Tearing Down the Stronghold of Pride

🎯 Series Title: The Weapons of Our Warfare

Sermon Title: "Tearing Down the Stronghold of Pride" Main Text: James 4:6–10 Series Anchor: 2 Corinthians 10:4–5

“For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds…”

Illustration: The Inflated Balloon

Imagine walking around with a balloon that you're constantly inflating—trying to impress, control, or elevate yourself. It’s colorful and big... but fragile. One sharp poke from reality—criticism, failure, rejection—and it pops. That’s what pride is like. It gives an illusion of strength, but it's actually weakness wrapped in air.

God doesn't call us to inflate ourselves—but to humble ourselves. Not to build a name, but to lift up His name.

📖 Main Text: James 4:6–10

James 4:6–10 NKJV

6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Lessons Today:

God actively opposes the proud.

The Weapon against pride is submission.

God lifts up the humble.

Point 1: God actively opposes the proud.

Key Verse:

James 4:6 NKJV

6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

He gives more grace. Grace is one of the most beautiful words in the English language. Truly amazing. Unmerited Favor.

Prevenient grace.

Saving Grace. explain. in Salvation.

Sanctifying Grace. Continuous. Empowering.

As we humble ourselves in obedience to God, He pours more grace.

And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.  (John 1:16)

God resists the proud. Why? Because pride is resistance to God.

Supporting Verse: Proverbs 16:18 – “Pride goes before destruction…”

Proverbs 16:18 ESV

18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Exposition:

What is pride?

An attitude? A twisted mindset that elevates self above others?

Why does God resist the proud? Pride is not just a bad attitude—it’s rebellion against God’s authority. It exalts self above God, just as Satan did. That’s why God resists the proud. The Greek word for "opposes" means "to wage war against."

Insight from John MacArthur: "Pride is the sin that leads to all others. It is independence from God."

(John MacArthur)

Application: If pride is your stronghold, you're not just distant from God—you’re in conflict with Him. That’s a battle you will not win.

BUT GOD GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

Point 2: The Weapon Against Pride Is Submission

Key Verse: “Submit yourselves therefore to God...” (v.7)

James 4:7 NKJV

7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Connection to Series Text: We take thoughts captive by surrendering to Christ’s Lordship.

Exposition: Submission is the act of laying down your self-will and acknowledging God’s rule in every area.

This is spiritual warfare—because pride whispers, “I can do it my way.” Submission says, “Not my will, but Yours.”

“Your Kingdom come. Your will be done.” - This is in the prayer that the Lord taught us.

Resist the devil — why is it in this passage about humility?

The devil inflates people’s egos.

The meaning of “devil” is accuser. But in revelation 12, he is an accuser specifically of the brethren.

“Accuser of the brethren.” (Revelation 12:10)

He is an accuser of believers, those who are seeking God, or those who are walking with him.

But to keep people from seeking God and walking with Him what does the devil do? He bolsters his ego. “you are so great!”, “you can do it on your own”, “you don’t need God!” the devil is the accuser but he is also the great deceiver.

That is why in the context of humility you have to resist the devil, and he will flee from you!”

"You can't resist the devil if you're still resisting God."

Tony Evans

Remember what I said about pride, it is resistance to God. It is a trap, the devil stokes your pride and when pride sets in you start resisting God. Once a person resists God, he cannot resist the devil. You are stripped of the weapons of the warfare.

Application: What area of your life have you kept on your terms? True submission is giving God the final word—in relationships, decisions, ministry, finances, everything.

Point 3: God Lifts up the Humble

Key Verse: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” (v.10)

James 4:8 Related Passage: 1 Peter 5:6 – “...He may exalt you in due time.”

James 4:8–9 NKJV

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

What is James talking about here? If you are caught in the sin of pride - REPENT!

Draw near to God.. Jesus said..

Cleanse your hands and purify your hearts (Psalm 24)

James 4:9 ESV

9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.

Does this mean that we should not be joyful people? In the context of repentance. The attitude of repenting in sackcloth and ashes - old testament picture. THIS IS HOW SERIOUS GOD IS AGAINST PRIDE!

1 Peter 5:6 NKJV

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

James 4:10 NKJV

10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

Exposition: God doesn’t crush the humble—He raises them. Pride tears you down; humility lifts you up. When you go low before God, He brings you to heights you could never climb alone.

"When we surrender to God, we become stronger in Him than we ever could be in ourselves." (Warren Wiersbe)

Application: The path to victory isn’t up—it’s down. Kneel before God, and He will make you stand tall in grace.

✝️ Gospel Connection:

The greatest act of humility was Jesus on the cross. He laid down His glory to destroy the power of sin—and pride. If you want to tear down the stronghold of pride, follow the One who said, “I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29).

Matthew 11:29 NKJV

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Philippians 2:3–4 NKJV

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Philippians 2:5–6 NKJV

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

Philippians 2:7–8 NKJV

7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Conclusion: Let God Be Big, and You Be Small

When we step down from the throne of self, we make room for the Lord to reign. Pride builds a stronghold around the self. But submission to God shatters that stronghold and gives you real strength—His strength.

GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEMSELVES - not found in the Bible.

CORRECTION: GOD HELPS THE HUMBLE WHO CALL ON HIM.

Psalm 121:2 NKJV

2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

Call to Action:

Confess prideful thoughts or attitudes

Surrender a specific area to God

Humble yourself today—and let God do the lifting

Are you at the end of your rope today? One great act of humility is to surrender our problems, our cares to the Lord.

1 Peter 5:6 NKJV

6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

1 Peter 5:7 NKJV

7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Prayer of Surrender:

“Lord, I renounce pride and self-reliance. I submit myself fully to You. Rule in my heart and mind. I humble myself under Your hand and trust You to lift me up in Your time. In Jesus’ name, amen.”