Meeting Jesus - Triumphal Entry

Well. It is spring time – that means Spring Breakers are here – and it means my girls are playing softball. Naomi has made the Softball team at Carolina Forest, and Jessica is playing rec league. For the last couple of seasons, I was able to help coach one of my daughter’s teams, but this year, I get to help out the team by simply serving as the Announcer at the Home Ball games. So – I am not coaching, just practicing embarrassing my daughter by using my “Announcer Voice.”

I like to watch the kids step up to the plate with their bat, and face the pitcher.  For one brief moment, each kid is standing alone at the plate, and all parents and players are watching them. When I was the girls age, I played Little League.  Whenever a good hitter went to bat, the coach of the opposing team would yell to his outfielders to “back up.” If they were a great hitter, the coach would tell them to back up to the fence. Whenever I stood up to bat, they always yelled, “Everybody move in!” Everybody would shift in.

The players and coaches responded differently based on who was at Bat. I wasn’t allowed to wear my glasses – and I had terrible eyesight. I couldn’t see the ball…

I could never tell if the pitcher threw the ball or was waving at his family…but I always swung the bat.

And the coaches and players knew it and responded appropriately.  Since I couldn’t hit the ball, there was no need playing defense deep. They knew I would always swing. They knew I would never connect and whether we realize it or not, people have an internal response whenever they see you and I today.  

When you walk enter a room. People have an internal response to you.

When you enter your home. When you arrive at work. When you walk into an office people will react and respond to you, based on what they know about you. 

I know that because, you and I respond and react to the people around us based on what we know about them…

• When you see an old friend, you might run up, grab them and give them a hug.

• When you see a friend you see every day, you might barely acknowledge them.

• If you see somebody you do not like, you might avoid eye contact with them…

That’s why it is so remarkable to see how people responded and reacted to Jesus when he entered Jerusalem.  

He had been changing lives. 

Working miracles. 

Teaching about forgiveness. 

Hope and second chances. 

For three years, he had been telling people about God’s love and care for them. He had been reconnecting people with God.  And, for three years, he had ticked a lot of the Religious Leaders off. As we have seen so far in our “Meeting Jesus” series, Jesus always seemed to rub religious leaders the wrong way. He got under their skin. He ruffled their feathers. He ticked them off.

The core of Jesus teaching was one way to a relationship with God…

The core of the religious teachers was hundreds of rules to get to God…

So, the Religious leaders had had enough of Jesus. 

In John 11:57 – the Religious bullies had made a public order that every Jew that saw Jesus must report where and when they saw him, so they could arrest him.

John 11:57

Meanwhile, the leading priests and Pharisees had publicly ordered that anyone seeing Jesus must report it immediately so they could arrest him. 

They had placed the highest level of a Jewish arrest warrant out on Jesus, and they made every Jewish person accountable to give the information to them. Jesus responded – by walking right into the Religious Leaders playground! They issued an arrest warrant – and instead of hiding and running – Jesus did something he had not been accustomed to doing – he made himself the center of attention.

We will begin reading in Luke 19.

Luke 19:28-40

28  After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. 29  As they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. 30  “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31  If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32  So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. 33  And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?” 34  And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” 35  So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on. 36  As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. 37  When they reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. 38  “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the LORD! Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!” 39  But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” 40  He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!” 

I love how the disciples and the crowd treated and honored Jesus. They didn’t know that in less than a week he would be betrayed, beaten, humiliated and paraded through town naked carrying a cross. They didn’t know he would suffer and die on a cross and pay the price for sin.

All they knew was that Jesus wanted to ride into town on a colt or a donkey – and they made it happen.  They borrowed a donkey.  They put their cloaks on it for Jesus to sit on. 

The crowd spread out their cloaks on the ground…and they called Jesus, KING.

They didn’t treat him like a King because he had told them to, they treated him like a King, because for three years, Jesus had treated each of them like they were a King. He talked with the tax collectors, prostitutes and notorious sinners not just because he loved them, but because they were important and had value. He healed the lepers, the blind, the sick, and brought hope to the brokenhearted because he loved them and they mattered to him.

Now, as Jesus entered Jerusalem, his followers had a chance to treat Jesus the same. 

Like ROYALTY.

During this time, a KING would enter into a town in two different ways. 

During wartime, King would ride into town on a horse. This symbolized to the town that King brough conflict. He entered the town on a horse, because he was going to defeat it. During peacetime, a King would ride into town on a Donkey or a Colt.  This symbolized the Kings intention were to bring peace, or continue the peace.  

If there were any rumors flying that the King was going to invade the land, the entering King put all fears and worries aside by entering the town on a donkey, and the people would rejoice.

Jesus desires to BRING you and I PEACE

This entrance stands out to me as one of the most incredible examples of courage in history. 

When Jesus entered Jerusalem…

JESUS DEMONSTRATED COURAGE AND DEFIANCE TOWARD RELIGIOUS BULLIES (John 11:57)

When I think about defining moments of courage, I think about TANK MAN. The man that stood in front of the line of invading tanks in Tiananmen Square and refused to move. I think about the United States Marine Memorial with Marines holding up the American Flag during WW2 at the battle of Iwo Jima.

I think about the men and women who rushed into the World Trade Center on Sept 11, 2001, to save the lives of strangers.

And, I think about Jesus entering Jerusalem. 

He knew there was an arrest warrant out for him. 

He knew what the religious bullies were planning.  

He knew one of his followers would betray him.

But, Jesus didn’t slip into Jerusalem at night in the shadows. He didn’t hide in a cart filled with supplies.  

He entered Jerusalem with the highest level of visibility possible. 

But…he did not enter Jerusalem as the Conquering King that brings war.

He entered Jerusalem as the King who brings peace.

Crowds of people gathered around him. Other gospel writers tell us that they waved palm branches in the air as they shouted “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”.

The religious bullies that tried to control people’s behavior had a “hero of the people” to contend with.  The people cheered. They hugged one another. 

They celebrated the CHAMPION who had celebrated them. 

They cheered for the one who had cheered them on. 

They socially elevated the status of the one who had elevated them. 

They BLESSED the one who had BLESSED them.

They brought words of peace to the one who had brought them peace.

So,

LIKE JESUS, BRING AND LEAVE PEACE.

Do you bring peace to others when you enter a room? 

Do you leave peace when you exit a room?

We have the ability to bring comfort, peace, hope and encouragement to those around us. We can use our words to help or hinder others.  We can use our body language to help or hinder others. 

Are you a peace bringer? 

Or, do you leave rooms in conflict?

Do you help make people better through words of encouragement or do you enhance conflict with words of division? 

Does your opinion matter more than others?

Does your opinion always need to be expressed?

Are you always right?

These questions are difficult for all of us.  As a parent, sometimes I feel like I make matters worse when I jump into disagreements with the girls at the house. Instead of making things better, sometimes I feel like I make things worse. 

I am going to ask a series of questions – and I want you to let the answers linger in your mind for a little bit:

• If you are married, when your spouse sees you, do they brace themselves for conflict or are they relaxed and relieved? 

• Children, when your brother or sister see you coming, do they hold their breath and wait for the insults to begin, or do they light up when they see you coming?

• Employers, are you harsh with the people who work for you and “rule with an iron fist” or are they motivated to work hard for you because they know you work hard for them?

• Parents, do you constantly criticize and overwhelm your children with their failures or are you searching for areas to encourage them and are you building in them a healthy biblical self-image?

The reason I ask these difficult questions is because:

PEOPLE RESPOND TO PRESENCE BASED ON PATTERNS

As people lined up that day to celebrate the arrival of Jesus in Jerusalem, they were celebrating, waving palm branches, cheering, and elevating his social status based on the pattern of life he had been living. Look at v. 37

Luke 19:37

As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen…

People responded to the presence of Jesus based on the pattern of his life. Crowds of people did not gather around Jesus because he was rude, selfish, and always had to have his way. People responded to Jesus based on the pattern of peace he had already demonstrated. So how do we establish a PATTERN of PEACE in our lives?  It will only happen when we:

CHOOSE JOY BECAUSE OF JESUS

He entered Jerusalem thinking about what he would soon endure. 

The betrayal.

The beatings.

The scourging.

The nails.

The cross.

He knew what he was going to have to endure, but he did not limit his attention to the pain.

Hebrews 12:2B

Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Although Jesus knew he was about to experience UNBVELIEVABLE pain and suffering, he focused on what he would experience AFTER the cross.

AFTER the hostility.

AFTER the embarrassment.

AFTER the public humiliation.

AFTER the shame.

His suffering would bring you and I forgiveness of sin.

His suffering would reunite the Creator with His Creation.

His suffering would bring forgiveness of sin.

His suffering would bring joy.

And that is what he focused on! He didn’t not focus on the pain, he focused on the joy. That is so hard to do.

When we walk through the hard of life. When we walk through the pain in life. When we walk through confusion, betrayal, and loss…its difficult to not see it. Its difficult to not see the hopelessness, the loneliness, the confusion and the pain. So see it – but also see what is beyond it.

Look beyond the hard to focus on the joy!

We can do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus.

Hebrews 12:2

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

If we want to be joyful when we walk through the hard, we keep our eyes on Jesus.

Jesus is the one who brings hope.

Jesus is the one who brings peace.

Jesus is the one who brings healing.

Jesus is the one who forgives.

Jesus is the one who gives second chances.

And third chances…

And fourth chances…

Jesus is the one who is the great life changer.

If you want peace, fix your eyes on Jesus.

If you want healing, fix your eyes on Jesus.

If you want forgiveness, fix your eyes on Jesus.

If you want another chance, fix your eyes on Jesus.

If you want to be triumphant, fix your eyes on Jesus.

Will I really get all that by fixing my eyes on Jesus?

I do not know for sure, but I know it is the only place to start.

