Life Wide Open…Arms
Our desire to be like Christ will be measured in an arm length.
Sunday Morning Sermon
11.02.08
I used three texts to look at the life of Christ -- If you would like the power point email me the title in the subject line and I will send it to you via email for free -- good luck with it.
Intro: (Start with Title)
The Bible says that the mouth works from a condition in the heart. If I put bad stuff, in my heart – that same stuff comes out of my mouth. Just the opposite is true as well, if I put good stuff, God’s word, in my heart it also comes out the mouth. Jesus proved this himself when he was tempted by the devil – The response of our savior – Scripture. Church it was his response because that’s what he had – IN HERE. He was tempted, but the temptation never planted a seed or was it allowed to grow.
Just to make sure you aren’t asleep this morning – Who wants to be like Jesus? Do you really? Often our idea of Jesus is something different than what the Bible teaches. I remember a bunch of year’s back we had a dinner at church – and mom let me get whatever I wanted. I ran to the dessert table and took two huge helpings of apple pie. Why would I do that? Because – a young person usually likes sweets over green beans. The world we live in is good at doing the same thing when it comes to Jesus and the Bible – Just pick the parts that make you feel good – skip the green beans part when it talks about sacrifice and loving those who hate you and turning the other cheek and forgiving and patience, and the troubles you will have in this life – I’ll take “He’s got the whole world in his hands” kind of stuff.
We’ve weaked down our savior to make him more inviting – easier to swallow. Jesus sets an absolute example for us to follow.
Discussion:
He expects us to follow him – all the way, and not just the parts that we like or that help us sleep at night. You said that you wanted to be like him. Over the next few weeks we are going to look at what it means to be like Jesus. I look at the life of Christ and see some amazing things he did – that we can do, not only that but that we can teach others to do as well.
Church – if my mouth is measured by my heart. If the words that I say are connected to what I take in – then something else is true. Something else is connected to my heart as well. Hear me – the length of my arms. I know what you’re thinking – the preacher was up drinking last night. Not the physical length of my arms – but how wide open they are. Church, I look at the life of Christ and I see his arms wide open – not just open arms but a heart that allows for the open arms.
We could be here all day and make this apply to many, many times in the life of Jesus. I’ve got three examples of his wide open arms – and ways we can demonstrate the same in our lives. Our desire to follow Christ will be measured in the length of our arms.
I want us to see some of the characteristics of the people Jesus opens his arms wide for – I think you will see those around you – but I think if you are honest you will see yourself.
Matthew 19:13-15(Advance) (Read)
If I had to put a word over this text here it is: (Advance)
I. Acceptance
The parallel is in Mark’s gospel.
We accept children. We give rights to children. Not a school year goes by that we don’t discuss some young person wearing something to school that is a distraction and what do we talk about – FREE SPEECH.
a. We make them our buddies
i. And they do what they want
When I was a kid – we didn’t have a fancy buddy system. When I got in trouble at school – I got it double at home. My parents didn’t race to the school to complain about the teachers. We have changed so much.
Somewhere in the country – a man had placed several campaign signs in his yard and they would get stolen, over and over – so he replaced them again – and they would get stolen. He puts an electric charge on them – the parents of the 9 year old who had been stealing them all along – are going to sue.
My encouragement to you – be the parent. God gave you that role – and the kids have been given their role as well – it is within his good purpose that we stay within those roles.
b. Child hood in the time of Jesus
i. Was way different than ours – even more than when you were a child
1. Children were really the least…and they were last
One author said that Jesus was welcoming the humble to the kingdom – really they didn’t have a choice but to be humble.
2. Value was more on the unusable side
In the traditional view: (disciples view) children are given a low status in society and are by no means permitted to participate fully in religion.
c. If you are a disciple – this is not your target audience
i. Children aren’t going to add to a following
ii. They wouldn’t understand his teaching on divorce or sacrifice
And HEY – look at the time! “We just don’t have time for this, Jesus” – “Let’s move on to people who can add something – people worth something.”
