Introduction

• Hosea 4:6 – The people were destroyed for lack of knowledge.
• II Chronicles 36:11-16 – Under Zedekiah, the people rejected God and His prophets.

“I remind you that God wrote a Book; and He only wrote one. I wonder what we’ll say to Him at the Judgment Seat of Christ if He asks us, “Did you read My Book? I mean one time in your entire life did you read My whole Book?” – Woodrow Kroll, August 2009

• II Timothy 3:15-17

There will be a lot of “Oh, wow I get it” moments.

• II Chronicles 34:14-21, 31, 27 – The Israelites rediscover the book of the law and realize they hadn’t been obeying it. Josiah decides to make things right with God.

You’ll feel better about the way you’re spending your time.

• Matthew 6:19-21 – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
• Time is the number one issue people cite when asked why they don’t read the Bible more.
• It takes about 75 hours to read the entire Bible. That is about 17 minutes a day for five days a week.
• Ezra 7:10

You’ll start thinking and talking about spiritual things more.

• Psalms 1:1-6
• We start feeling guilt about sins we suddenly become aware of.
• We start praying more.
• Spiritual disciplines and risk behaviors among U.S. adults:
  • Researchers called it the “Power of 4” (reading the Bible at least 4 days a week)
    • Getting drunk = 57% lower odds
    • Sex outside marriage = 68% lower odds
    • Pornography = 61% lower odds
    • Gambling = 74% lower odds
    • Sharing faith with others = 228% higher odds
    • Discipling others = 231% higher odds
    • Memorizing scripture = 407% higher odds
• Hebrews 4:12

You’ll feel better about life.

• Philippians 4:8-9 – It’s hard to complain about my life after seeing the conditions Paul was in when he wrote this.
• “Bible-engaged Americans are more likely than any other group in America to have a hopeful perspective.”

Philippians 3, continued:

Philippians 3:12-21 – Press on toward Heaven!

• Philippians 3:14 – Heaven is the prize to which God is calling us.
• Philippians 3:15-16 – No Christian should ever become complacent. We must continue pressing on.
• Philippians 3:17 – The word “observe” here just means to keep your eye on someone in a positive way.
• Philippians 3:19 – Those who are concentrating only on earthly things will meet destruction.
• Philippians 3:20 – If we get to a point where we are not eager to go to Heaven, something is wrong!
• Philippians 3:21 – Jesus will transform our bodies when it is time to go to Heaven.

Philippians 4

Philippians 4:1-9 – Peace and joy

• Philippians 4:3
  • The phrase “true companion” is taken by some as evidence that Paul was married, but we have no evidence of that from other scriptures. Paul only refers to himself as unmarried in other places.
  • The “book of life” may or may not be some sort of actual book, but it is referenced by Moses (Exodus 32:32) and a number of other passages in the Bible.
• Philippians 4:4 – Paul was writing from prison to tell others to rejoice!
• Philippians 4:6 – “Do not be anxious” doesn’t mean that nothing bad will happen. Troubles will still come, but Christians have a peace that comes from God.

Philippians 4:10-23 – Paul’s contentment and their fellowship

• Philippians 4:11 – Paul learned to be content.
• Philippians 4:18 – Epaphroditus apparently carried the money to Paul. Paul was grateful for the money, but more than that, he was grateful that the Philippians were in a spiritual state such that they wanted to send him support.
• Philippians 4:22 – This seems to indicate that Paul was in prison in Rome. See Philippians 1:12.

[Note: These notes have been ordered according to the verses in the text, which does not precisely match the order in which the lesson was presented. - MRW]

Matthew 4

Matthew 4:1-11 – Temptation of Jesus

• Some compare Jesus going into the wilderness to Israel’s wandering the wilderness. Unlike Israel, Jesus prevailed in the wilderness.
• Matthew 4:10 – Note that this is in direct conflict with any idea of worshipping Mary.
• Matthew 4:8-11 – In a sense, Jesus was tempted to worship Satan.
  • I Corinthians 10:13 – God always provides a way of escape from temptation.
  • Psalms 119:11
  • James 1:14-15
  • I John 2:15-17 – Do not love the world.
  • Galatians 6:7-8 – A man reaps what he sows.
  • Ralph Waldo Emerson: “Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.“

Matthew 4:12-17 – Jesus begins His Galilean ministry

• Matthew 4:12-13 – See John 4:43. Being from Nazareth was a mark against someone at the time. To be called a Nazarene was derogatory. It was a small and insignificant town. This was another one of many reasons that people were prejudiced against Jesus.
• Matthew 4:15-16 – See Isaiah 42:7; Psalms 107:10-15; Luke 2:32.

