Participants: Pr. Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP030307
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00:30 Men of faith rise up and sing
00:34 Of our great and glorious King 00:39 You are strong when you feel weak 00:43 In your brokenness complete 00:48 Everyone join. 00:50 Shout to the North and the south 00:54 Sing to the east and the west 00:58 Jesus is Savior to all 01:02 Lord of heaven and earth 01:08 Rise up women of the truth 01:12 Stand and sing to broken hearts 01:16 Who can know the healing power 01:20 Of our awesome King of love 01:27 Shout to the north and the south 01:31 Sing to the east and the west 01:36 Jesus is Savior to all 01:40 Lord of heaven and earth 01:44 Everyone sing. 01:46 Rise up church with broken wings 01:50 Fill this place with songs again 01:54 Of our God who reigns on high 01:58 By his grace again we'll fly 02:05 Shout to the north and the south 02:09 Sing to the east and the west 02:13 Jesus is Savior to all 02:18 Lord of heaven and earth 02:22 Lord of heaven and earth 02:33 God's love for us is something amazing, isn't it? 02:37 So why we sing shout to the north 02:40 not only that Jesus is Lord but also that God has this, 02:44 this-- this amazingly strong and over powering love for us. 02:52 I pray that out of His glorious riches 02:54 He may strengthen you with power 02:57 through His spirit in your inner being, 02:59 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. 03:03 And I pray that you being rooted and established in that love, 03:07 may have power together with all the saints to grasp. 03:11 How wide and long and high and deep 03:18 is the love of Christ. 03:22 How deep the Father's love for us, amen. 03:25 How great. 03:30 How deep the Father's love for us 03:35 How vast beyond all measure 03:41 That He should give His only Son 03:46 To make a wretch His treasure 03:51 How great the pain of searing loss 03:57 The Father turns His face away 04:02 As wounds which mar the chosen One 04:07 Bring many sons to glory 04:14 Behold the Man upon a cross 04:19 My sin upon His shoulders 04:24 Ashamed I hear my mocking voice 04:30 Call out among the scoffers 04:35 It was my sin that left Him there 04:40 Until it was accomplished 04:46 His dying breath has brought me life 04:51 I know that it is finished 04:57 I will not boast in anything 05:03 No gifts, no power, no wisdom 05:08 But I will boast in Jesus Christ 05:13 His death and resurrection 05:19 Why should I gain from His reward 05:24 I cannot give an answer 05:29 But this I know with all my heart 05:35 His wounds have paid my ransom 05:56 Lord, you have my heart 06:00 And I will search for Yours 06:05 Jesus, take my life and lead me on 06:12 Join us as we sing. 06:14 Lord, you have my heart 06:19 And I will search for Yours 06:23 Jesus, take my life and lead me on 06:32 Lord, you have my heart 06:36 And I will search for Yours 06:41 Let me be to You a sacrifice 06:49 And I will praise You, Lord 06:58 And I will sing of love come down 07:06 And as You show Your face 07:14 We'll see Your glory here 07:25 Mercy Came Running, by now I'm sure 07:28 we are all becoming very familiar with that phrase 07:31 and hopefully it's getting burned into our minds 07:34 that God comes running after us. 07:38 Well, what you are seeing here is several different colors. 07:42 This is the result of a conversation 07:44 that I was having with Brain Manly 07:47 one of our faculty over in art and design 07:50 and we started talking about mercy. 07:54 What is something visual that can tie us 07:57 into this concept of mercy? 07:59 So we ask the question, 08:01 well, colors communicate things, don't they? 08:06 White, the color of white, what does that communicate? 08:09 Peace, purity many things like that. 08:13 In every culture colors communicate 08:17 and so we started asking what color is mercy? 08:22 And so I post this question 08:24 to several of my artist friends here 08:28 and ask them come up with a color 08:31 that to you communicate something of God's mercy. 08:36 First of all, Jenny Shepherd, 08:37 one of our students in art and design. 08:42 Jenny, you've chosen a green, a very vibrant green. 08:46 Tell us what this color communicates? 08:49 Well, I choose the color light green, 08:53 specifically because it reminds me of new growth. 08:56 It's the color of new growth like the grass and spring. 09:00 And how this relates to God's mercy for me is that 09:03 in our Christian lives 09:05 we are continually growing towards God 09:09 and in His infinite mercy He allow-- 09:13 He forgives us our sins and we keep growing. 09:16 So it's just a continual green growth in mercy. 09:21 Amen. 09:22 Says God's mercies are new every morning 09:25 always ready for that new growth. 09:27 Yes. Amen, thank you. 09:30 Greg Howell, one of our students at the seminary here 09:33 also a talented artist has chosen this 09:36 very also very vibrant orange. 09:40 Greg, tell us why orange? 09:42 What does orange communicate? 09:45 Orange to me actually is kind of my favorite color 09:47 in several different things, sunsets, fall leaves 09:51 in my favorite pictures these days have been 09:55 deep space things from like the Hubble telescope and stuff. 09:58 And when, they show the sun it's never that yellow color 10:00 like we typically associate 10:01 but its that deep orangish reds and stuff like that. 10:05 So I was thinking about the sun and the power 10:08 the closure you get to the sun the more it affects you, 10:10 I mean the hotter you get 10:12 the more intense UV rays you get and everything. 10:14 And to me that's kind of what mercy does, 10:16 because the closure I get to mercy 10:18 and to seeing what God is really like 10:21 the more it has to affect me and change me. 10:24 It's hard to-- well, I would say impossible to contact, 10:28 come in contact with God's mercy and remain unchanged 10:32 much like falling into the sun. 10:35 It's hard to remain unchanged, 10:37 although God's mercy doesn't vaporize us in the way 10:40 that the sun would hopefully. 