ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT: ELEVENTH COMMANDMENT: Thou Thou Shalt Not Be SmugShalt Not Be Smug

Luke 5:27-32Luke 5:27-32

Jesus Calls Levi (Matthew)Jesus Calls Levi (Matthew)27 Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him. 28 So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. 29 Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them. 30 But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?”

Luke 5:27-32 (NLT)

Jesus Calls Levi (continued)Jesus Calls Levi (continued)

31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

Luke 5:27-31 (NLT)

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Am I glad I’m a part of Christ’s church?Am I glad I’m a part of Christ’s church?

Does it bring joy to me that I’ve escaped Does it bring joy to me that I’ve escaped the Old Life?the Old Life?

Can I look at others as they struggle with Can I look at others as they struggle with addictions, disorders, moral and sexual addictions, disorders, moral and sexual issues and say ‘Thank God’ I’m past that?issues and say ‘Thank God’ I’m past that?

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Those Tax Collectors. Ugh! The Dregs of Society --Luke5:27

Errand boys of heavy-handed Errand boys of heavy-handed RomeRome

TraitorsTraitors

Not welcome in the synagogueNot welcome in the synagogue

In the category with Gentiles, In the category with Gentiles, Prostitutes and suchProstitutes and such

Luke 5: 27

Later, as Jesus left the town, he saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at his tax collector’s booth. “Follow me and be my disciple,” Jesus said to him.

Jesus Invites Levi, A Dirty, Rotten Scoundrel To Join His Crew --Luke 5:28,29

Levi, in turn, throws a big party in Levi, in turn, throws a big party in Jesus’ honor, inviting a horde of Jesus’ honor, inviting a horde of fellow tax collectors.fellow tax collectors.

Jesus eats and drinks with them.Jesus eats and drinks with them.

Heads are shaking among the Heads are shaking among the religious upper crust…and religious upper crust…and accusations fly.accusations fly.

Luke 5:28-29

So Levi got up, left everything, and followed him. Later, Levi held a banquet in his home with Jesus as the guest of honor. Many of Levi’s fellow tax collectors and other guests also ate with them.

The Good Physician Makes House Calls --Luke 5:30-32

Implication of Jesus’ words: You Implication of Jesus’ words: You ‘we have it all together’ guys don’t ‘we have it all together’ guys don’t need me, the doctor, since your need me, the doctor, since your spiritual health is slick as a whistle’.spiritual health is slick as a whistle’. Only sick people…like Matthew Only sick people…like Matthew and his friends…need a visit from and his friends…need a visit from the heavenly doc.the heavenly doc. This is why I came…to bring This is why I came…to bring healing and restorationhealing and restoration

Luke 5:30-32

But the Pharisees and their teachers of

religious law complained bitterly to

Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and

drink with such scum?”

 31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy

people don’t need a doctor—sick people

do. 32 I have come to call not those who

think they are righteous, but those who

know they are sinners and need to

repent.”

David is a great example. A moral disaster. David is a great example. A moral disaster. Selfish. Yet receptive of God’s conviction. Selfish. Yet receptive of God’s conviction.

“ “I have sinned against the Lord” I have sinned against the Lord” ----II Samuel 12:13II Samuel 12:13

After committing adultery with Bathsheba and After committing adultery with Bathsheba and being confronted by his sin. David wrote….being confronted by his sin. David wrote….

God Is Ready And Willing To Work With Us When We Are Open To Change And Eager To Be Set Straight

God Is Ready And Willing To Work With Us When We Are Open To Change And Eager To Be Set Straight

  Create in me a clean heart, O God.Create in me a clean heart, O God.      Renew a loyal spirit within me.      Renew a loyal spirit within me.Do not banish me from your presence,Do not banish me from your presence,      and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.      and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation,Restore to me the joy of your salvation,      and make me willing to obey you.      and make me willing to obey you.

-- Psalm 51:10-12 (NLT)-- Psalm 51:10-12 (NLT)

Holding To Our Convictions But Ready To Change When Proven Wrong Is A Great

‘‘You have heard of my previous way of You have heard of my previous way of life…how intensely I persecuted the life…how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it…I church of God and tried to destroy it…I was extremely zealous…but when God was extremely zealous…but when God was pleased to reveal his Son in me…so was pleased to reveal his Son in me…so that I might preach him among the that I might preach him among the Gentiles…I went to Arabia and returned Gentiles…I went to Arabia and returned to Damascus.’ to Damascus.’

--Galatians 1--Galatians 1

Holding To Our Convictions But Ready To Change When Proven Wrong Is A Great

Saul (Paul) was responsive to God’s Saul (Paul) was responsive to God’s nudging and guidance.nudging and guidance.

So certain of being Mr Right…but So certain of being Mr Right…but discovering he was on the wrong course. discovering he was on the wrong course. Yet he changed when heard God call him.Yet he changed when heard God call him.

God Is Ready To Work, With Religious People, Who Are Ready To Change,And Nere-do-wells Who Can Be Moved, And Undergo Major Heart Surgery.

A GOOD PRAYER TO PRAY TOGETHER

A GOOD PRAYER TO PRAY TOGETHERA GOOD PRAYER TO PRAY TOGETHER““God, create a pure heart in me. God, create a pure heart in me.

      Give me a new spirit that is faithful to you.       Give me a new spirit that is faithful to you.   Don't send me away from you.   Don't send me away from you.

      Don't take your Holy Spirit away from me.       Don't take your Holy Spirit away from me.   Give me back the joy that comes from being saved by you.   Give me back the joy that comes from being saved by you.       Give me a spirit that obeys you. That will keep me going.”      Give me a spirit that obeys you. That will keep me going.”

--Psalm 51:10- 12 NIRV--Psalm 51:10- 12 NIRV

I believe that Jesus is the I believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living Christ, the Son of the living God.God.

I trust him as my Lord and I trust him as my Lord and Savior.Savior.

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Go in the Power of Go in the Power of your Faith-Friends.your Faith-Friends.