Meeting Jesus - Receiving What We Give

In High School I had long hair, bad acne, and mostly did what I wanted to.  😊 I rarely studied for tests. I did my homework if I felt like it. With no effort, I was a straight B student. I was suspended from school for 15 days for going to school drunk on moonshine. Another time I was suspended for fighting.

One month after I graduated HS, I gave my life to Jesus.  I began growing in my faith, reading my bible daily, and living for Him.  After roughly FOUR years, I had a desire to go to College – but I didn’t know where to start.  Even though I had been out of High School for four years, I scheduled an appointment with my HS Guidance Counselor. 

I explained to her that I had given my life to Jesus right after I graduated…I was a Sunday School teacher, a youth volunteer, and I had served for one year as a church planter in Ohio…AND NOW…I needed some help and guidance from the only person I knew who could help me. My Guidance counselor looked at me and made a judgement based on my past life. She did not see the new life I had begun living. She only saw the Sophomore that came to school drunk on moonshine and threw up everywhere.  She did not see the SS teacher. She saw the boy that got suspended from school for fighting.

She only saw my past and politely said to me, “Joe. Some people aren’t meant to go to college…”. In that moment – I realized that some people will never let you move on from your past. But my guidance counselor is not the only person guilty of judging other people – I have been guilty of Judging others as well. And I bet you have too.

Luke 6:37-42

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38  Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” 39  Then Jesus gave the following illustration: “Can one blind person lead another? Won’t they both fall into a ditch? 40  Students are not greater than their teacher. But the student who is fully trained will become like the teacher. 41  “And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 42  How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. 

First, I want to make sure we understand what JUDGING is.

JUDGING IS NIT-PICKING THINGS THAT DO NOT MATTER.

Nit picking can kind of look like how my youngest daughter eats her food.  She will not eat her food if it touches something else on her plate.  All the food on her plate is going to get squished about by her teeth, smashed with her tongue, and digested by her stomach…but she won’t eat her toast if it touches her scrambled eggs.

That is nit-picking! Most of the time when we make initial judgements about other people, we judge them based on things that do not matter:

We focus on their hair style.  

Whether they have too many tattoos. 

Whether they do not have enough tattoos.

Their clothes.

Their educational level.  

Their occupation. 

Their former occupation.  

Their family.  

Their marriages.  

Their past lives.  

Whether they drink.

Whether they smoke…

That is nit-picking.

None of these things matter.  

As followers of Jesus, it is our purpose to LOVE GOD and LOVE OTHERS…and it is impossible to LOVE people if we nit-pick them to death. But this passage has so much more that we need to apply to our lives than judging others…

We can also learn…

WE REAP WHAT WE SOW, SO SOW LOVE GENEROUSLY.

Luke 6:37

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn others, or it will all come back against you. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 

Have you ever wondered why people criticize you?

Have you ever wondered why other people give you the elevator eyes?

Have you ever wondered why people gossip about you, spread rumors about you, and speak negatively about your character?

I have.

And – the hard truth in this passage is “we reap what we sow”. If I judge others, I get judged by others. If I condemn others, I get condemned. If I nit-pick other people – other people are going to nit-pick me.  

BUT – If I sow LOVE to others, I will receive love from others. If I sow grace and forgiveness, I will receive grace and forgiveness.

I have been told to wear certain types of clothes when I preach.  I have been told to wear a tie.  A suit. I have been told to wear Jeans, get a different haircut, shave my beard, grow a beard…

Nit picking others stinks – so sow love generously!

It is a very simple practical step of faith.  If we claim to be a follower of Jesus. If we have asked Jesus to forgive us for our own arrogance, our own pride, our own selfish sinful behavior, then as recipients of HIS GRACE we ought to treat all others with GRACE and KINDNESS. It only makes sense.  We have been forgiven – we ought to give REAL forgiveness to others.  We have been shown MERCY – we ought to show REAL mercy to others. So – we still have this little Judge living inside of us…so what do we do with our judgmental behavior? 

In verse 41 Jesus asked…

Luke 6:41

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own?

That means…

WE ALL HAVE A BLINDSPOT.

Within the last week I have seen three fender benders in about the same spot at 501 and Forestbrook.  Shifting lanes and merging with traffic is hard. Our minivan has a blindspot monitoring system.  If I begin to shift lanes and a vehicle is in my blind-spot, lights on my dash blink and a noise alerts me. While shifting lanes, I have to continually stretch my neck around to make sure that another driver isn’t in my blind spot.  My little cars f=do not have that feature.  I almost ran one driver off the road and cut off another driver who waved at me with one finger as he passed.

We all have BLIND SPOTS of sin in our lives.  Sin that other people can see from afar, but it is so close to us personally it is harder to see.

It could be bitterness. 

Resentment. 

Unforgiveness. 

An ambivalent attitude toward sin.  

An unloving spirit.  

A gruff and harsh tone with other people…

An addiction.  

A lack of self-control…

Are you aware of your blind-spot?  Are you aware of that speck that “log” in your own eye?  

Listen to what Jesus said:

Luke 6:41-42

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? 42  How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye.

We ought to be our own harshest critic.  

Instead of JUDGING others, we ought to JUDGE ourselves.  

We ought to examine our own heart. Our own motives. Our own actions. Our own lives. 

We should never ignore SIN when it begins to take root in our lives.  We ought to turn our nit-picking onto ourselves.  On a regular basis, we ought to sit down with a copy of God’s word that we can read and understand and allow it to speak to us and change us.

We should not fear being transparent and honest before God.  Jesus has already paid the penalty for your sin.  For my sin.  God is not going to punish you for your sin – we couldn’t bear it if he did.  Rather, as a follower of Jesus God desires to continue to bring CHANGE to you.  Regardless of your age.  Regardless of your past.

See – If I am a liar and I sit down with God on a regular basis – God is going to change me from a liar to an honest person.  His character is going to RUB OFF onto me.

If I am a drunk and sit down with God’s word on a regular basis – God is going to rescue me and sober me up. His character is going to sharpen me.

If I am a thief and sit down with God’s word – he is going to change and transform me.  His Character is going to gradually make me more like HIM.

As God reveals those BLINDSPOTS in my life and I confess and remove them – THEN I can help other people who have been where I have been.  

So can you! I believe God wants you to…

INSPIRE OTHERS BY CELEBRATING YOUR WINS.

I love the story of the OVERCOMER.  Maybe you are the overcomer. 

I love the story of an individual who has been beaten down by sin and by life yet somehow God has given them victory.  Those stories are inspirational and motivational.  If God can work in restoring “their” life, then maybe it is not too much of a stretch that HE is able to work in my life.  

You are the inspirational story that another follower of Jesus needs to read!  That marriage that God redeemed and rescued – somebody needs to hear how you and your spouse overcame.  

That addiction that God rescued you from.  There is an addict sitting in our church that needs to hear your story of breaking free!

That cancer diagnosis? That depression? That anxiety? Somebody needs to hear about your win!

Be willing to share your win! 

When you share your win, you share HOPE!  You help those who are struggling understand that they are not alone and that they too can overcome through the love of Jesus.

Consider getting involved with Celebrate Recovery.  They lean on one another in a non-judgmental way.  They celebrate wins together and they stick with one another through losses and failures.

Whether we share it in a sermon or on Social Media, countless people can be impacted through hearing your story of how God removed the log from your eyes.

Will you communicate how God has given you that second, third and fourth chance, open your mouth and begin to speak about His Grace in your lives to help others?

Meeting Jesus - Loving Our Enemies

I have four daughters, and my youngest Jessica is 9 years old. And she is just as sweet as my other girls were when they were 9 years old…Jessie is like Tigger.  She is full of energy, joy, and is always bouncing around. She smiles. She laughs. She brings a lot of levity to our home.

Jessie said something one night while we were eating that surprised us all. As we were enjoying our family night dinner, one of the girls mentioned that a classmate had “told-on” one of the other students for doing something wrong. Without hesitating, my sweet, innocent, Jessie Lee said,

“Snitches get stitches.” 

I could just imagine Jessie being part of the 3rd Grade Mafia on the playground at the private Christian school she attended…pounding her fist in her hand…and warning the other kids: “Snitches Get Stitches.” 

But – “snitches get stitches” actually reflects how many people feel today.  Maybe we get our feelings hurt, maybe somebody does something to us to intentionally cause harm and we think:

Since you hurt me, I am going to hurt you back... OR

Maybe, If you hurt me, I will ignore you.  

Maybe, If you hurt me, I will look the other way when I see you coming.  

Maybe, If you hurt me, I will smile and nod – but things will never be like they once were.

Or maybe, if you hurt me, I will humiliate you and gossip about you and tear you down behind your back.

We know quite well the Old Testament passage: “An eye for an eye and tooth for a ______”

Think about a toddler. When a toddler gets hit by another toddler, most of the time, they choose to hit back. Ask the toddler why they hit somebody, and they will typically say, “Because they hit me first…”

The toddler is not thinking about self-preservation or self-defense. They want to hurt the other kid because they got hurt. 

And, parents, grandparents, and everybody who has a pulse, we struggle with “paybacks” as well. We struggle with paying people back when they hurt us…

So, how do followers of Jesus respond when we get hurt?  

In Luke 6, Jesus was teaching and he said:

Luke 6:27–36 (ESV)

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. 

What is Jesus teaching us here?  Is Jesus teaching us that we are simply supposed to stand still and take it when we are hurt?  Are we supposed to allow “evil doers” to get away with the harm they have caused us? As a follower of Jesus, the first thing we need to understand about this passage of scripture is:

RADICAL LOVE OVERCOMES HATE, HURTS, AND HUMILIATION.

As always, it is important that we understand the context so that we understand the application. In the Gospel of Matthew, Matthew brought more clarity to this passage.  

