OK - now that I have your attention.  Most of us have heard the question, “who’s your daddy”?  And to different people it may mean different things.  To me when I hear it in the world, I hear and quite often see - pride.

Do you ever stop and think about pride?  Most people don’t and I probably would not have either, except that Holy Spirit reminded me of how deadly it can be.  It can slip into our character, so subtly that we may not even notice, but others do and God defiantly does.

What is pride? Nelson’s topical Bible index definition: Pride—a conceited sense of one’s superiority

Pride causes us to do things that we regret and at times even when we know better, we still go ahead and do things – just to prove a point!  Was it or was it to show you were right, or superior, or smarter, or you know more Word than the Pastor?  OK I won’t go there, but I hope you see what I’m getting at.  Pride, like most sin, can feel so good, when you are operating in it, but hurts so deep when confronted with the truth of God’s Word.  Pride causes us to justify our actions, even at the expense of our own well being.  Pride is usually at the root of most church splits and strife.  What?  Can true Christians operate in pride?  Like I said, it can be so subtle. “Pastor, you are so knowledgeable in the Word, I have never heard anyone that knows so much about everything”  WARNING!  The first thing out of Pastor’s mouth will determine… “Who’s your daddy?

OK, enough picking on pastor.  How about this one; “you are the best pray-er I have heard, I think you are more in the Spirit than Pastor” Or “Wow, you know more about "what is going on" at the office than anyone, I think you really should have your bosses job.”

WARNING! How you respond will determine “Who’s your Daddy?

Pride does not have to come from others compliments.  We can pick it up all by ourselves, if we don’t give credit - where credit is due.  Romans 13:7 “Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and import duties, and give respect and honor to all to whom it is due.” (NLT)  When we give the credit to God for our abilities and to those who taught us - then we can walk free from pride.

Jeremiah 9:23-24 “23 The Lord says: Don’t brag about your wisdom or strength or wealth. 24 If you feel you must brag, then have enough sense to brag about worshipping me, the Lord. What I like best is showing kindness, justice, and mercy to everyone on earth.” (The Contemporary English)

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 “30 You are God’s children. He sent Christ Jesus to save us and to make us wise, acceptable, and holy. 31 So if you want to brag, do what the Scriptures say and brag about the Lord.” (The Contemporary English)

Do you want God to work for you – or against you?

James 4:6 “6 In fact, God treats us with even greater kindness, just as the Scriptures say, 1 “God opposes everyone who is proud, but he is kind to everyone who is humble.” (The Contemporary English)

I don’t believe people wake up one morning and decide, "today is the day I start to operate in pride”.  How do we get to the point that we allow pride to affect our actions?  What we think about is what starts the ball rolling.  When we hear a compliment do we think about God, who gives us the ability or do we think about how good we are?  Remember why Satan was tossed out of heaven?  That’s right - pride.  Satan’s battlefield is the mind.  He puts the thoughts in, but it is up to us to choose - if we will act on them or not. 

Romans 8:5-19 “5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God. 9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them are not Christians at all.) 10 Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as he raised Christ from the dead, he will give life to your mortal body by this same Spirit living within you. 12 So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God’s very own children, adopted into his family—calling him “Father, dear Father.” 16 For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we will share his treasures—for everything God gives to his Son, Christ, is ours, too. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering. 18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will give us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are.” (NLT)

Who’s Your Daddy?

Mark 7:20-23 “20 And then he added, “It is the thought-life that defiles you. 21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. 23 All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God.” (NLT)

… “UNACCEPTABLE TO GOD”   Wow!  I want to be acceptable to God, don’t you?  Yes, God is Love and He wants the very best for each one of us, but we can be unacceptable to Him.  God’s Word is very clear on how He feels about this topic.

Malachi 4:1-3 “The day of judgement is certain to come. And it will be like a red-hot furnace with flames that burn up proud and sinful people, as though they were straw. Not a branch or a root will be left. I, the Lord All-Powerful, have spoken! 2 But for you that honor my name, victory will shine like the sun with healing in its rays, and you will jump around like calves at play. 3 When I come to bring justice, you will trample those who are evil, as though they were ashes under your feet. I, the Lord All-Powerful, have spoken!” (The Contemporary English)

Paul gives Timothy a stern warning about the type of people we will be around in the last days.  We must be diligent, that we are not the ones he is warning Timothy about!

2 Timothy 3:1-5 “1 You should also know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. 2 For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. 3 They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control; they will be cruel and have no interest in what is good. 4 They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. 5 They will act as if they are religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. You must stay away from people like that.” (NLT)

We have all seen people like that… but was it in the mirror?  I’m being very blunt today, but sometimes in order to receive healing the process may be painful or uncomfortable.  In the natural when our bodies are attacked with a disease sometimes we are not even aware of it until it manifests in pain.  Likewise when people have operated in pride over a period of time - they sometimes don’t realize it, until the pain of confrontation from the Word or a fellow Christian makes them aware of it.

Who’s Your Daddy?

Galatians 4:1-7 “1 Think of it this way. If a father dies and leaves great wealth for his young children, those children are not much better off than slaves until they grow up, even though they actually own everything their father had. 2 They have to obey their guardians until they reach whatever age their father set. 3 And that’s the way it was with us before Christ came. We were slaves to the spiritual powers of this world. 4 But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. 5 God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children. 6 And because you Gentiles have become his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, and now you can call God your dear Father. 7 Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, everything he has belongs to you.” (NLT)

If you have read this message today and Holy Spirit has been speaking to your heart.  Or you believe that you have been allowing a spirit of pride to guide your decisions and you want it to stop - NOW!  You can start over today, according to 1 John 1:9-10 “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, (which is pride) we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.” (NLT)

Pray this prayer with me.

Father I’m am sorry for the times I took the glory when I was complimented.  I have sinned, according to your Word, in not giving respect and honor where honor was due.  Father please forgive me and wash me clean in the blood of Jesus.  Lord I believe I can do all things through The Anointed One and His anointing - Jesus, according to your Word.  From now on I will give you the credit for the things I do.  Holy Spirit, I ask you to help me by reminding me if I receive the glory when complemented or do things to prove I am right - which is pride.  Amen!

Let us give respect and honor to whom it is due.

Psalm 107:1-2 “1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. 2 Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has saved you from your enemies.” (NLT)

Speak out the victory together!

I thank God for the victory - in all the battles I face!

I thank God for all my abilities and talents - they are gifts from Him!

I thank God for all that I have achieved, through Him!

I thank God for all I know - as I renew my mind to the truth of His Word!