Reaching Nepal

Main Idea: The redemption Jesus offers knows no boundaries, crosses into all castes, and will change even the worst sinner

What is redemption? To be set free and restored
Col. 1:21-22
??He has reconciled you by Christ?s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation?

Background: It was customary for the religious leaders of a town to have a traveling teacher like Jesus over for dinner. .They would set up a big banquet and invite all the important people in town. It was also tradition to allow the poor and common people to enter the banquet and sit on the floor away from the guest. The common people would sit and listen to the conversation and wait to be feed leftover food from the meal. It is in this setting that Jesus changes the life of a sinful woman forever.

I. A sinful woman draws close to Jesus and worships Him. (v.37-38)
A. The woman was a sinner.
The details of this woman are few. We are never given her name and know almost nothing about her life. All we really know is that she is a sinner. (v.37) The author, Luke calls her a sinner. (v.39) Simon the Pharisee calls her a sinner. (v.47) Even Jesus calls her a sinner.

Most likely she was a prostitute that was well known in the community. She was broken and abused, who had forgotten what it was like to be loved by anyone.

B. The woman came to worship.
We see here that this woman did not come for the conversation or the food; she came to be with Jesus. Her act of coming to Jesus shows great courage and reveals just how desperate she was for forgiveness. It is known when or where she met Jesus before, but clearly she was familiar with who Jesus was.

This woman came to the party with a purpose. With her she brought a box full of perfume to give to Jesus. Can you image what it must have been like for that woman. Everyone in the village knew her sin. All of them looked down on her like she was worthless. There were people there who had rejected and abused her many times. But she did not come to please them. She came to worship Jesus. Her gift was an offering of thanksgiving.

Let?s look at how she worshipped Jesus:
1. She stood at Jesus feet and cried.
Jesus was at the table having dinner but he was not seated in a chair. During those days, people lie down on a long flat chair, leaning on one elbow, with their head facing the table and their feet pointing away from the table.

The woman left her place in the back of the room and approached Jesus. I?m sure she wanted to offer her gift to Jesus in a dignified was but all she could do was stand there and cried. Her crying was a sign of deep repentance.
2. She washed his feet with her tears.
As she cried she must have noticed the unwashed feet of Jesus. She then began using her tears and her hair to wash his feet. Woman in Israel who have there head covered during that time. The fact that this woman?s hair was not covered points to the fact that she was a prostitute.
3. She kissed his feet.
As she washes his feet with her hair she begins to kiss his feet. To kiss someone?s feet mean that you had great affection and reverence for them. It also meant you were coming with a request. It is clear that by doing these things, this woman is repenting of her sins and placing all her hope in Jesus. Her requests this that Jesus might love her and make her whole again.

4. Anointed his feet with perfume.
It was also customary to anoint the head of a special guest with oil. No one had anointed Jesus? head so this woman anoints his feet, but not with oil- with a very expensive perfume.

His broken and despised woman fell at the feet of Jesus and poured out her love on Him. All that she had she laid at the feet of Jesus.

To Jesus and the woman this was a beautiful sight, but to others watching this was disturbing?

II. A Pharisee focuses on tradition and questions Jesus. (v.39-43)
A. Simon doubts Jesus in his heart (v.39)
Simon, the host of the party watches this all take place and begins to doubt if Jesus is really a prophet or not. Because he is religious leader he would never associate with a sinful woman like this. He assumes that if Jesus really knew who this woman was that he would never let her touch him. Simon is so focused on his own laws and traditions what Jesus is doing.
B. Jesus? rebukes Simon with a story. (v.40-43)
Two men owe a debt. One owes 5 day?s worth of wages and the other owes five hundred days worth of wages. Both debts are forgiven. Which man will be more grateful? The man who owed more.

The lesson here is clear, the woman, whose sins were many, has been forgiven much, and therefore has shown greater love to Jesus.

III. Jesus compares the actions of Simon and the sinful woman. (v.44-46)
Jesus takes this two very different people and compares them. Most anyone at the party would know that Simon was the better person, but Jesus judges differently than others do.

