Worship Gathering 7/26/20

Take your copy of God's word. And please turn to the New Testament book of Luke Luke chapter 18. And once you find it in your copy God's word. I'd ask you to turn there and to stand.

Out of respect and reverence for the reading of God's word.

Luke chapter 18

Listen what the spirit says?

Verse 9. He also told his this Parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and look down on everyone else. Two men went up to the temple to pray one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector the Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself. God no, thank you that I'm not like other people greedy unrighteous adulterers or even like this text Aunt of everything I get. But the tax collector standing far off.

Wouldn't even raise his eyes to heaven.

They kept striking his chest and saying God have mercy on me a sinner.

I tell you this one went down to his house Justified rather than the other because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled. But the one who humbles himself will be exalted. osprey father we Are your people the Sheep of your pasture? And we come to you today with your book open. And we ask you to feed us. interchanges And to give us what we don't have.

Cross-site amen. You may be seated. This simply is a tale of two sinners. Now we last week we were in another Parabola now moving into the second Parable in Luke chapter 18. We find much of the same structure of the text that we had last week. We have the meaning of the parable given first just like converse one. We haven't in verse 9. This is the meaning of the parable you you won't find this other place is Jesus usually waits to the end but Luke for his readers. Put it up front what the parable actually means. in the parable is given then lastly this authoritative warning that Jesus gives Last week that the Holy Spirit taught us the importance of persistent prayer. And if you remember we said that his disciples of Jesus. We must live our lives persistently relying on a god who's just the parable was about a widow if he wasn't here over and over again Seeking Justice from a judge who would eventually give in and we saw how Jesus moved from the Lesser to the greater speaking of an unrighteous judge to his father. Moving our attention to God who is just gracious and wise can you say Amen to that now? Listen this week is not a review of last week. You'll be happy to know. This is not a snoozer.

There's not one where you can drift off and maybe pick me up at the end and then on your way out so Pastor that was that was a good one.

Now this is important.

I don't want you to put your mind or your heart on autopilot. Because this is crucial. Let me see how crucial it is is so crucial that Jesus makes it a point to teach on this during the last few months of his life. so crucial you may have been called this week and encouraged to be here with us. It's so crucial. Because if we mess this up if we miss this Parable up we messed the whole Bible up. If we miss this foundational truth, which is a fundamental element of the Gospel, we take the good news of the gospel and we water it down to the point where it's nothing but a happy story. With no power to save anyone. And beloved. I am here to tell you today and I'm an example of it myself. The gospel has the power to change anyone.

How critical is it that you understand the teaching of this Parable look down and verse 14 and circle that word there. I tell you this one went to his house Justified. There it is. It's the clue to what his Parable is all about. It's all about justification. Martin Luther said that justification is the chief article from which all other Doctrine flows. John Calvin said it was the main kinj in which all religion terms. Without it. I'm telling you. You cannot be a Christian.

You say what Chris that's pretty harsh. You said Chris you don't you don't you don't you don't know me? You don't know him or you don't know her. I'm telling you if you don't understand justification. You cannot be a Christian.

And Luke recorded that Jesus taught of the danger of someone who trusted in themselves in order to be right before God. Listen close Luke. of the danger entrusting in yourself to be made right before God.

It was so important that Jesus warns those around him during a time when he only had just a few months left and as we study the text this morning we will see this. We must live our lives persistently relying on a merciful god for justification.

Notice here in verse 9 that Luke gives us an audience for the parable. He also told this Parable to some who trusted in themselves and automatically as I've read this before and and many times actually studying through the Book of Luke preparing for our journey through Luke and it's reading all the way up to this week. I thought obviously the audience is changed. He's a strange because in first when he tells us that he's what is speaking to his disciples, right? He told him a parable for them to pray always and not give up speaking of those who who he's talking to his disciples. He's saying hey, I'm coming back. You don't need to give up here is how you don't give up keep praying but now it seems like an audience is strange. Doesn't it? It seems like now obviously he's probably talk into those. Pharisees But I listen there's a great warning here for you. And for me, we should not presume on the Bible. The Bible doesn't say he's talking the Pharisees Gene. In the Bible does it say stalking the Pharisees Christian say he's talking to Pharisees.

