(2 Chron. 26:1-23) "But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction..."

There is a sin that is destroying our church.

I don't mean the church universal, I mean FAITH BAPTIST CHURCH.

This certainly is a sin that is destroying the church universal...

But, this morning I speak of how this sin is destroying OUR church.

The sin that is destroying our church is not an issue of morality...

We are battling moral issues in our church...

Adultery, fornication, shacking up, sodomy and lesbianism are closer than you think.

> We are dealing with moral issues in the church today...

> But, the sin that is destroying our church is not in itself a sin of immorality.

There are moral issues at hand...

> There is drug use and drunkenness and couples living together unmarried...

> But that's not what's killing us!

The sin that is destroying our church is not necessarily a Family issue...

Families in our church are certainly struggling to stay together...

There are families who are at the brink of divorce.

> There are homes close to being completely ruined.

There are women who will not submit to the Word of God and obey their husbands...

> And there are husbands that have no control of their homes...

> There are some real family issues going on in our church...

> But, they are not the sin that is destroying us!

 

Notice what God said about Uzziah (v. 16).

Once things got built up for Uzziah, he got proud!

HE GOT PROUD TO HIS DESTRUCTION!

Pride goeth before DESTRUCTION, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

> Destruction follows Pride...

> A Fall follows a haughty spirit.

The sin that is destroying our church is PRIDE.

 

A. His Beginning (He started out right).

1. (v. 1-4) He did that which was RIGHT in the sight of the Lord.

> He started out RIGHT.

> Not a loser, but a real King called of God.

2. (v. 5) He led Israel Spiritually!

> He sought God AND AS LONG AS HE SOUGHT GOD - God made him to prosper (v. 5).

> God prospered & HELPED him (v.7).

3. (v. 9-10) He led Israel economically.

> The whole nation prospered under his rule.

4. (v. 11-15) He led Israel politically.

> They became a Powerful Nation.

5. Just because all is right between you and God does not mean you wont fall someday.

> In fact, those who prosper in the Lord are the most susceptible to the destruction of pride.

 

B. His Bragging (v.16).

1. But, when he was strong...

> It means AFTER he increased in strength, wealth, and power...

> Once he no longer thought he needed God...

> He fell to the sin of Pride!

2. Pride will blind you to what's happening right in your face!

> His heart was lifted up...

> He got proud!

> He forgot WHERE all his wealth, possessions and power came from.

C. His Backslide.

1. Pride ALWAYS tears you down.

> No one was ever made better by being arrogant and self-centered.

2. He disrespects the house of God (v. 17-18).

> ONE OF THE FIRST SIGNS OF PRIDE IS THE WAY PEOPLE BEGIN TO ACT AT CHURCH.

> I find it amazing that pride usually raises its ugly head FIRST in church.

> He ONCE led Israel spiritually, but now he is disrespecting the House of God!

3. He disrespects the MEN of God (v. 19a).

> He was wroth with the priests!

> He is treading on dangerous ground...

> He disrespects the men of God IN THE HOUSE OF GOD.

> No matter who someone is mad at in the church, they still blame the preacher.

> If the church is unfriendly...

> If people move to much during service...

> If no one goes visiting...

> If people dress badly...

 

> Uzziah started getting a big head, and suddenly he is smarter than the men of God.

D. His Burial (v. 19-23 - and they buried him...).

1. GOD punished him. God killed Him.

> He lifted himself up in pride and God brought him down to the grave

2. Pride goeth before destruction!

> But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction!

 

A. Pride is Detested - "Doth the Lord HATE..."

1. He prophecies a fall.

> (Prov. 16:18) "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

> God's prophesies ALWAYS come true.

> If you lift yourself up in pride, By God, YOU WILL FALL...

2. He preaches it as sin.

> (Prov. 21:4) "an high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin."

> God just plainly say ITS SIN!

> God calls it an ABOMINATION - Equal to sodomy!

3. He promises resistance.

> (James 4:6) "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."

> Can you imagine playing tug-of-war with God?

> You will lose!

> You push against God's resistence and you won't budge Him one inch.

4. He punishes the proud.

> (Prov. 16:5) "Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished"

> You cannot escape the judgement of God.

B. Pride is Demented.

1. It shows an awful ignorance of God.

> How could anyone who knows God, be proud?

2. Everyone who ever came in contact with God, abased themselves:

> Gideon: "I shall die, for I have seen the Lord!"

> Moses: "I exceeding fear and quake..."

> Isaiah: "Woe is me, for I am undone..."

> Peter: "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man..."

> John the Baptist: "Whose shoe latchet, I am not worthy to unloose..."

> Paul the apostle: "Christ died for sinners, of whom I am chief."

 

3. These are some of the finest men that ever walked the earth...

> Yet the walked in humility and self abasement.