Matthew 5:39 (ESV)

But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

Slapping somebody communicates they are insignificant, and you are not worried about their retaliation. A punch is designed to inflict more physical damage, but a back-handed slap is designed to cause deep personal hurt, shame and embarrassment. So…here is the message that Jesus wants you to hear.  Whenever you are deeply and personally hurt…when you are devastated, embarrassed and feel so ashamed somebody chose to hurt you…

When you are wronged - don’t pay other person back! Do not seek revenge…

Don’t grumble about them.  

Don’t take their private sin against you, and make it public.

Then, Jesus talked about TUNICs and CLOAKs…

• The tunic was a very thin garment worn under the clothes and closest to the skin. Most Jewish people had two tunics.

• The cloak was an outer garment worn during the day, and used as a blanket during the night.  The Jewish people only had ONE of these.  Anything more was considered excessive.  

Now it gets interesting.

If a person had been sued for their shirt and their coat…the law allowed that the coat and shirt could be taken, but the law also demanded that the coat be returned to the individual before night so that they had something to keep them warm. It was within the rights of every person to retain their coats.  The law insisted that coats were always returned to individuals… 

See, as followers of Jesus, you and I should be willing to lay down our rights and expectations so that others are blessed. Live with the mindset that everything you are entitled to, is in reality, entitled to others because God owns it all. That is Radical Love that loves our neighbor as ourselves. And Radical love overcomes hate, hurt and humiliation.

Then, Jesus goes on to explain why you and I as followers of Jesus are supposed to treat others with forgiveness and radical love.

The reason why followers of Jesus are supposed to demonstrate RADICAL LOVE to others is because:

GOD LOVES THE UNTHANKFUL AND WICKED – THAT’S ME.

The reason why we are supposed to be kind to those who hurt us, humiliate us, and hate us is because GOD LOVES the wicked and the unthankful. Look at verse 35:

Luke 6:35 (NLT)

“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 

I know that might surprise you if you are visiting today. You might expect the Pastor to stand up and say, “God loves the righteous. God loves the Holy people. God loves Christians.” 

That’s true…but 

God loves and shows kindness to the people who do not believe in Him.

God loves terrorists, murderers, and abusers.

God shows kindness to people who are not kind to others.

One of my Core Values is Uncomfortable Grace.  I  believe that followers of Jesus SHOULD give the same limitless grace they have received from God. That means we demonstrate radical love. Not paying back evil for evil. Not seeking to hurt others who have hurt us.

We should go out of our way to demonstrate Grace that sometimes makes us and others a little uncomfortable…that means we love others and forgive our enemies in such a way, that we see them as God sees us, without one single fault.

Colossians 1:21-22

This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22  Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. 

You were God’s enemy…but God showed kindness and forgave you and you now stand without one single fault because Jesus paid the price for your sin. According to Paul, you are already in God’s presence, and you stand before him without one single thing wrong with you. No faults. No sin. As a follower of Jesus, because of God’s Kindness, we want to forgive our enemy in such a way, that when they are in our presence, we see them without one single fault.

So…

ACT LIKE A CHILD & LOVE LIKE YOUR DADDY.

In verse 35, many translations read:

Luke 6:35 (NLT)

“…you will truly be acting as children of the Most High…”

Let’s take one more look at children and toddlers interaction with each other. One minute two kids can be playing together on the playground, the next second, they are fighting. then the next second, they are playing together again. Most children under 4-5 years old, do not hold grudges. They let go of their hurt quickly, forgive and move on…because they would rather play and laugh than fight and argue. That’s how we all need to be.

Luke 6:32–34 (NLT)

“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return. 

Jesus is teaching that even selfish, self-centered, people without Jesus can be kind, nice, and giving to those who are kind, nice and forgiving to them.

Only selfish people are nice to those who are nice to them.

Only selfish people love those who show to love them.

Only selfish people pray for those who pray for them.

Only selfish people give to those who give to them.

Only selfish people forgive those if they forgive them.

But the true mark of a follower of Jesus is love for all.  The more we learn to love others and care for others, the less you are going to be offended by them.  

1 Peter 4:8 (NLT)

Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 

So, let’s be like our heavenly father. Let’s act more like children. Let’s forgive quickly and love others deeply. Let’s be more like our Heavenly Daddy who created us.  Let’s show uncomfortable grace to all those who have hurt, humiliated, or hate us…

When we do, great is our reward in Heaven.

Meeting Jesus - Jesus Parties With Sinners

Some people believe Jesus is a republican, a democrat, or an independent. Some people believe that Jesus is like a Genie in a bottle–if you rub the lamp through prayer, you get whatever you want. Still, some view Jesus like a Mascot the church rallies around once a week.Over this next year, we are going to seek to understand who Jesus really was,what he was really like, and how you and I can become more like Him.

Jesus, Partied.

That’s right.

Partied.

Just before Luke 5:27, Jesus had healed a paralyzed man whose friends had brought him to Jesus. They climbed the ladder, ripped off the roof, and lowered him down to Jesus. 

Jesus said, pick up your mat and go home, and the man was healed.  He left celebrating, praising God and the people were all amazed. And as Jesus headed out of town, he ran into Levi the Tax Collector.

Let’s read:

Luke 5:27-32

27  Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. 28  So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. 29  Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. 30  But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” 31  Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32  I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.” 

After Levi decided to follow Jesus, he threw a Party with Jesus as the guest of Honor.  According to the Pharisees, Jesus was surrounded by low lifes they considered scum of the earth. Sexually immoral people. Corrupt tax-collectors. And according to Jesus response, Jesus seemed to enjoy being there!

Maybe it makes you more comfortable attended the party only to lecture the people. You want Jesus to be the chaperone. You want Jesus to have a clipboard with a list of rules. 

For many religious people today, it is easier to think of Jesus as the guy that shuts down the fun and laughter at the party with a devotional about sexual purity. While there is music, dancing, eating and drinking, Jesus is the guy running around separating dancers when they get too close. “Make sure there is room for the Holy Spirit.” or tapping people on the shoulder when they have had too much to drink.  He has his arms crossed, shaking his head “no”

Maybe you think Jesus would attend a party and probably ruin it. He is the Debbie Downer. He is like the preacher attending a Superbowl party that preaches a sermon at halftime instead of watching the commercials. But in the Bible, it seems that Jesus became known for attending parties. 

In John 2:1-2 Jesus attended a wedding and turned water into wine.

In John 12:2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus honor.

Jesus said in Luke 7:34 (NLT2) 34  The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’

In Luke 15:2 the religious leaders complained that he was always associating with sinful people and eating with them…

Jesus often attended parties, banquets, and celebrations. People invited him into their homes.

BECAUSE he was FUN! 

It’s not because he was a Debbie Downer or because he was there to place limits on the fun.

So Jesus partied often. He is the creator of LIFE and he enjoyed LAUGHING and Celebrating with people.

He drank alcohol – but he wasn’t a drunk.

He stuffed his face with good food – but he wasn’t a glutton.

He never sinned – but he ate, drank, and enjoyed the company of sinners.

Jesus was the type of person that many people had a glass of wine with. Now – let’s talk about the guy that threw the party. 

Levi would later become known as Matthew…

He would later write the Gospel of Matthew…

and historians tell us that Matthew would be stabbed to death in Ethiopia for telling people about Jesus.

Jesus changed Levi’s life.

BUT

He did not have leprosy. 

He was not paralyzed. 

He did not have a disease.

He was worse. 😊He was a TAX COLLECTOR. 😊

Tax collectors were viewed as the lowest of the low and the worst of the worst. 

They were greedy people that betrayed their own people by working for the occupying Roman government. With the enforcement of the Roman Military, a tax collector could charge as much as he wanted, give the Romans what they wanted, and keep the profit for himself.

At the toll booth, as people passed by they could be taxed any amount the tax-collector desired.  HE would observe the tiniest details about those that passed by…if they had a bag of money fastened to their belts…if they wore fancier clothes hidden under rags…they taxed per axel, per cattle, per wheel…

Because of the TAX COLLECTOR, the POOR were kept poor and the wealthy were PROVEN POWERLESS. That is why they were hated so much.

The Jewish people viewed them as traitors. The Romans did not respect them because they betrayed their own people. The Religious Leaders would not even allow Jewish tax collectors to worship! Levi was a wealthy, educated, and sharp businessman – but because he was a tax-collector he was never good enough for other people. Then, Jesus invited Levi to become one of his disciples!

So, if you view yourself as the worst of the worst, and the lowest of the low…you are just the type of person that God can use and the type that Jesus wants to hang out with! If you let him, Jesus can change your life! Because Jesus invited Levi to be one of his disciples, we find an important truth.

SAYING YES TO JESUS MEANS LIVING YES FOR JESUS.

28  So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. 29  Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them.  

Saying YES to Jesus is not just a one-time decision. Levi said yes, then he stuck with his decision to follow Jesus. 

All Levi had ever down in his life was TAKE TAKE TAKE.

Now, because he said yes to following Jesus, he would GIVE GIVE GIVE.

No longer would he be known as a greedy man – now he would be known for his generosity. The very first thing he did was to throw a party with Jesus as the guest of honor.  

This party – this was the mother of all parties! Eating, drinking, dancing, celebrating…because he wanted to introduce his old-friends to his new friend, Jesus. 

If you have recently become a follower of Jesus. 

Meaning. You believe that God created you and loves you. But your sins separated  you from God. You believe that Jesus paid the price for your sin. That he died on the cross and he rose from the dead and that one day he will return…and you surrendered your life to Jesus and said “YES.”

Keep living in the YES by introducing your friends to Jesus.  

Don’t abandon them. Don’t dismiss them. Don’t go out and find a whole new friend group. Sometimes new followers of Jesus are told they need to stop running with the people they once ran with. Keep those friendships!

I was told to stop running with my old friend because evil company corrupts good habits – and I walked away from many friendships I had with people because I was making new friends who were followers of Jesus.  I love those friends to this day – but I lost my influence with my old friends because I walked away from them.

