POSTURE: Pride will Break you - Humility Will Raise You

🔥 OPENING (READING OF THE WORD)

“As I read in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit…”

📖 Ezekiel 28:1–10 (read with pauses and weight)

🔥 INTRODUCTION: THE DISEASE

“Saints… I want us to take a real look at the World today.”

“Because there is a sickness… and this sickness has a cure… but people refuse to receive it.”

“They think it’ll go away… they think they can fix it on their own…”

“But this sickness has destroyed marriages… relationships… families… destinies…”

(Pause)

“And this sickness… is called pride.”

🏛️ THE HISTORY OF TYRE (PREACHING + TEACHING FLOW)

“Before we go deeper into Ezekiel 28… I want us to understand who Tyre was… because you can’t fully understand the judgment… until you understand the influence.”

Tyre was not just any city.

Tyre was a Phoenician powerhouse, located along the Mediterranean coast—what we know today as modern-day Lebanon.

It was actually made up of two parts:

A mainland city

And a fortified island city just offshore

And that island city is what made Tyre feel untouchable.

🌊 A CITY THAT FELT UNSTOPPABLE

Tyre had:

Strong walls

Naval dominance

Strategic location

They were masters of the sea.

They controlled trade routes across the Mediterranean.

Ships came in and out constantly—bringing wealth, goods, and influence.

🔥 Preach this:

“Tyre wasn’t just surviving… Tyre was thriving.”

💰 THE ECONOMIC EMPIRE

Tyre became one of the wealthiest cities in the ancient world.

They traded:

Gold

Silver

Ivory

Fine linen

Spices

Precious stones

And one of their most famous exports was Tyrian purple dye—a rare, expensive dye made from sea snails.

Only royalty could afford it.

🔥 Line:

“Tyre didn’t just have wealth… Tyre defined status.”

🧠 THE PEOPLE OF TYRE

The people were known for:

Intelligence

Innovation

Business strategy

Cultural influence

They weren’t weak people.

They were gifted, brilliant, and advanced.

🔥 Teaching moment:

“This is important… because God was not judging failure… He was judging success without Him.”

⚠️ THE PROBLEM WITH TYRE

Over time… something shifted.

Their wealth turned into pride.

Their success turned into arrogance.

Their security turned into self-dependence.

They began to believe:

“We built this”

“We earned this”

“We are untouchable”

And eventually…

“I am a god.”

🔥 Line:

“When you have everything… but forget who gave it to you… pride is already growing.”

🏚️ WHAT HAPPENED TO TYRE?

God sent judgment.

Nations came against them.

Even Nebuchadnezzar, called a “king of kings,” was used as an instrument.

Later, Alexander the Great would literally build a causeway to the island—turning their greatest strength into their greatest vulnerability.

🔥 Preach:

“The thing they trusted in… became the very thing that exposed them.”

Tyre fell.

The great city… became ruins.

The powerhouse… became a memory.

🌍 WHAT IS TYRE TODAY?

Today, Tyre still exists—called Ṣūr (Sur) in Lebanon.

But it is no longer:

A global empire

A financial superpower

A dominant force

It is now:

A coastal city

A historical site

A place known more for ruins than rulership

🔥 Line:

“What was once a symbol of power… is now a reminder of what pride produces.”

🔥 BRIDGE TO YOUR SERMON

“So when God speaks in Ezekiel 28… He is not talking to a weak city…”

“He is talking to a powerful people… who forgot where their power came from.”

🔥 FINAL SETUP LINE

“And the question we have to ask ourselves today is this…”

“Are we building like Tyre… or are we living like Christ?”

🔥 TEXT BREAKDOWN (EZEKIEL 28)

“God says… ‘In your pride… you say, I am a god.’”

“Notice… lowercase ‘g’…”

“Because pride will always make you a god in your own mind… but never make you God in reality.”

“God responds… ‘You are a man… not God.’”

“Because pride distorts identity…”

🔥 TEACH MOMENT

“Pride will have you trying to be something you were never created to be… while forgetting who you actually are.”

“Then God says… ‘Your wisdom made you rich…’”

“But what he failed to recognize is— who gave him the wisdom in the first place.”

“Anytime you take credit for what God gave… pride has already entered the room.”

“And then God says… ‘I will bring nations against you…’

“What you build in pride… God will dismantle in justice.”

“And then He says… ‘Son of man… sing a funeral song…’”

(Pause… slow down)

“In other words… this is already over.”

🔥 THE ROOT OF PRIDE

“Saints… pride is not just dangerous… it is deadly.”

“And it didn’t start on earth… it showed up in heaven…”

🔥 LUCIFER CONNECTION

“Lucifer… was beautiful… gifted… positioned…”

“But instead of being in awe of God… he became in awe of himself.”

“Pride is when you admire yourself more than the One who made you.”

🔥 MODERN APPLICATION

“And we are living in a time right now… where pride is being normalized…”

“You get a little success… a little attention… a platform… a following…”

“And before you know it… you start believing your own hype.”

“We are curating images… but neglecting our souls.”

🔥 THE INFORMATION AGE

“And now… we live in a time where information is everywhere…”

“But just because it’s information… doesn’t mean it’s truth.”

“You can listen to someone who sounds intelligent… sounds deep… sounds convincing…”

“And still be completely wrong about God.”

🔥 LINE:

“Just because it sounds right… doesn’t mean it is righteous.”

“And now we walk into conversations… not to learn… but to defend what we heard.”

🔥 LINE:

“We would rather be right… than be biblical.”