Maybe he was I don't know. Maybe it wasn't. Maybe he was speaking to some within his group of the 12 disciples because this no one is immune to the disease of self-righteousness. And our text doesn't make clear who exactly the audience is but we know that self-righteousness always breeds contempt for others, doesn't it? Are you know? You went to church with him before? Can I get a amen? Self-righteousness always breeds contempt for others. How do I know that cuz that's what the Bible tells me. He also told me that they were righteousness and look what the end result is and they look down on everyone else.

beloved if I have a right view of me, I'm going to have a right view of you.

Well, this is a simple Parable. This is a simple sermon. Are you ready for the first point? Point number one, there's two men profound, isn't it? There's two men in this Parable. Look verse 10 two men went up to the temple to pray to men which were Polar Opposites. Jesus uses these two men to contrast each other notice that they went up to the temple to pray.

No matter where you were in Jerusalem. You went up to the temple to pray. It would be like a thief in Louisa may be at Joe's store maybe at giovanis or or somewhere like that. And where do you go up to town hill? No matter where you're at in Louisa to go to town hill is to go up isn't it? And here we see this is the center of all Society. This is the center of all life in Jerusalem. It's always buzzing with people. It's always buzzing with voices and and and at the sound of animals and and footsteps and here we are. This is the temple all of society all of social life is there two men's went up to the temple to pray.

And here we see one is a Pharisee. Not as we made our walkthrough Luke over the last couple of years. We've seen the ugly side of Pharisees. Haven't we we first introduced to the Pharisee and chapter 5 when Jesus told the man who have been lowered his friends through the roof your sins are forgiven. What happens the Pharisees lose their cool and he's they called Jesus a blasphemer.

We should know that right after that little incident. Jesus says I've come to call the righteous not the righteous to repentance but sinners.

We learned over and over again. They had their eye on Jesus. We've learned that they were mad because he healed someone on the Sabbath you remember that too. And so when we come to this text, we automatically come to that. You know, the Pharisee is the bad guy, but let's not confuse them through that lens. Let's see them just through the facts and here's the facts about Pharisees. They spent their lives trying to know God's word. There's only a few thousand Pharisees during the time of Jesus. They were committed to keeping Society grounded and rooted in biblical Doctrine.

They were committed and grounded in biblical principles and they wanted their government and all the people around them to be the same. They live the holiest lives of anyone in society and they had extreme political influence if you had a question about the Bible you were going to a Pharisee 90% of the people during that time could not read. Pharisees they could

what's the Pharisee but there's another guy isn't there and who's the other guy? A tax collector does anybody like paying taxes? I knew I get you awake on that one. Please. See in our culture today. It's impossible for us to see the tax collector in the same eyes as Lux readers like you don't have a guy coming to your house at the traitor. one of your money

another day. I made a paper towel run. I went I came from here and I went it was on my way home and had her call and say we're out of paper towels. And so I went to the Dollar Store and guess what they were out of paper towels to. So I went to the one downtown, you know by Joe's Place and I go down there and I went in and selfishly. I bought the last two things of Scott paper towels. I'm the guy. As I was even there I got him a vehicle and I come around city hall and I turn left up the street to the bricks, you know one way street.

And there was a vehicle there. As I made that turn the vehicle was parked kind of catty-corner in the middle of the lane. Temporary tags nice vehicle to gentleman standing beside it. With their heads in the car. They were startled to hear my vehicle pop around the corner and they turned around to see who it was that come up on them. And there they were two men both of whom I knew very well at one time. But they were just shells of who they actually were. Wanted men involved in the car accident about 25 years ago. They killed his passenger. And I can say this he he died everyday since that wreck. The other man at one time was strong and a hard worker. But it he was a kind of dude that never had any self-esteem, you know, the guy that he couldn't can't look at you in the eyes when he talks maybe his dad was mean to him. Maybe he he felt whatever.

and there they were both now aged at least 40 years beyond their actual age. Just Skin and Bones and there was that scumbag in the new car selling them drugs.