10:42 Okay, all right, thank you, Greg. 10:46 Heidi Murphy is not a stranger to many, 10:48 many of you here. 10:50 Lovely wife of Pat Murphy, 10:52 who you can hear saying amen, every week. 10:56 Heidi, you have chosen a blue, blue, tell us why blue? 11:01 Well, blue for two reasons. 11:03 The first one is I use to procrastinate a lot 11:06 when I was in school I was an art major 11:08 and-- I used to wait to do my projects 11:11 till the end of the semester 11:12 and I would stay up all night and work. 11:14 So, the morning light of the blue sky, 11:19 meant I need mercy, because my projects are not done yet. 11:24 So God would show me mercy through the sky say 11:27 you have only got a couple of more hours 11:29 till you got to get your project done. 11:31 And every time my professors would show me mercy. 11:34 Amen. 11:35 And it was through them that I shown mercy. 11:38 Number two, and I don't know if you could see the-- 11:41 the transition from the dark corners to the blue 11:44 it's almost royal and it's almost mercy 11:46 shows transition in your heart. 11:49 You change and you evolve from darkness to a royalness 11:53 in experiencing who Jesus is. 11:55 Amen. 11:56 Are we taking notes, professors? 12:02 Arnol Jimenez, 12:05 he's not a stranger also to our community. 12:07 He is been a part of it for a number of years here 12:10 and he has chosen kind of a flesh tone 12:15 a flesh tone. 12:16 Arnol, tell us about this? 12:20 Well, there is also two reasons. 12:23 The first one is because 12:26 obviously flesh tone represents humanity. 12:33 And we are the ones who needs the most of mercy. 12:37 And also because the almighty merciful 12:43 became flesh, so it's in honor to Him. 12:47 Amen. Amen. 12:49 And its fitting that we should end on this color. 12:52 John 1 says, the word became flesh 12:57 and pitched his tent among us, 13:00 he built his house next to us. 13:03 Hebrews 2 says, 13:05 "That He had to be made like His brothers in every way, 13:09 so that He might become a merciful and faithful 13:14 high priest in service to God, and that He might make 13:17 atonement for the sins of our people." 13:20 Flesh, flesh is the color of God's mercy to us 13:25 because God's mercy became flesh. 13:29 Blue, blue because the day is coming 13:34 and we have to turn things in 13:36 but there is mercy for us, thankfully, thankfully. 13:41 And God changes us from something that's dark 13:43 to something that's royal. 13:47 Orange, orange the power of the sun, 13:51 the power to change, the power to lighten. 13:55 And Green, growth. 13:58 It's our prayer today all of us I'm sure that, 14:02 that all of you every one of us will be able to experience 14:06 a new color of God's mercy. 14:13 In a moment we look full into His eyes 14:17 and we ask that question again 14:19 what is oh, God, the color of your mercy? 14:24 Holy Father, whatever color it is 14:26 and perhaps it's every color in the universe 14:32 we've got to get the color straight 14:36 and may be the color is different 14:39 for every single one of us, 14:42 divinely shaped and crafted to perfectly match 14:48 our own deep and personal need. 14:53 Whatever the color is may we see the colors 14:56 and may the picture of the colors compel us 15:00 to be that color to the world around us. 15:03 We pray in Christ name, amen. 15:10 The neighborhood hadn't seen, 15:12 it had not seen so many stretched 15:14 limo's in its life time. 15:17 I mean, you have seen stretched limo's 15:18 you know they come in all colors and shapes and sizes. 15:24 When our boy Kirk was growing up 15:28 one of his favorite backseat pastimes 15:30 as we were heading over to Chicago is to count 15:32 how many limo's he could see 15:33 on the way to the airport in O'Hare. 15:36 The gray, the black, and the silver 15:39 because you and I know that when you spot it 15:42 when you spot a limo your eyes immediately light up 15:45 because limos tend to indicate 15:47 somebody very important is passing by. 15:52 Limos are driven for people who are important 15:55 or for people who are trying hard 15:57 to pretend that they are important. 16:01 Like the academy awards, either way the limousines 16:04 always catch your eyes. 16:07 And so the neighborhood that is absolutely a buzz tonight 16:11 because as far as the eye can see 16:12 they are those stretched limos everywhere. 16:16 Big party, places jammed, oh, the very interesting tonight 16:21 the paparazzi you know, those you ubiquitous gawking 16:24 cameramen that always show up where its happening, 16:27 no paparazzi tonight because the word is out 16:30 nobody important is coming. 16:34 But the guest drive up invited 16:38 in their rented status symbols 16:40 the man with greasy slick black hair 16:44 or pasty goody girl clinging on to that right elbow, 16:49 one by one by one they come 16:52 but there is no site of the guest. 16:54 Where is the guest of honor? 16:56 Party has already started and eventually he arrives 17:00 chugging up the street and that beat up old Ford Taurus. 17:06 Drives into the drive way, the guest steps out, 17:11 no talks, no girl, 17:16 just a Kmart Blue Light special of a suit 17:19 but when the whole spots man comes 17:22 bounding down those stairs with his arms out stretched 17:25 you could have sworn 17:27 this is the president of the United States himself. 17:30 Only the little camera's one of those yellow Kodak 17:33 throw away special 17:34 flashing, flashing, flashing, flashing 17:36 let the party begin the guest is here. 17:40 I want to go, I want to go to that flesh colored mercy 17:44 with you this morning. 17:45 Open your Bible with me please because three of the gospel, 17:48 three of the gospel writers 17:49 just paint in their own unique hues 17:51 that unforgettable late night party. 17:54 Let's go to that party. 17:56 Now, we know that we have a friend in this series 17:58 and our friend is Matthew. 17:59 And so we are gonna go to Matthew for the party. 18:01 Although I've got to tell you this is Matthew Chapter 9. 18:03 Matthew is so humble 18:05 he will not even tell us in his account 18:07 that he is the one throwing the party 18:09 and that is taken place in his ornate mansion. 18:12 Not a word about it. 18:13 Now, let's go to Matthew Chapter 9, 18:15 you got a Bible in the quire off, 18:17 you got a Bible in the pew. 18:19 If you didn't bring the Bible, 18:20 just grab the pew Bible in front of you please, 18:21 because it will be the New King James Version 18:24 which is what I will be in this morning with you. 18:27 Page number in our pew Bible page 634, 18:30 let the party begin here it goes, 18:33 Matthew 9:9 "As Jesus passed on from there, 18:40 He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. 18:44 And He said to him, 'Follow Me.' 18:49 And so Matthew arose and followed Him." 18:52 Hey hit the pause button right there 18:54 because I got to tell you this is a very gutsy call 18:56 on the part of Christ because I remind you in case you forgot 18:59 Matthew was a member of the hated tax collectors. 19:03 You know, the tax collectors, well, who don't you? 19:04 They were those wealthy Jews 19:06 who collaborated with the despise Romans 19:09 to raise the taxes of little land of Judea. 19:15 Because you see it's a good deal. 19:17 If the Romans come to you and they say 19:18 hey boy, we are gonna give you Berrien Springs 19:20 and we have assessed Berrien Springs 19:21 every year it's a good deal. 19:25 The bad, the bad part of the deal is that Romans say 19:28 if you don't get $200,000 from them 19:30 we will take it right out of your own hand. 19:31 So we -- we don't care where you get it 19:33 we need $200,000. 19:34 The good news is that 19:35 because you are under that kind of pressure 19:37 you can set exuberating levels of levy taxes. 19:44 And so you can understand the tax collectors 19:47 were not the most popular men in the village. 19:50 In fact, they were despised and hated as collaborators 19:54 who would cut some kind of fusty 19:56 and bargain with the devil himself. 19:58 Please, so you got to admit pretty gutsy of Jesus to say 20:02 hey, boy, you-- you follow Me, 20:06 I gonna make you 20:07 apart of the inner circle of My closest. 20:13 All right verse 9 and "As Jesus passed on from there, 20:17 He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. 20:19 And He said to him, 'Follow Me.' 20:21 So Matthew arose and followed Him." 20:23 Verse 10, And "Now it happened 20:24 as Jesus sat at the table in the house, 20:26 that behold, many" notice the word, many. 20:31 "Many tax collectors and sinners came 20:33 and sat down with Jesus and His disciples." 20:36 Matthew humbly omits any mention of 20:39 who is throwing this party 20:40 but Mark and Luke are absolutely insisting 20:42 that we know its Matthew himself 20:44 and because Matthew is a tax collector 20:46 he is a very wealthy man. 20:47 He will not be wealthy for long 20:49 but he is living in this opulent mansion. 20:52 Matthew is throwing the party and ladies and gentlemen, 20:55 because verse 9 and verse 10 are juxtaposed side to side. 20:59 We know two reasons -- two reasons, 21:01 its Matthew's kind of subtle way of telling us 21:04 there are two reasons why I threw this party. 21:05 Reason number one, he is overwhelmed 21:07 with a deep and almost tearful gratitude 21:11 to this Jesus of Nazareth who has saved Him 21:13 from that life of under the table extortion and greed. 21:16 I just-- I just have to say thank you. 21:19 And reason number two is, Matthew cannot wait 21:23 to have his buddies 21:25 with their concerts and their girlfriends 21:26 and their wives meet the very same Jesus, 21:29 who obviously is a friend of tax collectors. 21:31 When mercy comes a running to you, 21:33 you cannot keep that fact to yourself. 21:38 You got to tell, so he is having a party, 21:41 very big party. 21:42 By the way Luke's language is it's a huge party, 21:47 broke the bank to say thank you. 21:49 All right, now let's read-- let's read verse 10 again. 21:52 And so "Now it happened as Jesus sat at the table 21:55 in Matthew's house, that behold, many tax collectors 21:59 and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples." 22:02 Because notice, notice the coupling 22:04 of those two categories 22:05 when ever the Jews had this little word associate together 22:07 yeah, let's word association. 22:08 I'll say a word you respond 22:10 whenever they would say tax collector, 22:11 they knew their winning response was always sinner. 22:16 If you say Pharisee, saint. 22:19 If you say Roman, heathen or pig. 22:23 If you say Samaritan, half breed or dog. 22:27 Tax collector, sinner. 22:30 Always those two bound together. 22:33 So this is a party for the tax collectors 22:37 and sinners and other are social 22:38 and ecclesiastical outcast and for Jesus 22:41 and guess what Pharisees think they were invited. 22:43 Wrong guys, but they didn't know 22:45 they just went ahead and showed up any way. 22:46 Hence you know it. 22:48 Look at verse 11 "And when the Pharisees saw it" 22:51 Pharisees, when the Pharisees saw the party 22:55 "they said to His disciples, 'Why does your Teacher eat 22:57 with tax collectors and sinners?'" 23:00 Party poopers its like that old jingle, 23:03 every party has a pooper that's why we invited you 23:06 party pooper, party pooper. 23:11 So when the Pharisees showed up 23:13 they weren't invited drove up in their Honda Accords. 23:22 I love this Kodak moment, 23:24 this Kodak moment picture Jesus. 23:26 I just love this. 23:27 Look at these guys because the Pharisees 23:30 these hoity religious pallets who would have be caught dead 23:34 in the house of an unclean publican. 