s20070923m_How To Master a Humble and Happy Life

HOW TO MASTER A HUMBLE AND HAPPY LIFE

Cain and his offering God did not look with favor.

So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Genesis 4:5

I. HOW MY BAD PRIDE CAUSES MY PROBLEMS.

* Bad Pride: (Trusting Myself): Conceit, Egotism, Selfishness, & An Attitude Of Superiority.

GOD TELLS CAIN, 7If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” 8Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 13Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Gen 4:7-8 & V.13

II. HOW TO MASTER A HUMBLE AND HAPPY LIFE

Good Pride (Trusting God): Self-Respect, Dignity, Satisfaction, & Joy In Seeing Others Succeed.

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did.

By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings.

 And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. Hebrews 11:4

TO MASTER A HUMBLE AND HAPPY LIFE ABEL’S FAITH (HIS GOOD PRIDE)

• SAYS I NEED TO ADMIT MY [WEAKNESSES & STRENGTHS HONESTLY & REALISTICALLY]

He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. Proverbs 28:13

3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3

·         SAYS I NEED TO ENJOY MY [BLESSINGS GRATEFULLY]

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 1 Corinthians 4:7

·         SAYS I NEED TO SERVE OTHERS [UNSELFISHLY]

3Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility, consider others better than yourselves... 4Look not only to your own interests, but also the interests of others. 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ." Philippians 2:3-5

·         SAYS I NEED TO HUMBLE MYSELF [VOLUNTARILY]

7Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7-10