Amon: Hubris and Humility
2 Chronicles 33:21 - 23
21 Amon was two and twenty years old when he began to reign, and reigned two years in Jerusalem.
22 But he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;
23 And humbled not himself before the Lord, as Manasseh his father had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more.
Proverbs 16:5
5 Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.
1 Peter 5:5
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
THREE TYPES OF
1. I’M
Pride. “I am better than you,” is the way so many people feel.
How does this type of pride show itself? You may not honestly recognize it in yourself.
One of the ways it shows itself is in a critical attitude or a critical heart.
This is a reflection of a heart FULL OF PRIDE
Another type of “I am better than you” pride, is spiritual pride, and oh man, is it ever ugly.
You will see a I’m-better-than-you pride in marriages, too.
I am better than you pride, very, very dangerous.
Luke 18:11 - 13
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
2. I CAN
How do you know if you struggle with this?
Well, if you have a difficult time asking others for help, you are dealing with an I-can-handle-it-myself pride.
If you find it difficult to receive when someone else wants to help you or wants to give to you, or wants to bless you? That is pride!
If you find yourself with a very on-again, off-again prayer life.
You pray for a little while and then you stop praying. What does that really say? Deep down, no matter what we say we believe, our actions indicate that we think we can do it without God. “I can handle it myself.”
Luke 15:11 - 12
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
Luke 15:17 - 19
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
ASK FOR HELP AND RECIEVE HELP!
3. IT DOESN’T
Those may be the rules, but they don’t apply to me.
Some people think they are above the rules!
2 Samuel 12:1 12 Reference to the Prophet Nathan going to David about his sin with Bathsheba
WHAT WAS DAVID’S GREATEST SIN?? His Greatest sin was pride.
Pride led to the lust—and eventually pride led to murder.
Because of David’s adultery—Indirectly 4 people died. Uriah, the baby, Amnon, and Absalom.
Because David’s sin of pride around a census — 70,000 people died!
1 Chronicles 21:1
1 Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel.
Moses—Every male 20 or over give half-shekel “atonement money” or “ransom money” reminder God had purchased their freedom.
➢Moses: Focus was God—God glorified. God focused. God celebrated.
➢David: All about him—His glory!
YOU ARE NEVER MORE VULNERABLE THAN WHEN YOU ARE FULL OF PRIDE.
2 Chronicles 26:16
16 But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the Lord his God, and went into the temple of the Lord to burn incense upon the altar of incense.”
Proverbs 16:18
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
Look what happened to Amnon:
2 Chronicles 33:24 - 25
24 And his servants conspired against him, and slew him in his own house.
25 But the people of the land slew all them that had conspired against king Amon; and the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his stead.”
You may never be more vulnerable than when you are full of pride.
James 4:6 - 8, 10
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
(Military Language)
➢Greek word: resisteth—Military term—A full army ready for battle
➢Greek word: Submit—Military term to voluntarily rank under.
YOU CAN’T DEFEAT THE DEMONS YOU FLIRT WITH!
John said, “Friendship with the world is hatred toward God.”
Pride says—I don’t need God—I’m better—I’m good. Never more vulnerable than full of pride.
Humility says—I need God… all of the time… in every season… in every task I do.
Fall of Lucifer—Archangel, Guardian of the cherub—Worship angel.
FIVE I WILLs in Isaiah 14:
• I will ascend to the heavens.
• I will raise my throne above the stars.
• I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly.
• I will ascend above the tops of the clouds.
• I will make myself like the Most High.
Devil is about him.
Jesus is about God!
In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus WANTED to be done with it. Not my will—Thy will.
Satan wants you to say: I Will.
We honor and glorify God by saying: Thy Will
Humility isn’t weakness—Strength—Declaration of your need for God.
➢Humble myself before lord and you will lift me up due time.
➢Because I am called by ur name—I will humble myself and pray, seek face—Hear from heaven—will forgive my sin and heal land.