Embracing God's Grace in Our Messiness
Summary
In today's message, we explored the profound truth that God does not reject us because of our messiness. We delved into the story of Jacob, Rachel, Leah, and the 12 tribes of Israel, a narrative filled with envy, deception, and relational chaos. Despite the messiness of their lives, God used them to fulfill His divine purposes. This story serves as a reminder that God enters into our messes, not to condemn us, but to transform us and use us for His glory.
We reflected on the incarnation of Jesus Christ, who came into this messy world on a rescue mission. Jesus' life and ministry exemplified His willingness to engage with messy people, offering them grace and redemption. The story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector, illustrates how Jesus seeks out those who feel lost and rejected, inviting them into a transformative relationship with Him. Similarly, the parable of the prodigal son reveals the heart of God as a loving Father who welcomes us back with open arms, regardless of the messes we've made.
Furthermore, we considered the Apostle Paul's journey from being a persecutor of Christians to becoming a prominent figure in spreading the gospel. His life is a testament to how God uses messy people to accomplish His purposes. Paul's transformation highlights the limitless patience and grace of God, who desires to use our brokenness to bring about His kingdom.
We also discussed the concept of the "ministry of manure," where God uses the messes of life to create fruitful lives. Just as manure enriches the soil, our messes can lead to growth and transformation when surrendered to God. The story of Peter, who denied Jesus but was later restored and empowered to preach at Pentecost, exemplifies how God can turn our failures into opportunities for His glory.
In conclusion, we are encouraged to embrace the reality that God uses messy people. We are called to be honest about our own messes and to extend grace to others in theirs. Through Jesus, we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing, and we are being transformed day by day. Let us walk in faith, hope, and love, trusting that God is faithful to complete the good work He has begun in us.
Key Takeaways:
1. God Does Not Reject Our Messiness: God enters into our messes, not to condemn us, but to transform us. The incarnation of Jesus is a testament to God's love and grace, as He came into this messy world to rescue us. We are reminded that God does not reject us because of our messes, but instead, He offers us redemption and healing. [13:47]
2. God Uses Messy People: The story of the Apostle Paul illustrates how God uses messy people to accomplish His purposes. Despite Paul's past as a persecutor of Christians, God transformed him into a powerful advocate for the gospel. This reminds us that our past does not disqualify us from being used by God. [21:42]
3. The Ministry of Manure: God uses the messes of life to create fruitful lives. Just as manure enriches the soil, our messes can lead to growth and transformation when surrendered to God. The story of Peter, who was restored after denying Jesus, exemplifies how God can turn our failures into opportunities for His glory. [24:02]
4. Embrace Repentance: Repentance is a gift from God that allows us to change our minds, hearts, and the direction of our lives. It is a daily practice that leads to transformation and healing. We are encouraged to be honest about our messes and to seek God's help in overcoming them. [27:38]
5. Walk in Faith, Hope, and Love: Through Jesus, we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing, and we are being transformed day by day. We are called to walk in faith, hope, and love, trusting that God is faithful to complete the good work He has begun in us. Let us extend grace to others and be willing to enter into their messes with compassion. [31:24]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [01:18] - Opening Prayer
- [02:08] - Messy Foods and Life
- [03:41] - Messy Family Stories
- [04:43] - Jacob, Rachel, and Leah
- [05:58] - The Birth of Esau and Jacob
- [07:12] - Jacob's Deception
- [09:46] - Jacob's Marriages
- [11:18] - The Birth of the 12 Tribes
- [12:59] - God's Grace in Messiness
- [13:47] - God Does Not Reject Us
- [15:44] - Zacchaeus and the Prodigal Son
- [19:25] - God Uses Messy People
- [24:02] - The Ministry of Manure
- [27:38] - Embrace Repentance
- [31:24] - Walk in Faith, Hope, and Love
- [33:24] - Closing Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Genesis 29-30 (The story of Jacob, Rachel, Leah, and the 12 tribes of Israel)
2. Luke 19:1-10 (The story of Zacchaeus)
3. Luke 15:11-32 (The parable of the prodigal son)
#### Observation Questions
1. What were some of the key events in the lives of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah that contributed to the formation of the 12 tribes of Israel? [04:43]
2. How did Jesus respond to Zacchaeus when He saw him in the tree, and what was Zacchaeus' reaction? [15:44]
3. In the parable of the prodigal son, what actions did the father take when he saw his son returning home? [18:22]
