The Humbling Grace of God

300 Illustrations for Preachers (Righteous for Being Green?)

2010 study by Canadian psychologists found that people who purchase environmentally friendly items feel a “moral glow” that makes them more likely to cheat and act selfishly elsewhere in their lives. In the study, which was a computer game, subjects rewarded themselves with money based on certain results. “Green” consumers were more likely to lie about test results so that they could take more money. The explanation for this is that acting virtuously in one area seems to make people feel they have earned “credit,” and now they have a license to act unethically and selfishly in other parts of their lives.Our lives are to be an open book before the Lord. Because we are righteous in one area doesn’t give us license to fail to live for God’s glory in every other area.

Luke 18:9–14 ESV

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated 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, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Audience: The audience is no longer the disciples but the group called Pharisees

Concern: His concern is for the Heart. God knows the difference between a parade of righteousness and the intention of the heart.

Big Idea: Pride makes us artificial humility makes us real

TWO MEN AT THE TEMPLE

PHARISEES

The Pharisees in Jesus time were the richest and most influential sect in all of Israel. The New Testament does not paint them in a good light. One of the key moments in the ministry of John The Baptist was his shocking rebuke of the Pharisee order calling them a “brood of vipers,” It is no wonder after John declared Jesus the Lamb of God, the long expected Messiah, that the Pharisees began plotting to have Jesus Killed. First, Jesus was endorsed by John and soon drew a larger crowd than his cousin. The contempt for Jesus continued after His resurrection as we see in Acts the stoning of Stephen the first Christian Martyr, and Saul of Tarsus overseeing the stoning. From beginning to end the New Testament makes it clear that Christianity and Pharisaism do not mix.

By contrast, the Pharisees were so meticulous in their compliance with legal minutiae that they would carefully strain any drink while pouring it to make sure no gnat had got into the wine while it was aerating. (Gnats are insects and therefore ceremonially defiling.) They would painstakingly count tiny seeds in order to make sure their tithe was accurate (Luke 11:42). After all, Leviticus 27:30 says, “Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy to the Lord” (esv).

Jesus called the Pharisees “Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!” (v. 24). Gnats, of course, are the tiniest unclean creatures described in Moses’ law; camels are the largest. Jesus’ word picture makes a humorous mental image, but His point was totally serious: All their exacting efforts to keep up appearances had not diminished their guilt in the smallest measure.

NOTE: Jesus parables are meant to be shocking. Notice that he always goes for the shock and awe factor.

What does God require of us, what must we do to be justified before a Holy God?

Matthew 5:48 “You shall be perfect, Just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

True righteousness is defined by the character of God Himself, demands absolute, uncompromising perfection. He Himself is the standard and only true measure of the perfect that He requires of us.

It is not enough just to obey the external obvious demands of the law - even the minutiae like seed counting and straining out the gnats. Our attitude and desire must also at all times conform perfectly to the requirement of the law.

A lustful look violates the same moral principle of adultery. In fact

James 2:10 ESV

10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

Takes it even further “whoever keeps the law but fails in one point is guilty of the whole thing. There are no loopholes or escape clauses in the law. It can only condemn those who break it.

1. What is your Position?

Is your position one of humility or pride?

Luke 18:9 ESV

9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:

NOTE: The name Pharisee meant “separatist” which is exactly what they did, they separated themselves morally from everyone else. To have a Pharisee to attend a meal or gathering at your house was a mark of high status.

I have never truly known too many famous people. I was invited to go on a trip with “food for the hungry,” little did I know a guy by the name of Joel Smallbone and a crew from the discovery channel would be on our trip. The discovery channel was doing a work on the indigenous people of Bolivia. Joel is now the lead singer with his brother for a group called, “for king and country.”

When they were just getting big I had an opportunity to go to one of their concerts in Austin. After the concert there was a crowd of people around the band getting autographs, Joel left the crowd to come over and give me a hug and talk to my friends. This would have been the type of privilege it was for people to have a Pharisee in your circle of influence.

