Too Good To Be True - Part 3

"Good Enough"

There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee.  After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”  John 3:1-2NLT

This Messiah had something bigger in mind. He came to liberate the whole world.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”  John 3:3 NLT

Born “again”? This was new. And it wasn’t what Nicodemus came to talk about.

“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.” “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.  John 3:4-9 NLT

Now I see, but how could I have missed this?

But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things?  No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven.  John 3:12-13 NLT

And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.  John 3:14-15 NLT

There was nothing in Nicodemus’s theology that allowed for an executed Messiah.

Jesus equated belief or trust with eternal life.

But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.  Isaiah 53:5 NLT

Forgiveness and eternal life are not attained through the Law. Forgiveness requires a payment.

Faith in and love for Jesus led him to do something Jesus’ closest followers lacked the courage to do.

The law wasn’t enough; he needed grace.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave[a] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.   God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.  John 3:16-17 NLT

Eternal life isn’t a reward for good people;  it’s God’s gift to forgiven people.

Homework:  Are you good enough?

Too Good To Be True - Part 2

ACCEPTED BY GRACE

People who were nothing like Jesus, liked Jesus.

Jesus liked people who were nothing like him.

"Follow Me"

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.  John 1:14 NLT

Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”  Matthew 9:2 NLT

Jesus said what only God can say & then did what only God could do.

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him.  Matthew 9:9 NLT

The story of Jesus is the story of God drawing near to those who have been pulled away by sin and pushed away by the self-righteous.

The Messiah's ancestry was tainted with non-Jews.  

There was no point in hiding the flawed humanity of Jesus' ancestry - that was the main point.

The self-righteous chased sinners away & the sinner's shame kept them running.

Jesus was not uncomfortable surrounded by those who most needed the bridge back to God that only grace could provide.

But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”  Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”  Matt. 9:11-13 NLT

I have not come to call those who think they are good but those who know they are not.

Uncomfortable truth:  grace is inviting to the unrighteous and threatening to the self-righteous.

Grace is not earned; it is offered.

You can't be good enough; you don't have to be.

Jesus = grace personified

Homework:  To which side of the isle do I tend to lean?

Too Good To Be True - Part 1

IN THE BEGINNING, GRACE

Why did God create anything?

God made all sorts of wild animals, livestock, and small animals, each able to produce offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good.  Gen. 1:25 NLT

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them.   Gen. 1:26-27

Grace is never just enough. 

Grace is always more than enough.

Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” Gen. 2:18 NLT

In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.  Gen. 1:27 NLT

But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.”  Gen. 2:16-17 NLT

God’s expressions of grace were innumerable, His requirements were minimal.

Grace in its purest form can have no strings attached.

We severely underestimate the impact of sin.

Sin led to shame. Shame led to blame.

Adam blamed God for his troubles, and mankind has been blaming God ever since.

Disobedience has consequences, obedience leads to freedom.

From the very beginning God has responded to the sin of humanity with...amazing grace.

Jesus endured the affliction of evil and suffered the penalty of death that Adam was promised and we all deserve.

Jesus = Grace personified

Life Apps - Part 6

THE ENCOURAGEMENT APP

There is a ratio in your conversations.

The problem with encouragement is that it is't urgent.

Three circles of conversation:
    - Inner
    - Influence
    - Life

A conversation is an opportunity.

Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.  Proverbs 11:24 NLT

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.  Proverbs 11:25 NLT

MEN:  Do I have what it takes? Am I good enough?  Am I respected?

WOMEN:  Does he notice me? Does he think I'm pretty? Am I special?

How are you doing?    
What are you doing?

Encouragement is never small.

What about me?

Many people don’t feel good enough about themselves to let you feel good enough about yourself.

Refresh others and you will be refreshed.

This is a principle, not a promise.

Homework:  Change your ratios!

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.  James 1:22 NLT

Application makes all the difference!