23:42 But they got to find a way 23:44 to get inside that party some how. 23:45 They can't go in so they find a giant open window 23:48 beside the balcony. 23:51 The orange festive light is spilling out on to the ground, 23:53 they are standing in that orange light. 23:55 The laughter of a party in full progress 23:57 was into the night air and the Pharisees 24:01 they get up to that window on their tiptoes they go psst. 24:05 Because Pharisees always hiss, 24:10 psst hey, they try to get the attention 24:13 as some of these young men 24:14 that call the guest of honor, master. 24:16 Psst, come, come, come, come. 24:20 I tell you what the bunch of whips 24:23 will take on Jesus but pick on His followers instead. 24:28 But here comes this Kodak moment 24:29 and I just love this because my mother was this way. 24:32 And you know what, your mother was this way. 24:34 I mean, did you notice this about your mom? 24:37 I mean you can be in a room packed 24:39 right may be was in your-- your own little house 24:41 and everybody has come over and mom is across the room 24:44 caught up in a conversation with her friends 24:45 in that corner of the room 24:46 and on the other side of the living room, 24:48 you and your little buddies are there. 24:49 And you know what you can make 24:50 one slipping mistake in a word 24:55 and that mother who is so concentrated on her friends 24:58 the whole time with that rare view antenna 25:01 is listening to everything you are saying. 25:05 Boom, she is in oh, boy, what did you say boy? 25:09 Jesus is just like a great mom. 25:11 This is the Kodak moment because He is over here, 25:13 and nobody has asked Jesus a thing. 25:15 He is in conversation with the other publicans 25:18 and tax collectors and prostitutes over there. 25:20 He is in conversation but His ear is monitoring, 25:23 His little voice over in that corner 25:25 and they are just a few years younger than He. 25:28 And when He hears that psst, 25:32 boom he was not invited but he cuts into that conversation. 25:38 You had a question gentlemen? 25:43 I love that-- I love that about Jesus, 25:45 He will never leave you alone by the way. 25:47 You will never have to dangle alone 25:50 if He is your master. 25:51 He has got an ear to wherever you be He is listening. 25:58 All right, I'll see them on the next page 26:03 probably just a moment. 26:04 All right, here we go. 26:06 Verse 11, yeah, it's a great story I love it. 26:09 Verse 11, "And when the Pharisees saw it, 26:11 " we read it again " they said to His disciples, 26:13 'Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?'" 26:15 And "When Jesus heard that," see that ears caught, 26:17 "when Jesus heard that, He cut into that conversation 26:20 and He said to them," and by the way 26:21 when Jesus speaks up He get's everybody's attention. 26:24 That party likes-- in that party just go shh, 26:27 what and Jesus from across the room 26:29 hey you guys outside the window. 26:31 You have a question talk to me? 26:35 Jesus speaks in verse 12, He says, hey, don't you know, 26:38 you guys obviously have been on hospital 26:40 "Those who are well have no need of a physician." 26:44 Well, people don't need a doctor. 26:46 Jesus said no, no, no "but those who are sick." 26:49 In fact, go and learn. 26:50 Since you guys weren't invited to this party anyway 26:52 why don't you go home and have a Bible study. 26:54 Go have a Bible study 26:55 I want you to pull out the scrolls 26:56 be sure you get the scroll to Hosea. 26:58 There is one little line in Hosea guys, 26:59 I wish you would please mediate on for a while 27:01 for the rest of this night. 27:02 "Go and learn what this means, 27:04 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' 27:06 For I did not come to call the righteous, 27:08 but sinners, to repentance." 27:16 I love the way Eugene Peterson renders this last line of Jesus 27:20 in the message He said, as Jesus saying, 27:22 "I'm here to invite outsiders, not coddle insiders." 27:27 Insiders always want to be coddle, coddle, coddle, 27:29 coddle, coddle so it reminds me the prayer 27:31 Martin Luther once prayed. 27:32 Oh, when I saw this prayer I said, 27:34 thank you Luther, for teaching me that 27:35 because I would like to pray it too. 27:36 It goes like this, "May God of His mercy 27:40 preserve me from a church 27:41 in which there are none but saints." 27:44 Wow, awful church to be in 27:48 if there are only saints in it trust me. 27:51 Good thing you and I are here. 27:54 "May God of His mercy preserve me from a church 27:55 in which there are none but saints. 27:56 I desire to dwell with the humble, 27:58 the feeble, the sick, 27:59 who know and feel their sins, 28:00 and who groan and cry continually to God 28:02 from the bottom of their hearts 28:03 to obtain His consolation and support." 28:06 Jesus said I came to call sinners 28:09 what kind of sinners what do you suppose. 28:12 Ladies and gentlemen, as far as I can tell 28:13 there are no express limitations 28:15 in Jesus rejoinder, do you see any? 28:17 I think He probably means. 28:18 Now, I'm just guessing at this 28:20 I think He probably means all sinners. 28:22 You know the type don't you? 28:24 Heterosexual sinners and homosexual sinners, 28:29 you know the type, 28:31 ethical sinners and unethical sinners, 28:36 alcoholic sinners, and non-alcoholic sinners, 28:43 democrat sinners, and republican sinners. 28:47 Some of you think, some of you think 28:49 Jesus hung around with the republicans. 28:51 He did not, He hung around the with the publicans. 28:56 It's not the same thing. 29:00 Independent sinners probably, 29:03 white sinners, black sinners, brown sinners, 29:05 yellow sinners, red sinners. 