I HAVE TWO QUESTIONS FOR YOU TODAY. ONE: WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE OUTRAGEOUS? TWO: WHAT EXACTLY MUST HAPPEN IN ORDER TO MEET YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE TERM "OUTRAGEOUS" MEANS?
FOR SOME OF US, BEING OUTRAGEOUS ARE THOSE THINGS WHICH DEFIES ALL HUMAN REASONING; WHEN IT EXCEEDS THE TYPICAL BOUNDARIES OF NORMAL EXPECTATIONS, OR WHEN IT
DOESN’T SEEM TO MAKE ANY SENSE AT ALL.
ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THE COIN, FOR OTHERS, IT MAY MEAN THAT SOMEBODY DOES SOMETHING THAT’S COMPLETELY UNPREDICTABLE OR THAT RUBS AGAINST WHAT IS CONSIDERED "NORMAL," OR EVEN WHEN IT IS THEIR BEHAVIOR THAT IS OFF.
IT IS WITH THESE FEW UNDERSTANDINGS OF WHAT IS "OUTRAGEOUS" THAT MAKES THE IMAGE OF CHRIST GIVEN TO US IN ISAIAH 53, SO POWERFUL. IT IS SO POWERFUL TO SEE, HUMANLY SPEAKING, HOW OUTRAGEOUS CHRIST WAS TO ENDURE THE SUFFERING, HUMILIATION, SHAME, AND SLANDER OF HIS DEATH.
ISAIAH THE PROPHET GIVES US AN ARTISTIC PICTURE OF WORDS TO POINT US TOWARDS A MESSIAH WHO WAS ACCUSED AND ACCOSTED; WHO WAS BURDENED AND BEATEN; WHO WAS TAUNTED AND TORMENTED. YET, WHAT BECOMES EQUALLY AMAZING, OR "OUTRAGEOUS" IS THE RESPONSE THAT THE CHRIST EXPRESSED.
THE SCRIPTURES TELL US THE JESUS WAS OPPRESSED, AFFLICTED, AND LED LIKE A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER, BUT NEVER ONCE OPENED HIS MOUTH. IN ALL THE AFFLICTION THERE NEVER WAS A TIME THAT DECEIT CAME FROM HIS LIPS.
IN TIMES OF TROUBLE AND HARDSHIP, CAN THE SAME BE SAID OF US AS WITNESSES TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH? HERE’S A TEST: HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU WERE UNFAIRLY ACCUSED? HAS ANYONE EVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT YOU THAT WAS UNTRUE?
HOW ABOUT THOSE TIMES WHEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE IS BLATANTLY TAKING ADVANTAGE OF YOU? HAVE YOU EVER FELT THAT A TRUSTED FRIEND USED YOU FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL GAIN?
IN ALL OF THESE SITUATIONS, WHAT IS THE FIRST INSTINCT THAT COMES TO MIND IN HOW TO RESPOND? DO YOU CLINCH YOUR FIST AND GRIT YOUR TEETH? IS YOUR MIND SUDDENLY FILLED WITH ALL KINDS OF SORDID IMAGES IN WHICH YOU IMAGINE YOURSELF PERFORMING UNMENTIONABLE ACTS OF RETALIATION?
WHY DO WE STRUGGLE WITHIN OUR HEARTS TO KEEP FROM WANTING TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO GET EVEN? WHY DO WE FIND A CERTAIN PLEASURE IN DOING WHATEVER IS NECESSARY TO BRING THE OFFENDER DOWN? HUMANLY SPEAKING, WE WANT TO BE THE ENFORCER OF JUSTICE IN OUR OWN DEFENSE.
YET, WITH ALL OF THESE POSSIBLE HUMAN RESPONSES, IT IS PRECISELY WHAT MAKES THE PASSIONATE LOVE OF CHRIST SO INCREDIBLE AND OUTRAGEOUS. IN ALL THAT JESUS ENDURED, HE NEVER ONCE EXHIBITED ANY SORT OF PLANS FOR RETALIATION.
PERSONALLY SPEAKING, IF I HAD THE GOD-GIVEN POWER THAT CHRIST HAD, I AM ASHAMED TO SAY THAT I WOULD FIND SOME SINISTER WAY TO USE IT TO MY ADVANTAGE. BUT JESUS DIDN’T! NOT ONCE DID JESUS USE HIS GOD-GIVEN POWERS TO LASH OUT OR GET EVEN. INSTEAD, HE USED THEM FOR GOOD.
