Walking Before God in Humility | Matthew 18:19

[00:00:00] We'll truth, Daily This is Daily Truths with Dave Ahlman Hi everybody welcome back to Daily Truths. Every once in a while in the scriptures you come upon a verse that scholars disagree on its meaning. Today is one of those verses. This is

[00:00:19] Matthew chapter 18 verse 19 Jesus said this again I say to you if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask it will be done for them by my father in heaven. Now is

[00:00:30] this talking about two people that get together and call upon the Lord and prayer and they agree with what they're asking and God grants what they're asking is this talking about the power of prayer or is this talking about people who have just dealt with

[00:00:44] public sin in the local congregation and they agree hey this was wrong this person needs to be excommunicated and so they do that and God is endorsing and validating in heaven the decision they've made. Is that what this means? I'm not really sure but what this

[00:01:01] means for us in a practical way since I highly doubt if any of you have been excommunicated from your congregation what does this mean for us that we consistently walk before God with a humble heart and an attitude of repentance. In Luke chapter 18 there's a powerful story

[00:01:21] about the public in in the Pharisee maybe it's Luke 19 public in and the Pharisee the public in was like a tax collector but the Pharisee prayed first and this is what he said

[00:01:32] God I thank you that I'm not like other men. I look around and I see a lot of sinners around me and I'm not like that and he says this robbers, evil doers, adulters especially

[00:01:43] God I thank you that I'm not like this guy next to me. This tax collector I fast twice a week and I give a tenth back to you of all that I ever get. Wow filled with arrogance right?

[00:01:55] But the public in said God he stood at a distance beat his heart didn't even feel worthy to look up towards heaven and he said God be merciful to me a sinner. I want to ask you which

[00:02:06] person are you are we more like the Pharisee or the public in? What the Lord is telling us and these last few verses that we've looked at is to walk before the Lord before the Christian congregation in humility and repentance never be above correction or

[00:02:23] rebuking or someone saying you know what you're messing up you're falling away from God. You're distant from God you're sitting against him to never be so arrogant or prideful that we're not willing to listen to the admonition of another brother a sister in Christ.

[00:02:40] We need to walk before God with humility and repentance and the amazing thing is when we repent of our sin God is faithful and just and forgive us and cleanses us from all and righteousness. I remember a movie I saw for some 55 years ago, wow Pastor Dave that

[00:02:57] means you're really old yes I am. The name of the movie was cool and Luke and I don't know it was starred it starred Paul Newman and Paul Newman did something he shouldn't have

[00:03:09] done in the warden I think it was in prison and the warden of the prison looked at Paul Newman's character and said this what we'll have here is a failure to communicate. The reason

[00:03:22] I quote that movie is God never wants us to fail to communicate to him our sinfulness and our willingness to walk in his ways and so we do that we don't fail to communicate we communicate

[00:03:34] on a daily basis God I am a sinner I need your grace help me to walk in humility and obedience before you and let me never be a bovry approach from the local congregation if I'm going

[00:03:47] in an errand abhorrent sinful way let me be open to rebuking a correction because I'm a part of the body of Christ right so have a wonderful day recognize your sin I recognize mine

[00:04:01] recognize your sin humbly repent of it and receive the grace the forgiveness that only God can give you through and with and under the love of his son Jesus Christ our Lord have a wonderful day in Christ and that is today's daily truth.

[00:04:20] Thank you for tuning in to daily truths with Dave Olman. Pastor Dave Olman is the pastor of Mount Hope Church in Boulder, Colorado. If you feel led would you consider giving to this ministry your tax deductible donation helps us continue sharing the gospel with

[00:04:34] as many people as possible simply click the link in the description below so come back tomorrow for your next daily truth