Tax-Collector

Tax Collectors belonged to a social group known as harlots and drunkards - and most tax collectors surrounded themselves with such people. They had a reputation for being not only dishonest and cruel, but also morally debased in every conceivable way.

Tax collectors purchased franchises from the Roman occupiers. The agreement required them to pay a fixed amount to the Romans each year. Anything that they collected over was theirs to keep. They accumulated their wealth by taking unfair advantage of their own people. They considered traitors and were excluded from all religious activities and normal social relationships. In the eyes of their country men they were the furthest people away from God.

NOTE: One of the things the pharisees hurled at Jesus was that he hung out tax-collectors, this was the sinner group he was accused of hanging with. Remember the story of Zacheus, he even called a tax collector to join his disciples, Matthew.

2. What is your posture?

Is your posture one of humility or pride?

In an of itself the fact that the Pharisee was standing was not a problem. What is significant about his posture is the way that he chose to position himself in some distinctive place where he could surely be seen and stand out from the rest of those praying. Remember Jesus said in Matthew 6:5 “When you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogue and on the corner of the streets, that they may be seen by men, instead go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.

Most likely the Pharisee was trying to get as close to the Holy of Holies as possible. Today the Jews flood to the waling wall to pray. Why? They believe that his is the closest one can get to where the Holy of Holies.

How do we show an attitude of Pride in our Posture?

We Hide our sinfulness

NOTE: I think it is interesting the way we attempt to hide our sinfulness the same way Adam and Eve did in the garden. Showing authenticity in your Christian walk, means admitting your own shortcomings and sinfulness, taking it before the throne of God. We are called to daily mortify our Sins.

Colossians 3:5 ESV

5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

*Learn to admit sin for what it is

Call a spade a spade - call it sexual immorality, “not I’m being tempted a little”; call it impurity,” not “I’m struggling with my thought life”; call it “evil desire, which is idolatry,” not “I think I need to order my priorities better.” Self-deceit is evident in all of our lives, sin is lurking in the hidden corners of our hearts!

*Learn to see sin as God see’s it.

Colossians 3:6 ESV

6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

My sin leads to not lasting pleasure but the divine holy displeasure of God. See the true nature of sin in light of its punishment. It’s too easy fro us to think that sin is less serious in a Christians life than it is in non-believers: “It’s forgiven, isn’t it?” Not if we continue in it.

*Learn to recognize the inconsistency of sin.

You put off the “old man,” and have put on the “New man”. The identity you had in Adam is now gone. The old was crucified with him (Christ) in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing.

Colossians 3:9–10 ESV

9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

*Put sin to death

It is as simple as that. Refuse it, starve it, and reject it. You cannot “mortify” sin without the pain of the kill. There is no other way! This means we must first put on the Lord Jesus Christ.

*We think we are better than we are

NOTE: This is the outcome of hiding our sinfulness, we then begin to think that we are better than we are. We begin to carry ourselves as if it’s everyone else who has the sin problem, and our poop don’t stink. Remember the sacrifice that was made on the day of Atonement (Yom Kimpurum). The sins of the people were placed outside on the animal and then it was led outside the camp. (Scapegoat)

NOTE: God hates Human Pride more than anything else.

Proverbs 6:16–17 ESV

16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

What is Pride?

It is boasting in self and not the Lord.

It is taking credit ourselves for what God alone can do.

It is feeling sufficiency in our own strength and not in God’s

It is the failing to admit that we are mere earthen vessels so that another gets the glory.

It is the unwillingness to admit weakness that may accent the power of Christ.

What God loves that brings him Joy?

He loves the heart that boasts in the Lord.

He loves the heart that gives him credit for what he alone can do.

He loves the heart that relies on his power.

He loves the heart that wants him to get the glory in all tings and that wants the power of his Son to shine in our weakness.

The Tax-Collectors Posture

The tax-collector also positioned himself in a place apart - not conspicuously in the center of the traffic pattern or on some pedestal in the inner court, but “far off,” and he would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven. The tax-collector stayed on the outer edge of the temple grounds. Why?

