"Coming Back To The Heart Of Worship"

II. Look inward! Worship should involve self-reflection in the presence of a Holy God!.

The fact that you have not committed gross sins does not mean that you are better than the other person.

But here was this Pharisee who was very meticulous about following the blueprint and he followed it to the very detail. But in his own eyes he thought that he was better than the others. He looked down upon this publican. So we need to look at the answer, the third contrast. Here was a Pharisee who read his Bible, who prayed four times daily (because the Pharisees were known to pray four times a day: 9 o’clock, 12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, and 6 o’clock. He fasted twice a week. He paid tithe. He was very faithful in tithe paying; these are all good things. In fact, Jesus said, “These you ought to have done.” quoted from:he Parables of Jesus

by E.H. ‘Jack’ Sequeira

As we begin a new year we should pray, read your Bibles, come to church, help with the needs our church and community…

But there is only one measuring stick of righteousness — Jesus Christ — and when you and I stand before Jesus Christ, the more we recognize His righteousness, the more sinful we will realize that we are. There is no way that we could ever reach the righteousness of Christ. In word, in action, He is absolutely perfect.

Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

The second part of Isaiah 6-- the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”

ILL: Kids say she/he had his eyes open when we were praying! Look inward!

WE MAY THINK WE WORSHIP IS ABOUT US: After the dinner, the speaker and master of ceremonies were standing in the lobby greeting the people who had attended. A six-year-old boy ran up to the speaker and said, “Your speech stunk.” Embarrassed, the master of ceremonies asked the boy to run along. But the boy ran right up to the speaker again and said, “We’ve heard all your jokes before; they’re not even funny.”

Embarrassed, the master of ceremonies again asked the boy to run along. But he ran right up to the speaker again and said, “I bet you they never invite you back.” Just then the boy’s mother, who was standing a short distance away, saw what was happening. She ran up to the speaker and quickly said, “Please forgive my son. I have no idea what he said to you. But he is only six years old, and he is just at the age where he repeats what everyone else says.”

WE LOVE TO KEEP THE APPEARANCE THAT WE HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER!