The Face of a Pharisee - 10

Good evening again to you from beacon Baptist Church. Thank you for gathering around your computer that we might worship the Lord again together tonight on this memorial evening Sunday. Tomorrow is the national observance of Memorial Day gathered here again this evening. It was a delight this morning to see many of you here worship together in this place, something we've not had the joy of doing for 11 weeks, will you, I'd forgotten it. It been that many weeks but? When mentioned that it been 11 weeks since we last met together and it was some. It was good. It was good to see you is good to renew Fellowship see faces rejoice afresh in the grace of God at work in and lives.

We were a bit offkilter in a number of ways. Some of you were not sitting where you customarily set and I probably was a challenge for you but it was a challenge for those of us who particularly look for you in a certain place so that was that was interesting thought of a couple of one passage in one and another verse of Scripture that speak to many of our disappointments this morning when we came and received a bulletin and realized there were four hymns that we were going to be directed to and then we were told we were not going to saying and I heard this low groan, go out like oh no, it's what I've been looking forward to while there's biblical precedent for what we did this morning we we didn't sing we we read words of the hymns out loud together. Ephesians chapter 5 in verse 20 verse 19 excuse me says, speaking to one another, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs is a way yeah that's not the whole verse you understand that, but I'm reading that part that applies to our situation this morning. Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord. It's the singing and mountain.

It's the singing and making melody in our heart to the Lord, that we didn't participate in. But we we did we. We spoke to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs and I thought of the triumphal entry and on that particular occasion in Luke's account we have these words then as he that is Jesus was now drawing near, the dissent of the Mount of olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen saying, Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord peace in heaven and glory in the highest and some of the Pharisees called to him from the crowd, teacher, rebuke your disciples, but he answered and said to them, I tell you that if these should keep silent. The stones would immediately cry out. I think that was the natural reaction we had when we were told, for good reason. We were going to sing this morning where the rocks will cry out if we don't well at wedding here in Iraq's crying out, but it's it's just it's what we want to do it's it's it's instinctive to the child of God, but I trust that you are aware that these are temporary measures that we are following trying to be as cautious as we can to minimize the risk.

And thank you for your cooperation with us. Everybody cooperated with us in our seating scheme. Every other pew and I was pleasantly surprised how comfortably we were able to accommodate 120 524 people? Was not a prophet nor the son of a prophet but he did mention a couple of times and emails anticipating 125 people gathering in worship and we had 124 so kudos to him for being so close to the accurate number but we we I thought were able to accommodate that many very well without violating any precautions that we put in place so again, thank you and that should encourage those of you that were here to be back again next Lord's day morning and for some of you who were just a bit more cautious to you wanted to see how this was going to work, encourage you that maybe didn't come.

If not, but as things begin to improve, and the restrictions are lifted that will be able to come together without any restrictions sometime. We hope the summer so a lot of things are up in the air were asked me about Sunday school and children's church in our Boys and Girls Club's on Wednesday night and all of that is canceled for now waiting for more opportune time to resume those things and I have some things in my mind education of what we will do in the summer.

If I were not able to meet. The problem is that when we move into a Sunday school program that were confining people into small rooms and it's hard to social distance. That way, so there are ways to have a Sunday school done that here in the auditorium at something I'm considering looking at a very fine video series that that would accommodate us. So just be continuing to pray for us as we trust the Lord and are sensitive to what's going on around us abide by the laws and the governor's requests and admonitions and so again thank you for your encouragement. It was so hard not to see your enthusiasm and your thrill about being able to be here this morning. I think that was a sense for all of us and there's a day that to be no restrictions whatsoever on any any of us will be in the Lord's presence, free from any distraction, any hindrance any restrictions free from the encumbrances of sin and all these things that hinder us now thought of this him as we begin this evening O blessed God how kinder all thy ways to me, whose dark benighted mind was immunity with the yet now subdued by sovereign grace.

My spirit longs for thine embrace.

