Jul. 27, 2025

GRACE FOR THE HUMBLE

Jon Meo

July 26-27, 2025

Luke 18:9-14

The Pharisee’s Prayer

The Tax Collector’s Prayer

Lessons for Us:

1) True Righteousness – Philippians 2:3-9

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name…

Hebrews – 5:1-4

For every high priest taken from among men is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can have compassion on those who are ignorant and going astray, since he himself is also subject to weakness. Because of this he is required as for the people, so also for himself, to offer sacrifices for sins. And no man takes this honor to himself, but he who is called by God, just as Aaron was.

Priest Forever – Hebrews 5:5-10

So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: As He also says in another place: “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek” who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement, loud cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly reverence, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest.

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2)  God Desires a Contrite Heart – Psalm 17:51

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—These, O God, You will not despise.

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3) Beware of Self-Righteousness – John 9:41

Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.”
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4) Grace for the Undeserving – 2 Corinthians 3:5-6

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter – but of the Spirit.  For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

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5) The Fruit of the Spirit – Hebrews 4:9-11

There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest.

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Conclusion:

“Do we approach God with pride, listing our accomplishments, touting our own spiritual “success” before Him and others, or with humility, acknowledging our need for His mercy?