Cb07daf0 451b 4264 bda3 f4965f95f4be

Approaching God

In this sermon from Luke 18:9-14, Pastor Mike Brewer preached on how to approach God. Using the parable of the Pharisee and the publican, he warned that a person can say the name of God and still approach Him wrongly. The Pharisee came with pride, comparison, and self-righteousness, while the publican came lowly, sincere, and aware of his need for mercy. The sermon’s main structure was the haughty approach, the humble approach, and the happy approach.

The message pressed the Bible truth that God is holy and must be approached with reverence, humility, confession, praise, and sincerity. Pastor Brewer warned against pride, hypocrisy, religious show, wrong attitudes, and the habit of picking others apart. The publican’s prayer, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” was presented as the right spirit before God, and the sermon emphasized that the humble man went home justified.

For families in Ocoee and the surrounding West Orange area, this sermon is a helpful reminder that the Lord still receives those who humble themselves before Him. Victory Baptist Church in Apopka welcomes nearby people to attend Sunday Worship at 10 AM, Sunday Evening Worship at 6 PM, and Wednesday Bible Study at 7 PM as the church continues preaching the Word of God and pointing souls to the mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Questions and Answers

Helpful answers from the sermon Approaching God from Luke 18:9-14.

What is the sermon Approaching God about?

Approaching God is a sermon from Luke 18:9-14 about the Pharisee and the publican. Pastor Mike Brewer preached that God must be approached with reverence, humility, sincerity, confession, and mercy rather than pride, hypocrisy, or self-righteousness.

What is the difference between the Pharisee and the publican in Luke 18?

The Pharisee trusted in himself, compared himself with others, and boasted about his religious works. The publican stood afar off, would not lift up his eyes, smote upon his breast, and asked God for mercy as a sinner.

Why did the preacher warn about a haughty approach to God?

The preacher warned that a haughty approach exalts self, points at other people, and treats religious actions as a reason for confidence before God. He connected this spirit with pride and reminded the church that God resisteth the proud and giveth grace unto the humble.

How should a Christian approach God in prayer?

A Christian should approach God humbly, reverently, and sincerely. The sermon urged believers to confess sin, acknowledge God’s holiness, ask for mercy, praise His name, thank Him for His goodness, and come before Him with a clean heart.

What did the sermon say can hinder prayer?

The sermon warned that pride, hypocrisy, unconfessed sin, wrong attitudes, and picking others apart can hinder prayer. Pastor Brewer emphasized that prayer is not only saying God’s name, but coming to Him in the right spirit.

What does God be merciful to me a sinner teach?

The publican’s prayer teaches honest confession and dependence on God’s mercy. He did not come boasting about himself. He came admitting his need, and Jesus said that this man went down to his house justified.

What does it mean that the publican went home justified?

In the sermon, justified was explained as being declared or pronounced righteous. The publican went home accepted before God because he humbled himself and sought mercy, while the Pharisee was brought low because he exalted himself.

What is the main application of this Luke 18 sermon?

The main application is to stop trusting in self, stop tearing others down, and come before God with humility. The sermon calls believers to praise God, confess sin, bless His holy name, and approach Him as the holy God who gives mercy and grace.