A HAUGHTY SPIRIT
12 “SON OF MAN, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “YOU WERE THE SEAL OF PERFECTION, FULL OF WISDOM AND PERFECT IN BEAUTY.
15 YOU WERE PERFECT IN YOUR WAYS FROM THE DAY YOU WERE CREATED, TILL INIQUITY WAS FOUND IN YOU."
Ezekiel 28:12,15 (NKJV)
The above passage of the Bible is reputed or generally believed to be referring to the devil. The devil was said to be perfect until iniquity was found in him (Ezekiel 28:15).
Pride and corruption were his bane, the source of his ruin. If a believer allows pride in his or her life, such will eventually fall: "PRIDE GOES BEFORE DESTRUCTION, AND A HAUGHTY SPIRIT BEFORE A FALL" (Proverbs 16:18 NKJV).
When you begin to think or perceive yourself as being what you are not, you have a wrong view or assumption of yourself; you will begin to misbehave:
"FOR I SAY, THROUGH THE GRACE GIVEN TO ME, TO EVERYONE WHO IS AMONG YOU, NOT TO THINK OF HIMSELF MORE HIGHLY THAN HE OUGHT TO THINK, BUT TO THINK SOBERLY, AS GOD HAS DEALT TO EACH ONE A MEASURE OF FAITH" (Romans 12:3,16).
READ: Philippians 2:3; 1 Thessalonians 5:14,15
Satan wanted to compete with God, a created being that wanted to be equal with his Creator:
13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN, I WILL EXALT MY THRONE ABOVE THE STARS OF GOD; I WILL ALSO SIT ON THE MOUNT OF THE CONGREGATION ON THE FARTHEST SIDES OF THE NORTH; 14 I WILL ASCEND ABOVE THE
HEIGHTS OF THE CLOUDS, I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH' " (Isaiah 14:13,14 NKJV). READ: Isaiah 12-15; Ezekiel 28:17
Whatever level of greatness and honour God has bestowed on you, that should not make you think of yourself more highly than you ought to:
"FOR I SAY, THROUGH THE GRACE GIVEN TO ME, TO EVERYONE WHO IS AMONG YOU, NOT TO THINK OF HIMSELF MORE HIGHLY THAN HE OUGHT TO THINK, BUT TO THINK SOBERLY, AS GOD HAS DEALT TO EACH ONE A MEASURE OF FAITH" (Romans 12:3 NKJV).
Remain small in your own eyes. As you begin to see the goodness of God in the land of the living, never allow the thought of what you are to cause your head to swell and begin to misbehave and think you are above every other person. Pride leads to destruction: "PRIDE GOES BEFORE DESTRUCTION, AND A HAUGHTY SPIRIT BEFORE A FALL" (Proverbs 16:18 NKJV).
If you discover that there is pride in your life, work on it by cooperating with the Holy Spirit on the inside of you; He might need to put you in unpleasant or unpalatable situations to break your egos and smoothen your rough edges (Romans 5:3-5).
Be submissive and cooperate with the Holy Spirit for you to have approved character and come out shining like gold.
Peace.