Overcoming Pride: The Battle Within

Devotional

Day 1: The Battle Within: Confronting Our Pride

The greatest battle Christians face is often against themselves, with pride being a significant manifestation of self. This pride led to the fall of both the devil and humanity, and it continues to cause division and strife in the church today. Recognizing and addressing this issue is crucial for spiritual growth. Pride can blind us to our own faults and inflate our sense of self-worth, leading to a disconnect from God and others. It is essential to understand that pride is not just an external issue but an internal struggle that requires constant vigilance and humility. [03:22]

"For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor." (Galatians 6:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a recent situation where pride influenced your actions or thoughts. How can you approach similar situations with humility and a heart open to God's guidance?

Day 2: Gifts and Experiences: Recognizing God's Hand

The devil exploits our gifts and experiences to puff up our pride, leading to self-satisfaction and division. By recognizing that all we have is a gift from God, we can combat this pride and focus on serving God and others. It is easy to fall into the trap of believing that our talents and achievements are solely the result of our efforts. However, acknowledging God's role in our lives helps us maintain a posture of gratitude and service. This perspective shift allows us to use our gifts for the benefit of others and the glory of God, rather than for personal gain. [13:34]

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 4:10-11, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a gift or talent you possess. How can you use it today to serve someone else and glorify God?

Day 3: The Power of Self-Examination and Humility

Self-examination and humility are essential in the Christian life. By honestly assessing ourselves and recognizing our dependence on God's grace, we can avoid the pitfalls of pride and self-satisfaction. This process involves a willingness to confront our weaknesses and seek God's help in overcoming them. It is through humility that we can truly understand our need for God and His transformative power in our lives. Embracing humility allows us to grow spiritually and become more effective in our service to God and others. [25:01]

"Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!" (Psalm 139:23-24, ESV)

Reflection: Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal areas of pride in your life. What steps can you take to cultivate humility and reliance on His grace?

Day 4: Unity in Diversity: Embracing Our Role in the Body of Christ

Every member of the body of Christ is essential, regardless of their perceived importance. Our focus should be on our identity as members of the body and our role in serving God and others, rather than seeking preeminence. This understanding fosters unity and cooperation within the church, as each person recognizes their unique contribution to the whole. By valuing each member's role, we can work together to fulfill God's purposes and demonstrate His love to the world. [33:30]

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:12-13, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your role within your church community. How can you better support and appreciate the diverse gifts of others in your congregation?

Day 5: The Mind of Christ: Living for God's Glory

The only opinion that matters is God's. By striving to have the mind of Christ, who humbled himself and became obedient to death on a cross, we can overcome the devil's schemes and live for God's glory. This mindset requires a shift from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness, where our actions and decisions are guided by a desire to honor God. Emulating Christ's humility and obedience empowers us to resist the devil's temptations and remain faithful to our calling as His followers. [35:01]

"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men." (Philippians 2:5-7, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you adopt the mind of Christ in your daily life? Consider specific actions or attitudes you can change to align more closely with His example.

Sermon Summary

In Ephesians 6:10-13, Paul urges believers to be strong in the Lord and to put on the full armor of God to stand against the devil's schemes. This passage highlights the ongoing spiritual battle Christians face, not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil. The devil, though unable to reclaim us for his kingdom, can still cause significant trouble by exploiting our weaknesses, particularly through the problem of self. The greatest saints have testified that their most formidable enemy is often themselves, with pride being a primary manifestation of self. This pride led to the fall of the devil and humanity, and it continues to be a significant issue throughout biblical history and in the church today.

The Bible provides numerous examples of how self and pride have caused division and strife, even among Jesus' closest disciples. The devil uses our gifts, experiences, and desires to puff up our pride, leading to self-satisfaction, jealousy, and division. The antidote to this is self-examination and humility, recognizing that all we have is a gift from God. We must remember that our worth is not in our abilities or achievements but in our identity as members of the body of Christ. Every part of the body is essential, and our focus should be on serving God and others, not on seeking preeminence.

Ultimately, the only opinion that matters is God's. We should strive to have the mind of Christ, who, despite being in the form of God, humbled himself and became obedient to death on a cross. This humility and obedience should be our model, freeing us from the devil's schemes and allowing us to live for God's glory. By dying to self and living for Christ, we can overcome the devil's wiles and be faithful servants in God's kingdom.

Key Takeaways

1. The greatest battle Christians face is often against themselves, with pride being a significant manifestation of self. This pride led to the fall of both the devil and humanity, and it continues to cause division and strife in the church today. Recognizing and addressing this issue is crucial for spiritual growth. [03:22]
2. The devil exploits our gifts and experiences to puff up our pride, leading to self-satisfaction and division. By recognizing that all we have is a gift from God, we can combat this pride and focus on serving God and others. [13:34]
3. Self-examination and humility are essential in the Christian life. By honestly assessing ourselves and recognizing our dependence on God's grace, we can avoid the pitfalls of pride and self-satisfaction. [25:01]
4. Every member of the body of Christ is essential, regardless of their perceived importance. Our focus should be on our identity as members of the body and our role in serving God and others, rather than seeking preeminence. [33:30]
5. The only opinion that matters is God's. By striving to have the mind of Christ, who humbled himself and became obedient to death on a cross, we can overcome the devil's schemes and live for God's glory. [35:01]
** [35:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:10] - Introduction to Ephesians 6:10-13
[01:15] - The Wiles of the Devil
[02:33] - The Problem of Self
[03:57] - Pride and the Fall
[06:30] - Biblical Examples of Self
[08:29] - Warnings Against Self
[10:33] - The Devil's Use of Pride
[13:34] - Pride in Gifts and Experiences
[17:08] - Desires for Importance
[19:05] - Consequences of Self
[24:48] - The Biblical Answer to Self
[29:06] - Knowing Thyself
[32:16] - The Body of Christ
[35:01] - God's Opinion Matters
[42:23] - The Mind of Christ