Matthew 4:18-21 – Four fishermen and four disciples

• Matthew 4:19 – See Luke 18:28-30. They left all that they had to follow Jesus.

Matthew 4:23-25 – Jesus heals a multitude

• See Acts 10:36-39. Peter would later use much of what is in this chapter in his preaching.

Introduction

• How do you think about what your life consists of?
• Colossians 1:10-12, 21-23
• Colossians 2:5-7
  • Colossians 2:6 – “walk” = “lead your life”
• Colossians 3:1-4, 5-11, 12-17

Following Christ is not a part of life. It is a way of life.

• Colossians 3:18-4:6 – How various groups of people should behave to follow Christ.
• Colossians 3:17

Appreciation for my salvation is shown in the way I live.

• Colossians 1:9-12 – Following Christ should transform our lives.
• Colossians 3:1-10
• Ephesians 4:1 – Walk worthy of your calling.
• Romans 6:1
• II Peter 1:8-11

I can do everyday things in a spiritual way, or a godless way.

• Colossians 3:23-25

Always look for doors for the gospel and use them.

How not to measure spirituality.

• Colossians 2:10-14 – We can’t think we can earn salvation.
• Colossians 2:16-20
• Simply knowing the Bible is not enough.

Instead, look for ways to advance the cause of Christ.

• Colossians 4:2-4
• Philippians 1:12-18

Introduction

I have made the comment in class here before that the longer I live on this earth, the more I think that the purpose of life here is to beat the pride out of man.

We know that God detests pride. The pride of life is one of the three great temptations listed in the Bible. (1 John 2:16).

Let’s dig into this a little this morning and remind ourselves what God thinks about pride, think about all the ways that pride shows up in our lives, and then look at how we can get it out of our lives. I welcome your comments and questions!

What God thinks about pride

From Solomon

Solomon warned about the dangers of pride. Proverbs 16:18-19

It is better to be humble, even if that means you most associate with the lowly people of the world.

Regarding Moses

Moses was very meek, but God clearly respected him for this, going so far as to speak to him plainly. Numbers 12:3-8

Moses’ meekness as a leader was a tremendous blessing to him and not a weakness as many in the world today would say.

Jesus’ example

Jesus Himself was humble and lowly in heart, despite His great power and deity. Matthew 11:28-30

Paul’s warning to Timothy

In Paul’s letter to Timothy, Paul warns Timothy of various types of people he should be wary of. II Timothy 3:2-5

Those who are proud are listed among the people that should be avoided. Several of the categories that Paul lists here (lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, and arrogant) are all symptoms of the underlying disease – pride.

Jesus’ parable

Jesus tells a parable of the two men praying, showing God’s perspective on the two men and their prayers. Luke 18:9-14

The Pharisee was not humble. Jesus’ judgment on the matter is that whoever exalts himself will be humbled (either now or at judgment). Whoever humbles himself will be exalted. How much better to be humble now and be exalted at judgment!

Act out of humility

God tells us to be humble and count others as more significant. People are more willing to follow a humble leader and will be humble themselves when doing so. Jesus is the ultimate example of this. Jesus is deity, yet He humbled Himself coming in the likeness of a man and humbled Himself to God’s will, dying a terrible death on the cross for our sins. Philippians 2:3-11

Be subject to authority and each other

God instructs us to be subject to our elders and to each other. Ultimately, we must humble ourselves before Him. I Peter 5:5-7

How does pride manifest itself in our lives?

Pride can be a very deceptive thing. Even when we think we have rid ourselves of it in one area of our lives, it can pop up somewhere else. Let’s take a few minutes thinking about how pride might show up in our lives. When you really start thinking about it, you might be prideful in more ways than you realize!

Here are a few ways:

• By doing what we want to do and not considering God or others.
  • This is the definition of pride and selfishness – thinking that the rest of the world revolves around us.
• By bragging about our own accomplishments.
  • What have we done that God has not given us the ability to do?
• By refusing to do work that “is beneath us”
  • Jesus washing the feet of his disciples should rid us of this notion!
• By looking down on others for whatever reason.
  • We may think it’s a good reason, but that’s still not a good reason!
• By not serving others.
  • Serving others is loving others!
• By not being generous with our time, money, and resources.
  • Why did God give us these things in the first place? Was it not so that we could obey His commands to love our neighbor?
• By allowing sin to creep in, thinking that we know how to handle it. Or, worse, being proud of it!
  • I Corinthians 5:2 – The Corinthians should have dealt with the sin in their midst instead of being proud of tolerating it.

