Two Men in a Prayer Service

Introduction: A Ministry for the Underdog

One of my favorite movies of all time is The Pursuit of Happiness. In this movie, Will Smith portrayed the remarkable story of Chris Gardner—a man who, against all odds, became a successful entrepreneur and stock broker. I love this movie so much because Chris is the underdog and the storyline keeps you wondering whether Chris will make it. And then once you find out that he will make it, you want to discover how.

*Has everyone seen this movie? If you haven’t seen it—the movie tells the story of a man and his family who seemingly had incredible potential to live the American dream. However, they fell on hard times? Chris could not fulfill on an investment he’d made on medical equipment and they are now struggling as he is trying to make it as a salesman.

Pause—let me remind you—Chris made it big being a entrepreneur and stock broker. Could it be—the reason you have not realized your dreams and greatest ambitions because you are working hard in the wrong thing. Some of us are in industries that will never pay us the dividends we are expecting because its the thing we are “good” at, but its not the thing we are purposed for. (If I had time, I would walk through several biblical examples of this—Joseph (tattle teller to governor), David (shepherd to king), the apostles (fishermen, tax collectors to ambassadors and messengers).

Eventually, Chris’ wife leaves him and he becomes homeless with his young son. However, Chris would later run into a successful stock broker, and the rest is history. He would work and learn the skills of the industry and become one of the top brokers for the firm. He becomes so successful that he is able to start his own firm, and later sell a minority stake of the business which would later give him an estimated net worth of $70M.

And by the end of the story you are either crying or pumping your fist with a shot of “that’s my boy! You did it!”

The truth is, so many people enjoy The Pursuit of Happiness, because they can relate to the story. T There is an emotional connection that resonates with us. Though, we may not be facing a dead-end job, homelessness, and repossession, we are facing some difficult circumstance that makes us feel like an underdog.

We often feel we are not the prettiest, the smartest, or fastest in our group. We often live our lives through our insecurities. We often live through what we don’t have rather than using what we do have. As a result, we define our potential by what we don’t have:

I don’t have the money

I don’t have the education

I don’t have the network or the connections

I don’t have the reputation

I don’t have the car

Listen, how we view ourselves may be a significant problem in many ways, but it is not the central problem if we truly are the underdogs in this world. Let me be clear—saying you are not the underdog when you are does not make you any less of an underdog. Proclamations and affirmations do not change the reality it only changes my emotional response to such realities.

Saying you’re not broke when you are does not make you rich.

Saying you’re not sick when you are does not make you well.

Saying you are happy when you are are miserable does not make you any more happy.

These things only control my response and set expectations. I am afraid many people have settled for making affirmations and declarations instead of making petitions. Yes, look yourself in the mirror and say “I am beautiful, smart, intelligent, and capable.” But when you finish making that affirmation make sure you make a petition to the God who can do something about the pain and suffering you are facing.

Here’s why—Jesus led a ministry designed especially for the underdogs. Jesus came to people who lived with a disadvantage and was always expected to lose because of such disadvantages. So, Jesus did as David did he took a society of people who were disadvantaged and casted away and served them. Such a ministry often made Jesus a controversial figure to the traditionalist. When you stand up for the forgotten, oppressed, and underdog it makes you an enemy to many. Today’s passage demonstrates the conflict standing up for the underdog created between Jesus and other leaders of His time.

Textual Considerations:

Luke 18:9-14 seems to be a random parable sitting in the middle of a chapter of parables. However, this far from what is happening in this text. Luke has created an incredible message that flows from Luke 17. The passage actually begins at Luke 17:20 when the Pharisees asked Jesus a question about the kingdom of God.

*Explain a Pharisee*

In this passage, Jesus talks about His kingdom and His ἀποκαλύπτω (revelation, unveiling). He likens the generation he’s in to those who lived in Noah’s day. They were so caught up in doing their own thing that they never paid attention to the signs that were among them. I often wonder what does it look like to be in our generation, so caught up in our own thing and not aware of what God is doing among us. Essentially, Jesus warns the Pharisees of being religious and unaware (Read Luke 17:20-37).

How do we resemble this in our world today? The number one way we are fulfilling what we read in Luke 17 is by being over-religious, stuck in our tradition, and uncommitted to the things of God and have frustrated the possibility of fulfilling the purposes God originally created for His family. We have become dogmatic, inappropriately traditional, and downright offensive to the very people God is trying to draw close to him.

So, we judge others instead of examining ourselves. The critical issue with this is we fail to see our need for Jesus Christ while always seeing the everyone else’s need (Read Romans 2:17-29).

So, in Luke 18:9-14, we find Jesus is doing what He has done for the entirety of His ministry—standing up for the underdog. This time the underdog is a tax collector. Now, in order to understand the weight of what is about to happen, you must understand just how terrible it would have been to be a tax collector during Jesus’s time.

One historian [Craig Keener] wrote,

New Testament 18:9–14—The Pharisee and the Tax Gatherer

tax gatherers were the most despicable, often considered traitors to their people. Pharisees did not want tax gatherers admitted as witnesses or given honorary offices. To catch the impact of this parable today one might think of these characters as the most active deacon or Sunday-school teacher versus a drug dealer, gay activist or crooked politician.

*Now make observations by reading through the passage together*

Conclusion

Justification is a gift from God, not a reward for good works.

Righteousness is a product of the work of the Spirit of God. The righteous/ justified are:

Spirit empowered

Humble

Inwardly changed

Only sinners can receive justification and righteousness from God.

Call to Action: Therefore, before you give God your body…give Him your heart.

Prayer: Help us to look to you and help us not to judge others, but rather bring them to you, their only hope.