MORE WORD, LESS WORRY!

TEXT: Luke 10:38-42, Colossians 1:15-19

INTRO: Have you ever noticed how easy it is to get stressed out in the every day issues of life that you neglect the most important Person in life, Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior?

ILLUS: According to John MacArthur, some years ago, the Mayo Clinic stated that statistically 80 percent to 85 percent of their total case load were ill either in reality or artificially due directly to mental stress. Also according to MacArthur, not too long ago, there appeared an article in a leading medical journal entitled, “Is Stress the Cause of All Disease?” The author of the article says that at the beginning of the century, bacteria were considered to be the center of attention. Today, mental stress has replaced bacteria.

There’s got to be a better way to live than being stressed out, worrying all the time! Worry has been compared to the rocking chair. It will give you something to do, but won’t take you anywhere!

PROP. SENT. The Bible teaches that God would have us to learn what is truly necessary in life. God’s people are to be consumed with the uncompromising Word of God over the unnecessary worries of this life!

TRANS. SENT. With this in mind today’s scripture focuses us on the essentials of overcoming a worry-filled attitude and enjoying a Word-filled mindset!

I. THE DELIGHTS OF THE WORD

A. Companions & Communion (Lk. 10:38a)

1. Jesus and his disciples are in traveling mode here.

2. As they come into this certain village, most likely Bethany, the plan is just a short stay.
a. While Dr. Luke doesn’t mention the name of the village specifically, the Apostle John did in his gospel.
b. Bethany was the village where Jesus’ friend Lazarus lived and toward the end of His ministry Jesus stayed there during the Passover Celebration which ultimately climaxed with His crucifixion on the cross of Calvary.

3. Jesus greatly enjoyed the company of his companions!

4. They were out working together doing the Father’s will of preaching the good news of the kingdom and ministering to people of all kinds.

5. Jesus wants us to be involved in ministering His Word – yet HE also knows we need others to sustain us in the journey!

6. Not only does Jesus call each of us to “do” ministry for Him, He also calls each of us to “be” with Him in a personal relationship!

7. For example, Mark 3:13-15. So many of us focus on the duty side of ministry (power, prayer, preaching, providing, people, etc.) that we neglect simply the “being” side of ministry… “that they might BE with Him.”
a. Just think, Almighty God Himself wants to
spend each and ever day with you!
b. Jesus doesn’t just want to see you in
Heaven, He wants a closeness with you on the
earth!
c. The greatest experience in life is knowing
the Lord Jesus Christ in a personal way!
d. Knowing Him as Master leads to growing in
Him as a minister!
e. Did you know that the Lord Jesus Christ is
the Creator of the Universe, yet He desires a
personal one on one with you?

1) That’s where real meaning and purpose in life comes from!
2) Knowing that you are connected in a vital relationship with God fills your life with purpose and meaning!
3) What are you doing in the way of pursuing Him on a daily basis?

ILLUS: One man studied 50 pastors in search of the common denominators that led to church growth. They covered the bases from plenty of parking, vision for the future, creative programming, openness to new people, and financial stability. The man concluded, “I have found among these pastors a deep passion to build a big church; however I have not found a corresponding passion to know God."

B. Completion & Comfort

1. At the completion of a long days ministry, Jesus and His companions were probably famished!

2. They are eager to come in and put up their feet on the couch and find some much needed comfort!

3. Perhaps wanting to review some of the “ups” and “downs” of the day!

4. Talking about people’s lives who have been changed by the power of God!

5. Aren’t you grateful this Thanksgiving for a place to call “home?”
a. Many of your are completing a very tough
year and perhaps now is the perfect time to seek a little extra rest and relaxation.
b. If you have had a bit of a restful year, perhaps now is the time to get in gear and be busy about serving others in the name of the Lord Jesus!

6. One of the names of Jesus is the “God of all comfort.”

7. It’s the comfort and strength of the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ that enables us to go through even the most extreme of times!

ILLUS: Christ my Saviour, Christ my friend; Christ my treasure without end: Christ when waves of sorrow roll; Christ, the comfort of my soul. (Unknown)

II. THE DISTRACTIONS OF THE WORK

A. Courteous Luke 10:39

1. “Martha opened her home to him.”

2. Not only did Martha welcome Jesus into her home,
but his 12 disciples as well!

3. Because of Martha’s courteous attitude, I want you
to just imagine all that she’s going through in
preparation for the Son of God and His men!

