The illicit thirst for power, destructive in its ramifications, brings about fitting retribution from God. Of all the narratives in the book of Judges, Yahweh’s presence is felt the least …
Tag:
Pride
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Dear Roger, We were ending our Bible study when one of the women spoke up. She said, “I hate to bring this up, but I get so tired of my …
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Humility is not thinking less of yourself or having low self-esteem, it is thinking of yourself less, by thinking of others and God more. As the Spirit of God dwells …
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Dear Roger, I’ve been reading the New Testament and it surprises me how often Jesus referred to money. For example, “He commended the widow who did not have much, but …
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Our passions and desires are at war within us, and we must fight against them. While pride, boasting and divisiveness mark worldly people, humility, obedience and repentance mark the godly. …
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Proverbs 16 says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (v. 18). Put another way, be humble or you’ll stumble. Pride is the oldest sin in …
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Pride is the essence of sin, and steals God’s glory. How do we conquer it and humble ourselves? www.debwaterbury.com.
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god’sDear Roger, How do you cure a “Messiah Complex”? I think that I may have one. Sincerely, William Years ago, I was one burned-out pastor. On a Saturday night, I was …
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Twelve months later he was taking a walk on the flat roof of the royal palace in Babylon. As he looked out across the city, he said, ‘Look at this great …
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Solomon teaches on the dangers and destruction pride brings.
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So, you probably want people to like you and your leadership. Who doesn’t? If we’re honest with each other, most of us in leadership prefer to be be liked (rather …
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Years ago I addressed a large conference for Christian workers on the topic of brokenness, I experienced a dramatic increase in invitations to speak at other gatherings. I was truly …
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The world needs leaders, especially during times of uncertainty. But not just any leaders. King Nebuchadnezzar was humbled by God in a drastic way, but learned from his suffering to …
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I am like the poster child of getting counseling. Seriously, in the last few years I have been to four different counselors. I’ve done individual sessions, group sessions, marriage counseling, …
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After a discussion with my daughter recently about the subject of spiritual gifts, I’d thought I’d post an evaluation form used to help others discover their area of gifting. I …
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King Nebuchadnezzar had no peers. He was the uncontested ruler of the world of the 6th century B.C. Babylon, his city, rose out of the desert plains like a Manhattan skyline. …
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In the beginning, the earth was formless and void, but that did not deter the Almighty. He looked into the fathomless depth of its darkness and concluded, “All it needs …
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Dear Roger, Dealing with finances is so confusing to me. I’m so overwhelmed. I’m trying hard to minimize my spending, but I always seem to spend everything that I make. …
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“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3). Who doesn’t like a man of ambition? You know the kind …
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“All of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for— God has had it with the proud, But takes delight in just plain …
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Dear Roger, Does the Bible address climate change? What does it say about taking care of the planet? Sincerely, Jamie Dear Jamie, Among several environmental and sociological causes, climate change …
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” If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous …
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If you’ve read the Old Testament then you may remember the story of King Hezekiah. He was a reformer, a righteous king whom we praise for his trust in God …
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Dear Roger, I was at the soccer field, sitting next to one of my Bible group friends, when my 10-year-old made a goal. I said to my friend, “I’m …
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Dear Roger, A man in our small group mentioned the seven deadly sins. I’ve heard about them but I’m wondering just which sins they are. Why are they more deadly …
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Revelation 3:14 “To the messenger of the congregation in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says….” As we can see in …
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Dear Roger, We live in an age of Blamers. Won’t anybody stand up and admit they are guilty without making excuses! We were discussing this in my small group …
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Was the fall of Lucifer really discussed in Isaiah 14? What can we learn about Lucifer from this passage? This passage in Isaiah contains a prophecy against Sennacherib who proclaimed …
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How do you know if you are proud? Paul has the litmus test. 1 Corinthians 8:1-3 “Now concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us …
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Can movies and media featuring sexual assault and domination set us back decades by degrading women and advocating masochism and bondage? Debbie Holloway of Crosswalk writes: “It takes very little research …
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The majority of people in the world will miss the next Christmas. But how can that be? How can anyone miss Christmas, given the amount of advertising, publicity, and promotion …
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“Jesus didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.” Phil. 2:8 MSG …
