The Danger of Self!

KJV - Luke 18:9-14  And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: (10) Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. (11) The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. (12) I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. (13) And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon 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 every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

NIV - Luke 18:9-14  To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: (10) “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.  (11) The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.  (12) I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’  (13) “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ (14) “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

There was a show on television when I was growing up called the “Flip Wilson Show”.  It was a variety show comprised of various skits.  One of the skits featured a character named Geraldine.  When Geraldine got caught doing something wrong, she used the famous line:  “The Devil Made Me Do it”.  When it comes to wrong doing, we like to cast blame to anyone but ourselves.  The hard truth is, that WE are our own worst enemies.  We have no one to blame but ‘ME’.  That is really the message of Jesus in our passage today.  We can be our own worst enemy.

At the foundation of “self” is PRIDE.  Pride, at least as the Bible uses it, is an exaggerated view of one’s self.  That exaggerated view of our own selves causes us to think we are better than others and/or that we know as much as God.  The interesting thing about pride is that it is difficult to recognize it in ourselves.  If asked, no one would claim to know more than God, but actions speak louder than words.  If God says that a particular action is a sin, for instance, if we rationalize that it is not, then we have concluded our way is better than God’s way.  In conclusion, we think that we know better than God.

This attitude also finds its way effecting how we treat others.  Racism is pride manifested.  Again, it is hard to see in ourselves.  A person may not say openly that they are better than that “other” group, but we might think that “other group” is some how beneath us.

That is the picture that Jesus is describing in the comparison of the two men praying.  One man, a religious leader, sees himself in a manner that he is better than others.  He feels he is better than extortioners, the unjust, adulterers, and tax collectors.  In his own mind, his sins are less offensive.  In his mind, “THEIR” sins are much more disgusting.  His sins, I’m sure, are only minor “mistakes”.  They are not as bad as those “other people”.  What we must all realize that all sin is offensive.  All sin separates us from God.

Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: (2) But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 

The pharisee goes on to highlight his good deeds.  As if, somehow those deeds in and of themselves makes a person righteous.

On the other hand, the tax collector had the proper perspective of himself.  He saw himself as a sinner.  He saw himself as someone unworthy to present himself before God.  There was no justification that his sins were not as bad as some other guy.  Instead he realized that his sin, regardless of how big or small, regardless of few or many was offensive to God.  Furthermore he felt that because of his sin, he was unable to look unto heaven. In fact he asked, even pleaded for God’s mercy.

Do we still plead for God’s mercy?  Or do we have the attitude that we have already earned it? 

Then Jesus brings the conclusion.  The latter man, the “sinner”, will go home justified because of this heart and attitude!  That state of mind and condition of heart will allow him to submit to the will of God.  On the other hand, the other man’s attitude will prevent him from submitting to the will of God because he will think he doesn’t need to

Luke 18:14  ...for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Reflecting His SON,  

Dennis Hogan

Minister, North Hardin Church of Christ

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

1804 Sam Steward Dr.

Radcliff, KY  40160

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

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Is Jesus Lord in Words or Action?

Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 

In our text today, Jesus asks a very poignant question.  I believe it to be largely rhetorical.  A rhetorical question is a figure of speech in the form of a question that is asked in order to make a point and without the expectation of a reply.  In other words the answer is assumed.

Jesus is asking how or why would you call him Lord if you are not interested in doing what he says.  To better understand this further, we need to better understand the word “Lord”.    So often the word “Lord”, is used is a religious setting that it loses its true meaning.  According to the dictionary I referenced the word Lord means:  “A person who has authority, control, or power over others;  a master, chief or ruler”.  

The really important piece of information here is that Jesus....in this setting, in this context....is ONLY our Lord from a VOLUNTARY basis!  Many times in history, Lords were made through conquest!  A war lord would conqueror a land and enslave the people.  The people did not want that new ruler, but through threat, force and the possibility of losing one’s life they would at least go through the pretense of calling that conqueror “Lord”.

However, To call Jesus “Lord” is purely voluntary!  If you do not want him to have authority, control or power over your life, you can simply choose to reject him.  But if you do choose to make him the MASTER of your life, then by definition, you are CHOOSING to relinquish the control of your life, and replace it with Jesus as your ruler.

That brings us back to the initial question that Jesus asks.  WHY, why, why would anyone call Jesus Lord, Master, Ruler, Controller of my life and not be willing to do what he says?  Everyone needs to search their own hearts on this question.  If you want to call Jesus “Lord” because of the blessings that he offers in that role, we must truly search the scriptures to think how he tells us to think, to live like he tells us to live, to behave like he tells us to behave and to worship as he instructs us to worship.

If you are not willing to live by the teachings of Jesus, that is certainly a choice that he allows us to make.  But by all means, do not fool yourself into thinking that he is still the Lord of your life and through it you will still be receiving the blessings that he offers.

James 1:21-25 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. (22) But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. (23) For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. (25) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Get the Devil on the Run!

James 4:6-8 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 

Yesterday’s RTS dealt with pride and humility of verse 6 and for that reason we will not go through that again.  However, the statements made by James in verse 7 and 8 really are continuations of thoughts and so it is displayed for context.

James started off on verse 6 by stating that God gives us more grace.  God’s mercy and blessings are certainly something that we all need more and more of in our lives.  In order for us to be given these blessings, we are told the conditions on which they are granted.

1.  Submit Yourself to God:

First, let’s understand what “submit” means.  Submit:  to give over or yield to the power or authority of another.  Submission really goes against our nature, especially as Americans.  We do not like giving up the power to ANYONE.  However, if we want the grace of God, and all of the blessings that come with it, we must learn to make God our Lord and master and have him direct our lives.

2.  Resist the Devil:

The concept is really easy.  The application is eternally far from easy.  We are told simply to flee from Satan.  When we think about the principle that is used here, it makes perfect sense.  If a salesman has 3 prospective customers, the first has stated he is ready to order, the second says that he really likes the products but has a few questions and the third likes the product but thinks they are too expensive; which  do you think the salesman will focus on?  Of course he will spend time on the first two because the chances of making a sale are far greater.  The same principle applies with Satan.  If we continue to resist him, he will spend his time with lower hanging fruit!

3.  Draw Near to God:

Like resisting the devil, this is more difficult than many assume.  Drawing near to God is not just saying that we believe in God.  Drawing near is more than posting pro-God Facebook posts or wearing a cross around our necks.  Drawing near to God is a lifestyle that is required.  It is walking in the light as he is in the light (1 John 1:7)  It is understanding WHO God is and then molding our lives to be as much like him as humanly possible.  It is being obedient to his will (John 14:15).  We cannot simply have a positive  attitude about God all the while living the life of our choosing.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

As Paul tells the church at Rome, we must live as a living sacrifice.  But when we do, when we draw near to God, he will draw near to us!

4.  Cleanse Your Hands & Purify Your Hearts:

Part of drawing near to God is to deal with sin in our lives.  Sin has always been the problem and will always be the problem between us and God.  Until we have our sin washed away, we will never be able to have a relationship with God.  Once we have our sins washed away initially and become children of God, we still have a responsibility to avoid sin in our lives.  

Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? (2) God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?