“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12

An error that Satan sows among the saints is pride. Pride was the sin that turned Satan, a blessed angel, into a cursed devil. Satan knows better than anyone the damnable power of pride.

“How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, which weakens 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 sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. You you shall be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.” Isaiah 14:12-15

Is it any wonder that he so often uses it to poison the souls of man?

<strong>One swallow of pride can leave a man worthless to God.</strong>

A perilous thing about pride is that it uses both good and bad inclinations to draw its wagon. It teams up with lying, deceiving, or oppressing others with the motive of pride fueling these attitudes.

Pride can team up with that which is good to twist the purposes of God. We can see one zealous in prayer, tithing, or church attendance and suppose that the person is a mighty saint when all along pride is the motivation master behind the scenes.

“Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others. Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men — extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the publican standing afar off, would not life up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, ‘God be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased: and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14

He stood my himself as if too holy to be touched by others, and his prayer was indeed, not prayer, but a self-glorification.

Spurgeon said, “Under the pretence of praising God, he praised himself. It is all “I,” “I fast,” “I give,” and so on. Nor was this enough, he indulged in uncharitable reflections upon others, making at the same time a list of his own virtues and a catalogue of other men’s failings, and crowning all with a sneer at his neighbor.”

<strong>Pride can take sanctuary in the most holy of actions and hide itself in the spiritual actions.</strong>

Giving to be seen is common.

“But when you do alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand does. That your alms may be in secret: and your Father, which sees in secret, himself, shall reward you openly.” Matthew 6:3-4

A person can seem to make a display of resisting evil, all the while promoting his own spiritual walk.

<strong>Warning Signals of Spiritual Pride</strong>

<strong>1. When you dwell on the thoughts of your gifts with contentment and admiration.</strong>

A proud person is consumed with self. “I did a super job !”

How does one escape from self promoting thoughts? Run, before you erect a monument to yourself.

For example: What Saul said:

“Then he said, ‘I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray to you, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the Lord your God.” 1 Samuel 15:30

<strong>2. Envy of other’s gifts.</strong>

Its the sin that shed the first blood: Cain’s envy sowed the seed for Abel’s murder and then Saul’s envy of David.

“To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another divers kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But all these works that one and the self-same Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.” 1 Corinthians 12:10-11

<strong>3. You are angry when God wants to bless others.</strong>

When you belittle the gifts given to others, you belittle God who gave them.

Pride is the mother of envy and is the scout for other sins. Envy led David to covet the wife of Uriah which led to a host of other sins.

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting. Being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers.” Romans 1:28-29

Envy: Desires to deprive another of what he has.

Jealousy: Desires to have the same or the same sort of thing for itself.

<strong>To win the battle over this sin, you need the help from heaven, you need the help of the Holy Spirit.</strong>

“Do you think that the scripture says in vain, the Spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy? But he gives more grace. Wherefore he says, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble.” James 4:5-6

Don’t challenger envy in your own strength; God can give you more grace than you have sin.

We are by nature selfish and envious; but grace will enable us to conquer our inbred sins, if we humbly own them, and ask for help to overcome them.