*PRIDE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.*(Series 3) *Scripture Reading:* Proverbs 16:5 *"Everyone who is proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting and exceedingly offensive to the Lord; Be assured he will not go unpunished."*(AMP) Most people do not consider themselves proud or vulnerable to pride. Yet, this is one of the major categories of sin the Bible says is in each of our hearts. *Pride is the first sin and the most serious sin. Pride is our greatest problem. Not the devil. Not low self-esteem. Not our upbringing or injustices suffered.* God hates pride; we must learn to hate what God hates and to love what God loves. How much do you hate pride. Proverbs 8:13 declare; *"To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech."* God is not out to hurt your pride he is out to kill your pride. Pride is destructive and has no end. God is opposed to the proud. *"You don’t want God as your opponent.But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].”*(James 4:6 AMP) Luke 14:11 says; *“For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”* The way up is the way down. Completely the opposite of the world. Humble yourself and you will be exalted; exalt yourself and you will be humbled Lucifer was cast out of Heaven to be an example of what happen when pride takes the reins of your heart: *“Your heart was proud and arrogant because of your beauty; You destroyed your wisdom for the sake of your splendor. I cast you to the ground; I lay you before kings, That they might look at you."*(Ezekiel 28:17 AMP). To be continue tomorrow morning by God's Grace. Good morning and do have a fruitful weekend, peace. *Prayer point:* Holy Spirit, take away every seed of PRIDE out of my life today in Jesus Christ name. Amen! T.S. AFOLAYAN