That scumbag in the new car killing those two men.

The scumbag in the car with no regard for their lives. He just saw them as a way to make a buck. The scumbag was making his living off other people's pain and heart aches. And now here we are in Jesus's parable. with the Sunday school teacher and the drug dealer

two men went up to the temple to pray.

But I want you to notice though, though. There were two men. They were two different approaches look with me now in verse 11. The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself. Something isn't it? He was standing he should be kneeling. But in this time in this age in the temple, it was custom for you to stand and pray that's not his posture was the least of his worries one writer says two men went up to the temple to pray but only one of them actually prayed. Much has been said about the Pharisee and him standing. But it's okay to stay in its okay to kneel. But notice what he was praying about he was praying about what what to say there himself. Notice that the Pharisee approaches God on the basis of what he has not done and what he is doing notice what he says God. I thank you that I'm not like other people greedy unrighteous adulterous or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give a tenth of everything get

Notice that the self-righteousness breeds contempt for others knows what he said. I'm not like so and so one of my professors said this I just thought it was very important to pass along to you. If you knew him you would you would be shocked that he said at the only ones hearing him speak or him and those around him because God does not listen to that nonsense.

Comes on the basis of who he is. He comes on the basis of what all he's done on the basis of all the things that he has not done. His prayer was focused on how good he was in comparison to other people. But I listen we don't know if that's not the truth. Think about it for a second. Maybe he was generous.

Maybe he was a righteous guide he tried hard. Maybe he was faithful to his left. Maybe he wasn't like that text collector. Maybe he did Fast twice a week, even though the wall told him. He was only once a year. Maybe he did give a tenth of everything that come out of his garden and everything that he made maybe he really was that guy. Let me tell you something. He could have done every one of these things and still would not make him anymore right with God then if he didn't do these things. You hear me? If he did every one of these things it would not make him anymore right with God that if he didn't.

And here's the rub. We are not made right with God on the basis of what we do or what we do not do I did you hear me? Because if you heard me you would smile.

As I look over the congregation today, I see one thing that we all have in common. We're sinners. And we blew it this week, haven't we?

But we are not made right with God on the basis of what we do or what we do not do you say Chris you're reading a lot today. You're you're reading a lot from your notes. You usually don't do that. I do not want to mess this up for you or for me.

That's why we must live our lives persistently relying on a merciful god for justification. 1 oz a good time to Define justification. Listen is simply means to be acquitted.

To be justified is to be acknowledged as free to be justified is to be declared right before the judge and this man the Pharisee the Sunday school teacher was declaring himself right before for all to hear on the basis of what he had done and what he did not do and we're all guilty of that in some way or another aren't we? It's not a new thing the self-righteousness coming to God on her on her own merits on her own Works prove it to you. Turn with me to Genesis chapter 4

Genesis chapter 4

there is no better sound for the pastor than to hear Bible Pages turning. Genesis chapter 4

The man was intimate with his wife, even she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said I've had a male child with the Lord's help. She also gave birth to his brother able not Abel became a shepherd of flocks, but can't work the ground in the course of time came presented some of the Lambs produce as an offering to the Lord and Abel also presented an offering some of the firstborn of his flock inner fat portions in the Lord have regard for able and his offering but he did not have regard for Kane and his offering Kane was Furious and he looked despondent then the Lord said to Cain. Why are you Furious? And why do you look despondent? If you do what is right won't you be accepted? But if you do not do what is right? Sin is crouching at the door. It's desire is for you, but you must rule over it. Why wasn't Cain's offering accepted and Abel's was accepted Hebrews tells us by faith Abel brought got a better offering and came did by faith. He was commended as righteous.

Abel sacrifice was by faith. And Cain sacrifice was by works. Abel came with what God has prescribed blood and there he trusted God and he was declared, right?

