Sticky Situations
Does Jesus Understand Me?
JUDGEMENT, MERCY, and GRACE
Some of you are Christians. You’ve learned the importance of putting your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. I want to ask you a hard question.
Let’s say that you helped a small group of people to become devotedChristians .
They are excited about their faith in Jesus but they are struggling because after they have come to place their trust in Jesus, their families have disowned them. Because they are Christians, others have begun to discriminate against them. They cannot buy anything from Walmart, McDonalds, or any local stores. If they even mention their faith to others, they could be thrown in jail!
WHAT DO YOU TELL THEM??
The book of Hebrews is a sermon written by a pastor to a small, struggling church. They had come to faith in Jesus Christ, and as a result, their families disowned them, they weren’t able to participate
in the economy (meaning they could not buy things because lots of places would not sell things to Christians). Some of them were even
being thrown in jail because of their faith in Jesus Christ.
The pastor of the Hebrews church wrote to encourage these Christ followers to continue in their faith despite all of the hard times they had which came as a direct result of their faith in Jesus.
Here’s what the pastor says to the Hebrews. He doesn’t make like their problems mean nothing. He doesn’t push it aside. He doesn’t ignore it. He writes this whole book of Hebrews to tell them that
regardless of everything they are going through, Jesus is bigger, and Jesus is better, and Jesus is worth it.
JUDGEMENT IS GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
MERCY IS NOT GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
GRACE IS GETTING WHAT WE DON’T DESERVE
Hebrews 4:16 “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Back in Jesus’ day, there weren’t pastors and churches like there are today. There were Rabbis who taught them about the Old Testament.
Through the Old Testament, they knew of GOD’S
JUDGMENT AND HIS MERCY.
SAY JUDGMENT.
SAY MERCY.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ time had a hard time putting together the idea that God could be both a God of judgment and a God of mercy.
TWO THRONES
To put these two ideas together, early Rabbis taught that GOD HAD TWO THRONES. HE HAD ONE THRONE OF JUDGMENT AND ONE THRONE OF JUDGMENT.
On one throne, He would show His judgment.
On the other throne, He would show His mercy.
We may want to seat of mercy, but we deserve the seat of judgment.
As a result, the Rabbis taught that God had two thrones. One throne of mercy, and one of judgment. They said this because they knew from the bible that God was both merciful and just, but they struggled with the idea that he could be both
JUDGEMENT IS GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
MERCY IS NOT GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
GRACE IS GETTING WHAT WE DON’T DESERVE
JUDGEMENT IS GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
When we commit a crime and are punished for that crime, we receive JUDGMENT.
If you commit a crime and get the punishment that is coming to you, that is JUDGMENT.
If you cheat on a test and get caught, you get detention. That is judgment.
If you get into a fight and get expelled from school, that is judgment. JUDGMENT IS GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVE.
If you steal something and go to jail, that is judgment. JUDGMENT IS GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVE.
MERCY IS NOT GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
When you see people on tv say, “Judge I BEG for MERCY from the Court…” they are asking to NOT GET WHAT THEY DESERVE. They committed the crime, but are asking for MERCY, so that the Judge will not give them what they deserve.
If you cheat on a test and get caught, but you don’t get detention. THAT IS MERCY.
If you get into a fight and don’t get expelled from school. THAT IS MERCY.
If you steal something and don’t go to jail. THAT IS MERCY. MERCY IS NOT GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVE.
Here’s what the author of Hebrew’s says:
Hebrews 4:16 “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Through the cross of Jesus Christ, we get to receive GRACE. The pastor of Hebrews says there is a THIRD THRONE. THE THRONE OF GOD’S GRACE THAT WE CAN BOLDLY COME TO BECAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST.
JUDGEMENT IS GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
MERCY IS NOT GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
GRACE IS GETTING WHAT WE DON’T DESERVE
The Hebrew pastor says there is another throne of God that is even better. The throne of Gods grace.
GRACE IS GETTING WHAT WE DON’T DESERVE
If you cheat on a test and get caught, but you get an A, THAT IS Grace.
If you get into a fight and you are rewarded for controlling your temper so well. THAT IS Grace
If you steal something and then it is given to you as a gift. THAT IS Grace. MERCY IS NOT GETTING WHAT YOU DESERVE.
When we come to God through Jesus Christ, we can come BOLDLY because God is our Father.
"If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If he had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, he’ll listen."
The other night, my son had a bad dream and he came to wake me up in the middle of the night because of it. I stayed with him until he went back to sleep. I’m not a superhero. I am not unusual. I’m a
parent, and a parent does what comes naturally. He helps. I DON’T CHARGE A FEE. I DON’T ASK FOR A FAVOR IN RETURN. I’M NOT THE SMARTEST GUY IN THE WORLD, BUT I KNOW THAT MY KID NEEDS ME AND BECAUSE OF THAT, HE CAN COME BOLDLY TO SEE ME BECAUSE HE KNOWS I AM HIS DAD.
That’s what the Hebrew pastor says about coming to God despite all of our problems and mess ups. Because of Jesus Christ, you are made
right with God and can come to Him as your dad!
DON’T THINK THAT GOD IS TOO BUSY FOR YOU.
DON’T THINK THAT HE IS TIRED OF HEARING ABOUT THE SAME OLD STUFF.
DON’T THINK HE IS UPSET AND GROANS WHEN HE SEES YOU.
DON’T THINK YOU NEED TO SPEAK IN A DIFFERENT AND HOLY LANGUAGE TO APPROACH HIM.
JESUS KNOW YOUR SINS BUT STILL LOVES YOU TO DEATH – that’s why you can approach God’s throne of Grace.
