When Your Love of God Grows Cold
Notes
Transcript
https://youtu.be/Fs7i_ckEHVA
Video of Brian Welch
What a testimony – Christian album now Love and Death, then made some bad financial decision and lost every penny . He then got back together with Korn and went back on alcohol. But through His faith has become a sober alcoholic once again.
Which you will like if you like Korn
Let’s come back to Brian I want to read from Luke
Now one of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he entered into the house of the Pharisee and reclined at the table. And behold, a woman in the town who was a sinner, when she learned that he was dining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of perfumed oil, and standing behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and was wiping them with the hair of her head and was kissing his feet and anointing them with the perfumed oil. Now when the Pharisee who invited him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he said, “Teacher, say it.” “There were two debtors who owed a certain creditor. One owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty. When they were not able to repay him, he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose that it is the one to whom he forgave more.” And he said to him, “You have judged correctly.” And turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house. You did not give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but from the time I entered, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with olive oil, but she anointed my feet with perfumed oil. For this reason I tell you, her sins—which were many—have been forgiven, for she loved much. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” And those who were reclining at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”
Pray
One of the Pharisees – that is the religious leaders
This is like eating with a cardinal in the catholic faith. Is having Jesus over for dinner even though they are on opposite sides of the bench, both sides at least for now are willing to dialog with each other
As is the custom in this ancient world the guests recline on cushions beside the table
Since Jesus is a public figure the door to this meal remains open in order that interested people can enter and sit on the edge of the room and hear the discussion.
The woman comes but does not stay on the side of the room like she is supposed to. She brings perfume, and anoints Jesus feet.
Perfume was often worn around the neck since bathing was not done as regularly as it is now.
This perfume would cost about a year’s wages, very expensive. Yet, she dumps it on Jesus feet
Because, “who has been forgiven much loves much who has forgiven little loves little” Luke 7:47
This is why we love hearing the kind of testimonies like I just showed you. We love seeing that wow change in people.
The problem is that most people don’t have that wow testimony. Most people accept Jesus when they are relatively young before 18.
The stats in America are that nearly half (43%) do so before reaching the age of 13. And 64% before 18 That leaves 36% of people that will accept Christ will do that in the next 40-60-80 years of their life
Most people don’t have that wow testimony
In fact most are like me.
I was 9. When I read this passage I can’t see myself as the woman who much has been forgiven instead I relate more to the Pharisee. Who was raised in a good home. Brought up in the church “endocrine” into the faith. Taught the scriptures. I on a whole made pretty good decisions because I was taught how.
Many of you are like me. Your home may not have been as good but you look at your testimony and you say it doesn’t have the WOW factor that would land you on national CBN.
Intellectually we know that sin is sin and forgiveness is forgiveness and that I thank God I never had to go through any of that.
But do we sometimes treat Jesus the same way this Pharisee did?
This Pharisee didn’t disrespect Jesus. He didn’t treat him badly. He didn’t lavish him with oils or anything but the Pharisee saw Jesus as socially equal.
As in they were on the same social class together
He Saw Jesus as someone to discuss with, learn, see what he was all about. And Sometimes I think we treat Jesus in a similar fashion. We see Jesus the friend, Brother. We see Jesus the comfort. We see Jesus the Teacher. We see Jesus the forgiver
But we don’t see Jesus as Fully God, Master, Creator, King of Kings, Lord of Lord
Not that any of the things about were untrue or less important
He is brother. He is Friend. He is comfort. But when we don’t keep things in their perspective we can under appreciate them.
Jesus will forgive me, I can do whatever. Jesus and me are good I don’t have to work at it or a hundred other things
I see this kind of behavior when I worked at the University all the time. Mommy and/or daddy are paying the bill so I don’t really appreciate what’s going on in the class room. But those who put themselves through appreciate the classes and work harder to get the grades they want and come out better students.
If you find your love of God cold it might very well be because you have become use to it. And have not appreciated the forgiveness of God like you should.
So as there are those of us who were saved from the bad decisions of the past and accepted Christ and his ways early on
We must also be on guard that we do not become too comfortable with the forgiveness of God
And let our love grow cold
Pray