Pitfalls of Pride

Matthew 15:21-28

Pride keeps us from seeking and seeing Jesus.

She asks Him for mercy Ps. 10:4

If we want healing, we must seek God. He is the only One who can heal us.

Psalm 10:4 NKJV - The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.

Pride keeps us from knowing that we need Him. We think we can fix all our problems without Him. This is the influence of the Adversary and the world.

We often face times when we must seek outside help (doctors, medication, etc.), but in our core we must still know that the only One to protect and help us is Jesus.

Family crisis? The world says don’t pray to God, just suffer through it (or ABANDON it)! Problems at work? The world says don’t listen to God, fix it by fighting!

Worst of this is when we deny that we have sin, or misuse God’s grace.

When we believe we’re doing well, we think we have no need for God’s mercy.

When we think we CAN’T do well, we will push the boundaries of God’s mercy outward for our own selfish desires.

She recognizes who He is Matt. 22:41-46; Is. 9:6-7; Rev. 1:13-18

A recognition, SEEING Jesus as He is, is everlastingly important.

Matthew 22:41-46 - Pharisees recognized who the Messiah would be, but blinded themselves to what was right before them.

In the same way, we blind ourselves to the true picture that Jesus wants us to see of Himself!

Catholic imagery paints Jesus in a defeated way, in constant suffering. This is important to remember, but it is not all that Jesus is.

Isaiah 9:6-7 NKJV - For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Revelation 1:13-18 - the conquering Messiah who holds all power and glory within Him!

Consider all the powerful ways of Jesus. We need constant reminders of who He truly is.

Pride keeps us from admitting problems.

She knows enough to seek help 2 Cor. 6:11-13; James 4:1-3

We must be honest with ourselves about our shortcomings.

Sometimes we internalize our problems until they eat us alive. There is a time for us to examine and contemplate for ourselves, but we need to remember that Christians are part of a great spiritual family.

2 Corinthians 6:11-13 - God does not want us to be walled off from our brothers and sisters.

James 4:1-3 NKJV - Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

She knows that Jesus can help Matt. 7:7-11; Ps. 40:4; Prov. 15:25

Matthew 7:7-11 NKJV - "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? "Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

When we are proud, we ally ourselves with others who are prideful. In the end, we believe we do not need God because we have the world.

Psalm 40:4 NKJV - Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Proverbs 15:25 NKJV - The LORD will destroy the house of the proud, But He will establish the boundary of the widow.

Pride keeps us from being persistent.

She keeps on asking even when Jesus says nothing. Lk. 11:5-8; 18:1-8

Have you ever tried to talk to someone, and they act like they did not hear you?

That’s how Jesus’ actions could have been misunderstood by this woman, but God be praised, she is more humble than that.

There will be times when it seems as if God is not saying anything to us. Maybe it seems as if God is not helping us at all. Maybe we think He ignores us.

We need to remember his promises. God expects us to be persistent.

Luke 11:5-8;18:1-8 - What is faith but persistence? One thing to lose faith in individuals, but when we give up on God, it means we don’t have faith at all.

She worships Him. Ps. 10:17; 18:27

She is giving great appreciation for Him, spending time in adoration of Him. Proper and true worship is an act of humility.

Psalm 10:17 - LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear,

In humility, we give up many things to worship God:

Time, Money, Effort, Focus, Friendships

One may say, “she only worships Him so that her daughter is healed”. Possibly so! But do we not worship God to get something out of it (at least initially)?

It’s all in HOW we seek His blessings. Are we doing it for OUR glory, or His?

Psalm 18:27 NKJV - For You will save the humble people, But will bring down haughty looks.

Pride keeps us from receiving blessings.

She is called a “little dog” Titus 1:12-13; Prov. 28:25

little-dogs: "a house-dog or lap-dog in contrast to a dog of the street or farm, but also used with no diminutive force at all."

Technically, this is not a truly “offensive” term in this usage.

Even if Jesus wasn’t intending to be critical of this woman or where she came from, we have examples of inspired men using harsh criticism to spur change in the hearts of others.

Titus 1:12-13 NKJV - One of them, a prophet of their own, said, "Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons." This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

If we were to switch this woman with most anyone living today, it might be that this is the point many people would just give up.

Getting offended is a national pastime. People seem to LOVE being offended, because it happens so often!

Of course, we’re being facetious. People hate being offended, but it seems to occur more and more every day. If we trust in God, it will take a lot to truly offend us.

Proverbs 28:25 NKJV - He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will be prospered.

Pride keeps us from seeing the truth about a situation, and we allow little things to offend us to the point that we miss out on the greatest blessings.

She does not take offense. Ps. 138:6; Prov. 29:23; 16:18

Psalm 138:6 NKJV - Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.

If you find yourself offended, consider: are you offended by WICKEDNESS, or are you offended by the TRUTH?

The more we hold on to our pride and relive our offenses, the greater they become. Some treat their offenses as their best friends, which they cannot get along without. If you are doing this, YOU are paying the highest price, while the one who offended you might have moved on completely.

Proverbs 29:23 NKJV - A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.

Proverbs 16:18 NKJV - Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.

Pride keeps us from having faith.

The lack of offense means this woman has GREAT faith. Matt. 15:28; 2 Kings 5:15; Lk. 7:9; Acts 10:4; Heb. 11:31; 2 Cor. 12:9

Jesus emphasizes this Gentile woman’s faith.

Matthew 15:28 NKJV - Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

God often emphasizes the faith of Gentiles in Scripture.

2 Kings 5:15 NKJV - And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, "Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant."

Luke 7:9 NKJV - When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, "I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!"

Acts 10:4 NKJV - And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

Hebrews 11:31 NKJV - By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.

Why did God honor all these people? Because for Gentiles, they were the EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.

When we think about true humility, we can see its relation to HOLINESS. It is in many ways SEPARATE, the EXCEPTION.

Most will be puffed up with pride, but the humble will be small in number. God makes the humble strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV - And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Learn humility, and YOU can be the exception, not the rule, just as this faithful woman was.

Her faith leads to her daughter’s healing. Prov. 18:12; Ps. 149:4

If this woman had not been humble, her daughter would never have been healed.

Proverbs 18:12 NKJV - Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty, And before honor is humility.

Pride leads us to nothing but ruin! Humility leads us to honor and glory in the Kingdom!

Psalm 149:4 NKJV - For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.

If I am not HUMBLE, I am not a working part of HIS PEOPLE!