========================================================================
  PHARISEES BOAST ABOUT THEIR ACCOMPLISHMENTS
  by Zac Poonen
========================================================================

Summary: To be free from Phariseeism, we must keep our work for the Lord
hidden and avoid boasting about our accomplishments.

Topics: "Humility", "Pride"
Scripture References: Proverbs 27:2, Matthew 6:1, Luke 18:11, Philippians 2:3, James 4:6

------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------

"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.

========================================================================
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/zac-poonen/pharisees-boast-about-their-accomplishments/
========================================================================