An Unreasonable Conceit
"Its Christ and I, as I see it, if I stand, I stand with Christ, if I fall, I fall with Christ, either way I believe in Christ and His Father.
Be encouraged My Brothers and Sisters and BELIEVE.
In Christ Rev.
A.
R.
Smith" Pride.
Inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others.
Pride is a chain, hung about the heart of those that fear others rebuke, and contempt for the fallen or the poor.
You may not have a grand mansion, so what, many don't, you may not have as much money as your neighbor, so what, I don't either.
You may not have the calling of God that others have, so what, even Peter was rebuked by Jesus, for trying to ascertain where He and John were going.
Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
(John 21:21-22.
) Wesley states of These verses; "St.
John stays not for the call; he rises and follows him too; but says not one word of his own love or zeal.
He chose that the action only should speak this; and even when he records the circumstance, he tells us not what that action meant, but with great simplicity relates the fact only.
If here and there a generous heart sees and emulates it, be it so; but he is not solicitous that men should admire it.
It was addressed to his beloved Master, and it was enough that he understood it.
" Pride will be a block of Iron around your neck, weighing you down, and preventing you from asking aid, and prayer, from the other brothers, and sisters in Christ.
So you don't have to give, but I say you do.
You give your time, and prayer to the Lord, for the resolution of some others difficulties.
Do you believe that you are better than another, because of your possessions? Do you believe a poor man should not be sitting with you in Church?Then if you do, why do you go to Church? Is it to be seen, hear, admired, or should it be to worship the Lord.
No matter what you have or don't have, the Lord is no respecter of persons.
A rich man is just as important, as a poor one, and the other way around.
For to you that are rich, What House can you build for the Lord, what offering can you give to the Lord that says, I love you more than the rest? 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 thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift 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 exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
How many times have you stopped the Lord from Blessing you, because of your pride? How many time would God have answered prayer, if it wasn't for your pride, and how many times have you, stopped Jesus from coming into your Church, because of pride? Was it an Angel at the door you turned away? Was the man in bids, and shirt, a lowly man or an emissary of God? For as it is written; "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
" Do you live, or are you, in the grips of shame?Then you are being deceived by the spirit of pride.
Is pride a spirit? Yes, so is arrogance, loftiness, self righteousness, and many others that are too many to name.
Each and every time you are ashamed of your, cloths, home, status, office, and even color, you are in the grips of Satan, and the spirit of Pride.
Pride is a cancer that eats away at the spirit of man, desiring to destroy all spiritual contact between you, and the Father.
Here is the definition of Lowly; "Having a low esteem of one's own worth; humble; meek; free from pride.
" Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.
He scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace to the lowly.
Jesus showed no pride, neither in His clothing, nor in His attitude with others.
He came, from being exalted, to being poor and humble, not for His sake, but for ours.
Ask and it shall be given you.
What happens if you don't ask? You don't receive.
Pro 29:23A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
If a Christian can't, or wont, call upon his brothers, and sisters for prayer, no matter what the circumstances are, then who can he turn to? Are we all the same with the Lord? Doesn't he have the right, by the Gospel, to call upon the Church for a deliverance prayer? Do you have so much pride that you do not want the Church to know what your needs are? If so then this is pride.
We are all to be as one body, the arm is just as important as the eye, and the torso is, just as important as the hand.
Our deliverance comes not from man but only from God.
When those that can give, give, it is because the Lord has provided it for them.
If a person can't give, his prayers are worth more than fine gold, because he believes is Gods promises.
I have, in the past, been bound by pride myself, but as the Lords Spirit taught me to depend upon God, the chain of pride fell from me, and I was set free to talk among the brethren.
I was set free by the word of the Lord, to ask, to seek, and to knock.
I no longer worried what people thought of me, I no longer feared what the Church might say of my poverty or dress, I no longer feared the world, I was free.
I wish to share this prayer with all, which came from an associate of mine, I hope you enjoy reading it.
"Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus, and I ask You to forgive me of anything I have done that could displease You in any way.
I ask You to cover me with the Blood of Jesus and fill me with Your Holy Spirit.
Cause my thoughts to be Your thoughts, my desires, Your desires, my will, Your will, and put a guard across my mouth that I can say no more or no less than You would have me say.
Keep me on the path that You have laid out for me today, and show me Satan's tactics in advance.
(From a Friend.
) ars.
Ref; Pro 11:2, Mat 11.
, Prov 3.
, (Luke 18:10-14)
Be encouraged My Brothers and Sisters and BELIEVE.
