You Ain't All That

Church, this true for everyone in here from the pastor to the pew to the choir to the kitchen; you ain’t all that. I know…I know… that may seem a little harsh. But, its the truth, you ain’ all that. I know you have done a few things well but…You ain’t all that…(Run “I know that…but…You ain’t all that”)

We life in an era and in a world system where we are taught that our worth is connected to what we can offer the systems. Then on the other hand we are told that we are enough.

1. The Error of Self-Righteousness

Exegete v.9

2. Pharisee’s Prayer

The Pharisee is already a problem by default of his guilty association with those would reject the teachings and way of Jesus. But, for the audience of Jesus’s parable they would understand this man who was praying to be a man of prayer. The Pharisees looked the part. They walked around in long robes decorated in Gold, and wore decorations with small boxes with little scriptures inside, they stayed in tight nit clique, and when you saw them you knew they were the visible example of what holiness might look like.

Jesus now lifts up this first character in his parable that he is praying in the temple. And as he is praying, he is doing something that is counter to what prayer is. Instead of glorying God, evening in petition, he centers himself in his own prayer. He, in essence, thanks god the is is all that. (Elaborate)

Centers himself.

“Barnyard tragedy” Dr. Joel Gregory

Measures himself

Compares himself-other people’s business

3. Publican’s Plea

(Tell what a tax collector is)

Posture. The tax collector, is standing far away, minding his own business. He is not concerned about anyone else but his own brokenness. Look at his posture, “unwilling to lift his eyes to heaven…beating his chest” he knows that he is not worthy to face God upright, so he humbles himself in the presence of God.

Prayer? informal. “Saying”

Mercy, because he knows what he deserves but he asks God to show him mercy.

Justified-made righteous. Set free.

“He who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted” In other words you will never be all that but God can make you all that when you humble yourself.

Abraham…Joseph....Moses…Joshua…David…Esther…Mary…John the Baptist…Peter…Paul...

Phil 2 says, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself (Run)

and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”