BIG SHOTS BIG SHOTS BEWARE!BEWARE! Luke 18:9-14 Luke 18:9-14

 9 Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: 10 “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! 12 I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’ 

Luke 18:9-14 (New Living Translation)

13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ 14 I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Luke 18:9-14 (New Living Translation)

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1)1) Applications for heaven have no blanks for Applications for heaven have no blanks for my achievements, offices held or perfect my achievements, offices held or perfect attendance in Sunday school.attendance in Sunday school.

2)2) No need to stand at heaven’s gate with No need to stand at heaven’s gate with your glowing resume…it all comes down to your glowing resume…it all comes down to walking through the ‘Jesus Door’.walking through the ‘Jesus Door’.

3)3) It is either ‘full of myself’ or ‘my only plea: It is either ‘full of myself’ or ‘my only plea: Jesus died for me”.Jesus died for me”.

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Self-Esteem Is Mighty Fine IndeedSelf-Esteem Is Mighty Fine Indeed

It’s good to know our strengths, our value to It’s good to know our strengths, our value to the organization and our level of skill.the organization and our level of skill.

Getting along in the world means having a Getting along in the world means having a healthy self-image.healthy self-image.

Your glowing achievements, degrees earned Your glowing achievements, degrees earned and promotions…sure they are important.and promotions…sure they are important.

Resumes matter, for sure.Resumes matter, for sure.

But When It Comes To Our Relationship With God… Our Achievement Means Little

Perhaps the Pharisee’s words of service (fasting Perhaps the Pharisee’s words of service (fasting and tithing) were all true.and tithing) were all true.

Perhaps the tax collector was a rascal.Perhaps the tax collector was a rascal.

The real issue was that of understanding our The real issue was that of understanding our unworthiness… despite comparisons and extreme unworthiness… despite comparisons and extreme compliance.compliance.

Before God everything is stripped away and our Before God everything is stripped away and our sin is exposed and obvious.sin is exposed and obvious.

A Matter Of Contrast, Not Comparison

The judge is heartless…irritated at requests for The judge is heartless…irritated at requests for help. God is not.help. God is not.

She is a burden, a nuisance. We are not.She is a burden, a nuisance. We are not.

If such a wretch can be moved to action…how If such a wretch can be moved to action…how much more, Godmuch more, God

Getting To Heaven Is Not About Climbing, Getting To Heaven Is Not About Climbing, Personal Holiness Or ObediencePersonal Holiness Or Obedience

The Apostle Paul made this point so well. --The Apostle Paul made this point so well. --Philippians 3:1-9Philippians 3:1-9

Confidence in the flesh: my pedigree, performance, Confidence in the flesh: my pedigree, performance, perfection or compliance.perfection or compliance.

“ “A righteousness of my own” is worthlessA righteousness of my own” is worthless…it makes the cross of no avail.…it makes the cross of no avail.

“ “Unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the Unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, you will certainly Pharisees and teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven”. --not enter the Kingdom of Heaven”. --Matt 5:20Matt 5:20

Daily We Must Be Fully Aware Of How It Is That Daily We Must Be Fully Aware Of How It Is That We Can Walk With God…faith In JesusWe Can Walk With God…faith In Jesus

Righteousness that comes from God is by faith. Righteousness that comes from God is by faith. --Philippians 3:9--Philippians 3:9

There is not room for arrogance, since we are all There is not room for arrogance, since we are all sinners, saved by grace.sinners, saved by grace.

This doesn’t mean that I stop working for God. This doesn’t mean that I stop working for God. But my work doesn’t save me.But my work doesn’t save me.

The Pharisee And Publican The Pharisee And Publican Have Much To Teach UsHave Much To Teach Us

Arrogance is a sure-fire sign that we don’t get itArrogance is a sure-fire sign that we don’t get it…that our salvation is a gift not a wage. …that our salvation is a gift not a wage. --Romans 6:23--Romans 6:23

It is difficult to pull free of self-absorption .It is difficult to pull free of self-absorption .

Stop comparing yourself to othersStop comparing yourself to others…it is arrogance at its worst.…it is arrogance at its worst.

Jesus chose the remorseful tax-collector to be the Jesus chose the remorseful tax-collector to be the poster child of humility. Don’t let it go to your head, poster child of humility. Don’t let it go to your head, mister!mister!

We Come To God With Empty HandsWe Come To God With Empty Hands…It Is The Only Way!…It Is The Only Way!

To be grateful for the cross. To be grateful for the cross. --Galatians 6:14--Galatians 6:14

Appreciative of the only ‘status’ that counts: Appreciative of the only ‘status’ that counts: To be ‘In Christ’ . To be ‘In Christ’ . --Philippians 3:8,9--Philippians 3:8,9

If there is another way to God, such as my If there is another way to God, such as my compliance and hard work, Jesus’ death was quite compliance and hard work, Jesus’ death was quite unnecessary. unnecessary. --Galatians 2:20, 21 --Galatians 2:20, 21

So What Will It Be?So What Will It Be?

““Oh God, you are so lucky to have me Oh God, you are so lucky to have me on your team.”on your team.”

“ “Oh God, be merciful to meOh God, be merciful to me…a sinner!” …a sinner!”

I believe that Jesus is I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Christ, the Son of the living God.the living God.

I trust him as my Lord I trust him as my Lord and Savior. and Savior. C

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1)1) Applications for heaven have no blanks for Applications for heaven have no blanks for my achievements, offices held or perfect my achievements, offices held or perfect attendance in Sunday school.attendance in Sunday school.

2)2) No need to stand at heaven’s gate with No need to stand at heaven’s gate with your glowing resume…it all comes down to your glowing resume…it all comes down to walking through the ‘Jesus Door’.walking through the ‘Jesus Door’.

3)3) It is either ‘full of myself’ or ‘my only plea: It is either ‘full of myself’ or ‘my only plea: Jesus died for me”.Jesus died for me”.

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1)1) Prayer may include a commitment to help Prayer may include a commitment to help God bring about the answer I seek.God bring about the answer I seek.

2)2) God is not bugged by our persistence and God is not bugged by our persistence and constant beating on his door.constant beating on his door.

3)3) God can be moved. Can I?God can be moved. Can I?

4)4) It is not good for a man to pray cream and It is not good for a man to pray cream and live skim milk. Henry Ward Beecherlive skim milk. Henry Ward Beecher

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GO TO GO TO PRAY ON!PRAY ON! Luke 18:1-9 Luke 18:1-9