1. BIBLE PORTION READING

“ And He spoke this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others .Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 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. I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I posses. 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. 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”

2. HUMILITY

Jesus spoke this parable about prayer and the right kind of results when we pray according to divine requirements. We shall be rewarded by Him. There are two types of people who go to church to pray. One group of people who boast about themselves and others who humble themselves. This teaching on prayer is about “ Humility and Exaltation”. Proud people boast about themselves and despise others, speak bad about others. God remembers the despised, and blesses them, and chooses them for His purpose. Proverbs 22:4 says:“ By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor and life”.

Humility should be in our mind and also in the behavior we exhibit in our daily practical life. In a public people function , choosing less honorable seat is humility said Jesus. God looks at these people with compassion. Speaking simple humble words is humility. We should worship in the church with the fear of the LORD. What are the results? 1.Riches, 2. Honor, 3. Life

What a wonderful promise through God’s word. Jesus humbled Himself even unto death. Jesus demonstrated humility by washing the feet of His disciples. Jesus disciples were very humble disciples like their Master. Humble yourself and God will exalt you in due time.

3. Pharisee brags about himself

The 40 th parable in Luke 18: 9-14, is illustrating self righteousness and pride in religion. Pharisees were self righteous pride people. Our righteousness is like filthy rags. God’s righteousness is like best and costly dress.

8 things Pharisee bragged about: I do not pray with sinners, I am not like other men, I am not an exortioner , I am not unjust, I am not an adulterer, I am not like this publican( v.11),I fast twice a week, I pay my tithe (v.12)

We go to the temple ( church) to pray, and not to brag about ourselves. We should praise and worship the LORD in His temple. We should thank Him for what He has done. We should not compare ourselves with others, neither we should brag about ourselves.

4. FASTING, PAYING TITHES AND BLESSINGS

These spiritual disciplines are really beneficial to our spiritual life. For example, to fast a day ( drinking water only) in a week, really improves our health and an effective weight reduction procedure.. Similarly, by giving tithes to Him, God blesses us abundantly. We should not brag about this. The Scripture says in Malachi 3: 10: “ Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house and prove me now herewith, and I will not open you the windows of Heaven and pour you out a blessing, that thou shall not be room enough to receive it”.

Here are the 4 rewards of tithing:

1. Meat in God’s House- no lack of meats and money to carry on His work
2. Opening of the windows of heavens to pour out a blessing so great that there will not be room enough to receive it
3. Rebuke of the devourer so that he will not destroy crops.
4. Recognition of God’s blessings by all men.

Tithing brings all these wonderful blessings in your life and my life. But we cannot brag about this, to be justified before God. Similarly fasting. Have you experienced these blessings? If not, try fasting and tithing. Most importantly, we should pray with humility. That is what the publican did, to obtain God’s righteousness.

5. PRAYER OF THE PUBLICAN

Only 7 words to 34 words for the hypocrite but it brought results because of the plea was based upon atonement and not self righteousness: “ God be merciful to me a sinner”. ‘Be merciful’ Gr. Hilaskomai or to reconcile me through the atoning blood sprinkled on Mercy seat ( Heb.9:5;Rom. 3:25; Exo. 25: 17-21). Every detail of this humble prayer describes himself as sinner ( 1 Tim.1:15) and pleading the blood of Jesus Christ sprinkled on the mercy seat in the holiest place, to be justified ( just if you are = right standing with God). Apostle Paul acknowledged this concept and understood the purpose of the coming of the LORD Jesus Christ. I Timothy 1:15 says: “ This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief”.

Jesus changed him from a sinner into a righteous man. Everyone that humbles himself shall be exalted. The publican was justified by his actual confession and was exalted. Justification is covering the sinner with the precious robe of righteousness. The word of God declares in Isaiah 61:10 as:“ I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels”.

6. JUSTIFICATION

From the holy word of God, we are justified before God by 1. Humility,2. Faith,3. His blood, 4. Obedience, 5. Grace ( Romans 5: 1,9,19 and 21 and Lk.18:14). We are justified by faith in Jesus Christ as our LORD and Savior. And we have peace with God. The peace which passes all understanding. Jesus gives you His peace. We are being justified by Jesus blood, we shall be saved from wrath to come. The wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. Adam disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit and he died spiritually. But the second Adam Jesus obeyed the Father God unto the end of His life on the earth. Therefore, by the obedience of one man many shall be made righteous. Grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life. Yes, we are made righteous by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the message of Romans chapter 5.

7. MODEL AND REAL PRAYER

God Almighty, my Father,
I praise you, and come to your presence in the house of God through the name of your Son Jesus Christ and my LORD. LORD Jesus, I acknowledge that I am a worst sinner and chief sinner. Lord Jesus, please forgive my sins and wash me clean through your precious blood shed on the cross of calvary in Jerusalem. I believe Jesus died for me and rose again the third day. Jesus you are the resurrection and the life. Thank you Lord for making me righteous. I am a child of the living God, and I am a new creation in Christ. I am born again and saved. Thank you God. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

NOTE: I believe this message has blessed you spiritually. If you need prayer or spiritual help, contact me. According to Galatians 6:7-11, you can communicate with us with offerings. Thank you very much.

REV. C. PETER CHANDRAN, THE LIVING GOD MINISTRIES, No. 46/61, First Floor, Ravi Electronics, East Jones Road, Saidapet, Chennai 600015.India.
PRAY FOR 2014 MINISTRY:

100 CHURCHES BUILDING CONSTRUCTION all over the world

Helping as many Pastors as possible every month to plant churches

( In January 2014, by God’s grace, I helped few Pastors according to my ability)

Gospel Crusades, Conferences

( January 30 th 2014 Thursday, I preached in a Leadership conference in villupuram)

Christian literature

Mercy ministries- helping poor, orphans and widows and the needy.