29:07 All of them, rich, poor sinners, yup. 29:09 Male, female yup educated, illiterate, yup. 29:14 Christian sinners, Jewish sinners, 29:18 Muslim sinners, Hindu sinners, 29:21 atheist sinners, Adventist sinners, 29:25 come on you know the type all of them. 29:27 I hang around them all, 29:30 apparently when mercy comes running 29:31 it comes running for all of us 29:33 which strikes me some a bit of good news, 29:35 don't it strike you that way? 29:36 Please, say, hey, you guys by the window. 29:42 Matthew says you weren't invited, 29:44 so go home and have a Bible study will you? 29:47 And look it up, Hosea 6:6 figure out what God means 29:50 when He says, I desire mercy and not sacrifice. 29:53 Good night. 29:58 Did you know that, that solitary line from Hosea 30:01 is quoted only twice in the New Testament. 30:03 Both times my Matthew and both times 30:06 on the lips of Jesus himself 30:09 there must be some really punch pat 30:13 and that powerful line 30:15 the only other time in the New Testament 30:17 take a look, just turn one page over Matthew Chapter 12. 30:19 Take a look at this. 30:21 Matthew 12:1 only other time Hosea 6, 30:26 Matthew 12:1 let's go, and 30:28 "At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. 30:33 And His disciples were hungry, 30:34 and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 30:37 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, 30:40 'Look, Your disciples are doing 30:42 what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!' 30:45 But Jesus said to them," Here come the red letters now, 30:47 "Jesus said, what's your guys problem, 30:49 'Haven't you read what David did when he was hungry, 30:52 and he and those who were with him, 30:53 how he entered the house of God, verse 4, 30:55 how he ate the showbread 30:56 which was not lawful for him to eat, 30:58 nor was it for those who were with him, 30:59 but only for the priests?" 31:01 Or how about this guys, verse 5, 31:02 "Haven't you read in the law that on the Sabbath 31:05 the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, 31:06 and are blameless? 31:08 Yet I say to you if you guys could get this 31:10 that there is one greater than the temple." 31:11 Who is standing here. 31:13 But verse 7, "I wish you have another Bible study 31:15 verse 7, "But if you had known what this means, 31:20 'I desire mercy, there it is 31:22 I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' 31:25 you would not have condemned the guiltless.'" 31:27 And by the way "The Son of Man is Lord 31:30 even of the Sabbath." 31:36 Only two places in the New Testament, 31:38 we just read them. 31:40 And by the way this story is not over yet 31:41 because Jesus said, these are the guys that slow me up, 31:43 I'm planning to go to church today, 31:44 where is the synagogue 31:45 because I'm having worship today with you. 31:48 And so the very next verse, verse 9, 31:49 "Now when He had departed from there, 31:50 He went into their synagogue. 31:52 And behold, there was a man" verse 10, 31:54 "who had a withered hand. 31:55 And they asked Him, saying," hey teacher, 31:59 "'Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?' 32:01 That they might accuse Him." 32:03 They didn't want to know, they didn't want an answer. 32:05 They want to nail Him. 32:07 And Jesus said to them again. 32:08 These guys shh, are every where. 32:11 "Then He said to them, 'What man is there'" 32:13 common guys tell me, you got a sheep, 32:16 sheep wanders how do you look like on the Sabbath 32:18 tumbles into a pit you are on your way to church 32:20 and you look down that pit and that is your praise sheep. 32:23 What are you gonna do on the Sabbath? 32:25 Don't tell me that you are going to ahead 32:26 and go worship and leave that sheep there. 32:27 Are you crazy? I know what you will do? 32:29 You will climb down to get all dirty in that pit 32:31 just to save the life of a little tiny fluffy sheep. 32:36 Now Jesus says, verse 12 "Of how much more value 32:39 then is a human being than a sheep? 32:42 Therefore I'm telling you it is lawful to do good 32:45 on the Sabbath." 32:47 He turns some of those party poopers 32:50 and He says to the man, "Stretch out your hand." 32:55 And the man with the withered hand 32:58 realizes he is in the presence of divinity and in faith. 33:04 And hand just like, just like that, just like that. 33:10 And then verse 14, oh, boy, "The Pharisees went out 33:14 and plotted against Jesus, how they might destroy Him." 33:17 And its clear form the gospel record from that point 33:19 it's all down hill He is headed to death. 33:22 By that single act of mercy 33:24 Jesus signed His own death warrant. 33:28 Mercy is that important to Him. 33:30 Signed His execution orders. 33:31 There they are ladies and gentlemen, 33:33 two stories one punch line, I desire mercy. 33:37 And what's the truth about that punch line? 33:40 This is the great truth about mercy 33:42 and you can track this truth 33:43 all the way through Jesus life and here it is. 33:45 The truth is that mercy elevates need above creed. 33:51 Need over creed, need over creed. 33:54 You know, what the problem with you and me is 33:56 we get it backwards and so that we won't get it backwards, 33:59 let's quickly write it in frontward's. 34:01 Take the study guide 34:02 that's in your worship bulletin we do that. 34:04 Just take your study guide out we got to write this in. 34:06 Thank you ushers, we probably have people here 34:08 who got in without study guides so ushers come all the way 34:12 up to the front make sure we cover up here. 34:14 Hold your hand up if you need a study guide 34:16 and while the ushers are coming by. 34:17 Let me say to those who are watching on TV 34:19 you can get the same study guide right now. 34:21 Let me put it on the screen for you, 34:23 there it is www.pmchurch.tv 34:26 that's our website. 34:28 You can get the study guide by going to this 34:30 particular teaching series 34:31 its called "Mercy Came A Running." 34:34 And the title of this teaching is 34:37 "How to Put a Smile on God's Face." 34:39 You want to put a smile on God's face. 34:40 It's mercy, mercy, mercy. 