Offended By Grace

You Will Be Offended By Jesus’ Sovereignty (Grace)?

This morning I intend to spiritualize this parable. I want to call your attention to the workers hired at different times of the day to work in a man’s vineyard; spiritually Jesus calls & sends His willing servants into His vineyard at different times as well. Some are called as young men while others are called in the middle of their life while others are called to serve Jesus in their Senior years. There is a constant call from Jesus to serve in His Church regardless of age or gender. In this Parable I wish to highlight the disappointment of the workers at the end of the day not at what they agreed to be paid starting the day but what created the argument was what the Owner paid the other workers. I will try and stay within the Scriptures intended message; but the Holy Spirit has the license and the authority to venture into places man is unable to spiritually travel or is forbidden to spiritually travel, so feel free to taking a spiritual side road with the Holy Spirit during my sermon. These will be places where you will find many of blessings intended to bring great truths to light in your life. This message requires you to understand the definition of two words; first one is “Grace” & the second one is “Sovereignty.”

Definition: Grace of God = It speaks of getting something from God you don’t deserve nor can you obtain it on your own; No-one can show Grace to God because God deserves all the good you can give Him. Grace: Miracles, Answered Prayer, Spiritual Gifts, Salvation, just to name a few.

Easton's Bible Dictionary defines God's Sovereignty: His "absolute right to do all things according to His own good pleasure."

Two Illustrations about my text: First one is a Biblical Illustration

At least two people in the Bible illustrate a Spiritual Person Who Is Offended or Disappointed By God’s Sovereignty (Grace):

In the Old Testament Jonah is commissioned to go to Nineveh and preach. After resisting God's call, he finally goes, and the people repent—but Jonah is upset and offended!

(Prodigal Son) story is about a man who had two sons. The younger took his inheritance, traveled to a far country, and squandered it. He found repentance in a pig pen and came home. His father greeted him and threw a party. But the elder brother could not rejoice in the grace of the Father.

The Second Illustration is about The Family Foundation Losing A Valuable Worker:

Her day started as any other day until the accident in the days to come Joyce would be diagnosed with a serious Traumatic Brain Injury as well as damage to her neck & back. She had lost much of the executive function of her brain. She still is as gracious as ever & her personality is unchanged. She just cannot do more than one thing at a time. As you can imagine her days volunteering at the Family Foundation are over: Overseeing 10 to 15 Government Bills each Session (each with 3 to 7 talking points) managing three other lobbyists who work for the Foundation & engaging a majority of the 138 legislators along with numerous witnesses needed in committee hearings. It’s just no longer possible. (This is Kent Ostrander’s wife – He is Executive Director of The Family Foundation)

Matthew 20:1-16

Definition: Grace of God = Is God giving you something you don’t deserve it nor can you obtain it on your own so God ends up giving you His Grace for free.

You can’t give God Grace because God deserves all the good you can give Him.

List of God’s Grace would include: Miracles, Answered Prayer, Spiritual Gifts, Fruit Of The Spirit, Salvation, just to name a few.

God's Sovereignty is: God’s "absolute right & authority to do anything He desires according to His own good pleasure."

Philippians 2:13 (KJV) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

1. Your responsibility to God’s Sovereignty is to do what Pleases Him

2. You will find this task a spiritual struggle when you are not fully persuaded in your mind it is the best thing for Him to do.

1. Theological Point Here - Some Christians & Non-Christians are offended by the miracles of the Bible.

a. Let’s speculate about people who pray & expect an answer for their Sovereign God:

(1) They prayed for a miracle for their loved one and the miracle never came so they dismiss the miracle accounts in the Bible so they were offended by the idea God grants some people miracles but not everyone

(2) They joined in prayer with fellow Christians and Church Members for a miracle - the miracle never came so they were offended by the fact of Miracles.

(3) Believing in miracles and then not happening when they prayed damages the faith of Christians who believe what they pray and want from Jesus should happen - if He doesn’t their faith in Him & The Bible is diminished.

(4) Several Scriptures promise to answer a Christians Prayer – Jesus promises to answer your prayers

John 15:7 (KJV) If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

b. The Bible & its content should support and increase a Christians Faith but for some reason it becomes a stumbling block for many

(1) What happens to your faith in the Bible when you pray for a miracle and it doesn’t happen?

(2) What happens to your faith in Jesus when you just pray a normal pray and it isn’t answered the way you believe would be best?

2. It seems rational if God does exist - & He is really “God” - then He should be able to do anything He wants to do.

a. But sometimes I have to confess I am offended by the Grace (Sovereignty) of God when my way isn’t God’s way.

Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

(1) Two train of thoughts will cross a Christians mind when a need arises which requires them to pray:

(First) “What is best for me & mine?”

(Second) “What has God decided is best for me?”

(2) If God doesn’t answer your prayers the way you want - than you will feel offended by God’s Grace

(First) When someone asks for your advice & they don’t take it do you feel offended or at least hurt?

