Pride the Destroyer

Luke 18:9-14
Pride strives to center all activity toward itself.

I: Pride is no respector of persons.
1. Satan fell from his exalted place when pride possessed his heart.
2. Pride caused Eve to desire the forbidden fruit more than the Will of God.
3. “Israel was warned not to let pride cause them to forget God when they became prosperous.” Deuteronomy 8:11.
4. Pride caused Haman to build the Gallows he was hung upon.

II: Two men went up to pray.
1. One was a Pharasee.
a. He was a religious leader.
b. He stood and addressed God with pride.
c. He was conceited in being better than other men.
d. He boasted of the good things he was doing.
e. He went home with his burden of sin.
2. The other was a Publican.
a. He felt his sin too deep to be proud before God.
b. He took his place humbly before God.
c. He called for mercy and not merit.
d. Jesus said he went home justified.