Pastor Dave Martin Cross Creek Community Church ~ Nov 14, 2004
“Clear Thinking... About New Life” – Part 5
In an average lifetime, the average American spends:
• 3 years in business meetings
• 13 years watching TV
• $89,281 on food
• Consumes 109,354 pounds of food
• Makes 1811 trips to McDonalds
• Spends $6881 in vending machines
• Eats 35,138 cookies and 1483 pounds of candy
• Catches 304 colds
• Is involved in 6 motor vehicle accidents,
• Is hospitalized 8 times (men) or 12 times (women)
• Spends 24 years sleeping.
• Where does God fit in my life?
In an Average Lifetime, Tom Heymann
In 1991 a Gallup poll showed that 78 percent of Americans expect to go to heaven when they die. However, many of them hardly ever pray, read the Bible, or attend church. They admit that they live to please themselves instead of God. I wonder why these people would want to go to heaven. - Life is precious and so very short!
• Have you ever felt like you sinned too many times or have so messed up your life, God abandoned you?
• You feel like you will never be close to God again... Heavy duty weight of sin hanging over you?
• It’s a lousy way to feel, wandering through life, extremely guilty, very ashamed, full of regret and unworthy.
• There is a lady like that in the Bible who felt this same way. It is a true story in how she found New Life!
• A true story of how she heard the sound of GRACE that radically changed her life.
Text: Luke 7:36-50 (pew Bible p731)
Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, 38and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner."
40Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
41"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
43Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus said.
44Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
48Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" 50Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
New Life...
1. God sees the Real You, He looks into your Heart. Vs 39-40\
Luke 7:39-40 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner." Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me, teacher," he said.
We see the lives of two very different people... (Jesus MRI’s your spiritual condition... He knew what Simon was thinking)
• Pharisee – Self-righteous – Simon’s thinking was in error. He added laws to scriptures, he was proud, self-righteous, smug, thought God was on his side because he was religious.
• Woman – God-righteous – Luke never mentions her name, just a sinful woman by reputation. Some Theologians believe her to be a “famous” prostitute, a whore. But she was attracted to the Savior... she knew she was a sinner, and knew she needed a Savior.
One immersed in Jewish religion, a Pharisee and the other a sinful woman living in a sinful lifestyle. God sees the real person. God is able to look into our hearts... One heart was closed and one heart was open.
1 Samuel 16:7b “...The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
• Have you ever tried to hide something from someone? Feeling of guilt / getting caught?
Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to
whom we must give account.
God knows all and sees all. Someday we will all come face to face with our Creator and give an account.
2. We Must Understand our Sinful Nature. Vs 37, 39
Luke 7:37, 39 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume... When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that she is a sinner."
Pharisee – Judgmental, self-righteous
Woman – understood her sinful nature
What is the definition of Sin?
a.) Breaking God’s Law – Not doing what God says to do (Breaking the 10 commandments)
b.) Missing the Mark – Doing what God says not to do (Trying to merit salvation)
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Eccles. 7:20 There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.
Galatians 3:22a “But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin...”
Some here may feel uncomfortable as we talk about sin... that is good... this is not about feeling good about ourselves but all about thinking clearly about Forgiveness & Salvation & Eternity & New life.
Romans 3:10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;
How many murders do you need to commit to make you a murderer? ONE
Have you ever told a lie?
How many sins do you need to commit to make you a sinner? ONE
• I’m sure this woman heard it over and over... here comes that sinner
• From without, the whispers of the people, the looks, the rejection
• From within she felt the guilt, rejection and shame of her sin.
• When we break God’s laws and miss His mark – we’re GUILTY.
• Sin suppresses our joy and peace... it draws us away from God.
• Jesus understands our hurts & struggles, He sees our needs... She came to Jesus with expensive perfume, weeping over His feet, drying His feet with her hair, kissing His feet.
• That culture is different than ours... host will greet you & make sure your feet was washed – he didn’t.
3. Believe Jesus is able to Cancel Out your Sin Debt. V42
Luke 7:42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"
• Jesus is the solution to sin. The woman came up to Him and demonstrated her faith and trust in Christ.
• I experienced New Life about 32 years ago... Jesus wiped my sin slate clean.
