Pharisees Boast About Their Accomplishments
To be free from Phariseeism, we must keep our work for the Lord hidden and avoid boasting about our accomplishments.
Zac Poonen emphasizes the danger of boasting about our accomplishments in the name of the Lord, drawing from the example of the Pharisees who glorified themselves rather than God. He warns preachers, especially, to be cautious of pride when sharing testimonies of God's work through them. Poonen highlights the importance of keeping our service to the Lord hidden, free from any hint of boasting, as God's grace is bestowed upon the humble.
Text
"God, I thank You that I am not a swindler, or unjust, or an adulterer. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.... (Luke 18:11, 12).
We face a great danger whenever we give a report of what the Lord has done through us. We must give our testimony for the glory of God - but we have to be ever so careful that we are not boasting about our accomplishments like the Pharisees did. Preachers especially are in great danger here. Many reports of Christian work that are sent by Christian workers in India to Western countries often have a spirit of boasting. Those workers are trying to prove that they are doing a great work for God - and possibly even subtly implying that they are doing a greater work than some other mission is doing in India.
There must be zero boasting about what we are doing for the Lord, if we want to be free from Phariseeism.
We must keep our work for the Lord hidden for Him alone to see. We cannot receive grace from God if there is even a smell of boasting in our lives - for God gives His grace only to the humble.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Danger of Boasting About Our Accomplishments
- A. The Pharisees' Example in Luke 18:11-12
- B. The Dangers of Boasting in Christian Work
- II. The Importance of Humility in Our Work for the Lord
- A. Keeping Our Work Hidden for God Alone
- B. The Necessity of Humility for Receiving God's Grace
Key Quotes
“We must give our testimony for the glory of God - but we have to be ever so careful that we are not boasting about our accomplishments like the Pharisees did.” — Zac Poonen
“There must be zero boasting about what we are doing for the Lord, if we want to be free from Phariseeism.” — Zac Poonen
“God gives His grace only to the humble.” — Zac Poonen
Application Points
- We must be careful not to boast about our accomplishments in our work for the Lord.
- Keeping our work hidden for God alone to see is essential for receiving His grace.
- Humility is necessary for us to receive God's grace and be free from Phariseeism.