How precious are thy thoughts. The door my spirit role. They swelled beyond my fault's and captivate my soul how great the sum how high they rise. Can there be no beneath the skies preserved by Jesus when my fee made haste to hail, and there should I have gone but thou dost all things well thy love was great. Thy mercy free which from the pit delivered me a monument of grace. A sinner saved by blood the streams of love. I trace up to the fountain.

God and in his sovereign counsel. See eternal thoughts of love to me that him came to my mind as I thought about the story that Jesus tells of the wayward son, and God's rejoicing over sinners that repent and are brought into a reconciled relationship with him. My spirit longs for thine embrace of trust that you know that by the spirits working in your heart that you have been united by faith to the Lord Jesus Christ, that you are rejoicing and that you are cultivating that relationship that you are enjoying a measure of intimacy with the Lord to think that God purpose that an eternity path. He had good thoughts of love toward us, that he said his mercy on us, and that all flows side of a reservoir of grace is the hymn writer says a monument of grace. A sinner saved by blood the streams of love. I trace up to the fountain. God what a wonderful picture that him captures force was we pray tonight were remember number of requests Tracy Airy and Jamie Henshaw have an uncle of Max Hudson at White Oak Manor. I'm told that Brenna's been a significant outbreak of the coronavirus. There there are 20 or so workers. There may be 60 or 70 residents there that have tested positive for the virus and that's the sad to hear that. So pray for those workers pray for that facility. But pray, particularly for Max Hudson for store wall whose in Johannesburg, South Africa, waiting for liver and therefore transplant Guthrie as she continues to recover from chemotherapy treatments and then for John and Christina DOS who were seriously injured in a motorcycle accident this past week we you join me as we look to the Lord in prayer our father. We come to you tonight faith believing in trust that you would meet with your people you've said there were two or three are gathered in your name, that there you would be in the midst we rejoice that you have made promises to manifest your presence conspicuously when your church assembles, we thank you for your abiding presence with us as believers. You said you would never leave us nor forsake us. So thank you for the blessings that we know because we are in Christ we think of what Paul said, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ, we rejoice that every blessing that we have known every blessing spiritual blessing that we are currently enjoying and everyone that yet awaits us in our enjoyment of it is been secured force by our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. So effectual, so complete was his work on Calvary that nothing can be added to that, it is full and satisfactory for every need. We might have and therefore we come we might find mercy and grace to help in time of need. Lord were needy people.

We have discovered that we need to fellowship of the saints more perhaps what we thought prior to this disruption that we need our brothers and sisters and their close fellowship more than we have appreciated. Thank you for the movement that we are not moving away but moving toward the day that we will have these restrictions lifted and will be able to gather without any hindrance whatsoever. But until that day. Keep us by your grace.

Keep us on the straight and narrow way. Keep us trusting Lord Jesus in you and in your word, help us to submit our hearts and minds and wills to you and that you might buy your grace, subdue our fears and doubts in our anxieties and worries what we think of the cost of freedom.

We think of the freedoms we have in Jesus Christ that were free to serve him were free of the sinful shackles that entangled us and enslaved us in made us slaves of darkness and slaves of the evil one in citizens of his kingdom and by your great power. You've rescued us. You have freed us from that tyranny and that bondage and it made his bond servants. Glad on servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we now serve a good master. We serve the cause of righteousness as opposed to unrighteousness. We think of the words of the Lord Jesus, that if the sun shall set you free, you shall be free indeed to help us first on this memorial day weekend to consider and think and appreciate and give thanks for the freedoms we have in Christ and then to also realize that hundreds of thousands of men and women have laid down their lives to preserve the freedoms we have in this country and there are forces at work trying to take those freedoms and liberties away from us and we would pray that you would frustrate any who are endeavoring in such an evil way, you would continue to make this the land of the free and of the brave. We are amazed as we hear of stories of heroism and courage and men who lay down our lives for their friends. Again, thank you tonight for our Savior, who laid down his life willingly, voluntarily, for sinners that we might be redeemed. Pray for store wall tonight and for Laverne that you would encourage them and meet this significant need in his life. Pray for the churches in Zimbabwe who are also affected by the Cove in 19 pandemic you would provide for their physical necessities. Protect your church grow your church.

