It starts with self!
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This document discusses two stories from Luke 18 about maintaining faith and humility. The first story is about a persistent widow who petitions an unjust judge for justice, teaching that people ought to always pray and not lose heart. The second story contrasts a Pharisee who boasts of his righteousness with a tax collector who humbly asks for God's mercy. Both stories teach that the key is to rely on God through prayer and faith, rather than finding fault in others or exalting oneself. The conclusion exhorts the reader to focus on having faith in God rather than faultfinding, and to change oneself through humility before trying to change the world.
It starts with self!
- 4. It Starts with Self! Pr 23:7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
- 5. Faith vs. Fault Finding! • Lk 17:3-5 "Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. "And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him." And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."
- 6. The “Key” is Humility! • Mt 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” • Eph. 4:2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. • Php 2:3 Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves.
- 8. I. The Story! • Context is king! A lot has already happened & a lot of stories have already been told that lead up to our passage this morning. –The lost sheep, silver & son (Lk. 15) –The dishonest manger (Lk. 16) –Overcoming fault with faith (Lk. 17) • Now let’s read our passage (Lk. 18:1-14)
- 9. Two Stories to Help us Understand the Point! • Lk 18:6-8 & 14 Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. "And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?" "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."
- 10. II. The Strategy! • In the 1st story the strategy is that men ought to always pray and not lose heart! –Verse 1 shows us the purpose of these stories! • Let’s read the first story again together! –Lk. 18:1-8 • This judge doesn’t fear God or respect man! • Yet, the woman keeps coming to him, because he is the only one that can help her, she doesn’t give up!
- 11. Wicked vs. Righteous Judge! • If this strategy will work even on a wicked judge, what does that say about coming to the righteous judge? –Jesus often uses this comparison! –Mt 7:11 "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!
- 12. The 2nd Story! • Let’s now read the 2nd story together! –Lk. 18:9-14 • The strategy: God be merciful to me, a sinner! My standard is not others, but Jesus! –2 Cor 10:12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
- 13. III. The Settlement! • The “key” to the 1st story & strategy is to “pray with/in faith!” (Lk. 18:1 & 8) –Reliance & settlement on God is the real solution! “Don’t lose heart, have faith!” • The “key” to the 2nd story & strategy is to “seek mercy!” (Lk. 18:13-14) –Nobody will be saved outside of mercy & grace!
- 14. The Self-biases is Dangerous! • Rom 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. • The self-serving bias is people's tendency to attribute positive events to their own character but attribute negative events to external factors.
- 15. Conclusion: • Are we more focused on having faith in God or in finding fault in others? • Seek and you will find works both ways! What are we looking for? • If you want to change the world, then start with self!