4. How did the Apostle Paul's life change after his encounter with Jesus, and what role did he play in spreading the gospel? [21:42]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the story of Jacob, Rachel, and Leah teach us about God's ability to work through messy and complicated family dynamics? [04:43]
2. How does Jesus' interaction with Zacchaeus illustrate His approach to those who feel lost and rejected? [15:44]
3. What does the father's reaction in the parable of the prodigal son reveal about God's character and His attitude towards repentance? [18:22]
4. How does the transformation of the Apostle Paul demonstrate the power of God's grace and patience? [21:42]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt messy or unworthy. How can the story of Jacob and his family encourage you to trust in God's plan despite your circumstances? [04:43]
2. Zacchaeus was willing to change his life after encountering Jesus. Is there an area in your life where you feel called to make a change? What steps can you take this week? [15:44]
3. The prodigal son's father welcomed him back with open arms. How can you extend grace and forgiveness to someone in your life who may have wronged you? [18:22]
4. Paul was once a persecutor of Christians but became a key figure in spreading the gospel. How can you use your past experiences, even the messy ones, to serve God's purposes today? [21:42]
5. The sermon mentioned the "ministry of manure," where God uses life's messes to create fruitful lives. Can you identify a "mess" in your life that God has used for growth or transformation? [24:02]
6. Repentance is described as a daily practice. What is one specific area in your life where you need to practice repentance, and how can you start today? [27:38]
7. How can you walk in faith, hope, and love this week, trusting that God is faithful to complete the good work He has begun in you? [31:24]
Devotional
Day 1: God Embraces Our Messiness
God does not reject us because of our messiness; instead, He enters into our lives to transform us. The story of Jacob, Rachel, Leah, and the 12 tribes of Israel is a testament to this truth. Despite the envy, deception, and relational chaos in their lives, God used them to fulfill His divine purposes. This narrative reminds us that God is not deterred by our imperfections. The incarnation of Jesus Christ further exemplifies this, as He came into a messy world on a rescue mission. Jesus engaged with messy people, offering them grace and redemption, as seen in the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector. Jesus seeks out those who feel lost and rejected, inviting them into a transformative relationship with Him. [13:47]
"For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more." (Hebrews 8:12, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel messy or inadequate? How can you invite God into that space today to begin His transformative work?
Day 2: God Transforms Messy Lives
The story of the Apostle Paul illustrates how God uses messy people to accomplish His purposes. Despite Paul's past as a persecutor of Christians, God transformed him into a powerful advocate for the gospel. This transformation highlights the limitless patience and grace of God, who desires to use our brokenness to bring about His kingdom. Our past does not disqualify us from being used by God; rather, it can be a powerful testimony of His grace and redemption. Paul's journey encourages us to trust in God's ability to use our lives, no matter how messy they may seem, for His glory. [21:42]
"But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong." (1 Corinthians 1:27, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a part of your past that you feel disqualifies you from being used by God. How can you begin to see it as a testimony of His grace and redemption?
Day 3: Growth Through Life's Messes
The concept of the "ministry of manure" teaches us that God uses the messes of life to create fruitful lives. Just as manure enriches the soil, our messes can lead to growth and transformation when surrendered to God. The story of Peter, who denied Jesus but was later restored and empowered to preach at Pentecost, exemplifies how God can turn our failures into opportunities for His glory. This perspective encourages us to view our challenges and failures as opportunities for growth and transformation, trusting that God can use them for His purposes. [24:02]
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent failure or challenge you have faced. How can you surrender it to God and allow Him to use it for growth and transformation?
Day 4: The Gift of Repentance
Repentance is a gift from God that allows us to change our minds, hearts, and the direction of our lives. It is a daily practice that leads to transformation and healing. We are encouraged to be honest about our messes and to seek God's help in overcoming them. Repentance is not about condemnation but about embracing the opportunity for change and renewal. It is a pathway to experiencing God's grace and mercy, allowing us to walk in newness of life. [27:38]
"Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3:19-20, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to practice repentance today? How can you invite God's presence into this area for transformation and healing?