Because he knew that he did not deserve to be in God’s presence or even with other worshipers. This man was overcome with the profound sense of his shame and guilt and it was reflected in the very posture that he carried.

He knew his unworthiness and confessed it without any excuses. There is not eve a hint of self-justification. Jesus indicates that the man “beat his breast.” When is the last time you were so overcome with guilt that you literally beat your chest?

Note: The only other place that we see this used is after the death of Christ on the cross it says “the whole crowd came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, they beat their breasts and returned.

NOTE: So why does he beat his chest. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Our true character is defined by what is on the inside, in the inner person - the seat of all our thoughts, desires, and affections. Scripture speaks of that as the heart. Beating the breast would have symbolized this man’s remorse over the evil he had treasured up in his own heart. He understood that the “heart is deceitful above all things.”

3. What is your attitude in prayer?

Is your attitude one of plea for mercy or Look at me?

The Pharisees Prayer

The Pharisee was praying loudly in a self-congratulatory manner.

He uses the first person pronoun five times in the span of two verses.

He does not actually give God praise.

He asks nothing from God. (no mercy, grace, forgiveness.)

He purposely separates himself from others.

He specifically lists all of the things that were said about the tax collector: (people who steal, people who cheat, people who commit fornication, extortioners, unjust, adulterers.) Then to insure that everyone within ear shot got his point he pointed to the tax collector as the living example exhibit “A” in his courtroom.

He then listed all of his virtues. (Note he was very specific to announce the things in the law that mattered most to the Pharisees. (fasting and tithes) Remember Jesus said when you fast not to fast like the hypocrites most likely pointing to the Pharisees who disfigure their faces and made a big deal out of fasting. Fasting according to the OT law was only required one fast annually in preparation for the Day of Atonement. But Pharisees fasted every Monday and Thursday. They believed they could acquire more surplus from God if they padded the actual law.

My trip to Israel, experience with prayer on the plane. The orthodox Jew continued to look around in the dead of night to see who was watching his show of devotion. When I was headed down to the waling wall I had another Orthodox Jew approach me and began to pray for me. I thought, “wow how awesome that this Jew who doesn’t even know me wants to pray for me and my family.” Then he put his hand out wanting me to pay him for praying for me. This was just another show of the self-righteous centered of self-righteousness.

The Prayer of the Tax-Collector

The prayer was short and genuine. He didn’t feel the need to pad his prayer with allot of big words and mindless talk. He cut right to the chase, and the heart of his prayer.

The prayer was an urgent plea for Mercy. He cried God, be merciful to me a sinner. Anglican priests had a rope with beads on it, they would hold each bead and repeat, “Lord have mercy on me, for I am a sinner,” there were 33 three beads, on the final one they would lay prostrate on the ground. “When is the last time you prayed Lord have mercy on me for I am a sinner.”

The prayer was not an exhibition of artificial religious passion for the benefit of those listening.

The prayer understood his condition before God. The man stood in utter shame and disgrace over his sinful life.

1 Timothy 1:15 ESV

15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Remember that Paul called himself the foremost or chief of sinners. The problem with most of us today is we fail to see the depravity, or depth of our sin.

Things we need to remember about the Depth of our Sin

*Our sin is not graded on a curve

We live in a society today that loves to grade on a curve. If you fail to put in the hard work we are quick to excuse lack of planning and diligence by giving people a pass to mediocrity. Perhaps in school at one time or another students begged for the teacher to grade on a curve, complaining that their lower grade would mess up their gpa, what would happen if instead of grading on a curve the teacher insisted that students would rise to the standard that was set for the course.

God’s righteous standard never changes. Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fallen short.....” According to Romans 6:23 “What we all deserve is death.”

