Pitfalls of Pride, Singleness

The Sin of the Devil.

The fall of Man. Both are the same Sin. Both caused a massive falling away, Death, and Destruction. So WHY do we still fall for this Sin? Why do we not see the Pitfalls of Pride? Is there such a thing as good Pride? This is what we will be talking about today, and the next two times we come together.

First, is there Good Pride? Paul did say this after all in 2 Corinthians 5:12

"We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart."

Some translations say "be proud of us," "boast about us," " to glory on our behalf," Also in 2 Corinthians 7:4

"I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds."

Again, other translations say " have great pride in you, "great is my boasting on your behalf." "great is my glorying of you."

So wait, is Pride a good or evil thing? The answer is simple, yet, sometimes hard for some to understand. Let us simplify it like this, There is always a difference between Pride that does not produce division and Arrogance that does. It is OK to take Pride in your accomplishments and or take Pride being one of the Chosen of God and Called according to His Purpose. It is totally different to become so Prideful you become Arrogant and that is when you fall into Sin.

There are three clear Pitfalls of Pride. What we are talking about today, is "Singleness ." Then you have what we will continue with next time, "Closemindedness." Lastly, and the most deceitful, "False Humility."

So what is Singleness, and why is this so wrong and Evil? How does Pride cause this condition? Well, let's look at the word itself.

Singleness. As a noun, Aloneness. Synonyms? Detachment, Emptiness, Isolation, Loneliness, Lonesomeness, Quarantine, Reclusiveness, Seclusion, Separateness, Solitariness, Wilderness, Withdrawal.

All the way back in the beginning, God JUST created Man, He said this

"Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”" {Genesis 2:18}

It is NOT GOOD for Man to be alone. Why? Detachment, Emptiness, Isolation, Loneliness, Lonesomeness, Quarantine, Reclusiveness, Seclusion, Separateness, Solitariness, Wilderness, Withdrawal.

This is not what God has planned for us. He does not want us to be alone. He does not want us Isolated and Lonesome. Now do not get me wrong here. We all need some "me" time. Or some alone time. I get that. We need to go somewhere and simply spend time with God. I get that, But to be alone all the time, or try to do a Job, alone, all the time is NOT healthy mentally or physically.

So how does Pride put us into this Position? Pride tells us, we are the best. Pride tells us, we need no one else to do whatever it is. Pride tells us that we need to answer to no one. Now, this last one is important. We need to answer to no one.

"How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine 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. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit." {Isaiah14:12-15}

So why did Lucifer, "The Son of the Morning," the fairest of all the Angels, God's FIRST Creation, fall so far and so hard? Pride told him that he did not need God, that he was God. That he was as smart as and as important as, God Himself. He "said in thine heart," "I will be like the Most High."

He did not feel he needed to answer to God. He tried to become God. You know the rest of the Story. God smacked him down to the Earth, He took from him any authority He gave him and cursed him forever.

Then God made Man. He gave Man, all the authority over the Earth God had made and gave to him. He made Man even more important than Angles themselves. This did not sit well with Lucifer, who even had his name stripped from him and became Satan. How did he cause the fall of man? Pride.

"Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." {Genesis 3:1-5}

Notice what Satan told her was the reward for disobedience. He told her "ye shall be as gods." What goes through your mind when you hear something like this? You no longer answer to anybody, You are the most important thing in the World. You are better than anyone or anything else. You are the best and the greatest. You are now, number one.

So when Adam and Eve heard this, oh, by the way, Adam was right there with her.

"She took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat." {Genesis 3:6}

They disobeyed God why? To become as gods. They did it for the same reason Satan did. The only difference is that Satan thought it up in his own heart and Adam and Eve had to be tempted with it. It is the SAME SIN. Pride. What happened? Detachment, Emptiness, Isolation, Loneliness, Lonesomeness, Quarantine, Reclusiveness, Seclusion, Separateness, Solitariness, Wilderness, Withdrawal. Satan fell to the Earth. God removed Himself from us and from the Earth.

Pride will also tell you that you are the only one, and yours is the only way. It will close your mind and make you feel like you are the only one able to do whatever it is you do. More on that next time. It will cause division and strife with those around you. If left unchecked, this kind of Pride will lead to Destruction and Death.

“Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18)

As a Child of God, we must NEVER rely on ourselves. We must always remember that without Faith, which includes learning from and Trusting in God, we cannot please God. Without our Family, we can do nothing. The Word declares that we are simply a part of a bigger Picture. We are all parts of the Same Body.

"For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling? But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body." {1 Corinthians 12:14}

Take Pride in what God has called you to do, but never forget, it is NEVER about you. It is ALWAYS about God and increasing His Kingdom. Remember there is a difference between Pride that does not produce division and Arrogance that does.

Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature.

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord.