WEBVTT 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:08.960 Please be seated. And then the Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, God I thank you that I am not 00:00:08.960 --> 00:00:19.219 like these other people, robbers, evildoers, adulterers or even this tax collector. This 00:00:19.219 --> 00:00:26.359 week's theme is sinning as well as we can and it may seem a bit of a bizarre title yet that's 00:00:26.359 --> 00:00:33.119 exactly what is happening in this morning's reading. Someone is sinning extremely well, 00:00:33.659 --> 00:00:41.159 extremely flamboyantly and clearly without shame. The very people who were gathered and 00:00:41.159 --> 00:00:48.239 listened to Jesus would have been shocked and totally outraged that Jesus would have even 00:00:48.239 --> 00:00:56.299 suggested that the tax collector was in any way worthy of forgiveness. You see in 00:00:56.299 --> 00:01:01.859 it's so easy, we can wrap our teaching can't we around a theme of being humble and certainly 00:01:01.859 --> 00:01:07.759 humility is one of the many factors that this scripture speaks to us about but in this parable 00:01:07.759 --> 00:01:14.739 there is so much more to discover, so much more in here as we look at this scripture as if Jesus is 00:01:14.739 --> 00:01:21.239 building up as he teaches his people that are gathered around him for the body blow that he is 00:01:21.239 --> 00:01:30.579 about to land them right in the centre of their religious piety. To some who were confident of 00:01:30.579 --> 00:01:37.739 their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable. We know straight away 00:01:37.739 --> 00:01:44.840 from this who this was directed at and here it comes. Two men went up to the temple to pray, 00:01:44.840 --> 00:01:52.900 one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. Now straight away the audience has probably already 00:01:52.900 --> 00:02:01.379 made their judgments. They've already judged the situation because this is a tax collector. What is 00:02:01.379 --> 00:02:09.740 he doing in the temple? What is this tax collector who we know, who we loathe, actually doing, stood here 00:02:09.740 --> 00:02:19.659 alongside our Pharisee. This man, this Pharisee, this righteous man along here, this religious 00:02:19.659 --> 00:02:27.439 pillar of the temple and our community. I don't know whether you're aware of Adrian Plass. He wrote 00:02:27.439 --> 00:02:34.520 a great book. It's called Bacon Sandwiches and Salvation and when it gets to P in here it says, 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:41.080 a pillar of the church, a pillar of the church, a person who is consistent and reliable in their 00:02:41.080 --> 00:02:48.700 commitment to the well-being of the congregation or a big thick thing that holds everything up and 00:02:48.700 --> 00:02:59.000 restricts vision. Interesting, isn't it? How people have made their judgment. A person here who is 00:02:59.000 --> 00:03:06.780 consistent in so many ways and in the picture that Jesus presents in this parable, we are shown these 00:03:06.780 --> 00:03:14.400 two extremes. Jesus describes someone who by all appearance gathered around one of the most holy 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:24.159 and devoted Jews, the Pharisee. Now Pharisees get a lot of negative press in the gospel stories, 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:31.460 so we might need to adjust our thinking just slightly about them to understand how they are being seen 00:03:31.460 --> 00:03:38.979 through the eyes of that early, early people that were gathered around Jesus. Pharisees were extremely 00:03:38.979 --> 00:03:45.500 devout. They were highly disciplined in their religious practices. A Pharisee was obedient to the law, 00:03:45.800 --> 00:03:53.719 even going above and beyond what the law required. The law required fasting on one day of the year, 00:03:53.719 --> 00:04:01.939 the day of atonement. A good Pharisee fasted at least once a week. And even, and the most religious Pharisees 00:04:01.939 --> 00:04:10.360 fasted on a Monday and a Thursday, in addition to that, for the sins of all Israel, as for their own sin as 00:04:10.360 --> 00:04:17.720 well. The law required tithing as well, but many made allowances for those who were poor, who were too poor 00:04:17.720 --> 00:04:25.360 to tithing as well. And so a Pharisee might give 10% of everything that he bought, as well as the 10% 00:04:25.360 --> 00:04:32.000 that he earned, in case the person who sold him the goods hadn't made their tithe, just to make sure 00:04:32.000 --> 00:04:40.200 that he was well with God. It's an interesting one here that the Pharisee in our story, within this 00:04:40.199 --> 00:04:48.159 culture, was indeed a pillar of the community, was a very, very, very holy person. 