The Methods of Satan – Pride
Pride comes from being puffed up in one’s mind resulting in an opinion that is higher than reality, which produces arrogance and disdainful conduct due to this haughty attitude.
It was pride that caused Lucifer to fall from his position within God’s government
Ezekiel 28:17 “Your heart was lifted up because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you.
When it comes to pride within the Church it is a temptation that will be levied by Satan against a novice who is placed into a position of a Pastor within the assembly. In Paul’s letter to Timothy he warns him not to place a novice into a position of a pastor due to the likelihood that Satan will use pride against him.
not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. – 1 Timothy 3:6
Pride is also a characteristic of a false teacher. One who teaches doctrine that is contrary to godliness
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not come to healthy words, the [words] of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the teaching according to godliness, he is proud, standing upon nothing, but is diseased concerning disputes and arguments out from which come envy, strife, blasphemy, suspicious malignant evils, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose gain is godliness. From such withdraw yourself. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. – 1 Timothy 6:3-6
Pride will also be seen among the unbelievers who stay within the Church.
For men will exist as fond of themselves, […]