THE FALSE # 1,
Daniel 4: 24-27
24this
is the interpretation, O king, and this is the decree of the Most High, which
has come upon my lord the king: 25that you be driven away from
mankind and your dwelling place be with the beasts of the field, and you be
given grass to eat like cattle and be drenched with the dew of heaven; and
seven periods of time will pass over you, until you recognize that the Most
High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes. 26'And in that it was commanded to leave the
stump with the roots of the tree, your kingdom will be assured to you after you
recognize that it is Heaven that rules. 27'Therefore, O king,
may my advice be pleasing to you: break away now from your sins by doing
righteousness and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor, in case
there may be a prolonging of your prosperity.'
Nebuchadnezzar’s problem was the # 1 sin on God’s hate list. It’s middle letter tells us what it’s all about:
PR
I DE
“ These 6 things doth the Lord hate : ….a proud look”
“ The Lord detests all the proud of heart.” Proverbs 16:5
“ I hate pride and arrogance.” Proverbs 8:13
“ When pride comes, then comes disgrace.” Proverbs 11:2
“ God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6
THE
FALSE # 1
A. Why is pride the # 1 sin?
1. It is the sin which BEGAN all sin.
Isaiah 14: 13, 14
13"But you said in your heart, 'I will
ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, And I will sit on the mount of assembly In the recesses of
the north. 14'I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I
will make myself like the Most High.'
2. It always has CONSEQUENCES
“ Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16: 18
B. What is Pride?
Pride is the elevation of self at the expense of God and His glory.
C. How does Pride get a Hold of Us?
* NEGATIVE speech patterns – A proud spirit is
one that boasts, flatters, reviles, curses, lies, mocks, slanders, gossips, and quarrels
* Self- Promotion
* Control
* Travels in all Circles, including CHRISTIAN circles
THE
* ACKNOWLEDGED by Nebuchadnezzar – Daniel 4: 34-35
34"But at the end of that period, I,
Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and
I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; For His
dominion is an everlasting dominion, And His kingdom endures from generation to
generation. 35"All the inhabitants of the earth are
accounted as nothing, But He does according to His
will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can
ward off His hand
or say to Him, 'What have You done?'
* ACCEPTED back as King
* A Resident of Heaven?
How do we replace the False # 1 with the Real # 1 ?
True humility is the quality of the new nature that replaces a heart of pride.
* The humble heart gladly SUBMITS to God’s rightful place.
* The humble heart ACKNOWLEDGES all we have as gifts from God.
* The humble heart RECEIVES salvation as a gift of God’s grace
* The humble heart yields to the rule of God in their life
* The humble heart has a grateful worshipping spirit.
* Humble hearts obey God’s Word and submit to one another – Eph 5: 22
- to the
needs of our wives – Ephesians
- to the
headship of our husbands – Eph
- to the needs of our children – Eph 6:4
- to our parents – Eph. 6: 1
- younger men to older men – I Peter 5:5
- to the
Word of God – John
- to
Spiritual leaders – Hebrews
- to government authorities – Romans 13:1
- to the needs of others in general
and especially to the needs of our
brothers and sisters in Christ – Galatians
An
Action Plan for Genuine Humility
* Consider the needs and interests of others
* Express genuine concern for others
* Communicate comfort, love, joy, understanding, encouragement and peace
* Carefully build others up in spirit and mind
*
Promote pure and right relationships