00:04:51.599 --> 00:04:59.800 Tax collectors, on the other hand, they were considered as liars, traitors, and cheats. 00:04:59.800 --> 00:05:07.540 I would like to say on record, if you work for the HMRC, at the moment, and you are listening to this, 00:05:07.600 --> 00:05:14.319 or you are a member, we love you. We love you as a church. We love you, especially if you are auditing 00:05:14.319 --> 00:05:22.080 and assessing our tax, because we have diligently, honestly, and generously filled in correctly every 00:05:22.080 --> 00:05:29.280 part and paid what we needed to pay. So when we mention tax collectors, we know this parable was a 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:37.099 long time ago. Before VAT, before personal tax allowances, income tax inheritance, the list goes 00:05:37.099 --> 00:05:50.279 on. Anyway, tax collectors in Jesus' time were considered as traitors, liars, and cheats. They were often Jews 00:05:50.279 --> 00:05:56.579 who had sold out to the Romans. They knew their community. They had actually sold out and agreed 00:05:56.579 --> 00:06:02.659 to take money, and they were not the most honest and accountable of people. In fact, they creamed off 00:06:02.659 --> 00:06:09.339 quite a bit for themselves. They would set the tax. The Romans would set the tax, but the tax collectors 00:06:09.339 --> 00:06:15.139 would add on a little bit extra for what they wanted and gathered in, because they knew the people, 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:20.500 and they knew. Maybe you came up and think, you can give a little bit more, stuff like that. 00:06:20.500 --> 00:06:29.279 But Jews considered tax collectors' practice to be highly unethical. And if a Pharisee was at the top 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:36.579 of your religious grading that we talked about earlier on, well, certainly the Pharisee was at the top, 00:06:36.920 --> 00:06:43.819 the tax collector was way at the bottom. So we get the picture that Jesus is presenting. 00:06:43.819 --> 00:06:52.300 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, God, I thank you that I am not like other people, 00:06:52.980 --> 00:07:03.139 robbers, evildoers, adulterers, or even like that tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I give a 00:07:03.139 --> 00:07:10.539 tenth of all I get. Can you imagine the crowd nodding? The people that were gathered around Jesus saying, 00:07:10.540 --> 00:07:18.840 yeah, we know he is so holy, because we've seen the way he lives his life. The Pharisee is portrayed as 00:07:18.840 --> 00:07:26.700 confident before God about himself and his own righteousness. He's not just a good Jewish believer, 00:07:26.840 --> 00:07:32.480 in fact, he is much better at being Jewish than other Jews. And the fact, the prayer reflects his 00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:42.360 religious prowess, especially in displaying his righteousness before others. Look at me, how good 00:07:42.360 --> 00:07:50.720 I am. His very posture looks righteous as he begins to recite a prayer of thanksgiving. And his prayer 00:07:50.720 --> 00:07:57.680 sounds a lot like the Psalm of David. And here, he probably even changed, as he prayed this prayer, 00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:03.939 he probably even changed his voice into one of those church voices that religious people often use. 00:08:04.400 --> 00:08:11.160 Have you noticed, vicars and others, when they want to make sure people know who they are praying to God? 00:08:11.160 --> 00:08:31.940 O Lord, Lord, you have dealt with me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanliness of my hands. He has rewarded me. For I have kept your ways, O