Participants: Pr. Dwight K Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP042107
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00:39 Sing the praises to our King
00:41 For He is the King of Kings 00:44 We sing the praises to our King 00:46 For He's the King of Kings 00:49 We sing the praises to our King 00:51 For He is the King of Kings 00:54 We sing the praises to our King 00:56 For He is the King of Kings 00:58 Give Him glory 01:01 For He is the King 01:03 Give Him glory 01:06 For He is the King of Kings 01:08 Give Him glory 01:11 For He is the King 01:13 Give Him glory 01:16 For He is the King of Kings 01:19 We sing the praises to our King 01:21 For He is the King of Kings 01:24 We sing the praises to our King 01:26 For He is the King of Kings 01:29 We sing the praises to our King 01:31 For He is the King of Kings 01:34 We sing the praises to our King 01:36 For He is the King of Kings 01:38 Give Him glory 01:41 For He is the King 01:43 Give Him glory 01:46 For He is the King of Kings 01:50 All hail King Jesus! 02:00 All hail Emmanuel! 02:09 All hail King Jesus! 02:19 All hail Emmanuel! 02:28 He reigns forever 02:31 He reigns forever He reigns forever 02:36 And evermore! 02:38 He reigns forever 02:41 He reigns forever He reigns forever 02:46 And evermore! 02:48 He reigns forever 02:51 He reigns forever He reigns forever 02:56 And evermore! 02:58 He reigns forever 03:01 He reigns forever He reigns forever 03:06 And evermore! 03:08 He reigns forever 03:11 He reigns forever 03:13 He reigns forever and evermore 03:19 All hail King Jesus! 03:37 Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord 03:39 Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord 03:41 Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord 03:43 Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord 03:47 And He shall lift you up 03:51 Higher and higher 03:52 And He shall lift you up 04:03 Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord 04:05 Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord 04:07 Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord 04:09 And He shall lift you up 04:14 Higher and higher 04:15 And He shall lift you up 04:21 Our God is an awesome God 04:24 He reigns from heaven above 04:27 With wisdom, pow'r and love 04:30 Our God is an awesome God 04:33 Our God is an awesome God 04:36 He reigns from heaven above 04:39 With wisdom, pow'r and love 04:42 Our God is an awesome God 04:45 Our God is an awesome God 04:48 He reigns from heaven above 04:51 With wisdom, pow'r and love 04:54 Our God is an awesome God 04:57 Our God is an awesome God 05:07 Our God is an awesome God 05:10 He reigns from heaven above 05:13 With wisdom, pow'r and love 05:16 Our God is an awesome God 05:19 Our God is an awesome God 05:22 He reigns from heaven above 05:25 With wisdom, pow'r and love 05:28 Our God is an awesome God 05:38 Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord 05:39 Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord 05:42 Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord 05:44 Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord 05:47 And He shall lift you up 05:51 Higher and higher 05:52 And He shall lift you up 05:58 And He shall lift you up 06:03 Higher and higher 06:05 And He shall lift you up 06:15 What an amazing exchange God offers us. 06:19 Humility for glory. 06:22 Sin for righteousness. 06:25 And one day when He glorifies us, 06:27 when He finally lifts us up, the ultimate time, 06:30 we will have the joy of giving it right back to Him. 06:35 The crown that He puts on our head when He lifts us up, 06:39 off of this earth to heaven forever, 06:42 that crown which He puts on our head after He says, 06:45 well done, my good and faithful servant, 06:49 that crown we will joyfully, I believe, 06:52 take off our heads and lay it down at His feet. 06:56 Amen. 07:09 We fall down 07:12 We lay our crowns 07:15 At the feet of Jesus 07:21 The greatness of Mercy and love 07:27 At the feet of Jesus 07:32 And we cry holy, holy, holy 07:38 And we cry holy, holy, holy 07:44 And we cry holy, holy, holy 07:51 Is the Lamb 07:58 We fall down 08:01 We lay our crowns 08:03 At the feet of Jesus 08:10 The greatness of Mercy and love 08:15 At the feet of Jesus 08:20 And we cry holy, holy, holy 08:26 And we cry holy, holy, holy 08:32 And we cry holy, holy, holy 08:39 Is the Lamb 08:42 And we cry holy, holy, holy 08:47 And we cry holy, holy, holy 08:53 And we cry holy, holy, holy 09:00 Is the Lamb 09:21 Before the throne of God above 09:26 I have a strong and perfect plea 09:31 A great high Priest whose name is Love 09:36 Who ever lives and pleads for me 09:40 My name is graven on His hands 09:45 My name is written on His heart 09:50 I know that while in Heaven He stands 09:55 No tongue can bid me thence depart 09:59 No tongue can bid me thence depart 10:06 When Satan tempts me to despair 10:11 And tells me of