Fearless, Imagine Life Without Fear VI

Yeah, this is Valentine's weekend, huh? If you don't recognize that, you're probably in the majority. I remember it very clearly. It was during my 7th grade year. My first dance at the Junior High Sock Pop. That was being sponsored by the local campus youth organization. And I had this, you know, understanding that there was some difference between girls and boys at that point that I sort of liked, you know? And I was starting to get into that. And all the fast songs, it wasn't me. I mean, that's more a Scott Stevens, Doug Miller kind of, maybe Pastor Mike kind of thing. That's not me. When the slow songs came, I thought, well, maybe. I looked over the side and, I mean, no lie. It was all the guys on this side and all the girls on this side. Does anybody remember this? And the slow songs came up and I saw Ruthann. Ruthann just... So I, you know, I put it off and put it off. And I said, guys, she wants to go and she wants to dance with you. A couple slowly started to, you know, fill up the dance. I was in a little kind of gym. So I finally worked my way over with this song on. And I said, Ruthann, would you want to dance? She said, with you? I forgot I wasn't with the cool group. That's no big surprise. And I bombed. I bombed out on my first invitation to a girl to do something romantic. Now, I'd like to tell you that didn't affect me at all. Came back the next week. But I didn't. I'm not sure I had another date until Carol asked me out. It was about 20 years later. I'm serious. She asked me on our first date. She'll have to tell you the story. It was just one of those very, I think, one of the only things that she ever did like that. But now I know some things about women. I know kind of how to approach them and so on. She's not in this service. She doesn't know yet. But I've got her Valentine's thing. And I'll tell you what it is. You'll find out. Tickets to the auto show. Awesome, huh? Yeah. Yeah. Tickets to the auto show. Now, what? What woman could turn that down? Right? Yeah. So we're going to have a great time. I mean, a little romance with a dog. Just checking out the cars. We better pray. And look at this topic because I do believe it does affect all of us. Particularly in the direction that the waters led me to take us. Let's pray. Father, open our hearts to your word. Teach us what we need to know just to get started on the journey of intimacy with you. I ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. It could be romantic rejection. It could be rejection from an employer who doesn't want you anymore. It could be rejection of a college that says, no, our class is full and we didn't accept you. It could be the painful rejection that some of you have experienced at the core of your being by going through a divorce. Reading Jenny Sanford's new book on staying true. The point that she comes through very clearly with is how deeply it impacted her own sense of self-esteem and her own image of herself and who she was. The rejection that she felt because of her violation of her husband, Mark, the governor of South Carolina. You may have heard about that story recently. See, rejection affects everybody in some way or another. And rejection is the number one obstacle that we have to overcome if we're to get intimate. We have to face that. And friends, it's every bit if not more so true with Almighty God. We have to come to terms with the fact that we fear rejection from God himself. Because we wonder if he will now, and especially on that last day, look at us and say, I accept you. As Henry Nouwen, the very well-known Catholic writer and sort of contemplative that said this. I deserve to be pushed aside. I feel forgotten, rejected and abandoned. Self-rejection is the greatest enemy of the spiritual life because it contradicts the sacred voice that calls us the beloved. But being the beloved transforms the core truth of our existence. And so if rejection is fighting against that, then the very core truth of what we need to know about ourselves, we won't accept. And so my desire in the moments that we have together is to talk about how to just begin to cultivate a little bit more of that intimacy with God. And I got to tell you right out of the gate, I'm not sure I feel adequate to do this today. And I soaked a lot in the passages that we're going to look at. And I came away feeling like I've squandered a lot of time. My devotional partner, as many of you know, over the years, 30 some years now, day by day has been Oswald Chambers. And his little book, My Outmost for His Highest. You really can distill it down with just this one basic idea. Every single daily devotional is being intimate with the Savior. That's what it comes down to. And I'm not sure that I've done a really good job with that. Especially lately. And I'm not sure if I've done a good job in leading you in that direction. But I want to take a crack tonight at a passage that I found really engaging and very insightful. So if you have your Bible, turn to Luke chapter 7, verse 36. We're going to begin there. And we're going to look at the story of Jesus and what's called the sinful woman. Now if you don't have it, it should be up in the screens. But follow along as we read. We're just going to read a few verses to start out. Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him. So he went to the Pharisee's house. And by the way, I want to preface this by saying there's a lot of tension there between the Pharisees. These were the Jews who were believing in their ability to keep the law in order to be accepted before God. These were the, if you will, self-righteous ones of the community who were trying to figure this Jesus character out. If he was who he said he was, which was the Messiah. Anyhow, a Pharisee invited him to his house and they reclined at the table. 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. And as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. And then she wiped them with her hair. And she kissed them and poured perfume on them. There's no polite way to say prostitute. The Living Bible calls her a woman of the streets. And she shows up not on the guest list. She made a point of finding Jesus. And this woman makes her way in, probably somewhat unnoticed at first. And the Scripture says if you caught it, they were reclining at table. Now, if you know anything about Middle Eastern custom, they weren't sitting around a table and eating. That means they were really on their side. And it was a short, maybe less than one foot high table. And their feet were extending away from the table. And they were just eating from the table and conversing. And she gets behind Jesus at his footsteps, at the back of his feet. And she begins, the Bible says, to weep. Now, that word doesn't mean begin to whimper just a little bit or shed a couple of tears. It means they began to flow down. So much so that the Scripture says that his feet became wet with her tears. I mean, think about it. That's a lot of crying. And it's as if Luke, the writer here, even slows down in the passage. And makes every part of this vivid for us. So she kneels down and takes her hair and then wipes the feet of Jesus with her hair. So that the tears are wiped away. And then she opens this, what one translation calls an exquisite bottle. An alabaster jar of perfume and anoints his feet with this perfume. And the fragrance of that begins to fill the entire room. Because this is an unmistakable thing. This is an expensive thing. This is something that isn't ordinary. And everyone at that point, everyone's attention is on the Savior and this woman. Who nobody expected to be there, but everybody knew was a sinner. I wonder if you think that's your reputation. You think about yourself that way when you go to a dinner party? You think others look at you that way and say, oh, the sinner is here? Wouldn't that be a horrible thing? But that's what they said. A sinful woman. And now the attention is riveted on this. And everyone waits to see because they were expecting something to happen, Jesus with these Pharisees. But nobody was ready, nobody was prepared for what did happen. Because an amazing exchange took place that we're going to look at together. Let's just be careful not to miss any of these things if you're taking notes. Notice the first thing to put in there is that rejection is what we have to overcome. Our fear of rejection if we're to be accepted by God. Let's read on. So when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, this is the Pharisee. If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is. That she's a sinner. Now Jesus answered him. I've said frequently from this platform. Wouldn't it have been scary to think that the person that you were with knew your thoughts? Remember, Simon hadn't said anything here. He was thinking to himself. Jesus answered him. Simon, I have something to tell you. Well, tell me, teacher, he said. Two men owed money to a certain money lender. One owed him 500 denarii and another 50. 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? Well, Simon replied, I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled. You've judged correctly, Jesus said. And then 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. That was a common courtesy. But she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss. But this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not pour, put oil on my head. But she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven. For she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little, loves little. What do we learn from this? Well, the first thing is this. This prostitute woman, this sinful woman, recognized her sins. Recognized her sins. And any journey of intimacy with God begins with a willingness to recognize that we are born in and struggle with sin. We don't like to talk about it. We don't like to hear about it. But if you're honest at all, you'll admit it. You know that there's something wired in you that just tends to be about you. It could be nicely packaged in a way that very few people seem to really be concerned about. But you know in your heart of hearts when it comes down to it, you're looking out for you. And when it comes to you and God, you've got a certain arrangement. But you're still in control. Intimacy involves recognizing your many sins. The depths of your depravity apart from God. And not just recognizing it, but realizing it. The Bible says clearly that the wages of that sin left unattended, the wages of that sin is inevitably death or separation from Almighty God. And again, that's not a popular thing we want to hear. I want to hear how much more I get of this or how well I'll do here and all those positive vibe messages. There's nothing wrong with those, but the Bible talks clearly about the reality of sin. But here's the good news again. If you're just taking a couple of notes and following the outline. We recognize our sins, our many sins, but turn your outline over. She also received forgiveness for her