Save the lost. Build up those in the most holy faith that know you and that land we pray for Max Hudson that you would bring healing and recovery to this man and for the workers and other residents of Oak White Oak Manor. We would pray that you would have mercy upon those who've been affected by this virus.

Pray for Drew Guthrie that you would stir to her these days she's laboring to regain her strength for John and Christina DOS suffered serious injuries in this motorcycle accident that you would work and preserve life and bring healing but were mindful as we bow our hearts before you that it is in you that we live and breathe and have our being. And we knowledge that to you that all that we are and all that we have in all that would ever hope to be is sourced and you thank you for this Sunday evening time around your word. We pray that you would bless our time that you would buy your spirit illuminate our minds that we might indeed understand the Scriptures, and that we would not just be doers of the word. But here's whither we would be doers of the word and not hearers only hear us, Lord, we pray tonight concerning these requests hearest for Jesus sake and for his sake alone. We pray in Christ name, amen.

Tonight I would again. Direct your attention to the gospel of Luke were going to take our third look. This chapter story or it's a chapter that consists of three stories. One parable and we have looked at the story of the lost sheep looked at the story of the prodigal son lease.

The first half younger son demanded his inheritance in ran often to the far country, and wasted his inheritance in came to his senses and returned to the father's house and the father rejoiced through a party at his return.

But there was the other son, the eldest son that will be the focus of our attention tonight. That also is in that third story that makes up this one parable in Luke chapter 15. So if you would follow with me. I'll begin to read at verse 11 of Luke 15 then he said, a certain man had two sons in the younger of them said to his father. Father give me the portion of goods that falls to me. So we divided to them. His livelihood and not many days after the younger son gathered all together journey to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living but when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.

Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country and he sent him into his field to feed swine and he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine eight and no one gave him anything.

But when he came to himself.

He said how many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger. I will arise and go to my father and will say to him. Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you and I am no longer worthy to be called years be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants. And he arose and came to his father, but when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion in ran and fell on his neck and kissed him, and the son said to him.

Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your site and am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, bring out the best robe and put it on him and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet and break bring the fatted calf here and kill it and let us eat and be merry for this my son was dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found. And they began to be married now, his older son was in the field and as he was, and as he came in drew near to the house he heard music and dancing, and he called one of the servants and ask what these things meant and he said to him, your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound. Your father has killed the fatted calf, but he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him so he answered and said to his father, lo these many years I have been serving you. I have never transgressed your commandment at any time, and yet you never gave me a young goat that I might make very with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who is devoured your livelihood with harlots. You killed the fatted calf for him and he said to him, son, you are always with me and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make Mary and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again and was lost and is found. Well this story in Luke 15 is most often thought of in relationship to the prodigal son. But I remind you that Jesus began the story by telling us a certain man had two sons, two sons in both of the sons were lost now as it was easier to spot the lostness of the younger son he was outwardly rebellious.

He demanded his inheritance he went off any sinned outwardly, he threw off all authority gave himself unreservedly to unrestrained sinning. But what about the elder son. Why did Jesus include him in the story who did he represent in this context, we are your you recall that the scribes and the Pharisees were carping a Jesus because he befriended centers and fence errors enjoyed his company and Jesus had a heart for the publicans and the sinners and describes the variously's Pharisees obviously did not and the younger son is represented in the story by the scribed urban art by the publicans and the sinners. While the elder son is represented by the scribes and the Pharisees and they didn't miss this. They knew that Jesus was directing this part of the story toward them and saying that this is you, yes, they too were sinners.

It's interesting how the elder son is depicted in the story to things about him initially. He despised his brother.

He hated his brother could even column his brother. He said this son of your speaking to his father. He didn't say my brother you wouldn't even own him as a brother, so he had hatred for his brother, but what's even worse, despite the fact that outwardly he was there. Outwardly, he worked outwardly, he showed respect inwardly. He had no love for the father. He hated the father and his hatred came out in his reaction to how the father responded to his younger brother returning home and of the two that are lost in the story. Who do you think is worse off you see religious, self-righteous people who are trying to earn their way to heaven are resistant. What do the only thing that can save them grace. There are resistant to that they despise that they hate it when it's demonstrated in dispensed to undeserving people as they would refer to it and they laugh about that. That's exactly what grace is it I deserved, but the scribes and the Pharisees placed all their confidence upon their religious observance their self righteousness.