the guilt within 10:16 Upward I look and see Him there 10:20 Who made an end of all my sin 10:25 Because the sinless Savior died 10:30 My sinful soul is counted free 10:35 For God the Just is satisfied 10:39 To look on Him and pardon me 10:44 To look on Him and pardon me 10:51 Behold Him there the Risen Lamb 10:56 My perfect spotless Righteousness 11:01 The great unchangeable I Am 11:05 The King of glory and of grace 11:10 One with Himself I cannot die 11:14 My soul is purchased by His blood 11:19 My life is hid with Christ on high 11:24 With Christ my Savior and my God 11:29 With Christ my Savior and my God 11:47 Isaiah 55, 11:50 "Seek the Lord while He may be found, 11:55 Call on Him while He is near. 11:58 Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. 12:04 Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him. 12:09 Let him turn to our God, for He will freely pardon." 12:15 As we seek God this morning, 12:18 I invite you, as we sing our prayer song, 12:21 to join us at the front 12:23 as we approach this wonderful God in prayer. 12:33 Oh Lord, You're beautiful 12:42 Your face is all I seek 12:50 And when Your eyes are on this child 12:59 Your grace abounds to me 13:07 Oh Lord, You're beautiful 13:16 Your face is all I seek 13:24 And when Your eyes are on this child 13:33 Your grace abounds to me 13:42 All merciful God, infinite, eternal 13:49 and unchangeable, glorious in holiness, 13:56 full of love and compassion 14:00 and abundant in grace and truth, 14:04 hallowed be Your name. 14:08 We praise you, oh God, for our creation, preservation 14:14 and all the blessings of life You grant us. 14:18 For Your Word which is a lamp to our feet 14:22 and a light to our path. 14:25 For the everlasting riches of Your mercy. 14:30 For Your patience that is born with us. 14:35 For earth and sky 14:38 and all the beauties of this world in glorious spring time. 14:44 We rejoice to see 14:46 the miracle of life all around us once again. 14:50 Life coming from seeming death. 14:55 We take hope as we remember what Jesus can do for us. 15:02 We uplift to You, all who have come forward this morning, 15:06 some to say thank You for a special blessing, 15:10 some to lay before You a request or concern. 15:14 Hear our prayers, oh Lord. 15:18 Amen. 18:35 Thank you Andrews Academy. 18:36 The concert band, powerful. 18:38 Thank you very much. 18:44 That music perhaps reflects 18:46 how some of us are feeling right now. 18:50 Strong and bombastic and angry. 19:02 I just learned last night 19:06 of a story that makes me angry. 19:14 There are some of you here in worship who are angry 19:19 for reasons known only to you and God. 19:27 So often anger has to do with 19:31 our sense of a miscarriage of justice, something unfair. 19:38 I'm angry. 19:40 I'm going to ask God right now 19:42 to not let that anger seep into this teaching, 19:48 because this teaching addresses what makes us angry. 19:54 And I don't want to get in the way. 19:56 You need to hear what Jesus is about to teach you 20:01 through a passage in the gospels. 20:07 I want to pray with you. 20:09 Then we'll plunge into the Word together. 20:13 Holy Father, that music was strong. 20:19 You got to know Your children. 20:23 There are times when we have strong feelings, 20:29 and we don't know what to do. 20:34 We're not sure how to right the wrong. 20:41 We're not sure how to take away the injustice, 20:46 particularly when free will is involved 20:48 and human choices are protected by You, 20:54 as we would only have it. 20:57 This is been some week on this planet, 21:03 in this nation, upon this campus. 21:08 Oh God, a word, please. 21:18 Hide us all 21:21 so that Christ's spirit might get through to all of us. 21:26 We pray in Jesus' name, amen. 21:32 There is an ugly word 21:36 in our human vocabulary 21:40 that most of us wish to never use. 21:44 It is a dark word. 21:48 It feels cruel and angry. 21:54 The word is revenge, revenge. 22:00 What does revenge mean? 22:02 Simply put, revenge means settling the score. 22:09 Revenge happens when self perceived justice 22:14 decides to take matters into its own hands 22:18 and settle the score. 22:20 Sometimes with tragic, tragic consequences, 22:25 as the whole world observed this last week. 22:33 The tragedy on the campus of Virginia Tech, 22:39 in that massacre, 22:41 the near tragedy on our own campus, 22:45 on the same day at almost the same moment. 22:52 Because of a self perceived need to settle the score 22:59 and take care of justice, take it into his own hands. 23:04 Does God behave that way? 23:09 Once upon a time, Jesus told a story 23:12 and it's going to surprise you, because it sure seems like, 23:18 in fact, God feels the same way. 23:22 Open your Bible, please, to the Gospel of St. Luke. 23:26 The gospel of Luke 18. 23:32 In a story about vengeance 23:36 and justice and God. 23:43 Because here we have been in a semester 23:45 and we've been talking mercy, mercy, mercy, mercy 23:48 and it is a fair question to be raised 23:50 at some point along the way, okay, boy. 23:56 Whatever happened to justice? 23:59 Is there no justice in the divine heart of mercy, 24:04 no vengeance 24:07 when the innocent suffer in the hands of a perpetrator? 24:12 No vengeance. 24:19 Jesus told a story, once upon a time, 24:22 Luke Chapter 18. 24:25 If you didn't bring a Bible today, 24:26 grab that pew Bible in front of you because this-- 24:28 you haven't read the story in a long time 24:29 and you need to see this story. 24:32 Luke Chapter 18, 24:33 let me give you the page number in the pew Bible, 24:34 that would be page 706, New King James Version. 24:39 Those of you watching on television, 24:40 grab a Bible if there's one near you. 24:42 Take a look at this, will you? 24:44 Luke 18:1, 24:45 "Then, He, Jesus, spoke a parable to them, 24:47 that men and women ought always to pray and not lose heart." 24:51 Now that is the primary punch line to this story, 24:55 but I'm not concerned today about the primary punch line, 24:57 it's the secondary punch line and it is inescapable. 25:00 You'll get it, trust me, you'll get it. 25:02 The secondary punch line is what we're looking for today. 25:05 So Jesus speaks in verse 2 25:06 and if you have a red letterd Bible, 25:07 now it's all red, it's all red. 25:10 This is Jesus telling the story. 25:12 Verse 2, and Jesus said, 25:13 "There was in a certain city 25:15 a judge who did not fear God nor regard man." 25:20 I've known a few judges in my life. 25:22 Tried not to know them on a very intimate basis 25:24 but had to meet with them on occasion. 25:29 Now here's a judge who, as you'll know in just a moment, 25:32 is proud that he is both Godless and heartless. 25:36 Most of the judges I've met 25:37 seemed to be fairly compassionate individuals, 25:39 but I suppose there are a few judges, 25:41 Godless and heartless, this is one of them. 25:44 Jesus said there was a city once upon a time 25:46 and in this city was a judge 25:47 who is both Godless and heartless. 25:49 And next verse, verse 3. 25:50 In that same city was the widow. 25:53 Now, in this, in the culture of the orient 25:55 in which Jesus is telling the story, 25:57 we're talking, ladies and gentlemen, 25:58 about the bottom of the food chain. 26:01 A widow is at the very bottom. 26:02 She's the most helpless. 26:04 And I tell you what, if she dies, 26:06 if rather her husband dies and she has no kids, 26:08 she is really up a creek without a paddle. 26:11 If she has no sons, 26:13 there is nobody that goes to care for her, 26:15 she has no advocate, she has to do it all herself. 26:18 She's a widow of that caliber. 26:20 In the same city, Jesus says in verse 3, 26:22 "There was a widow, and she came to the judge 26:25 and she said, 'Get justice for me from my adversary.'" 26:29 The Greek word can actually be translated two ways. 26:32 It could be translated avenge me, I want revenge, 26:35 I want avenge, avengement, avenge me 26:38 or can be translated, give me justice, 26:40 I got an adversary. 26:42 Well, Jesus doesn't tell us what's going on here. 26:45 We read between the lines. 26:46 Apparently when her beloved life companion died, 26:51 there was a piece of family property 26:52 that he had mortgaged out to somebody else 26:54 and it's time for her to get that property back, 26:57 but whoever has the property is refusing to do it. 26:59 Won't give it back. 27:00 No, no, no, you have no-- he's gone. 27:06 So she has to go to the court and she pleads for justice. 27:11 Verse 4, "And..." 27:13 Jesus said, let me tell about that judge again. 27:15 "He would not for a while." 27:18 In the Greek it reads this way. 27:19 He kept on refusing her. 27:21 Over and over she kept coming, over and over you can say, 27:23 he kept saying, no, no, no, no, no, don't have time, go. 27:28 He would not for a while. 27:31 I say for a while because he maybe Godless 27:34 and he maybe heartless but he is not mindless. 27:38 There's only so much of this you can take. 27:41 Bright, bright judge. 27:43 As verse 4 says, "And he would not for a while, 27:45 but afterward he said within himself..." 27:47 He's rather proud of who he is. 27:49 "Though I do not fear God nor regard man." 27:52 I am godless and I am heartless, 27:54 I'm a coolheaded jurist. 27:56 'Even though I am," verse 5, 27:58 "yet, because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, 28:02 lest by her continual coming she weary me.'' 28:06 Now Peterson, in his rendition in the message 28:09 of this particular line, he translates it. 28:11 He translates it. 28:13 Otherwise, if I don't get rid of her, 28:15 she is going to end up beating me 28:17 black and blue by her pounding, I like that. 28:20 I see this little widow. 28:21 You see the little widow, tiny little fist, 28:23 and she is coming up that big chest of judge, 28:25 she's pounding, give me justice, give me. 28:27 No. Give me justice. 