COUNTLESS TIMES WE SEE JESUS USING HIS GOD-GIVEN POWERS TO HEAL THE SICK, RESTORE SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO CAST OUT DEVILS AND TO RAISE THE DEAD BACK TO LIFE AGAIN. YET, IN ALL THAT HAPPENED, JESUS DID NOTHING TO REVEAL ANY INCLINATION TOWARDS RETALIATION.
IN ALL THINGS, JESUS CHRIST ABSORBED THE ANGER AND THE MOCKINGS. HE WILLINGLY TOOK THE BEATINGS, SCOURGES, KICKS, AND PUNCHES. HE ACCEPTED THE ABUSE AND FREELY AND WILLINGLY SUFFERED ALL THAT ABUSE THAT WAS SHOWERED UPON HIM. NOW THAT, FROM A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE, IS OUTRAGEOUS!
SO OUTRAGEOUS THAT IT RAISES THE QUESTION, "WHY?" WHY DID JESUS JUST STAND THERE AND TAKE IT? WHAT WAS IT THAT ENABLED JESUS TO RESIST ANY TEMPTATION TO GET EVEN? THE ANSWER IS NOT ONLY IN ISAIAH 53, BUT MORE PROMINENTLY UNVEILED IN JOHN 3:16. IT CAME DOWN TO THE ISSUE OF LOVE!
HOW ELSE CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT CHRIST DID IF IT WASN’T THE TYPE OF LOVE THAT WAS OUTRAGEOUS? YES, IT DOES DEFY HUMAN EXPLANATION. THE LOVE IS IRRATIONAL AND PERHAPS BOARDERS ON BEING LUDICROUS.
BUT IN ALL HONESTY, THAT IS WHAT MAKES CHRIST’S LOVE SO BEAUTIFUL. IT IS BEAUTIFUL BECAUSE IT DOES RUB AGAINST THE GRAIN OF WHAT IS NORMAL. IT MOVES US WELL BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF WHAT MIGHT BE TYPICALLY EXPECTED. HIS LOVE IS OUTRAGEOUS BECAUSE IT FOUND TO BE DEEPLY PURE AND PROFOUNDLY PERSONAL. IT IS THIS DEEP, PROFOUND, AND PERSONAL LOVE THAT CHRIST DESIRES IN RETURN.
HOW DOES ONE EXPERIENCE THE PERSONAL AND PURE LOVE OF GOD? HOW DOES ONE MOVE BEYOND THE POSITION OF KNOWING ABOUT HIS PASSIONATE LOVE TO EXPERIENCE IT IN ITS FULLNESS?
THE FIRST WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S LOVE IS TO BEGIN REALIZING THAT YOU ARE LOVEABLE TO GOD. YOU ARE THE ALL-CONSUMING PASSION OF YOUR CREATOR. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND THAT YOU MATTER TO HIM! WHY WOULD GOD BE WILLING TO STEP OUT OF HEAVEN IN THE FIRST PLACE? ALL BECAUSE HE CONSIDERS YOU TO BE WORTH LOVING!
PLEASE LISTEN! NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU HAVE COME FROM OR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, GOD CONSIDERS YOU WORTH LOVING. YOU ARE NOT JUST ANOTHER FACE IN THE CROWD OR JUST THE PRODUCT OF HUMAN REPRODUCTION.
YOU ARE SIGNIFICANT TO GOD! YOU COUNT! YOU MATTER! THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING IN ALL OF GOD’S CREATION THAT WILL EVER CAUSE GOD TO QUIT LOVING YOU. NOTHING!
THIS POWER IS TOLD TO US IN ROMANS 8:38-39. "FOR I AM CONVINCED THAT NEITHER DEATH NOR LIFE, NEITHER ANGELS NOR DEMONS, NEITHER THE PRESENT NOR THE FUTURE, NOR ANY POWERS, NEITHER HEIGHT NOR DEPTH, NOR ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION, WILL BE ABLE TO SEPARATE US FROM THE LOVE OF GOD THAT IS IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD."
THE FIRST WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S LOVE IS TO BEGIN REALIZING THAT YOU ARE LOVEABLE TO GOD. YOU ARE THE ALL-CONSUMING PASSION OF YOUR CREATOR. THAT GOD WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.
THE SECOND WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S LOVE IS TO BEGIN REALIZING WHAT GOD WANTS FROM YOU. HE WANTS A RELATIONSHIP.
GOD’S DESIRE FOR YOU IS PERSONAL AND NOT RELIGIOUS. HE DOESN’T NEED RELIGIOUS PEOPLE DOING A LOT OF RELIGIOUS THINGS THAT ARE VOID OF INTIMACY WITH HIM.