> How can anyone who knows anything about God, be full of pride?

 

THE MORE A MAN THINKS ABOUT GOD, THE LESS HE WILL THINK ABOUT HIMSELF.

THE MORE A MAN THINKS ABOUT HIMSELF, THE LESS HE WILL THINK ABOUT GOD!

 

4. These great men walked in humility even though they walked with God.

> If you walk in arrogance you don't know anything about God?

> Only a fool thinks he can walk with God in Pride; Because pride is demented.

 

C. Pride is Deceptive.

1. "For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself" (Gal 6:3).

> Pride will make you think you are more important than you really are.

> It will make you think your something, when you are NOTHING!

2. It is almost nauseating to hear people declaring their great exploits.

> WHEN YOU KNOW THEIR REAL LIFE.

3. Jesus told the saved demoniac...

> Go and tell your friends what great things the Lord hath done for you...

> We are to declare what great things THE LORD HATH DONE for us...

> Instead we brag about the things WE HAVE DONE for the Lord.

4. Poor deceived man thinks he has actually helped God.

> Pride is deceiving.

> Pride deceives people into thinking they are better than others.

> "MAN AT HIS BEST STATE IS ALTOGETHER VANITY."

C. Pride is Destructive.

1. God promises destruction to all who lift themselves up in pride.

> "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall..."

2. "For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

> THIS MEANS:

> If you snub your nose at people, GOD IS GOING TO KNOCK YOU DOWN IN FRONT OF THEM.

3. A haughty spirit goes before a fall.

> Some of you have been riding your high horse for a long time...

> But, you just remember, the higher the horse, the greater the fall.

E. Pride is Demonic.

1. Consider the sin that got satan cast out of heaven [Eze. 28:12-17].

> He was "the anointed Cherub that covereth..."

> He was the closest being to God.

> His heart was lifted up in pride.

2. He decided that he was equal with God.

> Everyone who lifts himself up with pride is like the devil.

> Pride is demonic.

3. Pride exalts self, and makes self equal with God.

> God says pride is wicked, and sin, and an abomination unto Him.

> Therefore to be proud is to deny the word of God, and make your will equal to God's.

 

A. Because of Pride many have lost respect for God's House - Church!

1. Some think they can set the mood in God's house.

> They think that they decide whether we are going to have a spiritual service or not.

> I tell you emphatically, God is not mocked!

2. Some think that everyone in the church should notice them!

> You would be amazed at how many people drop out of church because someone was unfriendly to them...

> Jesus is the center of attention in this house.

> We did not all assemble here this morning to shake your hand.

> This service is not about you or about who is or is not friendly to you.

> THIS IS GOD'S HOUSE, WE ARE HERE TO NOTICE HIM!!!!

 

B. Because of Pride some have lost respect for God's holiness.

1. When you come to this house, you don't have to wear expensive clothes...

> BUT YOU DO HAVE TO WEAR CLOTHES!

2. You don't have to dress expensively...

> BUT, YOU DO HAVE TO DRESS MODESTLY!

 

C. Because of Pride some have lost respect for God's preacher.

1. This week I have been yelled at, falsely accused, and my motives were called in question.

> I don't really care about it, but it shows the depth of disrespect we have come to in our church.

2. I don't hunt and track down church members.

> I won't try to talk you into staying if you want to leave.

> I won't try to talk you into joining if you decide to stay.

> I am looking for God, and I think when people see that, those who are also looking for God will follow me.

 

D. The Examples of Pride in our church.

1. "I want to tell my side of the story."

> Pride causes people to want to explain why they are doing wrong!

> Why should you be allowed to explain away your sin?

> If your doing wrong get right!

> (Prov 13:10) "Only by pride cometh contention!"

2. "I don't care about the facts, I am right because I say I'm right!"

> That might work with your spouse, but it won't work with God!

[Prov. 26:16] "The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason."

> The sluggard doesn't care about the facts.

> It wouldn't matter if you had SEVEN Scientists with all the facts laid out.

> God says this kind of person thinks he is wiser than seven scientists.

3. Proud people want to be recognized and rewarded for every work they do for the church.

> God rewards the ones who do the work without anyone knowing.

> But these take offence if you don't recognize them for every thing they do.

4. Proud people take into account every penny they put in or spend on the church.

> I know people who buy and give without ever counting the cost.

> Hey I know sometimes we need to get a reimbursement, but some are ready to start a fight over $5 they didn't get "credit" for...

B. Let the other person be right (1_Cor. 6:1-8).

1. Why do you not rather TAKE wrong...

> Why don't you take it like a good Christian?

2. Why do you not ALLOW yourself to be defrauded.

> You may win the fight on earth, but lose in heaven.

> Or, you can choose to lose the fight on earth, and be a BIG winner in heaven.