28:28 No. Give me justice. 28:30 No. Give me justice. 28:31 All right, you can have it. 28:34 She's pound me black and blue. 28:38 Then the Lord said, verse 6, 28:42 "Hear what the unjust judge..." 28:45 By the way, by the way, please note, 28:48 Jesus passes judgment on the judge. 28:52 He is unjust. 28:54 And even in a land like ours and a county like this one, 28:57 there are unjust judges. 29:01 It's just part of the journey. 29:04 "Then the Lord said, 'Hear what the unjust judge said.'" 29:08 Verse 7, "And shall God not avenge His own elect 29:12 who cry out day and night to Him, 29:14 though He bears long with them?" 29:16 Verse 8, "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily." 29:21 Do you know why? 29:23 Because vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord, 29:27 and I will repay. 29:29 That's why. 29:31 Have mercy, there is justice, hallelujah. 29:35 I wish you'd write that down. 29:37 Friend of God, write that down, will you? 29:39 There is justice for the friends of God. 29:41 Pull out your study guide, 29:42 you got a study guide in that worship bulletin. 29:44 Thank you ushers, let's get these study guides out. 29:46 I'll tell you why you want the study guide, 29:48 because I have a quotation here 29:49 that you can't get anywhere on earth 29:51 but this study guide. 29:53 A private paper was sent to me by some lawyers, 29:55 I'll talk about that in just a moment. 29:57 I'm quoting that paper. 29:58 You want the study guide. 29:59 Hold your hand up if you don't have a study guide. 30:01 Make sure everybody here-- 30:02 Do you have your study guides here? 30:03 Pull your study guides out, very good. 30:05 And while we're doing that, 30:06 those of you who are watching on television, 30:08 let me put our website on the screen for you. 30:09 You can join with us right now. 30:11 You got to fill this out. 30:12 There it is, www.pmchurch.tv. 30:16 That's our website. 30:17 Please go to our website. 30:19 You click on to this series, Mercy Came A Runnin'. 30:22 Mercy, mercy, mercy and now justice. 30:25 "Whatever Happened to Justice?" 30:26 That's the title of this teaching. 30:27 "Whatever Happened to Justice?" 30:29 It'll say study guide, click there 30:31 and you'll have the same quotation 30:33 that you can get nowhere else on earth 30:34 but right there in our study guide. 30:36 That's yours so quickly got to your computer, 30:38 pull that study guide up and let's go. 30:41 Fill it out, please. 30:43 Would you fill it in, that verse, vengeance? 30:45 Write it in, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay." 30:51 Two words you got to write in, says the Lord. 30:53 Where's that coming from? 30:54 Romans 12:19, would you write in 19, 30:57 I think the study guide says 9, it's 19, slip of my finger. 31:02 That's supposed to be 19, so make sure you have 19 there. 31:04 It's quoted, this line is out of Deuteronomy 32:35. 31:10 It's quoted in both Romans 12:19 31:12 and again in Hebrews 10:30, 31:14 so the Old Testament line is embraced by the New Testament. 31:17 "'Vengeance is Mine, 31:19 and I will repay, 'says the Lord." 31:20 Jot it down. Have mercy, there is justice. 31:24 Have mercy, there is justice. 31:26 What's the punch line, 31:27 the secondary punch line of Jesus' parable? 31:29 Keep your pen moving. 31:30 "Shall not God avenge His own.'' 31:33 Who are His own? Those are His friends on earth. 31:35 You're a friend of God? 31:36 You're going through, you're suffering through 31:37 some injustice, hold on, my friend, 31:40 I got good news for you. 31:41 We may have been talking about mercy heretofore, 31:43 but today it's justice. 31:45 Hold on. Hold on. 31:48 "Shall not God avenge His own 31:49 who cry out day and night to Him?" 31:52 Luke 18:7. 31:55 This week... 31:58 This week the world remember the holocaust 32:01 and commemorations around the planet, 32:03 6 million Jews 32:06 exterminated by an insane tyrant, an ideology. 32:10 But lest we forget, I need to remind you 32:12 that is not the only sorry chapter in the history 32:16 of the human race in the 20th century now gone. 32:20 I've a book in my library by a writer name Gary A. Haugen, 32:24 title of the book "The Good News of Injustice." 32:27 Let me quote you, it's in the study guide, 32:28 let me quote to you from Haugen's book. 32:31 You need to fill in the last word. 32:34 Put it on the screen. 32:35 "The outcome in the 20th century..." 32:36 You want to talk about the century behind us. 32:37 "The outcome in the 20th century 32:39 could be described an open-mouthed grave. 32:43 An entire generation of European youth composting..." 32:46 That's right, that's not misspelling. 32:49 They've turned to compost, fertilizing the soil of Europe. 