Self-righteousness always breeds contempt. How do I know it wouldn't be much longer. Kane will kill Abel. Kane comes on his own Merit on his own works not by faith trusting himself. He offers the sacrifice and God has wants none of it. The same is true today and here in our text. We see the same thing noticed that the second prayer starts in verse 13 over and Luke chapter 18. And noticed how simple the prayers but the tax collector standing far off wouldn't even raise his eyes to heaven but kept striking his chest and saying and here's the prayer. Are you ready? God have mercy on me a sinner. And what you should do if you should Circle that in your Bible uses Circle God as one Circle have mercy on me as another Circle A Center. the next one and let's examine the simple prayer of a tax collector. Let's let's let's examine the simple prayer of a drug dealer.

Never one. He acknowledges God is God. How do we know that because he acknowledges that he is not God. Do you know sweetie does their God have mercy on me a sinner? How do I know that? He acknowledges God right because he knowledge itself as a center. This is always the response. God comes looking for Adam. What does Adam say? He's afraid why is that am afraid Church? Adams afraid because he send. fast forward book of Jobe at the end of Jobe Jobe scared Why because he sees God for who he is and he sees himself for a center. What's a little farther Isaiah chapter 6 I'm a man of unclean lips. I dwell among the people of unclean lips when Isaiah the prophet sees the pre incarnate Christ on the throne. Almost like a Peter. What did Peter do Peter caught fish? Like he never caught before 5 and after this big load of Jesus commands him to do it. What is it? What happened? He falls down at Jesus feet and listen what Peter says depart from me for I am a sinner fonts to Jesus the response to his always is when you come in contact with God you realize that you are a sinner.

But there's something else there. You know right there it says a center. I don't know what translation you're using. I really don't care. But underneath that make a mark over and put the center. He didn't say that he was any old sinner. Here's what he says. I am the center. Definite article, I am the center.

There's only one part left in the drug dealers prayer. What is it?

What's the part lift? We said God we said Center. What's the middle part? Have mercy on me. Listen what James Montgomery boice says the prayer is profound more than that because it's not merely a plea for mercy. So it sounds like that in English. It's a plea for mercy on the basis of what God has done. I listen close because you're fixing to walk out of here and totally miss the whole point.

The Pharisee comes on the basis of his own Merit on what he has not done and what he has done but the tax collector just doesn't come and say have mercy on me a sinner he comes on the basis of what God has already done. You remember our Old Testament reading from Leviticus a minute ago. You remember it the Ark of the Covenant. There it is. It has a gold lid on it with two angels fashion with her wings pointing toward each other. Doesn't it? You see it there and underneath this lid inside the Ark of the Covenant was the law of Moses. So what does God see when he looks from Heaven down into the Ark of the Covenant?

the law

imagine in the center of the camp is a tent. in that tent is that and this is where God would come and dwell with his people. But when God looks down from heaven between those two angels and two that golden box. What does he see? He sees the law and he sees that it has been broken What Fear? What fear in the hearts of people there's the law. It's been broken and is not obeyed. Surely this is the picture of God's judgment on his people. Because here the ark is where people thought that God dwelled. How can this be? How can a holy God dwell in the midst of Sinners? How can a righteous judge meet with the unrighteous if this is where God comes down in the Old Testament, how can he come down if he's righteous and the people is not how can he come down? How can he dwell with his people? How can the Chicana Glory of God come down and meet with spinning simple people?

Would you know if that lives called? Oh, that's The Mercy Seat. Cuz I'm the day of atonement we read the blood of an animal that just been killed as a substitute for cinnamon centers was sprinkled on top of that lid and innocent victim killed in the place of Sinners. It's always been and will always be Bloodshed for sinners. listen close that was translated as have mercy on me.