*Comparisons are foolish

Only God is capable of measuring our sin

The psalmist says that all have become corrupt. Psalm 14:3 “there is none who does good, not even one.” But in our foolishness, we look at the drunk or drug addict down the street and compare our morality with theirs. But they are not the moral standard by which we will be judged. We will stand before a Holy God and answer for what we did with Christ. Hebrews 9:27 We should not be looking at others as the measuring stick for our lives. We look to the perfect righteous spotless lamb of God.

*Looking good on the outside doesn’t impress God.

The Pharisee thought he looked pretty impressive to God. Let me remind you folks God is not that impressed with you. Get over yourself. What God is impressed with is the picture of humility and genuine remorse that the tax-collector had over the state of his heart before God.

Notice that repeatedly in the sermon on the mount Jesus would stress, “you have heard it said.... but I tell you.” Jesus always went to the heart of the matter, addressing the Pharisees motives and deconstructing their false beliefs and ideas.

We are easily deceived and self-focused, but God graciously humbles us and shows us the rebellion of our own heart. Perhaps we should daily pray the prayer of the Psalmist.

Psalm 139:23–24 ESV

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

CLOSING

NOTE: Notice Jesus concludes his parable with the result of both men’s prayer. The tax collector left justified and the Pharisee left un-justified. One man exalted himself the other humbled himself and at the mercy seat of God.

John Piper

“Gutsy Guilt”

(note: this is not for the person who is sitting here this morning and things I have an A- or at least a C+ on the self-satisfaction scale, you probably will not resonate with what I am about to share.)

Micah 7:7–10 ESV

7 But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. 8 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. 9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication. 10 Then my enemy will see, and shame will cover her who said to me, “Where is the Lord your God?” My eyes will look upon her; now she will be trampled down like the mire of the streets.

Do Not Delay

It may seem counterintuitive to drop right to your knees after you have sinned and say “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” We harbor in our hearts the false belief that, we have to pay for our sins - just a little while and wallow in our guilt before we comet God. Repentance is not groveling. You repent when you agree with God that your sin is wicked and flee to the only one who can set your feet back on solid ground. Micah shows us that even in our worst, there remains a God in heaven who will not reject a heart of repentance.

Talk Back to the Enemy

Micah 7:8 “Rejoice not over me, o my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sin in darkness, the Lords will be a light to me.”

The tempter is a cruel invader into your life, learn to turn his own weapon back on himself.

We submit to God’s discipline

Micah 7:9 “I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication.”

Gutsy guilt means facing the consequences of our sin. The fiery wrath of God’s holy condemnation of our sin has been extinguished at the cross, but God’s displeasure with our sin is a sign of our adoption into his family. Remember Hebrews 12:7 reminds us that those God disciplines he loves. Remember that God’s discipline is temporary. Notice that “He will bring me out into the light.

NOTE: The Tax-Collector makes no excuses for his sin, he owns his sinful behavior before God.

Fuel for the Fight

Micah 7:18–19 ESV

18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. 19 He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.

When you fail, fall on him. He will not resent your repeated returns to his throne of mercy. He’s not sighing or sulking when he sees you trembling at his feet. He delights to show mercy.

Richard Sibbes writes

“He is more ready…to forgive than you to sin; as there is a continual spring of wickedness in you, so there is a greater spring of mercy in God.”

NOTE: Imagine being with Moses on the other side of the red sea after you watched Pharaoh and his army disappear in the depth of the sea, never to torment you again.

Many a preacher has repeated this memorable saying — but when you’ve failed, it will do you great good to preach it to yourself:

When God throws your sin into the sea of forgetfulness, he puts up a sign that says, “No fishing allowed.” - Corrie ten Boom.

The devil loves to come back and fish in our heads and bring up our past to us. When the devil does this, we must remind him of his future. God has already forgiven us for that. God sees His Son’s blood of righteousness when he looks at you. The Bible talks in terms of it being imputed to us.

This means that on our own, in our own effort it is impossible to meet the standard of God’s righteousness. Sin affects the way we think just like the Pharisee and his self-righteous prayer.

Impute: to attribute or credit to your account.