32:54 "Composting the World War I battlefields of Verdun 32:58 and the Somme, Hitler's six million Jews, 33:00 Stalin's twenty million Soviet citizens, 33:02 Mao's tens of millions of political enemies 33:04 and peasant famine victims, 33:06 Pol Pot's two million Cambodians, 33:08 the Interhamwe's million Tutsi Rwandans, 33:11 and the millions of lives wasted away 33:13 during apartheid's forty-year reign." 33:15 Now hold on. 33:16 "We can easily forget that the same spirit of darkness 33:20 rules our present age. 33:23 Outside the affluent West, however, 33:25 in the Two-Thirds World, 33:26 where most of the children God created actually live," 33:29 get it down, "the Fall is being played out 33:32 in ways more familiar to the biblical writers. 33:34 It is manifest in a world of brutal injustice." 33:39 Write it down. 33:40 It's the biblical world all over again, 33:43 we're experiencing it today. 33:45 The biblical world of injustice. 33:47 Let me put a verse or two on the screen for you. 33:50 Joel 3:3, how does it read? 33:52 "They have cast lots for My people, 33:54 they have given a boy as payment for a harlot, 33:57 and sold a girl for wine, that they may drink." 34:02 Gary Haugen tells about a Canadian Christian program 34:05 television crew that went to the Sudan, 34:08 all right, you know Sudan, you've heard of Darfur, 34:11 they went to the Sudan. 34:12 While the cameras are rolling, 34:14 they bought 319 women and children, on camera, 34:20 from the slave traders for $108 each. 34:24 They bought 319 human beings. 34:26 Don't you tell me that slavery is something in our past. 34:28 It is a part of life in the 21st century. 34:32 Where is the justice in that, huh? 34:34 Where's the justice? 34:35 Let's put another text on the screen, 34:37 Psalm 37:14, 34:39 "The wicked have drawn the sword and have bent their bow, 34:42 to cast down the poor and the needy, 34:44 to slay those who are of upright conduct." 34:46 Let's talk about Brazil. A bunch of you are from Brazil. 34:49 Let's talk about the state police in Brazil 34:51 who are being bought off by land owners 34:53 to destroy, to murder hapless, landless, homeless human beings 35:00 that are getting in the way of their massive land holdings. 35:05 Where is the justice in that? 35:07 Let's put another text on the screen, 35:08 how about the New Testament Roman 3:15-18, 35:12 "Their feet are swift to shed blood, 35:13 destruction and misery are in their ways, 35:16 and the way of peace they have not known. 35:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes." 35:22 I don't know if you've followed the news this week. 35:24 But in Turkey, while our mayhem was going on, in Turkey, 35:27 a tiny little Christian printing press, 35:30 in the heart of that modern Islamic nation, 35:32 somebody walked in and slew the three workers, 35:36 shot them in the back. 35:38 Where is the justice in that? 35:42 You want to talk about America? 35:44 Let's talk about America, the land of the free. 35:49 I received a paper from some Australian lawyers. 35:54 They said Pastor Nelson, we want you to read this paper, 35:56 it's entitled, "The State of Exception." 35:59 In the paper they are examining what is happening today 36:02 in a place called Guantanamo Bay Detention Center. 36:06 You may have heard of it. 36:09 As the result of the war on terror, 36:13 foreign individuals can be taken 36:16 from any country on earth 36:18 and placed in detention in Guantanamo Bay 36:22 with the normal constitutional freedoms 36:24 granted to liberty loving Americans denied them. 36:28 Run by the US government and the US military. 36:32 So that paper which you won't be able to find, 36:37 is partially quoted in your study guide. 36:39 I have the longer quote, a longer quote, 36:41 I'll put it on the screen. 36:42 "A state of exception is a form of governance 36:45 characterized by suspension of the democratic legal process 36:49 in favor of 'extra-judicial state violence' 36:53 against specified groups." 36:58 You're gonna brood on this for a while. 37:00 "It depends upon a certain political climate 37:03 and may arise in any democracy. 37:08 Guantanamo stands as a direct consequence 37:12 of that form of governance. 37:14 Integrated in the penal system, 37:16 the Guantanamo inmate is an exemplary element 37:20 subject to 'extreme measures' 37:23 legalized by the state of exception." 37:26 Couldn't do it in America but we'll do it here. 37:32 Keep reading. 37:33 "According to his legal status, 37:34 the Guantanamo inmate is synonymous 37:36 with numerous historical examples of groups 37:38 and individuals marginalized..." 37:40 This is Australian English, 37:41 so the spelling will look different. 37:42 "Marginalized for their convictions and affiliations, 37:45 the Huguenots, the Basques, Kurds, Jews, Christians, 37:49 Muslim groups, Gypsies, illegal immigrants, African refugees. 37:52 However..." Now here comes the punch line. 37:54 "The Guantanamo case is not limited 37:56 to the current political ambience." 