4. Remember, hospitality was a very important
ingredient to strong relationships in Jesus’ day!
a. Can you see Martha bringing out fresh
towels and basins of water to wash her guests
feet as they entered her house?
b. Can you see her rushing throughout her
rooms bringing out extra chairs so everyone
can feel comfortable and rested?
c. Can you just smell the food and spices that
would fill her home and make mouths water?

5. Martha was a giving and courageous woman of faith!

6. Her giving spirit is shown in the way she entertains and takes care of these men.

7. Her courageous spirit in shown because being associated with Jesus in Jerusalem was not a popular thing.
a. She really is risking her reputation and
possibly her life through her faithful service to the Lord!

ILLUS: My mom is also named Martha and I see many of the same characteristics in both of these ladies. Recently, my parents moved to Dallas, TX, and mom had not stopped getting her new house prepared for Thanksgiving and Christmas guests! In the heart of my mom is a deep desire to love and serve people!

B. Cares Luke 10:40

1. What started off as such a good act of service
Martha desires to render to others, begins to get out
of hand!

2. The Bible tells us that Martha becomes
“distracted” with much serving.

3. Instead of enjoying what she’s doing, Martha
begins to be loaded down with all the heavy burdens
of serving.

4. What started out as such a ministry of love and
hospitality has really turned into a time of burden,
anxieties, pressures, problems, pains.

5. What is happening to Martha here is a picture of
what can happen when we get so “busy” in the work
of Jesus, that we neglect “being” with Jesus.
a. It’s easy to get excited about serving the
Lord when you believe it’s going to be a great
ministry – but if you are not careful you’ll get
burned out because that ministry might not go just as exactly as you planned!
b. People say they are going to show up, but
don’t.
c. They say they are going to help, but don’t.
d. It’s easy to get very frustrated in ministry
when you sense you are doing your part, but
others are not doing theirs!

6. By the way, is there something that is distracting you from being found faithful in the Lord’s service this morning?
a. Too much on your plate?
b. Kids taking up all your time?
c. Spending too much time on unnecessary things?
d. Just don’t feel like being involved?
e. Health or family problems?
f. Laziness or holding a grudge against someone?
g. Don’t know what God has called you to?
h. Depressed because of difficult times?

ILLUS: Rick Majerus, men’s basketball coach at the University of Utah, recently captured a common concern: “Everyone’s worried about the economy this year. Hey, my hairline is in recession, my waistline is in inflation, and altogether, I’m in depression.” —Leadership, Vol. 16, no. 4.

C. Critical Luke 10: 40

1. Do you sense that Martha is not really happy in her ministry unto the Lord right now?

2. You know it’s time to readjust your priorities when you begin to tell the Lord of glory what He’s supposed to do…instead of the other way around!

3. Often what leads to a critical spirit in our lives is
thinking we are in the right and everyone else is in
the wrong! “Tell her to help me!”

ILLUS: A preacher asked a certain man why he had just ceased to attend the services of the church. The man replied, “They haven’t treated me right over there.” The preacher asked, “Then why don’t you go home and beat your wife?” The startled backslider gave the preacher a look which questioned his sanity. “My wife hasn’t done anything against me,” he said. “Well,” the preacher said, “has the Lord Jesus done anything against you?” Being peeved at the brethren and forsaking the Lord is about as logical as being angry with the dog and kicking the cat.

4. Martha’s “critical spirit” was found even though
she was in the very presence of the Lord and that
same critical spirit can be found in God’s house
today.

5. What is a critical spirit and do you have one?
a. If you are excessively negative, harsh and
judgmental of others…Yes!
b. If you are known for faultfinding,
complaining, picking…Yes!
c. If you assume the worst before hearing the
whole story…Yes!
d. If you make judgments based primarily on
appearances…Yes!

ILLUS: June Hunt says, “People with a critical spirit look like kids on a big see saw. They push others down just to elevate themselves.

6. I struggle with a critical spirit in my own life at
times.
a. I know it’s time to slow down and refocus
on God’s Word and God’s Son, when the
smallest of things gets my temper flared up!

