The Two Men in My Life

Luke 18:9-14

Who is this parable directed to?

Trusted in themselves : Self confident

Despised others: Self conceited

Thought they were righteous: Self righteous

WHAT MAKES US SELF-CONFIDENT?

•Expertise• Experience

Leads to TRUST in one’s own ability

What makes us self-conceited?

A hidden arrogance that I am doing better than most others.

Leads to think of oneself as being TOPNOTCH

What makes us self-righteous?

“Not just that I am right (conceit), but that the other person is wrong (contempt)”.

Leads to wrong TREATMENT of others

The Two Men in My Life

• Pharisee• Publican

Eph 1:6

Significance and

Acceptanceis

found only in

JESUS CHRIST"To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved".

Intention vs. ImplementationRomans 7:21 - 24

I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

INVICTUS Out of the night that covers me, Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be for my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance my head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears looms but the horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul.

Inspiring but a terrible lie

William Ernest Henley

1. GET HONESTStop the deception

I will begin with ME

2. Get helpBe a disciple

I will go the throne of GRACE daily

3. Get a habitBe disciplined

I will pursue HOLINESS

2 Peter 1:3-9

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Our Take Away

• Get Honest : Stop the deception. I WILL BEGIN WITH ME.

• Get Help : Be a disciple. I WILL GO TO THE THRONE OF GRACE DAILY.

• Get a Habit : Be disciplined. I WILL PURSUE TRUE HOLINESS.