Lord, and have not wickedly departed from you, my God. 00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:57.480 For all his rules lay before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me. I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from guilt. So the Lord has rewarded me to my righteousness according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. Amen. 00:08:57.480 --> 00:09:25.340 Amen. Psalm 1820, if you know your psalms. Important point. This Pharisee just doesn't recite a psalm. He prays, I thank you, God, that I am not like other people. You know, as he compares himself to rogues and thieves, and especially to this tax collector, he sees off in the corner, the Pharisee is proud of the sharp contrast between his good works 00:09:25.340 --> 00:09:29.600 and the evil he perceives and the evil he perceives and the evil he perceives and the evil he perceives not far away. 00:09:31.139 --> 00:09:38.639 So let's pause. Let's just pause at this point, because I had to really pause at this point in Scripture. 00:09:39.180 --> 00:09:47.220 Because in this season of Lent, I had to ask myself a deep, searching question. And it was a deep, searching question. 00:09:47.220 --> 00:10:01.600 And the question is, if there, is there a bit of Pharisee in me? What bit of Pharisee is in me when I come to worship? 00:10:02.940 --> 00:10:11.620 You know, maybe you're asking yourself the same question. You know, the question is that as we look at ourselves and the way we worship, 00:10:11.620 --> 00:10:19.919 the way we behave towards other people, the Pharisee was on home ground. He was in the place where he was in the temple, 00:10:19.919 --> 00:10:26.139 where he spent a lot of his time exposing his righteousness and comparing his lifestyle to others, 00:10:27.060 --> 00:10:31.899 comparing his goodness and righteousness against others. This was a comfort zone for him. 00:10:32.460 --> 00:10:38.639 He knew the rituals, he knew what he had to perform in order not only to please God, 00:10:38.639 --> 00:10:45.059 but to please himself in the sight of other people. Look at what's on the outside. 00:10:46.439 --> 00:10:49.220 But this Scripture makes me look at what's on the inside. 00:10:50.220 --> 00:10:54.519 You know, do we compare ourselves to others? Do we make our places of worship accessible, 00:10:55.120 --> 00:11:01.159 welcoming, open to all, those who are seeking whatever their state, dress, attitude and lifestyle? 00:11:02.939 --> 00:11:06.019 Are we tempted to take the moral high ground on occasions? 00:11:06.019 --> 00:11:10.860 Are there people we wouldn't welcome into our church or judge them if they did? 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:18.559 And are there people we wouldn't welcome because we've judged them and maybe the way they worship? 00:11:19.960 --> 00:11:25.000 It's a really interesting one where our preference is taken preference over God's will. 00:11:25.919 --> 00:11:29.439 You know, especially maybe I often find when it comes to music. 00:11:29.939 --> 00:11:31.439 You know, you hear the comment, 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:35.620 Oh, they're happy clappy. Ouch. 00:11:36.140 --> 00:11:37.240 What a judgment. 00:11:39.220 --> 00:11:44.080 You know, the Pharisee in us and around us, brothers and sisters, is never far away. 00:11:44.400 --> 00:11:45.480 And be on your guard. 00:11:45.820 --> 00:11:47.820 Because as the banner says here, 00:11:49.400 --> 00:11:50.320 above all else, 00:11:50.880 --> 00:11:51.960 guard your heart 00:11:51.960 --> 00:11:54.520 for everything you, 00:11:54.660 --> 00:11:55.880 everything you do 00:11:55.880 --> 00:11:57.120 flows from it. 00:11:58.040 --> 00:11:58.980 Guard your heart. 00:11:58.980 --> 00:12:05.320 Jesus then turns to the listeners to focus on the tax collector. 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:14.639 What is he going to say about this man who they are thinking is hardly worthy even to stand in the presence 00:12:14.639 --> 00:12:20.600 of this fine, upstanding Pharisee, let alone to be in the temple. 00:12:20.600 --> 00:12:26.800 But the tax collector stands at a distance. 00:12:27.560 --> 00:12:31.960 Something in there that says something about his contrite heart. 