“Embracing Change To Experience Life!”

“Embracing Change To Experience Life!”

1 John 2:15–171 John 2:15–17

Isaiah 14:13,14…. Isaiah 14:13,14….

“(v.13) You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to

heaven;I will raise my throne above

the stars of God;I will sit enthroned on the

mount of assembly,on the utmost heights ….

“(v.13) You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to

heaven;I will raise my throne above

the stars of God;I will sit enthroned on the

mount of assembly,on the utmost heights ….

Isaiah 14:13,14…. Isaiah 14:13,14….

…. of the sacred mountain. (v.14) I will

ascend above the tops of the clouds;

I will make myselflike the Most High.’”

(NIV)

…. of the sacred mountain. (v.14) I will

ascend above the tops of the clouds;

I will make myselflike the Most High.’”

(NIV)

“PRIDE”is defined as

“an inordinate amountof self-esteem.”

“PRIDE”is defined as

“an inordinate amountof self-esteem.”

Let us learn a bit

about“PRIDE”….see where it comes from

and how destructive it

can be to self and others.

Let us learn a bit

about“PRIDE”….see where it comes from

and how destructive it

can be to self and others.

Isaiah 14:13,14…. Isaiah 14:13,14….

“(v.13) You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to

heaven;I will raise my throne above

the stars of God;I will sit enthroned on the

mount of assembly,on the utmost heights ….

“(v.13) You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to

heaven;I will raise my throne above

the stars of God;I will sit enthroned on the

mount of assembly,on the utmost heights ….

Isaiah 14:13,14…. Isaiah 14:13,14….

…. of the sacred mountain. (v.14) I will

ascend above the tops of the clouds;

I will make myselflike the Most High.’”

(NIV)

…. of the sacred mountain. (v.14) I will

ascend above the tops of the clouds;

I will make myselflike the Most High.’”

(NIV)

Did you notice all the “I”?

5 times! Did you notice all the “I”?

5 times!

PRIDE is all about “I” – never about others or even God.I will… I will…, I will…

5 times this me-istic being named himself above God,

himself greater than God, and himself better than God.

PRIDE is all about “I” – never about others or even God.I will… I will…, I will…

5 times this me-istic being named himself above God,

himself greater than God, and himself better than God.

Note the parallel...   Satan said, “I will be like the Most High.” (Isaiah 14:14)

 He told Adam and Eve, “You will be like GOD.” (Genesis 3:5)

A) Vanity A) Vanity

VANITY is aboutappearance.

VANITY is aboutappearance.

Psalm 10:3…. Psalm 10:3….

“He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he

blessesthe greedy and reviles

the LORD.” (NIV)

“He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he

blessesthe greedy and reviles

the LORD.” (NIV)

Ecclesiastes 1:2…. Ecclesiastes 1:2….

“Meaningless! Meaningless!’

says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless!

Everything is meaningless.” (NIV)

“Meaningless! Meaningless!’

says the Teacher. ‘Utterly meaningless!

Everything is meaningless.” (NIV)

is more worried about

what people think about her

than God.

is more worried about

what people think about her

than God.

B) Accomplishment B) Accomplishment

There is nothing wrong with achievement, we are to do our best, and try our hardest, but don’t let our

“achievements”exert power or

control over others.

There is nothing wrong with achievement, we are to do our best, and try our hardest, but don’t let our

“achievements”exert power or

control over others.

Romans 12:3…. Romans 12:3….

“For by the grace given meI say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself

more highly than you ought,but rather think of yourself

with sober judgment, in accordance with the

measure of faith God has given you.”

(NIV)

“For by the grace given meI say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself

more highly than you ought,but rather think of yourself

with sober judgment, in accordance with the

measure of faith God has given you.”

(NIV)

C) Educated C) Educated

walks only with the educated class of people.

walks only with the educated class of people.

Romans 12:3…. Romans 12:3….

“Always learningbut never able to

acknowledge the truth.”(NIV)

“Always learningbut never able to

acknowledge the truth.”(NIV)

There is nothing wrong with getting

a good education,

but PRIDE takes over when a person uses that

education to exalt himself above others.

There is nothing wrong with getting

a good education,

but PRIDE takes over when a person uses that

education to exalt himself above others.

D) Middle Class D) Middle Class

He PUTS DOWN thatupper class group of folks.

