Bible Lesson: Answered Prayer: A
Tax Collector Begs God For Mercy.
Subject Of Prayer: A Publican Prays
In Humility.
Bible Text:
Luke 18:9-14 NLT Parable of the
Pharisee and Tax Collector
9 Then Jesus told this story to some
who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned
everyone else:
10 “Two men went to the Temple to
pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood by himself and
prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like
everyone else. For I don’t cheat, I don’t sin, and I don’t
commit adultery. I’m certainly not like that tax collector!
12 I fast twice a week, and I give
you a tenth of my income.’
13 “But the tax collector stood at
a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed.
Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful
to me, for I am a sinner.’
14 I tell you, this sinner, not the
Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt
themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be
exalted.”
Collectors of the
Roman tax were called Publicans, so we see two distinct individuals
at the temple to pray, a Publican and a Pharisee. Life has not
changed much in 2000 years, in the church today, those who confess their sins and are truly repent,
trusting in the love and mercy of God for their salvation, and those
who proudly trust in their own good works for redemption, still
exist.
Both are religious,
yes, both are faithful in attending the temple, yes, both are given
to prayer, yes, both pray to The Living God, yes, but sadly there is
where the spiritual appearance ends.
Jesus told His
disciples this story:
Matthew 7:21-23
KJV (True Disciples.)
21 Not every one that saith unto Me,
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven;
but he that doeth the will of
My Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in
that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy
name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto
them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity.
QUESTION:
Prophecy, exorcism, wonderful religious works, where are these works
done?
ANSWER:
Within the church of course.
Jesus tells us that
not all the lost are out on the broadways of sin and debauchery, but
within the very church itself!
Romans 3:23 KJV
For all have sinned, and come
short of the glory of God;
Ephesians 2:8,9
KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves (Religious
Works Included): it is The Gift
Of God:
9 Not of works (Religious
Works Included), lest any man should boast.
Romans 6:23 KJV
For the wages of sin is death; but
The Gift Of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
In Matthew
7:21-23, These believed that their religious works, brought them
salvation (favor with God), but nothing could be any further from The
Truth! How do we know that? Jesus said so!
Matthew 7:23 KJV
“... I profess
unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that
work iniquity.
Why should these
religious workers within the church be call (by our Lord), Workers of
iniquity?
Didn't they do
wonderful religious works? Yes!
Didn't they
prophecy? Yes!
Didn't they perform
exorcisms? Yes!
But, these people
thought that their good works, “bought” them favor with God, and
The Truth is....
Ephesians 2:8,9
KJV
8 For by grace are ye saved through
faith; and that not of yourselves (Religious
Works Included): it is The Gift
Of God:
9 Not of works (Religious
Works Included), lest any man should boast.
And our Lord called
these proud religious workers, workers of iniquity because they
refused to bow, they refused to confess and repent of their sins, and
they refused to call upon The Lord for salvation.
John 10:1 KJV
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He
that entereth not by The Door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up
some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
I Corinthians
6:9,10 NLT
9 Don’t you realize that those who
do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool
yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or
commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality,
10 or are thieves,
or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none
of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.
Matthew 3:2 KJV
(Jesus said...)
"...Repent ye: for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matthew 4:17 KJV
From that time Jesus began to
preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand.
Repentance:
Deep sorrow,
compunction, or contrition for a past sin, wrong doing, or the like.
Regret for any past
action.
Dictionary.Com
These
self-righteous church workers were “workers of iniquity,” because
they were leading others astray by their example. Their example that
the way of salvation was merely by pious works, which is a doctrine
of devils.
I Timothy 4:1
KJV
Now The Spirit speaketh expressly,
that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving
heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Matthew 15:14
KJV
"...they be blind leaders of
the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the
ditch.
What a shame that
Jesus had to come all the way from heaven and die, when all one has
to do is to have: Church …
baptism
confirmation
communion
dedication
confirmation
membership
penance
light a few
candles, and make a few prayers to the saints
give an amount of
money
etc. etc. etc.
To be saved, and on
their way to heaven.
John 8:44 KJV
"...(the devil) was a murderer
from the beginning, and abode not in The Truth, because there is no
Truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he
is a liar, and the father of it.
II John 1:9,10
KJV
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and
abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that
abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both The Father and The
Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and
bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither
bid him God speed:
Hebrews 9:22 NLT
"...For
without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.
John 3:16,17 KJV
16 For God so
loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent
not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world
through Him might be saved.
John 14:6 KJV
Jesus saith unto him, I am The Way,
The Truth, and The Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.
Romans 10:13 KJV
For whosoever shall call upon the
name of The Lord shall be saved.
Ephesians
4:13,14 NLT
13 "...be mature in The Lord,
measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be
immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every
wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to
trick us with lies so clever they sound like The Truth.
The Pharisee, in
his self-righteousness and pride, was refused by The Lord.
The Publican, who
in confession, repentance and humility, asked for the mercy of The
Lord, was heard, and his prayer answered.
What an example for
us today.
The
God Who Hears And Answers Prayer:
Joshua 10:14
KJV
13 And the sun
stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged
themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of
Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not
to go down about a whole day.
14 And there
was no day like that before it or after it, that The Lord hearkened
unto the voice of a man: for The Lord fought for Israel.
