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They Both Had Nothing To Pay - Part Two The church of the 21rst Century has become very much like Simon the Pharisee. We have invited Jesus to sat at meat with us without worshipping Him while in contrast a rank sinner lavished love, adoration and praise upon Him. We are either identified with the Pharisee or the sinner. Most will quickly say "well I'm certainly not a sinner," which is the attitude most in the church take today. If we are not this sinner woman, then that makes us the Pharisee. We are one or the other. Jesus' heart is toward the "sinners" of us who have been broken like this woman who had nothing to bring but her tears, her glory, her praise and her service. If we are going to partake of HIM, we must worship Him as she did and not just invite Him to our "gatherings" as Simon did. She didn't leave a sinner upon touching Jesus- she left redeemed by her faith and forgiven! By Chris McDonald TEXT: Luke 7:40-50 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. [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 loves
little. [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 forgives sins
also? [50] And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. I heard a statement behind a pulpit not too long ago that made me pause to think a minute. The statement on the surface sounded great. There were a lot of "amens" and "that's right." The preacher I'm referring to said that God was against the homosexuals, the people who shacked up together, the people who drank, the drug addicts, the pornographers, those mean terrorists. God was against them. Some of you reading that would say a hearty amen to that too I'm sure. Simon the Pharisee would have applauded that statement readily. Simon would have jumped for joy to hear it because it was the same sentiment driving his feelings about this sinner woman. The sinner woman was standing there riddled with guilt I'm sure. She stood there weeping before Jesus ashamed and holding her head down because of the whisper. If God was "against" such people like this woman how could Jesus truly be God if He were letting this woman touch Him. And in the sinner's mind, if the "religious" system of the day preached to her that God was against such people, why in the world would she be willing to TOUCH God and God forbid WORSHIP Him? Let that sink in. Let that really really sink in. You see God is NOT against those type people. He is against their SIN and He hates and abhors the darkness they are in. But God's love reaches to "THOSE TYPE PEOPLE." God's redemptive purposes through Jesus were and are wrapped up in the salvation of just "those type people." A sinner woman recognized Jesus to be the Son of God yet a religious expert in the matters of the Law and Prophets could not see beyond his nose and became offended at the fact such a woman was ministering to the Master. That is a picture of the modern day church here in America. We love thumping our pulpits against the abortionists, the homosexuals, the drunks, the drug addicts, the pornographers, and declaring that God's judgment is going to fall on people like that. Yes it is unless they repent. But what about God's judgment on US? How about the fact that God is just as angry and hurt by our religious pride as He would be at the worst child molester? God don't see a "child molester," when He looks at His creation. He sees a soul that is bound by sin and He sees the sacrifice of His Son that was manifested to us in these last days to be the source of SALVATION and DELIVERANCE for those caught in the devil's snare. He sees that child molester as one who when delivered will go forth and deliver other child molesters. He sees the child molester as a fallen creature in need of a redeemer. He sees the child molester as a potential lethal agent against the kingdom of darkness. You may not agree with that and that's fine. But when the Lord touched Saul we now know as Paul, God did not touch a squeaky-clean no sin-in-the-closet person! He touched a murderer! He touched a man whose hatred drove him to kill thousands, possibly tens of thousands of Christians in the name of "religion" thinking what he was doing was right in the sight of God. You say well it's not the same principle. It's not the same principle???? Believe me it is EXACTLY the same principle. The key to understanding what I'm trying to convey in this journal is the same point Jesus tried to convey to Simon in the story He told following Simons' declaration about this sinner woman. He told a story of two debtors and a certain creditor to illustrate that we ALL are debtors! There Was A Certain Creditor Which Had Two Debtors: Luke 7:41-43 - 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. The two debtors in this story were Simon and the woman. Simon was no better than she was. He stood just as lost before God as she did. He didn't recognize the depth of his "lostness" because of the blindness of pride that was in his heart. He judged the woman's sins because in his mind he had not done the things the woman had done - but in God's sight it didn't matter. And to be honest that is exactly what a religious spirit does. It judges others by their actions but it judges itself by its intentions. Yet, we are ALL debtors to God for our salvation. We are all alike in His sight. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. There is NONE righteous in their own works NO NOT ONE. Even if we've never smoked, dipped, cussed, fussed, fornicated, drank, drugged or we have still SINNED in the sight of God. Our nature is one of sinfulness and wickedness. And we must stand accountable for that one day before Him. And When They Had Nothing To Pay, He Frankly Forgave Them Both [Luke 7:42 - And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? Jesus states the bottom line in this whole story when He says 'they BOTH had nothing to pay, so He (the creditor-God) frankly forgave them both.' In other words, nothing we can bring for payment for our salvation will be enough. We can have never done any dastardly deed in our life and we would still come up short on heaven's justice scales when it comes to eternity. That is why Jesus had to come to earth. MAN was sinful and wicked and needed a redeemer. And if we have no justification for our own sin why do we judge others so harshly who have fallen and are sinful before God for their lack of justification either? WE HAVE NOTHING TO PAY. NOTHING IN OUR HANDS we can bring, ONLY and SIMPLY to the CROSS can we cling. At the cross where we first saw the light and the burden of our hearts are rolled away. It was THERE by faith that we receive our SIGHT and now we are happy all the day. We cannot say that because we have sinned a "little" compared to the depths of sin in others that we have any more to pay than they. Jesus said one debtor owed 500 pence, the other 50. So yes, there are those who have probably done worse than we have - BUT NEITHER THE CHILD MOLESTER OR THE ONE WHO JUST PRIDE IN HIS LIFE HAS ANYTHING TO PAY!!!!! So our gracious Heavenly Father just simply forgives us both. The child molester is forgiven just as the one who simply drinks from time to time. Two different debts but in the creditors mind - there is no difference in the accountability of both Simon and the Sinner before HIM. That's the love of God. That's what separates our Lord and Master from other religions. Christianity is not a religion - it's a love-relationship between the creditor and debtor. The creditor paid the price so that the debtor might be FREE of his debt. Glory to God. And that debt is PAID IN FULL today through the blood of Jesus. Which One Will Love The Most? Luke 7:42c: - .....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. Jesus asks Simon an interesting question - "which of them will love the most?" Simon quickly responds and says, "I suppose the one whom he forgave the MOST." Jesus said "very good Simon, you are right." It goes without saying that a person who has been saved from drugs, alcohol addiction, pornography, homosexuality, etc. is far more thankful for their salvation than those of us in the church who have been religious all our lives and we have simply stopped trusting in our works and been truly born again. Some have been deceived into thinking they are saved but have been born-again not from a life of sin - but simply have just met the Master. AMERICA IS FULL OF JUST SUCH PEOPLE. Many already have a knowledge of Christ. Simon KNEW something about Christ. He knew that Christ was a prophet. He knew what was being said around Galilee about Him. He knew this man who sat at meat with Him had rocked Israel with the message of the Lord on His lips. That's why Simon wanted Him to come eat with him. It was for prestige and prominence. He didn't "care" about Jesus - He just wanted Him to come eat dinner with Him. And that is the picture of the relationship between MOST church people here in America and Jesus today. Oh, we want Jesus to come to our church in name. I mean my God how could we carry on our business of church activity without His name. But when it gets down to LOVING and worshipping HIM that is a different matter as we will see in Jesus' later remarks to Simon. Yes, a child molester who is delivered will love the Lord more than most reading this because they have been FORGIVEN MORE. But the point again is simple - WE SHOULD ALL HAVE THE SAME LOVE FOR THE LORD NO MATTER HOW LITTLE WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN OF OR HOW GREAT. That's why a drug addict can be delivered from drugs and turn a city upside down for God because he is so passionately in love with the one who redeemed Him. In contrast, that's why our churches are deader than stale bread on Sunday because many in our church don't recognize the depths of sin they too were delivered out of. That's why pastors are going gray headed trying to motivate people to "do" things. That's why pastors have nothing left to do but get in the pulpit and scream at the people about tithing, faithfulness and church attendance. Our message in the 21rst Century Church centers 99% on supporting the CHURCH instead of LOVING JESUS! We haven't gotten it. You can support your church all you want and never love Jesus but you can NEVER LOVE JESUS with all your heart and not be in love with His people - Uh, THE CHURCH! Get the passion focused on the right person - JESUS - and believe me all other things will take care of themselves. There is NO salvation in the CHURCH! There is only salvation in the blood-stained hands of Jesus. There is only salvation in that matchless name - that wonderful, countless NAME of Jesus. HE IS THE REASON for the love and passion in our heart. HE is the reason the church is a LIVING organism, not just a building where people go to on Sunday. You say I attend a great church. Well friend I got