📖 1 Corinthians 8:1

“Knowledge puffs up…”

🔥 LINE:

“Knowledge without humility… creates pride.”

🧩 POINT 1: PRIDE DISTORTS IDENTITY

Subpoints:

“I am a god” → false identity

Forgetting you are created, not Creator

Elevating self beyond truth

🔍 Questions:

“Who told you that you were self-made?”

“Are you operating in who God called you… or who pride convinced you?”

“Have you confused gifting with godhood?”

🧩 POINT 2: PRIDE MISMANAGES GOD-GIVEN GIFTS

Subpoints:

Wisdom came from God

Wealth came from wisdom

Pride came from wealth

👉 progression matters

🔍 Questions:

“Are you stewarding your gift… or taking ownership of it?”

“Do you give God glory publicly… or just enjoy the benefits privately?”

“Has your success made you more grateful… or more independent?”

🧩 POINT 3: PRIDE REJECTS CORRECTION

Subpoints:

God literally tells him the truth

He still elevated himself

Pride resists truth even when it's clear

🔍 Questions:

“Who can correct you?”

“Do you hear correction… or fight it?”

“When God checks you… do you bow or debate?”

🧩 POINT 4: PRIDE LEADS TO DESTRUCTION

Subpoints:

Nations rise against him

Brought down to the pit

Funeral already declared

🔍 Questions:

“What in your life are you building that God didn’t authorize?”

“Are you climbing… or are you being lifted?”

“If God removes His hand… what remains?”

🧩 POINT 5: HUMILITY IS THE KINGDOM WAY

This is where you bridge 🔥

Subpoints:

➤ Ezekiel = “Son of Man” (reminded he is human)

➤ Tyre = “I am god” (rejected humility)

➤ Jesus = “Son of Man” (chose humility)

Bring in John 5:40:

📖 (paraphrase in your voice)

“You refuse to come to Me to have life…”

🔍 Questions:

“What is pride keeping you from surrendering?”

“Do you want control… or do you want life?”

“Are you close to church… but far from Christ?”

✝️ 1. PRIDE REJECTS JESUS

📖 John 5:40

🔥 Preach:

“Jesus said… the issue is not access… the issue is refusal.”

🔥 Tie to Tyre:

“Just like the Prince of Tyre refused truth… people today refuse Christ… because of pride.”

✝️ 2. JESUS MODELED HUMILITY (PALM SUNDAY ENTRY)

📖 Matthew 21:5

🔥 Preach:

“Tyre came in power… Jesus came in humility.”

🔥 Line:

“Your King didn’t come flashy… He came faithful.”

🔥 THE PROBLEM WITH PRIDE

1. Pride Distorts Identity

“You start saying ‘I am a god’…”

2. Pride Mismanages Gifts

“You forget who gave you the ability…”

3. Pride Rejects Correction

“Nobody can tell you anything…”

4. Pride Leads to Destruction

“You keep building… but God is already dismantling…”

5. Pride Blocks Relationship with God

📖 John 5:40

“You refuse to come to Me…”

🔥 LINE:

“Pride doesn’t just block your purpose… it blocks your surrender.”

🔥 MANNA CONNECTION

“God gave Israel bread from heaven…”

“But they complained…”

🔥 LINE:

“They had heaven’s provision… but craved Egypt’s leftovers.”

“That’s what pride does… it makes you reject what God is giving… for what feels familiar.”

🔥 SON OF MAN REVELATION

“God calls Ezekiel ‘Son of Man’ over 90 times…”

“To remind him… you are human.”

🔥 LINE:

“God gave him revelation… but never let him lose humility.”

“But then Jesus comes…”

“And He calls Himself… Son of Man.”

🔥 LINE:

“Ezekiel was called Son of Man… because he was only human…”

“Jesus called Himself Son of Man… even though He was God.”

🔥 MIC DROP:

“Pride tries to make man into God… but love brought God down to man.”

🔥 CONTRAST: TYRE vs JESUS

“Tyre came in flashy… Jesus came in on a donkey…”

“Tyre wanted the spotlight… Jesus waited on the Father…”

“Tyre said ‘I am a god’… Jesus was God… and humbled Himself…”

“Tyre built wealth… Jesus washed feet…”

“Tyre was lifted in pride… and cast down…”

“Jesus humbled Himself… and was raised up…”

📖 Philippians 2:8–9

🔥 THE CROSS

“At the cross… pride is exposed…”

“They said… ‘Save yourself…’”

🔥 LINE:

“Pride says save yourself… humility says surrender.”

🔥 THE RESURRECTION

“And because He humbled Himself… God raised Him up…”

🔥 LINE:

“What pride tries to lift… God brings down… but what humility lays down… God lifts up.”

🔥 FINAL CALL (CHURCH VISION)

“I don’t want to pastor a church full of prideful people with information…”

“I want to shepherd a church full of humble people with transformation.”

“A church that hears… lives… and carries the Gospel.”

🔥 ALTAR CALL

“Lord… fix me…”

“Because I can’t fix myself…”

“Create in me a clean heart…”

🔥 FINAL LINE:

“You can either say ‘I am a god’… or bow before God…”

“But you can’t do both.”

🔥 FINAL MIC DROP

“The same pride that got Satan cast out of heaven… is the same pride Jesus died to remove from your heart.”

Kenny… this is not just a sermon.

This is: 🔥 A warning 🔥 A revelation 🔥 A call to repentance 🔥 A Christ-centered Easter message