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O LORD, ITS HARD TO BE HUMBLE (1): THE FIRST SIN

(Luke 9:46-50)

Intro If God chose to come into our congregation and zap one sin into
oblivion what sin do you think He would choose? Discouragement that
great destroyer of hope? How about gossip that sin which causes so much
damage and leaves such ugly scars behind? Perhaps harboring grudges
clearly one of Satans greatest weapons? What would it be?

Well, I dont claim to know God so well that I could predict with certainty
what He would choose. But I have a suspicion. I suspect that He would choose
the first sin first chronologically and first in its prominence in Scripture.
This first sin has great relevance to our passage this morning, and we will deal
with that next week, but I think this is such an important subject that I want to
give some introductory background on it today before looking at it in Luke.

I. The First Sin Identified
So where did sin originate? In the Garden of Eden? Among human beings,
yes. But there was a tempter there who had already fallen into sin. That first-
of-all sins (at least as far as revealed to us) is found in Ezek 28. Here God
pulls back the curtains of time and the physical universe to give us a keen
insight into sins origin. This chapter, written around 600 BC, prophesies
against the prince of Tyre an influential Phoenician city on the coast of the
Mediterranean just NW of Palestine. But beginning in v. 11, God moves to the
power behind the scene and gives us a brief insight into one of the greatest if
not the greatest of His angelic creations. V. 11: You were the signet of
perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. But something happens
before v. 15: You were blameless in your ways from the day you were
created, till unrighteousness was found in you. And there it is the first sin.
It is found in the heart of this great Angel. He abused his God-given ability to
choose. He chose rebellion. He is responsible for introducing evil.

So what was the nature of his sin? V. 17: Your heart was proud because of
your beauty; you corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast
you to the ground. This angelic being became enamored of his own beauty
and splendor. Pride was the sin. Pride is at the heart of all sin. Pride is
nothing less than setting up shop in opposition to God. It assumes that we are
smarter and more sophisticated than His commands, that we do not need Him,
that He is immaterial to our existence. Pride is a killer. Look where it led this
Angel. Isa 14:
13)
You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven; above the
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stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly
in the far reaches of the north;
14)
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High. Satan set out to be his own God, and
when God rejected him, he set out to see how many he could take with him.
What was the gist of his temptation of Eve in Gen 3:5? For God knows that
when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,
knowing good and evil. Eat from that tree, Eve and you will be just like God.
Pride is at the core of human rebellion. It all started with Satan. And it
always leads toward self and away from God. Were nothing but blind
mimics of Satan. So the first sin is alive and well in our world and in us.

II. The First Sin Defined
So what exactly is pride? One dictionary definition is a reasonable or
justifiable self-respect like someone who takes pride in their work. Thats
not bad people doing their best. Thats not the pride that is sinful. Another
dictionary meaning is inordinate self-esteem. Thats helpful, but it still
doesnt get at the root of why pride is sinful. The Bible never actually defines
pride, but let me suggest a definition that shows the ugly side of pride. Pride is
esteeming myself apart from God. Pride is inordinate self-esteem, but not
primarily because I have overestimated my worth or abilities, but because I
see myself as anything apart from God.

We all need self-esteem. It is not healthy to deal with pride by thinking of
myself as nothing. But when I understand that I really am nothing apart from
Christ BUT that I am a certified, bonafide, loved, honored and respected
child of God in Christ, then I get my self-worth in proper perspective. Eve
wanted to be like God apart from God. Thats pride. Pride is nothing less than
playing God, something we are so prone to do even the best of us.

Look at Moses in Num 20. He had 2,000,000 people out in the Sinai
wilderness and no water. So God instructed him in Num 20:8, Take the staff,
and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock
before their eyes to yield its water. On a previous occasion, Moses struck a
rock to bring forth water. This time God says, Talk to the rock. But Moses
is mad. The people have complained in an ugly, ungrateful way, so v. 10,
Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and
he said to them, Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of
this rock?
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And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff
twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their
livestock. Despite Moses disobedience God did give water, but Moses paid
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dearly by not being allowed to go into the promised land. Why? Look at
Moses comment. Shall we bring water. Who was bringing water out of the
rock? God was. Moses was no more able to do that than you or me. But He
took credit. Making himself to be something apart from God. Playing God.

