Confidence, Pride, and Humility

There have been a lot of sons and daughters of Yah speaking out lately. It seems that the Spirit is giving them boldness to speak the truth. Now, we also know, this will draw many who will challenge and even scoff  at the words spoken. And that's expected from those who the bible says don't understand spiritual matters because they are trying to understand with a natural mind. But what I have been shocked by are the many professing believers that will roll their eyes and scoff as well.

One thing I have noticed is what the truth will do among believers is separate those who are the "chaff" from the "wheat". There will be a difference in those who are, for whatever reason, lukewarm or not entirely confident in their faith. They may even be hypocritical (putting on the air of religion but living a different life). Sometimes jealousy will creep in and hardened hearts will develop against their own brother or sister in Christ. All the while the other believer is growing spiritually in Christ, gaining more knowledge, insight, boldness, and confidence.

Those are really disheartening actions from a people that should be encouraging Yah's truth - no matter who is speaking it. If Yah said it and it is the truth, so be it. And let all who have ears to hear, hear what the Spirit is saying, right? Unfortunately, it doesn't always work that way. And I believe one reason why is because we have a distorted view of what confidence, pride, and spiritual pride is. And that is what I want to explore in this blog.

Every born again believer will have some confidence and every Spirit filled believer will exhibit some type of boldness. These qualities are not apart from the power of Yah and His Son, but because of the power of Yah and His Son.

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. - 2 Corinthians 3:4-6

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. - 1 John 5:14-15

In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. - Proverbs 14:26

This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. - Ephesians 3:11-12

Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. 12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold... - 2 Corinthians 3:10-12

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. - 2 Timothy 1:6-7

Confidence in Christ is something that continues to build in the believer. The more they study, pray, go through different trials and temptations, and hear the voice of the Father, the more confident they become. That confidence leads to a boldness and a willingness to do the will of the Father no matter what.

Stephen, the apostle, stood before those who were picking up stones to kill him, looked into heaven and saw Christ at the right hand of the Father. He continued to preach with boldness and fervor even the more until he, with his last breath asked for forgiveness for those stoning him. Those who stoned him more than likely thought he was prideful for speaking the gospel and not conforming to their demands, but it wasn't pride. Stephen knew what he knew and wasn't afraid to share it (Read about Stephen's death in 6 and 7) even unto death.

And that is the confidence that every believer should have. Yah did not give us the spirit of fear! So many times He tells us to be bold, courageous, and to fear and fret not. There is work to do, we are storming the gates of hell, and a soldier in Christ should not be faint of heart.

Now, there will be some that will not understand this confidence. Instead, they will wrongly label this confidence as "spiritual pride" or "pride". However, in studying, I have discovered, there is the overarching "pride" - but within it, two subsets. Pride against Yah and pride against your fellow man. Let's see what the word says about the two types of pride. Yah gives a GREAT definition when He reminds His people in Deuteronomy not to fall into such foolishness.

Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ 18 You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. - Deuteronomy 8:17-18

Also, great descriptions of pride against fellow men here:

Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished. - Proverbs 16:5

For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. - Galatians 6:3

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. - Romans 12:16

...do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. - Romans 11:18-21 

The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’... - Luke 18:11-12 

 Now, let's explore some verses that show pride against Yah....

“How you are fallen from heaven,O Day Star, (S)son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low! 13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; 14 I will ascend above the  heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ - Isaiah 14:12-14

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”...4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” - Genesis 3:1,4-5

But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” 5 When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. - Acts 5:1-5

Do you notice a key difference here? What I have discovered is that there is a vast difference between "fleshly pride"  and "Spiritual pride". Fleshly pride is to esteem or think of yourself more highly than another fellow human being. The bible calls it "puffing yourself up". Today's vernacular may call it "looking down on someone". It is to think you have attained such a high status on your own, under your own "hard work" and power. Fleshly pride is to forget Yah and to believe you have done it all on your own. I have noticed, in my experience, many people who have a lot of "things" whether tangible or intangible, or have (or have begun) to attain status often fall into pride. They forget that at the move of His hand, everything can be taken away, down to their very breath.

But Spiritual pride is something completely different. Spiritual pride is what made Lucifer fall and become satan. Spiritual pride is not to think of yourself more highly than another person, but to think of yourself more highly than Yahweh-God. Spiritual pride is satan inspired. Spiritual pride will keep you from being corrected because - "you know more than Yah" - therefore, you know more than the corrective word someone is trying to bring to you. Spiritual pride will make you make others question the truth of Yah's word - "But, did God really say that?". Spiritual pride will make you think you can get over, pull a fast one, and can outsmart the One that knows and sees all - Yah.

These things are vastly and completely different than confidence and boldness. With confidence and boldness you will:

• Speak the word of Yah
• Correct in the love and Spirit of Yah
• Judge in the righteousness of Yah 
• Stand against sin with the word and guidance of Yah
• Use His gifts for the glory of Yah 

And these things are not prideful or in the least bit Spiritually prideful.

Ok, so what about being humble? Humbleness doesn't mean being "mousy", being a "door mat" to others, debasing ourselves, or "loving someone in their sin".  Our humbleness makes us aware of those who still need salvation and more importantly, it keeps us realizing that we need HIM.

If we are not careful, we will also fall into what is also known as "false humility". False humility is akin to hypocrisy as described in the bible. It has much to do with appearance and image control, rather than substance. Often times, the two (appearance and substance) will contradict each other. We see it often when someone talks down on themselves, or thinks down on themselves as to seem more humble. We hear it with Christians who say things like:

"I'm just a sinner, no better than you"

 "Oh I'm just tryin to make it in..."

"I'm just a worm..."

To that I call HOGWASH! That is not being humble, that is pride clothed as humility. Yah does not call those who belong to Him those things. He calls us things like "ROYAL PRIESTS", "JUDGES OF ANGELS", "RIGHTEOUS", "HEIRS TO THE THRONE OF CHRIST", "SONS AND DAUGHTERS". Yes, He warns us not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought - apart from HIM. We can not claim these things on our own, but only through being grafted in by the gift of the sacrifice of Christ. The command to be humble was never meant to be used as a tool to berate ourselves for "humbleness sake". The Father tells us to come boldly to His throne asking for the things of Him. How can we go to a mighty God as "just a worm" or "just a sinner"? How do we fight and overcome a formidable enemy as "just a...."? REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST!

So, these are things that where shown to me as I have been doing some serious reflection. I hope I was able to give you some encouragement. Being born again, you have confidence in Him and the gospel. Speak boldly. Those opposed, both unbelievers and professing believers, will be dealt with by Him. Their opinions don't matter so don't let that shake your faith. The Father says the one who obeys Him and does His will loves Him.

Correcting, judging, teaching, and guiding as long as it is done in truth of Yah and guided by His Spirit, is not being prideful. Remember, the word tells us to correct each other. This means, we will always know more and be able to teach another person in certain areas, just as another will always know more and be able to teach and guide us. Don't reject that. But, be careful lest your knowledge makes you start to think that you know more than Him, committing spiritual pride. Remember, we are nothing apart from Him, but we are everything, and can DO everything with Him...

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13