Pride - James 4:6
This sermon emphasizes the dangers of pride and the importance of humility in the eyes of God, highlighting the blessing of humility and the resistance of God to the proud.
Bernard Fell preaches about the sin of pride, highlighting how it manifests in various forms such as seeking prominence, power, and the praise of men. He emphasizes that pride is abhorred by God and leads to resistance from Him, while humility receives grace. The sermon underscores the importance of crucifying the 'I' in pride and turning to God with a contrite and humble heart, as demonstrated by Jesus' example of taking the lowest place on the cross.
Text
God resisteth the proud,
but giveth grace unto the humble.
James 4:6
What is this sin that God abhors,
This deadly thing called Pride?
The central letter of the word,
The "I" not crucified.
Pride, with its spreading tentacles,
Hath reached the hearts of all:
Pride made a king a grovelling beast,
And made an angel fall.
Pride will appear in various forms,
Of place, face, race, and lace;
And sometimes in a subtle way,
There can be pride of grace.
Pride strives for prominence and pow'r,
By spoken word or pen;
Pride sits upon its pompous throne,
And loves the praise of men.
How strange this vain, unyielding clay,
This animated dust,
Should turn from God in scornful pride,
The arm of flesh to trust!
The proud of heart God will resist,
Stern justice will abase:
He loves a lowly, contrite soul,
And gives the humble grace.
Pride cannot live before the cross,
Before that sight must fall,
When gazing on the One
Who filled The lowest place of all!
Sermon Outline
- The Sin of Pride
- The Resistance of God
- The Gift of Humility
- The Blessing of Humility
- The Love of God for the Humble
- Consequences of Pride
Key Quotes
“Pride, with its spreading tentacles, Hath reached the hearts of all:” — Bernard Fell
“Pride cannot live before the cross, Before that sight must fall,” — Bernard Fell
Application Points
- We must be aware of the forms of pride that can creep into our lives, such as pride of place, face, race, and lace.
- We must trust in God rather than the arm of flesh, and have a lowly and contrite heart.
- We must recognize the blessing of humility and seek to live a life of humility before God.