34:43 When you see that how to put a smile on God's face 34:45 it says study guide click right there 34:47 and you will have that study guide right on the screen 34:49 before you and you can fill it in 34:50 even as we go here on your computer there. 34:54 All right, everybody get one all in the balcony, 34:57 quire has theirs I know. 34:58 Let's go, number one, fill it up please. 35:01 Two stories about Jesus with a single truth about God, 35:04 "I desire mercy." 35:06 Fill that in please, I desire mercy. 35:09 That's Hosea 6:6. Keep your pen moving. 35:11 The truth we need to get "frontwards" here it is. 35:13 Mercy elevates need above creed. 35:16 Need over creed. Keep your pen moving. 35:20 That means people above propriety. 35:23 What's proper no people more important. 35:25 Human lives above human laws. 35:27 And mercy above justice. 35:31 Did you get that? Mercy above justice. 35:33 Are we just imagining this guys, 35:35 are we making this up? 35:36 No, no, no there is a stunning line 35:39 and you got to see it in your own Bible. 35:40 This is our last text to look up. 35:42 Go to the little book of James in the New Testament. 35:45 If you can find the Book of Hebrews, 35:46 it's the book right after Hebrew is James. 35:48 Page number in our pew Bible would be page 812 35:51 some of you are gonna be startled that, 35:53 in fact, this verse is in your Bible, 35:55 this is unbelievable. 35:57 Take a look at this, James Chapter 2, 36:00 James Chapter 2 drop down to verse 13. 36:06 James 2:13, can you believe this "For judgment is without mercy 36:11 to the one who has shown no mercy. 36:14 But mercy triumphs over judgment." 36:19 Isn't that sound? 36:21 Jot that in, let's put in there 36:23 fill in the blank version of that. 36:25 Please fill it in, "For judgment is without mercy 36:29 to the one who has shown no mercy. 36:31 But mercy triumphs over judgment." 36:36 And by the way the Greek word for judgment is krisis, 36:39 from where it comes the word crisis. 36:41 In the New Testament translated either way it can be translated 36:44 judgment or it can be translated justice. 36:47 So that justice technically true is the reading 36:50 mercy triumphs over justice. 36:55 Now I know some of you-- you already have a voice 36:56 protesting in the back of your mind 36:58 you are saying hold, hold. 36:59 No, no, no before you rise up and protest 37:02 I want to be quick to affirm 37:03 that we are not trying to create here 37:05 some sort of false dichotomy between mercy and justice. 37:09 We don't have to concoct a straw man. 37:10 We don't have to come up with a paper tiger. 37:12 I understand mercy and justice are not antithetical, 37:16 they are not opposites, they are not even apposed. 37:18 In fact, do you know what they hold hands? 37:21 More over Psalms 85 declares that mercy and justice kiss, 37:24 they are not opposites. 37:27 However, and I believe every single one of us 37:29 could very this in the witness of our own spirits. 37:31 Every one of us knows this in our soul of souls 37:36 that there are times when mercy must over rule 37:42 a strict legalistic sense of justice and right. 37:48 When need must be elevated above creed, 37:51 when people are more important than propriety, 37:54 when mercy must triumph, over judgment. 37:57 Come on guys, don't you know this? 37:59 There are times when the letter of the law... 38:05 or the letter of the church manual 38:07 or the letter of the university handbook, 38:10 it says, thrown them out, but there are times 38:13 when mercy must stand up 38:16 it must stand up in that committee room. 38:18 It must stand up in that boardroom 38:20 it must stand up in that staff room, 38:21 in that class room, in that dorm room, 38:23 mercy must stand up and say you can't you just cannot, 38:28 we must over ride and over rule the letter of the law. 38:33 No, no, not so that somehow we become, we become lawless 38:38 but rather for the sake of making certain 38:40 that we are never loveless. 38:43 In fact, I wish, I wish you take a look at this. 38:46 This is-- this is controversial, 38:51 I found a line a hundred years ago, 38:52 a hundred years ago. 38:54 I believe this line is mercy's appeal 38:55 to the faith community. 38:57 It's in your study guide and you have to fill it in. 38:59 Move right down to where I am. 39:00 Read this, read these words "In reforms" isn't this amazing? 39:04 "In reforms we would better come one step short of the mark 39:09 than to go one step beyond it." 39:12 If any thing hold back, hold back, 39:16 now, here comes the one here is what knocks 39:18 your spiritual socks out of this, this next line, 39:21 "And if there is error at all, 39:25 let it be on the side next to the people." 39:29 Write that in. 39:31 If you are doing an error, if there is going to be error 39:34 always error on the side of the people. 39:39 I desire mercy that's why. 39:43 And so Jesus what did He do, 39:44 He sided with the need of the people, 39:46 rather than the creed of the Pharisees. 39:49 Sure come on, a case could be made 39:50 that associating with tax collectors 39:52 and socializing with prostitutes, 39:54 makes for a bad press for the kingdom of God. 39:56 Who doesn't understand that? 39:58 And so some could perhaps even conclude you know what, 40:01 that kind of association will only encourage 40:03 the immoral in their immoralities 40:06 but Jesus elevated need over creed. 40:10 He stood on the side of the people and He said nope, 40:13 look at it if I can win two or three more like Matthew, 40:16 its worth a risk need over creed. 40:22 And so Jesus took His places 40:23 we just read in this quotation on the side next to the people. 40:26 For you see mercy elevates need over creed. 40:29 Our temptation is to do what exactly opposite. 