Sermon THE PHARISEE HEART Introduction

How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (John 5:44, ESV)

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14, ESV)

THE PHARISEE HEART COMES IN TWO FLAVORS THOSE WHO THINK THEY ARE DOING IT WELL AND THOSE WHO THINK THEY ARE FAILING.

THOSE WHO THINK THEY ARE DOING WELL MANIFEST… 1. A heart that looks down on others 2. A heart that creates its own list of what it means to be good before God 3. A heart that Lives to receive glory from men and doesn't seek the glory of God- John 5:44

In the heart that looks down on others and creates its own list of what it means to be good with God … You are more aware of and reliant upon your current godly practices than you are the work of Christ.

What will they think of me? How am I doing? Christ, who could have looked down on us, became one of us so that we might be able to share His glory

It Lives to please men and doesn't seek the glory of God- John 5:44 Believing means letting go of earning one's standing before God. It means trusting in all that Christ has done, not in what we do

"The evil in our desire typically does not lie in what we want, but that we want it too much." Jean Calvin My life counts because…..

WHEN YOU DON’T THINK YOU’RE DOING WELL You are more aware of and shaped by your past sins than you are by the work of Christ You consistently feel under condemnation - “floating guilt”

Ignorance of justification leaves one vulnerable to condemnation - You lack JOY THE REMEDY FOR LEGALISM IS THE CROSS.

Our hope is not in trying to do what Jesus would do; our hope is in what Jesus did.

Your Pharisee heart will be your most dangerous trait …..when you don’t see it Your Pharisee Heart can be your most valuable asset …..when you recognize it