The Trespass Offering
BBC MAR 2, 08 OFFERINGS THAT PLEASE THE LORD;THE TRESPASS OFFERING – LEV. 5:14-6:7
NKJ LEVITICUS 5:14 THEN THE LORD SPOKE TO MOSES, SAYING: 15 "IF A PERSON COMMITS A TRESPASS, AND SINS UNINTENTIONALLY IN REGARD TO THE HOLY THINGS OF THE LORD, THEN HE SHALL BRING TO THE LORD AS HIS TRESPASS OFFERING A RAM WITHOUT BLEMISH FROM THE FLOCKS, WITH YOUR VALUATION IN SHEKELS OF SILVER ACCORDING TO THE SHEKEL OF THE SANCTUARY, AS A TRESPASS OFFERING. 16 "AND HE SHALL MAKE RESTITUTION FOR THE HARM THAT HE HAS DONE IN REGARD TO THE HOLY THING, AND SHALL ADD ONE-FIFTH TO IT AND GIVE IT TO THE PRIEST. SO THE PRIEST SHALL MAKE ATONEMENT FOR HIM WITH THE RAM OF THE TRESPASS OFFERING, AND IT SHALL BE FORGIVEN HIM.
INTRO: AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER WE HAVE OR WE WILL BE VICTIMS OF A CRIME. WHETHER KNOWINGLY OR UNKNOWINGLY SOME WILL INCLUDE US IN THEIR EQUATION OF INJUSTICE AS THEY BREAK THE RULES. CRIME IS A BREACH OF THE RULES; THE CROSSING OF THE LINE; SOMETIME ON PURPOSE AN OTHER TIMES BY ACCIDENT.
CRIME COMES FROM THE WORD...OF LATIN ORIGIN...CRIMEN...(GENITIVE, CRIMINIS) FROM THE CERNO AND THE GREEK KRINO... WHICH MEANS “I JUDGE”. ORIGINALLY IT MEANT “CHARGE, CHARGES IN THE LAW, GUILT, AND ACCUSATION.
CRIME IS LINKED WITH COMMUNITY WHERE THERE IS SOCIAL ORDER, SOCIAL CONTROL VIA GOVERNMENT. GOVERNMENT GIVES US BEHAVIORAL CODES, LAWS, POLICIES, RULES AND REGULATION IN EVERY ARE OF SOCIETY. THE SYSTEM OF POLICIES AND PRACTICES, OF REMEDY AND SANCTIONS ARE COLLECTIVELY CALLED THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. AND WE ALL KNOW THAT IT IS NOT A PERFECT SYSTEM. FOR A DAY DOES NOT GO BY WHERE THE TICKER TAPE OF INFORMATION BOMBARDS OUR HOMES BY WAY OF RADIO, TV, and INTERNET; AS ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, ..FROM EARLY MORNING TO BREAKING NEWS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY TO LATE NIGHT...CRIME.
CRIME IS A CLOSE COUSIN OF CHAOS – CONSIDER THE MASSACRE AT VIRGINIA TECH..WHERE 32 PEOPLE WERE KILLED BEFORE THE SHOOTER...CHO SEUNG –HUI TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.
FROM VIR. TO LOUISIANA..YES, JENA LOUISIANA WHERE THE NATION WITNESSED THE DOUBLE TIERED JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A RESULT OF A FIGHT, THAT WAS A RESULT OF A NOOSE HUNG FROM A TREE AT A HIGH SCHOOL. IN WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MET WITH SUSPENSION WAS BYPASSED ..SO THAT MYCHAL BELL WAS INCARCERATED BECAUSE THE LAW DETERMINED THAT HIS TENNIS SHOES WERE USED AS A DANGEROUS WEAPON.
FROM THE US TO GREAT BRITAIN, THERE IS THE DISAPPEARANCE OF A LITTLE GIRL...NAME MADELEINE MCCANN..SHE IS STILL MISSING AND ALL EVIDENCE IS INCONCLUSIVE.
OVER TO SCOTLAND, THERE WAS THE TERRORIST ATTACK AT THE GLASGOW AIRPORT.
IN CHINA....AND INDIA AND AFRICA...THE DAILY ROUTINE OF HUNDREDS OF LABORERS FORCED TO WORK AS SLAVES, AS SEX SLAVES, AS ....
FROM THE SLAVES TO THE GANGS...FROM NEW DELHI TO NEWARK...OUTSIDE THE MT. VERNON HIGH SCHOOL....WHERE THREE GOOD KIDS...WHO WERE GOING TO COLLEGE... DELAWARE STATE...THEY WERE LINED UP AND SHOT EXECUTION STYLE (ONE SURVIVED)...AND RATTLED EVERY PARENT AND TEACHER INTO THE SCHOOL YEAR.
