Dr. Pothana's Teaching

3. Psalm 7:9-11
9 Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to
an end, but establish the just; For the righteous
God tests the hearts and minds. 10 My defense
is of God, Who saves the upright in heart. 11
God is a just judge, and God is angry with
the wicked every day.
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4.  Better to test ourselves now, 1 Cor. 4:5
 Consider how, what and why we think what we
do, Prov. 23:7
◦ Remember the nature of the heart, Jeremiah
17:9-10
◦ Our way is not found in our heart, it is found in
God’s word, Jer. 10:23; Isa. 55:8-11
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5.  Warning against pride and relying on
human knowledge and will, 1 Cor.
8:1, 4, 9
 Pride is of the world, 1 Jno. 2:16; Lk.
18:14
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6.  Pride is how we think about ourselves, Rom.
12:3
 Self-importance, Lk. 22:24-27; Jno. 13
◦ Shame, Prov. 11:2
◦ Strife, Prov. 13:10
◦ Suffering, Prov. 16:18
 Mind of Christ: Humility, Phil. 2:5-8
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7.  Assess spiritual things by the standard of
apostolic teaching
◦ Divine truth, Acts 2:42; Eph. 3:3-5; 2 Ths.
2:15-17
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8.  Requires sober thinking, 2 Cor. 10:7-9
◦ Many false claims, 1 Jno. 4:1, 6; Rev. 2:2
◦ Refusal to yield to the apostles’ doctrine is sin,
2 Ths. 3:4
◦ The “spiritual” are governed by the Spirit’s
word, Rom. 8:5-9
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9.  Our willingness to give and receive
spiritual help is a mark of humility, Gal.
6:1-2
◦ We need each other, 1 Cor. 12:20-21
◦ “Going it alone” is prideful and harmful
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10.  Humility does not compare itself to others,
Gal. 6:4 (1-2)
 Humility bears its own responsibility, Gal.
6:5
◦ We all have work that only we can do and for
which we are accountable, Rom. 14:12; 1 Pet.
4:5
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11.  Reliance on fleshly things for spiritual security
is foolish and futile
◦ Heritage, Phil. 3:5 (Matt. 3:7-10)
◦ Education/training, Phil. 3:5 (Jno. 7:15)
◦ Experience, 1 Cor. 3:18-21 (Jno. 9:34)
 The humble value Christ more, Phil. 3:7-8
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12.  God-fearing Christian conforms to the faith
he professes, James 1:22-25
◦ Religion without heart is vain, Matt. 6:1, 5, 16
◦ Pride deceives and convinces one he is immune from
hypocrisy and self-righteousness, Luke 18:11
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13.  Humility thinks of God and of others, 1
Peter 5:5-6
◦ Does not justify sin and spiritual neglect
 Humility casts its care on the Lord and
trusts Him, 1 Peter 5:7
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