JUDGEMENT IS GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
MERCY IS NOT GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
GRACE IS GETTING WHAT WE DON’T DESERVE
You are not special because of who you are, but because of WHOSE you are. You are special because of Who your Father is!
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I heard recently about some unusual items that sold for a lot of money recently. I read that when Scarlett Johansson (who will be the Black Widow in Avengers) went on the Jay Leno show in 2008 she was suffering from a runny nose. Leno handed her a tissue and she blew her nose into it. Somehow, the mucus filled piece of paper was sold online (of course after it was signed and sealed) and made $5,300 for a charity called USA Harvest. 176 brand new DS games!
I also ready that back in 2007, when Brittney Spears had a meltdown and shaved her hair off, attacked cars, and abused photographers, apparently also spit out a wad of gum at somebody too. Somehow this was of used chewing gum hit eBay and was sold for $514! Equal to 500 McDoubles!
Apricot dress worn by the main actress in Hunger games sells right now for $5000. Your parents could buy you 1,667 pairs of socks with that money!
Someone even bought a sparkly glove that Michael Jackson used to wear in some of his music videos for $190,000! The point in sharing all of this is to drive home the point that we understand that common ordinary items gain value when they come under the ownership of special people. 3800, NEW, not used from Gamestop, Xbox games!
YOU CAN COME UNDER THE OWNERSHIP OF GOD THOUGH JESUS CHRIST!
We can come boldly to the throne of grace because of whose we are. While we are common ordinary people who deserve judgment, we gain great value because of whom we come under the ownership of and whom we belong too.
JUDGEMENT IS GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
MERCY IS NOT GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
GRACE IS GETTING WHAT WE DON’T DESERVE
Have you received the grace of God through Jesus Christ?
Too many times we let things get in the way of our relationship with God.
it reminds me of a story I heard awhile ago.
REMEMBER THE DUCK
A little boy visiting his grandparents was given his first slingshot. He practiced in the woods, but he could never hit his target. As he came back to Grandma’s back yard, he spied her pet duck. On an impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck fell dead. The boy panicked.
Desperately he hid the dead duck in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching. Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing. After lunch that day, Grandma said, "Sally, let’s wash the dishes."
But Sally said, "Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you, Johnny?" And she whispered to him, “Remember the duck!” So Johnny did the dishes.
Later Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing. Grandma said, "I’m sorry, but I need Sally to help make supper." Sally smiled and said, "That’s all taken care of. Johnny wants to do it." Again she whispered, "Remember the duck." Johnny stayed while Sally went fishing.
After several days of doing both his chores and Sally’s, finally he couldn’t stand it. He confessed to Grandma that he’d killed the duck.
"I know, Johnny," she said, giving him a hug. "I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave of you."
(Richard Hoefler, Will Daylight Come?)
Don't let anything hold you back from knowing God.
PROP CHAIR, TABLE
Let me explain it this way…
“… if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Romans 10:9
Explain briefly that to be saved we must believe in Jesus Christ.
Read
“You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble!” James 2:19
Ask them that since the devil believes does that mean that the devil is saved?
Set a chair at the front of the room and tell the kids to imagine the chair to be Jesus.
I explained that what it meant to believe in Jesus was that we had to lean on, depend on and trust in Jesus to RECONCILE US TO GOD AS OUR FATHER (and we can go to Heaven). That is salvation. If we pretend this chair is Jesus then I must sit on the Chair to get to heaven.
First I sat down on a table near the chair. I then explained although I knew who Jesus (the chair) was, by choosing to sit on the table I would not be saved.
I then picked up the chair and carried it with me. I explained by going to church or reading my bible I could not be saved because I still hadn't trusted in Jesus(sat in the chair).
Don't let anyone or anything hold you back from the grace of God.
Finally I sat in the chair (trusted in, leaned on, depended on Jesus) and I was able to get to RECONCILE US TO GOD (and go to heaven).
Have you received His grace today?
JUDGEMENT IS GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
MERCY IS NOT GETTING WHAT WE DESERVE
GRACE IS GETTING WHAT WE DON’T DESERVE
Let’s pray…
Some of you may have forgotten that Jesus knows everything about you, but still loves you to death. Maybe you feel like you have just been
before the THRONE OF GOD’S JUDGMENT, and you need to be reminded that you are special because YOU BELONG TO GOD. Jesus wants you to come boldly before the THRONE OF GOD’S GRACE.
Maybe you need to be “SAVED”. You know about Jesus or heard about Him, but you haven’t really put your faith and trust in Him. Maybe you’ve been coming to church for awhile, but never really gave your heart to Jesus. Do it today.
Maybe you are new here and this seems kinda weird for you. I want you to know that you are not here by accident. Jesus wants you to place your faith and trust in Him, to connect you to God; and to receive His GRACE. IF YOU NEED TO GIVE YOUR HEART TO JESUS, OR IF YOU AREN’T SURE IF YOU HAVE YET, LET’S PRAY TOGETHER AND MAKE IT RIGHT WITH HIM TODAY. IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST TO BE SAVED, I’M GOING TO COUNT TO 3, AND WHEN I SAY 3, RAISE YOUR HAND HIGH.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Jesus. Lord Jesus, thank you came to give Your life for me. I turn away from my sin. Come into my heart. Change me. Strengthen me. I say this now so that YOU can hear me, so that the people around can hear me, and so that the devil can hear me, JESUS CHRIST IS MY LORD. HE IS MY SAVIOR. I WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN! NEVER, NEVER, NEVER! In Jesus name, Amen.
You make a decision to give your life to Jesus. You may feel different or you may not. Jesus has forgiven your sin and made you right with God. Tell your parents. Tell your friends. Begin to pray for God to speak to you. He does that through the bible, through our family, our bible teachers, and godly friends.
