WE HAVE BECOME SO USED TO CONDEMNING the proud self-righteous attitude of the Pharisee in the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican (Luke 18:9-14)... that we can hardly believe that the picture of him there is meant to apply to us... which only shows how much like him we really are. We are in danger of adopting the Pharisee's attitude when God is wanting to humble us at the Cross of JESUS... and show us the sins in our hearts that are hindering personal revival.

GOD'S PICTURE OF THE HUMAN HEART . . . .

WE SHALL NOT UNDERSTAND THE REAL WRONG of the Pharisee's attitude, not of our own, unless we view it against the background of what God says about the human heart.

JESUS CHRIST SAID, "FROM WITHIN, out of the heart of men, proceed... Evil Thoughts, Adulteries, Fornications, Murders, Thefts, Covetousness, Wickedness, Deceit, Lasciviousness, an Evil Eye, Blasphemy, Pride, and Foolishness." (Mark 7:21-22).

THE SAME DARK PICTURE OF THE HUMAN HEART is given us in Paul's letter to the Galatians: "The works of the flesh are MANIFEST... which are these: Adultery, Fornication, Uncleanness, Lasciviousness, Idolatry, Witchcraft, Hatred, Variance, Emulations, Wrath, Strife, Seditions, Heresies, Envyings, Murders, Drunkenness, Revellings, and such like." (Galatians 5:19-21). WHAT A PICTURE!

JEREMIAH ADDS THE SAME WITNESS, "The heart is deceitful above all things (that is, it deceives the man himself, so that he does not know himself) and desperately wicked; who can know it?" Through true brokenness and self-despair we will allow JESUS CHRIST to be our righteousness and holiness and all in all... and that is VICTORY!

"IN REFERENCE TO YOUR FORMER MANNER OF LIFE, YOU LAY ASIDE THE OLD SELF, WHICH IS BEING CORRUPTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LUSTS OF DECEIT." (Ephesians 4:22).