Jesus had said earlier that he had come not to call they come not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance that it is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are convinced that they are sick. So our Lord in this story is very careful not just to portray the tax collectors and the sinners in the person of the prodigal. He's also portraying the scribes and the Pharisees the person of the elder brother and nothing really let me remind you that the theme of this chapter. The theme of these three stories that make up this chapter is God's joy of recovered sinners. You remember that it is a lost sheep that is recovered and there is this celebration. The man has the shepherd asked for the recovery of his sheep and Jesus adds his word of commentary in verse seven of Luke 15, I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over 99 just persons who need no repentance and enters a second story and it is the story of the lost coin. The woman who lost a coin in her house. She had 10. She lost one and she went to great effort to find this one calling. She wasn't satisfied to say will have nine in all, be satisfied. I lost one. I will worry about that. No, she went to great lengths to find it and when she did find it. There was rejoicing. She called her friends and they had a time of rejoicing together in Jesus again says in verse 10. Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents and then it's very conspicuous in the return of the prodigal son shocking really to the audience. Even the sun was shocked at the father's response. He the best he could hope for was that he would be received and be allowed to serve and be a servant but to be reinstated as a son.

He had no hopes of that. But not only was he reinstated as a son, but he was reinstated without any until I say any any hint of disappointment in the father. The father went to great lengths to communicate to the son into the audience that this is the heart of God toward sinners, they doesn't just forgive us would say you know what I remember who you are. Remember what you've done.

I remember what you've wasted. I remembered your prodigal living no, there's not a hint of that Jesus is a friend of sinners, so there is this theme of God's joy over recovered law sinners. The older brother is introduced to us in verse 25. Now his older son was in the field and as he came and drew near to the house. He heard music and dancing is introduced to us as being very busy at work out in the father's deal is not home when the prodigal returns and when the prodigal was so tenderly embraced by the father when the elder son came home in the evening he received quite a surprise as he drew near the house. He heard music and dancing.

He heard the unmistakable sound of celebration word there music is the word Sinfonia. The root of our word Symphony. It literally meant several players making their instruments sound together in harmony and what this story is telling us that the father wasn't just rejoicing in himself and with a few folks around him, but he went out and hired musicians to come in and aid in the celebration hired musicians for this joyous occasion for the recovery of his wayward son know what did the elder brother do when he came home from the field. Don't look at the text what you think he should have done what would be logical what he would've been for him to go to his father and say what's going on but he doesn't go to his father. He goes to a hired servant. Notice what it says. Verse 26 so he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant and the servant said to him, your brother has come in because he that is your father has received him safe and sound.

Your father has killed the fatted calf to disappoint that we get a glimpse of the character of the elder brother because even as the servant was announcing the good news that his brother had come back from the far country, the brother who the father thought it was dad. For all practical purposes, was now live and was back home. He became angry. Notice what it says. Verse 28 but he that is the older brother was angry and he would not go in to the celebration. He was so angry he refused even enter the house. What made them angry. He was angry about two things. He was angry. Number one that is younger brother had come home. He wasn't happy about that. And number two he was especially angry that his father was so exuberant about his return and there was no way he was going to rejoice. He wasn't going anywhere near that celebration now in direct contrast to the anger of the elder son we get again a glimpse at the heart of God in all the father responds to the elder son what is it tell us again were told what he did. He was angry and he would not go in verse 28 therefore his father came out and pleaded with him.

