Pride is the root of all sin. It is the sin that causes us to exalt ourselves over others and over God Himself and it is the antithesis of unselfish love. God repeatedly reminds us that He resists the proud. We see this pride in full color in the life of Haman in the book of Esther and the predictable outcomes of an arrogant life.

Pride gets no joy unless one is recognized by others. Pride makes you always want others to know all of your accomplishments.

 

Then Haman recounted to them the glory of his riches, and the number of his sons, and every instance where the king had magnified him and how he had promoted him above the princes and servants of the king. Haman also said, “Even Esther the queen let no one but me come with the king to the banquet which she had prepared; and tomorrow also I am invited by her with the king. (Esther 5:11-12)

 

A proud man always wants more recognition for he always seeks to be at the center.

 

“Yet all of this does not satisfy me every time I see Mordecai the Jew sitting at the king’s gate.” (Esther 5:13)

 

Pride makes a man stupid because he has God (the source of wisdom) opposing him. A proud man forsakes all reasoning and makes ridiculous decisions. Haman wanted to eliminate people who wouldn’t worship him.

 

Then Zeresh his wife and all his friends said to him, “Have a gallows fifty cubits high made and in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it; then go joyfully with the king to the banquet.” And the advice pleased Haman, so he had the gallows made. (Esther 5:14)

 

Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace in order to speak to the king about hanging Mordecai on the gallows which he had prepared for him. (Esther 5:14)

 

So Haman came in and the king said to him, “What is to be done for the man whom the king desires to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king desire to honor more than me?” (Esther 6:6)

 

How could your life possibly be successful if you are opposed by God?

 

Queen Esther replied, “If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me as my petition, and my people as my request; for we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed and to be annihilated. Now if we had only been sold as slaves, men and women, I would have remained silent, for the trouble would not be commensurate with the annoyance to the king.” Then King Ahasuerus asked Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who would presume to do thus?” Esther said, “A foe and an enemy is this wicked Haman!” Then Haman became terrified before the king and queen. (Esther 7:1-6

 

You may not be hanging on the end of a noose like Haman, but pride will always lead to deadly results.

 

So they hanged Haman on the gallows which he had prepared for Mordecai Esther 7:9-10

 

It would be wise to check your heart to see if this Haman-spirit is residing there. Deal with it quickly by humble confession and deep repentance. It may save you from the gallows.

 

Father, show me the groundwork of my heart. Where has the foot of pride entered my life? Show me the pervasive invasion of this primary sin. Help me to humble myself under the mighty hand of God. Give me an overwhelming gratitude knowing that anything good that has happened in my life has come by Your hand.

  GREAT CONFIDENCE

       ????TEXT:JOB 23:1-17????

????????```KEY VERSE:``` _*"But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (JOB 23:10).*_

 A story is told of Queen Victoria (Alexandria Victoria), the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from June 20, 1837 and the first Empress of India of the British Raj from May 1, 1876 until her death. She was said to have requested the hymn _"Rock of Ages cleft for me; let me hide myself in Thee"_ to be sung for her as she was about to die.

She might have been perceived as a sinner while she carried out her official duties; but on her deathbed, she told those around her that she loved God and was confident in the face of death.

Similarly, Job, despite the deluge of allegations by his friends concerning his relationship with God, knew perfectly well that the Rock of Ages had been his anchor and that He never allowed his feet to slip to evil. He was confident of his obedience to the word of the Lord, which had always guided him. Little wonder he declared, "Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips..." (verse 12).

Beyond the perception of his friends about his true spiritual state and the reason for his affliction, Job was convinced about his robust relationship with God. He chose to lean on Him rather than join issues with his friends.

In the same way, once you have a good relationship with God, your confidence will remain unshakable, irrespective of what others say or think of you.

????```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*Opinions of others should not define your identity and destiny.*_

????THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *2 SAMUEL 7-8*????

             *MEDITATION*

*Stop living in the past*

*1. A life of faulting*

a. Natural to start blaming others and even God when facing challenges like Job did in vv2,6,7.

b. No positive results come out of complaints or blaming others. Man must take responsibility for any of his experiences whether good or bad if he will make progress????

c. While some OT saints,  because of their limited knowledge, at times resort to complaints and passing the buck, believers are commanded "to be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplications make your request known unto God".

*Question*

Are you still living in the past or in the new promises and privileges of prayer given to the saints?

*2. Living by feelings or by faith?*

a. Job was seeking for God as if God was far even though he was living a righteous life, v3.

b. To him, though righteous,  God was far from him due to the challenges he was facing,  vv8,9.

c. Once a saint is not living in any sin, Jesus is by Him whether he feels it or not.

d. Believers are to "walk by faith and not by sight", 2 Corinthians 5:7. Stop living in the Old Covenant when we are now in the New Covenant.  The rightous is too precious to Jesus than to abandon him at any time ????

e. Trust and lean in His word that says, "I will never leave thee or forsake thee".

*Question*

Do you walk by faith in His words and promises or by your mere feelings?

*3. Leisure through faithfulness*

You want to enjoy God and be joyful in life when passing through fires? Job set an example to follow.

a. Present your arguments to God why He should change your status and stop complaining, v4. "Bring your strong reasons that you may be justified", Isaiah 41:21

b. Be persuaded that as He "tries me, I shall come forth like gold" v10,  James 1:3,4. It will end in praise????

c. Hold tightly to God and His word. "My foot has held His steps, His way have I kept, and not declined", vv11,12a.

d. Make concecration that you will never draw back in your confidence in God no matter what. "I have esteemed the word of His mouth more than my necessary food".

*Question*

Check the four points above if you are qualified for Spirit imparted leisure in Christ.

*Prayer points*

Lord, I have resolved not to blame anybody anymore for my predicament.  Give me grace to start taking responsibility????

Lord, I will no more walk by feeling but by faith.  Let my faith be rooted in your word ????

Lord, I want to be a man of deep concecrations to your word.  Give me the grace to stand by them????

I hereby pray for all your children passing through challenges that their faith in you and your word will be strengthened unto victory????

*HYMN* It is well with my soul