37:59 Emphasis now is mine. 38:01 "It is a potential prelude to situations 38:04 that may deny the political convictions 38:07 and civic values of given minority groups." 38:12 But let me finish the sentence. 38:13 In America, in the future, 38:17 all right, in America, in the future, piece by piece. 38:25 And we're all so distracted, that we're just letting it go. 38:30 Got to have it for the sake of our security, you understand. 38:36 Tell that to 6 million Jews, 38:40 for the sake of security, please. 38:47 Where's the justice in what we just read? 38:49 The ancient prophets knew all about this day coming. 38:52 It was not unfamiliar to their own day. 38:54 Look at this, Habakkuk 1:4, 38:57 "Therefore the law is ignored and justice is never upheld. 39:02 For the wicked surround the righteous, 39:03 therefore justice comes out perverted." 39:06 Look at this Micah 3:9 "Hear this, you leaders..." 39:09 You see leaders make the difference. 39:10 Leaders can change what we have counted on, they can reverse. 39:15 "Hear this, you leaders of the house of Jacob, 39:17 you rulers of the house of Israel, 39:18 who despises justice and distort all that is right." 39:22 What's going to happen? 39:23 Ecclesiastes 5:8, 39:24 "If you see the poor oppressed in a district, 39:27 and justice and rights denied, 39:29 guess what, don't be surprised at such things." 39:32 It happens on this planet. 39:37 Amazing. 39:40 And Jesus spoke a parable to them, 39:43 that men and women ought always to pray and not lose heart. 39:47 And he said, "There was in a certain city a judge 39:51 who did not fear God nor regard man. 39:53 Now there was a widow in that city, 39:55 and she came to him, saying, 39:56 'Get justice for me from my adversary.' 39:59 And he would not, for a while, 40:02 but afterward he said within himself, 40:03 'Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 40:05 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, 40:08 lest by her continual coming she weary me.' 40:11 Then the Lord said, 'Hear what the unjust judge said. 40:14 And shall God not avenge His own elect 40:16 who cry out day and night to Him, 40:18 though He bears long with them? 40:19 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily.'" 40:23 Speedily. 40:26 You know what? 40:27 When you're unfairly, 40:29 when you're unfairly, and that's a key word. 40:31 When you're unfairly suffering, unfairly, 40:36 you never cry out for mercy. 40:38 You always cry out for justice. 40:41 Isn't that right? 40:43 Yeah. Give me justice, avenge me of my adversary. 40:49 You can be certain that there are many grieving families 40:52 in the Virginia Tech community today 40:54 who are crying out for justice. 40:58 And you can be just as certain 41:01 that there is a little Korean family 41:03 in that same region today that is pleading for mercy, 41:07 because that's the reality of it all. 41:10 Justice and mercy always go together. 41:14 They are inseparable. 41:16 When you ask for one, you will get the other. 41:18 When one comes running to you, the other cannot be far behind. 41:22 Justice and mercy, 41:26 inseparable, inseparable, 41:31 which of course is precisely the truth 41:34 of the everlasting gospel. 41:36 That great passage, Romans 3:23-26. 41:39 Don't look it up in your Bible. 41:41 Let's put it on the screen and it's going to be from 41:43 Today's New International Version. 41:45 You have it in your study guide. 41:46 Let's-- remember how we used to have to diagram sentences 41:49 in the old English classes, and became the subject, 41:51 and predicate, direct object, let's do a little diagramming, 41:55 not that heavy, from these four lines. 41:57 You have them all right there. You got it. 42:01 All right, let's go, Romans 3:23. 42:04 This is a TNIV. Yeah, fill it in. 42:06 "For all." 42:07 now, you knew this verse, "For all have sinned 42:11 and fall short of the glory of God." 42:13 How many of us have sinned? 42:15 Oh, that is a no-brainer. 42:18 And because we have sinned, what do we deserve? 42:20 What do sinners deserve? 42:22 Sinners deserve justice. 42:23 By the way, ladies and gentlemen, 42:24 that's the definition. 42:25 Justice is what we deserve. 42:27 Mercy is always what we do not deserve, 42:30 by definition, right? 42:32 We deserve justice. 42:34 And what is justice for a sinner? 42:35 It's eternal death. 42:36 Death pays a wage and it's eternal, Romans 6:23. 42:39 All right, let's go to verse 24. Write it down. 42:42 And, by the way, this is the very next verse, 42:44 I like the way that TNIV renders it. 42:46 All have sinned and all, the whole human race, 42:49 "All are justified freely by His grace..." 42:52 Write it in. 42:53 "Through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." 42:56 Did you catch that, guys? 42:57 We deserve the penalty of justice, 43:00 the penalty of death, we're all sinners, 43:02 but mercy, hallelujah, mercy came a runnin' 43:04 through Christ Jesus, 43:05 came a runnin' straight to you and me. 43:08 You agree? Mercy came a runnin'. 