7. Sometimes I hear pastors or church members and
they are critical about each other…very hard and
harsh.

8. There’s certainly a time to take a stand if
someone is blatantly distorting the Word of God.

9. There’s a time to go to your brother or sister in
Christ if they’ve sinned against you.

10. Yet more times than not…YOU are the one
in need of the attitude adjustment…not them!

III. THE DISCOVERY OF WORTH

A. Choices Luke 10:41-42

1. Martha and Mary both had choices to make this
day…to serve Jesus or to sit at the feet of Jesus.

2. Martha had gotten so wrapped up in her service,
that she forgot about “It’s all about Him…not about
me.”

3. We too, have that daily choice (1) Take time to
learn His Word and sit as His feet or (2) Go through
the day without really acknowledging our ultimate
need of that personal relationship with Him.

4. If we go too long without sitting at the feet of
Jesus, we easily forget that God is not only concerned
with our service…but the strength of our relationship with Him!

5. Psalm 39:6, “Surely they busy themselves in vain.”

6. None of us would like that to be said of us.

7. The number one way to avoid this is reprioritize
our relationship with the Risen Lord Jesus!

IILUS: We can worry or we can worship. Strangely enough, busy people find it a whole lot easier to worry than to worship. Briscoe, J.

ILLUS: Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength. – Corrie Ten Boom

A. Contemplation Luke 10:42a, Colossians 1:15-19

1. We contemplate the Lord Jesus and listen to Him
today by setting our affections and appetites on the
Word of God!

2. Although we don’t see Jesus with our physical
eyes, we see Him with our spiritual eyes as we open
up His life giving Word.

3. Colossians 1:15-22, Jesus is the “image of the
invisible God,” “firstborn over all creation,” “created
all things that are in heaven and on earth…created
through Him and for Him,” “He is before all things,”
“in Him all things exist,” “He is the head of the body,the church,”
Jesus is “the beginning,” “the firstborn from the dead,”
“in all things He may have the preeminence.”

4. Where do I start to contemplate Jesus?
a. The Worth of Jesus – Creator of Heavens
and Consolation of our Hearts!
b. The Work of Jesus – Commander of Saints
and Canceller of Sins!
c. The Worship of Jesus – Cornerstone of the
Body and Completed through the Blood of the
Cross!

5. The more you focus on Jesus the more you are
going to become like Jesus!

ILLUS: Worship helps us find who we are and why God has placed us here on the earth. When we bow in God’s presence with worship, only then are we made complete. —Judson Cornwall. Leadership, Vol. 16

B. Comprehension Luke 10: 42

1. Mary discerned and comprehended where the most
important meal of the day was coming from…and it
wasn’t Martha’s kitchen!

2. Mary’s spiritual hunger for the Word of God was so
strong and so important that it would not be taken
away from her.

3. The world would say that Martha had chosen the
most important things...busyness, hard work,
sacrifice to the bone.

4. Jesus said Mary, not Martha truly comprehended
what was needed most.

5. Do you? Do you believe God values your busyness
over your simply being present before Him?

ILLUS: The Bethlehem Steel Corporation was struggling, so its president, Charles Schwab, hired consultant Ivy Lee to help out. Schwab agreed to pay Lee anything within reason if Lee’s suggestion helped the company. A few days later, Lee had his plan. He suggested the Schwab, before leaving the office at night, write down the most important tasks that he had to accomplish the next day. Schwab was then to order them in the order of importance. He would work on priority number one until it was done, them move to number two, and so on. Occasionally Schwab was to recheck his priorities and then continue on. Lee recommended that Schwab make this a daily habit. Within five years, Bethlehem Steel was the biggest independent steel producer in the world and Lee was rewarded with a nice $25,000 check!

6. Schwab reaped the benefits of putting first things
first!

7. What benefits are you reaping if you are full of
worries all day…what benefits would you reap if you
put your mind on the Word of God?

8. Would you begin to set aside some time to spend
with God in His Word each day this week?
a. The Disciples Prayer is found in Luke 11:1-4
b. Devotional Books are available in the front!

ILLUS: The dying words of Queen Elizabeth I were these: “All my possessions for a moment of time.” Unfortunately, we cannot buy more time—not one more day, not one more hour, not one more minute.

8. Isn’t it “time” to lay down your worries and learn
at His feet the very words of life?

CONCLUSION: The Word of God is necessary to rid you from so many unnecessary worries! It’s so easy to get wrapped up in what we think is important that we lose sight of what is most important to God…our relationship to Him in His Word! God’s Word is good for the soul! Isaiah 55:2, “Listen, and I will tell you where to get food that is good for the soul!”

MORE GRATITUIDE, LESS GRUMBLING!