Is actually just one word. If the verb form of a noun that we get the word mercy seat from and here's how it could be translated. God be Mercy seated towards me the center. You see the Pharisee approach got on the basis of what he had and hadn't done but the tax collector approach has gone on the basis of what God had done and him alone upon The Mercy Seat. This is the way of Salvation by the blood of Jesus what can wash away my sin nothing but the blood of Jesus it's always been this way. It always be this way. I listen when when the blood was sprinkled on that live when the blood is sprinkle 7 times then God would come down the Smoke Filled the place of all is broken, but when the blood is applied then God can come but the blood of bulls and goats never saved anybody.

Everyone who is saved or will be saved is save the same way. It's by the blood of Jesus.

This tax collector comes and pleads The Mercy Seat before God and only because Jesus hadn't given up his place yet on Earth and died on that cross. But Jesus in this Parable is telling those who trusted in themselves then and now to look to him to be made right with God and I'm telling you today. Look to the blood of Jesus to be right before God.

We need Mercy. We broken the long we need God to be Mercy seated towards us sinners and That Never Comes by doing stuff or not doing stuff but by faith alone in Christ alone. So if you've blown it this way this week or you've had a really good week. Guess what? God does not love you any more or any less if you are in Christ, And this garbage that God loves everyone the same is not in the Bible.

You lost me Chris. Beloved it's in Christ. God is not an old grandpa somewhere letting things slide and throwing cookies out of the table.

But if you're in Christ. nothing Can work up his love more?

If you had a really rough week.

He doesn't love you anyways. Why?

Because the blood is butterfly.

You see the tax collector come to drug dealer company says have mercy make. I'm a sinner and only thing I have I don't I don't have the work that he has and and I don't have these things. Here's what I have. I plead the blood on the mercy seat and Beloved the same is true today. We seen two men. We've seen two different approaches to God and lastly. I want you to see two different verdicts. Quick with me and verse 14. I tell you this one went down to his house Justified. Which one?

the tax collector not because of the quality of his prayer.

listen He did not leave Justified because he hit his breath.

He went home Justified because he put his faith in God alone.

It was the object of his face that saved him while the other man is left deceived believing in himself that he was righteous.

And now you know why we were invited you today.

yesterday it was a it was a weird day Martin got up at 6. like always He's the only one in this early riser in our house, and then he goes back to sleep. I couldn't sleep so I took a little run. heavy on the little as a coming back to the house. I thought it was almost some grass for everybody gets up.

Well, you've ever been to my house, you know, there's like a steep Bank over in front of my house. I wanted to mow that cuz it looks bad and I won't let Heather Mowat on the mower. So I got on a mower that I never said on before and Went to mow in that state bank.

I wasn't going up and down the hill like I normally do like normally I have a four-wheeler with a mower on the back and I just go off the top and go down and turn around go back up and go down cuz it's so steep know I was on this other mower when I never been on before if I haven't mentioned that and I wanted to come around it sideways. PetSmart, isn't it? As I was coming around that. keel If you get on a certain incline that thing starts beeping.

And when it started beeping thoughts run through my mind thoughts like I wonder who tighten the bolts on this thing.

Thought like I wondered this dinky roll cage would actually do anything if its thing flopped over. thoughts like

how quick can I disconnect the seat belt if it starts to roll? Thoughts like I wonder who's going to attend my funeral.

It takes a lot of trust to drive a machine that you've never been on or worked on or fooled with and start going around the side of a mountain with it. Doesn't it? We do it all the time in just a minute. You're going to get into a car that's full of explosives in the back. You're going to drive down the road as it is floats inside your vehicle thousands of times. You're going to drive at a high rate of speed. With other people that can't drive a lick driving at a high rate of speed with explosives in the back of their vehicles. And you don't give a second thought to it. Do you?

You don't give a second thought to that today for most of us. The people who will dig our graves are probably eating lunch right now.

You just get in the car and you trusted it's going to run but if you ever work on it. Do you know at this morning? Did you go out doing nothing bolt check on that thing before you got in it? But you trust it, right?

Jesus said

don't fear those who can kill the body but fear those who fear the one who has authority to throw you in the hell. now listen listen to me.

everyone trusts in something

I listen, we all know there's a baby crying.

everyone trusts in something

I'll make it one step closer to you. everyone trust in someone

talk in your own mind and in your own heart when you're living your life, you're trusting either in yourself to be good enough to get you into heaven. Scrap heaven for a second that you're trusting in yourself to be right before God your creator.

