Graceful Dirty Hands - Pastor Josiah Elias

After basking in the joy of Palm Sunday, heaviness of the crucifixion, worship at The Midnight Hour, and power at Resurrection Sunday, Pastor Josiah reminded FC that our mission is to culture like Christ, and our vision is Jesus.

He then reviewed The Gospel The Gospel Context: The reason for the gospel

Relationship

Rebel

Ruin

“God created us in His image to live in a loving relationship with Him. Pridefully, we rebelled against God and ruined the opportunity.” The Gospel Text: The report of the gospel

4. Role Model

5. Ransom

6. Rose

“God came in the flesh-Jesus Christ to live as our perfect role model, who would eventually die as a ransom for our sins. But He didn’t stay dead. After three days He rose again from the grave granting us eternal life.”

The Gospel Next: The response to the gospel

7. Repent

8. Receive

9. Ready

“If you repent and believe in Him, you can receive the gift of salvation. Are you ready?”

In a roar of R’s, the gospel story is displayed. Think of how God the Father invited you to be His Beloved and to share your story wherever you can. Do not be paralyzed with the what ifs; just be willing to explain how the Lord changed your life, your perspective and your future. It is not just the pastor’s or the church staff’s jobs to share Jesus. All of us who are Christ followers have

encountered the Risen Savior. When you are excited about an upcoming vacation, you tell everyone about it. If you are excited about your Savior and Lord, let the joy exude out and tell what He has done in your life.

As we continued in the Red Letter series chronologically, Pastor Josiah led us to John 8. Jesus was teaching at the Temple, and the religious leaders brought the woman caught in adultery.

Putting the scene in context, Pastor Josiah read from John 7 and what Jesus taught the last day of the festival. “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ’Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” John 7:37b-38 (NLT) This statement was a messianic reference. During the Feast of the Tabernacles, the priest brought a golden pitcher filled with water from the Pool of Siloam, which

means sent. The priest poured out the water on the the altar. Jesus is the fulfillment of this prophecy and poured out His life for us. Isaiah 12:3 states,

“Therefore you will joyously draw

water from the springs of salvation.” (NASB)

Don’t just talk; do! Jesus not only said to come to Him, but He also demonstrated it in the interaction with the Jewish leaders. Trying to trap Jesus again, the Jewish leaders cited the law of Moses to stone the naked woman caught in adultery. By the way where was the man?

Stoning was a very painful, harsh way to die. Sometimes they would bury a person to the waist and throw stones until the person died. Other times they would roll the person down a short incline and roll boulders down on the person. It was a slow, agonizing death.

The woman could have frantically blamed the man, but she did not. She said nothing. When you are caught doing something wrong, do you make excuses? Do you blame someone else for influencing you as Eve did about the snake or Adam did about Eve giving him an apple?

Again she said nothing. Are you willing to own your own part? Are you willing to admit you sinned? For the Lord is against the proud,”but He gives face to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5 (NASB) The law revealed the sin but did not overcome sin. Jesus came to identify and forgive the sin. The woman was guilty and was facing punishment right then, but God….

Of course, sin has consequences, but God gives grace to the repentant heart. His grace is sufficient for all our sins. You do not have to wear the shackles anymore, for He has the key to salvation and freedom. Come humbly to the Savior who will free you. Just as Pastor Josiah had to own up to his sinful past, you and I need to own up to our sins so that His gracious blood can wash our sins away. Our confessed sins are as far as the east is to the west.

To illustrate how people live with one foot in the world and one foot with Jesus, Pastor Josiah stood at the edge of the stage. On edge they are always waiting to fall because of their sins:

however, when he walked to the center back of the stage where the spotlight was, Pastor Josiah declared that we could live in the center of Jesus’ protective love and will for our lives. That is where I want to live. So I surrender my will to Him and live as His beloved each day. I am the daughter of the King.

Back to the woman on the ground, she awaited her sentence. Jesus did not correct or condemn the accused.

“…but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger.

They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said,

‘All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first

stone!’

Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust.” John 8:6-8

(NLT)

The law binds, but grace transforms. From the golden pitcher, Jesus gave living water to the accused. His grace was so scandalous and countercultural.

How did her accusers respond? They ”slipped away one by one beginning with the oldest until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman.” John 8:9 (NLT) The only one qualified to throw a stone chooses not to. Jesus is interested in reconciliation not condemnation. May we also be interested in reconciliation not condemnation with others.

“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19 (NASB)

Also Jesus was showcasing saying and doing. Jesus then stood and asked the woman where her accusers went.”’Didn’t even one condemn you?’

‘No, Lord,’ she said.

And Jesus said, ’Neither do I. Go and sin no more.’” John 8:10b-11 (NLT)

We learn from Romans 6:1-2, “What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (NIV) We like the woman are to sin no longer. Let us come before the Lord in true repentance.

How do you see Jesus? Jesus is not looking at us with a bag of stones. He is looking at us with grace and love, love that took Him to the cross and kept Him on there until He died.

Jesus wants to get His graceful hand in your dirt. That is the paramount point. Do not disqualify yourself. Let Him love and redeem you. Let Him call you by name because of His amazing grace.

“Amazing grace, How sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now I am found,

Was blind, but now I see”

May we accept His amazing grace and be be salt and light in this dark world.

Calendar:

5/16 LB potluck, worship and the Forge 6:00 in the Activity Center

Submitted by

Larry and Annette Linthicum