CAN GOD BEAR RECORD OF YOUR GOOD WORKS ?

PROVERBS 16 : 5

“Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”

So, pride is not something to be proud about; for “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: ….” and certainly, “he will not go unpunished”.

Being proud is having inordinate self-esteem; … possessing a high or unreasonable conceit of one’s own excellence, (either in mind or body).

So, a man may be proud of his person, of his talents, of his accomplishments, or his achievements. He may be proud of anything that he has a relationship with:  It may be his country, his place of birth, or even his religion or his church.

We are not to be proud. We are to glory in the LORD; ... for “Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”

NOTE THIS:

Pride starts from the heart. And it is demonstrated by the actions that we do: … trying to exalt ourselves above others.

Proverbs 6 verse 16 says this:

“These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:”

Verse 17: “A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,”

Of course a proud look comes from a proud heart. And everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD. If you have this understanding, you will never allow yourself to operate in pride; because pride will destroy you!

Proverbs 8 : 13; it says:

“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward mouth, do I hate.”

So, if you fear the LORD, if you love the LORD, you will hate pride, because God hates pride. Because if you are operating in pride, you are already operating in the ministry of Satan; because that was the ministry Lucifer operated in.

That’s why the Scripture is warning us and giving us this advice: that “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: …”

SO:

• Cease from being proud!

• Refuse that the seed of pride will settle in your heart !! … because that’s where it begins.

Psalm 119 verse 21 tells us:

“Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.”

When you are proud, it shows you are erring from the commandments of the LORD. Because God hates pride, when you are operating in pride you are already cursed, and the LORD will rebuke you. The LORD will put you in the place He has put Lucifer. You will be cast down!

SO, …

• Don’t operate in pride.

• The proud are cursed; so don’t put yourself in the place of curse!

• Put yourself in the place of obedience to the word of God.

• Refuse that anything will take you into the place of being cursed.

Isaiah 26 verse 5 says:

“For he bringeth down them that dwell on high; the lofty city, he layeth it low; he layeth it low, even to the ground; he bringeth it even to the dust.”

Don’t bring yourself low by trying to operate in pride.  If you are operating in pride, certainly God will bring you low.

Those who operate in pride …

• Talk arrogantly.

• They do things arrogantly.

• They relate to other people arrogantly.

• And they are haughty.

KNOW IT THAT: 

‘Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.’

See what happened to Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 4 : 30.

It says –

“The King spake, and said, Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?”

King Nebuchadnezzar was exalting himself that he built Babylon.  He called it: ‘Great.’ He built it for the house of his kingdom; and he said – ‘by the might of his power.’

KNOW IT:

‘It’s not by might, It’s not by power; but by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, you are who you are.

As a child of God, never come to that point of boasting in yourself.  If you have to boast, boast in the LORD : … ‘that it’s the LORD who has done this for you!’

See what happened to Nebuchadnezzar because he boasted.

The Bible said in that Daniel chapter 4 verse 31:

“While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to thee it is spoken; The kingdom is departed from thee.”

Verse 32: “And they shall drive thee from men, and thy dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field: they shall make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee, until thou know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.”

You must know – you are who you are because of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Never pride yourself on your achievements or who you are, or what you have. If God did not allow King Nebuchadnezzar to be on the throne, he wouldn’t have. And that’s the lesson God taught him. 

It says – ‘until he comes to realize that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will.’

• Allow God to rule in your hearts.

• Allow God to rule in all your situations.

• Yield yourself to the Spirit of God.

• Walk in the word of God.

• Be humble and be sober; for ‘God giveth grace to the humble and resists the proud.’ [Ref: James 4:6] 

For: “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”

If you have this understanding, you will not operate in pride.

Matthew 23 verse 12 says:

“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

Nebuchadnezzar exalted himself and the LORD abased him.  He brought him low, until he came to realize that God rules in the affairs of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He wills.

Don’t wait until you are abased before you purge yourself from pride – for pride will destroy you.  Know it that God knows your heart; … whatever you are doing: ‘For that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.’ [Ref: Luke 16:15]

WISDOM QUOTE

When you begin to esteem yourself and exalt yourself above whom God has made you to be, refusing to recognize He who had made you to be who you are, the LORD will humble you.

‘ …. … though hand join in hand; … …’  …. (means) : Even if you walk together, and keep company of the proud to exalt yourself, you will not escape judgment. That’s what he is saying there: “Every one that is proud in heart, is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”

SO, …

• Don’t call confederation what they call confederation.

• Don’t join them … (the proud), … to walk in their ways.

• Don’t keep company with the proud.

• Don’t learn their ways,

• Don’t be like them.

• Be wise!

• Learn to be humble; ‘for he who walks with the wise will be wise.’  [Ref: Proverbs 13:20]

• Get wisdom, get understanding! Know it – that humility is a way forward.

KNOW IT: …

‘Even though hand join in hand, keeping company of the proud to exalt yourself: … you will not escape judgment!

If you have this understanding, …

• You will not desire to learn the way of the proud.

• You will not desire to walk in their ways.

RATHER, …

• You will desire to humble yourself.

• You’ll desire to walk in the mind of Christ; for Christ humbled Himself, and that’s why He’s given a Name above all names: that in the Name of Jesus, every knee shall bow; and every tongue shall confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. [Ref: Philippians 2: 10]

So, don’t learn to walk with the proud !

Proverbs 11 verse 21 says:

“Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.”

So, …

• Don’t join the proud to walk in their ways !

• Don’t walk wickedly, because you will not escape judgment when it comes !

• Learn to walk in the wisdom of God !!

• Learn to glory in the LORD!!

• Don’t boast in yourself; for every boasting in yourself is evil and shall be punished !!!

That’s why the Scripture tells us in Isaiah chapter 3 verse 11; it says –

“Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.”

KNOW THIS :

If you are walking in pride, you are walking wickedly; and you shall be judged! You will not go unpunished; for your reward shall be given unto you !!

• Learn to walk in humility.

• Learn to walk in obedience to the word of God.

The Scripture warns us in Romans 2 : 8 -

“But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,”

Verse 9: “Tribulation and anguish, upon  every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;”

So everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD. Though hand join in hand, they shall not be unpunished. 

SO I DESIRE YOU: ‘Walk in humility’!

As you walk in humility, the LORD will exalt you at the due time. And you will remain blessed in Jesus’ Name. Amen.