Maybe that is what you experienced. People with good intentions wanted something more for your life and they were afraid that the crowd you once ran with you tear you down and cause you to lose your faith in Jesus. They had good intentions. They loved you. They wanted to see you grow in your faith…and were worried about you falling back into your old way of living.  

But – Levi seemed to do just the opposite.  

Jesus had shown Levi acceptance, grace, and mercy and Levi wanted his old friends to experience Jesus too.

So…my advice:

THROW A PARTY TO CELEBRATE FORGIVENESS.

What if you invited friends and family over to your home. The churched. The unchurched. People who understand the mission of Jesus and people who don’t.

What if you bought drinks, played music, smoked ribs, laughed and celebrated to the early hours of the morning…to celebrate FORGIVENESS! What if, while you were having a great time, you told them about how Jesus met you where you were, forgave your sins, and made you a different person? That would be AMAZING!

I want Beach Church to continue to reach people – so let’s have fun, celebrate, laugh and enjoy our relationship with God and with others – because life is too hard if we try to be live like the pharisees!

And while we celebrate forgiveness, we need to remember the lesson that Jesus tried to teach the Pharisees. 

As followers of Jesus, we need to…

TREAT SINNERS LIKE SICK PEOPLE IN NEED OF HEALING, 

NOT CRIMINALS THAT NEED TO BE CONDEMNED.

Like me, I am sure you have noticed that throughout the years, the church has hurt people “in the name of Jesus.”

Rather than treating sinners like sick people in need of healing, the church has treated sinners like criminals that need to be condemned. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus accused the Pharisees and religious leaders of being hypocritical, uncaring, and said they did more harm then good. My concern is that the way Jesus viewed the religious leaders then, is the way Christians are viewed today.

Do you know what unchurched Americans believe about Christians today?  According to the book UNCHRISTIAN:

85% of Americans believe Christians are hypocritical.

87% of Americans believe Christians are too judgmental

91% of American believe Christians hate homosexuals

And 75% believe Christians are too political

The Pharisees LOVED to condemn the tax collectors, the sexually immoral, and the notorious sinners of their day. In many ways, the church today has become known for condemning and judging those caught up in sin.

But Jesus partied with them!  

Jesus said:

Luke 5:31 (NLT2) “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 

Both Jesus and the Pharisees were in agreement that the people Jesus was with were sinners. But their approach to change their lives were radically different. The Pharisee approach was to condemn them, marginalize them, shun them, and to treat them as the worst of the worst.  Jesus approach was to talk with them, celebrate with them, and to show them that GOD did love them and that God wants a relationship with them.

The approach that Jesus took would lead them to life.

The approach of the Pharisees would push them further into sin.

By sitting down with the tax collectors and sinners, Jesus proved that God was not out to condemn or hurt people. It was a sign that he ACCEPTED and LOVED them.  He was not merely hanging out with them, but he was intentionally celebrating with them. 

So even if you have made the wrong choice and pushed people further away from God in the past, change. Choose to love your neighbor as yourself. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Choose to lead the world to a life-changing relationship with Jesus through your LOVE, not through condemnation.

Keep pursuing a relationship with God. Keep walking in obedience to Him. Never compromise your faith – but choose to love those that disagree with you. Otherwise, we look more like the Religious leaders than true followers of Jesus.

Meeting Jesus - Compassionate Faith

Some people believe Jesus is a republican, a democrat, or an independent. Some people believe that Jesus is like a Genie in a bottle–if you rub the lamp through prayer, you get whatever you want. Still, some view Jesus like a Mascot the church rallies around once a week.Over this next year, we are going to seek to understand who Jesus really was,what he was really like, and how you and I can become more like Him.

The book of Luke is so interesting because it’s a letter written by Luke reporting on the historical events surrounding the life of Jesus. It’s a beautiful, intricate piece of literature that reads like a well presented journal entry. I love journaling. It’s something that I do regularly every day whether in the book I carry in my back pocket or my work notebook that it’s my backpack, I love taking notes. I started seriously doing it, especially daily, during 2020 when I was stuck at home for a portion of the pandemic, the world felt like it was upside down but writing helped me focus on what was important, let go of stress and have something to look back on and get encouragement through the things Ive seen over the past few years. The biggest of which is COVID.

Though it’s not something that affects our every day life as much anymore, Covid still feels like a four letter word, depending on the day it legitimately felt like something that could wipe out the majority of the world all the way down to a mild inconvenience. We’ve all been affected, we lost friends and family and the world looks different now because of it.

I remember in 2020 when I tested positive and I thought I was going to lose my mind, we were just a few days away from Christmas Eve service and everything was falling apart as Tom and many of the band had also tested positive. Tom’s quarantine period was done before mine so that Christmas Eve Tom was the only musician we had during our service. I remember watching the live feed on my phone at my house as I laid in bed and feeling helpless, but we had volunteers jumping into areas they were not usually a part of to make sure that things went as smoothly as they could. So many people wanted to help in some way.

I’m reminded of all the food distributions that we were involved in both here on our campus but also partnering with other churches and civic communities around the Grand Strand. I’m reminded of the worship nights we had outside in the parking lot staying distant but together. I’m reminded of the numerous blood drives that were held here in Adventure Beach as there was a shortage across the country. I think of those that gave their time and resources to help others in need.

Those actions are examples of “COMPASSION.” 

When we see other people suffering, and we say…I want to help somehow, and we do something to help bring relief to the people suffering – that is COMPASSION.

In today’s passage of scripture, we find a very clear example of COMPASSION among people who believed Jesus was able to work miracles.

Luke 5:17-26

17  One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. 18  Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, 19  but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20  Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” 21  But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” 22  Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 23  Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 24  So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 25  And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. 26  Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!” 

During this time, the religious leaders believed that if a person was suffering physical, it was because God was punishing them for their sins.

They believed that if something bad happened, that if something tragic happened, that if a person got a disease, was paralyzed, or just sick, they believed GOD was punishing that individual for their sins. It seems odd, maybe even ridiculous but I bet you have had a similar thought. We say things like “that’s karma” and we were raised to navigate through a world knowing our actions have consequences. Sometimes we see people with a terrible diagnosis, get in a horrible accident, and think that God must be punishing them for some reason. Like this is the consequence to some bad decision they have made.

Can I just state how insane that is?  

SIN and DISEASE are tied together. 

When the first man sinned, sickness, disease, deformities, and death entered the world.

BUT

God does not punish us with sickness and disease. Sickness and disease are something all of us will experience until we leave our physical bodies…

not because of personal sin – but because of sin. Period.

And, these Religious Leaders, rather than having compassion on the hurting, had judgmental thoughts toward those who were sick. The first lesson we learn about compassion from this text is that, as a body of Believers, we can…

PARTNER TOGETHER TO HELP OTHERS FIND HEAVEN THROUGH JESUS. (V.18-19)

Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 

When we care about the people around us, we will look for opportunities to partner with others to bring them to Jesus.

If you have surrendered your life to Jesus and received Him as your Savior. If you believe that on the cross, Jesus paid the price for your sin, you have been forgiven for your sins, and you have reconnected to God through Jesus. If that’s true then you know people who have not yet experienced a life-changing relationship with God – who don’t know what they are missing out on. If they did, they would want to know!

With Christ comes forgiveness. In that forgiveness, you have peace during a time of trial, you have hope in the middle of hopeless situations and even when you are defeated you can stand in the confidence of victory.

You have experienced Jesus power in your life…

rescuing you from addiction, 

fixing your broken relationships with others, 

redeeming your past. 

You know what it is like to have a GROWing relationship with your heavenly Father…and you

know through experience what friends, families and neighbors are missing out on because they have never turned their lives over to Jesus.

So – invite them to Weekend worship. Invite them to watch online. Invite them to a community group you are a part of.  

Maybe you don’t feel comfortable yet sharing how people’s lives could be changed through connect with God – invite them to church! Invite them to Celebrate Recovery on Friday nights at 6pm. Celebrate Recovery is for so much more than just addictions. If you want to see what a hunger for relationship with God looks like, I encourage you to go. Any hurt, hurt habit or hang-up. Everyone stands together with an eagerness to grow closer to God.

That is a great illustration of how we can partner together to point others to Heaven through Jesus. 

The second thing we can learn about Compassion is this:

COMPASSIONATE FAITH OVERCOMES HICCUPS, HINDRANCES, AND HELL. (V.19-20)

but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” 

This is something that would have taken a lot of determination. These friends didn’t look at the crowd, drop their bro on the mat and say “better luck tomorrow”.They didn’t let the crowd stop them, or a ladder or even a roof, they ripped it open and lowered their friend in need down in front of the only person that could help. They CARED too much to let things like crowds, ladders, and roofs get in the way. They knew if they could get their friend to Jesus – he would be changed forever.

And he was. 

Jesus forgave the man, then told him to stand up, pick up his mat, and go home. When he left that place, he did not need a mat. He would never need to be carried around again. The same crowd that blocked him from Jesus, now stared at him with wonder as they parted and he passed through. All because his friends didn’t just believe that Jesus could heal him… it wasn’t just a head knowledge that Jesus could change his life. They showed COMPASSION by doing everything they could to get him in front of Jesus.

And WE can do the same. You can do the same! 

Don’t just SAY you believe that Jesus can change lives. Have COMPASSIONATE faith that moves mountains and invite your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to church with you.

Scroll through the contacts on your phone if you can’t think of somebody to show compassion to.  

Invite your dentist, 

the person that details your car, 

your landscaper, 

your surgeon, 

your server at the restaurant, 

the people that deliver your furniture, 

the person that picks up your trash, 

We do care for others, so keep showing it and…

KEEP HELPING RATHER THAN CHOOSING A “HELPLESS FAITH.” (V.25)

And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God.

If you have been changed by Jesus – live out that change every single day.  

Don’t live like you have a helpless faith.  

Don’t live like you aren’t important. 