43:12 Do we get what we deserve? 43:13 No, we get what we don't deserve, that's mercy. 43:19 Because in mercy's grace, we're justified. 43:21 You know what justified means? 43:22 It means to be acquitted. It means to be pardoned. 43:24 It means to be set free, no charges. 43:27 Everything's been dropped. You're free to go. 43:30 Oh, when the judge says that, bring it on, hallelujah. 43:34 Oh, great, so now we got mercy, no more justice. 43:36 Is that what Paul is teaching. No, no, no, no. 43:41 Look at verse 25, fill it in. 43:42 "God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, 43:46 through the shedding of his blood, 43:47 to be received by faith. 43:49 He did this to demonstrate his justice." Write it down. 43:53 "He did this to demonstrate his justice, 43:54 because in his forbearance and tolerance 43:56 he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished." 44:01 Ladies and gentlemen, that is precisely the point. 44:03 In order to have mercy, 44:05 somebody has to provide justice. 44:07 You can't have one without the other. 44:09 To get the one, you have to have the other. 44:12 When one comes running, 44:13 the other is already there, that's the point. 44:18 Final line, verse 26. 44:20 'God did this," fill it in. 44:21 "God did this to demonstrate his justice 44:23 at the present time, so as to be just..." 44:28 That's his justice, it's divine justice. 44:30 "So as to be just and the one who justifies." 44:35 That's divine mercy, the one who acquits, 44:37 pardons, lets you go, 44:39 justifies those who have faith in Jesus. 44:42 My dear, friends, Calvary, 44:44 Calvary is the dramatic blending of divine justice, 44:48 which says I got a law and that law says, 44:51 this is the way we operate the universe, 44:53 I cannot change that law. 44:56 Calvary is the blending of divine justice and divine mercy 44:59 that says even though they've broken a law, 45:02 I will pardon them. 45:05 It is the climax of divine justice 45:09 and divine mercy embracing. 45:11 In fact, Psalm 85:10 says they actually kiss, 45:15 they kissed at the cross. 45:19 You want to read a powerful expression of this truth? 45:21 Keep your study guide right there. 45:22 Look at this from Desire of Ages, unbelievable, 45:25 Desire of Ages, powerful. 45:28 "Through Jesus..." 45:29 What's going on here in Romans 3? 45:31 What went on on Calvary? 45:32 "Through Jesus, 45:33 God's mercy was manifested to men and women, 45:36 but mercy does not set aside justice." 45:39 Write that down, key point. 45:40 It does not set aside justice. 45:42 "The law reveals the attributes of God's character, 45:45 and not a jot or a tittle," 45:47 not a crossing of a T, not a dotting of an eye, 45:50 "of it could be changed to meet man in his fallen condition." 45:53 Oh, Father, Father, I just came from earth, 45:55 you're not going to believe this. 45:56 Adam and Eve have disobeyed. 45:59 They have rebelled against You. 46:00 What you told them not to do, they've done. 46:03 What are we gonna do? 46:04 Father says, well, you know what, 46:05 let's do this, let's just change the law. 46:06 If we re-write the law then they haven't disobeyed 46:09 and everybody will be happy. 46:11 Are you crazy? He can't, it's His throne. 46:15 If He rewrites the law or abrogates it 46:17 or shoves it to the side, He no longer has the throne. 46:20 He can't be Him. He can't be He. 46:25 He can't. 46:28 Mercy does not set aside justice. 46:30 Now read that next sentence. 46:33 Oh, this is powerful. 46:34 "God did not change His law, but He sacrificed Himself." 46:41 Isn't that something? 46:42 "He sacrificed Himself in Christ for our redemption. 46:47 Which is why both," write it down, 46:49 "both justice and mercy triumphed at Calvary." 46:55 What do you say to that? Amen. 46:58 Both triumphed, both of them at Calvary. 47:02 Oh, great, oh great. 47:04 Does that mean that all is going to be forgiven now? 47:06 There is no accounting, 47:07 you can with impunity do what you wish. 47:10 Not on your life. No, no, no, no. 47:14 God is clear. 47:16 Vengeance, you know, what God says, 47:21 ready my lips, read my lips, "Vengeance is mine, 47:27 and I will, I promise you, I will repay." 47:31 I will repay. 47:34 There is a day of reckoning coming, 47:35 for those who have despised mercy and denied justice. 47:39 Any landlords here? 47:44 Any employers here? 47:52 Any neighbors here? 47:56 There is a day of reckoning coming. 48:03 Those who have despised mercy and denied justice, 48:05 who withheld the just wages of the laborer, 48:10 who have denied the just rights of the prisoner, 48:13 who have abused the just liberties of a child 48:15 or woman or human being, 48:17 who have silenced the just in order to destroy the truth. 48:21 There is a day of reckoning coming for Babylon. 