TEXT: LUKE 17:11-19

INTRO: We have so much to be thankful for. In spite of this, it’s easy to get wrapped up in becoming a grumbler over a person of gratitude!

ILLUS: Thankfulness seems to be a lost art today. Warren Wiersbe illustrated this problem in his commentary on Colossians. He told about a ministerial student in Evanston, Illinois, who was part of a life-saving squad. In 1860, a ship went aground on the shore of Lake Michigan near Evanston, and Edward Spencer waded again and again into the frigid waters to rescue 17 passengers. In the process, his health was permanently damaged. Some years later at his funeral, it was noted that not one of the people he rescued ever thanked him. Our Daily Bread, February 20, 1994.

PROP. SENT: The Bible teaches that gratitude is the obedient response of those whose ruined lives have been restored by the Master.

INT. SENT: Why should every child of God be known for having a grateful attitude over a grumbling attitude?

TRANS. SENT: In Luke 17:11-19, we find three biblical reasons for unrestrained gratitude in the life of the child of God. An attitude of gratitude grows in the life of the believer as he understands more of what God has done for him in the Lord Jesus Christ!

I. THE CONDITION OF THE MEN

A. Diseased

1. “…there met Him ten lepers.”
2. Leprosy in Biblical times was a terrible thing. 3. Once a person caught it, it was considered incurable, and those diagnosed with leprosy were banned from society.
4. Leviticus 13:45-46 states, "The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, ’Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.”
5. Think of how embarrassing that must have been to be a leper.
a. Disgusted with self
b. Perhaps angry at God
c. Consumed with your disease
d. No hope of healing

ILLUS: In October of 2008, our family attended a fall festival with Amy’s parents. There were at least a couple of thousand people on the grounds celebrating the fall and enjoying fun times, good food, singing, preaching, etc. Of all the people there, one lady stood out in the crowd. She probably had the disease known as “Elephants Disease.” Her face was disfigured greatly and honestly, it was a bit painful to look at her. What really got to me was this lady was wearing a shirt that said, “I love Jesus!” and she never stopped smiling!

6. How many of us would have had that kind of attitude of gratitude? Or would we be grumbling and groaning?
a. We gripe when our air goes out, but what about those who have no home?
b. We gripe about our common colds, but what about those dying with cancer?
c. We get upset when the kids mess up the house, what about those who would love to have children yet are unable?
d. We grumble if the sermon goes five minutes over, what about those who have never heard the precious and powerful name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?

ILLUS: “You can’t expect to be a lucky dog if you spend all your time growling.” Pentz, Zingers.

7. How are you doing today in the shape you are already in? Grateful or grumbling?

B. Disconnected

1. Notice these lepers, “stood afar off.” Lepers would often travel in groups together.
2. Unable to be normal member of society, they would team up together – the unclean and the untouchables.
3. Because lepers are outsiders, they would be totally dependent on people inside the village to share some basic necessities of life with them and to be merciful to them.

ILLUS: Ken Gire, “There he lives. W/o love. W/o hope. W/o the simple joys & dignities of life: being smiled at…being greeted on the street…buying fresh fruit in the market… talking politics by the public fountain…laughing…getting to go to work…operating a business…haggling over prices w/a shopkeeper…getting a wedding invitation…singing hymns in the synagogue, celebrating Passover w/family. All these barred to him. Forever!”

4. In this day and age of computers and technology, it’s relatively easy to be “connected” with others.
a. Email
b. Facebook
c. Cell phones
d. Twitter
5. Yet with all of these technological advances, the one thing the young people of our generation craves is genuine, caring, committed relationships.
6. Aren’t you thankful for loving friendships?
a. Have you thanked family and friends for embracing you?
b. Who are you going to connect with over the holidays?

C. Doomed

1. There was no real way for these lepers to be healed…they were without hope, without strength, without a future.
2. They could have denied their real condition and just put their mind on other things, avoiding their real need and issues.
3. Instead, when Jesus comes their way, they cry out to Him, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
4. They understand that without the touch of Jesus upon their lives they are doomed to die and are in desperate need of his mercy and grace!
5. This would be Jesus’ last trip through Galilee! a. He was on His way to Jerusalem to take our sins on the cross of Calvary!
b. Literally, this was their last opportunity to receive life from the Lord Jesus!
6. Do you know what is going to keep many folks out of a real relationship with the Lord Jesus – is that they foolishly believe, they have all the time in the world to get right with God.
a. They do not understand that spiritually they are just as doomed to a hopeless future as these 10 lepers were!
5. The greatest need in life is not money, wealth, or fame, but a personal relationship with
Jesus…going from spiritual disease, disconnection, doom, into a life-transforming relationship with God. Has that happened to you? It can!

