PRIDE = FALLING FROM GRACE

Much has been said about grace and some people are misunderstanding the gift of grace thinking that it is their passport for a reckless life.

WHAT SHALL we say [to all this]? Are we to remain in sin in order that God's grace (favor and mercy) may multiply and overflow? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? Romans 6:1-2 (AMP)

Many are the fruits of the flesh, and once we accept Jesus as the king and master of our lives, we are to declare the death of our sinful nature.

In this message, we will discuss about grace and discipline. Those who do not accept to be disciplined are in danger of pride. Some people like to create a list of things that they classify as sinful, and they forget that pride is one of the worst sins.

Actually, pride was the first sin ever. Most people think that the first sin is about Adam and Eve. But it is not. Lucifer committed the first sin, and his sin was pride. Basically, Satan didn't accept God's discipline and he did not accept the way God governs all what God HIMSELF created.

In other words, the devil thought that he could be and do better than God.

"How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, you who weakened the nations! For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north.” Isaiah 14:12-13 (NKJV)

“You said you would climb to the tops of the clouds and be like the Almighty”. Isaiah 14:14 (GNT)

“But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit”.  

Isaiah 14:15 (NIV)

As we can see, Lucifer, was a kind of angelic being, and because of his pride, he became Satan. Pride is able to transform any devote Christian into a demon possessed person.

Satan fell from Grace from the moment he became proud. And the same happens with us man and women of God. The moment we think we are a better than others, the moment we think that we should not be disciplined, corrected, exhorted, trained and taught; a huge door will be opened in our lives. 

And through this door, Satan and his demons have full access to do whatever they can in order to destroy the life of those who became proud.

Should grace be the absence of discipline?  Not according to the Bible:

“It's the child he loves that he disciplines; the child he embraces, he also corrects”. Hebrews 12:6 (MSG) 

“You must submit to and endure [correction] for discipline; God is dealing with you as with sons. For what son is there whom his father does not [thus] train and correct and discipline?” Hebrews 12:7 (AMP)

“Now if you are exempt from correction and left without discipline in which all [of God's children] share, then you are illegitimate offspring and not true sons [at all]”. Hebrews 12:8 (AMP)

"Because the Lord disciplines those he loves." This is a sign of sonship. If we are being disciplined either by God or through someone else, it is a sign that we are loved.

But pride has blinded people, and whenever they are exhorted or trained, a burst of pride invades their hearts and they may become angry, resentful, vengeful and hurt.

“Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you”. Proverbs 9:8 (NIV)

The devil has so much hatred in him. Pride leads to such an intense odious feeling. He hates everything that God created.

Have you seem someone full of hatred? Usually they are full of pride and consequently, full of demons as well. 

Unfortunately, we have seen many Christians falling from Grace. From the moment they forget that they are already dead for the fruits of the flesh, and they start to nourish their flesh all over again and subsequently, giving all the rooms the devil needs to destroy them.

A proud person does not accept the truth of the Word of God. They want to manipulate their preachers in order to make them preach only what they like to hear:

“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:3 (NLT)

“And shutting their ears to what is true, will be turned away to belief in foolish stories”. 2 Timothy 4:4 (BBE)

One of the most painful situations inside of a Church, is to have pretenders, haters or a proud religious people in the midst of the congregation, who do not want to change their mindset. They may accuse and judge everyone else.

They refuse to understand, that the closer we are with Jesus, less judgmental we become.

Pride, always search the worse in everyone else. Grace always sees the best in everyone else.

Jesus is grace HIMSELF, while Lucifer is all about pride and hatred.

In the same way that merely sitting on a garage doesn't turn anyone into a vehicle, sitting on a church pews won't make anyone a Christian.

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." James 4:6  (NIV)

Prayer:

"My beloved Lord, who am I in order to be so proud? Have mercy on me Lord!

Help me to overcome my pride. I do not want to fall from your grace, and I want your Name to be exalted forever. I open my heart for your presence, and let it be more of you and less of me". Amen.