"How To Be Heard by God"
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INTRODUCTION.
“Mississippi Squirrel Revival” - Ray Stevens
First Self-Righteous Church - Pascagoula
The day the squirrel went berserk
In the First Self-Righteous Church
In that sleepy little town of Pascagoula (Pascagoula)
It was a fight for survival that broke out in revival
They were jumpin' pews and shouting "Hallelujah!" (Hallelujah!)
Pharisee.
An important Jewish sect at the time of Jesus that was devoted to exact observance of the Jewish religion.
Tax Collector - Publican.
Someone responsible for collecting taxes and tolls on behalf of the Roman government.
Traitors
9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
13 “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
14 “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
MESSAGE.
I. The prayer of the Pharisee.
I. The prayer of the Pharisee.
Location.
front and center.
Stood and was praying (to himself)
Stood - to come up in the presence of others.
Posture.
Standing up.
Look at me.
Speech.
Prideful
I thank You.
I am not like other people.
swindlers.
unjust.
adulteres.
adultery.
fornication.
tax collectors.
traitor.
I fast twice a week.
jewish law required only once a week.
I pay tithes of all that.
I get.
everything belongs to God.
everything we have comes from God.
The Reward.
Matthew 23:23-28
“23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.
24 “You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.
26 “You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. 27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
28 “So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”
The Pharisee offered himself to God.
6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
II. The prayer of the Tax Collector.
II. The prayer of the Tax Collector.
Location.
standing some distance away.
Posture.
unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven.
Psalm 123:1 “1 To You I lift up my eyes, O You who are enthroned in the heavens!”
beating his breast (chest).
a traditional sign of morning or contrition.
contrition = is form of interior repentance.
Council of Trent (1545-63) as sorrow of the heart and detestation of sin committed, with the purpose of not sinning in future.
an awareness of ones own sinfulness.
Speech.
Asking God to be merciful to me the sinner .
The tax collector knew he was undeserving.
not mercy if deserved.
I Plead For Mercy. - Luis Palau.
A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son.
The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death.
"But I don't ask for justice,? the mother explained.
"I plead for mercy.?
"But your son does not deserve mercy,? Napoleon replied.
"Sir,? the woman cried,
"it would not be mercy if he deserved it,
and mercy is all I ask for.?
"Well, then,? the emperor said, "I will have mercy.?
And he spared the woman's son.
Luis Palau, "Experiencing God's Forgiveness,? Multnomah Press, 1984.
had nothing to offer.
Acknowledge he was a sinner.
The Reward.
Isaiah 61:1-3
“1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me
to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives And
freedom to prisoners;
2 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And
the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”
CONCLUSION.
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
none of us would be the Pharisee.
Religious.
Church goer.
The drug addict.
None of us would be the tax collector
has nothing to offer.
traitor.
dirty.
Three Ways to Encounter God and be heard by Him.
Be Humble .
Be Repentful .
Be Expectful .