many sins. She's not enough just to recognize them. It's possible by the way to be aware of your sins and to be sort of so burdened down by them that you feel like a failure. I've known people and so have you that really have sort of a broken spirit because they just can't seem to overcome something in their life that has created this cycle of failure. Some call it addictions or dependencies or whatever. Brokenness is what it is. This woman received forgiveness of sins. It's very important that we understand that that's what God wants us to do is to be forgiven of our many sins. Now, I have a question for you and this might throw you just a little bit because the text was just there's a one word in there. They could make spin this whole thing around and mess it up. Why was the woman weeping at Jesus feet shedding tears and kissing his feet and wiping his feet and why was she doing that? It was not to be forgiven. It was not so that he would forgive her or notice her. It's very important to understand it wasn't because he went and had this moment of just breaking down because of the burden of her sin. No, no. I want to submit to you that this woman was shedding tears of joy because at some point not revealed in the text. She had had a previous encounter with the Savior where her sins were forgiven. And we know that's true. John chapter 8 verses 1 through 11. There's an exact story about a prostitute thrown before Jesus. Who he forgave. Before a whole crowd. And I read about that and I thought I wonder I wonder what it was like when this woman. Had that moment with the Savior. I wonder where they were. Was she in a crowd somewhere and heard that that he was coming and did she work her way to the front to see. Or did she just hear his voice behind the back of a crowd because maybe she wasn't tall enough to see over everybody. Did she linger around and wait for the crowd dispersed as I have seen people do thousands of times over my 30 years. So she could have a moment eye to eye with this man that she recognized had an authority to his message that she'd never heard before. And when she this was a discerning woman she looked into the eyes of many men and what she saw in those men was always lost. But when she looked into the eyes of the Savior. She saw compassion for her soul. And she heard a message of forgiveness. That she knew she needed because she had many sins. And I want to submit to you. It was at that moment. That her life the unthinkable happened. Her life was turned around. And this burden of guilt and shame was lifted. And she was set free. And so when she heard that Jesus was coming to this dinner party she wasn't about to be denied even though she wasn't on the guest list. And even though she knew that people would look at her and people would think the sinners here and all. She didn't care. She was unashamed about it and unabashed about it. And she brought her most expensive gift and poured it out in demonstration. And I want to just pause there and ask you a question today. When is the last time you felt that kind of emotion. About your forgiveness. For your many sins. I have lots of conversations with lots of you. Which I thoroughly enjoy. And I'm challenged by. But there's sometimes I sense just this. Especially people that get around a long time in church. And if you're a guest. Maybe it's a different church. I'll talk to the people that I know that are coming here regularly. Friends. Beware of that subtle thing. That forgets just how real. The need for forgiveness is every single day. I don't wake up a day. That I realize. That I need forgiving. And if I forget. My wife reminds me. She's far more a saint than I am. But oh what a joyful moment it is. When this woman now. Finds Jesus and demonstrates her love. And pours out this expensive. And you see we need to be very careful about this thing. Because what we tend to do. And again those of us who are sort of regulars. We want to come and we want to sing hallelujah. John Stott has a really wonderful quote. If we can dig that up. I'd like you to see this. Here's what John Stott said about this. It must be said that our emphasis on the atonement. That is Christ's substitutionary sacrifice for our sins on the cross. Is dangerous if we come to it too quickly. We cry hallelujah. With authenticity only if we have first cried. Woe is me. For I am lost. I want to just echo that and say. Beware of coming in and just saying. Oh praise the Lord. Everything is wonderful. Without first looking at yourself and saying Lord. What needs to be cleansed in my heart today? What were you like prior to conversion? And if Paul is any indication. Even after conversion. First Timothy chapter 1. He says. And I am so the worst of sinners. But Paul was also the most amazed by grace. And I want to submit to you. If all of this that we do around here at times. Just gets a little old or seems just a little lifeless. It may not be what's going on here. As much as what's going on in here. For you. Because you've begun to take that. Amazing grace and forgiveness for granted. And may God help us all. And certainly me included. To never lose sight. That God doesn't give us what we deserve. That's the definition of grace. The definition of grace is. Not receiving what we deserve. How many of you are glad you don't receive what you deserve? So what do I deserve? For your many sins. You know what you deserve? You need to look at the cross. From a Catholic background by the way. And you wonder why is Jesus still hanging on the