• Forgiveness, freedom, Peace, Direction, Purpose for life, Hope
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 3:23-24 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
From the cross Jesus cried out – “It is finished” – Gk word, “Paid in Full” – the price for our redemption is paid in full!
4. Receive New Life by Repentance and Faith in Christ. Vs 48-50
Luke 7:47-50 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
• Trust in Christ alone to save you Vs 48-50; Acts 4:12
o The four greatest words... “Your sins are forgiven” – She must have melted in a puddle of joy!
o Jesus gave her a priceless gift... He gave her pardon, forgiveness, eternal life – cleansing from sin.
o All of us deep down within our hearts need this forgiveness. Jesus said – “your faith has saved you”
Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
• Showing evidence of a repentant heart Vs 38, 47; Acts 26:20
Luke 7:38, 47 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. ...Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little."
Wabush, a town in a remote portion of Labrador, Canada, was completely isolated for some time. But recently a road was cut through the wilderness to reach it. Wabush now has one road leading into it, and thus, only one road leading out. If someone would travel the unpaved road for six to eight hours to get into Wabush, there is only one way he or she could leave—-by turning around.
Each of us, by birth, arrives in a town called Sin. As in Wabush, there is only one way out—a road built by God himself. But in order to take that road, one must first turn around. That complete about face is what the Bible calls repentance, and without it, there’s no way out of town.
Brian Weatherdon
The woman proved her repentance...
Acts 26:20b “... I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.
The Pharisee on the other hand was religious...
Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
This is a story about a 5-year-old African-American boy who will never be forgotten by those who knew him. A nurse with whom I worked, Gracie Schaeffler, took care of this lad during the latter days of his life. He was dying of lung cancer, which is a terrifying disease in its final stages. The lungs fill with fluid, and the patient is unable to breathe. It is terribly claustrophobic, especially for a small child.
This little boy had a Christian mother who loved him and stayed by his side through the long ordeal. She cradled him on her lap and talked softly about the Lord. Instinctively, the woman was preparing her son for the final hours to come. Gracie told me that she entered his room one day as death approached, and she heard this lad talking about hearing bells. “The bells are ringing, Mommie,” he said. “I can hear them.” The bells are ringing...
Gracie thought he was hallucinating because he was already slipping away. She left and returned a few minutes later and again heard him talking about hearing bells ringing. The nurse said to his mother, ‘I’m sure you know your baby is hearing things that aren’t there. He is hallucinating because of the sickness.”
The mother pulled her son closer to her chest, smiled and said, “No, Miss Schaeffler. He is not hallucinating. I told him when he was frightened—when he couldn’t breathe—if he would listen carefully, he could hear the bells of heaven ringing for him. That is what he’s been talking about all day.”
That precious child died on his mother’s lap later that evening, and he was still talking about the bells of heaven when the angels came to take him. What a brave little trooper he was!
Focus on the Family, September, 1993, p. 3
Listen quietly... Do you hear the sound of Grace?
o A blameless man was falsely accused... People mocked Him, cursed at Him...
o Can you hear the sound of the whip as it beat His body... hear the sound of groans of agony.
o Can you hear the sound of nails slamming through the flesh... so we can be forgiven.
o Can you hear His last words from the cross, “Father forgive them...”
o Clear Thinking about YOUR LIFE seeing where you doubted God... hear sound of GRACE
o You can feel the guilt of your sin... and I want to hear the sound of Grace in your life.
o When I got saved I heard the sound of grace, and my name was written down in heaven!
Is Your Name Written?
Rev. 21:27 Nothing impure will ever enter it (Heaven), nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Clear Thinking about New Life...
1 John 5:12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Do you hear the sound of Grace?
o I’m going to lead you in prayer... no one moving around, remain still and listen to the Lord...
o Would everyone bow their heads... would you pray this prayer from your heart...
o Listen... to the sound of God’s Grace...
Dear God, I admit that I have sinned. I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sin and I believe He rose again to new Life. Forgive me of my sins, please come into my life. Help me to live the rest of my life for you and to be with you throughout eternity... In Jesus Name.... Before I say Amen, if you prayed this prayer and meant it, I want to rejoice with you. Would you lift your hands? Thank you Lord for all that you are doing in the lives of people. Lord, please give us clear thinking about New Life in Christ!
www.crosscreekcc.org
