The Stifling of Pride and Blessing of Humility

“Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” Daniel 4:37

King Nebuchadnezzar, through divine miracles done for the people of God, and through divine judgment, was greatly humbled.

“Those that walk in pride he is able to abase.” Daniel 4:37

THERE’S SOMETHING IMPORTANT to realize and remember here about ourselves and others. God is not going to force the revelation of who He is or His truth on anyone. He will not teach or bless any person who is not willing to humble themselves before Him. He does not need anyone, yet all men need Him. God invites but never begs anyone to come to Him and drink of His water of life freely (Matthew 11:28-30; Revelation 22:17). The LORD requires men to humble themselves or He will resist or set Himself against them. Read this closely saint:

“But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.  9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” James 4:6-10

Keep this in mind the next time you find yourself striving with a prideful person who is unteachable and un-pliable. You can preach and try as hard as you can and they are not going to be blessed to know the LORD or be further blessed of Him. Pride stifles the flow divine grace.

Pride says:

  “I want to be correct! I’ve embraced a notion and don’t care what the whole counsel of God’s Word says!”

Humility says:

     “I want to be biblical! If I am not aligned with God’s Word, I want to know it now and will repent and be corrected!”

“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” Proverbs 13:10

WHEN there is strife or the potential for such brewing…. what’s the root? Let’s read it again:

“Only by PRIDE cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” Proverbs 13:10

Memorize this verse. It will reveal the root of evil and change your life.

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13

Never attempt to cover sin.

Always confess sin (1 John 1:9).

Those who don’t readily admit when they are wrong, confess their wrongdoing, and ask for forgiveness, are full of pride.

Jesus says:

“And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3-4

Here’s a passage that has helped me so very many times. I memorized it and so am able to meditate upon it often and especially when needed. See if you can relate:

“But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. 24And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt (capable) to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” 2 Timothy 2:23-26

As His “able ministers of the New Testament,” we should live in “meekness” and “not strive” in the flesh (2 Corinthians 3:6). All men make their own decisions as to believe and walk deeper into the LORD, or not.

The Wisdom that is From Above

“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. ¹⁵This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. ¹⁶For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. ¹⁷But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” James 3:13-18

Quote from a disciple:

“Pride is our own greatest enemy and following Christ in His humility will be the way we know and abide in Him –  Philippians 2:3 ‘Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.’ Galatians 6:3 says ‘For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.’”

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