00:12:32.899 --> 00:12:36.379 He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and say, 00:12:36.759 --> 00:12:39.700 God, have mercy on me, a sinner. 00:12:40.080 --> 00:12:41.940 The contrast is stark. 00:12:42.940 --> 00:12:44.379 He stands at a distance. 00:12:44.519 --> 00:12:46.000 He can't even look up. 00:12:46.300 --> 00:12:47.879 He knows his need of God. 00:12:47.879 --> 00:12:50.720 He seeks compassion, not recognition. 00:12:51.659 --> 00:12:53.299 God, have mercy on me. 00:12:53.360 --> 00:12:54.740 Have you ever prayed that prayer? 00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:57.779 Have you ever been in that place 00:12:57.779 --> 00:13:00.960 where you've just poured it out to the Lord 00:13:00.960 --> 00:13:04.700 because you know that your heart is not right with God? 00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:07.259 I have. 00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:09.740 And it's a good prayer to have. 00:13:09.740 --> 00:13:17.620 Have you ever been in that place where you have thrown yourself literally on the mercy and love of God, 00:13:17.960 --> 00:13:23.580 knowing that his loving, compassionate arms of love, grace and forgiveness enfold you, 00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:25.659 that they are there for you? 00:13:27.519 --> 00:13:30.759 You know, it wouldn't have gone without notice to those listening to this, 00:13:31.019 --> 00:13:35.799 that the tax collector who prays the psalm also prays the psalm of David. 00:13:35.799 --> 00:13:38.120 He knows his stuff. 00:13:38.620 --> 00:13:40.039 He knows his need of God. 00:13:40.479 --> 00:13:43.899 He chooses Psalm 51, a prayer of penitence. 00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:47.459 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love, 00:13:47.740 --> 00:13:50.019 according to your abundant mercy. 00:13:50.439 --> 00:13:52.120 Blot out my transgressions. 00:13:52.599 --> 00:13:58.000 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 00:13:58.179 --> 00:14:00.359 It's really interesting, isn't it, 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:05.759 that my sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit and a contrite heart. 00:14:05.980 --> 00:14:08.180 And, O Lord, you will not despise that 00:14:08.180 --> 00:14:12.560 because there's something about honesty in there. 00:14:13.539 --> 00:14:15.680 The tax collector beats his breast. 00:14:16.060 --> 00:14:17.159 He bows his head. 00:14:17.340 --> 00:14:19.139 His sin is such a burden to him. 00:14:19.340 --> 00:14:22.159 He can't even get through the rest of the psalm 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:24.779 because all he can get out is, 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:26.519 have mercy on me, O God. 00:14:27.320 --> 00:14:28.440 Isn't that a prayer? 00:14:28.440 --> 00:14:31.520 Just have mercy on me, O God. 00:14:31.900 --> 00:14:33.940 How many people do we meet 00:14:33.940 --> 00:14:38.160 for that is whom their prayer or their life song. 00:14:38.560 --> 00:14:39.580 Have mercy on me. 00:14:40.180 --> 00:14:41.440 Have mercy on me, O Lord. 00:14:42.980 --> 00:14:44.180 The tax collector, 00:14:44.800 --> 00:14:47.880 consider the language of these two prayers 00:14:47.880 --> 00:14:49.400 that we're faced with today. 00:14:50.260 --> 00:14:54.600 Four times the Pharisee uses the word I as he prays. 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:58.920 He sees himself as the subject of each sentence. 00:14:59.279 --> 00:15:02.800 And everything the Pharisee says about himself is true. 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:05.879 He has set himself apart from others. 00:15:06.420 --> 00:15:08.600 He has faithfully obeyed the law. 00:15:09.060 --> 00:15:10.500 He really is righteous 00:15:10.500 --> 00:15:14.360 by the standards of first century Judaism. 