1. Old Testament Joel 2:23 – 32

2. 23 “Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice at what the Lord your God has done for you. He has given you the right amount of autumn rain; he has poured down the winter rain for you and the spring rain as before. 24 The threshing places will be full of grain; the pits beside the presses will overflow with wine and olive oil.

3. Joel 2:23 – 32 25 I will give you back what you lost in the years when swarms of locusts ate your crops. It was I who sent this army against you. 26 Now you will have plenty to eat, and be satisfied. You will praise the Lord your God, who has done wonderful things for you. My people will never be despised again.

4. Joel 2:23 – 32 27 Then, Israel, you will know that I am among you and that I, the Lord, am your God and there is no other. My people will never be despised again.

5. Joel 2:23 – 32 28 “Afterward I will pour out my Spirit on everyone: your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your old people will have dreams, and your young people will see visions.

6. Joel 2:23 – 32 29 At that time I will pour out my Spirit even on servants, both men and women. 30 “I will give warnings of that day in the sky and on the earth; there will be bloodshed, fire, and clouds of smoke. 31 The sun will be darkened, and the moon will turn red as blood before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.

7. Joel 2:23 – 32 32 But all who ask the Lord for help will be saved. As the Lord has said, ‘Some in Jerusalem will escape; those whom I choose will survive.’”

8. Gospel Reading: Luke 18:9 – 14

9. 9 Jesus also told this parable to people who were sure of their own goodness and despised everybody else. 10 “Once there were two men who went up to the Temple to pray: one was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector.

10. Luke 18:9 – 14 11 The Pharisee stood apart by himself and prayed, ‘I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there. 12 I fast two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all my income.’

11. Luke 18:9 – 14 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even raise his face to heaven, but beat on his breast and said, ‘God, have pity on me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you,” said Jesus, “the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, was in the right with God when he went home. For those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great.”

12. Luke 18:9 – 14

13. Last Sunday = persist in prayer

14. Luke 18:9 – 14 Last Sunday = persist in prayer This morning = Be humble in prayer

15. Luke 18:9 – 14 Last Sunday = persist in prayer This morning = Be humble in prayer V9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:

16. Luke 18:9 – 14 “Be humble in prayer” V9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:

17. Luke 18:9 – 14 “Be humble in prayer” V10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray..

18. Luke 18:9 – 14 “Be humble in prayer” Go up to pray V10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray..

19. Luke 18:9 – 14 “Be humble in prayer” Go up to pray V10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector...

20. Luke 18:9 – 14 “Be humble in prayer” Go up to pray Two groups of people who pray V10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector...

21. Luke 18:9 – 14 “Be humble in prayer” Go up to pray V11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed.....

22. Luke 18:9 – 14 “Be humble in prayer” Go up to pray Stand with the rest V11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed.....

23. Luke 18:9 – 14 “Be humble in prayer” Go up to pray Stand with the rest V11 The Pharisee prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

24. Luke 18:9 – 14 “Be humble in prayer” Go up to pray Stand with the rest Focus on God – not others V11 The Pharisee prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

25. Luke 18:9 – 14 “Be humble in prayer” Go up to pray Stand with the rest Focus on God – not others V12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get

26. Luke 18:9 – 14 “Be humble in prayer” Go up to pray Stand with the rest Focus on God – not others Ask for God’s mercy V12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get

27. Luke 18:9 – 14 “Be humble in prayer” Go up to pray Stand with the rest Focus on God – not others Ask for God’s mercy 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

28. Luke 18:9 – 14 “Be humble in prayer” Go up to pray Stand with the rest Focus on God – not others Ask for God’s mercy Recognize our sinfulness 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

29. Luke 18:9 – 14 “Be humble in prayer” Go up to pray Stand with the rest Focus on God – not others Ask for God’s mercy Recognize our sinfulness V14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. sinner.’

30. Luke 18:9 – 14 “Be humble in prayer” Go up to pray Stand with the rest Focus on God – not others Ask for God’s mercy Recognize our sinfulness For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”