48:24 Ever heard of her? 48:28 When the prayers of the souls under the altar of heaven 48:31 will one day be answered. 48:32 Do you remember that prayer? 48:34 How long O God, just and true, 48:37 how long until You avenge our blood on those 48:39 who dwell on the earth? 48:43 God says, shh, vengeance is mine, 48:46 I will repay, I will repay. 48:52 And that's why the prayer is found in the apocalypse. 48:55 Oh, God, then repay her double according to her works, 49:01 for she is drunk with the blood of the saints 49:03 and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. 49:05 Repay her double. I will repay. 49:09 In just a few weeks, 49:13 I cannot believe that this-- 49:17 that I get to be part of this, in just a few weeks 49:23 with a handful of Andrews University students, 49:27 I get to go to North Italy 49:30 and we're going to stand in the dank, 49:32 dark caves of the Waldensians who fled for their lives, 49:39 where the blood of the innocent 49:40 was spilled on those rocky floors. 49:46 Vengeance is mine, I will repay, I will repay. 49:55 Of course, if the truth is known 49:58 then we all know the truth. 50:01 The dark perpetrator behind all of our inhuman injustices, 50:06 perpetrator is one and the same, the fallen Lucifer. 50:13 We got an email today, from someone in the family, 50:19 with the announcement, that the cancer has spread 50:22 to the entire body and there is no treatment left. 50:30 Who do you suppose is ultimately responsible 50:33 for this insanity we live with on this planet, huh? 50:37 This pain and suffering of divorce. 50:38 Who do you suppose will get the rap in the end? 50:42 The pain and suffering of disease of death. 50:44 Is there no vengeance for the one who did this to me? 50:54 Vengeance is mine, I will repay. 51:00 Revelation 20, look at those words. 51:05 Revelation 20, "And fire came down from heaven, 51:13 out of heaven from God and devoured them. 51:19 And the devil, who deceived them, 51:21 was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone." 51:26 Ladies and gentlemen, let it be clear 51:28 that divine justice has made certain 51:31 that there will be hell to pay. 51:36 No, it's impossible you-- 51:38 The truth is if there is no justice, 51:40 there can be no mercy, for justice 51:43 and mercy are inseparable, 51:46 which means when one comes a runnin', 51:47 the other cannot be far behind. 51:49 Some of you, this very day are crying out for divine justice. 51:55 I need to tell you, my friend, 51:56 mercy, mercy hears your plea. 52:03 And mercy will answer your prayer. 52:06 Don't you take revenge? 52:09 Don't you touch it? 52:11 Vengeance is mine, I'll take care of this. 52:14 You leave it alone, don't you touch it. 52:17 The mercy hears you. 52:20 And there is a day coming, 52:23 when into the nail scarred hands of mercy, 52:26 justice will be taken. 52:27 It will be a strange justice and I need to warn you, 52:29 it may not look like the justice 52:32 you were asking for, 52:35 but this much is clear. 52:37 On that day, both mercy and justice will be satisfied. 52:43 God will be satisfied. 52:45 And you will be satisfied as well. 52:48 "For shall not God avenge his own, 52:50 who cry out to him night and day." 53:34 Be still, my soul 53:37 The Lord is on thy side 53:44 Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain 53:54 Leave to thy God 53:58 To order and provide 54:05 In every change 54:09 He faithful will remain 54:16 Be still, my soul, 54:21 Thy best, thy heavenly, friend 54:28 Through thorny ways 54:33 Leads to a joyful end 54:41 Be still, my soul 54:45 the hour is hastening on 54:52 When we shall be 54:56 Forever with the Lord 55:04 When disappointment 55:08 grief, and fear are gone 55:15 Sorrow forgot 55:19 love's purest joys restored 55:27 Be still, my soul 55:31 When change and tears are past 55:39 All safe and blessed 55:44 we shall meet at last 55:58 Holy Father, 56:03 we take comfort in knowing 56:07 that You will have the last word. 56:14 Justice and mercy shall triumph together 56:21 and when they do, may we be there for the celebration. 56:30 In the name of Jesus Christ, 56:32 our justice, at our mercy, amen. 56:58 Let me take one more moment of you time to let you know 57:01 that one of the blessings I received from this telecast 57:03 is being in touch with viewers like you 57:05 all across Michiana and our nation and literally the world. 57:09 I'm humbled and honored 57:10 with your sharing the journey with us. 57:11 Sometimes it's a Bible question, 57:13 other times it's an observation or a suggestion 57:15 and sometimes just a note to share a prayer 57:17 or a prayer request. 57:19 I'd 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 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 meantime, may the God whose mercy 57:55 continually runs after us, 57:57 be with you 24/7, every step of the way. 58:02 I will see you again, right here, next time. |
Revised 2015-05-06