In this sermon, the speaker shares a personal story about a troubled young man who experienced a downward spiral in his life due to the influence of evil spirits. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing the reality of the enemy and its impact on our lives. He also highlights the destructive power of pride, which can lead to strife and contention. The sermon concludes with a missionary's story about using the three signs of a wicked person from Proverbs to make wise decisions in lending money.

This sermon emphasizes the urgency of seeking God and making a decision for Christ, warning about the consequences of delaying repentance and the reality of judgment. It shares powerful testimonies of individuals facing life-altering choices and the impact of their decisions on their eternal destiny. The message calls for immediate action, highlighting the importance of surrendering to God and choosing salvation through Jesus Christ.

Shane Idleman emphasizes the destructive nature of pride, identifying it as the root cause of many personal and relational issues, including conflicts in marriages and workplaces. He uses the biblical figure Nimrod as an example of prideful rebellion against God, leading to the construction of the Tower of Babel, which ultimately resulted in confusion and division among people. Idleman warns that pride leads to foolish decisions and self-exaltation, urging listeners to embrace humility and recognize their dependence on God. He highlights the importance of weeping, working, and worshiping as means to combat pride and cultivate a humble spirit. The sermon concludes with a call to action for individuals to confront their pride and seek God's grace.

Shane Idleman addresses the destructive nature of pride in his sermon 'The Sin of Self Advancement - Puffed by Pride,' emphasizing that pride is often the root cause of personal and relational conflicts, addictions, and failures. He illustrates this through biblical examples, particularly focusing on Nimrod and the Tower of Babel, highlighting how self-exaltation leads to foolish decisions and ultimately to God's resistance. Idleman encourages humility as a remedy for pride, reminding the congregation that true advancement comes from God and that we must seek to serve others rather than ourselves. He concludes by urging listeners to recognize their pride and to humble themselves before God for true growth and grace.

David Wilkerson emphasizes the destructive nature of pride, which is at the forefront of what God detests. He illustrates how pride leads to impatience and disobedience, using King Saul's failure to wait for God's direction as a cautionary example. Wilkerson contrasts pride with humility, defining true humility as complete dependence on God and His timing. He reassures believers of God's promise to protect those who remain faithful and patient in their trials. The sermon calls for self-examination to recognize and combat the pride that can hinder spiritual growth.

Chuck Smith emphasizes the profound truth that the Lord is with us as long as we are with Him, highlighting God's desire for fellowship and assistance in our lives. He explains that while God is always willing to bless us, it is often our own actions that create a separation, as seen in the examples of Adam and Samson. Smith encourages believers to seek God wholeheartedly, assuring that He will be found, contrasting true seeking with empty rituals. He warns that forsaking God leads to His forsaking us, urging listeners to take responsibility for their spiritual state rather than blaming God for their troubles.

Thomas Brooks emphasizes the destructive nature of pride in his sermon 'The Great Master-Scar of the Soul,' describing it as the root of all sin and a leprosy that cannot be concealed. He warns that pride leads to spiritual separation from God, as He detests the proud and will not associate with them. Brooks urges believers to be vigilant against pride, to arm themselves with humility, and to pray earnestly for protection against this pervasive sin. The sermon highlights the necessity of recognizing and combating pride to experience God's presence and favor.

Charles Finney explores the profound reasons behind why sinners harbor hatred towards God, emphasizing that their enmity is not justified by any inherent flaw in God's nature or moral governance. He argues that sinners hate God because He opposes their selfish desires and demands obedience, which they are unwilling to submit to. Finney asserts that the very qualities that sinners despise in God—His holiness, goodness, and impartiality—are the reasons they should love Him instead. Ultimately, he concludes that the hatred of sinners is a reflection of their own selfishness and depravity, and that their guilt is magnified by their rejection of the Gospel. This sermon serves as a stark reminder of the moral conflict between divine righteousness and human sinfulness.

Horatius Bonar addresses the tendency of worldly men to reject the presence of God, as illustrated in Job 21:14, where they express a desire for God to depart from them. He explains that this rejection is not born from atheism or a sense of injustice, but rather from a love for worldly pleasures that God threatens to disrupt. Bonar emphasizes that this attitude is prevalent not only in the world but also within the church, where individuals seek to distance themselves from God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Bible, and God's law. Ultimately, he highlights God's persistent love and desire to remain close to humanity, despite their rejection. Bonar calls for a recognition of the emptiness that follows God's departure and the importance of embracing His presence.

John Chrysostom preaches about Paul's experiences in Athens and Corinth, highlighting how some mocked the resurrection of the dead while others believed, such as Dionysius the Areopagite and Damaris. Despite facing opposition and blasphemy, Paul continued to preach and reason in the synagogues, eventually moving to the Gentiles. Chrysostom emphasizes the importance of meekness, silence, and long-suffering in the face of insults, drawing parallels between insults towards humans and insults towards God, urging the congregation to imitate Christ's response to abuse with patience and forbearance.

Anton Bosch emphasizes the destructive nature of pride, highlighting how it is the root sin that leads many to Hell and causes Christians to miss out on God's blessings. Pride blinds us to our own sins, making us deaf to God's Word, and cripples us from changing direction or admitting wrongdoing. It paralyzes us from repentance, speaking words of apology, reaching out for help, and destroys our spiritual immune system, leaving us vulnerable to other sins. Ultimately, pride separates us from God and others, leading to spiritual death.

John Calvin preaches about the Tower of Babel, highlighting the arrogance and rebellion of humanity in attempting to build a tower to reach heaven, seeking their own glory and defying God's authority. Despite their unity in language and purpose, God confounds their speech, scatters them, and frustrates their plans, demonstrating His power and judgment. The division of languages serves as a punishment for their pride and disobedience, showing that God will not tolerate human defiance. Through this event, we learn the consequences of rebellion against God and the importance of humility and obedience.

Anne Dutton preaches about the sin of pride, highlighting its roots in unbelief and its opposition to the gospel of Christ. She emphasizes how pride robs God of His glory and believers of their joy, and how it hinders divine service and brings about God's chastisements. Dutton urges believers to humble themselves, seek forgiveness, and strive to eradicate pride with the help of God's grace, looking forward to the day when they will be free from this sin in the glory of eternity.

C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the dangers of pride and haughtiness, warning that a proud heart often precedes destruction. He illustrates this with biblical examples, such as King David and Nebuchadnezzar, showing that pride leads to downfall and humiliation. Spurgeon cautions Christians against self-conceit and the illusion of spiritual richness, reminding them that true humility is essential to avoid God's discipline. He concludes by urging believers to find their glory in the Lord rather than in their own achievements, as pride can lead to the loss of joy and comfort.

Edward Payson preaches about the wicked's unwillingness to seek after God due to the pride of their hearts, which hinders them from pursuing knowledge, favor, likeness, and communion with God. The sermon emphasizes that salvation is solely by God's grace, highlighting the wicked's self-destructive nature and the folly of pride that leads to ignorance and separation from God. Payson urges self-examination among the audience, challenging them to seek God diligently through studying scriptures, prayer, and pursuing communion with Him.