PUT AWAY YOUR EGO AND PRIDE

Hello Friends, at 4:00 am this morning, I was awakened by a voice calling my name. My wife awoke and I told her that someone called my name. I quickly got up and went to the bathroom and realized it was the voice of God. So I sat down and started writing. This is the message. "Of all the things we must ask God to help us overcome are pride and our ego. Biblical, history recalls it was these two things in Satan that caused his downfall.

When people are full of pride, as time goes on, they eventually crash if they don't get help. The bigger the ego, the harder the fall. The word of God is clear in Proverbs 16:18, "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

Whenever pride and ambition are indulged, the life is marred; for pride, feeling no need, closes the heart against the infinite blessings of Heaven through wise counsel.

To you who are full of hatred and revenge. Before you seek to air someone's dirty laundry out, remember, you have dirty laundry of your own. "Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

20 But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it." Isaiah 1:16-20.

"The spirit of hatred and revenge originated with Satan, and it led him to put to death the Son of God. Whoever cherishes malice or unkindness is cherishing the same spirit, and its fruit will be unto death. In the revengeful thought, the evil deed lies enfolded as the plant in the seed." “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him” 1 John 3:15."

In Romans 12:19 it says, "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

"The same spirit that prompted rebellion in heaven still inspires rebellion on earth... Reproof of sin still arouses the spirit of hatred and resistance. When God's messages of warning are brought home to the conscience, Satan leads men to justify themselves and to seek the sympathy of others in their course of sin. Instead of correcting their errors, they excite indignation against the reprover, as if he were the sole cause of difficulty. From the days of righteous Abel to our own time, such is the spirit which has been displayed toward those who dare to condemn sin."

When Jesus was on earth. Satan contested every claim put forth by the Son of God and employed men as his agents to fill the Saviour's life with suffering and sorrow. The sophistry and falsehood by which he had sought to hinder the work of Jesus, the hatred manifested through the children of disobedience, his cruel accusations against Him whose life was one of unexampled goodness, all sprang from deep-seated revenge. The pent-up fires of envy and malice, hatred and revenge, burst forth on Calvary against the Son of God, while all heaven gazed upon the scene in silent horror."

"Pride of heart is a fearful trait of character. “Pride goeth before destruction.” This is true in the family, the church, and the nation."

The world today is filled with so much anger. This has led to an increase in people fussing, cussing, abusing each other, violence, murder, mistrust, and mistreatment of one another without forgiveness.

The question is asked, “What is leading to mankind's downfall?

The answer is, "It is pride, ignorance, and folly."

History is filled with examples of people who were filled with pride and lost their way. Take for example, one that ended in sudden death, is the account of Haman in Esther 3:7. A glory-hungry self-worshipper, Haman was never satisfied, no matter how much praise he received. The same could be said of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 4:30-37, who had to learn a long lesson in humility after exalting himself beyond his actual standing.

The core lesson we can take from each of these stories is this: “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 14:11; Matthew 23:12.

How does a person with excessive pride behave?

They get defensive so easily.

They can't stand the idea that they might not be right or that they don't know the answer. 

They may make up an answer or lie instead of saying, "I don't know."

They are resentful when someone else wins or succeeds, or is right.

They can't stand it when someone has dominion over them.

They don't like being told what to do.

Having enough isn't good enough for them, they want to have more than the next person all the time.

They have resentment and hatred for others. 

They stir trouble for others.

The love of God doesn't dwell in their heart. 

In the world, one should expect the spirit of pride and ego to go before the children of man, because they are under the control of the devil. But this Spirit should not be seen among the professed children of GOD!

Today, the Lord is displeased with the pride manifested among His professed people. His will is:

1. They should be subject to one another.

2. They should counsel with each other, that the lack of one be supplied by the sufficiency of the other.

My friend, God hates pride, Proverbs 6:16-19, and ... all the proud and all that do wickedly shall be stubble, and the day that cometh shall burn them up. Malachi 4:1-3.

To those of you who have hot heads and cannot control your temper.  To you who refuse to move away from your pride and ego. The warning to you today is, to repent before you fall! If you would like to overcome these evil traits. The word of the Lord is, “Learn of me,” said Christ; “for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” Matthew 11:29.

It is said by them of old, "Before honor is humility. To fill a high place before men, Heaven chooses the worker who ... takes a lowly place before God. The most childlike disciple is the most efficient in labor for God. The heavenly intelligences can cooperate with him who is seeking, not to exalt self, but to save souls... From communion with Christ, he will go forth to work for those who are perishing in their sins. He is anointed for his mission, and he succeeds where many of the learned and intellectually wise would fail....

"The simplicity, the self-forgetfulness, and the confiding love of a little child are the attributes that Heaven values. These are the characteristics of real greatness."

"Solomon was never so rich or so wise or so truly great as when he confessed, “I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.”

May we find it in our hearts today to humble ourselves before GOD, and let's put away our ego, and pride, and respect one another. May you have a wonderful day. Blessings, Blessings, Blessings. 

By GARDEN MINISTRY