WHICH IS IT-GOD, I THANK THEE, OR GOD, I NEED THEE?

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WHICH IS IT-GOD, I THANK THEE, OR GOD, I NEED THEE?

Luke 18:9-14 A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. A parable is not a bedtime story to put one to sleep but a bugle call to wake one up. This parable was given (9) to expose those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous. Two men went up into the temple to pray. The significance of this parable is not the position and petition of these two men, but the condition of their heart. Oftentimes the petition and even the position of prayer reveal the condition of the heart. Though we often see only two men in this parable, in reality there were three.

I. The SCORNFUL PROFESSOR (11,12)

This was the self-righteous Pharisee. HE ASKED FOR NOTHING, CONFESSED NOTHING, AND RECEIVED NOTHING. However, he was quick to profess some things. He had no sins to acknowledge but many virtues to parade. What he professed only manifested that he was deceived!

A. Deceived about PRAYER

He went to pray, but entirely forgets his errand. Matthew 7:7-11 Matthew 21:22 "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer..." 1. Design for prayer Prayer is asking, and asking is prayer. 2. Direction of prayer "Prayed thus with himself" He prayed having himself, rather than God, uppermost in his thoughts. He glances at God, but contemplates himself. After his opening word, he does not refer to God again, but he himself is never out of the picture. RELIGION CAN BE YOUR RUIN!

B. Deceived about his PERSON

He told anybody listening how good he was. He was deceived about himself, for he thought he was accepted by God because of what he did or what he did not do. He glories in what he is - "not as other men are" - SELF He glories in what He does - "I fast twice in the week" - SACRIFICE He glories in what he gives - "I give tithes of all that I possess" SPENDING He is impressed with who he is, but he is sadly deceived! He moved in a circle, the center and circumference of which was self. The Pharisee was so full of himself that he had no room for God. He gloried in his standard. He is quick to point out his virtues, but not his vices. "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise." 2 Corinthians 10:12 His standard was other men, while the publican's standard was the MAN, Christ Jesus.

C. Deceived about the PUBLICAN

He was deceived about the publican who was also in the temple praying. The Pharisee thought that the publican was a great sinner, but the publican went home justified by God while the proud Pharisee went home only self-justified.

II. The SINFUL CONFESSOR (13)

The publican is not pretending in prayer but pleading in prayer. CUSTOM constrained the Pharisee to pray, but CONVICTION constrained the Publican to pray. The Pharisee trusted in MERIT, while the Publican trust in MERCY.

Two men went to pray; O, rather say, One went to brag; the other to pray. One stand up close, and treads on high Where the other dares not send his eye. One nearer to God's altar trod, The other to the altar's God.

A. Publican came in right spirit

"standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven." This was a sign of deep distress. His consciousness of guilt and shame and sorrow prevented his looking up. Men who are conscious of guilt always fix their eyes on the ground. While the Pharisee provided God with a news's bulletin, the Publican presented God a broken heart.

B. Publican came for the right substance

The Pharisee presented his merit, but the publican petitioned for mercy! When you go to God, ask for mercy, not for justice. A mother went to the Emperor Napoleon to ask mercy for her son. He had committed some breach of the French law, and the Emperor replied, Mam, this is the second time the boy has offended. Justice requires that he should die." She answered, "I did not come to ask of justice. I beg for mercy." He answered, "He does not deserve mercy," "Sir, it would not be mercy if he deserved it. I ask for mercy." "Well," replied the emperor, "When you put it that way, I will then show mercy."

C. Publicans came as the right subject

"to me a sinner" The Pharisee thought of others as sinners. The publican thinks of himself

alone as the sinner, not of others at all. A sense of sin is the great lack of our times. "Smote upon his breast" - for he recognized that his trouble lie there . . . out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murder, blasphemy, and the such like. Only a seven-word prayer, yet it reached the ear of God because it embraced three things: Consciousness of iniquity Confession of deficiency Call for mercy - Salvation is not in the sinner's prayer nor the sinner's performance but in the Savior's provision. "God ......me" - no room for a third person. Real business is between God and me. If you will do that, then and only then will you see yourself correctly. Now I want us to see the third man in this parable. The one we so often forget.

III. The WATCHFUL ASSESSOR (14)

Jesus did not leave His hearers to apply the pa4rable but drives it application home to them. We do not have to answer to others for our life, but to God. He knows where the true value lies. "I tell you" - only He is qualified to judge. Pharisee condensed his contempt into "this publican" and Jesus takes up the "this man" and turns it into the distinction.

A. The self-exalted shall be abased

The Pharisee went to his house wrapped in the same garment of self justification he wore into the temple. Justifying himself, he was unaccepted and unapproved.

B. The self-abased shall be exalted

The publican went home divinely justified. The one that commends himself God condemns. The one that condemns himself, God justifies. The man who confesses he deserves to go to Hell will never go there. It is sinners, lost sinners, that Jesus came to save. Justification is the out flowing of mercy in reply to the cry of man who claimed no morality but flung himself upon the compassion of God. Conclusion: Religion is here places associated with it practices associated with it Rejection is here assurance displayed by Pharisee acceptance denied to Pharisee Righteousness is here request of Publican return of Publican (Romans 3:23,24 Yours because HIS Bro. Jimmy Chapman

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