LUKE 18:10-14
GOD YOU THERE?
INTRO: WHY ARE SOME PRAYERS UNANSWERED?
1: PHARISEE AND A PUBLICAN
A)PHARISEE IS A PREIST
B) PUBLICAN IS A TAX COLLECTOR
C) TWO MEN OF TOTALLY DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND PROFESSIONS
2: TWO PRAYERS
A) PHARISEE PRAYS AND GIVES THANKS AND BOASTS ABOUT HIMSELF AND WHAT HE DOES
B) PUBLICAN HUMBLY BOWS HIS HEAD ASK GOD FOR MERCY
C) DOES GOD HEAR BOTH PRAYERS? YES HE DOES
BODY: SO WHY DOES GOD NOT ANSWER ME ALL THE TIME?
1: JAMES 4:3
A) CONSUME IT UPON YOUR LUSTS
B) GOD LET ME WIN THE LOTTERY TONIGHT
C) I NEED A BIGGER HOUSE
D) A NEW CAR
2: JUST BECAUSE HE DOESN’T ANSWER DOESN’T MEAN HE’S NOT LISTENING
A) GOD EMPHASIZES TIME AND TIME AGAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF WAITING UPON HIM FOR THE ANSWER TO OUR PRAYER
B) IN THIS DAY AND TIME YOU CAN GET A HOT MEAL IN MERE MINUTES AT MCDONALD’S OR BURGER KING
POINT: WE ARE TO IMPATIENT WE DON’T LIKE TO WAIT WE’RE A SPOILED PEOPLE AND WE THINK GOD SHOULD BE JUST LIKE OUR FAST FOOD HOT AND READY WHEN WE FEEL LIKE COMING THROUGH THE DRIVE THRU!!!!
3: YOUR FAITH HAS TO BE RIGHT
A) IF YOUR LOST GOD WILLONLY ANSWER ONE PRAYER FOR YOU
B) THE PRAYER FOR SALVATION
C) IF YOU ARE SAVED YOU NEED TO FULLY UNDERSTAND GOD’S WILL
D) SOMETIMES NO IS THE BEST ANSWER FOR US
POINT: HAVING YOUR FAITH RIGHT IS BEING ABLE TO GET GOD;S ANSWER ACCEPT IT AND GO ON YES OR NO, NO MATTER HOW LONG IT TAKES.
CLOSING: HOW DO YOU PRAY?
1: HUMBLY
A) JESUS SAID THE PUBLICAN WENT DOWN JUSTIFIED RATHER THAN THE PREIST
B) WHY? BECAUSE OF HIS HUMBLNESS
C) THE PHARISEE WAS TO BUSY EXHALTING HIMSELF TO SEE HIS OWN FAULTS
2: WHEN WE BECOME LIKE THE PHARISEE
A) WE MISS THE BIGGER PICTURE
B) LOST PEOPLE NEED TO SEE LOVING CARING CHRISTIANS
C) NOT SELF RIGHTEOUS SELF ABSORBED RELIGOUS PEOPLE
D) REMEBER WE ALL HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON SIN!!!
CONCLUSION: GOD HEARS THE PLEA FOR SALVATION FROM A LSOT SOUL. HAVE YOU BEEN PRAYING AND FEEL LIKE THEY JUST BOUNCE OFF THE CEILING? TRY A SIMPLE APPROACH
LUKE 18:13 GOD BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER.
