What is our greatest pride in life? Out of a misleading seat of pride, a phrase has been coined that ‘power is sweet’ implying that power is final and gives satisfaction to life. Sadly, we are dead wrong. Jesus must always be our seat of pride.
Jesus said in Matthew 28: 18 all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. No power is superior to Jesus’ power. Whilst other powers have limitations, Jesus’ power is final and everlasting in heaven, on earth and beneath the earth. Jesus gave us similar power when he said in Luke 10: 19 see, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all power of the enemy, and nothing will hurt you. God’s children must be careful about what we cherish as pride.
Ephesians 1: 20-21 say God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. We can no longer pride in anything but Christ Jesus and our Father the LORD God Almighty. No power is greater than God who can protect us indefinitely.
Romans 14: 11 says as I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God. Jesus still lives and reigns so is his name, all powers are subject to his authority. Paul repeats the power in the name of Jesus in Philippians 2: 10, at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Our pride must be in what is eternal and invincible.
Our seat(s) of pride
Every seat of pride must be protective of our interest. In biblical times, kings and rulers put their trust in chariots and horses in battle and wealth and kingdoms. However, history tells us that they failed in many circumstances and occasions. They are all subject to God’s authority. Biblical examples abound but we will cite just a few examples.
Pharaoh’s army failed in the Red Sea in Exodus 14:9. The Canaanites lost battle to Joshua in spite of their superior power in Joshua 11:4-6. The people of Gaza, Ashkelon and Ekron Territories lost their battle against Israel in Judges 4: 3. The Philistines lost to Israel at Michmash-Beth-aven in 1 Samuel 13: 5. Only God through Christ Jesus is invincible and in only him must we boast of his grace and love.
We must not be afraid
Fear makes us opt for useless powers. God does not want us to be afraid of the world because Jesus has already conquered the world with his blood. Deuteronomy 20: 1 says when you go out to war against your enemies, and see horses and chariots, an army larger than your own, you shall not be afraid of them for the LORD your God is with you, who brought you up from the land of Egypt. We fear because we do not believe or feel God’s presence with us when we dwell in sin.
We must not fear but be proud when God is with us. Elisha in his walk with Elijah saw God’s chariots of fire in 2 Kings 2: 11-12. We mock God when we pride ourselves in powers other than God. 2 Kings 19: 22-23 said, “By your messengers you have mocked the Lord, and you have said, “With my many chariots I have gone up the heights of the mountains, to the far recesses of Lebanon;… I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth; I will turn you back on the way by which you came. Fear comes when we mock God.
We must allow God to take charge
The psalmist said in Psalms 20: 7 some take pride in chariots, and some in horses, but our pride is in the name of the LORD our God. Isaiah 31: 1-3 explained that people rely on horses and chariots and in horsemen because they are strong but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult him. God is wise and brings disaster upon the evildoers without calling back his word. Earthly powers are only temporary and may fail us because they cannot save evildoers when God’s time is ripe.
When we embrace iniquity, God will repeat what he said in Nahum 2: 13 see, I am against you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will burn your chariots in smoke. God will turn our own pride against us if we continue to embrace sin. Haggai 2: 22 said, I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders; and the horses and their riders shall fall, every one by the sword of the comrade. We may in sin die by the sword of our own pride.
Christ is our eternal pride
Psalms 37: 5 say commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act. Psalms 125: 1 say those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. Proverbs 3: 5 say trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. Isaiah 26: 24 says trust in the LORD forever, for in the LORD God you have an everlasting rock. The world is turning away from God and we must expect doom, disaster and failure.
What is the seat of our pride? Our pride must be in God through Christ Jesus. Jeremiah 17: 5 says blessed are those who trust in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. There is no better seat of pride than the blood of Christ Jesus. When called upon his name, he will make his blood available to us. Call now!
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, in our foolish ways, we have prided in perishable things including deceitful spirits. Today, we confess and return to you for deliverance. Please be with us and be our stronghold of pride in all things from this moment forward. Lift our yoke of sin and give us relief by your grace in your blood and in your precious name. We thank you for the answered prayer, Amen!!