Day 5: Walking in Faith, Hope, and Love
Through Jesus, we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing, and we are being transformed day by day. We are called to walk in faith, hope, and love, trusting that God is faithful to complete the good work He has begun in us. This journey involves extending grace to others and being willing to enter into their messes with compassion. As we walk in faith, hope, and love, we become instruments of God's grace and transformation in the lives of those around us. [31:24]
"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13, ESV)
Reflection: How can you extend grace and compassion to someone in your life today? What practical steps can you take to walk in faith, hope, and love in your daily interactions?
Quotes
God does not reject us because of our messiness. How many are happy about that? He does not reject us because of our messiness. The exact opposite of rejection happened. In the birth of Jesus Christ. In the incarnation. That God sent Jesus. To come into this mess. Called life. This messy planet. This fallen world. Of Adam. He came in on a rescue mission. For us. Never forget that. That he came for you. And he does not reject you because of the messes you have made. Or you are making. Or yet you will make. Of course he wants to help us. Let us get healthy. But he does not reject us. [00:13:35] (49 seconds)
God uses messy people. How many are grateful for that? I definitely wouldn't be here. Think about the Apostle Paul. Before the Apostle Paul became Paul, he was Saul the Pharisee, Saul of Tarsus. Paul might be the most prominent figure in Scripture outside of Jesus. But Paul, and he wrote three quarters of the New Testament, brought the gospel to the ends of the world, the known world. And yet, he was a religious terrorist. He thought he was doing God a favor by killing Christians, by rounding up men and women and children who followed the way. [00:20:27] (47 seconds)
God comforts us in our messes so that we can help others in their mess have some comfort and some wisdom and help them through that. And then the last point I think we can glean from this big messy story to all the messes. God comforts us in our messes so that we can know how to comfort others in our messes. God comforts us in our messes. God comforts us in our messes. And one of the things that I love about the messy stories is God uses the messes of life to create fruitful lives. [00:23:37] (24 seconds)
Life creates manure. Life creates messes, right? It can either be self-inflicted or it can be maybe somebody inflicted a mess to you and brought this manure. Manure is death. But when you put this death into the soil, it helps produce life. It helps produce life. It helps produce life. It helps produce life. It helps produce fruit, crops, vegetation, plants, trees. It needs manure. It needs this death. It's a weird thing. But death brings life. God does some of his best work out of manure to make us trees planted by living water who are fruitful in season so that we can be blessed and be a blessing to others. [00:24:26] (57 seconds)
We love you and praise you. You're the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Savior of humanity, the Lord of all, the creator and sustainer of all things. We humbly submit ourselves to you and our lives to you. We want to follow you, Jesus, in every aspect of our life, in thought, word, and deed. In your name I pray. [00:33:24] (25 seconds)
He meets us there. Secondly, what do we glean from this? We're not gleaned from a messy story. It's this, God uses messy people. How many are grateful for that? I definitely wouldn't be here. Think about the Apostle Paul. Before the Apostle Paul became Paul, he was Saul the Pharisee, Saul of Tarsus. Paul might be the most prominent figure in Scripture outside of Jesus. But Paul, and he wrote three quarters of the New Testament, brought the gospel to the ends of the world, the known world. And yet, he was a religious terrorist. [00:20:20] (46 seconds)
God sent his son into the world. He did not send him to judge the world. Guilty. But to save the world. Through him. That is fantastic news. In the Greek. Which we translate from Greek into English. In our Bibles that we read. There is one Greek word. That we either translate. Lost or perish. But they are interchangeable words. So if something is lost. It is perishing. If something is perishing. It is lost. Keep that in mind when you read. 3 .15. The three parables of the lost coin. The lost sheep. And the lost son. [00:14:40] (46 seconds)
The woman at the well we talked about last week, Jesus meets her, confronts her, wants to heal her. She had five husbands. The man she was with, you know, wasn't a her husband. And Jesus confronts that, says, hey, I'm the Messiah. And then the woman caught in adultery. All her condemners were there ready to throw rocks at her. And Jesus says, whichever one of you is without sin, hey, throw the first stone. One by one, they all left. Jesus stands up and he says, woman, where are those who condemn you? She says, they all left. He says, I don't condemn you either. Go and sin no more. [00:19:44] (35 seconds)
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