Pride on SermonAudio

This sermon explores the intimate relationship between the believer and God through the diligent study of Scripture, focusing on Psalm 119:135. It argues that the primary motive for reading the Bible should not be mere self-preservation or the accumulation of knowledge, but a desire to know God personally and to experience His goodness, mercy, and grace. The text contrasts the casual reader who remains in spiritual infancy with the blessed man who meditates on God's law day and night, seeking a deeper communion that transforms character and life. By emphasizing that God's face shining upon the servant is the context for His teaching, the message encourages believers to approach the Word with reverence and humility, ensuring that their knowledge leads to a holy and devoted life rather than pride. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a return to the psalmist's heart, where the desire to be taught is inseparable from the desire to behold the glory of Christ.

This sermon explores the human longing for acceptance and status, framed as a desire to enter an "inner ring," and argues that this drive is ultimately a reflection of the soul's need for belonging to God. By examining the context of Jesus' passion prediction in Matthew 20, the message highlights how spiritual pride and ambition often blind believers to the cost of discipleship, contrasting the world's exclusive hierarchies with the inclusive nature of the Trinity. The central theological claim is that Jesus, through his substitutionary death and resurrection, paid the price to open the way for believers to enter God's eternal fellowship, satisfying the deepest human desires that worldly achievements cannot fulfill. The tone is pastoral and encouraging, urging the audience to find their identity and security in Christ rather than in social or professional validation. Finally, the sermon calls believers to use their secure position in God's kingdom to serve others humbly, sharing the gospel and working for the common good without fear of exclusion or failure.

Beloved in the Lord Jesus: "Sadam Hossein was bad, but his sons were horrible." These were the words of a man who knew all 3 of them personally. Sadam's sons, Uday and Qusay, threatened, abused, and killed people. They used $100. USD bills to light their cigarettes. They pushed their enemies off of 20-storey buildings. They plundered the people, rape and tortured them, especially female athletes. Because of his sons, many people turned against Sadam Hossein and didn't care when he was overthrown, though he was not as bad, and had surrounded himself with Christians. Now you will remember God gave Jacob the command to return to Canaan, settle there, and develop a nation where Messiah would come to redeem the world. And he did. But last week the scheming of Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi…and their murderous plan …making trouble for Jacob. Today, see them carry out those plans and how they brought trouble to their family and the kingdom of God. Our headings are: 1. Deception 2. Destruction 3. Dejection Our goals are: That you will challenge others to live godly lives so they don't trouble the church of Jesus Christ, but rather, show Christ to be a loving and forgiving Savior.

James 4:1-10 Psalm 119:89-97 Psalm 119:11 Ephesians 6:10-18

In the second part of our look at Psalm 19 we encounter a sharp contrast. Now we focus on how the law of the Lord will lead us to to joy, wisdom, light, endurance and more. We are reminded that we must allow the perfect, sure, trustworthy and right word, law, precepts, decisions, and commands into our live. David provides an example of desiring these above gold and honey and points us toward God reminding us to search ourselves for unintentional sins as well as the deliberate and presumptuous sins and to remain obedient in God's power.

James 4:1-10

"Pride Always Pollutes" Seek • Surrender • Submit • Serve Primary Scriptures: Deuteronomy 10:12–13; Deuteronomy 30:6; Zephaniah 3:1–7; 1 Peter 5:5–11; James 4:6–10; Psalm 143:7–8. Central Truth: Pride always pollutes what grace intends to produce. This message reveals the danger of spiritual self-sufficiency and the necessity of daily dependence upon the Lord. In Deuteronomy 10:12–13, God calls His people to fear Him, walk in His ways, love Him, serve Him, and keep His commandments. Yet Deuteronomy 30:6 reveals that the very devotion God requires is something He must graciously produce within the human heart. We cannot accomplish through natural ability what only God's Spirit can accomplish through grace. The life of Moses beautifully illustrates this truth. Once mighty in words and deeds, Moses became a meek and humble servant who understood that God's purposes could never be fulfilled through human strength alone. His usefulness came not from self-sufficiency but from dependence upon the Lord. In contrast, Zephaniah 3 describes Jerusalem as rebellious and polluted. Despite possessing God's revelation, the people refused to obey His voice, receive His correction, trust Him, or draw near to Him. Their pride contaminated their ways, and they eagerly continued in corruption. By reversing the four failures of Zephaniah 3:2, we discover a powerful pattern for daily living: • Seek Him: Draw near to God, recognizing our continual need for His wisdom, presence, and direction. • Surrender to Him: Trust His goodness enough to commit our lives, plans, and understanding to His authority. • Submit to Him: Receive His correction, allowing His Word and Spirit to continually

This lesson is part of a series through Isaiah open to the public via Zoom.