His father came out and pleaded with him on the father had every right to come down hard on him to scold him severely. He had every reason to command his presence in the home, but what did he do. He went out, it says any pleaded with him. He pleaded with him. The father had incredible compassion on this son. It was displayed toward both of his wayward sons and again we have a picture I think of the heart of God is God's heart is communicated through gospel preachers who calm and pleaded with sinners to come to Christ.stay outside not be angry in his preachers played and make appeals. Many of you that are listening tonight are believers in Jesus Christ tonight because God used a gospel preacher in your life to bring you to saving faith in Christ. The spirit of God moved in your heart and you responded to that pleading all the guy would raise up men who were concerned about the souls of men more concerned about entertaining loss. People who are on their way on the broad way to destruction. Look with me. Verse 29. This is in response to the father pleading with him so he that is, the son answered and said to his father. Notice he didn't call him father just said low these many years I've been serving you.

I never transgressed your commandment at any time, and yet you never gave me a young goat that I might make Mary with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came you kill the fat who has devoured your livelihood with harlots.

You killed the fatted calf for him were told a couple of things would get some insight into the heart of this self-righteous, arrogant, elder son. He had number one, a perverted view of himself, perverted view of himself, yet a perverted view of his labor in the father's house. He viewed his labor is nothing more than slave labor low. These many years I've been serving you that word serve could be slave all these years I've been serving you like a slave that shows a city worked. Yes, he worked but he worked grudgingly, he lacked a right view of his labor do such a good father to him. He had no delight. He did what he did on a slavish duty again had a perverted view of himself.

He says I've never transgressed really.

I never transgressed your commandment at any time really what what you manifesting right now. What disrespect, what dishonor. Little did he realize how much his words were breaking the father's heart see the truth of the matter is, again, had a perverted view of himself. He was more.

He was in a more dangerous place than the young. His younger brother was there both lost again as I said, the younger brother's sin was manifested in his outward rebellion in his wanton sin while the elder's sin was manifested more inwardly and only now is a coming out but is self-righteousness that is but try to keep up all these years made it impossible for him to acknowledge that he was really a wretched sinner. He was every bit the center that his brother was. That is an interesting in our day.

How rare it is here the subject of sin being addressed from many churches, many pulpits, why well because there's one, one absolute we can offend anybody with got to make people feel good. We don't dare remind them we don't dare tell them what the Bible says is true about them that there sinners never acknowledge ourselves as a sinner than their for us will never be say. That's how far churches have drifted in our day. Do people really acknowledge themselves as sinners know people think pretty good of themselves.

Well you know I I am not not as in it, so there there morality is a relative morality way and they always point to somebody that they perceive to be a worse person than that Wyman done this and am done that and therefore God should accept me really one lesson in the story is this heaven never holds a party for self-righteous man, this party, but the father was throwing was for a son who came back and said father I have sand. I guess heaven and against you, and am no longer need to be called your son back to the party was being thrown for no no party will be thrown for a self-righteous man in heaven with this point I'd like to give you four characteristics of the pharisaical heart. Four characteristics of the pharisaical heart. It's depicted here in this elder son. The chief trait.

Even though it traffics much in the things of God. That heart is actually estranged from God.

It's far from God, and far from loving God, the elder brother lived in the father's house. He ate at the father's table. He was very busy about the father's business by he did not either love the father or enjoy the father's presence even want to go into the house because it was a celebration over his brotherhood return, but it was the father's party and he wasn't going to be there story's suggests that the elder brother spent most of his time out in the father's field but not actually with the father he could spend his time with the father, but he did not choose to eat rather be out in the father's field.

We had a question about what was going on when he came from the field.

He didn't inquire of the father know he inquired of the servant seems strange to us but again, worse, getting a picture of the heart of this elder son what a pharisaical heart looks like the foremost proof of this estrangement between the elder son and his dad was that the elder brother was much more interested in obtaining pleasures and blessings from the father's hand than in having close dealings and fellowship with the father himself. Notice again what the father said in response to what the son said to the father as soon as this son of yours came was devoured your livelihood with harlots. You killed the fatted calf for him and he the father said to the son son, you are always with me and all that I have is yours.

I remember in the story when the younger son wanted his inheritance.

It was divided between the two. And even though the estate was in one sense under the father's authority and that context one third of the inheritance would've gone to the youngest son, two thirds would've gone to the eldest son he had everything he had two thirds of the father's possessions. That's what the father was saying to them all that I have is yours. It wasn't even happy with that.