00:15:15.139 --> 00:15:18.740 So before we condemn the Pharisee for his pride, 00:15:18.740 --> 00:15:20.879 it might be a good idea to wonder 00:15:20.879 --> 00:15:24.500 if we have prayed a prayer similar to that in the past. 00:15:25.539 --> 00:15:28.440 You know, how often might we have seen someone else 00:15:28.440 --> 00:15:30.519 down on their luck and said, 00:15:30.680 --> 00:15:32.779 well, there but for the grace of God go I, 00:15:33.820 --> 00:15:35.740 without doing anything about it. 00:15:36.360 --> 00:15:37.440 Or even worse, 00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:39.480 they deserve what they get. 00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:41.139 Ouch! 00:15:41.139 --> 00:15:45.080 It's too easy to judge the Pharisee 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:47.759 as prideful, self-righteous, and a hypocrite. 00:15:47.960 --> 00:15:50.279 The problem with limiting our understanding 00:15:50.279 --> 00:15:52.340 to such an obvious interpretation 00:15:52.340 --> 00:15:55.699 is that we end up sounding just like the Pharisee. 00:15:56.840 --> 00:15:59.559 Lord, we thank you that we are not like other people. 00:15:59.939 --> 00:16:02.500 We aren't like the hypocrites that we find elsewhere. 00:16:03.000 --> 00:16:04.899 We are so glad we're not like the people 00:16:04.899 --> 00:16:06.120 in that church down the road. 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:11.519 And when we start sounding like the Pharisee, 00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:16.600 it might mean we are starting to think like the Pharisee. 00:16:17.480 --> 00:16:19.639 The Pharisee's problems, he thinks he's righteous. 00:16:20.039 --> 00:16:23.240 He is securely grounded in his own actions and attitude. 00:16:23.560 --> 00:16:25.960 He is trusted in himself and in his own efforts. 00:16:26.600 --> 00:16:28.019 We may be telling the truth. 00:16:28.460 --> 00:16:30.639 He may be telling the truth about himself, 00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:34.680 but his prayer misses the truth about God. 00:16:36.120 --> 00:16:40.100 In contrast, the tax collector's prayer 00:16:40.100 --> 00:16:42.060 is that God is the subject. 00:16:42.980 --> 00:16:45.080 God is the subject of his prayer. 00:16:45.560 --> 00:16:47.860 God is the doer, the one who shows mercy. 00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:50.179 The Pharisee made himself feel better 00:16:50.179 --> 00:16:52.360 by comparing himself to someone else 00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:54.620 he considers to be less than he was. 00:16:55.200 --> 00:16:58.399 The tax collector also makes a comparison here, 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:00.700 but it wasn't to another person. 00:17:01.820 --> 00:17:03.940 The tax collector compares himself 00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:05.599 to the holiness of God. 00:17:06.119 --> 00:17:08.539 And he knew his sin, 00:17:09.199 --> 00:17:13.519 which opens up a door for God's confession, 00:17:14.239 --> 00:17:15.199 for God's repentance, 00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:17.519 for God's love. 00:17:18.879 --> 00:17:21.419 Once sinned well in his pride and judgment of others, 00:17:22.019 --> 00:17:24.379 the tax collector sought the forgiveness 00:17:24.379 --> 00:17:26.339 and remission of his sins 00:17:26.339 --> 00:17:28.259 and found repentance. 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:31.980 In the same place the Holy Temple stands, 00:17:31.980 --> 00:17:32.579 two men. 00:17:32.960 --> 00:17:35.379 Both men addressed God directly in their prayers. 00:17:35.819 --> 00:17:37.180 Both men quoted Psalms. 00:17:37.660 --> 00:17:39.119 Both men prayed about themselves. 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:43.839 But one put himself at the center of his praise 00:17:43.839 --> 00:17:46.660 while the others sought God's mercy. 00:17:47.299 --> 00:17:48.559 And yes, there is humility, 00:17:48.799 --> 00:17:52.019 and one could do with a large dose of that, yes. 00:17:52.019 --> 00:17:55.680 But the tax collector isn't so much as humble, 00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.480 he's desperate. 00:17:57.740 --> 00:17:58.740 He is desperate. 00:18:00.539 --> 00:18:01.759 The tax collector, 00:18:02.180 --> 00:18:06.160 he doesn't take time to divide humanity into sides 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:07.900 to sort out what is acceptable 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:09.700 and what isn't acceptable. 