Text: Luke 7:31
And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men
of this generation? and to what are they like?
32 They are like unto children sitting in the
marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We
have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have
mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
& 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon,
Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou
gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my
feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her
head.
45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time
I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this
woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many,
are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is
forgiven, the same loveth little.
48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
Intro: The world says, "play our game,
get excited about OUR activities. We'll let you take
Christ along for the ride."
I The world's concept of Christianity
is nothing for US to get excited about.
A. A socialistic religion; save the
redwoods; save our beaches; save the birds; save the
environment; save the criminals and addicts and kill the
babies; march in this protest; picket this store; get
involved in politics but keep religion out of it; mix up
the races but preserve the ethnic heritages; etc. etc.
B. Nor do we need to be caught up in
ritualistic religion.
1. Keepers of the Law have nothing for
us to get excited about.
2. Observation of times, seasons, forms
and ceremonies are not for us.
C. False emotional experiences are not
for us,
Reject the 'turn on to Christ' philosophy. It implies
that one can be beside himself with rapturous emotion
but the true joy of Christ is rational, logical and can
be explained to others.
II Tim. 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of
fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1. Have a ready answer.
I Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every
man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you
with meekness and fear:
2. Access true wisdom.
I Cor.1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of
God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption:
3.Paul had an air of joyful
confidence that, no doubt, affected others but his
reasoning with the scriptures, with confidence, won
them.
II Tim.1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these
things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I
have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep
that which I have committed unto him against that day.
13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast
heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
II. A real and personal contact with
Christ is an emotional experience because of what it
means.
"It makes me feel good!" is not the reason for seeking
his will, It is the result of finding and doing it.
A. It meant something to the woman of
our lesson because of her condition without him. A
sinner... Do you really know what you are without
Christ?
B. Because of what he could do for HER.
A very personal reason.. Christ as the savior of the
world caused the angels to sing his praises, but it was
Christ, as a personal savior, that caused the Samaritan
woman to forget her water pot, and this woman to go in
peace. A potential savior is wonderful theology, but
only a personal experience of a personal Christ can make
the heart to rejoice.
C. Even in the absence of his PERSON we
can still get excited about;
1.His Word. for he is ever alive in it.
2. His Church. It is his body and he
loved it and gave himself for it. Those who would
destroy or forsake it have no real love for Christ!.
Like a woman who hastens to get rid of her husbands
prize possessions.
3. His promises. "I will never leave
you nor forsake you."
Let us not be as the Pharisee --
III "I will come again and receive you unto myself."
A. No water for his feet. Is it nothing
to you that the Son of God walked in the paths of men?
B. No oil for his head. Is it nothing
to you that the head which shall wear the crown of King
of kings wore a crown of thorns?
C. No kiss. Is all his great love worth
nothing to you?
D. This man's needs and opportunities
were just as great, yet he had no forgiveness, hence no
happiness. |