40:33 Here, fill this in, here is what we want to do. 40:35 We want to elevate creed over need, don't we? 40:41 I mean we get Jesus mercy backwards. 40:44 And so we win our arguments but we live we win our argument 40:48 but we lose our communities. 40:49 We prove the point and tell there is finally nobody 40:52 to whom to prove the point to anymore. 40:54 Creed won but it missed it, 40:56 it lost the need of the people. 40:59 That is so sad. 41:00 Pharisees always get it backwards, 41:03 Pharisees always exile creed over need. 41:06 I don't care if you are hungry, 41:09 I don't care if that man has a shrivel arm. 41:11 What are we suppose to do? 41:12 Do something about it on the Sabbath. 41:13 The creed says this is Sabbath nothing. 41:16 Pharisees always elevate creed over need. 41:21 Jesus says you got it backwards I desire mercy not sacrifice. 41:27 So I'll tell you what how did Martin Luther pray 41:30 "May God of His mercy preserve me from a church 41:33 in which there are none but saints." 41:35 Deliver me please from the perfect 41:40 and that's why both Luther and Jesus 41:42 chose to be on the side of the people. 41:48 Need over creed. 41:51 If there is an error at all, 41:52 let it be on the side next to the people. 41:56 Question since its clear that mercy 41:58 is the default setting for God 41:59 I desire mercy what should be the default setting 42:02 for the people of God? 42:03 Answer, mercy. 42:05 But of course I want to end with a testimony. 42:14 I've had a bit more time 42:17 to contemplate this issue of mercy 42:19 than you have because I started booting on this last fall. 42:22 So I'm a few weeks ahead of you. 42:25 I want to share with you a testimony of -- 42:27 of where I'm at with this -- with this brooding 42:31 because I have been wondering to God I said, God I mean, 42:33 this makes sense but how do we do it practically? 42:36 How do we live it out? 42:38 I found a little question that I'm experimenting with 42:42 then I wish you jot this question now 42:43 for what's its worth, I understand 42:45 you don't have to take it. 42:46 But would you jot it down please? 42:47 And here is the question I have been asking myself. 42:49 What would be the most merciful? 42:51 Write it in. 42:52 What would be the most merciful thing 42:54 to do in this instance? 42:56 I know about the-- you know, what would Jesus do question? 42:59 That's okay, there is also this question, 43:02 what does the Bible tell me to do? 43:03 That's instructive but I'm not getting much help 43:05 with those questions. 43:06 I'm being honest with you I'm finding that this question 43:09 what would mercy do, 43:12 what would be the merciful thing to do? 43:15 The most merciful response in this instance? 43:21 I mean, somebody calls me up, say Dwight, I need some help? 43:25 So how I'm gonna respond? 43:26 It's a--- I'm trying to say okay, 43:29 what would mercy do in this instance? 43:33 I want to give somebody a piece of my mind. 43:36 This is not done right. This is wrong. 43:40 I just want to give you a little piece of my mind 43:42 so that you can understand where I stand in this. 43:45 I want to give my wife a piece of my mind. 43:48 I have given so many pieces of my mind to Karen 43:50 I don't even have a mind left. 43:56 We have always given pieces of our mind 43:57 hat's why we are walking out empty brain. 44:00 Giving out piece of my mind here 44:02 but so I'm starting to-- I'm starting to learn 44:04 I'm not there yet but I'm starting to learn. 44:07 Come on Dwight, calm down, please. 44:11 What would be the merciful response in this situation? 44:18 Somebody calls me up, it's my day off, 44:21 I'm already worn out 44:22 could you come and help us please? 44:26 I have to put a little break, 44:27 hold it right there, hold it, hold it. 44:28 Okay, boy, what would be the most merciful way 44:31 to respond to this instance? 44:36 My roommate, oh, my roommate, 44:40 say what would be the most merciful way 44:43 to respond to this? 44:45 My employer, no my employee, 44:49 no my colleague, hey come on please. 44:54 No, what would be the most merciful way to respond? 44:58 It's Friday afternoon I got to get gas 45:01 and we both gone for the gas pump at the same time, 45:07 parking spot both of us. 45:11 What would be the most merciful way 45:13 to respond in this instance? 45:16 I'm beginning to figure out now, 45:17 please this is gonna sound okay to you, 45:20 I'm beginning to think that may be mercy even dictates 45:23 how I respond to our pet dog. 45:28 No, seriously, Karen and I the other day, true, 45:30 Karen and I the other day we are having worship 45:32 and we are reading this little book 45:33 called Sons and Daughters of God 45:34 and there was this line in it and I put in your study guide. 45:36 "He or she who loves God 45:38 will not only love his fellow men, 45:40 but will regard with tender compassion 45:42 the creatures which God has made." 45:45 So I'm hurrying out of the house because I have -- 45:47 I got a creed and that is you don't show up late 45:50 I got a creed but my little dog at the top of the stairs 45:54 has a major need. 45:58 So I have to look at Saydi, 46:01 well, you can hold the girl 46:02 I'll back in four hours just hold it. 46:06 And I asked myself, wait a minute, wait a minute 46:07 is that mercy, is that mercy to my dog? 46:10 No need, need right now, 46:14 gets elevated above creed 46:16 because if a creature is a creation of my loving God 46:19 who Has had mercy on me 46:21 then I need to have mercy on His creatures too. 46:24 So even the way you treat your pets 46:26 somehow I know it sounds a bit -- 46:28 a bit corny I'm not intending it for to 46:31 but all I'm telling you is honestly, 46:35 I'm finding that asking this question, 46:37 what would be the most merciful response 46:39 to make in this particular instance, is help in me. 46:42 As I said a moment ago, I don't know who is asking 46:44 I just, sometimes I don't have time for mercy. 