Simon Sinful Woman
Gave no water to wash feet Washed Jesus feet with tears and hair
Gave no kiss Covered Jesus? feet with kisses
Did not anoint his head with oil Anointed his feet with expensive perfume

Jesus here compares the neglect of the religious with the worship of the sinful. Jesus looks past those things that are outward and looks into our heart.
1 Samuel 16:7

IV. Jesus proclaims the sinful woman redeemed. (v.47-50)
Jesus makes a statement to all those in the room. ?This woman?s has committed many sins, but I have forgiven her and as a result she has brought me this worship.? Jesus was not saying she had been forgiven because of her love, but that her love and worship was a result of His forgiveness.

Worship is always a result of our gratefulness to God. We bring praise to Him for the might things he has done.

(v.48) Jesus then turns to her and tells her, ?Your sins are forgiven?. Just imagine what she must have been feeling. All her life she had been hated and rejected. No one ever loved her for who she was, only what they could get out of here. But this man loved her for who she was. He accepted her just as she was and He have he forgiveness and a new start.

Everyone else only looked on her in judgment, but Jesus saw her great faith and gave her the only thing she had ever wanted- love.

Conclusion: This woman was sinful and worthless. She had nothing of any real value to offer. To those at the party she was nothing but a distraction. But to Jesus she was so much more. It was for people like her he came.
Luke 5:31-32
As we look at how Jesus brought redemption to this woman we see that He did more than just for give her, He restored her. Yes, she was saved from her sins but she was all given a new life with fresh hope.

If we look back to the story we see that the focus isn?t on this woman at all, it is on Jesus. He is the one the story is about. The focus here is that the redemption Jesus? offers knows no boundaries, crosses into all castes, and will change even the worst sinner.
1 Peter 1:18-19
?For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect?

No matter who you are or what you have done; Jesus offers you redemption today.

Suffering Shame for His Name

Acts 5:17-42

Background: Acts 4 and 5 is the first time Christ?s disciples are faced with persecution. In Act 4 they were arrested but let go with a warning. Again they were arrested for preaching the gospel, but this time an angel of the Lord released them from prison. They were arrested a third time, but this time they wouldn?t get away so easily. Let?s take a look at the story.

I. We all have the same mission as Christians (v.28-32)

A. Our mission is to tell the lost about Jesus (v.28)

1. ?have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine?- Just as the Apostles told all of Jerusalem about Jesus, we should also fill our cities and villages with the name of Jesus.

B. They were met with opposition

1. They were obeying the Lord?s command, but others told them to stop. Their answer- ?we ought to obey God rather than man?

2. What is more important in your life, what others want and think, or what Jesus wants and thinks?

3. Many times what our loved ones want and what Jesus wants are different. Are you willing choose Christ over your family?

C. Turned opposition into opportunity

1. The Apostles were facing a great amount of opposition from the religious leaders, but took this opportunity and preached the Gospel to the very people who were against them. (v.31)

2. When we stand up for Christ those who were against us are able to see the power of Christ through us. Our Faith is a witness to unbelievers.

D. They used their final statement to reaffirm their mission. (v.32a)

?we are His witnesses

1. Who are you a witness for- this world or Jesus? Can others look at your life and say, ?Wow, that person has something I want? Can others see Jesus through you?

II. We are all given a difficult gift- Persecution. (v.40-41)

A. Our gift of suffering ? Philippians 1:29

1. Salvation and suffering are both gifts from God. All of us would like the salvation without the suffering, but they go together.

2. The Christian walk requires suffering.

B. Each opportunity to suffer for His sake should be done rejoicing.

1. Rejoicing? Are u crazy? I don?t mean that you have to sing and dance during persecution. What I mean is that God has chosen you to glorify His name through suffering. It?s an honor.

2. It hurts and it?s hard, but God has a purpose in it that we can be thankful for. Some of you might be saying, ?I don?t believe God would never allow His children to suffer.? If you?re thinking this then you have been lied to. There are Christians today that are teaching that if we have enough faith in God then He will never let us get sick and that we will never suffer. The truth is sometimes suffering is what we need to draw is closer to God. Sometimes it?s a good thing. Remember Job?

C. Persecution is a promise- John 15:18-19

1. This may come in different degrees, but a true believer will face persecution.

D. Other verses on gift of Persecution.

1. Phil. 3:10

2. 1 Peter 2:20-21

3. Matt. 5:10-12

4. James 5:10-11

5. 1 Peter 4:12-19

III. Nothing must stop us from living for Jesus (v.42)

A. Their next step?

1. As soon as they were released they went right back to telling people about Jesus. Their suffering didn?t stop them.

B. Persecution only gave them more fire.

1. The passage suggests that their witnessing increased after they where beaten. (v.42) Instead of running in fear, they spoke of Christ with even more boldness

2. Persecution spreads the Gospel like nothing else can.

Example: China has more Christians than America and all of Europe combined. Why? Because to be a Christian in freedom means giving up very little, but under oppression, being a Christian might mean giving up everything- maybe even your life.