Life Apps - Part 5

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud. 1 Cor. 13:4 NLT

Or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. 1 Cor. 13:5 NLT

It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. 1 Cor. 13:6 NLT

Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.  1 Cor. 13:7 NLT

Love gives the other person the benefit of the doubt

Love looks for the most generous explanation for the other person’s behavior

Love chooses trust over suspicion.

We decide what goes in the gap.

TIP:  In healthy relationships, both parties go to ridiculous extremes to believe the best.

There is nothing to gain by refusing to trust.

When you can't choose to trust, you must choose to confront.

The moment there is a gap, have a conversation.

5 commitments:
-When there's a gap between what I expected and what I experienced, I will believe the best.
-When other people assume the worst about you, I will come to your defense.
-If what I experience begins to erode my trust, I am coming directly to you.
-When I am convinced I will not be able to deliver on a promise, I will tell you ahead of time.
-When you confront me about the gaps I have created, I will tell you the truth.

What can you do to break the cycle of mistrust?

Do to others as you would like them to do to you.  Luke 6:31 NLT

Life Apps - Part 4

Trying to outsmart God is a sin.

We belief the primary purpose of confession is conscience relief

Genuine confession serves as the first step towards repentance and reconciliation

Genuine confession leads to genuine change

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel: If any of the people—men or women—betray the Lord by doing wrong to another person, they are guilty.  Numbers 5:5-6 NLT

They must confess their sin and make full restitution for what they have done, adding an additional 20 percent and returning it to the person who was wronged. Numbers 5:7 NLT
        Repentance
        Reconciliation
        Restitution

Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”  Luke 19:8 NLT

Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham.  Luke 19:9 NLT

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.  James 5:16 NLT

We fear consequences of confession more than we fear consequences of concealment.

Homework: What and who do I need to tell?

Life Apps - Part 3

THE REST APP

Is life robbing you of the joy of life?

Push back / Fight back

There's no neutrality 

When Ahab got home, he told Jezebel everything Elijah had done, including the way he had killed all the prophets of Baal.  So Jezebel sent this message to Elijah: “May the gods strike me and even kill me if by this time tomorrow I have not killed you just as you killed them.”  1 Kings 19:1-2 NLT

Elijah was afraid and fled for his life. He went to Beersheba, a town in Judah, and he left his servant there.  1 Kings 19:3 NLT

When the circumstances of life get bigger and bigger, God gets smaller and smaller. 

Then he went on alone into the wilderness, traveling all day. He sat down under a solitary broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my ancestors who have already died.” 1 Kings 19:4 NLT

Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. But as he was sleeping, an angel touched him and told him, “Get up and eat!”  He looked around and there beside his head was some bread baked on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again.

Then the angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” 1 Kings 19:5-7 NLT

So he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Sinai, the mountain of God.  There he came to a cave, where he spent the night.  1 Kings 19:8-9 NLT

Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home.  After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.  Matthew 14:22-23 NLT

Your life moves to a better place when you move at a sustainable pace.
Tip One:  24 Hour Sabbath
Tip Two:  Sleeping Aids
Tip Three:  Quarterly Recharging

Rest is always associated with trust.

Homework:
Evaluate...Is my current life-pace sustainable?

Life Apps - Part 2

THE FORGIVENESS APP

God stands ready to help you release the grip of the grudge

Forgiveness works better than grudge holding

Start with the cross

What Rome knew is that once you experienced someone dying on a cross, you’ll never ever forget it.  

What God knew is that once you come face-to-face with the Savior of the world crucified, you will never ever forget it.

We are not just recipients but distributors of God’s grace and forgiveness

Forgiven people forgive  

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.  Romans 12:17 NLT

Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.  Romans 12:18 NLT

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord.  Romans 12:19 NLT

Instead,“If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”   Romans 12:20 NLT

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.  Romans 12:21 NLT

Forgiveness is aggressive  

How to apply the life app of forgiveness:
    -embrace God’s forgiveness of you
    -forgiven people forgive
    -let God avenge you
    -overcome evil with good