Lent – Day 22 – Bible Study – Prayer – Part 1
Monday, March 12, 2018
Lent – Day 22 – Bible Study – Prayer – Part 1
…For God resisteth the
proud, and giveth grace to the humble… - 1 Peter 5:5-11
In the Gospel today we hear the parable of the Pharisee and tax
collector. We are called to be humble, and to do so is to recognize our
identity - our vocation that God calls us to.
Here is a parable with special application to ancient or modern
Pharisees. The Pharisees were the religious leaders of their day and Tax
collectors were known for being corrupt. They were generally avoided by fellow
Jews, who put them on the same level as sinners and prostitutes. These tax
collectors were hated and despised because they were usually fellow Jews who
worked for Rome.
In this parable Luke 18:13 “I tell you that he will avenge them speedily.
Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find
faith on the earth?”, 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.' And returned home justified before God. Pharisees on the other hand held in high esteem by most. The
Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not
like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax
collector. He does not ask forgiveness for his sins, perhaps because he
believes he has nothing to confess. Listeners here would have expected the Pharisees
extolled and tax collector condemned. Pharisees counted his righteous deed to
God, but Tax collector cried for forgiveness. Don’t be like modern day
Pharisees, stay humble. Matthew 23:12 "And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and
he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.", 2 Chronicles 7:14
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and
pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I
hear." It’s an example of how Pharisees truly exceeded
the letter of the law in their piety. But their pride and contempt for others
reveals their true state of heart. The tax collector’s anguished confession
would be followed by result in keeping with his repentance. But justification
by faith comes independently of the work which that justification produce. such
works are the result and not cause of God’s accepting the sinners. James 4:10 "Humble
yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."
James 2:14-26
What doth it profit, my
brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save
him?
15 If a brother or sister
be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say
unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give
them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it
hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say,
Thou hast faith, and I have works shew me thy faith without thy works, and I
will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that
there is one God; thou doest well the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O
vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our
father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith
wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was
fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for
righteousness and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that
by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not
Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and
had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without
the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Jesus told this parable to show that we should always pray and
never give up. He teaches that, Matthew 21:43 “the kingdom of God will be taken away
from you (Pharisees) and given to people who produce the fruit of it (the tax collectors and prostitutes).” “Everyone who exalts
himself will be humble, and the one who humbles himself shall be exalted.” We are made in
God’s image and likeness. We are God’s children. This is our identity and our
vocation. When we put ourselves above or even below others, we reject this
identity - we reject who God made us to be. With this rejection we place
ourselves above God. Any praise or thanks that we give to God which we feel
places us above others in fact ends up only rejecting him over our vision of
ourselves. But only when we come humbly before the Lord, with the love that he
has given to us, asking for His mercy and forgiveness are we accepting our true
vocation. Our vocation is to live as God’s children. We are never alone, for a
child is totally dependent on his parent. We are called to live in communion
with him, always receiving from him his awesome love. His love will exalt us
and not our own, for in the end the only judgment which is truly just comes
from God. But at first
we have to accept that we're sinners. Even infants are also sinner because of
“original sin”. “The original sin” that Adam and eve did, disobeying God. So
our good work, righteous deeds didn't makes us righteous because we are born in
sin but our faith on Almighty God n His son Jesus Christ n the Holy Spirit. We
must not get confused between the works of the Law and the works of faith. One
cannot earn Salvation by the “deeds of the law” don’t be self-righteous. Romans 3:20 “Therefore by the deeds
of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is
the knowledge of sin.” n Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is
justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” any man should boast
but no one can take credit for his/her salvation. But that doesn't mean you
stop doing what is righteous, Satan hates it when you practice righteousness
for God's glory; don't let him stop you. Remember! do not live righteous
life just to get everyone's applause (that’s makes you self-righteous), but be
an example for next generation and for non-Christians. Spread the Gospel by
your daily life.Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in
heaven."
No one is worthy to enter The KINGDOM of GOD on the
basis of good works n self-righteousness, "For all
have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23 But because
of GOD’s great love for us, He has given us new birth into a living hope
through our LORD n SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. "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." John 3:16We are made right with GOD
by placing our faith in JESUS CHRIST. “Even the
righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all
them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come
short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his
grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the
remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time
his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which
believeth in Jesus.”
Romans 3:22-26
Almighty GOD, who is rich in mercy, made us free
from the all sins n the power of death through the blood of CHRIST “For
he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.”2 Corinthians 5:21,
"For the law of the Spirit of
life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."
Romans 8:2, ".....But now being made free from sin, and become servants to
God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. 23 For the
wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord." Romans 6:18-23,Hebrews 2:13-15, GOD has
removed our sins from us forever"And
their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." Hebrews 10:17that whoever believes
n is baptized in His name, GOD gave them the right to become children of GOD; n
they will be saved. "For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans
10:13 Then the Righteous will
shine like the sun in the KINGDOM of FATHER GOD.
All praise to GOD, the FATHER of our LORD JESUS
CHRIST.
Luke 18:9-14
And he spake this parable
unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised
others
10 Two men went up into
the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 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.
12 I fast twice in the
week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 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.
14 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.
1 Peter 5:5-11
Likewise, ye younger,
submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another,
and be clothed with humility for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to
the humble.
6 Humble yourselves
therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time
7 Casting all your care
upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking
whom he may devour
9 Whom resist stedfast in
the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren
that are in the world.
10 But the God of all
grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye
have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
11 To him be glory and
dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Psalm 51:3-20
For I acknowledge my
transgressions and my sin is ever before me.
4 Against thee, thee
only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight that thou mightest be
justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.
5 Behold, I was shapen in
iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
6 Behold, thou desirest
truth in the inward parts and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know
wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop,
and I shall be clean wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me to hear joy and
gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
9 Hide thy face from my
sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean
heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from
thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
12 Restore unto me the
joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
13 Then will I teach
transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
14 Deliver me from
bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation and my tongue shall sing aloud
of thy righteousness.
15 O Lord, open thou my
lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
16 For thou desirest not
sacrifice; else would I give it thou delightest not in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God
are a broken spirit a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not
despise.
18 Do good in thy good
pleasure unto Zion build thou the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then shalt thou be
pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole
burnt offering then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.
Hosea 6:1-6
Come, and let us return
unto the LORD for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he
will bind us up.
2 After two days will he
revive us in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
3 Then shall we know, if
we follow on to know the LORD his going forth is prepared as the morning; and
he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the
earth.
4 O Ephraim, what shall I
do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do
unto thee? for your goodness is as a
morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away.
5 Therefore have I hewed
them by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of my mouth and thy
judgments are as the light that goeth forth.
6 For I desired mercy,
and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
♥
We all sinned n deserve GOD’s judgment, but our loving FATHER, GOD sent HIS only begotten SON to satisfy that judgment for those who believe in HIM. JESUS, our LORD who lived a sinless life, loves us so much that HE died for our sins, taking the punishment that we deserve, was buries n rose from the dead according to the Holy Bible. If you truly believe n trust in your heart, receiving JESUS alone as your SAVIOUR, declaring (by Baptism) JESUS is The LORD n SAVIOUR, you will be SAVED from the judgment n spend ETERNITY with GOD in HEAVEN….
In The name of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.. Amen
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