I will be like the Most High.'  Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit. Isaiah 14:12-15

"For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14:14

Yes, it doesn’t pay for “whoever” to be proud at all because the rewards he shall receive even in the current time of life will be painful.   But for the HUMBLE AND MEEK, the good news is that the same LORD who healed Job and delivered him from all his suffering and sickness and restored to Him double all His losses hasn’t changed?  He is the same LORD who delivered Joseph out of all his troubles, and gave him favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt; and he made him governor over Egypt and his entire house? And what He has done for one He is able to do for another including perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle them after they have suffered for a while! God’s word is true:

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,  casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 1 Peter 5:6-10

THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.

Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

God’s heart is never for you to suffer crippling illnesses, die prematurely or live a life that is miserable. Psalm 91:16 says, “With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” That is God’s heart for you! In the verse, the word “salvation” is the Hebrew word Yeshua, the name of Jesus. So God will satisfy you with a long life that is full of Jesus and His grace! Chronic illness, depression and a short life are not, and will never be, part of God’s plan for you. He wants you to experience a long, full life in which you walk in all the blessings of health, wholeness, provision, peace and joy that He has given you through Jesus! 

Under the New Covenant”   the finished work of Jesus which was done on the Day of Pentecost equipped Christians to do the work of Jesus Christ. Yes  the completed work of Jesus Christ, created the necessity of being baptized with the holy spirit and the gifts of the holy spirit and the “signs following” (Mk. 16: 17 – 20) which confirm the preaching of the Word of God.

And, the word “confirm” means “to substantiate, corroborate, verify, authenticate, and validate”.  And so, if there is no validation of what is being preached and taught, then it is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The work of Jesus Christ is always validated by the Signs, Wonders & Miracles.  And, if there are none, then it is not the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  

There are many reasons that Christians become sick spiritually, physically, mentally and financially, and most of them don't know why and neither do their critics! The bible only tells us to confess our shortcomings and pray for one another.

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

Deuteronomy 8:18 "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.