Look at what Jesus does – this is actually very common with Jesus
d. He invites them to him
e. He takes time for them – listen to this…
He accepts them. They do have value in the kingdom. Their value in society was low – their approval in society was low. Jesus found the time for them. He sees value in people coming to him. Paul tells us that it is God’s desire that all men be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth – the truth, church, is Jesus.
f. The world – pretends to accept you
i. But it’s based on the temporary
ii. It’s based on what you can do for them
iii. It’s based on how well you perform or conform
The first time you go against the flow – the first time you don’t fall in line – the world is done with you. Church, If I love you simply for what you can do for me – you could argue – that I don’t really love you.
g. We sign up for this – simply because we want to be accepted
i. Relationships – Sex outside of marriage – at the core – Acceptance!
ii. Drugs – or habits – to get over the troubles in life – at the Core – Acceptance!
iii. Lifestyles that don’t match the will of God – Acceptance!
Here’s the response of our heavenly father – He drops to his knees – he opens his arms and he says you – my child – you are accepted. You no longer have to worry about obtaining or maintaining acceptance from this world -- people who don’t really love who you are. Jesus says – creation…I was there when you were conceived – I knitted you in the womb of your mother. I know everything about you – there is not a place that I am not with you – because I have accepted you – I call you.
h. We must – hear me – We MUST
i. Reconnect – and Renew –
1. Notice what the renewal does(Advance)
Romans 12:2 (NIV) – Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
a. It allows that reconnection to his will
Here’s word Number 2 – (We’ll get to the text in a minute) (Advance)
II. Love
Let me tell you the story --
You’ve heard it before – A man has two sons – the youngest one isn’t happy with what he has. He dreams of bigger and brighter days – he doesn’t like his father’s house. He doesn’t care for the provision his father provides, or the rules he has to follow. He wants to leave – so he asks his dad – do you remember – Dad give me what I would have if you were not breathing right now. Dad, I’ve given this some thought and I just don’t see myself here anymore. However he said it – Dad gives him his inheritance. The son leaves – he takes off everything that would remind him of his past – everything that would identify his past, is removed. The further away from the father the worse his spiritual condition.
a. He finds new friends –
i. People who have a new way of life –
1. Parties – girls – Parties
b. He finds himself
i. Compromised – Jewish kid – Pig pile (One of these things don’t belong)
He rises up – and talks himself into going back to his dad. He does repent – he understands how big and how bad what he’s done was. He’s being real. He’s walking back to his dad – and everything that, that means – Listen to what this says: (Advance) Luke 15:20-24 (Read)
In a story of complete love we get a picture of our heavenly father.
c. Have you ever felt – Unloved?
Maybe because of the rejection of someone else. Maybe because you don’t match up to some expectation. Maybe there is a misunderstanding about how you feel. What happens if the feeling of being unloved is present because you feel unloveable –Unworthy of love.
i. Something you’ve done
1. A decision you’ve made – maybe something you wish you could take back.
In this story – Jesus tells about a young brother – who made the decision to leave the father – maybe you’ve tied the same boots and made the same walk. A compromise here, a selfish ambition there – starts out small – but the track away from the father is clear. Church listen –
d. God’s love for you is:
i. Absolute
ii. Incomparable
iii. Never short of our need
I know some of you this morning don’t believe that God could love you – You’ve listened to this lie – that you’re (because of your short falls) unloveable by God. Maybe even unusable. No one – who humbly seeks after God – No one who understands his own frailty is beyond the use of God.
e. Away from the father
i. The son was on his own –
1. Unprotected
2. Unmotivated
But he was not away from the love of the father – and neither are you. No…the father – Stands on his feet watching – waiting – hoping that his son will come home. He stands in heaven now – waiting – watching – knowing that his love for you – will bring you home. With outstretched arms – he asks that you come back to him – leaving everything we’ve gotten ourselves into. Removing the junk, and sin and problems we’ve even embraced – not so that we are empty, but so that we can freely embrace the one who loves us absolutely. Jesus says…(Advance)
Matthew 6:24 (NIV) – "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Out stretched arms -- a condition of heart. God’s heart for us – and our heart for those around us – Accepting – Loving here’s the third: (Advance)
III. Forgiving
Forgiveness has two wings to it. All of us would probably line up for the first one – but the second doesn’t come as easy. Here’s the first --
a. From God to us – our acceptance –
i. His Love for us
Here’s the text: John 19:16-18 (Read)
Everyone loves a clean slate. Everyone loves a fresh start and new life. He offers that to you regardless – it’s been paid for already. If your boss came to you this week and said – every transaction you do will be paid for – Suddenly you might not eat off the dollar menu. The gas tank would probably never see the lower side of ½ a tank.
