Humble Yourself Before God’s Revival Moves

Jesus’ parable in Luke 18 starts with two men who come to pray, but it uncovers two completely different hearts. The Pharisee trusts in himself that he is righteous, and his prayer turns into a checklist of all the stuff he has done. His fasting, tithing, and religious effort become proof in his own mind that he deserves to stand before God. The Pharisee even thanks God that he is not like other men, while treating those men with contempt.

The image of children trying to jump over lava makes the point plain: nobody clears the gap. Some may jump farther, land softer, or look more graceful, but everybody still comes up short. Romans 3:23 says all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and the best a person can muster will never earn salvation. Christ alone was perfect, and Christ alone could become the sacrifice for sin.

The tax collector brings nothing to God except his need. His lowered eyes, his beating chest, and his cry for mercy reveal a heart that knows its sin. Jesus says that this man goes home justified, not because he has done enough, but because he humbles himself before God. God lifts up the person who quits trying to lift himself up.

Pride turns God’s work into personal credit. The Pharisee’s heart shows how easily religious people can take glory for what God has done and begin looking down on everybody else. Religion becomes dangerous when church attendance, serving, praying, or doing good things replaces a real relationship with Christ. A checklist can never do what mercy does.

Mary of Bethany gives a picture of the humble heart. Her expensive perfume, poured on Jesus’ feet, costs dearly and leaves the whole house filled with fragrance. Her lowered position before Christ stands in sharp contrast to the Pharisee’s proud posture. Mary does not protect her image, delay obedience, or calculate what she might lose. She pours it out because Jesus is worth it.

Revival requires that kind of heart. God cannot bring revival through people who are busy taking credit, holding onto their own righteousness, or depending on themselves. The call is to become like the tax collector and Mary: empty of self, humble before Christ, and ready to say, “It’s all about you. It’s not about me.” Christ must increase, and pride must decrease.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Nobody clears the gap alone The lava illustration shows that better effort does not equal salvation. Human goodness can vary greatly, but every person still falls short of God’s glory apart from Christ. Salvation rests on the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, not on who jumped farther than somebody else. [16:35]
• 2. Checklists cannot make anyone righteous The Pharisee had religious activity, but his heart depended on what he could list before God. Fasting, giving, serving, and attending church become empty when they are used to prove personal worthiness. Christ gives righteousness as grace, not as a reward for religious performance. [23:15]
• 3. Humility receives God’s mercy The tax collector does not defend himself, compare himself, or make excuses. His prayer is simple because he knows that mercy is his only hope. God lifts up those who come low before Him rather than those who try to stand tall in their own strength. [34:14]
• 4. Mary pours out what pride protects Mary’s costly gift shows a heart that values Christ above reputation, possessions, and public opinion. Her humility is not passive or timid, because it acts without delay and gives without holding back. Love for Jesus becomes visible when self-protection gives way to wholehearted surrender. [43:46]
• 5. Revival begins with empty hands Revival cannot be carried by people who are still clinging to their own glory. God moves through broken, messy people who know they need Him and who are willing to get out of His way. Christ increases where pride is laid down.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [16:16] - The Jump Over the Lava
• [17:18] - Two Hearts Before God
• [19:37] - The Pharisee and the Tax Collector
• [22:37] - Religion Is Not a Checklist
• [24:34] - Pride Takes God’s Glory
• [28:27] - Contempt for Other People
• [30:43] - Comparing Ourselves to Christ
• [33:40] - The Tax Collector Goes Home Justified
• [37:57] - God Lifts Up the Humble
• [40:25] - Mary Anoints Jesus’ Feet
• [43:22] - A Costly and Humble Gift
• [45:37] - The Heart Needed for Revival
• [47:30] - Christ Must Increase

Bible Reading

Luke 18:9-14
“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” [19:48]

Romans 3:23
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” [21:17]

John 12:1-7
“Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it.” [40:25]

Observation questions

1. In Luke 18:9–14, what details show the difference between the Pharisee’s posture and words in prayer and the tax collector’s posture and words?
2. What does the Pharisee choose to mention about himself, and how does he speak about the tax collector? [30:43]
3. According to Romans 3:23 and the “jumping over lava” picture, why does doing better than someone else still not make a person right with God? [21:17]
4. In John 12:1–7, what does Mary do for Jesus, and what reactions does her act of worship receive from Judas and Jesus? [40:53]

Interpretation questions

1. Why is the Pharisee’s prayer a warning that even good religious practices—giving, serving, praying, and attending church—can become a source of pride rather than worship? [23:01]
2. Jesus says the tax collector, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. What does this show about the kind of heart that receives God’s mercy? [34:14]
3. How does comparing oneself with other people create a false sense of righteousness, and why is Christ the only right standard for comparison? [31:00]
4. Mary’s gift was costly and public, yet Jesus defended her. What does her response reveal about valuing Jesus more than reputation, comfort, or possessions? [43:22]

Application questions

1. What are some “checklist” items you may be tempted to bring before God as proof that you are doing okay spiritually—church attendance, serving, giving, Bible reading, or something else? How can those good things become a substitute for depending on Christ? [23:15]
2. When do you find yourself most likely to compare yourself to someone else and think, “At least I’m not like them”? What would it look like to replace that comparison with honest humility before Christ? [31:14]
3. Is there a person or group of people you have been treating with contempt in your heart—through judgment, impatience, gossip, or assuming you are better? What is one practical way you could show them the mercy and love of God this week? [28:42]
4. The tax collector came to God with empty hands and asked for mercy. What would it sound like for you to pray with that same honesty about a specific area of sin, weakness, or self-reliance? [39:35]
5. Mary did not delay when she had an opportunity to honor Jesus. Is there an act of obedience you have been putting off because it may cost you comfort, money, reputation, or control? What step could you take this week? [44:08]
6. Where might you be taking personal credit for something God has done in your life, family, work, or church? How can you intentionally give God the glory instead? [26:02]
7. What would it look like in your daily life to pray, “Christ must increase and I must decrease”? Where do you most need to lay down pride and make room for Him to lead? [47:30]