Don’t live like you do not matter.

You have been given life- so work to give life to others. 

This man bound to a mat no longer needed it, and Jesus did not expect for this man to keep laying there.  He told him to GET UP.  He told him to haul his cot back to his house.

God has not changed our lives for us to remain motionless, paralyzed or helpless.  

When Christ first said the paralyzed man was forgiven, his life would be forever changed, but those around him were still doubtful, it was when the man got up and walked out that inward change was now evident to those standing witness to the glory of God through Christ Jesus. We can do the same. God changes us from the inside out. We can be FOREVER CHANGED! 

Let us walk away from what we WERE and be what God has called us to be. Let us not sit and feel helpless but stand and know that God is doing a mighty work in us. Let’s not be passive in our faith but actively seek out the chances to show the world that we are made new. That the sin that once bound us has been forgiven and there is no limit to what God can do in our lives and in the lives of those we encounter.

He has placed within our hearts a faith that can move mountains…I hope you believe that God can use you, that God will use you if you invite Him to.

Our Ethos statement here is “We are a connected people, captivated by Christ, whose changed lives are changing lives”

We are changed because of the work God has done in us. Why would we not want to show that change to those around us? We get to be a walking testimony of God’s power to change our lives. Maybe you are uncertain about how to get started, well theres a lot of easy ways to do that right here! Get connected.

There are so many ways for you to help rather than choose a helpless faith. Our Tuesday Crew is a group of men who meet here each week to help keep up our campus, making sure that it’s ready and able for every activity that we host here. Join our Children’s Ministry and speak into the lives of children as they grow in their faith. Join our prayer team to go to the Lord with those in need after our services and during the week.

Hebrews 12:12–13

So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. 13 Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. 

Meeting Jesus - Jesus heals the leper

Some people believe Jesus is a republican, a democrat, or an independent. Some people believe that Jesus is like a Genie in a bottle–if you rub the lamp through prayer, you get whatever you want. Still, some view Jesus like a Mascot the church rallies around once a week.Over this next year, we are going to seek to understand who Jesus really was,what he was really like, and how you and I can become more like Him.

Here at Beach Church, we believe if we read God’s Word and apply his Word, he Will change our lives.Last week we talked about the importance of continuing to surrender to Jesus in our lives, and this week we are taking a look at Luke 5:12-16 when Jesus changes another man’s life.

The majority of us have experienced something traumatic in our lives, that we had to learn to deal with.

Maybe it was an unexpected layoff. Maybe a spouse filing for a divorce you did not want. Maybe your child was diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.

Some trauma comes to us through no fault of our own. 

Perhaps like me, you had an abusive, alcoholic parent who was mean and hurtful to you, or maybe somebody betrayed your trust and took advantage of you. Maybe you were neglected and abused by a spouse, or grew up in a violent and dysfunctional home. The world has been broken by sin. That means that bad things happen to good people and good things happen to bad people. And, bad things happen to bad people and good things happen to good people.  

A newsflash for all of us: 

Life is not fair! Nothing in life seems to be consistent and fair because the world has been broken by sin.

When my teachers would punish the whole class for something one person did, I would stand up, interrupt the class and shout: “That’s not fair.”

If my brothers or sisters received a toy, and I didn’t  - I would say, “That’s not fair.”

Today, we read about a man dying a slow, painful death through no fault of his own…and nothing could be done to help him.  I am sure he mumbled many times, “Life’s not fair.”

Luke 5:12-16

In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” 13  Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 14  Then Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone what had happened. He said, “Go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.” 15  But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. 16  But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. 

It is important to understand this incident in the proper context. Leprosy was a terrible disease. The moment it was discovered a person had leprosy, their clothes, possessions, and bedding were destroyed through fire.  Then, their family disowned them and shunned them for the rest of their lives. Even if they had wealth and money – they lost it all. A person never asked for Leprosy, but they got it. Like Covid, a virus, cancer, or the common cold, a person contracted Leprosy through no fault of their own. Whether old, young, rich or poor, a leper was shunned by friends, family and the community.  

As a leper traveled and walked along the road or trails, they had to yell “Unclean!  Unclean!”  and ring a bell to make sure people knew they were diseased and for all to stay clear. And, their condition grew worse and worse. They grew a bit more grotesque and diseased every day.  In their leper colonies, they watched each other literally rot away, losing fingers and toes, losing limbs, going blind, horribly disfigured they would eventually die…of either starvation or rot.

Can you imagine that life? To be grouped together with a group of diseased people and watching them one-by-one die a painful death, knowing that one day, you would also meet that same fate.  And – the psychological consequences of Leprosy were as damaging as the physical. They carried SHAME and GUILT even though they were innocent victims of the disease. Historians tell us that they often blamed themselves.

This man HATED himself and all that he had become.

This man had become the most grotesque version of himself he could possibly be. I believe He Hated who he was and what he had become. And maybe that’s where you are today.

Maybe somebody hurt you as a child, and you blame yourself. Maybe you were in an abusive relationship for years, and you blame and shame yourself for not getting out sooner. You were hurt. Your kids were hurt. You are weighed down by guilt you should not be carrying. Maybe you have an eating disorder, an addiction to drugs or alcohol, and you have hurt people who loved you. Maybe you were the abuser, you have deep regrets about the pain you caused. Maybe you just can’t look at yourself in the mirror any longer because you hate the person. you are today.

EVEN WHEN WE HATE OURSELVES, JESUS REACHES OUT

As Jesus is moving about in the village – this diseased leper hobbles to Jesus, bowing down to the ground in shame and pleads: “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean!”. Without hesitating, drawing back in horror, or recoiling, Jesus takes a step toward the man and said, “I am willing – and he TOUCHES the man!”

The day he was diagnosed, people stopped touching him. 

No handshakes. 

No hugs. 

No pat on the back. 

No stealing kisses from the woman he loved. 

No butterfly kisses on his cheek from his children or grandchildren.

NOTHING.

Then – this stranger reaches out his hand and TOUCHES the Leper. BEFORE he healed him!

The touch came first, then came the healing.

If you are a follower of Jesus, you came to a moment that you understood that you NEEDED the cleansing power of Jesus to change your life, too.  You understood the ugliness of your sin. That your sin separated you from God. But Jesus death on the cross paid the price for your sin and through his blood, you were cleansed from sin and made new. You Surrendered your life to Jesus and committed your life to following him.

If you are a follower of Jesus – understand if we want to make a difference in this broken world, we must reach out with a compassionate TOUCH before we can make a difference.

If people around you are broken – reach out with compassion. 

Be willing to meet them where they are.  Show them uncomfortable grace. Some people are so broken they hate themselves and they are ready to give up – show them the compassion of Jesus.  Your character and beliefs are never compromised by showing compassion to people overwhelmed by sin.

And, if you are at the place that you hate yourself because of choices you made, things you have done, words you have said, and hurt you have caused to others…JESUS is still reaching out to you.

You may hate yourself – but God loves you 

He knows how you feel about yourself…

He knows what you think about yourself…

But he will never stop reaching out to you.

Jesus will never ever stop reaching out to you. So reach back out to Him. Surrender control of your life to Him. 

Tell Him you are tired of making up the rules for your life. Tell Him you are ready to live by his rules. Beginning this moment, get clean on the inside.

Surrender your life to God and receive forgiveness for sins. Just simply say to God, “I believe Jesus paid the price for my sins, and I surrender to you. I will stop living by my own rules, and begin following you.”

Now, for all of us, it is important that we understand:

SOMETIMES HEALING IS INSTANT, SOMETIMES A PROCESS

In verse 13, we see that this man was healed immediately by Jesus.  I have heard of those miraculous moments in people’s lives when they struggle with anger, or addiction, or they have been diagnosed with cancer – and they are healed instantly!

I have seen the before and after of medical ultrasounds of tumors that are suddenly gone. I have spoken with men and women who had their desire for drunkenness and getting high instantly disappear. I praise the Lord for those sudden, dramatic, healings that demonstrate God’s power.

But, sometimes healing is a process that takes time.

PTSD healing takes time.

Overcoming depression and anxiety takes time.

Overcoming abuse, church hurt, and sadness can take time.

Much of the hurt you and I have experienced in life requires us to process through prayer, reading the Bible, counseling, and programs like Celebrate Recovery.

If you have any hurt, habit, or hangup that you wrestle with – Invest in healing for yourself by attending Celebrate Recovery and be open and honest about what you are hoping to recover from…Jesus heals today instantly, and he also heals through a process of time, prayer, conversation and understanding.

Wherever you are at, and whatever you need healing from, you are worth beginning the process and the journey.

Then, as you grow to a point of change and transformation…

ANNOUNCE CHANGE THROUGH BAPTISM

Luke 5:14

…He said, “Go to the priest… Take along the offering … This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.” 

Jewish Old Testament Law required that those cured of an infectious disease receive permission to re-enter society from the Priests.  This man with the advanced case of leprosy must have hungered for years for a priest to say, “You are clean!”  Being healed from the disease would mean that he could return to his family, return to an occupation, and from that point on – he would never be alone, lonely, or by himself again because of his disease!

No more watching families from a distance. No more watching Father and Sons go to the synagogue together…and wishing that was him. Now he could be hugged! Now he could hug others! Now he could love and be loved by others…Through the touch of Jesus – he got a second-chance at life!

But before he could live in the NEW – the change had to be announced.

Some of you have experienced the life-changing power of forgiveness in your lives…It is time for the PUBLIC TESTIMONY of Baptism to let your world know that you are now a follower of Jesus. It is time to let your family, friends, coworkers, neighbors celebrate the change you have experienced.  Baptism is an outward declaration of the inward change you have experienced…is it time you have stopped holding back?

When you announce, others can celebrate and God is glorified.

It is time to let your world know you are now a follower of Jesus. You have been forgiven for your sins. You are not the same person you once were.

Let your world know.