ILLUS. One of my roommates in college was the starting WR for LA Tech. Before he came to know Jesus, he lived with an attitude of, “I don’t need anything. I can handle anyone or anything life throws at me.” Through a series of events in his life, God opened his eyes to his ultimate need of a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. Dean Jackson said his life changed forever with these four words, “Jesus, I need You!”

II. THE COMISSION OF THE MASTER

A. Duty Initiated

1. Lev. 14:1-7 & Luke 17:14, “Go, show yourselves to the priest.”
2. According to Jewish law, only the priests could announce that one was healed of leprosy, clean, and able to enter into society once more.
3. These lepers had to go in faith on what Jesus had said. At first, there is no outside indication they are healed – they do not look, feel any different than before. However, there is the hope that, in Jesus, they have simply been healed through the power of His word.
4. Now, in obedience to the law of God, they would go to the priest who was authorized to pronounce the once unclean - now clean!
5. In other words, God not only wanted them to “believe” but also “behave.”
a. Biblical faith is not something you simply, “believe,” but something you also must “do.”
b. James 2.17, “Thus also faith by itself, it if does not have works, is dead.” c. Some folks “profess” faith, but never really “possess” biblical faith.
d. They want the name of Christ-follower, but in reality do nothing to prove they are daily following Jesus as Lord…if we “talk the talk,” we must learn to “walk the walk.”

ILLUS: A pastor friend of mine had a man in his congregation who was in church leadership prior to his coming. This man would not attend services faithfully, did not believe in tithing, or giving to missions. My friend asked him why he was not serving the Lord through the church in a more faithful manner. “Someone else will make up for my slackness,” was the mans reply.

B. Depravity Illustrated

1. We read in Luke 17:14-15, “And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them…”
2. “One of them?”
3. Just imagine with me that as they are walking to the temple to tell the priest, suddenly, they begin to see changes in each other.
a. Skin once rough is now smooth as a baby
b. Deformed body parts are now whole
c. Truly, this was the best day of their lives!
4. All ten lepers Jesus cleansed, but only one of returns - this is depravity illustrated!

ILLUS: Bill, a young man was the fortunate heir of vast amounts of money and material things from his family. His wealthy grandfather passed away and left his grandson with $5 million. His mother won the lottery just a few weeks later and deposited $500,000 in his bank account. Bill’s sister married an extremely wealthy man. For Bill’s birthday, they purchased a brand new $75,000 dollar Lexus for the young man. A week later, Bill and his best friend were eating lunch. The friend noticed a very depressed, downcast countenance on Bill’s face. “What’s wrong,” he asked, I’ve never seen anyone go through such a series of incredible fortunes like you.” Bill responded, “Yes, but no one has given me anything this week.”

III. THE COMPREHENSION OF THE MIRACLE

A. Dedication of the Leper

1. Lk. 17:15-16, “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.”
2. Probably this leper wanted to go and show everyone what had just happened in his life!
3. Yet, he takes time to return to the One who alone has made Him whole!
4. The fact that Dr. Luke points out that the one who did return was a Samaritan is significant! Samaritans were hated severely by the Jews.
5. To the Jews, Samaritans were the outcasts, rejects of the land and had no place in God’s kingdom. (Unwanted, unloved, undesirable)
6. How thankful are you that God’s grace is available for ALL people? (Muslims? Murderers? Miserable?)
7. Do you truly understand more and more of what undeserved grace God has freely poured out into your life…and how are you thanking Him for it?

ILLUS: One man listed reasons for gratitude in his life: “1. A gracious God 2. A loving wife 3. A healthy family 4. Abundant life (Eternally and materially I am filthy rich compared to the rest of the world.) 5. A meaningful vocation 6.Friends 7. Today 8. Opportunities to grow in grace, knowledge, and experience and the list goes on and on and on...”

B. Declaration of the Lord

1. The Lord Jesus said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
2. Certainly, all ten should have been down on their knees before the feet of Jesus, praising God, giving Him glory for the incredible miracle He had done in their lives!
3. They had to be happy, full of gratitude for this new life they’d received!
a. They are eager to return to life in community!
b. They can’t wait to see family and friends!
c. They desire to be a person of value in society once more!
4. Yet at their heart, they did not give GOD the glory He was so due! They are so caught up in this gift, they failed to recognize the GIVER of those gifts!

