The Transgression of the Proud

My Will Be Done; My Kingdom Come,
In Earth and In Heaven.

An Examination of Pride in the Church


Jer 13:15 Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.
Jer 13:16 Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
Jer 13:17 But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive.
Jer 13:18 Say unto the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for your principalities shall come down, even the crown of your glory.
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Psa 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

The King of Babylon

Dan 3:15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands? (Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes. )

Dan 4:30 The king spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?

Jesus told us that if we are not for Him, we are against Him, therefore, if we are not serving Christ in the Kingdom of God, we have made our habitation in spiritual Babylon. The choice of who to serve and how, is always before us. We must examine our walk, in the Spirit of God, so that He may reveal to us our spiritual state. Could it be that we have not truly died to self and are revealing King Babylon within our own lives, and call ourselves Christians? Are we serving self? Do we hold up doctrines above the truths the Spirit of Christ reveals in His Word? Do we hear Christ knocking at the door, but are kicking against the pricks? Are we exhibiting the carnal nature that is death? (Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.)

When a soul is operating in this spirit, one of its chief manifestations is pride, which leads to destruction. (Pro 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.) For purposes of this study, we will focus on the sin of pride.

Great harm lies ahead to an individual who refuses repentance and remains unteachable.

2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

How can anyone teach a carnal king of self, whose mind is permeated with the images they have created? Such a mindset will demand that all fall down and worship them, that is, the creations of their own minds. The destiny of man’s image (666) is destroyed by the Messiah. It must be. There can only be one King of Glory, and His name is JESUS, and HE will not share it with another.

Dan 2:34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.
Dan 2:35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.

Therefore, in submitting ourselves to the teachings of the Holy Spirit, He can destroy the images (idolatry) we have created and cast them to the winds. The Lord has given us the Words of eternal life, let us heed them and drink of the living waters that issue out of the Temple, so that healing may come to the barren places.

In examination of King Nebuchadnezzar’s decree, we learn that the residents of his kingdom are commanded to worship an image that he has created, OR be put to death. How often do we see the same thing today, wherein someone may cause another, by force, to commit idolatry, by accepting their lies and hypocrisy? The king of Babylon did not encourage an individual to seek the Higher Guidance of the Almighty God and neither do the false prophets of today. They are prideful men and women who discourage a soul’s personal growth in Christ, and create reliance on themselves. This is demonic. It is satanic at the core and is in complete rebellion to every precept of Christianity

Any individual who is demanding that one accept another’s truth, rather to encourage that person to seek out the truth of the Word of God for himself, is seeking to increase his OWN kingdom, which again is idolatry.

Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

The Word of God is pure and true, and will reveal the TRUTH to all who submit to Him. Only then can the Church come together in one mind, in the Spirit of Christ and the attain unity that it seeks. The faithful steward of the truth, ministers in love and not violence. The fruit of the spirit within will clearly be demonstrated. It will also be demonstrated in power. (1Th 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.)

1Co 12:8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

Babylon’s ever increasing kingdom is prominently displayed within some circles of Christianity today, and self worship has become an ACCEPTABLE standard of behavior. Unless one has the single eye of Christ, we can become a part of this rebellion, which encourages dependence upon these false ministers. UNHOLY SPIRITS teach lazy, carnal believers (is there such a thing?) to continue on in self-seeking, never to deny self, but to continue to feed it. (The Name it and Claim It doctrine, for example.) It is pride feeding pride, creating twofold the children of hell the scriptures speak of.

The convicting, teaching nature of the HOLY SPIRIT, is ALL powerful, yet not forceful. God’s Spirit draws us to the truth, with loving kindness, and in the spirit of reconciliation. It is His desire that all should come to repentance. The still small voice does not condemn, for the Son of God came not to condemn, but to save. If we are ministering in His Spirit, we will exhibit that anointing. We will speak the words that give life, with the earnest desire to see one healed. We will also submit to the knowledge that only God can open the eyes of the blind. To belief otherwise, is again, pride. We are to preach HIS word, (and demonstrate His power) in season, out of season - reproving, rebuking, exhorting with all longsuffering and doctrine. When individuals are Holy Spirit led, these characteristics WILL be present, as we see in the book of Acts, AND we will see the fruit:

Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Ministers of satan are alive and at work in the Body of Christ, being fueled by the image of self, building their own kingdoms, wherein they seek a body that will continue to support, feed and give birth to an increasing kingdom of satanists. Their god is Leviathan and they lure with sweet, flesh pleasing words, debasing the fiery words of judgment in the scriptures. They cry “My Will Be Done -- My Kingdom Come,” and change the Word of God to man’s image. 666.

Job 41:33 Upon earth there is not his like, who is made without fear. 34 He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride.

Rev 9:1-5 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.

We can also see the spirit of pride in the minister who consistently condemns others who do not support or agree with their image (belief/teaching.) They will establish churches teaching their OWN word, and force believers to either accept THEIR view or be cast out. (Job 41:15 His scales are his pride, shut up together as with a close seal). These kings of Babylon hate judgment, (because it exposes their lies) and they can even make shipwreck of a person’s faith. (Psa 94:4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?) Are we supporting this in our lives on any level? Do we condemn others who are not equal in our understanding? Are we part of a fellowship where this behavior is presented? vAre we silent in the face of wickedness? Have we struck pride with the rod of the Word of God and killed it, or are we so bound in this sin, that our hearts have turned to stone? There comes a time when a soul will not be granted repentance, as was Esau, so let us be walking in the fear of the Lord and not ever negate the Truth on ANY level.

Let us resolve to never grieve the Holy Spirit OR the spirit in another, but rather, to be a vessel of honor, reconciling a person to God, by leading them to the cross -- and not to ourselves! Woe to the one who causes a soul to flee from Christ. (Luk 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.)

Fire and brimstone preaching is essential, for our Lord was one such a preacher! Seeing His example though, and knowing He is the Living God, and was never led by the flesh, but only by the Spirit of His Father who dwelled within Him, He knew WHAT to say, and WHEN to say it. His words at times were frightening, and at other times, soothing and comforting. If do not allow the Holy Spirit to rule in our gatherings and teachings, we must remain silent. If we are adding self to the saving Words of God, is it not the same as adding to i-- or taking away from the Word of God? When we voice OPINIONS, rather than SCRIPTURE, we are teaching the oracles of men and not the oracles of God. Try the spirits to see if they are of God -- and if they are not, then what spirit is it? One must be alert to God’s voice in order to know whether a minister is indeed, Christ’s, or serving the king of Babylon. We can know God, by knowing His Word.

The fate of Babylon is revealed in the scriptures. There is no healing her, she is fallen, fallen. All who partake in her sins will receive of the same plagues. Adulterers and idolators will not inherit the Kingdom of God. The worship of self or man is clearly condemned in the First Commandment - You will have no other gods before Me.

Dan 5:20 But when his heart was lifted up,
and his mind hardened in pride,
he was deposed from his kingly throne,
and they took his glory from him:

Dan 5:21 And he was driven from the sons of men;
and his heart was made like the beasts,
and his dwelling was with the wild asses:
they fed him with grass like oxen,
and his body was wet with the dew of heaven;
till he knew that the most high God
ruled in the kingdom of men,
and that he appointeth over it
whomsoever he will.

Morning Manna
August 10, 2007