BREAKING FREE Week 2

Message by:
Pastor Terry Crawford
Covenant Church
Shepherdstown, WV

The Cure for your “I” Problem

James 4:6 (ESV)
"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."

Good pride: Self-respect, dignity, satisfaction with a job well done. Joy in seeing others succeed.

Galatians 6:4
Each man should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself without comparing himself to somebody else."

2 Corinthians 7:4
I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.

Bad pride: Conceit, egotism, selfishness. Attitude of superiority.

Proverbs 16:5
The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 29:23
Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.

Grace is the change agent.

When you are in a situation that you cannot get out of or break through using your power, that’s when grace is needed. EX: Grace is God stepping in and giving you something you don’t deserve to take you to a place you couldn’t get to. It’s God giving a part of himself to you to change your situation. He is all about grace but opposes what works against grace-pride.

I. HOW PRIDE CAUSES PROBLEMS

1. It prevents me from growing.

Proverbs 26:12
"There is more hope for a fool than for a man who is wise in his own eyes."

Proverbs 10:17(LB)
"Anyone willing to be corrected is on the pathway to life. Anyone refusing has lost his chance."

2. It poisons relationships.

Proverbs 13:10
"Pride only breeds quarrels."

Matthew 7:5
"Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will be able to see and take the speck out of your brother's eye."

3. It produces stress and anxiety.

Proverbs 29:25 (GN)
"It is dangerous to be concerned with what others think of you ..."

Matthew 5:5 (GN)
"The Lord gave us a mind and conscience. We cannot hide from ourselves."

II. HOW TO BE HUMBLE AND HAPPY

1. Admit my weaknesses honestly.

Proverbs 28:13 (LB)
"A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance."

2. Evaluate my strengths realistically.

Romans 12:3 (CEV)
Galatians 6:4
"Each man should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself without comparing himself to somebody else."

3. Enjoy my successes gratefully.

1 Corinthians 4:7 (LB)
"What are you so puffed up about? What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if all you have is from God, why act as though you have accomplished something on your own?"

James 1:17

4. Serve others unselfishly.

Philippians 2:3-5
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves... Look not only to your own interests, but also the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ."

5. Humble myself voluntarily.

James 4:10
"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up."