How do we know if we have pride in our hearts? It’s usually very clear for others to see, but not ourselves. We all are working on character flaws within our flesh. You know, those emotions that rise up, cause us to react and resist like a stone wall that’s been built up over time.
Pride can also be a good emotion expressed, like being proud of our kids, or of an accomplishment. So pride is not all bad.
The bad pride is when Scripture says, “Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.” (Luke 6: 45)
Here are some clues what this type of pride looks like:
- A person who has a prideful heart will spew pride.
- A person who has a loving heart of mercy will spew mercy.
To spew is to expel large quantities of something rapidly and forcibly.
We can tell a lot about ourselves and others by what comes out of the heart through the mouth.
Obadiah, the prophet, whose name means servant or worshiper of the Lord, is speaking what’s in the heart of the Lord. “The pride of your heart has deceived you.” (Obadiah 3)
God hates pride. It’s the character that had Lucifer thrown out of heaven. Prideful people boast and can’t see their harmful ways. That’s how it is deceptive.
Pride has some poisons that we need to see and be warned of:
“When pride comes, then comes disgrace.” (Proverbs 11: 2a)
“Pride goes before destruction.” (Proverbs 16: 18a)
“A man’s pride brings him low.” (Proverbs 29: 23a)
The ugly sin of pride makes us do and say things that we regret later. Obadiah said, “As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.” (Obadiah 15)
(Shared from Obadiah 1, Modified)
In our next reading, Naaman, a great man and commander of the army of the King of Aram. He was a valiant soldier, who, unfortunately had leprosy.
He goes to see the King of Israel, Joram, seeking to be healed. The king refuses, saying, “Am I God? Can I kill and bring back to life? (2 Kings 5:7) He concluded that the king was trying to pick a quarrel with him, and was creating a pretext for war.
Elisha steps in and tells the king to send Naaman to him.
- Prophets have the heart of the Lord to pray, intercede, and bring healing.
Naaman goes to the house of Elisha and his messenger tells him that Elisha said, “Go wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored and you will be cleansed.” (2 Kings 5: 10)
Well, Naaman did not like that suggestion. He didn’t like how Elisha sent him into the dirty Jordan River, instead of a cleaner river. He also didn’t care for the fact that Elisha didn’t come out to see him, but sent a messenger. He went away angry.
- Wanting things done our way doesn’t position us for a miracle. His anger almost kept him from receiving God’s gift of healing him.
- We can’t tell God how to heal someone, but we can choose to accept the provision.
- God chooses how and where.
Naaman’s servants talk with him and encourage him to follow the word of Elisha and to go submerge himself in the Jordan. He reluctantly listens to them, and after the seventh dip, his flesh was restored and he became clean like a young boy. Hallelujah!
Sounds like a fresh baptism to me. He was restored AND clean. Prophetically, I think God was doing something else within Naaman. Why did he have to dunk himself seven times? The number seven means completion. Just saying! Sometimes washing a bad attitude away, takes more than one time of cleansing.
Afterward, Naaman is so elated and grateful, he goes to Elisha bringing a gift. Elisha refuses the gift and tells him to go in peace.
Gehazi, hurries after Naaman, without Elisha knowing, and musters up a story that, “Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.” (2 Kings 5: 22)
Naaman is very happy to give him what he asked for. The bag of silver and clothing is generously accepted by Naaman. He gets back to the house, hiding the things he received. Elisha approaches Naaman, saying, “Where have you been?”
We know what those words mean. We’ve all used that phrase on our children or perhaps our spouse!
Elisha knew where he was, he’s prophetic, Naaman lies telling him he wasn’t anywhere. Elisha uses what a good master uses, guilt! He says to him, “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take to take…?” (2 Kings 5: 26) He then declares, “Leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants, forever.” (2 Kings 5: 27) And it was so. He was an offender of God’s law, so he had to be punished.
Aren’t you thankful for the mercy of our Jesus! I am clinging to Him. How would you like to receive that prophetic word? No thank you!
- A man’s heart full of pride, can also be full of greed.
- Pride and greed can sneak up on God’s servants, too.
- No one is exempt from it.
- A continual clean, pure heart is the remedy. (Taken from 2 Kings 5, Modified)
Paul is giving the directives on the Lord’s supper–Communion. He reminds them to take care of the heart issues, “A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drink of the cup.” (1 Corinthians 11: 28)
- Regularly examining what’s in our hearts will enable the Holy Spirit to use us in ways we’ve never thought possible.
- Each and every day, let the Holy Spirit search your heart. “He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit.” (Romans 8: 27)
How do we change our hearts? We ask, “Create in me a pure heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” (Psalm 51: 10)
(Shared from 1 Corinthians 11: 17-34, Modified)
UNBROKEN LOVE SERIES
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