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What does Paul mean by "the full armor of God" in Ephesians 6:10-13, and why is it necessary for believers? [00:10]
According to the sermon, how does the devil exploit our gifts and experiences to puff up our pride? [13:34]
What examples from the Bible were given in the sermon to illustrate the problem of self and pride? [06:30]
How does the sermon describe the role of self-examination in combating pride and self-satisfaction? [25:01]

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-13 relate to the internal battle against pride and self as discussed in the sermon? [03:22]
In what ways does the sermon suggest that pride can lead to division and strife within the church? [18:36]
How does the sermon interpret the biblical teaching of humility and its importance in the Christian life? [09:14]
What does the sermon suggest is the ultimate way to overcome the devil's schemes and live for God's glory? [35:01]

Application Questions

Reflect on a recent situation where pride may have influenced your actions or decisions. How can you apply the sermon’s teaching on humility to similar situations in the future? [13:34]
The sermon emphasizes the importance of self-examination. What practical steps can you take to regularly assess your spiritual health and dependence on God's grace? [25:01]
Consider your role within the body of Christ. How can you focus more on serving God and others rather than seeking recognition or preeminence? [33:30]
The sermon highlights the danger of self-satisfaction. How can you cultivate a mindset of continual growth and learning in your faith journey? [19:18]
Think about a gift or talent you possess. How can you use it to serve others and glorify God, while avoiding the trap of pride? [13:34]
How can you strive to have the mind of Christ in your daily life, especially in situations where humility and obedience are challenging? [35:01]
Reflect on the statement that the only opinion that matters is God's. How can this perspective change the way you handle criticism or praise from others? [35:01]

Sermon Clips

Christian people though we are delivered from the bondage of sin and of Satan we nevertheless are still subject to the Ws of the devil he can never get us back into his kingdom but he can cause us great trouble in the kingdom of God and he does so in the various ways that we have already been considered. [00:01:24]

The greatest enemy they have had to face and The Last Enemy as far as they themselves are concerned is always self this I say is the universal testimony you read their biographies read their Diaries and you will find that this appears everywhere a man's greatest battle in the last analysis is his battle against himself. [00:03:02]

Self is responsible for all evil it is responsible for all sin the first to fall in God's Great creation was the devil the devil was created by God he was created perfect he was endowed with unusual faculties unusual ability and Power and understanding a bright star in the firmament of God's creation but we remember that he fell because of Pride. [00:04:01]

The devil constantly in his wiliness plays upon this particular aspect of our personality now as you come to read the Bible from the very beginning to the very end you find that this is the outstanding problem that is why we should always thank God that the Bible is not merely a book of teaching but also a book of History. [00:06:32]

He works on self of course in the matter of Pride that's probably the one that comes first tries to make us proud or what well of gifts he tries to make people proud of their brains their understanding their knowledge look at the Corinthians the strong brother the weak brother the men of knowledge and understanding despising the other men how typical. [00:10:54]

The Bible is always telling us to face ourselves honestly and to realize the full truth about ourselves that's the secret of it all it's because we don't examine ourselves that we suffer from self because the moment we examine ourselves honestly we'll very soon discover that we've got nothing to burst about. [00:24:57]

What hast thou that thou did not receive now if thou D receive it why Dost thou Glory as if thou Hast not received it now that's an unanswerable argument what he's saying you see is this now he says you're all boasting of your gifts and your superiority but wait a minute says Paul what are you bursting about. [00:26:19]

Every part of the body is important of course every part is not as striking in appearance and doesn't seem to be so wonderful the head the eyes hands and feet they seem to be so essential and so wonderful and so important but says the Apostle there are less comely Parts there are parts we don't speak about there are Parts which we hire. [00:32:21]

The only thing that matters is what God thinks of us the only thing that matters is what Christ thinks of us you see if only we could get hold of this principle how it would revolutionize everything we are always wondering what people are thinking what people are saying and then we become sensitive. [00:34:44]

Let nothing be done through Strife or vain Glory but in loneliness of Mind Let each esteem other better than himself look not every man on his own things but every man also on the things of others let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus well what was the mind that was in Christ Jesus. [00:42:32]

He humbled himself didn't consider himself at all became a nobody as it were became a felon was crucified with thieves the L insults were heaped upon him he didn't Grumble he went willingly he made himself of no reputation in order that you and I might be rescued and redeemed and become the children of God and the hes of God and Joint HS with him. [00:45:03]

Let this mind be also in you which was in Christ Jesus he had only one controlling thought it was this to do the father's will doesn't matter what it means it means leaving Heaven it means leaving the glory it means laying aside the signs of the glory it means being a little helpless babe it doesn't matter what it is. [00:45:37]

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