cross. If you're a Protestant background. You wonder why he's no longer on the cross. The reason why in the Catholic tradition. Is so you can be reminded of the sacrifice. I don't have a problem with that. And look at that disfigured man. Bleeding and suffering. And he had led a sinless life. He was there for you and me. That's what we deserve. That's what we deserve. But thankfully. Everywhere in scripture the Lord is quick to say. But I want to forgive you. I just want you to open your heart and receive it. And begin to walk with me. I mean honestly. Just drop the book open and start reading. And it won't be long before you'll come across passages. Like the one on your outline. Under the second point there where it says. I know that you're a gracious and compassionate God. Slow to anger and abounding in love. A God who relents from sending calamity. Slow to anger. And abounding in steadfast love. Sebastian Moore says. It's taken me 30 years to understand. That the admission of forgiveness of sin. Is the essence of the New Testament. Because once you've come to that point. Well then finally it results in this. That you will like this woman love much. Again look at verse 47 in text please. Verse 47. Therefore I tell you Simon. Her many sins have been forgiven. For she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little. Loves little. Let's go back to that little parable that Jesus talked about. Remember he talked about the money lender. The money lender who had given one person 50 denarii. Another person 500. And the whole point was. That the money lender forgave both of them their debt. Neither could pay it back. Well who is the money lender? A picture of. It's a picture of God. And who are the debtors a picture of? It's a picture of you and me. Some of us maybe have lived a little better lives morally. But loved ones it doesn't matter. Neither of us. You know the better of us. Or the worst of us. Can look to God. And know that he alone. Can forgive our many sins. And that was just. I mean that's not something money lenders do. They're in the business of making money. The people they give money to. And some of us have never understood that God is in the business of forgiving sin. That's why he sent Jesus to the cross. And if you open to that. You'll avoid the pharisaical attitude of Peter. Simon the Pharisee here rather. I want to just kind of. Not let us miss that. Simon hadn't seen this woman really. I mean that's why Jesus said do you see this. He hadn't really seen her in terms of. All he saw was a sinner. He didn't catch the significance of what she did. Friends. If you receive forgiveness. It will result in this. You will love much. You'll start to overflow with a joy that you don't know. I mean where's this coming from you're going to think. And here's just sort of three closing thoughts about this. Number one. You'll find yourself. Aware. Unlike any other time in your life. Of just. How magnificent God really is. You see. It's against the shadow of who we are. That God's greatness. Shines all the more. There's a. Rather moving quote. That I want to read for you. By Brendan Manning. He said this. Listen to the rabbi's heartbeat. It's immediately a trinitarian experience. I don't know how this happens it just does. It is a simple movement from intellectual cognition. To experiential awareness. That Jesus and the father are one in the Holy Spirit. And the bond of infinite tenderness. That's between them. You have this sense of all of your big questions. Is God real? The answer is you'll know it. Here. Not up here. Number one. Number two. The second thing that'll happen if you receive forgiveness. Is you'll find lots of other people. On this journey. Trying to find this. This elusive sense of being really. Close and intimate with God. To be really known. By him and to know him. And you'll find others on that pathway. And you'll be drawn to them. And. Iron will sharpen iron. The Bible says Proverbs 17 17. People like you will be drawn to you. And you'll find yourself growing in affection with others. And then the last thing is this. You will find yourself. Constantly drawn to want to worship God. And it will no longer be a hassle. It won't be the part of the service you can't wait to get over with. It'll be the part that you don't want to miss. Let alone your personal times. When you say oh God. I want to be with you. I want to worship you. Some people say that's really a crazy church. They lift their hands there. It's an overused cliche. Did anyone watch the pit football or basketball game Saturday night? Or Friday night I guess it was. Friday night yeah. There was a little bit of emotion being shown there would you say? The Oakland Zoo was out in full. I mean it's okay in certain settings. Somehow in church though. Wow. Oh hey. Let's be proud. No. When you see the Savior. As the one who forgives. Many sins. You can't help. Of him. So let's bow our heads right now. And let's pray. Lord help us to see ourselves. As needing. Forgiveness. For our many sins. And then Lord. Help us to have the courage tonight if we see. And are aware of our sin. To receive that forgiveness that you died on the cross for us. Each and everyone to receive. Lord you didn't make it complicated. You just said to come. Give us the courage God. Do not care what other people think. And just to come. And help us look at the cross and realize that it was there. That you paid the price. For our many sins. Let's just listen. And look to the cross. In these moments prior to communion.