2nd Half of, Our Forgiving Savior

Being forgiven by Christ motivates us to love Him.

If this is the encouragement scripture to the young person, what should be expected to the older?

1. Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word (of speech), in conversation (manner of life), in charity (the way you love), in spirit (the driving force of the soul), in faith (proof of belief), in purity (sinlesness of life).

GOLDEN TEXT: Luke 7:47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

…….Our actions of love show how much we appreciate the Forgiveness of Jesus. 
…….The focus of this scripture that is so easily missed is her realization of how much she was forgiven of. She knew that she was forgiven of so much. How much of a remembrance should we have of how much Forgiveness it took to eradicate our sins? I pray God remind me daily!

? Question ? Why do you love Jesus?
As we keep our love for Him in focus, we will in turn keep a deeper sense of gratitude to Him for His Forgiveness.

B. Great Forgiveness

Luke 7:
40  And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
41  There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
42  And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
43  Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

……. Even though it must have been hard for the Pharisee to admit that he was wrong, he did so and Christ simply replied, “you have correctly judged.”
       Can you remember the actions you took when you felt the forgiveness of sin being washed away? When someone is showing Grace, his or her response will naturally reflect the level of which that Grace was shown. Jesus used the simple principle to show how far his forgiveness of sin reaches and how important it is that we respond with humility and gratitude.

Before Simon was Rebuked, he thought he had it all figured out. Until we come to the time that we have reached perfection, we have no authority to judge what is unacceptable and what is. When we start pointing fingers, we better know there is nothing to be held over our heads.

3. SIMON REBUKED; THE WOMAN FORGIVEN
A. Love and Forgiveness

Luke 7:
 44  And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman?

(He’s asking Simon, do you really see this woman? Too many times we look at people for what they’ve done with no regards of what Christ’s purpose is for their life. Evaluate self; how do “I” look at people?)
Jesus then explains: I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

 45  Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
 46  My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

……. Jesus pointed out to Simon that he failed to perform the basic customs of hospitality, but this woman showed a deepness of love for a guest that wasn’t even in her house. 
?Question?  How do we greet the ones who come in who are seeking for a change? There are those of us that won’t even lift up our heads to our Christian Piers, none the less reach out to a sinner in need of forgiveness to shake a hand or hug a neck. Who is the Pharisee today might we ask?

 47  Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

……. The truth is, we are all in need of deep forgiveness. The sins that are not on the surface are way more poisonous than the ones that are performed outwardly. While This Woman’s actions of sin simply needed to change, which should not be held lightly, but the Pharisee needed a complete heart transplant and a culture shock.
……I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, the most dangerous person is not a sinner who knows the need for salvation. The most dangerous person is the one who thinks they are saved but truly is not.

I texted this the other day and it relates so well for our church today:
(I know every battle is for a reason but some of them hurt worse, especially when the tools are the people your trying to minister to.)

? Question; you are a tool, Do you know whose hands you are in?

B. The Power to Forgive

48  And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
49  And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
50  And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

……. Simon regarded the woman with contempt, and he expected Jesus to do the same. But Jesus saw her devotion, her gratitude, and her humility before him. These are attributes that “Never” leave the life of the saved. Rather than contempt, Jesus offered​ forgiveness, which she had received by faith and with joy.

Think about the Joy you feel as a result of your forgiveness. How do you express that joy? 
In what ways is your gratitude reflected in your devotion? 

Psalms 100:4  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Pray that God will fill you with renewed joy for his spiritual blessings, then Express that Joy through specific acts of Devotion to Him.

*Parable of The Sower and The Seed*

Luke 8:
4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:
5  A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

…….* trodden down; by every one that passed by, as the Gospel preached to such hardened and ignorant hearers, is despised and trampled under foot by them.
…….There have been and always will be timely messages that we’re and are intended to change your heart, but it’s up to you to receive this word and let it grow as God desires.

 6  And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

…….The Rock, or which later Christians call “stony places”, and “stony ground”; by which are meant such hearers whose hearts are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, and continue so notwithstanding the preaching of the word unto them.

 7  And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

…….”Thorny ground”, On ground which had within it the roots of thorns and briars; and design such hearers who have their hearts filled with worldly cares, and sensual lusts and pleasures.
“and the thorns sprang up with it” Which literally means; and grew faster than that, and choked it; as
the above things do the word, and make it useless and unprofitable; so that though it took place for a while, and was professed, yet process of time was neglected and dropped; and, as Mark says, “it yielded no fruit”; at least that came to perfection.

…….I don’t want to be a dried up fruit. 
Scripture says there will be a shakening of the church. The only ones who will stay connected are the ones who stay green with the vine!

8  And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
9  And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
 14  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
 15  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.