FLW - wk 4 - Today You Will Be With Me
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Today You Will Be With Me
Today You Will Be With Me
KATHIE IRELAND TESTIMONY
START LIVESTREAM!
Good morning! It is great to get to see you all again today. If you are joining us online through the livestream, the Faithlife Audio, or even just the Faithlife bulletin and notes, we are all excited for you to be a part of our church family.
This month we have been talking about Jesus’ last words on the cross. Jesus didn’t say much after He was arrested. He didn’t argue, complain, or curse those who brutally and unfairly beat, tortured, and murdered Him. In fact, when He did speak, His words were exactly the opposite.
In week one of this series we talked about the moment He asked His Heavenly Father to forgive the people who tortured Him. The second week we examined the heart breaking moment that Jesus was completely alone as God turned from Him and couldn’t look upon our sin that Jesus had taken upon Himself for our sake. Last week we talked about our unfinished business as we discussed Jesus completing His mission and declaring the work He was send here to do “Finished!”
Today we are going to wrap up the series by talking about Jesus’ famous last words to a criminal who was hanging on a cross next to Him. If you have your bibles, you can find this story in chapter 23 of Luke. Before we look at these famous last words, let me ask you a question. Are you in a right relationship with God? If something suddenly happened to you and this was your last moment on earth, what would happen to you?
When I was in high school, Audio Adrenaline came out with a fun song posing this question. The song is called “DC-10” and points out that you don’t know when you are going to die. You could get hit in the head with a DC-10, hit by a Mack truck, or it could just suddenly happen while you are taking a nap in your easy chair.
The last part of the song says, “A 747 fell out of heaven, Crashed through the roof of a 7-11, You’re working on a slurpee, Things get hazy, Reach for a twinkie now you’re pushing up daisies. Do you know where you’re gonna go?”
While Jesus was on the cross people would walk by and mock Him. They would shout insults and scoff at Him. The religious people even made fun of Him saying, “He saved others, but can’t save himself!” He was given a mock crown and a sign saying, “This is the King of the Jews” hung above Him in mockery.
One of the criminals on another cross said, “If you are the Messiah prove it by saving yourself. While you are at it, save us too!” For whatever reason, the other criminal mentioned in this story realized the truth. His eyes had been opened to who Jesus really was and he told the other criminal, “We deserve to die for our crimes, but Jesus hasn’t done anything wrong.”
Then he spoke to Jesus saying, “Remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” He didn’t say, “Remember the good things I’ve done. Remember how I stood up for you today. Remember how I went to church all the time.” Just, “Remember me.”...
43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
The meaning of the root word used for “paradise” means “garden.” Here we have garden imagery all over this moment in Jesus’ life. Jesus comes to us as the “New Adam,” bringing a new promise, offering Himself to us as the tree of life. We are like the two thieves. We are given a choice to accept His grace and receive His mercy. We can choose the tree of knowledge, leaning on our own tree of understanding, or we can choose the tree of life and be right with God.
Are you right with God? When it comes to being right with God, people typically fall into one of four categories. There are those who say they are...
SECURE BUT UNSURE.
This is a tough place to be. For the majority of my younger life I fell into this category. This is one reason I think so highly of Craig Groeschel and LifeChurch. I wrestled with this question a lot. I knew I had a relationship with Jesus and that He loved me and I was forgiven, but did He really? I had so many questions that never felt answered. I was so unsure about a lot of things. Then I would go to church and hear about how bad of a person I was and that I needed Jesus and every week they would do an “altar call” and I felt like I was supposed to go down an re-invite Jesus into my heart.
If you have ever felt like that was the category you were in, I know how tough that can be. Never fully having a peace about that question, consistently stressed about salvation, and unsure about your relationship with God.
2. SURE BUT NOT SECURE.
Some people may be the opposite. They feel sure, but are not secure. They believe in religion, or that they are good enough, or in something all together different, but in reality they are not secure with God.
3. NOT SURE AND NOT SECURE.
Another group would be not sure AND not secure. A lot of people in the world fall into this category. Think of someone who you ask if they believe in God or what it takes to get to heaven, and this person would be the one who says, “I don’t know. I’m not sure really, but I kinda think this...”
4. SECURE AND SURE.
The fourth category would be someone who is secure and sure. My hope and prayer as we study God’s word is that not only would we find ourselves in this category, but that we will also be equipped with the wisdom to lead other’s who might be in a different category to the place where God can grow them into a place of peace and confidence as they say, “Beyond a shadow of doubt I know I am right with God.”
So, how do we get to that place of confidence with God? Today I want to focus on three questions. If you are taking notes, our first question is this...
DO YOU SEE YOUR NEED?
DO YOU SEE YOUR NEED?
Just like the thief who asked Jesus to remember him, do you see your need? We are one of those two thieves. The one thief said, “We are getting what we deserve. We deserve to die.” In other words, “We are guilty and deserve punishment.” What about you? Are you the thief that realizes what you deserve or the thief that just wants to be saved. Haven’t done that much wrong. Pretty good person. Never killed anyone. Never stolen anything. I should be right with God.
In Romans, Paul explains how everyone has fallen short of God’s standard. God has made Himself known to everyone since the beginning of time, but we choose to follow our foolish ways instead. Even religious people do the same things. In a very famous verse, Paul says...