He PUTS DOWN thatupper class group of folks.

This “middle class” man

is “real” – where he is down to earth,

he thinks of himselfas more compassionate,

more caring,more in touch withwhat is important.

This “middle class” man

is “real” – where he is down to earth,

he thinks of himselfas more compassionate,

more caring,more in touch withwhat is important.

He sees himself as better than the others that he

puts down.

He sees himself as better than the others that he

puts down.

1 Timothy 5:13…. 1 Timothy 5:13….

“Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and

going about from house to house. And not only do they

become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought

not to.”(NIV)

“Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and

going about from house to house. And not only do they

become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought

not to.”(NIV)

E) MaterialisticE) Materialistic

They are those who dream of wearing nothing

but only the finest in designer labels and brands.

They are those who dream of wearing nothing

but only the finest in designer labels and brands.

desires to have –always wants to acquire.If you don’t have it then

you need to get it!

desires to have –always wants to acquire.If you don’t have it then

you need to get it!

1 John 2:15–171 John 2:15–17

F) Better Than You F) Better Than You

Ecclesiastes 1:15…. Ecclesiastes 1:15….

“What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is

lacking cannot be counted.”(NIV)

“What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is

lacking cannot be counted.”(NIV)

is never full,they will consume until

there is nothing left.

is never full,they will consume until

there is nothing left.

God can be a part oftheir life, but

not consume their life.

God can be a part oftheir life, but

not consume their life.

The Word tells us to….The Word tells us to….

Ephesians 4:2…. Ephesians 4:2….

“Be completely humbleand gentle; be patient,

bearing with oneanother in love.”

(NIV)

“Be completely humbleand gentle; be patient,

bearing with oneanother in love.”

(NIV)

Ephesians 4:32…. Ephesians 4:32….

“Be kind and compassionate to one

another,forgiving each other,

just as in ChristGod forgave you.”

(NIV)

“Be kind and compassionate to one

another,forgiving each other,

just as in ChristGod forgave you.”

(NIV)

“Pride” does some

horrible things to the hearts of men and

women….

it’s all about SELF!

“Pride” does some

horrible things to the hearts of men and

women….

it’s all about SELF!

The only “I will”God wants to hear is

The only “I will”God wants to hear is

from the insideof my heart.

from the insideof my heart.

Proverbs 8:13…. Proverbs 8:13….

“To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil

behavior and perverse speech.”

(NIV)

“To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil

behavior and perverse speech.”

(NIV)

Job 33:9…. Job 33:9….

“I am pure and without sin; I am clean andfree from guilt.”

(NIV)

“I am pure and without sin; I am clean andfree from guilt.”

(NIV)

A) Pride Pushes Us Away

From God

A) Pride Pushes Us Away

From God

PRIDE distances us

from GOD.

PRIDE distances us

from GOD.

PRIDE causes a person to

kick GOD out of thecore of his own heart.

PRIDE causes a person to

kick GOD out of thecore of his own heart.

Psalm 138:6…. Psalm 138:6….

“Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he

knows from afar.” (NIV)

“Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he

knows from afar.” (NIV)

Have you noticed your prayer life

lately?

Is your prayer lifedealing with

“me and me” only?

Is your prayer lifedealing with

“me and me” only?

B) Pride Pushes Us Away From ServingOne Another

B) Pride Pushes Us Away From ServingOne Another

How many of you

want to be greatwhen you get to heaven?

How many of you

want to be greatwhen you get to heaven?

If you want to become great, become a

“s-e-r-v-a-n-t”(Matthew 20:26).

If you want to become great, become a

“s-e-r-v-a-n-t”(Matthew 20:26).

No servant was present,

so Jesus got up

took the initiativeand washed all

of the apostles’ feet.

No servant was present,

so Jesus got up

took the initiativeand washed all

of the apostles’ feet.

John 13 John 13

Is God speakingto you and I regarding

our “PRIDE?”

Is God speakingto you and I regarding

our “PRIDE?”

There is no upside to

PRIDE,no long-term or

lasting benefits to speak of, absolutely

no eternal benefits.

There is no upside to

PRIDE,no long-term or

lasting benefits to speak of, absolutely

no eternal benefits.

Is there

PRIDE in your life today?

Is there

PRIDE in your life today?