Sneaky ways that pride shows up:

Aside from the more directly prideful things we talked about, there are a number of “sneaky” ways that pride can show up in our lives. We may not recognize them as pride, so we don’t take the necessary steps to address the problem.

• Anxiety
  • This is one that I have had trouble with in the past – being anxious about a job or money or schedules or any number of things.
  • We will cover this more below, but we must cast our cares on God. To be anxious is to look inward for the answer when we should be looking to God.
  • Psalms 37:25
  • Being anxious can cause us to turn inward and not love God and our neighbor as we should.
  • If you are anxious about something, do what you can to remedy the issue, and give the rest to God. If you need help, reach out to your brethren. This room is filled with people who would love to help, many of which have probably been there themselves!
• Depression or nostalgia
  • This can be very tricky. This way of thinking is very centered around me. It is not centered around God or others.
  • By looking too much at things of the past, we overlook ways to serve God and others now.
  • It is certainly good to remember the good times that God has given us. It is not good to only look to the past.
  • Depression is the inverse of anxiety. Anxiety is being too concerned about the future. Depression is being too concerned with the past, thinking about what bad things have happened before.
• Overeating / poor diet
  • What I want to eat is more important than what is good for my body and my health.
  • God gave us our bodies and they are incredible blessings. It is important that we treat them well and try to keep them functioning properly so that we can serve God.
  • Side note: Your palate and your appetite are a little like your conscience. They are a guide but can be trained wrong. Your body adapts over time to what you eat. I used to avoid vegetables also, but after learning this, managed to gradually change my diet.
• Greed
  • Greed tells us that MY money and things are the most important.
  • Again, this is a view that looks inward, rather than upward to God.
  • Hebrews 13:5-6
• Being late
  • Considering your own time more important than the time of others who may be waiting for you.
  • It’s not a big deal if it happens occasionally. If it’s a chronic problem, it could be a sign of pride in how you manage your time.
  • Why is it that you are always late? What are you doing with your time? Is it as important as you think it is?
• Driving recklessly
  • I want to drive how I want to drive!
  • Putting others in danger is not showing love for our neighbor.
  • If someone saw how you were driving, then saw you pull into the church parking lot, would they be surprised?

How to get pride out of our lives

This is a life-long pursuit! It’s not like we can just conquer pride once and live happily ever after. If only that were true!

Love God first. Love your neighbor. The rest will fall into place.

Matthew 22:34-40

God has made this so simple for us. Just love God and love our neighbor. Let the rest fall out of that. Easy, right?!

Trust God to provide.

Part of the way pride can sneak into our lives is the idea that I need to watch out for myself and get what is mine. If I don’t, I will lose out or be destitute. Certainly, we must work to provide for ourselves and our family, but this can go too far in the sense that we don’t trust God to provide. This leads to anxiety.

Matthew 6:25-34

Someone I heard once gave the analogy that life on earth is like a boardgame. When we die, the pieces all go back in the box. Why are we so worried about the pieces?

Ironically, our anxiety and pride about what we do have might be preventing God from blessing us even more!

Remember to look to God for direction – not ourselves.

Jeremiah 10:23

We must look upward for our direction in life, not to ourselves. God’s direction is perfect and unwavering. Ours may waver constantly and rarely be correct!

Look for ways to serve others.

Galatians 6:2-10

If we are looking to serve others, we are putting our heart in the right place. We both encourage others and help inoculate ourselves against pride.

Remember our common struggle

Romans 3:21-23

Remember that we are all in the same boat - we have all sinned and are all trying to have a good relationship with God. Once we truly understand this, it should be difficult to be lifted up with pride.

Try to see things from God’s perspective

Remember that we are only seeing things from our own perspective. Try to think about what God’s perspective is on a situation.

It is easy to point out other people’s problems. But we must get the logs out of our own eyes first. Maybe then we’ll see that we were the ones with the problems in the first place. We may even need the help of the person we had been looking down on.

Conclusion

Let us take a fresh perspective on pride, find where it lurks in our lives, and root it out so that we might be acceptable to God.