ILLUS: An attorney, who after meditating on several scriptures, decided to cancel the debts of all his clients that had owed him money for more than six months. He drafted a letter explaining his decision and its biblical basis and sent seventeen debt-canceling letters via certified mail. One by one, the letters began to return, unsigned and undelivered. Sixteen of the seventeen letters came back to him because the clients refused to sign for and open the envelopes, fearing that this attorney was suing them for their debts. How profound! We owe a debt for our sin and God is willing to cancel it but too many people will not even open the letter that explains that. Rick McCarley

5. Jesus said, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
6. While it is great to have experienced the physical healing, Jesus made sure this man understood not only was he physically healed, but of much more importance, spiritually healed!
7. It may seem the physical is much more necessary now…but think of eternity!
a. If Jesus has saved you spiritually, you have a FAR GREATER MIRALCE in your life than a physical healing!
b. For all eternity you’ll be praising Him for it and your time on earth is simply preparation!
c. If people will not glorify God now…why would they want to glorify and honor Him for all eternity?
8. Do you comprehend the miracle Jesus brought to you at salvation?
a. Do you comprehend that is the most important thing that could ever happen in your short stay on this earth?
b. Are you truly known for your grateful heart to God or are you more of a grumbler? c. Grateful hearts are ones that are fixed on Jesus. Grumbling hearts have forgotten the goodness and grace of God in their lives!
9. Romans 1:21, “…although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

ILLUS: A spirit of ingratitude is the first step toward apostasy. —K. Ammon

10. How appropriate for Thanksgiving to turn into “Thanks-living” for the follower of the Lord Jesus Christ!
11. Hebrews 13:15, “…by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.”

ILLUS: George Freideric Handel had reached the bottom. His right side was paralyzed. He was broke. His creditors threatened him with prison. He was so discouraged that he contemplated suicide. Instead he chose to praise God – to focus on God’s goodness rather than on his own desperate circumstances. Out of that experience came one of the greatest works of praise ever written – Handel’s Messiah and the “Hallelujah Chorus!” Wright and Woods, The Ministry Marathan

CONCLUSION: A grateful (not grumbling) life defines the child of God. Have you returned to the feet of Jesus to thank Him for what He’s done in your life? Colossians 2:6-7, “You received Christ Jesus as Lord. So keep on living in him. Have your roots in him. Build yourselves up in him. Grow strong in what you believe, just as you were taught. Be more thankful than ever before.” (NIRV)

“MORE FORGIVING, LESS FAULT-FINDING!”

TEXT: Luke 7:36-50

INTRO: It is so easy to get into the trap of judging others unfairly!

ILLUS: Chuck Swindoll told of his being at a pastor’s conference where he would be speaking. The first day there a man approached him and said how greatly he had looked forward to hearing Dr. Swindoll speak and his delight at now finally being able to realize that desire. That evening Swindoll noticed the man was sound asleep only a few minutes into of the sermon. Swindoll thought to himself that perhaps he was tired after a long day's drive and couldn't help himself - but this continued to happen night after night. Dr. Swindoll soon became very upset in his spirit with this man! On the last night the man's wife came up and apologized for her husband's inattention to the messages. She then explained that he had recently been diagnosed as having terminal cancer and the medication he was taking to ease the pain made him extremely sleepy. But it had been one of his life-long ambitions to hear Dr. Swindoll speak before he died, and now he had fulfilled that goal. Source Unknown.

If there is a group of people in the world that know how to forgive lavishly and fault-find sparingly, it is the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. It’s important to learn to become known as a people and place of forgiveness instead of being known with having a reputation of fault-finding.

Like Pastor Swindoll, we can think everyone else has the problem and we alone are in the right!

PROP. SENT: The Bible teaches that the Lord Jesus willingly forgives those with even the most faults in their lives.

INT.SENT: What is the basis of God’s forgiving heart?

TRANS. SENT: Extending life changing forgiveness to people whose lives have been messed up with sin is the heartbeat of Jesus. As we examine this topic of forgiveness and faultfinding in Luke 7:36-50, we’ll learn how we can imitate the Lord Jesus Christ – extending more forgiveness instead of continually looking down at others in their faults.