IF THAT WASN’T BAD ENOUGH...THE WRESTLING WORLD CRIED AS CHRIS BENOIT GAVE HIS WIFE AND CHILD A SEDITATIVE AND THE STRANGLED THEM TO DEATH AND THEN HUNG HIMSELF....IN WHAT SEEM TO BE THE RESULT OF STEROID ABUSE...IN WHAT THEY CALLED “ROID RAGE”.
AND YES, OJ WAS IN THE NEWS AGAIN, BUT THERE WAS ANTHONY MARSHALL, SON OF BROOK ASTOR...NY PHILANTHROPIST AND SOCIALITE OF THE WALDORF-ASTORIA FAME WHO WAS ACCUSED OF TAKING ADVANTAGE OF HIS 105 YR OLD MOTHER...STEALING AND CONSIRACING TO PLUNDER HER ESTATE.
WE DON’T’ HAVE TIME TO DISCUSS...ALL THE DEVIANT BEHAVIOR ....THAT RANGE FROM ROBBERY TO RAPE..BUT THEY CAN ALL BE CHARACTERIZED AS A TRESPASS.
TRESPASS – NORMALLY WE THINK OF TRESPASS AS GOING INTO SOMEBODY ELSE’S LAND OR PROPERTY WITHOUT PERMISSION. WE’VE SEEN THE SIGNS...NO TRESPASSING; AND ACCOMPANIED WITH THE SIGN MAYBE...THE SMALL PRINT...BEWARE OF DOGS, OR SURVEILLANCE CAMERA OR IN SOME AREAS....YOU’LL SEE THE WORDS OF “DEADLY FORCE IS AUTHORIZED” DEPENDING ON WHICH LINES YOU CROSS.
TRUTH ABOUT THE TRESPASS – ALL OF US IS GUILTY OF TRESPASSING AGAINST GOD.
EXPL: IN THE TEXT WE’VE BEEN STUDYING HOW TO HAVE ACCESS TO GOD; GOD HAS COME DOWN AND DELIVERED ISRAEL; HE HAS GIVE MOSES THE PLANS FOR THE TABERNACLE AND THE PRECEPTS IN HOW GOD WANTS TO BE WORSHIPPED. THUS LEVITICUS IS A THE HANDBOOK OF HOLINESS;
IT IS A BOOK OF SACRIFICE AND SANCTIFICATION
BOOK OF BLOOD AND BLESSINGS
BOOK OF CLEANSING AND CLEAN LIVING
IT IS A BOOK THAT REMINDS OF OUR GREAT SALVATION AS EACH PAGE POINTS TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
WE SEE CHRIST IN THE
BURNT OFFERING - CHRIST GAVE TOTAL COMMITMENT FOR US; HE GAVE HIS ALL, VOLUNTARILY SO WE SHOULD GIVE OUR BEST.
MEAL OFFERING – CHRIST WAS PERFECT IN CHARACTER...AND WE WILL BE SIFTED...EITHER BY SATAN OR THE SAVIOR
PEACE OFFERING – CHRIST PERFECT COMMUNION AS WE ARE BLESSED TO WORSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD AND EA. OTHER
SIN OFFERING – CHRIST PERFECT ATONEMENT – FOR WE ALL HAVE SINNED...PRIEST, CONGREGATION, RULERS AND COMMON FOLK..BUT CHRIST ...
NOW WE LOOK AT THE TRESPASS OFFERING...
INTER: WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE TRESPASS OFFERING OR THE GUILT OFFERING.
TS: AS WE LOOK AT THIS PASSAGE WE WILL COME TO UNDERSTAND ANOTHER OFFERING THAT PLEASED GOD.
PROP: WE ALL STAND GUILTY AGAINST GOD AND MAN. IN A BREACH OF FAITH.
WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS PASSAGE?
MP I. WE ARE GUILTY OF CRIMES AGAINST GOD AND HUMANITY. V. 14.
WHEN ONE THINKS OF CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY ...IT A SYSTEMATIC, ON-GOING, GENERAL SCHEME OF GENOCIDE THAT HAS BECOMES POLICY ....THAT VARY FROM WAR CRIMES...IN THAT CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY CAN TAKE PLACE IN TIMES OF WAR AND TIMES OF PEACE. THESE INCLUDE MURDER, GENOCIDE, SLAVERY, AND IMPRISONMENT WITHOUT TRIAL, TORTURE, RAPE, FORCED PREGNANCY, DISAPPEARANCE, AND APARTHEID. THE SYSTEMATIC PERSECUTION OF ONE RACIAL GROUP OVER OTHERS ..AS SEEN IN SOUTH AFRICA. THIS ALSO INCLUDES ETHNIC CLEANSING IN ASIA, AFRICA IN RWANDA, AND DARFUR, EUROPE BET. CROATS AND BOSNIANS AS WELL AS AMERICA...AS SEEN IN THE ABU GHRAIB PRISON IN IRAQ. AND... IT GOES EVEN FARTHER WE EXPLOIT THE RESOURCES OF GOD’S WORLD.
