The more we obey God, the greater we grow in holiness. A saying I read once, I don't know the author, but is true, "one of the elements of holiness is the absence of self awareness."
The self esteem teaching has been devastating to the Christian churches. It has taught people to value themselves above all others, it will slop over into attitudes about God. When we train ourselves to continually make sure we get what we want, it becomes an addiction, barely having time to diminish ourselves for the sake of others. Even those who claim they don't believe in the self esteem teaching have many ways they operate in this realm of psychology without realizing it.
Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;"
We have to continue to evaluate our attitudes and actions to be able to confess them to God to be changed by Him.
1 Corinthians 11:31 "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged."
Those who are stubborn, fighting and arguing to maintain what they think is their elevated position, cannot grow, their only eventuality is regression in their walk and a downward spiral in rebellion.
Those who have rebellious hearts are in for a rough time, they may not see it immediately, it may take many years before they see the discipline of God, because God is patient, He gives us lots of time and many spankings to compel us to make a choice to obey Him. If one hangs onto their arrogance and rebellion there will be serious discipline. We can recover from the rebellion by confessing the sin and being cleansed, more humble and wiser, however often the consequences of many years of rebellion remain.
God does not remove all consequences, they are necessary to remind us what rebellion produces. We can be forgiven, humbled and cleansed, while passing on our lessons to others who have not yet rebelled to the point of no return, and there is a point of no return if we do not repent (change our mind) and confess it to God and those whom we have harmed.
Proverbs 17:11 "An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him."
Deuteronomy 28:47-48 "Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you."
Matthew 4:7 "Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
John 8:44 "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
There is a point when God turns us over to our own foolishness and rebellion, no longer hearing prayers, no longer helping us, this is a very dangerous place to be for anyone.
Proverbs 29:1 "A man who hardens his neck after much reproof Will suddenly be broken beyond remedy."
Do we want to experience the blessing of God's presence in our lives, His direction and counsel, or would we rather ignore Him only to experience His anger upon us.
Arrogance and rebellion brings nothing but heartbreak to anyone, those who hang onto it are gaining nothing except what they have concocted in their own minds, the reality does not show any benefit to them spiritually. They main gain in worldly possessions, but their spiritual life is a down hill rolling snowball, only to end up at the bottom of the hills broken and useless.