I. SIMON’S CONTINUAL FAULTFINDING

A. Desired Fellowship Luke 7:36

1. “Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him.”
2. Hospitality is a very strong value in the Near East and they typically go all out for their guests. 3. A basin would typically be provided so guests could wash the dust of the road from their feet.
4. Scented olive oil was sometimes offered to anoint a guest’s hair.
5. And beloved guests would be kissed as they were greeted welcoming them with joy!
a. With the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays coming around, perhaps we could use a lesson on treating our guests with such care!
b. Would it make any difference if Jesus Himself were coming to your house with your relatives during this season?
c. What kind of extra preparation would you make if you would be hosting the Son of God for Thanksgiving dinner?
6. We see that Simon offered none of these marks of a gracious host. It wasn’t so much that Simon wasn’t interested in spending time with Jesus, but he just wasn’t putting his whole heart into it!
7. In spite of Simon’s lack of warmth, Jesus readily accepted this dinner invitation.
a. Jesus is willing to associate with people of all kinds.
b. He is the Savior of the rich just as much as He is the Savior of the rejected!
c. No matter what Jesus said or what He did, there was always plenty of critics and fault-finders around! d. Luke 7:34, “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!”
8. Fault-finders are always looking for something to criticize in others!

ILLUS: An older lady, who had no affinity for con¬temporary worship, was complaining about a particular song used in the worship service at her church. A fellow worshipper responded, “That is not a new song - it is a very old song! David sang that song to Saul.” The older lady replied, “Well now, for the first time, I understand why Saul threw the javelin at him when he sang.”

9. Fault-finders often try to hide their own faults by casting a negative light on others!
a. Perhaps there is someone you are constantly critical of.
(1) Focus on their good qualities – look to compliment instead of criticize.
(2) Try seeing that person through the eyes of God’s loving grace.
(3) Walk a mile in their shoes. Many adults grew up with harsh parents always bringing up the bad and never good.

B. Disturbed Focus Luke 7:37

1. “And behold, a woman in the city…”
2. While Simon apparently was curious to learn a little
more about Jesus alone, all the sudden this sinful
lady appears in their midst!
3. This did not please Simon whatsoever!
a. This is another characteristic of fault-finders.
b. When things don’t go their way, it’s going to
MAJORLY disturb their desire for control!
4. Evidently in these days, feasts were held outside in the open where others could be watching and paying
attention to what was being said and done.
5. What made this particularly disturbing to Simon was
that this “sinful woman” was taking up his time with
Jesus.
a. Religious leaders of Simon’s day would not speak to women in public or in private – so this was a doubly
difficult situation for him to handle!
6. Our own sense of “religious pride” often leads us to
exclude people from our presence rather than
including them like the Son of God did!
a. Let’s remember God’s church God’s can become an even greater witness of the love of Jesus Christ if we ALL remembered it wasn’t our own goodness that caused us to enter God’s family…only the GRACE AND MERCY OF GOD!
7. Luke 7:39, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner!”
a. Do we realize that Simon’s self righteous attitude
is just as much sin as this women who sold
herself on the streets for sex? She was guilty of sins of the flesh. Simon - sins of the spirit (a critical attitude, a hard heart!) Paul says in 2 Cor.7:1 “let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
b. Unfortunately, we are often guilty of having Simon’s self righteous attitude instead of Jesus sympathetic heart!
c. Just as Simon was missing out on who Jesus really is because of his fault-finding spirit, we too can miss out on the presence of Jesus in our lives and churches when this attitude is found in us!

ILLUS: I love the story of Charles Spurgeon when he was a speaker at a conference along with another man, who publicly proclaimed that Christians could reach a place of sinless perfection where they no longer struggled with sin because they were perfected in the love of God. The speaker went on to suggest modestly that he had realized this in his own life. Spurgeon said nothing, but the next morning, at breakfast time, he crept up behind the man and poured a jug of milk on his head. He quickly discovered that the man still had his sinful nature!” (Gary Inrig. Hearts of Iron, Feet of Clay. Chicago: Moody Press, 1979, page 158).

II. THE SINNER’S COURAGEOUS FAITH

A. Expressive Worship Luke 7:38a

1. “…and she stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears; and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed his feet…”
2. Far from being casual and cold in her relationship to Jesus as Simon was, this “sinful woman” was extremely passionate in her love for the Lord Jesus Christ.
3. Perhaps this extreme gratitude and devotion she showed the Lord came out of the fact that she knew Jesus had forgiven her of everything!
4. May we always be quick to remember, worship is not about us, but about the Lord Jesus Christ being honored simply for who He is in our lives!
a. I had a conversation with a lady this week at our boys student night. She was disturbed because other churches were growing and were using songs and methods that she was not used to!
b. While, I too, prefer a more traditional worship service, we’d better be quick to let God judge the worship and hearts in the church.
c. How many of us would He have let enter in this sanctuary this morning if we had to be just as passionate as this former prostitute was?

