One of the biggest battles mankind faces is the battle with pride. It comes out in every opportunity because it is ever present in our flesh. In failure and success we are battling pride.———————————————————Act Act Peter addresses directly the key source of conflict in our spiritual life - pride.———————————————————Act Peter is addressing the Jews and so he is giving them a clear description of the God that they are familiar with along with the prediction that they know of in the suffering servant to help them best understand and grasp the truth he is talking about.———————————————————Act Act Speaking the truth is an absolute necessity in sharing the gospel. It is necessary to bring out our imperfect standing before a perfect God. The truth of our failings is the foundation for the need of salvation.———————————————————Act Here Peter highlights the reality of faith versus personal virtue.============================Let’s go back and look at Peter’s statement denying that his piety or virtue was the source of this miracle - it hits on a hinge point of the human condition. The key that impacts our eternal destiny - pride.Act Here is the crucial human battle. Whenever we are interacting in the supernatural or being used by God, our flesh swells up and our pride claims to be the source or the reason for the power being displayed.Adam and Eve proved that our flesh wants to be the one in control. Gen 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.Satan is the great manipulator. He desires to be in control. Satan is condemned for that very thing – desiring to take the place of God.Isa 13 You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north;14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’Reality is there is only one God, and we are not Him. That is why God is so opposed to pride – it destroys the possibility of a relationship with Him.Jas 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”Paul highlights our perfect example in Philippians…Php This is our call: to humbly admit who and what we are and go to God. He WILL graciously lift us up far beyond anything we could ever deserve or hope for. He will use us to impact eternity both in our lives and in the lives of others! This is worth living for!