You're either trusting in yourself.

Or you're trusting in God.

Listen to what I'm telling you.

You will stand before God one day.

This will all be over.

And what are you going to say?

I was righteous. I wasn't like that other guy. I'm not greedy. I was faithful. I don't like the drug dealer over on the Brick Street.

Being good does not get you right with God.

To be declared right before God do must plead the blood. you must say

nothing in my hands I bring

Simply to your cross I cling. I have nothing. There's not enough good I can do. My good can't outweigh, my bad.

Nothing I can do to get you to declare me right and I can declare I'm right all day long. And I'm the only one who hears it.

Who are you trusting in?

Well the way I've got it figured and I don't I'm not. I'm pretty confident. We all fall into two categories number one. those who trust in themselves So if you're here and and you realize by the spirit of God the word of God in your heart you realize that I have put my trust in myself for salvation. I have put my trust in myself to be declared right before God. I have put my trust in myself that what I'm doing is going to be at the end if that you yourself.

And here's what you must do.

Repent and believe the gospel. Repent of your sins you say I'm sorry. You're you're the Creator. You're the Lord and I'm not.

And I'll follow you for the rest of my life. Forgive me. I plead your mercy.

And you don't trust in yourself Ellison?

You have to preach this to yourself every day.

And I text you the second category people. Maybe you're hearing. You're pressing yourself or salvation. Turn to Jesus. He's your only hope. second group of people for those who doubt because of themselves.

Maybe you're here and you doubt. maybe you're hearing and you you put your trust in Jesus you put all of your hope in Jesus and you know that the only way they will ever see Heaven the only way that your sins how horrible they are is ever rid of it is because of what God has done through and by his son Jesus if that's you but you struggle with this idea of assurance know this

it's only by the blood of Jesus your saved. And you're not any less save today because when you got up this morning, you kick the cat and you said something you shouldn't have.

Listen to Chris you start that stuff and they live with however they want to live. That's what I'm hoping.

Because when your heart's been changed, you can't live like you always lived before.

I know what it's like to look back into my past and say how in the world. Could I be made right with God?

I know what it's like to go in the evening by myself and mow the grass or to run or do whatever I'm doing and think you blew it.

Surely a man of God wouldn't say what you just said surely a man of God wouldn't wouldn't have that thought run through his mind surely. You would have that attitude. Surely. You wouldn't Miss Shirley wouldn't that and then we're reminded that the devil is the great accuser and he accuses you.

You see there's those who trust in themselves and those who don't trust it all. Because of themselves and I'm here to tell you today as your pastor. But if you believe in Jesus and you put all of your trust in him, not in yourself. And you follow him? He is faithful to the end. Why is that because he would have to deny self to deny you. And as long as Jesus is on the throne you and I Christian or okay. Where is my righteousness?

It's in heaven.

They should make us act different shouldn't.

Are you going to struggle this week? And I'm going to struggle this week, but know this the gospel is pointing you telling you believer. Hey on the cross. I am satisfied.

And for you that are not Believers may you have ears to hear.

We must live our lives persistently relying. I'm a merciful god for justification. He's our only hope. osprey father how grateful we are at the tax collector showed us exactly what to do to bleed to plead the blood of Accra Feist.

As our mind goes back to Leviticus 16 to think that an innocent animal.

was slaughtered for the disobedient and sins a people

But how much more that you would send your son to be the lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world? And that he would give his life freely.

So that I could go free.

I asked you God by your spirit, please.

Those that don't know you I asked you to draw them with repentance and Faith, but they leave here today different people not trusting in what they've done. Trust and wasn't doing not trusting in what they're going to do, but they're trusting completely on your son and for us who are in Christ.

I ask you father to teach us. a Shepherd like a father teacher throw a complete up on you. And what you've done on our behalf take these words and use them Father.

Your son's name.