ILLUS: Deeply immersed in meditation during a church service, Italian poet Dante Alighieri failed to kneel at the appropriate moment. His enemies hurried to the bishop and demanded that Dante be punished for his sacrilege. Dante defended himself by saying, "If those who accuse me had had their eyes and minds on God, as I had, they too would have failed to notice events around them, and they most certainly would not have noticed what I was doing." Today in the Word, March 10, 1993.

B. Expensive Worship
1. “…and anointed them with the fragrant oil.”
2. This fragrant oil was something that was highly valued
and expensive in these days!
3. She is coming before the Lord with the attitude of “all
that I am and all that I am, I lay it down at your feet
as a sacrifice!
4. She had truly experienced such mercy from the Lord
that the rest of her life would now be lived totally for His honor and glory!
5. She wasn’t trying to pay the Lord back for what He’d done for her…her debt was far too great. What she was doing was yielding her life to Jesus in gratitude.
a. Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies
as living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is
your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
5. True worship is going to cost you something because you know the value of both the GIVER and the GIFT!
a. We sing, “Lord, you are more precious that diamonds,” and then we give him our dimes!
b. We sing, “Lord, you are more costly than gold!” Then get upset when the church passes the offering plate for missions!
c. We sing, “Nothing I desire compares with you.” Then
we spend all of our money on new computers, new clothes, new cars!
6. True worship is costly because it was cost you your whole life.
a. Isaac Newton, “Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were an offering far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.”

III. THE SAVIOR’S COMPLETE FORGIVENESS

A. The Parable Luke 7:40-49

1. Freedom FROM:
a. Guilt
b. Penalty
c. Separation from God
d. Severed relationships
e. Misunderstanding of the person and purpose of God!
2. If Jesus were preaching from pulpits across America today, this would be a parable He would His body tell until we learned to obey and speak the truth in love!
3. I’m afraid there is a bit of Pharisee in most of us!

ILLUS: A mom and dad were very concerned for their son and had talked to my pastor friend many times and had requested prayer for him. Finally, they were able to get their son to come to church and on that Sunday morning there was an evangelist speaking who went off on homosexuals calling them queers from the pulpit. He got a lot of “Amens” that morning but he also turned away that son. Did Paul condemn homosexuality? Yes, in the strongest biblical language (Romans 1:26-27). Did Paul win homosexuals to Christ? Yes, just read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11. Put yourself for just a few minutes in the shoes of those parents for whose son they were heartbroken. How do we present truth to those in sin? According to Galatians 6:1 “in the spirit of meekness.” Jesus was not harsh even with Judas Iscariot (John 13:27), His betrayer. – Dr. Tim White

B. The Peace

1. Freedom TO:
a. Have peace again!
b. To try a new start.
c. Have a new relationship.
d. Experience grace!
e. To understand who new purpose in life!
f. To extend that same kind of forgiveness Jesus showed her to those who had sinned against her in the past and would in the future!

C. The Price

1. As wonderful as forgiveness and freedom and Christ is, they did not come without great cost.
2. While it cost you and I nothing to earn these gifts, it cost the Son of God His whole life’s blood on the cross of Calvary.

ILLUS: Divine forgiveness is costly. God is love, but God is holiness. God, least of all, can break the great moral laws on which the universe is built. Sin must have its punishment or the very structure of life disintegrates. And God alone can pay the terrible price that is necessary before men can be forgiven. Forgiveness is never a case of saying: 'It's all right; it doesn't matter." Forgiveness is the most costly thing in the world. William Barclay

3. God’s wrath is reserved only for those who refuse to come to Him for salvation, mercy, forgiveness!
4. Don’t delay one moment in waiting to receive the gift of new life Jesus died and rose again to give you!

CONCLUSION: The Bible teaches that God’s heart is one of forgiving even the greatest of sinners instead of condemning them for their faults. Have you received the forgiveness of sins that is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you known for your forgiveness or faultfinding? "Be ready to forgive others as God for Christ sake hath forgiven you." Eph. 4:32