(Second) Why ask for God’s advice if you’re not going to take it when you know God has your best in mind.

b. This parable presents several attitudes

(1) Ones who are glad to have a job (Saved)

(2) Ones who are grateful for the Sovereignty of the Owner (Faithful To Do His Will – Regardless The Cost)

(3) Ones who feel they deserve more than what they agreed upon when they were hired (Jonah Attitude)

c. This parable shows how you can be offended by God’s Sovereignty (Grace) when He does great things for someone else above & beyond what He has done for you

(1) I hope the Holy Spirit will connect you with one of these attitudes presented in this parable

(2) I hope you will see how in the past you were offended by God’s Grace (Sovereignty) to others

(3) I hope you will see how you can be offended by God’s Grace (Sovereignty) when you get to Heaven

Look at the 4 Attitudes Concerning the Sovereignty of God or the “Grace of God”

First Attitude You Will Find In The Middle Of The Parable – Workers hired: 9am (3rd) – 12pm (6th) – 3pm – (9th) hour

1. I will not spend much time on these workers because the parable is silent about their attitude but I will draw from my experience as an employee working alongside these workers – maybe you can relate too

a. They do the work the employer hired them to do (Faithful)

b. They are not very noticeable because they don’t call attention to themselves by causing problems for the employer or other workers

2. These are the kind of workers Jesus desires to work in His Vineyard

a. They believe their work is important regardless of when Jesus is going to come again

(1) Some will work all their lives and die before seeing Jesus - 3rd hour – 6th hour – or 9th hour

(2) Some will work half their lives and die before seeing Jesus

(3) Some will only work a few hours before the rapture

(4) All will receive the same reward in Heaven – does that offend you because you believe you deserve more?

(5) If you worked longer for Jesus on earth shouldn’t you get more when you get to Heaven?

b. They desire to do the quality work pleasing to The Lord looking to Jesus the Author & Finisher of their faith.

c. They allow Jesus to determine the wages, gifts, and rewards they will receive now on earth and in Heaven.

Second Attitude Is About The Ones Who Were Hired Last

1. They Received $98.40 for 1 hour of work 5pm - 6pm - A day’s wage in Biblical Times (I converted the amount into dollars for comparison) (Their Saved Glad & Happy)

a. Keep in mind these were hired last & received full pay

b. (v6) They trusted the vineyard owner to do what was right – Accepting what Jesus believes is what’s right for you will create a spiritual crisis in your life when it isn’t what you believe you should have.

2. With simple faith they go into the vineyard to work.

a. When they are paid, they are "surprised - joy."

b. No doubt they are overwhelmed by the Sovereignty (Grace) of the landowner.

3. What Does This Type Of Attitude Produce In A Christian

a. There's probably nothing they wouldn't do for Jesus.

b. They are no doubt kicking themselves for putting off working in God’s Vineyard for so long.

Third Attitude Is About The Ones Who Were Hired First

1. Received $98.40 dollars for 12 hours work – the same wage the ones who only worked 1 hour received

a. Keep in mind these were hired First at 6am - 6pm

b. Not only did they bear the burden of the problems of the day (Heat) but they also had to stand in line to get paid.

c. Usually the more experienced worker shows the less experienced worker what they need to do - these workers probably trained the “One Hour” workers.

2. These workers are overwhelmed by the Sovereignty (Grace) of the landowner as well, and they don't like it - Offended By His Grace (Sovereignty)

a. They can't rejoice in other's successes, which speaks volumes about why they need to grow spiritually.

Third Attitude Is About The Landowner: His Amazing Grace

1. Keep in mind this Landowner had many good attributes:

a. He is proactive in his desire for people to help harvest his vineyard

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness but is longsuffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance

b. He is determined about getting his crop harvested

c. He is pictured as being just - doing what he said he would do

d. He pays what he says he will pay.

e. He is tactful when unjustly attacked by the ones who aren’t pleased with his grace/Sovereignty

d. He calls his accusers, "Friend" (the same word Jesus uses for Judas later).

2. But most of all the outstanding characteristic of this landowner is his grace or Sovereignty

a. He wants to provide an opportunity for everyone to work in His vineyard

Luke 10:2 (KJV) Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest.

b. The Landowner wanted to be very generous to the ones less fortunate

Matthew 10:41-42 (KJV) He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. (42) And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Conclusion

1. Are you offended by God’s Sovereignty/Grace to some when they have more than you have?

a. Some were saved young and were Good Christians

(1) Like the Elder son in the Prodigal Son story

(2) Some Christians just desire to do what The Lord would have them do

b. You see others who have squandered their wealth and their families wealth and yet they are saved late in life and receive the same reward from Jesus you have when you worked all your life for it

(1) Are you angry and believe you should receive a higher wage because you have lived longer for Jesus

(2) Hard to get past the hurtful things people have done to you – but when they are saved your expected to rejoice and have a party for them - Salvation/The Cross can be offensive at times

2. Peter just mentioned in prior Scriptures the disciples had left all to follow Jesus, and he wanted to know what they would get.

a. Jesus answers they will occupy important places, but the kingdom of heaven is really all about grace & Sovereignty

b. Heaven is a free gift earned by Jesus on the Cross 20:17-19

c. 20:20-28 James and John have to learn grace includes servanthood and humility.

3. Lessons to learn

a. Have compassion for all people even when they don’t deserve it

b. Be happy for someone when Jesus gives them a blessing you want for yourself or your Church

c. Be glad your Heavenly Father throws parties for prodigals, because one day He will threw a party for you

Revelation 19:7-8 (KJV) Let us be glad and rejoice and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. (8) And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen…

Sermon Identification: Preached Sunday Morning Antioch & Facebook

Sermon Identification: Preached Sunday Morning Antioch - Facebook

Sermon Source: WordSearch 12 - Standard Sermon Starters - Sermon Outlines on the Gospels.

Title Of Sermon Source: The Strange Offense Of God’s Grace

Scripture Of Sermon Source: Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon Location: Adobe Sermon_2020

Sermon Number: 84-85

Sermon Date: September 27th 2020