To become a Difference Maker we must reflect the image of Jesus Christ. Others must see Christ in us, but unfortunately we have attributes that make it next to impossible for us to be effective servants of the King. The attribute or sin I would like to discuss in phase one is pride. Pride is a limiting factor for all believers. How can Jesus use us if we are consumed with pride.? The answer is that he cannot use us effectively in the furtherance of the Kingdom. In this blog I want to identify 4 types of pride that will prevent us from becoming difference makers in the Kingdom.
The first type is arrogant pride. Proverbs 16:5 says “Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Though they join forces, none will go unpunished. ” The word abomination means loathsome and detestable. To say God hates pride is a huge understatement. It is a failure to understand who and what you are. Isaiah states it well in 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. We are wretched just like the hymn Amazing Grace states. It may not be popular to preach such a thing these days as people flock to feel good messages which laud the goodness of man. Let me assure you that God sees us for who we are and that is desperately wicked apart from the grace of Jesus Christ. Arrogant pride fails to take into account this fact and we have a much higher opinion of ourselves. Arrogant pride causes us to reject the word and to choose our own path in spite of the teaching of scripture. How can you become a difference maker if you are arrogant? How can God use you if you are unwilling to change? Why would He use you? My friend this type of pride is a disqualifying attribute that will never allow you to reflect the image of Jesus Christ.
The second type is self-deceiving pride. Sometimes we are the last to know that we have this type of pride because by nature we are deceived. Proverbs 13:10 states ” By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the well-advised is wisdom. “ People suffering from this type of pride are deceived and it takes the efforts of close friends or family to alert them of their sin. King David suffered from this type of pride when he had Uriah executed to get to his wife Bathsheba. It wasn’t until Nathan opened his eyes to show him his sin that David finally realized his pride. Many of us live oblivious to the pride that rules us and we need the council of godly men and women to get our attention so we can redirect our lives. My friends we cannot become effective difference makers if we are deceived and full of pride.
The third type is self-promoting pride. This type of pride wants to take credit for everything. It is the type of pride that says “Look at me!” We see an account of this in Acts with Simon the Sorcerer. Acts 8:18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” 20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” When the apostles were healing and casting out demons they were giving glory to God. Simon wanted to receive the glory for himself. He wasn’t interested in reflecting the image of Jesus, but instead he wanted to take away from God’s glory and place it on himself for his own glory. This is the reason we see so many church splits, and issues in local churches. Imagine you are living at the time of Christ and you see Him hanging on the Cross at Calvary. Self promoting pride would be similar to saying, “Come on down from the cross Jesus, I can do better than You”. It is inconceivable that we could even imagine such a thing, but that is what you do when you try to take the glory. We are kicking Jesus off the throne so we can sit down. How can God use you in such a state. Men and women with self promoting pride want to be in control and want to receive the credit. My friends only Jesus gets the credit and the only praise we ever need to receive is from our Lord Jesus when we get to Heaven. A difference maker wants to deflect the praise so it falls on the One worthy of receiving it.
Finally the fourth type is self-preservation pride. This is the kind of pride that says “I love my self more than Jesus”. It is the main reason most in churches will not ever share their faith with anyone. Statistics show that 95% of members in evangelical churches never share the Gospel with anyone. They may invite someone to church but they will not share how they came to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Such a statistic is a disgusting commentary on the church in America. I do not believe Jesus will think highly of our behavior. We see an example of this type of pride in John chapter 18:25 “Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, “You are not also one of His disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not!” 26 One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, “Did I not see you in the garden with Him?” 27 Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed” Peter wanted to preserve himself so he denied Christ. And many Christians want to preserve themselves from ridicule, embarrassment, discomfort, or harm. That is why the church has collective lockjaw these days. We are involved in so many enterprises all except the one Christ commanded us in the Great Commission. That is when self-preservation pride kicks in and we deny Christ by our inactivity. It is cowardice at a high level and we should apologize to Peter for thinking ill of him for his actions. Self preservation pride places our own well-being over the cause of Christ and you will never become a true difference maker if you are in bondage to this pride. There is forgiveness for having self-preservation pride. Take a look at John 21:15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?“ He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.“ He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?“ He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.“ He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” Today Jesus is asking you “Do you love Me, then spread the Good News about Me”. He is waiting for your reply!
My friends if you truly want to become all that Christ would want you to be in His service, then you need to lose your pride. Imagine the joy you could experience knowing that your service is pleasing to Jesus. It only takes repentance and a willingness to seek the power of the Holy Spirit to enable and empower you. It is then that you will be on your way to becoming a true difference maker.
Blessings
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