Monday, November 4, 2024

LUKE 18:1-14. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

 



Jesus gave the parable of the widow and the unjust judge to teach us that we ought to pray always and not lose heart. The widow went continually to the judge who didn't fear God nor man to ask for legal protection from her enemy and after sometime the judge got tired of her and decided to give legal justice so that she won't weary him by her continuance coming. 

Jesus then asked whether He will find such kind of faith on earth.


Do you have such kind of faith that goes to God day and night asking for legal protection from our adversary the devil? Are there areas in your life that the devil have defeated you in which you know it is the work of the devil which he shouldn't legally occupy? Are you tired and going to the righteous judge day and night that you may have everything that Christ purchased for you on the cross? 


Have you become satisfied and allowed the devil to have some part of your life or do you continually seek God day and night that the devil will be driven out of your life? There is something more that Christ purchased for you on Calvary than you have already experienced. Search the scriptures and find everything that has been purchased for you and claim it in Jesus name. It's unfortunate that what many claim is not what God has promised and what God has promised we don't claim because we are blind. Search the scriptures especially the new testament; find out what the believers prayed for; what was their testimony; what did they major on; research!


Jesus gave a parable addressing those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others.

A Pharisee and a tax collector went to the temple to pray. The Pharisee prayed to himself; he said in his heart; 

‘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! I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’


But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, *the sinner!’*


We see hear how pride comes in; it is in comparing ourselves with others. There will always be people who you are better than in this life. The Pharisee compared his righteousness with that of others and begun congratulating himself. His pride made him despise others who were not as righteous as He.


Does your righteousness make you despise others? Do you despise those who steal because you don't steal? Do you despise those who commit sexual immorality because you don't? Do you despise those who take advantage of others because you don't do it? Do you despise those who don't pay their tithes because you pay all your tithes? Do you despise others because there is an act of righteousness that you do which they don't do? You are a Pharisee and God will not listen to your prayers despite all your acts of righteousness. If your righteousness or holiness makes you despise those who don't have it; you are a Pharisee of the first order and all your prayers are in vain until you learn to humble yourself.


The reason there is so much pride in our righteousness is because right in the beginning of our christian life we are not convinced that we are worst of all sinners and we deserve to go to hell. We think that God accepted us because we are good people and thus we deceive ourselves.


Have there been a time in your life when you felt that you were the worst sinner in the whole world and that you deserve to go to hell? No. That's why you are a Pharisee. You are very far from God and you'll never experience what the bible calls true holiness until you realise that there is nothing good in your flesh and that you are the chief of all sinners 


Paul after walking with God faithfully for 30 years, having planted churches and written scriptures and did many miracles said that He is the chief of sinners. The present test. "I am the chief sinners for whom Christ died. Read 1Tim 1:15.

He was not referring to His past life otherwise he would have said, 'I was' but he said 'I am' at the present when writing to Timothy. Have you seen the depravity of your own flesh? Have you seen that there is no sin that you are not capable of doing? Have you seen the corruption in your own heart? 

You have lived so far from God. Draw nearly and see His holiness and majesty.


The tax collector said He was 'the sinner' (NASB). He was the greatest sinner in the whole world. 


Until you see the corruption in your own flesh, you will be proud and despise others. There will be no brokenness and humility in your life and if course there will be no compassion on sinners and you will be useless to God. 


Ask God to show you the corruption of your own flesh.


You are blessed to be a blessing

Feel free to share

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

No comments:

Post a Comment

THE FEAR OF GOD

  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.   Wisdom will multiply your days and ...