Conclusion- Persecution for a believer is a reality. The question is not if but when and where will it come. If you are truly a follower of Christ you must be willing to follow Him even if it means suffering. Are you willing to suffer for His name?

Would you obey Christ if it meant?

Your family disowned you?

You lost your inheritance?

You would lose your job?

You would be killed?

Look deep within yourself and see if you are willing to suffer all these things for HIM. A follower of Jesus must be willing to endure all things for the sake of his King.

The Goodness of God and the Sinfulness of Man

Isaiah 64:1-9

Background: Here the Prophet Isaiah tells of the small group of Jew that remained after the Babylonian captivity who cry out to God for mercy and judgment on their enemies. God used Babylon to bring punishment down on the nation of Israel. The amazing thing is that Isaiah says this 100 years before it happens. Israel was already living in sin and Isaiah warned them of the coming judgment. Here Israel is crying out to God for redemption. This passage was written to Israel, but we can still learn many things from it.

I. God punishes the wicked and honors the righteous. (v 1-5a)

A. Israel begs God for judgment on their enemies. (v.1-2)

?Tear the heavens open? ? ?mountains shake? ? ?fire that burns?

1. Just as he had shown His power in the past (v.3)

a. Exodus 19:18

2. What would this judgment do?

a. It would make the name of God known in all the nations. (v.2b)

b. Exodus 10:16- God brought his judgment on Pharaoh and Egypt so that all the world could see the power of the true and living God.

B. God honors the righteous man (v.4-5a)

1. He honors those who wait on Him (v.4)

2. He shows favor to those who live godly. (v.5a)

* These verses are revealing God as a Judge over evil. How does that show the goodness of God? These verses reflect the perfection of God?s justice and show his goodness on the righteous. Just as an earthly judge would be praised for punishing the wicked, so must our God be praised for bringing down perfect justice on sinners.

II. Man is completely sinful and in need of a Savior. (v 5b-7)

A. The Problem with Man:

1. God is angry. Why?

2. We are living in sin. ?..we continue..?

a. What does that mean? Sin=Judgment

3. We need to be saved

a. Here Israel realizes that they can?t save themselves. They now realize that God must provide a new way of salvation. The law only brought judgment

B. We are completely sinful.

1. Even our goodness is like bloody rags (v.6a)

2. We are like a leaf that slowly dies and then falls off the tree only to be blown away in the wind. (v.6b)

3. No one ever comes to God by their own choice. (v.7a)

a. Psalm 14:2-3

b. We only come to God when He calls us out of our sin. He is the one who bring about change in us. The only good we have comes from Him. Apart from God we are totally wicked.

4. Our sins separate us from God and bring judgment. (v.7b)

III. God can mold us into the vessel He wants us to be. (v 8-9)

A. Our Hope through God:

1. ?But?? (v.8a)

2. God is our Father.

a. ?Abba? Romans 8:14-16

3. He is our Maker and Shaper. (v.8b)

a. We are clay in the hands of the Potter.

B. Have Mercy on us God (v.9)

1. Please don?t be angry forever. Why?

2. We are your children.

a. Here Israel is resting completely in the mercy of God. They had felt the wrath of God before and they longed to once again have their sins forgiven and to be in a right relationship with God. They were looking to God as a Father, one who would have mercy on his children.

The sinfulness of man is great, but the goodness of God is greater. There is no sin that you have committed that God can?t forgive.

His blood didn?t just cover some of your sins, it covers them all. No matter what is in your past, Jesus can give you forgiveness and a new start.

God does have mercy on us, but only those who are His children. How can we become children of God and receive mercy? By believing on the Work of the Lord Jesus.

1. Know you?re a sinner

2. Believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose again to pay for your sin

3. Confess (agree with God about)your sins to God and turn from them

He is Better than Life

Psalm 63

Background- David?s son Absalom has rebelled against his father the king and forced David to run for his life into the wilderness of Judah. Here David is separated from the sanctuary and the Ark. David writes this Psalm longing to be in God?s presence as before.