one better than that for you - I AM THE CHURCH. Glory to God. I AM THE CHURCH -because I am the temple of the LIVING GOD - full of the HOLY GHOST, washed clean by the power of the blood of Jesus, set free by the power of Almighty God - saved by Grace and sanctified in HIM through the power of the HOLY SPIRIT! Are you hearing what I say to you? No, we don't have love in the modern church today because we are not preaching love -we're preaching commitment to a building or organization. We're just like Simon. We're scared of the very people who will change our churches! We're scared to touch the very people who will set our cities on fire for God! We're judging the very ones who hold the key to revival in these last days. We're offended at the very thought of associating ourselves with those who we deem "unclean," or "unfit," for ministry. Friend let me tell you something. NONE OF US ARE QUALIFIED for ministry other than through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. If His blood has cleansed US to make us worthy to minister, then it is able to CLEANSE OTHERS to make them worthy to minister as well. The church is so scared to be "tainted" by the sinners around us. Well friend those "sinners" around us are the reason Jesus came to die JUST LIKE HE CAME TO DIE FOR US - SINNERS!!!!!!!!! We were sinners before we got saved - I don't care if we have never drank a drop of alcohol or taken a drug in our life - we were STILL just as wretched, wicked, sinful, stinking and dying - before we met Jesus. That's what Paul told the Corinthians: 1 Cor. 6:9-11 - Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [10] Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortionists, shall inherit the kingdom of God. [11] And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God Am I advocating we live like the devil to identify with the world - NOT! God forbid. I'm proud of the many testimonies we hear about young men and women who have not been touched by the jackbooted heel of Satan. Who have lived Godly their entire lives and given themselves to the Lord. PRAISE GOD FOR THOSE. But there are MILLIONS of people who have not been so fortunate. I wished I was one of those people but I too have failed God in my past. I too have sinned and brought reproach upon myself, my family and my Lord. I have reaped a high price for the disobedience of my youth toward God. But I know that I am now washed, sanctified, justified in the name of the LORD AND by the SPIRIT OF GOD. But before Jesus touched me - I was like this sinner woman. And the revelation I have of that keeps me always in love with my Master because no matter how little or how much I have sinned - I am thankful for His forgiveness! Paul wrote that he was the "chiefest of sinners" towards the end of his life. Why? Because Paul also identified himself with this "sinner" woman knowing that any goodness that would ever be found in him was not because of his own works - but because of Yeshuah's grace and love. 1 Tim. 1:15 - This is a
faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. He Turns To The Woman Luke 7:44-46 - 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. Jesus turns to the woman and says to Simon - "you wanted to come eat with you, but SHE came to MINISTER to me!" That's the difference in a church that is alive and a church that is dead. A church whose only goal is to invite Jesus to "meat," will always center on things that matter very little for eternity. But a church whose focus is on "washing His feet with tears," "wiping them with the hairs of her head," will always be a church with the spirit of Christ inside - LOVE! Simon did NONE of those things yet he appointed himself as this woman's judge because he was Pharisee. And some of us do the same thing today. I would say this without sounding too harsh. If we are not going to minister to Yeshuah - then STOP CRITICIZING those of us who do! Stop talking about the way I praise Him with my tears. Stop judging me for pursuing Him no matter the cost. Stop judging me for allowing NOTHING to come between me and my Saviour even it may seem "legalistic" to you. Stop judging me for spending MORE time with Him than I do entertaining myself. Stop judging me for standing hand-in-hand with His chosen people - the JEWS - and loving them like I would love Him if He were standing right before me. To Whom Little Is Forgiven, The Same Loves Little. 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 loves little. Jesus closes this story by saying one of the strangest things about this woman. He says "because she loved MUCH" her sins are forgiven. He didn't say she loved much because her sins are forgiven, but just the opposite - because she LOVED much, this woman had been forgiven. I can't help but wander where Simon stood in that respect. Sadly, like all Pharisees, I believe Simon stood lost that day before Jesus. Jesus was letting Simon know that people who LOVE GOD are people who, like this woman, WORSHIP GOD. People who KNOW GOD are people who love God with ALL their heart and ALL their soul. Pharisees don't really love God - but they want Him to come and "eat" for advantage. And that is the scar on the modern church, especially here in America - WE LOVE LITTLE! The Body of Christ has forgotten that the earmark of the way the world knows we're HIS is not by our abilities, our position, our power our fame and our name - it is by the fact we LOVE one another.
