He told his next story to some who were complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance and looked down their noses at the common people: “Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee, the other a tax man. The Pharisee posed and prayed like this: ‘Oh, God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, crooks, adulterers, or, heaven forbid, like this tax man. I fast twice a week and tithe on all my income.’ “Meanwhile the tax man, slumped in the shadows, his face in his hands, not daring to look up, said, ‘God, give mercy. Forgive me, a sinner.’” Jesus commented, “This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face, but if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.”

Luke 18.9-14

If you’re Gonna Blow a Horn Blow a Trumpet for God

• When we are full of ourselves there is no room.for God.
• When we empty ourselves we’re in the perfect position to be filled with God’s Grace
• Pride is about my Glory Humility is about God’s Glory

The point of the Story:

To get what the tax collector got we’ve got to come to God the way the tax collector came.

• He came to God humbly
• He came to God helpless
• He came to God

Memory Verse

Jesus commented, “This tax man, not the other, went home made right with God. If you walk around with your nose in the air, you’re going to end up flat on your face, but if you’re content to be simply yourself, you will become more than yourself.”

Luke 18:14