III. The First Sin Condemned
So, how does God view this sin that declares independence from Him? How
do you think? Isa 42:8 answers, I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I
give to no other a challenge He repeats in Isa 48:11. Would you share your
glory and you created everything? Anytime we touch the glory of God we do
so at our own risk, and nothing takes glory from God more than pride.

Did you know pride is #1 on Gods most wanted list? Turn to Prov 6:16-17:
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are an abomination to
him:
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haughty eyes. There it is. Number one on the list ahead of a lying
tongue. Arrogance. Playing God. Theres a telling example in II Samuel 6.
King David is moving the ark of the covenant from a temporary location back
to Jerusalem. Everyones rejoicing that its on the move. Now notice in II Sam
6:6, And when they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah put out his
hand to the ark of God and took hold of it, for the oxen stumbled.
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And the
anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and God struck him down there
because of his error, and he died there beside the ark of God. Seems harsh,
doesnt it? Struck dead for trying to steady the ark.

But before we judge God, we need to ask some questions. Why was the ark on
an oxcart in the first place? Numerous times God had instructed that the ark be
carried by poles as in Exod 25:14-15, And you shall put the poles into the
rings on the sides of the ark to carry the ark by them.
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The poles shall remain
in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it. Further, only men from
the tribe of Levi and family of Kohath were to carry the ark and tabernacle
utensils; Uzzah was from the tribe of J udah. Things are going south fast.
Furthermore, even the Kohathites were never to touch the ark (Num 4:15). In
fact, God had decreed that if a Kohathite merely glanced at the ark in the Holy
of Holies he would die instantly!. You cant mess with Gods holiness
Beloved not for long. Now heres Uzzah, wrong tribe, wrong family, wrong
transportation, touching the glory. And God says, Enough!

Uzzahs act was not an act of heroism; it was an act of arrogance. He
assumed that his hand was less polluted than the earth. But it wasnt the
ground that would desecrate the ark; it was the touch of man. The earth is
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obedient. It does what God tells it to do, obeys the laws of nature God
established, brings forth its yield in its season. The ground does not commit
cosmic treason. Man does that. Man touches the glory; man plays God; man
is arrogant enough to think he can break the laws of God for some greater
good that he imagines. Every act of pride is shaking ones fist in the face of
God and saying, I know better. And its subject to the same penalty Uzzah
suffered. Only Gods grace allows us time to repent. All sin is condemned,
but pride tops the list the core of the rest. How much criticism could you
have without pride? Discouragement? Bitterness? Anger? Prides at the root.

IV. The First Sin Recognized
So most of us are sitting here thinking, Great. So God is going to judge
pride. Go to it, Lord. Get those arrogant so and sos. But we never look in
the mirror! We are much better at seeing flaws in others. I used to have a
friend who would say, I can hardly wait for morning, cuz I get better
looking every day. And we think there thats the guy thats got a pride
issue. Pride is the pastor who brags, Hey, we grew by 100% last year. What
he doesnt say is that he started with five people including himself and his
wife. Pride is the guy getting photographed who says, Wait, I want you to get
my best side, and he means it! Pride is the guy who can screw in a light bulb
all by himself. He just stands still, holds the bulb and the world revolves
around him! Pride is Mark Twain saying, I have been complimented many
times and they always embarrass me; I always feel that they havent said
enough. Yes we know pride when we see it, right? And its surely not us.

But, of course, it is! We all swim together in the first sin. Weve turned it into
a church game. You have to play very, very carefully. Its the only game I
know that you lose if anyone finds out that youre playing! There are two
basic ways of playing the Pride game. One is, Im more spiritual than you
are, and the second is, Im beyond hope. Both are pride in disguise!

Ever hear this: This morning in my devotions, the Lord really gave me
something rich. Of course, that could be said with good intention but I can
tell you that often the hidden message is, I hope you understand that I have
devotions every day. Furthermore, the Lord shares special things with me.
Its just a way of saying, Im more spiritual than you are without actually
saying it, right? Or someone will say, I n my humble opinion, which
translated means, My humble opinion is better than your best shot, but I
couldnt very well say in my superior opinion or who would listen? Besides,
Id look arrogant! How about this one: The other day Pastor Dave and I
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were talking about the leadership program, which translated means, When
the pastor needs spiritual advice, he knows who to talk to. Isnt it great how
he surrounds himself with the best people? Im glad to say I dont see or
hear this kind of thing here, Beloved. But it can sneak up on any of us.

