LEARNING TO REST IN THE MERCY OF GOD AND AVOIDING THE LEVEN OF THE PHARISEES.

INTRODUCTION:

Good Morning Life Church! Happy Labor Day! Some today are spending this weekend of rest at a beach and still others are laying low and enjoying an extra long weekend. For those of you who were able to come together to worship the Lord, I want to invite you today into the rest of God’s mercy.

Before we start let’s take a couple deep breaths, clear our minds of distraction and silently set with our eyes closed.

I want us to pray one simple prayer and then allow our soul and mind to listen.

Prayer -

Holy Spirit, reveal to me the mercy and grace of God.

1 Minute.

NOW, I WOULD LIKE FOR US TO DO WHAT IS KNOWN AS A RESPONSIVE READING.

I am going to read some scriptures (they will be on the screen)

After the scriptures are read, a response will be on the screen, I want you to say the response out loud.

--------------------------------------------------------------

RESPONSIVE READING:

Psalm 51:1–2 NASB95

Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin.

LET ME REST IN YOUR MERCY LORD

Psalm 51:3–4 NASB95

For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge.

LET ME REST IN YOUR MERCY LORD

Psalm 51:7–9 NASB95

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, Let the bones which You have broken rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities.

LET ME REST IN YOUR MERCY LORD

Psalm 51:10–11 NASB95

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.

LET ME REST IN YOUR MERCY LORD

Psalm 51:12–13 NASB95

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You.

LET ME REST IN YOUR MERCY LORD

Psalm 51:17 NASB95

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

LET ME REST IN YOUR MERCY LORD

------------------------------------------------------------

THE BATTLE OF THE MIND FOR REST.

ME -

TODAY, I WANT TO TALK WITH YOU ON A TOPIC THAT I FEEL LIKE GOD IS HELPING ME GRASP. SO TODAY, I AM TALKING TO YOU THROUGH MY PERSONAL JOURNEY WITH GOD.

I HOPE IT HAS RELEVANCE TO YOU AND GOD IS ABLE TO MINISTER TO YOU THROUGH THIS TODAY!

REPENTED THIS MORNING FOR NOT APPRECIATING GOD’S GRACE THROUGH MY DAD.

MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY DAD AS A BOY.

Took his grace towards me as common and never appreciated it.

God’s common grace through a good but broken man.

MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY DAD AS A YOUNG MAN

I tried to earn his grace and favor.

Self-righteous - I did good and his favor was deserved.

Self-loathing - Felt like I could not ever do enough to earn his favor. This ended in resentment

UNTIL A TWO YEARS BEFORE MY DAD PASSED AWAY I WAS NEVER AT REST IN OUR RELATIONSHIP.

THEREFORE, MOST OF MY LIFE I WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY APPRECIATE HIM AS A GIFT OF GRACE FROM GOD.

YOU -

Maybe some of you today have relationships like this.

Father / Mother / sibling / etc.

US -

For certain this is a human condition that is based on our fallen nature.

And the reality is, this mindset of ours affects our relationship with God and our ability to rest in the Grace He gave us in Jesus.

------------------------------------------------------------------

LET’S READ A COUPLE SCRIPTURES AND YOU WILL SEE WHAT I MEAN.

Matthew 11:28–30 NASB95

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Matthew 16:6 NASB95

And Jesus said to them, “Watch out and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Leaven of the Pharisees - Earn the grace of God.

lack of belief and could not receive God’s grace in Jesus.

God’s burden is heavy. His yoke is hard.

no rest until we finally earn it.

------------------------------------------------------------------

HOW THIS PLAYS OUT WHEN WE VIEW GOD THROUGH THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES.

Exodus 32:7–11 NASB95

Then the Lord spoke to Moses, “Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. “They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’ ” The Lord said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. “Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation.” Then Moses entreated the Lord his God, and said, “O Lord, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out from the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?

Exodus 32:13–14 NASB95

“Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.’ ” So the Lord changed His mind about the harm which He said He would do to His people.

READING THIS THROUGH THE LENS OF BURDEN AND WORK -

GOD IS ANGRY

ISRAEL IS VERY BAD

GOD WANTS TO KILL THEM ALL AND START OVER

MOSES STEPS IN TO SAVE ISRAEL

THEOLOGICAL RESULT OF THIS READING -

MOSES IS THE HERO NOT GOD

GOD IS UNSTABLE - SAVED ISRAEL NOW WANTS TO KILL THEM

WE BETTER PERFORM OR GOD WILL GET US.

TRUTH -

GOD IS PROVOKING MOSES TOWARDS GRACE (REVERSE PHYSCHOLOGY)

GOD NEW THE HEART OF MOSES AND KNEW HE WOULD BE ABUSIVE.

GOD IS THE ACTUAL HERO OF THE STORY NOT MOSES.

EVIDENCE -

WHO BROKE THE TABLETS AND WHY?

WHO BEAT THE ROCK AND WHY?

WHO REMAINED FAITHFUL TO ISRAEL THROUGH OUT ALL OF THEIR CHASING OTHER GODS?

---------------------------------------------------------------

LET’S LOOK AT A PROPER VIEW OF GRACE AND MERCY.

1 Timothy 1:12–17 NASB95

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

------------------------------------------------------------

NOW LET’S LET JESUS DESCRIBE TO US THE MERCY AND GRACE OF GOD.

Luke 15:1–32 NASB95

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were coming near Him to listen to Him. Both the Pharisees and the scribes began to grumble, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” So He told them this parable, saying, “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. “Or what woman, if she has ten silver coins and loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? “When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!’ “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” And He said, “A man had two sons. “The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the estate that falls to me.’ So he divided his wealth between them. “And not many days later, the younger son gathered everything together and went on a journey into a distant country, and there he squandered his estate with loose living. “Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine occurred in that country, and he began to be impoverished. “So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. “And he would have gladly filled his stomach with the pods that the swine were eating, and no one was giving anything to him. “But when he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have more than enough bread, but I am dying here with hunger! ‘I will get up and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired men.” ’ “So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. “And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ “But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’ And they began to celebrate. “Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. “And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. “And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ “But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. “But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.’ “And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. ‘But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’ ”

----------------------------- Conclusion -

Younger brother at first took grace and took it for advantage.

Older brother is angry because he has been trying to earn the father’s grace.

WHEN WE TAKE GRACE FOR GRANTED

We are acting like a child - give that to me it is mine.

We are unable to appreciate the true gift and the giver.

Leads to a life of continued struggle with sin.

WHEN WE TRY TO EARN GRACE WE FUNDEMENTALLY MISUNDERSTAND IT.

Grace means unmerited favor - a gift from love.

we work and toil trying to earn God’s grace but never able to obtain it.

Leads to self-righteousness and self-loathing.

HOW DO WE REST IN GRACE?

We must learn to receive it for what it is, God’s unmerited favor - His gift of love.

Like the younger brother we must see and recognize that the Father is Good and His grace has always been their for us to receieve.