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Humility vs Pride
Gerhard Du Toit
0:00
0:00 10:05
Gerhard Du Toit

Humility vs Pride

Gerhard Du Toit · 10:05

A life of humility is characterized by a deep desire to promote others, take personal responsibility, and be open and transparent, while pride leads to a self-righteous spirit, blindness to one's own heart condition, and a lack of willingness to repent or seek revival.
In this sermon, the speaker discusses the destructive nature of pride in a person's life. They emphasize the importance of recognizing and repenting of pride, as it hinders one's relationship with God and others. The speaker contrasts a prideful heart with a broken heart before God, highlighting the humility and dependence that comes with a broken Christian life. They emphasize the need for confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation in relationships, as well as the importance of serving others with a selfless and compassionate spirit. Overall, the sermon encourages listeners to cultivate a broken heart before God, acknowledging their own unworthiness and relying on His grace and forgiveness.

Full Transcript

When God has given me a broken heart, I'm overwhelmed to the sense of my own spiritual need. When I live a broken Christian life, there is a spirit of compassion about my life because I can forgive much, because I know how much I have been forgiven. I always esteem others better than myself.

When I serve God with a broken heart, I have a dependent spirit and I recognize my need for others. When I serve God with a broken life, I've learned the secret of denying myself. When my heart is broken before God, I have a motivation to serve others.

I'm motivated to be faithful before God and to make others a success. When my heart is broken before God, I have a deep desire to promote other believers. I have a sense of my own unworthiness and I'm so thrilled that God would use me in any kind of the ministry or any kind of the fellowship.

I'm always eager for others to get the credit and when my heart is broken, I rejoice when others are lifted up and I never defend myself. When my heart is broken before God, I have a hard attitude that says, I do not deserve to be part of this fellowship. I know that I've got nothing to offer God except the life of Christ that is flowing through my broken life.

And when I'm broken before God, I'm so humiliated about how much more I have to learn. I'm not concerned about the self-life and I'm willing to take risks to become vulnerable and to be close to others and to open my life to love other people. And when I serve God with a broken heart, I always take personal responsibility and I can see where I have done wrong in any kind of a situation.

And when I'm broken before God, I always receive criticism with a humble and with an open spirit. I'm not concerned, I'm concerned about being real and what they care about and what matters to those who are broken. It's not what others think, but it's what God knows about them.

And I'm willing to die to my own reputation. And when I live a broken Christian life, I'm willing to be open and transparent with others as God will direct me. And when I'm broken before God, I don't care who knows or who finds out about me.

I am willing to be exposed because I have nothing to lose in my relationship with God. And so when I serve God with a broken heart, I'm always quick to admit my failures and I want to seek forgiveness whenever it is necessary. When I live a broken Christian life and I'm under the conviction of God's Spirit, I'm able to acknowledge the specifics about my sin.

I'm grieved over the cause of my sin and I'm grieved over the root of my sin. And when I'm broken before God, I truly and genuinely repent over my sin. And the evidence in the fact is that I want to forsake that sin.

When I live a broken Christian life, I want to take the initiative to be reconciled when there has been a misunderstanding or a conflict in any kind of the relationship. I want to raise to the cross. I want to see if I can get there first, no matter how wrong the other person may have been.

And when I'm broken before God, I compare myself with the holiness of God. I sense the desperate need of the mercy and the grace of God. I always want to walk in the light.

And when I serve God with a broken spirit, I realize that I have a need of a consistent cleansing of heart and repentance. And when I'm broken before God, I continually sense my need for a fresh encounter with God the Holy Spirit. But when there is pride in my life as a Christian, I always focus on the failures of other Christians and other fellowships.

When there is pride in my life, I've got a very self-righteous spirit. I've got a critical spirit. I have a fault-finding spirit.

And I look at everyone else's faults through the microscope. But I always look at my own faults through the telescope. And I always look down upon the lies of other people.

When there is pride in my life, I have an independent and a self-sufficient spirit. I'm protective of my time. I try to protect my reputation and my rights as a Christian.

And I focus on the deficiencies of other Christians. When there is pride in my life, I want to be served by other Christians. I've got a desire to be successful.

I want to advance the self-life. And when there is this sin of pride in my life, I've got this drive. I want to be appreciated.