In Christ Rev.
A.
R.
Smith" Pride.
Inordinate self-esteem; an unreasonable conceit of one's own superiority in talents, beauty, wealth, accomplishments, rank or elevation in office, which manifests itself in lofty airs, distance, reserve, and often in contempt of others.
Pride is a chain, hung about the heart of those that fear others rebuke, and contempt for the fallen or the poor.
You may not have a grand mansion, so what, many don't, you may not have as much money as your neighbor, so what, I don't either.
You may not have the calling of God that others have, so what, even Peter was rebuked by Jesus, for trying to ascertain where He and John were going.
Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
(John 21:21-22.
) Wesley states of These verses; "St.
John stays not for the call; he rises and follows him too; but says not one word of his own love or zeal.
He chose that the action only should speak this; and even when he records the circumstance, he tells us not what that action meant, but with great simplicity relates the fact only.
If here and there a generous heart sees and emulates it, be it so; but he is not solicitous that men should admire it.
It was addressed to his beloved Master, and it was enough that he understood it.
" Pride will be a block of Iron around your neck, weighing you down, and preventing you from asking aid, and prayer, from the other brothers, and sisters in Christ.
So you don't have to give, but I say you do.
You give your time, and prayer to the Lord, for the resolution of some others difficulties.
Do you believe that you are better than another, because of your possessions? Do you believe a poor man should not be sitting with you in Church?Then if you do, why do you go to Church? Is it to be seen, hear, admired, or should it be to worship the Lord.
No matter what you have or don't have, the Lord is no respecter of persons.
A rich man is just as important, as a poor one, and the other way around.
For to you that are rich, What House can you build for the Lord, what offering can you give to the Lord that says, I love you more than the rest? 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 thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift 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 exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
How many times have you stopped the Lord from Blessing you, because of your pride? How many time would God have answered prayer, if it wasn't for your pride, and how many times have you, stopped Jesus from coming into your Church, because of pride? Was it an Angel at the door you turned away? Was the man in bids, and shirt, a lowly man or an emissary of God? For as it is written; "When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.
" Do you live, or are you, in the grips of shame?Then you are being deceived by the spirit of pride.
Is pride a spirit? Yes, so is arrogance, loftiness, self righteousness, and many others that are too many to name.
Each and every time you are ashamed of your, cloths, home, status, office, and even color, you are in the grips of Satan, and the spirit of Pride.
Pride is a cancer that eats away at the spirit of man, desiring to destroy all spiritual contact between you, and the Father.
Here is the definition of Lowly; "Having a low esteem of one's own worth; humble; meek; free from pride.
" Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart.
He scorneth the scorners; but he giveth grace to the lowly.
Jesus showed no pride, neither in His clothing, nor in His attitude with others.
He came, from being exalted, to being poor and humble, not for His sake, but for ours.
Ask and it shall be given you.
What happens if you don't ask? You don't receive.
Pro 29:23A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
If a Christian can't, or wont, call upon his brothers, and sisters for prayer, no matter what the circumstances are, then who can he turn to? Are we all the same with the Lord? Doesn't he have the right, by the Gospel, to call upon the Church for a deliverance prayer? Do you have so much pride that you do not want the Church to know what your needs are? If so then this is pride.
We are all to be as one body, the arm is just as important as the eye, and the torso is, just as important as the hand.
Our deliverance comes not from man but only from God.
When those that can give, give, it is because the Lord has provided it for them.
If a person can't give, his prayers are worth more than fine gold, because he believes is Gods promises.
I have, in the past, been bound by pride myself, but as the Lords Spirit taught me to depend upon God, the chain of pride fell from me, and I was set free to talk among the brethren.
I was set free by the word of the Lord, to ask, to seek, and to knock.
I no longer worried what people thought of me, I no longer feared what the Church might say of my poverty or dress, I no longer feared the world, I was free.
I wish to share this prayer with all, which came from an associate of mine, I hope you enjoy reading it.
"Dear Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Name of Jesus, and I ask You to forgive me of anything I have done that could displease You in any way.
I ask You to cover me with the Blood of Jesus and fill me with Your Holy Spirit.
Cause my thoughts to be Your thoughts, my desires, Your desires, my will, Your will, and put a guard across my mouth that I can say no more or no less than You would have me say.
Keep me on the path that You have laid out for me today, and show me Satan's tactics in advance.
(From a Friend.
) ars.
Ref; Pro 11:2, Mat 11.
, Prov 3.
, (Luke 18:10-14)
Source...