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Joy Hlavka Forney grew up in our church. She is a missionary to Uganda and teaches powerfully on how to live victoriously in the midst of difficult circumstances. Here are Joy’s …
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More than likely, you’ve spent most of your life choosing to do more than is possible and beating yourself up for not being able to keep up. “I should …
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The black and orange holiday is here. You may be ready to don your red spandex Iron Man suit to trick or treat with your child. I personally like to …
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Dear Roger, My family is falling apart. I have lost my job, my son is on drugs, and I lost my retirement fund when my company went bankrupt. Has God …
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Do you look down on those who are less educated, less affluent, less refined, or less successful than yourself? Do you think of yourself as more spiritual than your mate, …
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We often trade what we’ve decided and what we know is most important for a bowl of stew. What’s true of Esau is true of you. You have no idea …
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Dear Roger, How do we know which Old Testament Laws should be acknowledged and which ones can be ignored? My pastor says that some laws were cultural (like eating …
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My childhood goal was to be a “good girl,” taking perfectionism to a whole new level. I belonged to every club, was an honor student, and felt incredibly guilty if …
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So many of us suffer with false guilt; we take moral responsibility for actions, events, and situations that were not our fault. False guilt has no value; it is always …
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We often get so caught up thinking about where we’d rather be and what we’d rather be doing, that we forget all the places God has already been with us. …
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Andy Stanley dove into a pool of piping hot water last week, with remarks pitted small churches against big churches. His comments came within the context of his explaining why he believes …
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When Jesus was crucified, the curtain in the temple dividing the Holy of Holies from everything else, was ripped from top to bottom. God said, “That which divided us is …
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When my wife and I purchased our first home, I determined our lawn would be at least comparable to that lovely lush landscape of the guy two doors down. Our …
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Momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy. This old saying shows up a lot on t-shirts, coffee cups, and wall plaques. It’s supposed to make us smile, but it annoys me. …
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Have you ever heard someone say that they are against organized religion? Or perhaps they regard organized religion as having brought harm to society? After all, hasn’t religion been a …
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What do we learn from Cain? Don’t play the comparison game. Jealousy and pride will kill you. Pray for the people you want to kill. Love someone you don’t like. …
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Bad religion is decried by Jesus in Matthew 29 when He condemns the Pharisees on their hypocrisy. But we can easily commit the same sins. Here are seven ways you …
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Sermons
Hecknology: Will Technology Grow or Hinder Your Spiritual Life?
by Ed Young Jrby Ed Young JrTechnology can elevate us, causing us to be proud, self-centered or self-promoting. Technology can hurt and humiliate. It can also suffocate you, emptying your life of quiet, solitude and rest. …
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Have you ever heard this one: Can God create a rock so heavy that even he could not lift it? Did you know that there is a biblical answer to …
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We’re not all too bad at bobbing and weaving. We’re pretty good at side-stepping and side-lining issues. We’re quite adept at cutting and spinning, doing a bit of …
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You will be astonished at this information. Christians should not be ignorant of God’s plans for His chosen people in His Word. Jews are, biblically speaking, the “chosen people …
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RESOLVING HYPOCRISY: Most of us are unaware of how hypocrisy controls our lives. Here is a list of symptoms that will identify areas you need to address in your integrity …
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The spectacular sin of those who built the Tower of Babel was used by God in spite of the pride of the wicked people. Where do all the languages in …
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Modern Christians can be edified when the psalmist expounds on God’s law in Psalm 119 and says that the law is wise, able to keep a man pure, and a …
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King Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, lost his throne by listening to bad advice, by leading with fear and intimidation and by selfishness and greed. Good, godly leaders humbly put the needs …
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Fear and arrogance caused men in ancient time to build the Tower of Babel. They wanted to build a tower to heaven to be with God, but He had to …
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%&*#! Potty mouth. Sexual innuendo. Cussing. Cursing. Smack talk. Smut. Swearing. OMG…Taking the Lord’s Name in vain!!! We have become desensitized to vulgarity. “PG” ratings now use “R” language. What …
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Why Megachurches Keep Growing There’s a reason why churches and denominations are in decline. We continue to be religious about using the same methods hoping and praying they’ll somehow generate …
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This message is one our culture preaches in earnest to girls and women, beginning in earliest childhood. It comes at us from virtually every angle: television, movies, music, magazines, books, …
