Key Scriptures: Luke 18:9-14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
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Lesson One: When we are full of ourselves there is no room for God.
• If you are on the throne of your heart—Jesus isn’t
Luke 18:11-12, The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.
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Lesson Two: When we empty ourselves, we are in the perfect position to be filled by God’s grace.
Luke 18:11-12, But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.
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Lesson Three: When we empty ourselves, we are in the perfect position to be used for God’s glory.
• Pride is about my glory but humility is about God’s glory
Matthew 5:16, In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.