00:18:09.980 --> 00:18:13.099 He prays, he recognizes his own need of God 00:18:13.099 --> 00:18:13.900 in the moment. 00:18:14.139 --> 00:18:17.039 He doesn't stake his hopes on anything he has done 00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:18.139 or deserves, 00:18:18.579 --> 00:18:22.460 but entirely on the mercy and love of God. 00:18:23.379 --> 00:18:24.420 This is how I come. 00:18:31.039 --> 00:18:32.399 David Lowe writes, 00:18:32.539 --> 00:18:35.779 the parable is not about self-righteousness and humility 00:18:35.779 --> 00:18:38.839 any more than it's about a pious Pharisee 00:18:38.839 --> 00:18:40.839 and a desperate tax collector. 00:18:41.639 --> 00:18:45.279 Rather, this parable is about God. 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:48.160 God who alone can judge the human heart. 00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:50.639 God who justifies the ungodly 00:18:50.639 --> 00:18:53.200 when they ask for nothing more than mercy. 00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:56.859 I tell you, this man, 00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:59.420 rather than the other, the tax collector, 00:18:59.879 --> 00:19:01.920 went home justified before God, 00:19:02.240 --> 00:19:03.480 it says in our scripture. 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:07.259 For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, 00:19:08.019 --> 00:19:11.599 and those who humble themselves will be exalted. 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:15.419 At the end of the day, 00:19:15.519 --> 00:19:17.379 the Pharisee went home from the temple 00:19:17.379 --> 00:19:19.159 the same way he came in. 00:19:21.219 --> 00:19:23.279 He was righteous in his own eyes 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:25.240 and in the eyes of everyone who saw him. 00:19:26.199 --> 00:19:27.740 Nothing had changed. 00:19:30.219 --> 00:19:32.000 But the tax collector 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:34.480 experienced something different. 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:38.079 Jesus says when he left the temple, 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:40.420 he went home justified. 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:43.140 What does that mean? 00:19:43.420 --> 00:19:45.240 It means shown to be in the right, 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:46.660 to be acquitted. 00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:48.160 How did that happen? 00:19:48.559 --> 00:19:51.559 The tax collector made no sacrifice at the temple, 00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:53.799 no offering or restitution. 00:19:54.319 --> 00:19:56.819 The tax collector was made right with God 00:19:56.819 --> 00:19:59.660 by his prayer for God's mercy. 00:20:00.120 --> 00:20:01.559 That was his sacrifice. 00:20:01.559 --> 00:20:03.559 This is me, Lord. 00:20:04.119 --> 00:20:05.240 This is how I come. 00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:07.220 And that is how I am. 00:20:08.159 --> 00:20:09.779 And the Lord answered his prayer. 00:20:11.539 --> 00:20:13.179 The prayer didn't change God, 00:20:13.419 --> 00:20:15.419 but it did change the tax collector. 00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:18.940 I think it was C.S. Lewis that said, 00:20:19.039 --> 00:20:20.379 prayer doesn't change God, 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:21.460 but it changes me. 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:27.019 If the tax collector had kept praying from Psalm 51, 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:28.859 he'd have got to verse 8, 00:20:28.859 --> 00:20:31.879 create in me a clean heart, O Lord, 00:20:32.519 --> 00:20:34.799 and renew a right spirit within me. 00:20:35.599 --> 00:20:37.379 Cast me not away from your presence. 00:20:38.579 --> 00:20:41.559 Take not your Holy Spirit from me. 00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:45.740 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, 00:20:46.539 --> 00:20:49.039 and uphold me with a willing spirit. 00:20:49.899 --> 00:20:52.159 What a wonderful verse that is 00:20:52.159 --> 00:20:55.259 for each of us who come before our gracious God. 00:20:55.259 --> 00:20:59.400 Don Chester said of this scripture, 00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:03.160 it changes us into people with humble and grateful hearts. 