IT WAS NEVER ABOUT RELIGION IN THE FIRST PLACE. IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN AND WILL ALWAYS BE ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS. GOD’S PASSION FOR YOU IS THAT YOU MOVE BEYOND "HEAD KNOWLEDGE" OF RELIGION, AND ENCOUNTER HIM IN YOUR HEART.
GOD WANTS US TO GO FROM THE LEVEL OF BEING JUST "INTELLECTUALLY" CONNECTED IN OUR MINDS TO BEING INTIMATELY AND TOTALLY CONNECTED WITH HIM IN OUR HEARTS.
EMBRACE HIS LOVE AND ACCEPT THE FACT THAT YOU ARE A LOVEABLE PERSON TO GOD. REALIZE THAT HE WANTS TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.
AS THE PSALMIST DECLARED IN 105:3-4, "GLORY IN HIS HOLY NAME; LET THE HEARTS OF THOSE WHO SEEK THE LORD REJOICE. LOOK TO THE LORD AND HIS STRENGTH; SEEK HIS FACE ALWAYS. THE SECOND WAY TO EXPERIENCE GOD’S LOVE IS TO BEGIN REALIZING WHAT GOD WANTS FROM YOU. HE WANTS A RELATIONSHIP.
THE THIRD AND FINAL WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S LOVE IS TO JUST SIMPLY RECEIVE IT FOR YOURSELF. SAY "YES" TO HIS REACH. DON’T RESIST IT OR RUN FROM IT. IN FACT, GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO FALL INTO THE SAME ARMS OF GRACE THAT WERE STRETCHED OUT AND NAILED UPON CALVARY.
DON’T WASTE TIME NEEDLESSLY IN TRYING TO EARN IT. YOU ARE NOT A "PLEDGE" TRYING TO GET INTO A SORORITY OR A FRATERNITY. IT ISN’T A LOVE BASED ON "CONDITIONS" OR A PREDETERMINED SET OF REQUIREMENTS. YOU DON’T HAVE TO DO ALL THE RIGHT THINGS OR BEHAVE IN A PARTICULAR WAY IN ORDER TO BE LOVED.
THAT IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES GOD’S LOVE FOR YOU SO OUTRAGEOUS AND SO PURE. THERE ARE NO CONDITIONS ATTACHED. HE STANDS AT THE DOOR OF YOUR HEART AND KNOCKS WITH TENDERNESS, INVITING YOU TO EMBRACE HIS LOVE JUST AS YOU ARE. HE OFFERS YOU THE FREE GIFT OF LOVE. IT IS ALL YOURS FOR THE TAKING.
IT WILL NEVER BE A MATTER OF LIVING A PERFECT LIFE. IT IS NOT A MATTER OF ACTING IN A RELIGIOUS SORT OF WAY. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF REACHING OUT AND RECEIVING HIS LOVE FOR YOU. THE THIRD AND FINAL WAY TO EXPERIENCE THE FULLNESS OF GOD’S LOVE IS TO JUST SIMPLY RECEIVE IT FOR YOURSELF.
REALIZE YOU ARE LOVEABLE! REALIZE THAT GOD WANTS A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU! REALIZE THAT GOD’S LOVE IS THERE FOR THE TAKING. RECEIVE GOD’S LOVE FOR YOURSELF!
THOSE ARE THE ONLY WORDS THAT WE NEED TO HEAR TODAY. NOW, IT IS JUST A MATTER OF WHAT GOD NEEDS TO HEAR FROM US TODAY. IN HIS PERSISTENT AND PATIENT WAY, GOD CRAVES TO HEAR THOSE MELODIC WORDS FROM OUR MOUTHS WHICH IS "YES, I RECEIVE YOUR GIFT OF LOVE TODAY."
GOD HAS SPOKEN! GOD IS STILL SPEAKING TO US TODAY THOSE SAME WORDS HE SPOKE WHEN CHRIST DIED UPON THE CROSS. HE IS SAYING TO US ONCE AGAIN, "YOU ARE WORTH LOVING." "YOU ARE WORTH HAVING A RELATIONSHIP WITH." "FALL INTO MY ARMS OF LOVE AND HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH ME."
RECEIVE GOD’S PRECIOUS GIFT OF LOVE TODAY AS WELL AS HIS MOST HOLY WORDS FROM ROMANS 5:8, "BUT GOD DEMONSTRATED HIS OWN LOVE FOR US IN THIS: WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US." DOESN’T SEEM SO OUTRAGEOUS ANYMORE DOES IT? GOOD! IT’S JUST SIMPLY "THE PASSIONATE LOVE OF CHRIST" FOR US!
