Friday, February 23, 2007

"Also [Jesus] spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 'Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, "God, I thank You that I am not like other men -- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I possess." And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat 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 everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted' " (Luke 18:9-14).

IDEA: Prayer may be a form of denial.

PURPOSE: To help listeners examine the reason that they pray.

Is it possible to pray and not really pray at all?

Are you necessarily conscious that at times when you’re praying, that you’re not praying?

Jesus talks about that in the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector.

I. Prayer grows out of our need for God.

In the story, how does that manifest itself?

Do we pray when we have no sense of need?

How might you remedy that?

II. Prayer may actually be a way of denying that we have need.

Look at how the Pharisee prayed: "God, I thank You that I am not like other men -- extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I possess."

He prays about his virtues and thus masks his need.

Have you ever attended an all-night prayer meeting? What can go on in your mind as you pray through the night? Can the same act be an expression of need and a denial of personal need?

How do you think the Pharisee felt when he left the temple on that ancient afternoon?

Do you think there was any difference between the way he entered the temple and the way he left the temple?

How might we use prayer to keep God at arm’s length?

III. We can use prayer in such a way that we deny our true condition before God.

When we’re not honest about our condition before God, we will not meet God. Prayer that does not recognize our condition before God is false prayer.

The very act of prayer often makes me conscious of my need.

Sometimes it is a need for what I do not have and must have.

But other times I’m conscious that God has met my need and I give genuine thanks for His pace.

In both cases I recognize my need of God for the supply of grace.