A Word to Women a Week before Father’s Day
Luke 7:33-8:3; I Kings 21:1-21
I. Introductory Thoughts on the Passage
A. The Gaze and Actions of the Lord Never Changes
B. The State of Our Soul Determines How the Lord Appears to Us
i. The Complaining Public, Luke 7:33-35
ii. The Condemning Pharisee, Luke 7:36-50
iii. The Changed People, Luke 8:1-3
II. A Sinful Woman Forgiven: Who is this, who even forgives sin? (Luke 7:36-8:3) – Look at the Depth of Her Desire to be in Union with God
A. The First Stage: The Purgative Way (Awareness and Conversion of Her Condition)
i. Aware of Her Carelessness about Sin
ii. Aware of Her Incapacity to Save Herself
iii. Aware of God’s Presence in Jesus and His Grace Alone
B. The Second Stage: The Illuminative Way (Love and Devotion of Her Christ)
i. Christ Alone is the Suspension bridge over Troubled Waters
ii. Christ Alone is the Source of Good News of the Kingdom
iii. Christ Alone is the Stability within Our Earthly Condition
C. The Third Stage: The Unitive Stage (Deep, habitual Union with God)
i. Deep joy
ii. Profound Humility
iii. Sharing in the Suffering of Christ
iv. Spiritual Marriage
III. A Word to Women a Week before Father’s Day (Practical Application)
A. Do not underestimate your influence on others (husbands, children, friends, and other women)
B. Do not fear the steps necessary for genuine intimacy with God (father hurts, family concerns, fear of going for it will reduce your relationship with your spouse, etc)
C. Do have a vision of what God can do in your lives when you know and love as you are known and loved by the Triune God (Married to God as His bride)
The Way Christian Fellowship, Fr. Tony Baron, teaching pastor. www.findtheway.org.