00:21:03.660 --> 00:21:06.160 It changes us into people who care less 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:08.519 about having our good works recognized. 00:21:09.099 --> 00:21:10.819 It changes us into people 00:21:10.819 --> 00:21:13.700 who care more about loving God 00:21:13.700 --> 00:21:15.200 and loving others 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:18.359 than the way we love ourselves and our rituals. 00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:23.719 It changes us into disciples of Jesus Christ, 00:21:23.879 --> 00:21:27.579 who eagerly wants to participate in us 00:21:27.579 --> 00:21:29.539 and through us in his mission 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:31.459 to transform this world. 00:21:35.099 --> 00:21:38.779 So people, as we prepare to go out into the world this week 00:21:38.779 --> 00:21:40.619 in the power of the Holy Spirit 00:21:40.619 --> 00:21:43.719 to love and serve the Lord and the community, 00:21:43.859 --> 00:21:45.179 I'd like to ask ourselves, 00:21:45.559 --> 00:21:48.199 where is our heart when we came to worship today? 00:21:48.359 --> 00:21:52.259 How did we come to worship? 00:21:53.099 --> 00:21:54.479 Who did we come to meet? 00:21:54.619 --> 00:21:55.779 What did we expect? 00:21:56.799 --> 00:22:00.019 Do we expect to walk out the same way in which we came in, 00:22:00.379 --> 00:22:01.979 trusting in our own righteousness, 00:22:02.979 --> 00:22:05.619 or to go out changed and transformed people 00:22:05.619 --> 00:22:07.719 because we have met with Jesus 00:22:07.719 --> 00:22:10.059 and been filled afresh 00:22:10.059 --> 00:22:12.639 in that everything that he has to give us 00:22:12.639 --> 00:22:15.479 because we've been honest and open with him? 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:19.579 Have we come today with sin heavy on our hearts 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:22.140 and have cried out to him knowing the freedom, 00:22:23.180 --> 00:22:25.360 the freedom and the power that he can bring 00:22:25.360 --> 00:22:27.200 to wipe the slate clean, 00:22:27.319 --> 00:22:28.779 to make all things new, 00:22:29.140 --> 00:22:31.640 that flows not from us, 00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:33.860 but flows from the throne of grace 00:22:33.860 --> 00:22:36.839 to come and meet with each and every one of us. 00:22:36.839 --> 00:22:39.359 And that is the graciousness of God, 00:22:39.740 --> 00:22:41.519 to go be transformed 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:43.740 and love our neighbours as ourselves, 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:45.419 no matter what. 00:22:49.359 --> 00:22:51.079 Matt Redman wrote a song 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:53.399 that I think is so poignant to this parable. 00:22:54.220 --> 00:22:54.779 It says, 00:22:54.779 --> 00:22:56.839 I'm coming back to the heart of worship. 00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:58.559 It's all about you. 00:22:59.059 --> 00:23:00.720 It's all about you, Jesus. 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:03.500 I'm sorry, Lord, 00:23:03.559 --> 00:23:05.759 for the thing that I've made it 00:23:05.759 --> 00:23:08.299 because it's all about you. 00:23:08.960 --> 00:23:10.500 It's all about you, Jesus. 00:23:10.639 --> 00:23:11.920 It was written at the time 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:13.319 when they realised 00:23:13.319 --> 00:23:15.500 that people were flocking to Chorley Wood 00:23:15.500 --> 00:23:17.079 to hear Matt Redman 00:23:17.079 --> 00:23:19.500 and he realised that people were coming 00:23:19.500 --> 00:23:22.019 not to worship the one true living God, 00:23:22.019 --> 00:23:23.839 but they were coming to worship 00:23:23.839 --> 00:23:26.339 the worship band and the song. 00:23:28.539 --> 00:23:30.759 And Matt Redman wanted to put that right. 