#484 It’s Not Fair – Grace Series# 2, Divine Interruptions

It’s Not Fair – Grace Series# 2, Divine Interruptions
By: D. Karl Thomas

 Luke 19:5-9 “He looked up and saw him, and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.’” 

So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” 

Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” 

And Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;  for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.‘”  

Lamentations 3:21-23 “This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions  fail not.  They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” 

Romans 9:14-16 “Is that grounds for complaining that God is unfair? Not so fast, please. God told Moses, “I’m in charge of mercy. I’m in charge of compassion.” Compassion doesn’t originate in our bleeding hearts or moral sweat, but in God’s mercy.”  (Message)

Micah 7:18 “Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.” (MERCY) 

Matthew 20:1-16  “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.  Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. … 

And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. 

And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.’ … 

“So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, ‘Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.’ And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, … 

they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius…. 

“And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, ‘These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.’ …

But he answered one of them and said, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius  Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you.

Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?’  So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.”
Does the Kingdom operate by merit or mercy? 

In his book ‘In the Grip of Grace’ Max Lucado writes the following:“Know what disturbs me most about Jeffery Dahmer?  What disturbs me most are not his acts, though they are disgusting … (It’s) His conversion … Sins washed.  Soul cleansed.  Past forgiven.  That troubles me.  It shouldn’t, but it does.  Grace for a cannibal? (My) trouble in accepting Dahmer’s conversion is inexcusable” 

Acts 9:10-20 “… And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me … 

 … that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized. 

Observations From Ananias:  —  God Uses Believers,  — Believers Hear His voice,
Believers Honour his Word,  —  Believers Are Embrace Challenges,  —   Believers Heal people

Observations From Paul:  — God Calls Whoever he Wants,  — God Accepts You, God Heals You,
God Empowers you,   —   God Has A Purpose For You, —      God Unites Himself To You. 

1 Timothy 1:15 “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.” 

Chaplain Henry F. Gerecke
Served Hitler’s Gang At Nuremberg  14 of the 16 Accepted Forgiveness
“They did so in a spirit that convinced me that their repentance was genuine. I have had many years of experience as a prison chaplain and do not believe I am easily deluded by phony reformations at the eleventh hour.”
https://thechaplainkit.com/history/chaplains-at-war/world-war-2/i-walked-to-the-gallows-with-the-nazi-chiefs/ 

Gerecke had an opportunity to return home 1946 …He was 54 … Prisoners wrote to his wife: 

Your husband has been taking religious care of the undersigned…for more than half a year. We have now heard…that you wish to see him back home after his absence of several years. Because we also have wives and children, we understand this wish of yours very well.

Nevertheless, we are asking you to put off your wish to gather your family around you….Please consider that we cannot miss your husband now….It is impossible for any other to break through the walls that have been built up around us; in a spiritual sense even stronger than a material one….We shall be deeply indebted to you.
We send our best wishes to you and your family. God be with you.

Divine Interruptions

It’s Not Fair – Grace Series# 2, Divine Interruptions, Sermon Notes to print, PDF