Meeting Jesus - Walking Away From Religion

Some people believe Jesus is a republican, a democrat, or an independent. Some people believe that Jesus is like a Genie in a bottle–if you rub the lamp through prayer, you get whatever you want. Still, some view Jesus like a Mascot the church rallies around once a week.Over this next year, we are going to seek to understand who Jesus really was,what he was really like, and how you and I can become more like Him.

We mention week after week that our mission as a church is to to become a connected people, captivated by Christ, whose changed lives are changing lives. Have you ever wondered why we mention our purpose as often as we do?

See, if Beach Church as a gathering of believers, or as individuals, if we ever forget our purpose and our mission – we will become nothing more than a country club.  I know this might sound ridiculous to even mention – but sometimes churches forget “who they are” and “why they exist” so instead of having an outward focus to reach people, they develop an inward focus. 

They focus on the comfort, care, and preferences of those inside the church.

Instead of valuing and pursuing people to see them surrender to the life-changing power of Jesus, they began to value the things that matter to the majority of the people inside the church and cater to each other.  

They have forgotten their purpose.

They engrave names of people on buildings…Sunday school rooms get nicknamed after the leaders of their classes. Nobody else is allowed to use that room during the week because “it’s theirs.” Inward focused churches focus on things NOBODY else cares about. Inward focused churches argue about paint, the color of the carpet, choir robes, translations of the Bible, and the qualifications of Deacons. They become known as a church you would rather not visit than one you would.

That is one of the reasons why it is important that we talk about our purpose so much.  If we don’t, we will slowly begin to drift and become more focused on property and possessions rather than people. Inward focused people focus on the surrender they made to Jesus in the past – but they no longer live surrendered lives to Jesus. People who become “Followers of Jesus”.

Meaning they have come to a point that they believe that God sent his son into the world to save the world, not condemn the world…They have had a moment that they surrendered their lives to God by trusting in Jesus as their savior – and they have been changed from the inside out…In that moment of trust, they became a follower of Jesus through surrender.

But it is interesting that some people become followers of Jesus, people become Christians through SURRENDER…and yet never surrender anything to God again!  

And if you and I want to continue to live surrendered lives to Jesus it is important that we as a church and as individuals, apply these lessons to our lives.

Luke 5:1-11 

One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 2  He noticed two empty boats at the water’s edge, for the fishermen had left them and were washing their nets. 3  Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon, its owner, to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. 4  When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish.” 5  “Master,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, I’ll let the nets down again.” 6  And this time their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! 7  A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. 8  When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, Lord, please leave me—I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.” 9  For he was awestruck by the number of fish they had caught, as were the others with him. 10  His partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were also amazed. Jesus replied to Simon, “Don’t be afraid! From now on you’ll be fishing for people!” 11  And as soon as they landed, they left everything and followed Jesus.

One of the ways that you and I can continue to live surrendered lives can be drawn out from verse one.  Verse one tells us that as Jesus was teaching – great crowds were pressing in to hear him.  The crowd was so big – Jesus had to get on a boat in the water…far enough away that he could speak to the crowds – but not so far away that people could not hear him.

Why were these crowds pressing in to hear from Jesus?  One of the reasons, is because they understood what he was saying!  

JESUS SPOKE PLAINLY TO PEOPLE, SO LET’S DO THE SAME

Luke 5:1 

One day as Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, great crowds pressed in on him to listen to the word of God. 

The reason why great crowds were gathering to hear Jesus teach is because they understood what he was saying. Have you ever met somebody that used large complicated words to communicate to you, and you had no idea what they were saying?

Maybe you have watched a TED talk. They were speaking about technology, medical breakthroughs, research…and even though they spoke in your native language – you had no idea what they were talking about. I have sat in classes in college and in seminary and I could tell that the teachers in charge of the class really loved to hear themselves talk.

They used big churchy elaborate words.

They used religious words. They used words like:

Justification. 

Sanctification. 

Incarnation. 

Transfiguration. 

Hypostatic union. 

Atonement. 

EXEGESIS…

When I first heard the word exegesis, I thought it was another name for Jesus…And then the Professor started saying things like “exegetical” and I knew I was wrong. I had to look the word up and read that it simply meant “an explanation of what a bible passage means.” Why didn’t he just say that?

And I guess that’s fine in a seminary classroom environment, but then Seminary trained pastors use “Christianese” language in their pulpits, then the members of their churches use that language as well. Then what happens is the people who need Jesus, those outside the walls of the church, have KNOW idea what we are talking about, so they seldom surrender their lives to Jesus. Just like Jesus taught plainly – you and I, if we use “Christianese”, need to surrender our language to Jesus so people can understand and experience the life-changing power of Jesus in their lives. Jesus taught plainly, large crowds gathered, and after Jesus used Peter’s boat, through a miracle of Jesus, Peter and the others caught such a large haul of fish, the nets were tearing and both boats were filled to the verge of sinking.

I LOVE the response of PETER.

He said, “Lord please leave me.  I’m too much of a sinner to be around you.”

That response is one I have heard a hundred different ways from people.  

People say things like, “If I were to walk into a church, the church would catch on fire.” 

Or 

“If you knew what I have done in life, you wouldn’t be talking to me about God.”

Please understand this…

JESUS PREFERRED RELATIONSHIPS WITH SINNERS, NOT THE RELIGOUS.

If you came to church today, and you are under the impression that God only wants to connect with “churchy” people, you are wrong. 

Way wrong!

Two thousand years ago, the God-Man entered the world…and even though he went to the temple on a regular basis – Jesus seemed to prefer hanging out with sinful people. We read in scripture that “as was his custom” Jesus went to the synagogues for worship…yet he didn’t seem to hang out with the people he went to church with.  He was always with the people OUTSIDE the temple.  He connected with the people that DIDN’T necessarily fit in with the churchy people.

In fact, the “churchy people” called the people that Jesus connected with and hung out with, “SCUM.”

Later on in Luke Chapter 5:30 the RELIGIOUS leaders complained about the people that Jesus and his disciples hung out with…they said, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” 

So if you feel like scum.

If you feel rejected.

If you feel like you don’t fit in at church.

If you feel like you are too much of a sinner to be here…I have good news!

You are right where you belong!

Jesus came to “take away” your sin. (1 John 3:5) 

He takes away your sin when you stop trying to be good enough on your own to connect with him, and surrender your life to God by trusting Jesus as the one who takes away your sin and makes you a new person. 

RELIGIOUS people think God is blessed to have them church…

BUT Jesus preferred the presence of sinners, scum, and low lifes.

You don’t have to impress Jesus. You just have to surrender to him. 

The building has not caught on fire. You have not been zapped with lightning. God loves you, in fact, he prefers to hang out with you because he loves you. So, just take a moment and tell God you SURRENDER to him and trust Jesus as the one who took away your sin. Take that moment right now – even while I am talking.  Let the Love of God fill your heart and flood your mind and surrender to Him.

FOLLOWING JESUS REQUIRES SURRENDER OF MORE THAN SIN.

Jesus invited Peter to follow him – and he and his brothers left everything to follow Jesus. Verse 11 says, “As soon as they landed they left everything and followed Jesus.”

These were fishermen.  They surrendered more than sin…and they surrendered their occupations that were not bad!  It is not as though they were strip club owners or pornographers.  They weren’t cheating people out of their money. They walked away from their boats. Their nets. Their source of income. Because they wanted to follow Jesus.

Now, I am not suggesting that you walk away from your jobs.  And I am not suggesting that surrendering your life to Jesus requires you to change your occupation…But it might.

If you earn a living cheating people out of money – God is calling you out of that occupation. If you earn a living harming other people…God is calling you to surrender that and walk away from that lifestyle. God may desire that you sell off land, houses, cars and give it all away.  I don’t know what God is calling you to surrender when it comes to your possessions, but I do know that God is calling you to surrender your time by loving your neighbor as yourself.

I believe God is calling you to walk away from Christianese. I believe God is calling you to walk away from Religion. I believe God is calling you to live a surrendered life through Jesus.

A person who lives a surrendered life is more concerned with people than property. So love surrendered. A church that lives surrendered understands that God has called us to lead people into a relationship with Him, not to become a religious hypocrite. Jesus told Peter from now on he would be fishing for people. That purpose must shine in all we do. Fish for people.

Invite your neighbor to church.

Invite your spouse to church.

Invite your children to church.

Invite your coworkers to church.

Invite your Barista, your lawn care worker, and the person that cuts your hair to church.

God is doing a new thing at Beach Church. He is leading us to walk away from religion and make everything about our relationship with God, and real relationships with others.

What else besides sin, do you need to surrender today? What else is getting in the way of your relationship with God? 

Ask God to show you, and He will.

Meeting Jesus - Purpose and Rejection

Some people believe Jesus is a republican, a democrat, or an independent. Some people believe that Jesus is like a Genie in a bottle–if you rub the lamp through prayer, you get whatever you want. Still, some view Jesus like a Mascot the church rallies around once a week.Over this next year, we are going to seek to understand who Jesus really was,what he was really like, and how you and I can become more like Him.

If you are at the end of your rope…If you feel broken, crushed and misunderstood…

I want you to know if you begin to read God’s Word and Apply it to you your life, your life is going to change!

If you have ever interviewed for a job and you thought it went well, but never heard back from the employer, you know that feeling of rejection.

In today’s passage we are going to look at one of the moments in his life that Jesus was rejected...and learn how we can Deal with rejection we receive as followers of Jesus.  

If you are a follower of Jesus. Meaning, if you had a moment when you understood that God created you to have a relationship with Him. If you believe that the penalty of sin separated you from God. If you believe that Jesus death paid the penalty for sin and through Jesus death and resurrection, you have been forgiven for your sins…and you had that moment when it all clicked and you surrendered your life to Jesus and now have a friendship with God then most likely you have had to deal with rejection because of your faith in Jesus at some level. Maybe you have been rejected by friends, family, or neighbors because of your commitment to follow Jesus.