46:49 You see, I understand that. 46:52 But you know what and this is true, 46:54 I only have two or three months ahead of you on this 46:56 but I use to stew, I still do it 47:01 but I use to really get up tight 47:03 because once I figured something was wrong 47:05 it was not-- its not good if we don't do things like this, 47:09 once I find that about-- find out about that then I stew 47:12 and I'm giving all kinds of speeches in my mind 47:15 to the person that needs the speech. 47:18 I give the speech so that speech has a negative 47:21 its just very poisons and so my stomach 47:23 scours these little gastric juices 47:26 and my stomach goes into a nut and a nut. 47:29 And I'm all uptight now, 47:31 I'm not afraid of confrontation trust me, 47:33 bring it on but until it takes place, 47:36 see it's just like this. 47:38 And I'm realizing guys, I'm sorry to be so 47:40 I can't do with you but I'm realizing that when you-- 47:43 if you ask this question what would be the most mercy-- 47:45 common Dwight, take a break, take a chill pill. 47:49 What would be the most merciful way 47:51 for you to respond in this instance? 47:54 I just find that little nothic that 47:55 I just find it goes like that, 47:58 yeah, what's the deal? 48:00 I don't have to defend my right. 48:02 I don't have to prove that I have a creed 48:03 that demands perfection of everybody. 48:05 I don't have to prove anything at all, 48:07 the need right now is mercy. 48:10 And when I let that go, my stomach actually relaxes 48:13 and I'm in a path a bit more piece, 48:15 refreshing piece in my life. 48:18 Guys, look at I'm not there yet I know 48:20 but I'm telling you I had a few weeks ahead of you, 48:23 it really does work. 48:24 What would mercy do in this particular instance 48:28 with my wife, with my children, 48:31 with my friends, with my strangers, 48:33 with my colleagues with my employees, 48:36 what would it do? 48:39 Because the fact of the matter is 48:40 when mercy had a choice 48:42 between creed or need at Calvary, 48:46 now listen to me carefully when mercy had a choice 48:49 between creed or need at Calvary 48:53 mercy said we are going for need. 48:56 Because the creed is he is dead meat 49:00 she is dead, she has sinned. 49:02 The creed is clear you lost 49:05 but mercy said no, no, no... 49:08 when I'm around need goes over creed. 49:14 And so mercy stretched out his arms and died for me 49:18 knowing the creed but embrace the need. 49:22 And mercy triumphs over judgment. 49:25 And all, you know that song that we had 49:28 Nick Zoric sing a few Sabbath's ago 49:30 that song, when -- "When I could not reach mercy. 49:35 Mercy came running to me." Hallelujah. 49:39 Ladies and gentlemen, 49:43 when ever I go running to any of you in the future 49:47 I'm asking God, please 49:50 let mercy go running with me. 49:55 You want that too? 49:57 I want to be like Jesus, 49:59 I want to be like Jesus, don't you? 50:02 How many want to be like Jesus? 50:03 Come on, how many want to be like Jesus 50:05 and let mercy go running? 50:07 We called an audible during 50:09 between our worship first service and now, 50:12 because I heard what you are about to hear 50:14 in first church and I said oh, Jesus, this song 50:16 this glorious rendition of 50:20 "Jesus, the very thought of thee" 50:23 this song has got to be sung at this moment 50:27 because I want to be like Jesus 50:28 and I want Jesus to be reflected in me. 50:30 And so here is what I'm going to ask you to do 50:32 while Stephen Zork is coming forward. 50:34 I'm gonna ask you to take out your hymnal 50:36 and its hymn number 241. 50:38 There are gonna sing a rendition of this you never heard before, 50:40 241 this thing moves to a glorious climax. 50:45 Follow the words, pray the prayer, 50:47 I want you Jesus, I want to be like you. 51:30 Jesus, the very thought of Thee 51:39 With sweetness fills the breast 51:49 But sweeter far Thy face to see 51:59 And in Thy presence rest 52:15 Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame 52:24 Nor can the memory find 52:33 A sweeter sound than Thy blest Name 52:42 O Savior of mankind! 53:09 O hope of every contrite heart 53:18 O joy of all the meek 53:27 To those who fall, how kind Thou art! 53:36 How good to those who seek! 54:06 But what to those who find? 54:13 Ah, this Nor tongue 54:18 Nor pen can show 54:26 The love of Jesus, what it is 54:36 None but His loved ones know 55:36 Jesus, our only joy be Thou 55:45 As Thou our prize will be 55:54 Jesus be Thou our glory now 56:03 And through eternity 56:13 Jesus be Thou our glory now 56:27 And through eternity 56:58 Let me take one more moment of your time 57:00 to let you know that one of the blessings 57:01 I receive from this telecast 57:03 is being in touch with viewers like you, 57:05 all across Michiana and our nation 57:07 and literally the world. 57:09 I'm humbled and honored 57:10 with you sharing a journey with us. 57:11 Sometimes it's a Bible question, 57:13 other times it's an observation or suggestion 57:15 and sometimes just a note 57:16 to share a prayer or a prayer request. 57:19 I would love to hear from you 57:20 and it's so easy to be in touch. 57:21 Just go to our Pioneer Memorial Church website 57:24 www.pmchurch.tv 57:27 and click on contact and then the word Pastor 57:30 and then jot down the message you wish to send. 57:33 If you have a prayer request click on those words 57:35 or call our toll free number 1-877-HIS-WILL 57:40 and I promise you that our prayer partners 57:42 will lift your personal need to God 57:44 because nobody should have to journey alone, 57:46 not only do we have Jesus but we also have each other. 57:49 So write me won't you at www.pmchurch.tv 57:53 In the mean time may the God who's mercy 57:56 continually runs after us 57:57 be with you 24/7 every step of the way. 58:02 I'll see you again right here next time. |
Revised 2014-12-17