Friday 12 April Open Heaven: PRIDE DRAINS THE PROUD

Friday 12 April
PRIDE DRAINS THE PROUD
Memory Verse: How then shalt they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? Romans 10:14
Read: Proverbs 11:1-3
Pro 11:1 A false balance is abomination to the LORD: but a just weight is his delight.

Pro 11:2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly iswisdom.

Pro 11:3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.


Message
Another pain of ex-champions is loneliness. While maintaining their lead position, wherever they go, virtually everyone would like to touch them, shake their hands, take photographs with them and get their autographs. But when they become ex-champions, people would see them and face the opposite direction. One of my daughters was occupying a hot seat in an organization. She was the toast of the high and mighty and that of her colleagues. She got their attention and received gifts from many because they depended on her for certain favours. You can imagine what happened when she was moved from that seat; all the attention, care, pleasantness and gifts immediately shifted to the next person occupying that position. She could not believe the speed with which those courting her favours took their flight. It was then she realised that people did not really regard her but the seat she occupied, and they did not really care about her, but about what they were to derive from her. She realised how vain people were.

Have you ever wondered why rulers particularly in Africa never want to leave office? Many African presidents and governors never want to leave their offices because when you are a champion, people can stop vehicles from plying a particular road just to honour you. Loneliness can kill. When Samson lost his seat, he was alone in prison, grinding corn. What of poverty? While a champion, people will readily use your name or picture to sell any commodity, but the moment you are no more a champion, nobody will buy such items with your name on it. There was this brother named Sam. He was a divine champion. He could not speak English but one day, he was invited to preach in a teacher training college. As he opened his mouth, he began speaking fluent English for an hour and thereafter, many answered the altar call. He was full of the Holy Spirit and raised three dead people to life. His mother was in a cult and she reported him because he burnt her charms. On one fateful night, she did not sleep in the house while her cult members sent a dog to kill him. It entered while he was praying with the doors locked, and he shouted the name of Jesus and lightning struck it dead. By the following morning, when his mother returned to the house expecting to meet her dead son, she found him roasting the dog. Yet, after all his exploits, pride entered him and he later ended up in an asylum. Pride can erode all your strength and gains and turn you into an ex-champion like the devil. Never let it come into you! In Christ, you can remain ever relevant.
Prayer Point
Father, every element of pride that will reduce me to an ex-champion, please take it away from me today.