Casual
Contacts with Christ in an Emotional World
Text;
Luke 7:31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men
of this generation? and to what are they like?
32
They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling
one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not
danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
&
44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this
woman? 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.
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.
48
And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
Intro;
The world says, "play our game, get excited about OUR
activities." We'll let you take Christ along for the ride."
I
The world's concept of Christianity is nothing for US to get excited
about.
A.
A socialistic religion; save the redwoods, save our
beaches, save the birds, save the environment, save the criminals and
addicts and kill the babies, march in this protest, picket this
store, get involved in politics but keep religion out of it, mix up
the races but preserve the ethnic heritages. etc.
B.
Nor do we need to be caught up in ritualistic religion.
1.
Keepers of the Law have nothing for us to get excited about.
2.
Observation of times, seasons, forms and ceremonies are not for us.
C.
False emotional experiences are not for us,
Reject
the 'turn on to Christ' philosophy. It implies that one can be beside
himself with rapturous emotion but the true joy of Christ is
rational, logical and can be explained to others. II
Tim. 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power,
and of love, and of a sound mind.
1.
Have a ready answer. I Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in
your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that
asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and
fear:
2.
Access true wisdom. I Cor.1:30 But of him are ye in Christ
Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption:
3.Paul
had an air of joyful confidence that, no doubt, affected others, but
his reasoning with the scriptures with confidence, won them. II
Tim.1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things:
nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and
am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto
him against that day.
13
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in
faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
A
real and personal contact with Christ is an emotional experience
because of what it means.
"It
makes me feel good" is not the REASON for seeking
his will, It is the RESULT of finding and doing it.
A.
It meant something to the woman of our lesson because of her
condition without him. A sinner... Do you really know what you are
without Christ?
B.
Because of what he could do for HER. A very personal reason. Christ
as the savior of the world caused the angels to sing his praises but
it was Christ as a personal savior that caused the Samaritan woman to
forget her waterpot and to go in peace. A potential savior is
wonderful theology but only a personal experience of a personal
Christ can make the heart to rejoice.
C.
Even in the absence of his PERSON we can still get excited about;
1.His
Word. for he is ever alive in it.
2.
His Church. It is his body and he loved it and gave himself for it.
Those who would reject, destroy or forsake it have no real love for
Christ! Like a woman who hastens to get rid of her husband’s
prize possessions.
3.
His promises. "I will never leave you nor forsake
you."
"I
will come again and receive you unto myself."
III.
Let us not be as the Pharisee --
A.
No water for his feet. Is it nothing to you that the Son of God
walked in the paths of men?
B.
No oil for his head. Is it nothing to you that the head which shall
wear the crown of King of Kings wore a crown of thorns?
C.
No kiss. Is all his great love worth nothing to you?
D.
Simon’s needs and opportunities were just as great yet he had no
forgiveness, hence no happiness.