I think the more prominent way the Pride game is played is the Im beyond
hope version. I just dont have any spiritual gifts. Really? God says you
do? So who you gonna believe? Or, Im just not capable. Really? Have you
tried, or is this your divine opinion? Id like to help, but Im pretty busy
right now and I know God will give you someone better. Often those
statements mean, Im so inferior that even God cant change or use me. So
Im off the hook. Thats nothing more than a backward form of pride. Im so
bad that even God cant make me useful. Know what? He may not use you
because of your unbelief, fear or laziness. But I guarantee you He will hold
you responsible when your God-playing days are over. Hes not fooled.

V. The First Sin Defeated
So what is the antidote to pride? Obviously, humility, right? But humility can
be hard to come by. Remember the old Mac Davis song, Oh Lord, Its Hard
to be Humble When Youre Perfect in Every Way? We may not go that far,
but lets face it, its hard not to think that we are doing better than most. The
Bible warns against that. Like Prov 16:
18)
Pride goes before destruction, and a
haughty spirit before a fall. Thats why Paul urges in Eph 4:1-2, I therefore,
a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to
which you have been called,
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with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another in love. First attitude on the list humility. Walk
in humility. Thats not hard when youre digging a trench for a water line,
moving tables around or changing a babys diaper, right? Humility is sort of
built in to some tasks. Thats why some people wont do certain tasks. Too
demeaning. Humility comes a lot harder when were out front.

But Peter urges in I Pet 5:5, Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility
toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the
humble. Clothe yourself in humility. Put it on like a garment. Wrap up in it.
Zech 2:3 simplifies further, Seek humility. But how do you do that?
Humility is illusive, isnt it? Like trying to grab a bar of soap. The harder you
try, the more it slips away. Just when you think you are humble, of course,
you are not! So how do we do this? Let me suggest three things.

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First, we must confess our pride. We need to do this almost constantly. The
more we confess it, the more we will see it and begin to abhor it like God
does. So, as soon as it pops up, confess it. C. S. Lewis said it this way: If
anyone would like to acquire humility, I can, I think, tell him the first step.
The first step is to realize that one is proud And a biggish step, too. At least,
nothing whatever can be done before it. I f you think you are not conceited, it
means you are very conceited indeed.

Second, put others before self. Pride stems from paying an inordinate
attention to ourselves and our needs and desires and wants. Pride dissipates
when focus turns outward! This takes discipline; doesnt come naturally, but
it can be done. In fact, God commands it in Phil 2:3-4, Do nothing from
selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than
yourselves.
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Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the
interests of others. Pride is fueled by focus on self. We starve it out when we
are paying more attention to others.

Third remember our value comes from being in Christ. To seek humility is
not to say, I am a worm, or I am nothing. Rather it is to say I derive my
worth from J esus. This is where Satan went all wrong. He thought he had
worth in himself. Failed to recognize that everything he had was from God.
Had he kept that in perspective, the whole history of the universe would have
been different. Instead, he saw himself as something apart from God. Paul
makes a telling statement in I Cor 4:7, What do you have that you did not
receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive
it? When we begin to see that everything we have, are and hope to be comes
from God, the first sin is defeated. When I see that my car, my house, my
wife, my abilities, my flaws, my achievements, my failures, my successes, my
everything came from God --- my whole perspective on life begins to change.
True humility floods me because I realize that I am nothing without Him, but
in Him, I am a child of the king. But its all Him. When we make Christ our
greatest treasure, there is no room left for pride. But we have to renew that
commitment to Him every second of every day, for the enemy will be at us
constantly to be our own God to treasure ourselves above Him.

Conc A stockbroker had made millions for an Arabian oil sheik who offered
him many valuable gifts of appreciation. He refused them all, but the sheik
persisted until he finally relented, Okay, Ive recently taken up golf. A set of
golf clubs would be a fine gift. Weeks went by before he received a letter
from the sheik. It said, So far I have bought you three golf clubs. I hope you
will not be disappointed, but only two of them have swimming pools. Way
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beyond anything he could have imagined. Just like God pays those who
humbly fear and revere Him.

The choice is really very simple treasure ourselves and get nothing in the
end, or treasure Christ and get everything. Lets treasure Him together.
Lets pray.