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.
The problem is that many people just don’t see their need. If you back up to chapter one, Paul explains how God made His truth obvious to people, but they suppressed it by their wickedness. Refused to worship God or give Him thanks. You might think, “How could anyone ever do that? I could never do that!”
Just think about it for a second though. You don’t have to raise your hand or anything, but have you ever told a lie? We know it’s wrong to lie to someone, but at some point in your life you probably have. Maybe just a little one. Bent the truth a tiny bit. It’s still a lie.
What about stealing? I’ve never stolen anything. God’s word says to give 10%, back to Him, so if I’m not doing that what should I call it?
Have you ever put anything in your life ahead of God? If so, that makes you an idolater. What about anger? Inappropriate thoughts? Lust? Greed? Selfishness?
Then Paul explains that the failure to live up to God’s standard results in death. The only way to life is by the free gift of life God gives through Jesus...
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Do you see your need? The wages of any one little tiny piece of these things, and so many more, is death. “Well, I didn’t know. Now that I know I will try harder!” Sorry, but that’s not how it works. Paul even said that “when the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law.” So what do I deserve? Unfortunately, the hard truth is, we all deserve the punishment. Death.
Clearly we have a need. Question number one, “Do you see your need?” Question number two is incredibly important…
WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?
WHO DO YOU SAY JESUS IS?
When it comes to God’s idea of righteousness, we have all failed to hit the mark and in order to be right with God we have a clear and obvious need. We need a savior. So who is Jesus? The criminal who asked Jesus to remember him recognized that there was something different about Jesus. When he spoke to the other criminal he said...
40 But the other criminal protested, “Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? 41 We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.”
He’s sinless. He’s done nothing wrong. Who do you say He is. If you have ever read any of his books or seen the movie, you have probably heard of “The Case For Christ” written by Lee Strobel. Lee Strobel was an investigative journalist who spent 2 years researching Jesus. At the time he was an atheist who set out to disprove Jesus, but in 1981, when he finally realized the story of Jesus’ life and death were true, he became a follower of Christ.
Many people try to say that Jesus was just a great teacher. A nice guy who was a little looney. Who do you say He is? A super doctor who could heal the sick, cast out demons, open blind eyes, open deaf ears, and raise the dead? Just a guy who caused time on the calendar to split in two with His death?
Or was He the sinless son of God who, in the greatest act of love the world has ever seen, gave His life in our place. Paid our debt to sin, then defeated death on the third day when God rolled away the stone and the world found the tomb empty. Who do YOU say He is? Not who I say He is? Not your grandpa, momma, uncle, wife, husband, preacher, Sunday School teacher… Who do YOU say Christ is?
Jesus asked the disciples this question. He asked who people say that He is and they said, “some say this prophet, some say that one.” Then Jesus asked, “But who do YOU say I am?”
16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
It’s interesting to look through scripture and see what others say…
When Jesus was baptized, God spoke and said, “This is My Son, whom I love. With Him I am well pleased.”
When Judas betrayed Jesus, Judas said, “I have betrayed innocent blood.”
When Pilate condemned Jesus to death Pilate said, “I find no fault in this man.”
Pilate’s wife said, “Leave that innocent man alone.”
About Himself, Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. Instead He made Himself nothing by taking the nature of a servant and being made in human likeness. When He was born, He wasn’t born in a palace surrounded by royalty. He was born in a stable surrounded by animals. Instead of being on a throne when He died, He died on a cross beaten beyond recognition. Rather than a crown of gold He wore a crown of thorns. When He should have been surrounded by worshippers and servants He was surrounded by criminals and people who mocked Him. When the people were at their worst, hurling insults at Him, He was looking to God pleading for Him to forgive them.
Who do you say He is? Do you see your need? I am a lying thieving idolater who needs a savior. Question number three…
HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED HIS GRACE?
HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED HIS GRACE?
Have you experienced the same grace as the criminal when he asked Jesus to remember him? This guy was living the last moments of his life. Who knows how bad or good his life had been up to this point. Either way, he knew that Jesus was different. He knew that he deserved punishment, but Jesus was innocent.
If you struggle like I used to I want you to think about this man’s situation in contrast to Jesus’ words here. This guy would not have any opportunity to do “good works.” He couldn’t go join a church and do anything religious. He couldn’t sign up for the next mission trip. He couldn’t do anything to repay the debt. The only thing that he could do was to believe that Jesus was who He said He was.
“Remember me.” Now look at Jesus’ grace filled response…
43 And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Jesus said, “I assure you.” You can be sure of this. You need to be reassured of this truth. By God’s wonderful mercy and grace you will be with Christ in the end. The reality is that we are one of two thieves hanging on a cross next to Jesus. Which one are you?
Do you see your need? Who do you say Jesus is? Have you experienced His grace? Recognize God’s truth in your life and be secure and sure of what He has done for you. I want to share a quick video story with you and when it’s over we’ll close in prayer...
Prodigal Mini-Movie
Someone in your circle needs to experience God’s grace in their life. We have been given the wonderful gift of grace so that we can do great things and share something we could never have done or earned with someone else who feels like they will never be good enough. I’ll leave you with this amazing scripture from Ephesians...
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.