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God’s favorite posture is kneeling. Humility is the key to knowing God.Miriam, Moses’ sister and Aaron, Moses’ brother, questioned God’s leadership. Miriam was punished by God and contracted leprosy. Although …
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There’s enough circulating in the media today to discourage Christians about the future of marriage and family. In a recent Atlantic article, “All the Single Ladies,” Kate Bolick suggests we …
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The American Dream can be a curse when we are driven by greed, futile pursuits, and broken relationships. There are four keys to avoiding the “American Nightmare.” We must value …
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Articles
Homosexuality, Divorce and Pork: Old Testament vs. New Testament
by Tim Kellerby Tim KellerI find it frustrating when I read or hear columnists, pundits, or journalists dismiss Christians as inconsistent because “they pick and choose which of the rules in the Bible to …
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Dear Roger, What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the Church today? Dear Osten, The work of the Holy Spirit in the church today is to …
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Jude describes the earmarks of falling away: stubbornness, complaining, fault-finding, dishonesty, boasting and manipulating. The antidote for falling away is a repentant heart and uncompromising honesty with God, self and …
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Getting old to the glory of God means resolutely resisting the typical American dream of retirement. It means being so satisfied with all that God promises to be for us …
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Obadiah warned Edom of pride, indifference, personal gain and boasting. He encourages us to develop humility, compassion and generosity.
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We all fight the three-headed dragon: the god of Me, Mine and More. In 1 Peter 5, Paul teaches us how to be humble and place Christ first in our …
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We collected troubled teenage girls like stray puppies. As pastor and wife, we always wanted our home to be a safe haven. After all, we had raised two daughters and …
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Before I launch into this blog, I want to remind you that a difference between a man and a woman is not a value judgement; it does not expose weakness …
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Dear Roger, I have a question regarding a divorce. I married my then spouse for all the wrong reasons. I thought things would change after the marriage, but they …
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Samson: what a sad end to such a promising start! He had taken for granted all that he had going for him, and used it only for himself. He never …
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I have learned that my faith in Christ is an intelligent faith. It is based on the weight of the evidence. This brings my mind and my heart into harmony, …
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Let’s talk about being “born again.” Regeneration, entry of God’s nature and life into our real existence and identity, has, as a natural progression or part, entry into the status …
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Why is the love of human glory, rather than God’s glory, so contradictory to faith? One is that true faith in Jesus gives all glory to God and none to …
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A New Year brings thoughtful reflection. We say things like “time flies” or “where did the time go?” Perhaps we should remember this: I’m reminded that 2 things are true: …
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Celebrity pastors? High-profile mega-churches? I have unanswered questions about how to navigate the new world of media-driven celebrity attention to pastors. As Advance09 started in Durham, North Carolina, the News …
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Many have asked the intriguing question, “Why was it right for God to slaughter women and children in the Old Testament? How can that ever be right?” It’s right for …
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The promised land landmines include unrealistic expectations that lead to disappointment with God, amnesia that leads to fear and arrogance, and partial obedience that leads to compromise and presumption. Only …
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Bitterness can hold your heart hostage. Gratitude fosters a heart willing to forgive.
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How do you know if you are greedy? If you make most decisions based on the financial impact, if you put financial opportunity over family and health, if you experience …
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Pride and narcissism can cause us to lead empty lives. The prescription for pride is servanthood-the selfless, sacrificial investment of Christ-like love in the lives of others.
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The Christian leader that builds his role on Christ-centered bedrock is blessed with a sound foundation for setting priorities and is more faithfully followed because those he leads know the …
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We must let God put away our pride, leading to a humble state of brokenness that puts Christ on display. Pride sabotages relationships.
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The sin of lukewarmness can look like indifference to sin, disinterest in the lost, eroded Christian values and integrity, apathy in obedience to Christ, neglect of personal devotional life and …
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The detestable nature of rebellion is contrasted with submission. Pride’s destructive nature is weighed against humility.
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Humility is the antidote for pride. We surrender to God’s refining work in our lives, resulting in obedience and faith.
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Pride is deceptive. A proud attitude can cause us to be self-reliant, and to steal God’s glory for our own self-aggrandizement.
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Holy living is not self-promotion, but devotion to the audience of ONE, our Father in heaven. Jesus decries the Pharisees’ ostentatious display of religious practices as He continues to teach …