SINS OF OMISSION - NOW, WE WILL SAY THAT WE’VE NEVER DONE ANY OF THESE THINGS, BUT IT DOESN’T MEAN THAT WE ARE NOT GUILTY OF AN IGNORANT EPISODE OF TRESPASS. IF A SOUL HAS A BREACH OF FAITH THAT WAS NOT DELIBERATE IN THE HOLY THINGS OF GOD, THEN THE PERSON WAS TO BRING AN OFFERING OF A RAM. NOW THE HOLY THINGS OF GOD INCLUDE GOD’S PROPERTY; MAYBE ONE INADVERTENTLY ATE SOME OF THE FAT, OR SOME OF THE BLOOD OR UNKNOWINGLY WITHHELD SOME OF THE TITHE OR WENT THE EXTRA MILE ON THE SABBATH DAY.
SINS OF COMMISSION – THEN IN CH. 6...WE WITNESS SIN OF DELIBERATE WRONGDOING....LIE, STEAL, ROB, DEFRAUD. OR IF SOMEONE LOST SOMETHING, YOU FIND IT AND WHEN ASKED ABOUT IT...LIE AND SAY, “I CAN’T SAY I’VE SEEN IT”. ..”SO HELP ME GOD. THAT’S SIN. YOU MEANT IT, YOU PLANNED AND PLOTTED IT OUT...IT WAS PREMEDITATED...AND YOU DID THE CRIME.
IMP. SIN OF OMISSION... GOD IS THE OBJECT. OUR MISTAKES IN THE HOLY THINGS OF GOD ARE AGAINST GOD. WHEN WE FAIL TO SET A STANDARD OF THE TITHE...AS VOWED... THEN WE HEAR THE WORDS...WILL A MAN ROB GOD; AND THE REPLY ..WHERE IN HAVE WE ROBBED HIM..OH, IN TITHES AND OFFERING. BUT IN OUR DELIBERATE SINS, WE SIN AGAINST GOD AND MAN. OH MY.
IN THE STORY OF MRS. POTIPHAR’S PLANNING AND PLOTTING TO SEDUCE JOSEPH...JOSEPH SAYS..GENESIS 39:9 SO THAT NO ONE HAS MORE AUTHORITY IN THIS HOUSE THAN I HAVE; HE HAS KEPT NOTHING BACK FROM ME BUT YOU, BECAUSE YOU ARE HIS WIFE; HOW THEN MAY I DO THIS GREAT WRONG, SINNING AGAINST GOD?
IN THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON..WHEN HE CAME TO HIMSELF AND REHEARSED HIS SPEECH..HE SAID...”FATHER, I HAVE SINNER AGAINST HEAVEN, AND IN THY SIGHT, AND AM NOT WORTHY TO BE CALLED THY SON. LUKE 15:21.
APP: PRAYERFUL LIVING – LORD LED US NOT INTO TEMPTATION BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL. LORD, MAY MY GOOD INTENTION NOT RESULT IN A BAD RESULTS AND DISHONOR YOUR MAN. HELP ME TO LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART, MIND AND SOUL AND MY NEIGHBOR HAS MY SELF.
ILL: AT THE CROSS
ALAS, AND DID MY SAVIOR BLEED, AND DID MY SOV’REIGN DIE?
WOULD HE DEVOTE THAT SACRED HEAD FOR SUCH A WORM AS I?
2 WAS IT FOR CRIMES THAT I HAD DONE HE GROANED UPON THE TREE?
AMAZING PITY, GRACE UNKNOWN, AND LOVE BEYOND DEGREE!
AT THE CROSS, AT THE CROSS WHERE I FIRST SAW THE LIGHT,
AND THE BURDEN OF MY HEART ROLLED AWAY
IT WAS THERE BY FAITH I RECEIVED MY SIGHT, AND NOW I AM HAPPY ALL THE DAY!
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MP II. GUILT CAN MOVE US FROM CRIMES TO CONFESSION OF THE HEAD AND HEART. V. 16 AND HE SHALL MAKE AMENDS..