I want to be recognized. I'm offended and I'm wounded when other Christians are promoted. And I have been overlooked because of what I have done.

When there is pride in my life, I've got this inner attitude. And this is what I said, that this fellowship is very privileged to have me and my gifts. And all I think is what I can do for God.

And when there is pride in my life, I'm confident about how much I've learned other scriptures and how far I have gone in my relationship with God. And when there is pride in my life, I always keep people in a distance. When there is pride in my life, I want to blame other people.

When there is pride in my life, I'm unapproachable. When there is pride in my life, I'm defensive when I'm criticized by other Christians. And when there is the sin of pride in my life, I'm so concerned to be respectable.

I'm concerned about what other people think of me. And I try to protect my image and my reputation. And when there is pride in my life, I find it very difficult to share my spiritual needs.

When there is the sin of pride, I want to be sure that no one else finds out that I have sinned. And I try to cover up sin. And I have this instinct to try and not to reveal it.

And when there is pride in my life, I always want to make sure that no one else finds out when I have sinned. And I try to cover it up. And I find it very, very difficult to say, you know, I'm wrong.

Will you please forgive me? When there is pride in my life, I'm concerned about the consequences of my sin. I'm remorseful over my sin, simply because I've been caught that I have sinned before God and sinned before man. And when there is pride in my life, I always wait for others to come and ask for forgiveness.

When there is a misunderstanding or a conflict in my relationship with God, when there is pride in my life, I try to compare myself with other Christians and other believers and other fellowships. And I always think that I'm better than them. When there is pride in my life, I'm blind.

I become blind to my own heart condition. When there is pride in my life, I don't think that there is anything that I need to repent of. I don't think that I need revival.

But oh, I'm so sure that everyone else needs revival in my relationship with God. It's time to pray, shall we?

Sermon Outline

  1. I. The Heart of Humility
  2. A. Recognizing spiritual need
  3. B. Estimating others better than self
  4. C. Having a dependent spirit
  5. II. The Life of Humility
  6. A. Denying self
  7. B. Motivated to serve others
  8. C. Deep desire to promote others
  9. III. The Spirit of Humility
  10. A. Eager for others to get credit
  11. B. Rejoicing in others' success
  12. C. Willing to take risks for vulnerability
  13. IV. The Fruit of Humility
  14. A. Taking personal responsibility
  15. B. Receiving criticism with humility
  16. C. Being open and transparent
  17. V. The Dangers of Pride
  18. A. Focusing on others' failures
  19. B. Having a self-righteous spirit
  20. C. Being blind to own heart condition

Key Quotes

“When I live a broken Christian life, there is a spirit of compassion about my life because I can forgive much, because I know how much I have been forgiven.” — Gerhard Du Toit
“When my heart is broken before God, I have a motivation to serve others.” — Gerhard Du Toit
“When I serve God with a broken heart, I have a dependent spirit and I recognize my need for others.” — Gerhard Du Toit

Application Points

  • Recognize your spiritual need and be willing to take risks for vulnerability.
  • Take personal responsibility for your actions and be open and transparent with others.
  • Cultivate a spirit of humility by esteeming others better than yourself and having a dependent spirit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a broken Christian life and a life of humility?
A broken Christian life is characterized by a sense of spiritual need, dependence on others, and a willingness to take risks for vulnerability, whereas a life of humility is marked by a deep desire to promote others, take personal responsibility, and be open and transparent.
How can I overcome pride in my life?
To overcome pride, it is essential to recognize spiritual need, deny self, and be willing to take risks for vulnerability. It also involves being open and transparent, taking personal responsibility, and receiving criticism with humility.
What are the consequences of pride in my life?
Pride in one's life can lead to a self-righteous spirit, blindness to one's own heart condition, and a lack of willingness to repent or seek revival.
How can I cultivate a spirit of humility?
Cultivating a spirit of humility involves recognizing spiritual need, esteeming others better than self, and having a dependent spirit. It also involves being motivated to serve others, taking personal responsibility, and being open and transparent.
What is the relationship between humility and service?
Humility is closely tied to service, as a humble person is motivated to serve others, take personal responsibility, and be open and transparent. This leads to a deeper desire to promote others and take risks for vulnerability.

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