The way to approach GOD in our prayer

“I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.”
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Luke‬ ‭18‬:‭14‬-‭19‬ ‭KJV‬‬ - This verse is used as reference of Justification by Faith.
But now we will look into it as our reference regarding PRAYING TO GOD.

In Luke 18, tells a parable of Pharisee and Tax Collector, to highlight the Virtue of Humility and .. the Dangers of Self Rigteousness in prayer.

Here describes two men (which by the way are two personalities who are dreaded  characters on the time of Jesus)
We have Pharisee. Who are these Pharisee?
They are religious individuals,  they dedicated all their lives as devotee to the traditions of Jewish Law. These Jews are Upright, Influencial leaders in Jewish society. They are the party who are bent in fulfilling the laws of the Father, loyal abider to the Mosaic Law and sacredness of the Temple.
By the way there are two religious faction during In Judaism,
the Saducees and Pharisee,
the Saducees are the elite among the Jews, highest form of jews, they believe in TORAH only, which is the first 4 books of Scriptures.
The Pharisee, on the other hand, are economic class group of Jews , they are scholars of the Jewish law, they are well educated of Judaism laws and traditions, who believe on resurrection , spirits and angels. They are highly regarded as teachers of Judaism.
Now we have Tax Collector,  also know as Publicans,
Tax collectors are jewish persons who were appointed by Romans to collect taxes for ROME —from the Jewish people, they are not paid by Romans, but they were allowed to take extra money to keep for themselves.
They were branded as Scums!, corrupt and traitors of Jews,  they cheat, they steal they extort to their fellow jews , they abused their powers by taking so much from Jewish people income, properties, hated by jewish ordinary people.  They were regarded so corrupt and sinners.
Ironically, we have a Pharisee by the character of apostle Paul
and a tax collector like apostle matthew.. BUT THIS IS NOT ABOUT THEM.
So let us listen to their Prayers.

LUKE 18-10-14
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
We have two Different prayer by two Different person.
In Pharisee, what do we see, ?
first he started with Good intentions, He thank God, but then it went —way beyond Centered about himself.. HOW?

HE SEPARATED HIMSELF AS DIFFERENT AND SPECIAL FROM OTHER PEOPLE THAT HE IS THE GOOD GUY, WHILE OTHER ARE BAD.

HE BOAST OF HIS POSITIVE ATTRIBUTES, ACHIEVEMENTS. 

HE BECOME SELF CENTERED….. SAYING I, ME, MYSELF.
Now Let’s Look on the Publican prayer,
1. HE IS AFRAID TO BE SEEN BY PEOPLE IN TEMPLE,
2. HE IS SO SCARED TO BE SEEN BY GOD.
3. HE IS SO RESENTFUL OF HIMSELF , SO PITIFUL , AS IF HE IS DIRTY IN THE EYES OF ALL.
4. HE IS CRYING INSIDE AND SEEKING OF FORGIVENESS ABOUT HIS BEING.
Brethren, what do we see in this message,
let us look on the way , we approach God when we Pray.
Do we pray like the prayer of Pharisee? Do we pray like a publican?

WHEN WE PRAY.
Do we boast when we pray, ? How humble are we ? when we approach God in PRAYER?
Do we even KNEEL BEFORE HIM?  Or just plain simply , short, fast, as if we are always in a hurry?
I have this conversation with a fellow baptist christian,
He said to me, You know I haven’t seen (name) in the church. They’re probably backsliders now, they dont even show respect ect ect..
I told him, brother, let us not be judgmental, we might not what is happening to him, maybe he’s going through a trial. Just like what happened to Job, one of the wealthiest, most faithful follower of God, but everything was taken away from him, Even though He had not done anything wrong…but the Lord is with Him ALL his life.

BUT IN THE EYES OF PEOPLE AROUND HIM, even his wife said ”…curse God, and die.” (Job 2:9)

We dont have the right , as CHRISTIANS to judge our fellow believers, or people , No matter HOW MUCH WE HAVE DONE in our faith … for we do not know what God is doing in other people lives..
Brethren, MY FELLOW BELIEVERS in the Lord, maybe at times we are becoming like the Pharisee attitude…
As a believer, we may ALWAYS PRESENT IN church,
we regularly GIVE our offerings,
we may be a songleader or a teacher in church…
BUT are we sometime JUDGING people?
do we LABEL people as Latecomers? GOSSIPERS?
do we BELIEVERS  as BACKSLIDERS?
Are we BECOMING proud of OURSELVES when we PRAY?
Bragging that we are SAVED while other are not ??,
Do we easily POINT FINGERS to LGBT,
DO WE LOOK DIFFERENTLY to others and non Christian?
In hearts and minds , are we judging them, IN THE EYES OF THE LORD?

Do we think like a Pharisee? ?
PHARISEE , ITS LIKE  —who feels more superior than others, because of the income we have?  Because we of the faith we have?
The education we have? 

The belongings we POSSESS now?  
We sometimes boast of our pride, to the point we try to separate US from others who are not in our LEVEL?
ASK YOURSELF, Deep inside …, Do we say to God, “Im not going to hell, I have been a CHRISTIAN for as long as I can remember, Im always present in Church , Im never BEEN late like others who are always late, I give my tithes, I am important person in our church.. I AM AN ASSET IN MINISTRY, —while others are not!”

Brethren, even we are already saved, or a believer, follower of Christ, ….
We must not BRAG because we are Christians and while others are not..  
to judge them their conditions, .. for if they dont have Christ, its because they are STILL blinded by the devil,
Let us be watchful being becoming A PHARISEE, A self righteous,
God says, ISAIAH 64: 6 But we are ALL as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;

What God want us when we approach Him IN PRAYER.. ??
IF WE WANT GOD TO BE INTERESTED IN OUR PRAYER, we must do it
The Publican way of prayer, 

1. 🟢We MUST ACKNOWLEDGE HIS DEITY, that you ARE TALKING TO A GOD, not just a person.. He as the Creator, and we are the created being.
‼️JOHN 1:26 - JOHN THE BAPTIST
but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose..
1 TIMOTHY 1:15- APOSTLE PAUL
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.‼️

2. 🟢We must remove any kind of PROUD, or anything to About ourselves.

3. 🟢We must have a humble heart, because God seek the deepness in our hearts NOT IN OUR MINDS.
IF OUR PRAYERS , THE INTENTIONS OF THE PRAYER IS FOR OUR PERSONAL GAINS OR ,  PERSONAL GRATIFICATION, GOD  IS NOT PLEASED TO HEAR THE PRAYER.
What DOES - 1 Cor 1:29-31 says…?
29that no flesh should glory in his presence.
30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Always keep in check , when we do our prayers, we should check our hearts, of any pride, no boasting of WHAT WE ARE NOW..  

Always approach God with fear about His Deity,
Show to Him the humbleness of your heart… in Prayer.

THAT’S —-THE PRAYER ..  GOD IS INTERESTED TO LISTEN

Written by one of our Brothers in Christ,

SeñorHoney Arroyo