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  SPIRITUAL PRIDE
  by A.W. Tozer
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Summary: Spiritual pride can lead to a perilous comfort, and humility is
the key to a healthy spiritual life.

Topics: "Humility", "Spiritual Pride"
Scripture References: Proverbs 16:18, Matthew 7:3

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DESCRIPTION
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A.W. Tozer addresses the issue of spiritual pride, warning that our
arrogance and self-righteousness may be the reasons for rejection and
dislike from others, despite our outward piety. He emphasizes the
importance of self-examination and humility, suggesting that we often
disguise our faults with a facade of good humor and spirituality. Tozer
reminds us that persecution may stem from our association with Christ,
and encourages deep heart searching and repentance rather than
complacency in our perceived spirituality. Ultimately, he calls for a
humble approach to our faith, recognizing that we may not be as
spiritually advanced as we believe.

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CONTENT
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It might be a shock to some of us if we could know why we are disliked
and why our testimony is rejected so violently. Could it be that we are
guilty of a deep sinfulness of disposition that we just cannot keep
hidden? Arrogance, lack of charity, contempt, self-righteousness,
religious snobbery, fault-finding--and all this kept under careful
restraint and disguised by a pious smile and synthetic good humor. This
sort of thing is felt rather than understood by those who touch us in
everyday life. They do not know why they cannot stand us, but we are
sure that the reason is our exalted state of spirituality! Perilous
comfort. Deep heart searching and prolonged repentance would be better.

Yet let us not assume that if we are persecuted it is because of our
faults.

The opposite may be the fact. They may hate us because they first hated
Christ, and if that is so, then blessed are we indeed. The point is, let
us take nothing for granted. We may be better than we think we are, but
the likelihood is not overwhelming. Humility is best.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/aw-tozer/spiritual-pride/
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