“Admitting We Need God’s Mercy and Grace”
Making the Most of Transition
I John 1:5-9 (quotes taken from the NKJV unless noted)
Wakelee Church ~ May 1, 2005
Theme: In the midst of transition, God provides the grace and mercy, while we provide the willingness to let God lead our journey.
Introduction – Forgiven and pardoned…
So far, we’ve heard that in the midst of transition we rely on God’s power, not our own…that it is our choice to follow Christ…and that it takes an honest evaluation of ourselves, a moral inventory if you will, to make the most of this time.
For those of you who have kept up with your church leaders in promising to remain positive, in recommitting yourself to Christ and his church, and in taking that inventory, no doubt, you have felt the benefit of this exercise.
For those of you who have chosen to go alone, you may be finding something here and there to take from this experience or you may feel that this whole process is just another sermon series.
If you find yourself in the later category this morning, then this sermon is for you. While I believe there are ideas that people who have accepted this process can gain from this message…I know that they already know it.
If you’re trying to go it alone, however, then you need to admit that the mercy and grace of that God provides is worth your energy. In the midst of transition, God provides, but only if his people are willing to receive.
Illus. Forgiven and Pardoned (source: Illustrations Unlimited)
It reminds me of the story of a young employee who secretly misappropriated several hundred dollars of his business firm’s money. When this action was discovered, he walked up the stars toward the administrative office he was told to report to. He knew, with a heavy heart, that without a doubt he would lose his position in the firm, possibly face legal action, and he and his family would find their world collapsing around them.
Upon arrival at the office, the senior executive questioned the man about the whole affair. They young man held nothing back, but told about the every illegal act and his wish that he could take it all away.
Then the surprising question came, “If I keep you in your present position,” said the senior executive, “can I trust you in the future?” The younger worker not missing this chance brightened up and said, “Yes sir…you surely can!”
The senior executive continued, “I’m not going to press charges, and you can continue in your present responsibility, but let me tell you why…”
“About twenty years ago, someone like yourself, made the exact mistake you made. He came into this same office and he too spoke to the senior executive. It was the first time in the history of the firm that something like that had happened. That young man succumbed to temptation. Would you like to know what happened to that young man? He now occupies this office. What you have done I did. The mercy you are receiving, I received.”
God knows that we are bunch of screw-ups. We have all made mistakes. We have all fallen far short of whom God has intended us to be. But, when we least expect it, when we deserve the greatest punishment he could muster, God is willing and ready to offer his mercy and grace. And when we receive it we can’t help but share it with others.
When we least expect it, God is willing and ready to offer it. And for that we need to be
grateful.
I – God offers the perfect offer – all light no darkness. (vs. 5)
But what is it? What is this mercy and grace exactly…
This past week I pulled my “Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms” (one of those books I bought in seminary but very rarely open today ) off my library shelf. While I often quote that grace is the “unmerited favor of God,” it was interesting to find that this dictionary had twenty entries for grace.
Are you ready? Listed were actual grace, cheap grace, common grace, cooperating grace, covenant of grace, efficacious grace, free grace, glorifying grace, habitual grace, irresistible grace, justifying grace, means of grace, prevenient grace, sanctifying grace, saving grace, special grace, sufficient grace, systems of grace, theology of grace, universal grace, Christian graces, and the grace of God.
And do you want me to read the list for mercy…(I thought not!)
If you’ve ever taken and Emmaus Walk or had a DeColores experience, you know that for the whole weekend all you hear is grace….grace….and more grace.
But what is it?
John gave it a definition. When he sat down and wrote the letter we now refer to as I John, he wrote to people in transition. They were being bombarded with false teaching. In the midst of division they cried out for fellowship (1:3). They wanted to know what was at the core of God’s love…the love that led God to call them his children. (3:1) John responded with a definition of grace.
Grace is God’s light in the midst of darkness. Grace is the most clarifying light in the midst of indecision…and the most expansive light because God’s mercy and grace can have no darkness at all.
For John, this is the message, which he heard from Christ, and now declared…God is light. So the message is simple…light or no light. Accept grace…or don’t grace. Accept mercy or not.
If we want the light, then we must admit we need the one who is light and the grace and mercy he alone offers! It’s always easier to travel in the light than in darkness!
II – Our part: admitting…(vs. 6-8)
Which means we have to admit we need it.
Illus. Lewis B. Smedes in his book How Can It Be All Right When Eveything is Wrong?” put this admitting into these words…“Grace is rather an amazing power to look earthly reality full in the face, see its sad and tragic edges, feel its cruel cuts, join in the primeval chorus against its outrageous unfairness, and yet feel in your deepest being that is it good and right for you to be alive on God’s good earth…Grace is the one word for all that God is for us in the form of Jesus Christ.”