But maybe you have had to deal with rejection at a different level. Maybe your husband or wife has rejected you and abandoned you. They divorced you when you did not want to divorce them. Maybe the pain of that rejection still lingers. Maybe your adult or teen children have rejected you.  You love them. You care for them. But right now, they have rejected you. No returned phone calls or text messages for years…

Even if you are not yet a follower of a Jesus – I think you will discover some heathy ways that you are able to overcome the feelings that rejection can bring in your life.

At this point in his life, the ministry of Jesus was just beginning. People were just beginning to talk about him. He had been baptized. As we looked at last week, he had faced 40 days of temptation and fasting in the desert. Then he returned to Galilee, filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and reports about him began to spread quickly through the region.  The people were excited and there was a “buzz” about him wherever he went and as Jesus traveled, he came to Nazareth, the town he grew up in.  Initially people spoke well about him – but after he began telling the churched-Jewish people that God loved those outside the Jewish faith – he experienced rejection.

Luke 4:16-30

When he came to the village of Nazareth, his boyhood home, he went as usual to the synagogue on the Sabbath and stood up to read the Scriptures. 17  The scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where this was written: 18  “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, 19  and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.” 20  He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. 21  Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” 22  Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” 23  Then he said, “You will undoubtedly quote me this proverb: ‘Physician, heal yourself’—meaning, ‘Do miracles here in your hometown like those you did in Capernaum.’ 24  But I tell you the truth, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown. 25  “Certainly there were many needy widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the heavens were closed for three and a half years, and a severe famine devastated the land. 26  Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a foreigner—a widow of Zarephath in the land of Sidon. 27  And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, but the only one healed was Naaman, a Syrian.” 28  When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious. 29  Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff, 30  but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.

This passage of scripture prophesied or predicted the purpose of the life of Jesus.  It predicted his mission. It summed up what his life was going to be like. After he read this passage and began to explain his purpose – the people – his friends and family from his hometown – rejected him.

REJECTION HAPPENS TO THOSE LIVING WITH PURPOSE

Jesus said: I have come to open the eyes of the blind, set captives free, bring Good News to the poor, and set the oppressed free…

But then he said to the “churched people” – not just for you! God wants people outside the walls of the Jewish faith to experience hope! He loves and cares for ALL people – including the broken, the blind, the oppressed and the rejected outside the walls of the church.

That’s what made the Jewish people so upset!

There are many churches that say they want to reach those without Jesus, but they don’t want “those types” of people in the church!

Now, rejection still happens to all of us whether it is because we are a follower of Jesus or because of our occupation:

• If you are a Real Estate agent, rejection is going to happen. 

• If you are a mechanic, people aren’t always going to be satisfied, rejection is going to happen. 

• If you sell insurance, cars, and are self-employed – you know rejection is going to happen.

If you are going to live with purpose, not everybody is going to like it and some people will reject, you. If you are wondering about how people will continue to react to you if you do continue to live with purpose, look at how people reacted to Jesus. The very same people that spoke well of Jesus in one moment, were ready to throw him off the cliff the next moment.

PEOPLE ARE FICKLE – THEY CAN BE FOR YOU, THEN AGAINST YOU

Luke 4:22

Everyone spoke well of him and was amazed by the gracious words that came from his lips. “How can this be?” they asked. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”

Luke 4:28-29

When they heard these things, all in the synagogue were filled with wrath. 29  And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.

Because you and I are broken – sometimes we treat people wrong.  Sometimes we are like this group of people that rejected Jesus.

After I had surrendered my life to Jesus, was baptized, reading my bible and growing in my faith, I sat down with my grandmother to explain what had happened to me and how I had surrendered my life to Jesus. My Nana looked at me and said, “You have been brainwashed.”

She was FOR me if ever a person was! When I was going to be sent to a boys home after I had run away from home, Nana opened up her home to me and let me live with her for four years throughout high school. She fed me and clothed me and supported me. Then she didn’t like what I had to say about Jesus changing my life – and she said I was brainwashed.

You may hear this and think that I am suggesting we should not trust people. That is not even close to what I am saying, I am saying that when people are fickle about supporting you – it hurts.  So don’t be like that!

Do you like it when people are for you, or against you?

It is always better to be like Jesus and be FOR others than AGAINST others. Sadly, it is in our sinful nature to fail other people and sometimes the same people who are for us one moment, can be against us the next moment. That’s what happened to Jesus.  The same people who were pleased with him one moment tried to push him off a cliff and stone him the next – not because of what he did, but because of what he said.

So how do we deal with rejection?

How do we deal with rejection when we know sometimes people will be for us and against us, because they are human sinners too?

Be CONFIDENT IN YOUR CALLING AND IDENTITY

If you are going to live in this world for any period of time, you will be rejected. 

Your ideas will be rejected.  

Your presence will be rejected. 

Your personality will be rejected.

If you are convinced that your calling is to sales – be confident in your calling to sales, and in your identity as a salesperson.

If you are convinced that your calling is to cook great food, be confident in your calling to cook, and in your identity as a chef.

And...if you are a follower of Jesus – your main calling and your main identity is not found anywhere else but in Jesus.

Remember, your calling is to be the salt and light of the earth.

Matthew 5:13

 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.

You are called to bring flavor and preservatives to this world by following Jesus – others are not like you and the world needs your flavor mixed in with it!

You are God’s PARTNER.

2 Corinthians 6:1 

As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. 

You are a partner with GOD! You can be confident that He is your Co-Worker and you are His.  He is working right alongside you caring for others, ministering to others, and loving others.

You are God’s masterpiece.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

When you feel like more of a MESS-terpiece than a masterpiece, be confident that you may have messed up and sinned, but sin has not ruined your story. God calls you a Masterpiece of Grace, mercy, and forgiveness. You are beautiful and wonderful, a work of art.

You God’s child and the evil one cannot touch you.

1 John 5:18

We know that God’s children do not make a practice of sinning, for God’s Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them.

If you are a follower of Jesus, the devil cannot touch one hair on your head. You are protected, cradled, loved, and guarded by Jesus Christ – Live confidently in that truth!

Jesus was confident in his calling and in his identity.  He knew what his purpose was and even when people rejected him and rejected his message – he kept on going. He kept on moving forward – because his calling compelled him and his identity strengthened him.

Meeting Jesus - The Word & Temptation

Some people believe Jesus is a republican, a democrat, or an independent. Some people believe that Jesus is like a Genie in a bottle–if you rub the lamp through prayer, you get whatever you want. Still, some view Jesus like a Mascot the church rallies around once a week.Over this next year, we are going to seek to understand who Jesus really was,what he was really like, and how you and I can become more like Him.

Luke 4:1-13

1 Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, 2 where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry. 3 Then the devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, change this stone into a loaf of bread.” 4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone.’” 5 Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 “I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them,” the devil said, “because they are mine to give to anyone I please. 7 I will give it all to you if you will worship me.” 8 Jesus replied, “The Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.’” 9 Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! 10 For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect and guard you. 11 And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’” 12 Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the LORD your God.’” 13 When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came.

The Devil saw this as an opportunity to stop the ministry of Jesus before it even started. This was a no-holds barred attack on the character of the Son of God.

JESUS EXPERIENCED TWISTED TEMPTATION

When God rescued the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and they wandered in the desert for 40 years…and the Israelites and their animals were thirsty, Moses hit a rock with a stick and water came pouring out. Every single morning, so they didn’t go hungry, God gave the Israelites food they called, “Manna”.

The temptation that Jesus faced was twisted – it was reminiscent of how God had worked in the past among the Jewish people.

Then the devil resorted to using scripture. “For the scriptures say – “God will protect you.” So jump off this cliff and you will float safely to the ground.” Jesus knew God was going to raise him from the dead – but not this way and not this time.

This entire attack of temptation was twisted and manipulative. And if somebody has manipulated you with partial truths, I am sorry. That is the worst kind of hurt because you trusted them, and they manipulated you.

But make no mistake about it – Jesus WAS tempted to sin! If Jesus did not have a desire to DO these things – then Jesus wasn’t really tempted.

As LORD and GOD – Jesus never knew what it was like to hunger – he was always satisfied. He never got hangry. When the devil tempted Jesus – a full stomach must have appealed to him.

And, Jesus knew what it was like to have AUTHORITY. All things were created through Him. Authority and power in this world was a temptation for Jesus because he Knew what it was like to have power and control.

Jesus was tempted by these things because he remembered what it was like to never be hungry, have ultimate authority, and never be in danger.

JESUS OVERCAME TEMPTATION THROUGH TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD

Jesus overcame the temptation to live selfishly and live for his own pleasure through the truth of God’s Word, and…

YOU CAN TOO

Psalm 119:11

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Sometimes I convince myself that every other follower of Jesus has it together and I am the only one that struggles with the temptation to sin. I know others struggle with temptation to sin – but I sometimes convince myself that others don’t struggle like I DO.

I remember many times sitting in church and thinking, “They read their bibles every day, they don’t struggle like me…Something must be wrong with me…”

Have you ever felt like that?

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man.

Man, woman, or child, temptation is something we all experience.

Memories of experiences that appealed to us in the past, can stir up temptation in our present and future. If we liked it in the past, our flesh tells us we will like it again. We may have messed up in the past – but we know if we give into those pleasures in the future, it could damage those around us, and hinder our relationship with God.

THE DEVIL STILL WANTS TO DEVOUR YOU

1 Peter 5:8

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Homecoming - The Prodigal Son

Prodigal:      /ˈprädəɡ(ə)l/ adjective
      1. spending money or resources freely and recklessly; wastefully extravagant.

      2. a person who spends money in a recklessly extravagant way.

