Getting Off Your High Horse
Gary Waddell - Victory Ministries Middle Tennessee - 8/19/19
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up. (Jam 4:10)
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (1 Pet 5:5)
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: ( 1 Pet 5:6)
The phrase “High Horse” has been used for centuries. Today it means ‘superior to’ or ‘better than’. In other terms, just plain “haughty” – “self-righteous”. Now a “High Horse” in medieval times, was a particular breed of horse that was sought after by kings, princes, army generals, and other royalty. It was called a ‘Destrier War Horse’ and it was purchased because of it’s strength, agility and high intelligence. It was also taller than many other horses used in the day. Where the normal height of the standard horse was 12 ½ to 13 ½ hands high (approximately 55" to the withers - behind the horses mane), the Destrier was considerably taller, and at times more than 16 hands tall (65 inches tall). When a king, or person of royalty, or general, would ride upon the Destrier, they would of course tower over riders of other horses by at least a foot. This was intentional to give an advantage of a soldier participating in medieval events. The horse was also known as a ‘Charger’ because of it’s strength and agility. And to royalty, the rider on a ‘Destrier Horse’ could be seen above all other animals giving the appearance of a ‘high and mighty’ individual. Hence, comes the term ‘High Horse’. As in a ‘high commissioner’ or someone who is ‘high handed’.
Again, today the term is used for someone who is proud and haughty. They are “on their ‘high horse’ so to speak. Now, Can a ‘Christian’ or a ‘follower of Christ’ get on a high horse? Not only “Can they”, but many do get on the ‘high horse’ especially when it comes to comparing themselves with others. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate (Pro 8:13). That is God speaking here. The word ‘pride’ is mentioned 49 times in the KJV Bible (51 times in the NKJV) so we as God’s children are warned ‘a plenty’. Many times we have allowed our salvation provided by a Glorious Savior, to allow pride to seep into our lives. Perhaps we compare ourselves to others because of our standing with God as “sinless” men, women and children. The Bible says: “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Cor 10:12).
When we start looking at others and comparing ourselves to another, we have begun to build up “pride” in our own lives. Pro 16:18 reads: “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall”. Whether one wants to believe this only pertains to the “lost”, I say, ‘we better examine ourselves as Christians because there are a lot of prideful followers around’. Yes, even me. I find myself getting into that situation from time to time. When the Holy Ghost inside of me reminds me of an inordinate pride, He brings me to my knees in my sleeping chambers. After all, “what right do I have to judge others by comparing myself and my actions to theirs?” I am not questioning another’s faith however, I am saying that when we try to compare ourselves with others, oftentimes, we find ourselves in worse shape than others. Even the lost. Pride has crept into our lives. I feel this is true of many Christians.
So the question is this: How do we ‘get off’ our ‘High Horse’?
Or for those who are equestrians, how do we ‘dismount’?
Allow me to give you three Biblical suggestions.
1. Surrender: Humble yourself (on your knees if possible) before our Father in heaven –
the Almighty God. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you
up (James 4:10) We have already surrendered our lives to Him for salvation through Jesus
Christ, but we must confess to Him daily if possible. Make it a point to surrender (give it
up) to Him every day. 1 John 1:9 states: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We can’t try to
hide any sin from God as He already knows our hearts. He just wants to ‘hear from us’.
Surrender to HIM on a daily basis.
2. Submit: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from
you (James 4:7). The devil is the one who brings pride into your life. We must submit
ourselves to GOD, and even others in authority. I exhort therefore, that, first of all,
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For
kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in
all godliness and honesty (1 Tim 2:1-2). And immediately after this, For this is good
and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; (1 Tim 2:3). All of us desire to be
“acceptable’ in the sight of GOD. And pleasing to Him.
3. Serve: Jesus said “If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor” (John 12:26). Can you imagine getting honor from GOD Almighty? It’s hard to imagine but Jesus said it and it’s in our Bibles. God loves all of us so much and He delights in us when we honor His only begotten Son (John 3:16). We also must serve others. Jesus summed it up with this: And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself (Matt 22:39). Loving our ‘neighbors’ as ourselves means to help and serve them with compassion. Our deeds and actions display our ‘Christianity’ many times. It is good and important to pray for each other, but it is also important to serve each other “as Christ served the Church”. God wants us to have an ‘active faith’ and not that of a “secret agent” Christian – or a “007" Christian I’ve heard stated.
All of us must fight off ‘pride’ in our daily lives and when we end up on the “High Horse” at times, we have to get off or dismount. Others that see us often get the wrong message and see us as “self-righteous” in many ways. We will get accused of “self-righteousness” periodically just because we have chosen to “come out of this world” (2 Cor 6:17). Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. There will always be accusers who dislike us or even hate us because of Christ. Jesus warned us about that. If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you (John 15:18). Remember, we are NOT friends of this world. So let’s “dismount”. Let’s “Get off our High Horse”.
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For those of you who are reading this or listening to this message, and it seems ‘foreign’ or ‘strange’ to you, I invite you to open up a Bible and read these passages. Turn to the New Testament to Romans and read Romans 10:9-13. It may change your life. If you desire real freedom in your lives, repent (turn) and call out to Christ now – even where you sit. Jesus said, “if the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). He doesn’t lie. God has sent His only begotten Son to this earth to pay for our sin debt (John 3:16). He has already “washed away our sins” and is waiting for you to call upon Him. The Bible says, Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near (Isaiah 55:6): He’s waiting. Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. (Rev 3:20)
For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Rom 10:13).
Thanks for “Taking 5" - Gary Waddell - Victory Ministries Middle Tennessee
www.iamnotashamed.com - God bless and bless GOD