Admitting that we need God’s mercy and grace in the midst of all that is happening may not seem so far-fetched. We come to God when we need him. But we must be careful when we choose not to come to God because we think we have it all together. John told his readers, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (I John 1:8).
God’s offer is a simple give and take. We have to admit our need in order for the need to be met. We have to admit we don’t know the way.
III - God’s part: providing…(vs. 9)
And the proof-positive of admitting comes when we see God doing the providing. This is the best part about grace.
Before we even admit we need it, God is providing it.
When we finally come to the realization that we need it, God provides it. When we continually need it as we stumble in our faith journey, God has promised it.
That is why John freely says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:9) Our confession stimulates God’s faithfulness…his provision.
If we admit the need, God is willing and able to provide the forgiveness and cleansing we ask for. If we are willing God is able.
Conclusion – If we are willing, God is able!
Illus. - I was watching the movie “Field of Dreams” this past week. For those who haven’t seen it or who may need a reminder, it’s a story of man who plows under his crops to build a baseball field that eventually allows him to heal a past relationship with his father, and in turn, help other relationships grow stronger.
At one part of the movie Terrence Mann (played by James Earl Jones) tries to convince Ray, (played by Kevin Costner) not to sell the field even though the foreclosure papers are in Ray’s hand. His point is that people will come to experience what he has experienced.
Hear his words,
“Ray, people will come Ray. They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom. They’ll turn up your driveway not knowing for sure why they’re doing it. They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past…They’ll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they’ll watch the game and it’ll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they’ll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray…It reminds us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come.”
The last frame of the movie shows a line of cars stretched as far as the eye can see coming….for all the reasons Terrence mentioned.
How does this connect? I believe that if we are willing to let God’s mercy and grace be the light of our lives, then God will come.
When God’s people humble themselves, search out their hearts, and admit their need for mercy and grace…then God begins to heal. I don’t know about any magic waters, but I do know that the baptism of the Holy Spirit will bring blessings so thick those who admit their need will have to brush them away from their faces. And others will come because of their decision for Christ.
In the midst of transition, God provides the grace and mercy, while we provide the willingness to let God lead our journey. John said, “If we walk in the light…we have fellowship with one another.” Admit your need and God’s grace will come!
Church Council Reply – Steve Lehman
Members of the church council have individually experienced God’s grace and mercy through the study of God’s Word, through personal and corporate prayer, and through fellowship with other believers.
They believe that sharing mercy and grace begins with surrendering ourselves to God’s grace-filled offer of forgiveness and then extending that gift in our consideration of others. Only when we admit that we are in need of mercy and grace can we truly share it effectively.
In this time of transition, the church council is corporately inviting the congregation to join them in re-experiencing God’s grace and mercy for themselves, and then extending that mercy and grace to those in their lives that are in need of it most.
We especially need to do so in light of the fact that Pastor Greg was contacted this past week by his new district superintendent in the Central District. It is now official, Pastor Greg will be moving.
While we expect that we will know soon of his replacement, as was said, admitting our need for God’s grace and mercy and sharing that gift with one another will be vital as we move through this transition time together.
Thank you.
Closing Song - #354 – I Surrender All
As we sing this last song together, I invite you to do just exactly what the words say. When I started the sermon, I said that there are some that have yet to accept that we can make the most of this transition.
If you still find yourself in that category…I invite you to surrender.
If you’re struggling with all that’s happening around us…I invite you to surrender.
If you’re cook with it all…I invite you to surrender that attitude as well.
“All to Jesus, I surrender…all to him I freely give…”
As always, the altar is open, if you feel the Spirit’s tug to come forward please do…come.
Benediction
As we leave this place…
May the Lord grant us his power and discernment in the midst of uncertainty,
May the Lord help us to be honest with ourselves, admitting we need His mercy and grace
May the Lord help us to forgive and be forgiven,
And to have a practice of humility and a sense of his priority…
So that we may say as we accept this transition that is before us, may God’s will be done!
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit…Amen
Other Scriptures to consider:
James 1:5-6; 4:7-8; 5:16
Romans 3:23; 6:11-12; 12:2; 14:12
Jeremiah 14:20
Psalm 27:4-5; 32:3-5; 119:10-12
Luke 15:17-19
Proverbs 30:32
I Peter 1:13-14
Philippians 3:12-14
II Thessalonians 3:3
I John 5:14-15