See this elder brother. He did not want the father he wanted the father's riches. That's a frightening description of money in our day to name the name of Christ are busily engaged in all kinds of religious activities but in their heart of hearts, they have no enjoyment of God. They have no desire for God.

They have much religion but no heart or love for God. It's a sad commentary. Don't be deceived.

Many, many religious people in hell.

There will be people in hell who know the truth better than some who are hearing me tonight.

I daresay intellectually.

Who could argue a fine argument but have no heart for God. Could that be you could that be true of you talking about characteristics of a pharisaical heart. Oh my dear once examined yourself, lest you be found to be an elder brother. The pharisaical heart lives in the outward form of religion but it is a stranger to the reality and power of gospel grace. What else characterizes the pharisaical heart second characteristic of a pharisaical heart is even though that person might be engaged in holy duties. He secretly despises them. Remember the complaint of the elder brother low all these years I've been slaving away for you. Yes, he did possess responsibilities. He still lived in his father's house. His father was fair was a fair and just man. He had an obligation to do his father's will. But the problem was that even though the sun did what his father asked him to do outwardly, he did not enjoy his labor. Dede found it detestable. It made him bitter and it made him angry inside and the reason he despised his father's labor was that he had no love for his father because he didn't love the father he couldn't take delight in doing what the father asked him to do. There are Christians professing Christians like that. They keep up the air. They do their duty, but in their heart of hearts they really don't do it out of love for God. There they do it out of fear. The sun kept up this because well he had two thirds of the inheritance coming to only had to stay on had a work he had to stay there for getting forfeited all but he didn't do it because he loved the father. See if you don't love God will never be able to take delight. Those with a pharisaical heart have no love for God and thus they have in holy activities. Everything is a drudgery and no joy in reading their Bible praying to God coming to church.

It's it's a duty. I gotta keep doing and if I don't want to. People think so to keep up appearances.

You see, really, I think at the heart of this matter. The reason this elder son hated his brother and the father is because he had the same heart that is younger brother did. He was a sinner. The truth were known, he would've much rather been in the far country words brother went. That's where he wanted to be but he was perhaps too timid, afraid go to the far country he maybe didn't want the pigpen, but he wanted to indulge himself in some of the things it is brother did think that's one of the subtleties of the story that the elder brother would've liked of going to the far country do, but he didn't have the guts to go there but is just younger brother did. The third characteristic of a pharisaical heart is the conviction that God owes us blessing because we perceive ourselves to of been faithful people think what I really haven't done anything bad.

God owes me usually more than what I've received. See the elder brother both slow these many years I've been serving you like a slave never violated your will and yet you never as much as gave me a young goat to do what to make merry with my friends see wanted to enjoy the blessings of the father, but not with the father he wanted to enjoy those indulge those things with his friends the same.

I've served you with on faithfulness. I've never seriously wanted or failed to do what you required that you have not blessed me you haven't made me as happy as I ought to be.

You all may was his attitude. Boy that's an attitude when begins to creep around the edges of our life.

We need to run from it. This attitude that somehow God owes me. I've tried to be faithful. I've tried to do right my kids. Evan turned out the way I would've liked them to. I'm having financial trouble and I'm having health concerns and God hasn't treated me the way I think you boy you don't want what you up what God owes you were talking about grace. Grace is something that's unmerited undeserved. You don't want what you deserve, see the sun didn't understand that he thought his father was unfair was heart was full of self-righteousness. Finally, the pharisaical heart has no capacity to rejoice in God's mercy towards sinners and again that's the fundamental idea in the story the father rejoiced to see the prodigal coming home with the elder brother could not rejoice instead he carved instead he was angry over the father's rejoicing to see Christ's message throughout this entire chapter is the basic discrepancy between the heart of God in the heart. This religious crowd, the scribes and the Pharisees.

They want rejoicing. They were identifying with the elder brother.

That's right yeah right to be angry, you can just almost anticipate their thinking. See this chapter tells us the Shepherd rejoiced over finding the lost sheep.