“The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’’
Luke 15:12 NIV

“A man’s worst difficulties begin when he is able to do just as he likes…”
~ Thomas Huxley ~

“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.”
Luke 15:13 NIV

When we declared our independence from God, we began to live in a foreign place.

“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.”
Luke 15:13-16 NIV

We waste our life… seeking what can no longer be found.

“After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.“
Luke 15:14 NIV

When we venture out on our own, we end up in a foreign land, left to our own devices outside of life with God.

“So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.”
Luke 15:15 NIV

“He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.”
Luke 15:16 NIV

“We often meet our destiny on the road we take to avoid it”…
~ Jean de La Fontaine ~

We can’t run from ourselves…We can only run so far until we come to the end of ourselves.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’’
Luke 15:17-19 NIV

Hope begins with coming to our senses…

“The meaning of the younger son’s return is succinctly expressed in the words, “Father, …I no longer deserve to be called your son.” On the one hand the younger son realizes that he has lost the dignity of his sonship, but at the same time that sense of lost dignity makes him also aware that he is indeed the son who had dignity to lose. When he found himself desiring to be treated as one of the pigs, he realized that he was not a pig but a human being, a son of his father. This realization became the basis for his choice to live instead of to die.”
~ Henri Nouwen ~

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”
Luke 15:20-21 NIV

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”
Luke 15:22-24 NIV

God as our Father will welcome us with mercy and restore us.

homecoming - Heart vs. Appearance

• God Is Love
• God’s Love is Gracious
• God’s Love is Steadfast

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
Luke 15:25-27

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
Luke 15:28-29

But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
Luke 15:30

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Luke 15:31-32

Your Heart is More important than your Appearance.

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.
Luke 9:23

Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
Genesis 22:2

When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!
Genesis 22:9-11

We place what we love the most on the alter but we pray for God to come so we can have both.

What we need is for Him to be the thing we need.

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.
Luke 10:38-39

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
Luke 10:40

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41-42

We can be so busy doing good deeds that we miss the one thing we need the most.

Is there anything in your life right now that you love more than God?

Where is God leading you?

Will you be too busy, or will you follow him?

homecoming - a father’s love

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
Luke 15:11-12

“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
Luke 15:13-14

So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
Luke 15:15-16

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
Luke 15:17-18

I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’
Luke 15:19

So he got up and went to his father.“ But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
Luke 15:20

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
Luke 15:21

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:22-24

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
Luke 15:25-27

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.
Luke 15:28-29

But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
Luke 15:30

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Luke 15:31-32

• God Is Love
• God’s Love is Gracious
• God’s Love is Steadfast

Have you experienced God’s love?

Have you experienced forgiveness and Healing?

Anticipation… - Herod

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah…
Luke 1:5a

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
Matthew 2:1-2

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born.
Matthew 2:3-4

King Herod was disturbed because he wanted no other King.

Do you find it difficult to let Jesus be King of your Life?

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
Matthew 2:5-6

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”
Matthew 2:7-8

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.
Matthew 2:9-10

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Matthew 2:11

And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Matthew 2:12

When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
Matthew 2:13

So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
Matthew 2:14-15

When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
Matthew 2:16

Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled: “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”
Matthew 2:17-18

After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
Matthew 2:19-20

So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee…
Matthew 2:21-22

How we respond to Jesus’ kingship affects everyone around us.

Who is sitting on the throne in your life?

Anticipation… - Joseph

• Just
• Righteous
• Good

“This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 1:18 NLT

Engagement:
…can be broken off at any time, without penalty

Betrothal:
…morally & legally binding

1)  Get better acquainted

2) Give families time to prepare

3) Confirm chastity

“Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.”
Matthew 1:19

“Joseph, son of David, ” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:20-22

God was asking Joseph to raise the Savior as his own son.

RIGHTEOUSNESS
…love God’s Law and desire God’s will.

COMPASSION
…give priority to love and mercy as opposed to judgment and retribution.

FAITH
…trust God and make the difficult decisions.

How different would the Christmas Story have been, without Joseph…?

Who would have raised Jesus?

How would the prophecies have been fulfilled?

YOU MATTER TO GOD AND HE HAS PLANS FOR YOU!

The Lost Sheep

Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach. This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! So Jesus told them this story: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!
Luke 15:1-7 (NLT2)

LIFENOTES:

• RELIGIOUS PEOPLE FOCUS ON SINS RATHER THAN FORGIVENESS. (v. 1-3)
• ALL PEOPLE BELONG TO GOD, BUT WANDER
• GOD SEARCHES RELENTLESSLY BECAUSE HE LOVES. (v. 4)
• LET’S GET COMFORTABLE WITH BEING UNCOMFORTABLE. (Col 3:13)

Anticipation… - The Mysteries of The Magi

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Matthew 2:1-12

GOD CAN USE ANYTHING

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
Romans 1:20

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalms 19:1

GOD IS NOT LIMITED BY OUR IMAGINATIONS AND UNDERSTANDINGS.

GOD USES EVERYTHING TO GET OUR ATTENTION AND ALWAYS POINTS US BACK TO THE FEET OF JESUS.

Something to be Thankful for: Mercy

Thanks:
      \THaŋ(k)s\
noun
      An expression of gratitude.

Giving:
      \ˈɡiviŋ\
adjective
      providing love or other emotional support; caring.

• Forgiveness
• Grace
• Mercy

 What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction?
Romans 9:22

What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory?…
Romans 9:23

“I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice.”
~ Abraham Lincoln ~

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness…
Exodus 34:6

…maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”
Exodus 34:7

And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
Exodus 33:19

“I think that is a better thing than thanksgiving: thanks-living. How is this to be done? By a general cheerfulness of manner, by an obedience to the command of Him by whose mercy we live, by a perpetual, constant delighting of ourselves in the Lord, and by a submission of our desires to His will.”
~ Charles Spurgeon ~

Something to be Thankful for: grace

Thanks:
      \THaŋ(k)s\
noun
      An expression of gratitude.

Giving:
      \ˈɡiviŋ\
adjective
      providing love or other emotional support; caring.

• Forgiveness
• Grace
• Mercy

      Grace:
      \ɡrās\
noun
      Unmerited favor of God towards man.

“Grace is the very opposite of merit… Grace is not only undeserved favor, but it is favor shown to the one who has deserved the very opposite.”
~ Harry Ironside ~

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.
Titus 2:11-12

Are YOU Thankful For God’s Grace?

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”
Jonah 1:1-2

But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.
Jonah 1:3

Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep.
Jonah 1:4-5

The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us so that we will not perish.”
Jonah 1:6

Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah.
Jonah 1:7

So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What kind of work do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?”
Jonah 1:8

He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”

This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.)
Jonah 1:10

The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?”
Jonah 1:11

“Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.”
Jonah 1:12

This is the proclamation he issued in Nineveh: Do not let people or animals, herds or flocks, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink. But let people and animals be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence. Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.”
Jonah 3:7-9

But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry.
Jonah 4:1

If I’m not showing grace… have I forgotten the grace I’ve been shown?

Are YOU Thankful for the grace you’ve been shown?

Is there someone in your life that needs to be shown Grace?

Something to be Thankful for: Forgiveness

Thanks:
      \THaŋ(k)s\
noun
      An expression of gratitude.

      Giving:
      \ˈɡiviŋ\
adjective
      providing love or other emotional support; caring.

      Thanksgiving:
      \thaŋ(k)s-ˈgi-viŋ\
noun
      the expression of gratitude, especially to God.

• Forgiveness
• Grace
• Mercy

Forgive: stop feeling angry or resentful toward (someone) for an offense, flaw, or mistake.

Forgiveness: the action or process of forgiving or being forgiven.

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.
Ephesians 1:7

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

Four conditions of Forgiveness
• humble yourself by admitting your sins;
• praying to God – asking for forgiveness;
• seeking God continually;
• and turning from sinful behavior.

Are you Thankful you have received forgiveness?

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.
Matthew 18:21-22

“Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand bags of gold was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt.
Matthew 18:23-25

“At this the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.
Matthew 18:26-27

“But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred silver coins. He grabbed him and began to choke him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he demanded.
Matthew 18:28

“His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back.’ “But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt.
Matthew 18:29-30

What Is Forgiveness?

Psychologists generally define forgiveness as a conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment or vengeance toward a person or group who has harmed you, regardless of whether they actually deserve your forgiveness.

When the other servants saw what had happened, they were outraged and went and told their master everything that had happened.
Matthew 18:3

“Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’
Matthew 18:32-33

In anger his master handed him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.
Matthew 18:34

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Matthew 18:35

Unforgiveness is choosing to stay trapped in a jail cell of bitterness, serving time for someone else’s crime.

“Forgiveness is the key that unlocks the door of resentment and the handcuffs of hatred. It is a power that breaks the chains of bitterness and the shackles of selfishness.”
~ Corrie Ten Boom ~

Are you thankful for forgiveness?

Have people in your life experienced the same forgiveness you received?

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

Not A Fan. - am i just following the rules?

Fan:
      \ˈfan\
noun
      an enthusiastic admirer

      Follower:
      \ˈfälō(ə)r\
noun
      an adherent or devotee of a particular person, cause, or activity.

ADAPTIVE SELF

FALSE SELF

HYPOCRITE

      hyp·o·crite:
      \ˈhipəˌkrit\
noun
      An interpreter from underneath.

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
Matthew 23:1-3

PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH

• You could not spit on the Sabbath because it would disturb the dirt and you would be guilty of plowing.

• You could not swat a fly on the Sabbath because you would be guilty of hunting.

• If your house was burning down on a Sabbath, you could not carry clothes out of it. However, you were allowed to put on several layers of clothes as the house was burning down. You could leave without breaking the law because you were wearing them instead of carrying them.

They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
Matthew 23:4

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
Matthew 23:13

Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
Matthew 23:23-24

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Matthew 23:27-28

When we aren’t willing to share our brokenness, we never get to share our witness for God’s grace and mercy.