00:23:31.779 --> 00:23:33.720 So they made the courageous decision 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:36.200 that they laid down their some worship 00:23:36.200 --> 00:23:39.220 and then see how many people came 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:41.940 to meet with the one true living God. 00:23:45.180 --> 00:23:46.559 At the heart of us all 00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:47.400 lies preference 00:23:47.400 --> 00:23:49.079 that often has to be sacrificed. 00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:52.960 When we again make Jesus front and centre, 00:23:53.299 --> 00:23:55.439 we seek him with all of our heart. 00:23:56.279 --> 00:24:00.000 Open, humble, expectant, penitent, 00:24:00.699 --> 00:24:03.519 open to sharing his grace and others, 00:24:04.460 --> 00:24:06.119 opening to him our language, 00:24:06.399 --> 00:24:07.099 our openness, 00:24:07.839 --> 00:24:08.720 our hospitality. 00:24:09.599 --> 00:24:11.500 Lord, this is how we come. 00:24:12.220 --> 00:24:13.259 Fill us afresh. 00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:14.779 It's all about you, Jesus. 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.939 It's not all about me 00:24:16.939 --> 00:24:18.119 and it never will be. 00:24:18.119 --> 00:24:21.339 One left the temple 00:24:21.339 --> 00:24:22.719 the same way he had come, 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:24.579 righteous in his own eyes. 00:24:25.879 --> 00:24:28.319 But sometimes righteousness isn't enough. 00:24:29.539 --> 00:24:31.679 The one who went home justified 00:24:31.679 --> 00:24:34.539 was the one who had humbled himself, 00:24:35.299 --> 00:24:37.779 focused his attention on God's grace 00:24:37.779 --> 00:24:40.239 and was filled afresh 00:24:40.239 --> 00:24:42.379 having asked for God's mercy 00:24:42.379 --> 00:24:43.139 and new life 00:24:43.139 --> 00:24:44.419 and new beginnings. 00:24:44.420 --> 00:24:49.100 I'd love to know the change 00:24:49.100 --> 00:24:50.019 on Monday morning 00:24:50.019 --> 00:24:51.060 that happened. 00:24:51.300 --> 00:24:52.019 Well, it wouldn't have been. 00:24:52.080 --> 00:24:53.080 It would have been the other days, 00:24:53.180 --> 00:24:53.560 wouldn't it, 00:24:53.940 --> 00:24:55.019 for the tax collector. 00:24:55.759 --> 00:24:57.300 What difference will that make? 00:24:57.960 --> 00:24:59.019 Wouldn't we love to have seen 00:24:59.019 --> 00:25:00.420 what difference that made for him 00:25:00.420 --> 00:25:01.100 the next day? 00:25:02.560 --> 00:25:03.580 The question is, 00:25:03.640 --> 00:25:04.960 what difference will it make 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:05.759 for us tomorrow 00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:07.880 if we've changed our heart posture 00:25:07.880 --> 00:25:08.880 as we come this morning? 00:25:08.880 --> 00:25:11.860 I sensed, 00:25:11.940 --> 00:25:12.680 as I wrote this, 00:25:12.760 --> 00:25:14.460 this would be a significant moment 00:25:14.460 --> 00:25:15.920 in our Lenten journey. 00:25:18.380 --> 00:25:18.900 So, 00:25:19.120 --> 00:25:21.080 let's invite Jesus afresh 00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:22.040 into our lives, 00:25:23.320 --> 00:25:24.780 seeking to make his character 00:25:24.780 --> 00:25:25.880 more like his. 00:25:25.880 --> 00:25:25.920 Jesus, 00:25:26.520 --> 00:25:28.300 it's all about you, 00:25:28.400 --> 00:25:28.660 Jesus. 00:25:32.420 --> 00:25:34.000 Just hold that moment. 00:25:38.640 --> 00:25:39.460 Holy Spirit, 00:25:39.540 --> 00:25:40.340 would you come, 00:25:41.860 --> 00:25:43.080 would you bless your people, 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:45.020 would you renew 00:25:45.020 --> 00:25:46.340 a right spirit within us, 00:25:48.680 --> 00:25:50.140 or would you bless us 00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:51.040 and encourage us, 00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:53.640 would you empower us 00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:55.680 and enthuse us, 00:25:55.880 --> 00:25:58.640 would you excite us afresh, 00:25:58.820 --> 00:25:58.960 Lord, 00:25:59.980 --> 00:26:01.240 with all that you can do 00:26:01.240 --> 00:26:02.620 in us and through us, 00:26:03.240 --> 00:26:05.940 because it is all about you, 00:26:06.040 --> 00:26:06.280 Jesus. 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:12.320 Amen.