The woman rejoiced over finding the lost coin. The father rejoiced at the return of the lost son, and all of which emphasizes gods what great joy over one sinner who was brought to repentance. But the Pharisees didn't rejoice over the Lord's dealings with sinners. They complain, they murmured, why because they felt no need for mercy themselves and they reset mercy being extended to others.

They believe they could stand before God on the basis of their deserved blessing the basis of what they had done these publicans and the centers they deserve.

Tell here Jesus was preaching salvation to them mercy to them forgiveness to them.

Acceptance to them. Pharisaical heart says that's not fair.

Let these people get what they deserve and get lost.

Why we deserve the favor of God. I hope you're still with me were talking about the characteristics of a pharisaical heart. Perhaps you would say, and rightly so that's that's that's awful. That's abominable that's disgraceful. Let me ask you something if you ever heard or learned of God's blessing someone answering the prayer giving them a better job some undeserved some unexpected blessing and thought in your heart. Well, that's great. What about me I been just as faithful. I've been a Christian longer than they have. Why hasn't that come to me. Why haven't I received that's that's that's the heart of a Pharisee God owes me a friend. You have a heart to rejoice in the mercy of God upon one of the things it encourages me is when we have people who are scheduled to come before the congregation on Sunday night to render their salvation. Testimony and express a desire to join the church and to know that on those particular occasions. We have increased attendance. People are excited people are happy people want to hear about God having mercy on sinners and forgiving centers in making sinners children of God.

That's encouraging the inability to rejoice with those who rejoice is in a what alarming indication condition of a pharisaical heart, we need to constantly guard our selves against this merit theology we need to bathe ourselves in a message of grace and rejoice in it, see the father says he went and he pled with him and he wouldn't.

He refused. He wouldn't heed the pleadings. He said to him, son you. You've always been with me and all that I have is yours. It was right it was right that we should make merry, and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again and he was lost and he's found that's the heart of God the father went and he pled with this elder son who had the heart of a Pharisee and the good news tonight is that God delights to have mercy upon those who have a pharisaical heart.

Paul was one he was chief of want chief of the Pharisees of God's dealing with you tonight about your heart in your condition and it's been exposed as we considered the story, perhaps you come tonight in an unguarded fashion.

You were expecting a sermon like this, but your hearts been laid bare the spirit of God is dealt with you, you would have to say that's me, that's me. I'm I'm being described their I've been deceived. I thought I was close to God. I thought it was safe, but I'm in danger heed the pleading. The father's pleading with you to come home receive mercy acknowledge yourself a center with the pretense acknowledge yourself to be what God has determined you to be declared you to be in you been convicted. Perhaps tonight you are because that is the work of the Spirit of God. He's come to convict what the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment come, you sinners, poor and needy weekend wounded and sick and sore Jesus ready stands to save you full of pity, love, and power. He is able he is able he is willing doubt no more he is willing doubt no more calm you needy, and welcome God's free bounty glorify true belief and true repentance. Every grace that brings you and I without money, without money, come to Jesus Christ and by come to Jesus Christ and by let not conscience make you linger, nor of fitness fondly dream all of fitness. He requires is to feel your need of him. This he gave us this he gives to us the spirits glimmering beam is the spirits glimmering being calm you weary heavy laden, bruised and broken by the fall, if you tarry till your better. You will never come, not the righteous not the righteous sinners. Jesus came to call sinners. Jesus came to call low, the incarnate God ascended pleads the merit of his blood venture on him venture fully. Let no other trustee intrude.

None but Jesus none but Jesus can do helpless sinners.

Good can do helpless sinners. Good, shall we pray our father tonight. We thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ, who is indeed a friend of sinners.

How we thank you for his heart for lost rebellious sinners because all who have been converted to rejoice in the mercy of God, the grace of God and for any who are outside and deceived and lost in trusting in anything but Jesus remove the blinded the blinders from their eyes. Help them to see themselves as you truly see them in give them by the spirits enabling the ability to come to Christ. We pray, do it for their eternal good do it for your own glory say we ask in Jesus name, amen.

And then to conclude not to him who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and is made us kings and priests to his God and father to him be glory and dominion forever