I. David calls God ?his own? (v.1a)

A. David takes ownership of God. Not just the God, but MY God! David never looked at God as a far off object to be satisfied, but a person to be loved and honored.

II. God is all that David needs

A. God meets David deepest longings

1. David longs for God (v. 1b)

a. He earnestly seeks God

This word here means both ?early? and with great ?seriousness?. Pursuing God early shows the importance He has in David?s life.

b. His soul thirst for God

David longed for God as a man in a desert longs for water.

c. His body longs for God

2. David remembers seeing and experiencing God (v.2)

a. He saw God in the sanctuary

1) David?s mind goes back to the times he worshipped God in the sanctuary in Jerusalem. During OT times God made Himself know in a special way in the tabernacle and the temple. David is looking back and takes hope in those times.

b. He experiences His glory and power

1) It is in the sanctuary in Jerusalem that David sees part of God?s power and glory. Out of all the things David could have looked to for help he turns to His memories of the glory of God. This goes back to what verse 1 says, that all our longs can be satisfied in the presence of God. Not his gifts, but Him.

B. God?s ?loving kindness is better than life? ?

? This is the key verse to the whole passage. Remember David?s current struggle in life. He is on the run and in fear of losing his life. It?s during this situation he tells God, ?Your loving kindness is better than my own life?. David here makes the bold statement that God?s faithful love for Him was better than life itself. Can we make the same statement? Do we live our lives as if God?s love and mercy are greater than anything else we have.

? This was the secret to David being a man after God?s own heart. Because David?s focus was on God instead of the circumstance he could say??

1. My lips will praise God (v.3)

2. I will adore God with all my life (v. 4)

3. I will lift my hands in worship (v.4)

C. God brings joy and satisfaction. Now we move from David finding is hope in the person of God to David finding complete satisfaction and joy in God alone.

1. He meditates on God during the middle of the night (v.6)

a) Here David lies awake at night thinking about God. Wow, can you imagine being so consumed with God and all His goodness that you lie awake at night think about Him. This is one more refection of the heart David had.

b) It was during these restless nights that David concludes that his satisfaction and joy are in God alone.

2. David will be satisfied (v.5)

a) What does it mean to be satisfied? Everyone in life is looking for that one thing that will bring true fulfillment to their lives. Our problem is that we look to things and not God for this fulfillment. We seek money, power, relationship,?the list goes on. But those things will never satisfy. Only God can provide what we are longing for?Himself.

b) Psalm 17:15- Satisfaction comes in our relationship with God. Everything else proves empty.

3. He will praise God with joy (v.5)

a) Not only does God provide satisfaction, but He goes one step further and provides joy. Our greatest joys in life should be in our relationship with God. Having joy in God is not a extra benefit of being a Christian, but a command from God?s word.

Even during persecution the Bible tells us to have joy.

Romans 5:3 ?we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance^?

James 1:2-3 ?My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations?; ?Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience

In God alone should come our greatest joy.

Psalm 16:11 ?You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.?

III. God proves Himself faithful (v.7)

A. Because God helped David in the past?

1. God has shown himself to be faithful in the past. David had gone through so much and every time God had been right there to protect David. Because of this, David takes joy in being under God?s protective wing.

B. God here is pictured as a bird protecting here children under her wings

1. Psalm 91:1-4

2. God?s hand holds David (v.8)

IV. David?s soul is following after God (v.8)

A. David here again makes clear His desire?to follow hard after God. David?s great pleasure came in pursuing God. Why?, because he knew that all he needed would be found in God alone.

As we look to the life of David in these verses we must ask if our lives live up to the same standard? You need to understand that all your desires, all you hopes, and all your needs can be found in one place?..the presence of God. You may say, ?I have been a Christian for years and have never found the joy and satisfaction David did.? If this is you then you have never experienced God?s full presence. Everything?.I mean everything we need can be found in the person of Christ. How do you get it you ask? Do as David did. Verse 1 and verse 8 both tell us that David pursued the presence of God. David literally fought to be closer to God. David let go of everything else He had and held tight to God.

Whatever is keeping you from real joy, let it go. The more you seek Him and the more you make Him a part of you life, the more you will long to be with Him. God alone is what you long for. You made not think so, but it?s true