Pride on SermonAudio

The sermon explores the nature of Christian joy, distinguishing it from temporary happiness by rooting it in the eternal reality of salvation. Using David's life as a primary example, the message illustrates how believers can lose their joy through spiritual drift, pride, and unconfessed sin, specifically referencing his downfall with Bathsheba. It emphasizes that while salvation is secure, the experiential joy of the Lord is fragile and requires a consecrated walk with God. The preacher urges listeners to examine their hearts for any hindrances to fellowship and to return to God through sincere repentance and confession. Ultimately, the text affirms that true joy is restored when one acknowledges sin against God and relies on His faithful forgiveness.

This sermon addresses the destructive nature of contention, identifying it as a heart issue rooted in pride and anger that divides communities and honors Satan rather than God. Drawing primarily from Proverbs, the speaker explains how contentious individuals act like fuel for a fire, escalating conflicts through selfishness and a desire to be right. The message contrasts this spirit with the biblical call to humility, urging believers to become peacemakers who overlook minor offenses and respond with soft answers. By surrendering to the Holy Spirit, Christians can overcome their natural tendencies toward strife and actively choose forgiveness and unity in their families, churches, and workplaces. Ultimately, the preacher encourages listeners to leave behind the 'gasoline' of contention and instead carry water to extinguish fires, reflecting the character of Christ.

The sermon examines Luke chapter 9 to highlight the spiritual failure of the disciples who, despite being given authority by Jesus, could not cast out a demon due to unbelief and a lack of prayer. The preacher contrasts this with the desperate faith of a father who acknowledges his doubt yet trusts in God's power, illustrating that genuine reliance on Christ is essential for effective ministry. Key themes include the danger of pride and the desire for greatness among believers, which distracts from the primary mission of serving others and depending on divine strength. The message urges listeners to examine their personal devotional lives, reject self-reliance, and embrace humility as the foundation for spiritual authority. Ultimately, the sermon calls the church to restore its focus on Jesus through persistent prayer and faith, rather than engaging in internal competition or superficial religious practices.

In Part 6 of "Calling Out Carnality," Keith Voyles preaches from James 3 about how the tongue exposes the flesh. He warns that teachers are held to greater accountability, that actions must agree with words, and that an uncontrolled tongue spreads hypocrisy, gossip, division, and spiritual damage. Since no man can tame the tongue, victory requires the Holy Ghost and continual dependence upon God. Primary text: James 3:1–8.

In Part 9 of "Calling Out Carnality," Keith Voyles preaches from James 5 about fraudulent treasures. He warns against allowing money, possessions, and personal gain to define a person's life. Wealth itself is not sinful, but covetousness, fraud, selfish ambition, and living only to gain reveal carnality. The message calls believers to seek riches in Christ, live contentedly, treat workers honestly, and submit every plan and possession to the will of God. Primary text: James 5:1–6.

In this message, Keith Voyles preaches about the temptations that Christians commonly fall into and the danger of allowing the flesh to gain control. The sermon explains that temptation itself is not sin, but yielding to it leads a person into sin. Temptation often appeals to a believer's own desires, weaknesses, and appetites. What begins as a thought, attraction, or seemingly small compromise can grow into sinful action when it is entertained instead of resisted. Keith warns Christians not to become overconfident in their own strength. A believer who thinks he cannot fall is already in danger. The message calls God's people to recognize their weak areas, remain watchful, pray, avoid situations that feed temptation, and depend upon the Lord rather than the flesh. The sermon also emphasizes that God provides a way of escape in temptation. Victory comes through submission to God, obedience to Scripture, and walking in the Spirit. Christians must call temptation and sin what God calls them and refuse to excuse carnal behavior. Primary texts: James 1:13–16 and 1 Corinthians 10:12–13. "But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed." — James 1:14, KJV "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." — 1 Corinthians 10:12, KJV

In Part 8 of "Calling Out Carnality," Keith Voyles preaches from James 4 about troubled fellowship caused by unchecked lust, envy, pride, and selfish ambition. He explains that outward wars begin with an inward war in the heart, and that carnal desires can divide homes and churches. The message calls believers to humble themselves, submit to God, resist pride, and depend upon the greater grace God gives to overcome the flesh. Primary text: James 4:1–10.

In Part 2 of "Calling Out Carnality," Keith Voyles continues warning Christians—especially young people—about the danger of yielding to temptation and living according to the flesh. The message explains that carnality develops when a believer allows fleshly desires, worldly influences, and sinful temptations to control his decisions. Temptation often begins in the mind and grows when it is entertained, excused, or hidden rather than immediately resisted. Keith challenges young Christians not to assume they are strong enough to remain close to sin without falling. The believer must recognize personal weaknesses, guard what enters the heart and mind, separate from influences that encourage sin, and flee temptation rather than attempting to manage it. The sermon emphasizes that victory cannot be achieved through willpower alone. Christians must depend upon the Lord, submit themselves to God, fill their minds with Scripture, and walk in the Spirit. A carnal life brings spiritual weakness and damages a believer's testimony, while obedience produces spiritual growth and usefulness to God. Primary themes: temptation, resisting the flesh, spiritual watchfulness, separation from sinful influences, and dependence upon God. Key Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 10:12–13; James 1:14–16; Galatians 5:16; 2 Timothy 2:22. "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace…" — 2 Timothy 2:22, KJV

In Part 10 of "Calling Out Carnality," Keith Voyles concludes the series from James 5. He warns that affliction can expose carnality through impatience, bitterness, careless words, and a damaged testimony. Believers are called to endure patiently, follow the examples of the prophets and Job, guard their integrity, and depend upon prayer. The message closes by showing that unchecked carnality forfeits spiritual power, especially power in prayer. Primary text: James 5:7–20.

In Part 3 of "Calling Out Carnality," Keith Voyles continues examining how the flesh influences a Christian's thinking, decisions, attitudes, and conduct. The message warns that carnality is not limited to outward or scandalous sins. It begins when believers follow their own desires, reasoning, emotions, and appetites instead of submitting themselves to the Word of God and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. When the flesh is continually fed, spiritual discernment weakens, temptation becomes harder to resist, and sinful behavior begins to appear normal or excusable. Keith challenges Christians to identify the areas where the flesh has gained influence, quit defending disobedience, and deliberately walk in the Spirit. Spiritual victory requires honest self-examination, repentance, prayer, separation from influences that strengthen temptation, and obedience to Scripture. "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." — Galatians 5:16, KJV Key texts: 1 Corinthians 3:1–3; Romans 8:5–8; Galatians 5:16–17. Strong's: "Carnal" in 1 Corinthians 3:3 is G4559, sarkikos, meaning fleshly—governed by human nature rather than by the Spirit. First mention: The first KJV use of "carnal" is Romans 7:14: "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin."