"Your Cry Has Been Heard"
December 18, 2005

The New Testament Lesson: Matthew 1: 18 - 25

To call people to accept the tough love of God.

I.  People are often very reluctant to admit they need help
   A. One of my favorite stories is about Hank and Marge
        1. Hank was sure that his wife was going deaf, but wouldn’t admit it
        2. He decided to test her by going to the far end of the house.
            a. He called out “Marge!” but there was no answer.
        3. He moved into the living room and called again “Marge!’
        4. Then he moved into the dining room and called but nothing.
        5. Finally, he walked into the kitchen, stood behind her and called.
        6. She turned around, “Hank, for the 4^th time, what do you want?
   B. There are many evidences that people won’t admit they need help.
        1. Anyone with a relative losing their hearing knows that.
            a. They accuse us of mumbling.
            b. They blame the noise all around.
            c. They tell people that note the loss that they’re making it up.
            d. They might even get angry and hostile.
        2. My father in law wasn’t loosing his hearing, he just liked the TV loud
        3. The root cause is that no one likes to admit they have a weakness.
            a. That’s especially true if they used to have the ability.
            b. They don’t want to see the signs.  Block them out!
        4. It can happen in many different areas.
            a. I’ve noted that the print in my Bible has been shrinking over time.
            b. The hills I climb have been getting steeper as well.
        5. It becomes a matter of pride not to admit weakness-  You haven’t forgotten that pride is one of the 7 deadly sins, have you?
   C. The cycle of denial is part of our reaction to our own sin as well.
        1. We hate it when we are confronted by our faults.
            a. We may know we have them, but we don’t like it pointed out.
            b. While we keep them in the dark, we can pretend they aren’t there.
        2. When sins creep out into the open, our first reaction is cover-up
            a. We try to re-hide them.  Hoping no one saw them!
            b. We deny them or we minimize them.
            c. Sometimes we can come up with a convincing excuse.
        3. But none of these things really does anything about the problem.
            a. In fact, they often have the reverse effect.
            b. When we ignore sins, they just get bigger

II.  When God offers us His love in Jesus, it is tough love
   A. God, however, is unwilling to allow our sin to remain covered!
        1. Jesus Christ came into the world to be our light.
        2. That light shines on everyone and every thing.
        3. The result is that all we are becomes illumined.
        4. That is very uncomfortable.
            a. The darkness allows us to pretend we are better than we are.
            b. Our pride can tell us all sorts of half truths and errors.
        5. Jesus is that great big spell check in the sky!
            a. Every error is underlined by his light.
            b. We see that we are not as we should be.
        6. The light that is God’s gift causes us this pain.
        7. But, my friends that is part of the grace of God toward us!
   B. In Jesus’ birth, God dealt with our sin through grace..
        1. But the first step is revealing it!
            a. God can’t deal with us until we know we need help.
            b. Until we cry out to God for change, God can’t help us!
        2. That, my dear friends is God’s gift of love!
        3. But it’s not the mushy sentimentality that we often call to mind.
            a. When we say God loves us, we don’t mean God feels warmly.
            b. God is not just our heavenly pal.
        4. When you’re doing wrong, you don’t need a pal.
            a. A pal will tell you not to worry about it.
            b. A pal will help you think up excuses
            c. A pal no only doesn’t care if you sin, they might just join you!
        5. God doesn’t overlook our sin, he deals with it gracefully.
   C. And it’s really an easy two step process.
        1. First, we admit our need, confess our sin, recognize our wrongs.
        2. Then, because of His Love, God forgives us through the gift of grace in Christ.
        3. That’s all there is to it, because God loves us.

III.  Tough Love is enduring love: in God’s case, it is eternal!
   A. Most difficult part for us is the “crying out!”
        1. God is ready and willing to meet our need.
        2. But God wants us to ask for that forgiveness.
            a. Only when we admit that we’ve done wrong can we receive grace.
            b. Until then, there is a wall of pride between us and grace.
   B. Dr. Don McCollough wrote and entire book trying to explain this.
        1. It is called, “If Grace Is So Amazing, Why Don’t We Like It More?"
            a. He explores the many dimension of the way that grace works in us.
            b. He specifically says that we are helpless without grace.
            c. There is absolutely nothing we can do to make up for our sin.
        2. But, because of pride, few of us are willing to admit that.
            a. We’d like to think that we’re pretty good.
            b. All we need is a little boost from God.
            c. sort of like getting a leg up into the saddle.
            d. After that, we can ride the rest of the way.
        3. Message of Christmas is that salvation depends completely on God
            a. The Love of God produces an all encompassing Grace.
            b. Our part is to stop struggling and accept God’s Love
        4. It is tough love, to be sure.
            a. It is love that will not allow us to wallow in our sin.
            b. It is love that leads us to a higher plane of living!
   C. Let me tell you about a guy I know.. we’ll call him George.
        1. He was a sinner just like the rest of us.
            a. The sin that was most prominent was alcohol.
            b. He was unable to control his use of it.
            c. His overindulgence often led him to unintended violence
            d. Usually directed toward his wife and children.
        2. He had periods of remorse, but couldn’t control himself and his pride wouldn’t allow him to admit he needed help.
        3. His family, through a therapist, arranged a confrontation.
            a. Gathered all his closet friends.
            b. The family then ambushed him, saying were headed for dinner.
            c. they all described his behavior so he couldn’t deny it any more.
        4. that’s what led him to finally accept help.
        5. And it was the result of love…tough love!

We’ve looked at four gifts that come at Christmas: Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.  And they are all inter-related.  Everyone of them comes to us through the presence of Christ in our lives.  To the extent that we open up to Christ’s Spirit, we will be blessed.  We will also be changed!  Some people won’t recognize us!  That’s OK, because they didn’t recognize Jesus either.  But to the extent that we are like Jesus, we become God’s Christmas gift to others just like Jesus was!

And as you go from this place, may you walk in the way of Christ Jesus and May God always find you faithful!