1 00:00:00,987 --> 00:00:05,457 Let's think of some expressions of pride. 2 00:00:05,457 --> 00:00:08,153 The Scribes and the Pharisees. 3 00:00:08,153 --> 00:00:11,521 A great example of pride of position. 4 00:00:11,521 --> 00:00:13,408 The pride of recognition. 5 00:00:13,408 --> 00:00:15,590 You remember what Jesus said of them? 6 00:00:15,590 --> 00:00:17,604 "The Scribes and the Pharisees love 7 00:00:17,604 --> 00:00:20,325 the place of honor at feasts 8 00:00:20,325 --> 00:00:24,041 and the best seats in the synagogues." 9 00:00:24,041 --> 00:00:25,384 So you come into the church, 10 00:00:25,384 --> 00:00:28,993 and if you have people that are competing 11 00:00:28,993 --> 00:00:30,688 for the highest seat, 12 00:00:30,688 --> 00:00:33,695 what does that look like? 13 00:00:33,695 --> 00:00:38,841 I mean, we're adults - many of us. 14 00:00:38,841 --> 00:00:41,100 We wouldn't imagine, 15 00:00:41,100 --> 00:00:46,009 you know how it is with little children when they play - 16 00:00:46,009 --> 00:00:48,295 what is that game they play with the chairs? 17 00:00:48,295 --> 00:00:49,929 Musical chairs. 18 00:00:49,929 --> 00:00:51,920 You've seen when there's one chair left. 19 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:53,924 Or even when there's multiple chairs left, 20 00:00:53,924 --> 00:00:57,288 but two people try to get in the same seat. 21 00:00:57,288 --> 00:01:00,766 That's basically what Jesus is saying about Pharisees. 22 00:01:00,766 --> 00:01:02,923 They're fighting to get the highest seat. 23 00:01:02,923 --> 00:01:06,178 You know, you can just see two of them 24 00:01:06,178 --> 00:01:08,019 with all of their long garb on 25 00:01:08,019 --> 00:01:11,949 and they're trying to push each other off the seat 26 00:01:11,949 --> 00:01:14,100 like children playing musical chairs. 27 00:01:14,100 --> 00:01:16,946 We would never think of doing that. 28 00:01:16,946 --> 00:01:21,819 And yet, there can be that subtle reality in the heart 29 00:01:21,819 --> 00:01:25,194 that we want position. 30 00:01:25,194 --> 00:01:27,252 We want recognition. 31 00:01:27,252 --> 00:01:29,381 We want place. 32 00:01:29,381 --> 00:01:31,520 Oh, wanting to be recognized... 33 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:39,660 wanting to be honored. 34 00:01:39,660 --> 00:01:40,948 You know what? 35 00:01:40,948 --> 00:01:43,315 Every part is not working properly 36 00:01:43,315 --> 00:01:47,242 when you've got that attitude in the church. 37 00:01:47,242 --> 00:01:52,800 Or how about the pride of power and achievement? 38 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:54,464 You get this from Nebuchadnezzar. 39 00:01:54,464 --> 00:01:57,040 But this can come into the church just as well. 40 00:01:57,040 --> 00:02:01,048 "Is this not Babylon? 41 00:02:01,048 --> 00:02:03,652 Great Babylon - 42 00:02:03,652 --> 00:02:06,388 which I have built by my mighty power 43 00:02:06,388 --> 00:02:09,068 and for my great majesty." 44 00:02:09,068 --> 00:02:11,398 And you know, that can come into the church. 45 00:02:11,398 --> 00:02:15,507 People do what they do because 46 00:02:15,507 --> 00:02:18,071 they want to show what they can do. 47 00:02:18,071 --> 00:02:21,211 "Look what I can do." 48 00:02:21,211 --> 00:02:22,403 This achievement. 49 00:02:22,403 --> 00:02:26,697 And you know, the reason that we know 50 00:02:26,697 --> 00:02:30,384 that this easily infects the church 51 00:02:30,384 --> 00:02:34,476 is there you've got how many times, repeatedly, 52 00:02:34,476 --> 00:02:38,289 the inner circle of disciples. 53 00:02:38,289 --> 00:02:41,721 Luke 22:24 "A dispute also arose among them 54 00:02:41,721 --> 00:02:47,002 as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest." 55 00:02:47,002 --> 00:02:49,750 Now you know, we would not be so bold 56 00:02:49,750 --> 00:02:52,380 as to say it out loud. 57 00:02:52,380 --> 00:02:54,534 I mean, those guys were pretty brash, right? 58 00:02:54,534 --> 00:02:55,492 Having an argument? 59 00:02:55,492 --> 00:02:57,677 Especially some of the times they were arguing that, 60 00:02:57,677 --> 00:02:59,023 Jesus is over there telling them 61 00:02:59,023 --> 00:03:00,859 how He's going to Jerusalem to die. 62 00:03:00,859 --> 00:03:02,228 They're over there: 63 00:03:02,228 --> 00:03:03,770 "I'm going to be greater than you." 64 00:03:03,770 --> 00:03:09,083 And Jesus is saying, "I'm going to die." 65 00:03:09,083 --> 00:03:11,412 Peter, who do you think you are? 66 00:03:11,412 --> 00:03:13,270 You think just because you walked on water out there 67 00:03:13,270 --> 00:03:15,878 you're going to be greater? 68 00:03:15,878 --> 00:03:17,590 See, we wouldn't think of that 69 00:03:17,590 --> 00:03:20,968 because why? Because of pride. 70 00:03:20,968 --> 00:03:22,536 That would be too embarrassing. 71 00:03:22,536 --> 00:03:24,234 You see, that's almost like little children. 72 00:03:24,234 --> 00:03:25,786 Little children can fight over the toy: 73 00:03:25,786 --> 00:03:27,107 Give it to me! Give it to me! 74 00:03:27,107 --> 00:03:30,326 You know, I saw some of that happen over here. 75 00:03:30,326 --> 00:03:33,195 And with children, they can do that shamelessly. 76 00:03:33,195 --> 00:03:34,755 But two adults, can you imagine 77 00:03:34,755 --> 00:03:36,484 if two of the mothers were like: 78 00:03:36,484 --> 00:03:37,513 Give that to me! 79 00:03:37,513 --> 00:03:39,556 And it's like no, they wouldn't do that 80 00:03:39,556 --> 00:03:44,506 because pride itself would indicate that they not. 81 00:03:44,506 --> 00:03:46,371 Because they don't want to be shamed. 82 00:03:46,371 --> 00:03:50,105 Little children don't have that sense of shame. 83 00:03:50,105 --> 00:03:52,006 But these guys were bold and brash. 84 00:03:52,006 --> 00:03:53,385 No, we might not do that, 85 00:03:53,385 --> 00:03:56,286 but you're thinking, in your heart, 86 00:03:56,286 --> 00:03:57,487 you desire that. 87 00:03:57,487 --> 00:03:59,162 You actually desire to be the greatest. 88 00:03:59,162 --> 00:04:00,552 You don't desire to be the least. 89 00:04:00,552 --> 00:04:01,926 You desire to be recognized. 90 00:04:01,926 --> 00:04:03,453 You desire to be applauded. 91 00:04:03,453 --> 00:04:05,636 (incomplete thought) 92 00:04:05,636 --> 00:04:09,246 You desire the glory of man.