Jesus turns to the sinner woman and says "your sins are forgiven, your faith has saved you, "GO IN PEACE." That's a message all to itself but I won't preach it again here. He forgave the sinner woman that day and sent her out no longer a sinner woman but redeemed and set free by the love and the power of God. Those looking around say to themselves, "who is this who even forgives sin?" Let me answer
that question! He is the SON OF THE LIVING God. He is not Muhammad,
He is not Buddha; He is not Joseph Smith; He is not the Pope; He is
not the head pooh bah of the local Kiwanis club and he's not your
momma, your daddy or your pastor. HE IS JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF THE
LIVING GOD. Let me tell you who He is in as the Word of God declares
Him: WHO IS THIS ONE WHO FORGIVES SINS? He is Abel's sacrifice, Noah rainbow, Abraham's ram, Isaac wells, Jacobs's ladder, Issachar burden, Judah's scepter, Balaam's Shiloh, Moses rod, Elijah's mantle; Elisha's staff, Gideon's fleece, Samuel's horn of oil, David's slingshot, Isaiah's fig tree, Hezekiah sun dial, Peter's shadow, Paul's aprons and handkerchiefs, Stephen's sign and wonderers, John's pearl white city; a husband to the widow; a father to the Orphan ; to those of us who travel the dark night He is the bright and morning star; to those who go thru the lonesome valley He is the lily of the valley, the rose of Sharon, the staff of life and honey in the rock. He is: the rock in a weary land; the Pearl of great price; the everlasting Father and the government of our life is upon his shoulder He is the blood of my salvation and by HIS stripes by which I am healed and delievered! THIS IS THE ONE AND ONLY ONE WHO CAN FORGIVE SINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As I close this journal I wonder how much of our "activity" in the church today is merely our attempt to "invite" Jesus to come to our buildings. Is it possible to have "JESUS" on the front of our door and in our theology and not have HIS LOVE in our hearts? Is it possible for us to be so deceived into thinking that if we DO things for God instead of LOVING GOD then God will be pleased with us. This sinner woman is a testimony to the attitude we must have if we are to be saved. This sinner woman is a testimony of God's grace to ALL HUMANITY. This sinner woman is a testimony to those who have a reputation longer than the state of California. The way we worship tells a LOT about WHO WE SERVE! If we are worshippers in SPIRIT and TRUTH we can be sure that we have embraced the SPIRIT of the sinner in this story. I make the statement again I made at the beginning of part one of this two-part story. The Pharisee and the sinner represent all of us. We are either one or the other. There is no middle ground. We can shrink back and say "well we're certainly not the sinner in this story." If we are not- then we are the Pharisee! Take your pick but I want to be found on my face washing my Master's feet with my tears and wiping them with my hair. That is the attitude that it will take to survive the last days. That is the attitude we all must have to receive greater anointing and power needed to bring deliverance in these precious moments prior to Jesus' return. Father, in the name of Jesus, speak to hearts who have read this journal to this point. Speak to our pride and arrogance and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal our condition before You to our own minds and hearts. Help us repent of self-righteous attitudes such as the ones portrayed by Simon in this story. Lord we give you the Glory for it all in Jesus' name. Amen.
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