b. Some see God’s grace that way
i. Unlimited grace – Unlimited sin
ii. The more my sin increases – the more his grace increases
A bank robber would have bigger grace than a jay walker. Bigger grace is good. The problem is: God’s grace doesn’t work like that – you need grace regardless. Bank robber – Jay Walker – everything in between – you need the grace of God – and his grace, biblically is not a credit card for your sin. Your sin moves you away from Him, and therefore – unrepented sin leaves you away from his grace. Being sorry about your anger doesn’t really matter if you are just going to fly off the handle tomorrow.
c. Good news about his grace to us
i. All we have to do is ask –
We repent and move in the opposite direction – this might change the places and people you hang out with. If you are at the beginning of that road – it includes baptism, it also includes fellowship with like minded people (church). It includes – like the prodigal son confession – you can’t confess what you don’t admit – this is private between you and God. It includes allowing God to clean out the areas in your life that simply don’t honor him – biblical word…sanctification.
ii. It’s also not based on your goodness
1. You aren’t worthy – neither am I – and we never will be
If we were – if we could be it wouldn’t be grace. You earn your paycheck – you deserve it…there’s no grace in a paycheck. Biblically, we earn death, because of our sin – that’s the wage – But God’s GIFT is eternal life. Don’t wait. You will never be more clean than you are right now – wanting to change. Your clean slate – your eternal life has already been paid for – Jesus opened his arms and in the ultimate demonstration of his love and forgiveness for you – he died for you. He knew you would be away from God – he knew that something would have to die because of your sin – and he chose himself – instead of you. Accepting his gift of forgiveness and all that it means – will move you to him. Forgiveness – it’s kind of a double edged sword – Listen, just as much as you need forgiveness from God – here’s the second part of forgiveness
d. We must offer forgiveness to other people
Jesus said – In this world you will have trouble – More times than not….there is a person or people at the beginning or during that trouble. Jesus could have said, in this world you will have people who hate you, misunderstand you, tempt you, abuse you, steal from you, under mind your efforts…but he doesn’t he leaves it pretty generic – You will have trouble.
e. Forgiveness from God to us –
i. Is pretty meaningless – unless it’s duplicated to those around us
ii. It’s not mean to be worn as a hat – but shared like an umbrella
People will do some rotten things to you – I’ve talked with some of you – You couldn’t make up some of the stories inside our church. Do this for me – understand your need to forgive those around you – family members (thanksgiving table is close); co-workers; friends – whoever it is…understand your need to forgive – like you need God to forgive you. You can only be angry or mad at someone if you are above them. As someone who also falls short of God’s glory – the person who needs to forgive and the person who needs forgiveness – are both under GOD.
f. Jesus forgave you – he forgives you – over and over and over
Offer that same forgiveness to the people in your life who need it, and don’t really deserve it. If this were easier it would be a song – so don’t do this by yourself. This is not something done according to your goodness – but God’s spirit living inside you. If our desire to be like Christ is measured in an arms length – it starts with the heart. Where you have desire to forgive and move forward – God will make the way, because that’s what he does.
Conclusion:
Have you ever been afraid? Nothing scares me more than a loss of control – when I’m on roller blades – I’m good…but trip me up, or give me more than a straight line…I don’t like it – Icy roads…I’ve done donuts on a hill before – on accident…nearly caused an accident. I’ve landed my truck in a ditch one. time….preacher from my home church helped me get it out. I’ve been scared by a church before – things didn’t line up very good at all – promises weren’t kept. The bigger the risks the more that scares me. Someone offered to mix up my sermon one Sunday morning – I’ve preached for 6 years – I would be terrified.
Stephen King – “Fear is the enemy of execution.” That’ll be the one and only time I’ll ever quote Stephen king…but he’s right. Fear makes a person stop. What happens over and over – is not the lack of knowledge that we need to change – it’s not the lack of desire for change – all of us said we wanted to follow Jesus – what happens over and over – is the fear of what we might not measure up to or what happens if we fail – that fear keeps you from making a choice to follow Christ. If that’s where you are this morning – 1st John 4:18 says – Perfect love drives out fear. You have nothing to fear in this life – but only to hang on to the heavenly father – and you know what God does? He stretches out his arms – wide open – and he wants you to come to him.
Let’s pray.