Nehemiah 9:27
KJV
in the time of
their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them
I Chronicles
16:11 KJV
Seek The Lord
and His strength, seek His face continually.
Nehemiah 9:27
KJV
in the time of
their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest them
Job 22:27 KJV
Thou shalt make
thy prayer unto Him, and He shall hear thee..."
Psalm 6:9 KJV
The Lord hath
heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer.
Psalm 55:17 KJV
Evening, and
morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear
my voice.
Psalm 65:2 KJV
O thou that
hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.
Psalm 66:19 KJV
But verily God
hath heard me; He hath attended to the voice of my prayer.
Psalm 88:1,2 KJV
1 O lord God of
my Salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:
2 Let my prayer
come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry;
Psalm 91:15 KJV
He shall call
upon Me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will
deliver him, and honor him.
Psalm 99:6,8 KJV
6 "...they
called upon the Lord, and he answered them.
8 Thou
answeredst them, O Lord our God: thou wast a God that forgavest
them..."
Psalm 102:17 KJV
He will regard
the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.
Psalm 122:6 KJV
Pray for the
peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.
Proverbs 15:8,29
KJV
8 The sacrifice
of the wicked is an abomination to The Lord: but the prayer of the
upright is His delight.
29 The Lord is
far from the wicked: but He heareth the prayer of the righteous.
Isaiah 38:5 KJV
“...I have
heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears...”
Isaiah 56:7 KJV
"... for
Mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
Isaiah 58:9 KJV
Then shalt thou
call, and The Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and He shall say,
Here I am...:"
Isaiah 65;24 KJV
And it shall
come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they
are yet speaking, I will hear.
Jeremiah 29:13
KJV
And ye shall
seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your
heart.
Jeremiah 33:3
KJV
Call unto Me,
and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which
thou knowest not.
Zechariah 13:9
KJV
And I will
bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver
is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on My
name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is My people: and they
shall say, The Lord is my God.
Joel 2:32 KJV
And it shall
come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of The Lord shall
be delivered..."
Matthew 5:44 KJV
But I say unto
you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them
that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you;
Matthew 6:6 KJV
But thou, when
thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy
door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which
seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Matthew 7:7,8
KJV
7 Ask, and it
shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you:
8 For every one
that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that
knocketh it shall be opened.
Matthew 18:19,20
KJV
19 Again I say
unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any
thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father
which is in heaven.
20 For where
two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the
midst of them.
Matthew 21:22
KJV
And all things,
whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Matthew 26:41
KJV
Watch and pray,
that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but
the flesh is weak.
Mark 11:24,25
KJV
24 Therefore I
say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe
that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
25 And when ye
stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your
Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Luke 11:9,10 KJV
9 And I say
unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every
one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him
that knocketh it shall be opened.
Luke 18:1,7,8
KJV
1 And He spake
a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and
not to faint;
7 "...don’t
you think God will surely give justice to His chosen people who cry
out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off?
8 I tell you,
He will grant justice to them quickly! But when The Son Of Man
returns, how many will He find on the earth who have faith?”
Luke 21:36 KJV
Watch ye
therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape
all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before The Son
Of Man.
John 14:13,14
KJV
13 And
whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that The Father
may be glorified in The Son.
14 If ye shall
ask any thing in My name, I will do it.
John 15:7,16 KJV
7 If ye abide
in Me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it
shall be done unto you.
16 Ye have not
chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go
and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that
whatsoever ye shall ask of The Father in My name, He may give it you.
John 16:23,24
KJV
23 And in that
day ye shall ask Me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you,
Whatsoever ye shall ask
The Father in
My name, he will give it you.
24 Hitherto
have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that
your joy may be full.
Romans 10:12
KJV
For there is no
difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all
is rich unto all that call upon Him.
Ephesians 2:18
KJV
For through Him
we both have access by one Spirit unto The Father.
Ephesians 6:18
KJV
Praying always
with all prayer and supplication in The Spirit, and watching
thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Philippians 4:6
NLT
Don’t worry
about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you
need, and thank Him for all He has done.
Colossians 4:2
NLT
Devote
yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
I Thessalonians
5:17 KJV
Pray without
ceasing.
I Timothy 2:8
KJV
I will
therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without
wrath and doubting.
Hebrews 4:16 KJV
Let us
therefore come boldly unto The Throne Of Grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 10:19
KJV
Having
therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by The Blood
Of Jesus,
James 1:6 KJV
But let him ask
in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of
the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
James 4:8 KJV
Draw nigh to
God, and he will draw nigh to you
James
5:13-16 KJV
13 Is any among
you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick
among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them
pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of The Lord:
15 And the
prayer of faith shall save the sick, and The Lord shall raise him up;
and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your
faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be
healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth
much.
I Peter 4:7 KJV
But the end of
all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
I John 3:22 KJV
And whatsoever
we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do
those things that are pleasing in His sight.
I John 5:14,15
KJV
14 And this is
the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing
according to His will, He heareth us:
15 And if we
know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the
petitions that we desired of Him.
Revelation 8:3-5 NLT (Prayers heard and kept)
3 Then another
angel with a gold incense burner came and stood at the altar. And a
great amount of incense was given to him to mix with the prayers of
God’s people as an offering on the gold altar before the throne.
4 The smoke of
the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended
up to God from the altar where the angel had poured them out.
5 Then the
angel filled the incense burner with fire from the altar..."
