A Bran Plucked From The Fire

Intro

Do you know anyone that has expereinced the life transformingf Power of God? Have you looked on with amazment and wondered how?

Maybe you have seen Christians and looked on with admiration at their faith, desires to be filled with a similar passion and zeal.

The Story of Paul

Galatians 1:13–14 ESV

For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.

Philippians 3:4–6 ESV

though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

Acts 8

The Sinful Woman

Jesus on his last visit to Betheny, the home town of his friends Lazarus, Mary and Matha, Jesus had been invited to the home of the Pharasee Simon.

Here in this house, sitting down to partake of the meal, a woman who was a sinner begins to annoint Jesus feet and wash them with her tears.

Mary had sought to honour Christ annointing his feet.

Luke 7:37–38 ESV

And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

She hath done a great work on me...

Luke 7:39 ESV

Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

Simon was offended to see Jesus suffer this woman, who was known to be such a great sinner by all to wash his feet and kiss them.

Her very act of kissing his feet and washing his feet with her tears was in itself an act of deep repentance.

Here we see the heart of God revealed.

Luke 7:44 ESV

Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

Christ read her heart of love, With tears of repentance promted by love has washed his feet.

Jesus recounted the opportunities Simon had had to show gratitude and love towards his master.

Luke 7:47–48 ESV

Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Simon must now have sensed the reality of his own experience and his peace undoubtably left him as he examnined his own heart.

He must now have sensed his own guilt in comparison to the acts of the woman who he himself had condemned as unworthy to even wash the saviours feet.

Luke 7:50 ESV

And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Mercies of God

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

God, in his great mercy, sent Jesus to suffer the penalty for our sin. Titus tells us:

Titus 3:4–6 ESV

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

What will it take to transform my heart to be more like Christ’s? I cannot do it; only God can transform a heart. Jesus Christ made that possible by dying the death I deserved and offering me the life he lived.

1 Peter 2:24–25 ESV

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Bran Plucked From The Fire

Zechariah 3:1–4 ESV

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.”