GUILT – IS A FACET OF THE TRESPASS WHERE WE ACKNOWLEDGE OUR OFFENSE. THE CONCEPT OF GUILT IS ALL THROUGH THE BIBLE...FROM A CORPORATE SENSE AS GOD GAVE THE LAW IN EX 20 WHERE INDIVIDUALS CAN BRING GUILT ON AN ENTIRE GROUP. THOU SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME...JEALOUS GOD AND WILL VISIT THE CHILDREN UNTO THE THIRD AND FORTH GENERATIONS...OR ON A COMMUNITY AS SEEN IN THE STORY OF ABRAHAM AND SARAH....WHEN THEY LIED AND ABIMELECH WAS GOING TO TAKE HER AS HIS WIFE. AND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WE SEE JESUS RAISE THE BAR, IF YOU THINK SIN, YOU DID SIN AND EVEN THOUGH YOU DID NOT ACT OUT THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART YOU ARE STILL GUILTY.
KJV SAYS YOU SHALL MAKE AMENDS, NKJV SAYS MAKE RESITUTION...THE WORD USED FOR RESTITUTION IS SHALEM; OR WHAT WE WOULD SAY..SHALOM, OR PEACE, OR WHOLENESS, OR SOUNDNESS.
THE IMPLICATION IS THAT BETWEEN CRIMES AND CONFESSION IS CONSCIENCE. IT IS THE FACULTY OF OUR MIND THAT RESETS ITSELF TO THE INBORN SENSE OF WHAT IS RIGHT AND WRONG, ETHICAL AND MORAL AND SPIRITUAL CHARACTER THAT HAS BEEN PERVERTED BHY THE FALL OF MAN AND WOMAN INTO SIN.
JOB WENT THROUGH AND MANY THOUGHT HE’D SINNED BUT HE HAD A BLAMELESS CONSCIENCE.
DAVID CUT SOME OF SAUL’S ROBE OFF AND IN 1 SAM 24, IT SAYS HIS CONSCIENCE BEGAN BOTHERING HIM.
DAVID AT THE END HIS REIGN TOOK A CENSUS AND NUMBERED THE PEOPLE...AND DAVID’S CONSCIENCE BEGAN TO BOTHER HIM.
PSLAMIST WROTE... GIVE ME CLEAN HANDS AND PURE HEART OF PS. 51:10
PROVERBS 28:14 SAYS... BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE A TENDER CONSCIENCE,
PROVERBS 28:17 SAYS...A MURDEREER’S TORMENTED CONSCIENCE WILL DRIVE HIM INTO THE GRAVE. DON’T PROTECT HIM.
PILATE’S WIFE CONSCIENCE BOTHERED HER AND SHE WROTE TO HER HUSBAND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE JUST MAN.
PAUL TOLD TIMOTHY IN THE LAST DAYS... NOW THE SPIRIT SPEAKETH EXPRESSLY, THAT IN THE LATTER TIMES SOME SHALL DEPART FROM THE FAITH … SPEAKING LIES IN HYPOCRISY, HAVING THEIR CONSCIENCE SEARED WITH A HOT IRON.
—I TIM. 4:1, 2
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APP: CULTIVATE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE.....
HAVE QUALMS.....
BE SENSITIVE TO FAIRNESS AND JUSTICE
DEVELOP A SENSE OF SCRUPLES...
EMBRACE THE MOTTO...HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY.
MAINTAIN YOUR ARMORS SO THERE ARE NOT KINKS...HAVE INTEGRITY
KNOW RIGHT AND WRONG AND ALLOW IT TO FLOW FROM YOUR HEAD TO YOUR HEART. IN OTHER WORDS... I KNOW XYZ IS WRONG IN MY HEAD, BUT I KEEP IT FROM MY HEART. ALLOW IT TO COME TOGETHER...
CLEAN HEAD, HEART AND HANDS MAKE ROOM FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
THAT EVEN IF WE MESS UP WE KNOW ....THAT FORGIVENESS MIGHT TAKE PLACE..FOR THE WORD AMENDS AND FORGIVE.....SALAH.. ARE FROM THE SAME FAMILY OF WHOLENESS (PS. 86:5). AS JESUS TOLD THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY..GO AND SIN NO MORE. AS PAUL SAID... I STRIVE ALWAYS ..TO KEEP MY CONSCIENCE CLEAR BEFORE GOD AND MAN. ACTS 24:16.
ILL: TARDY BOOKWORM.....A BOOKWORM—APPARENTLY A VERY SLOW READER—HAS RETURNED THIRTY-TWO BOOKS BORROWED FROM THE BROOKLYN PUBLIC LIBRARY IN 1935. THE BOOKS, WHICH HAD RUN UP FINES TOTALING $5,521 WERE LEFT ON THE LIBRARY STEPS IN A BOX: “BETTER LATE THAN NEVER.”
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ILL: HALF-HEARTED CLEARANCE
SOME CHRISTIANS ARE LIKE THE MAN WHO WROTE THE OFFICE OF INTERNAL REVENUE STATING: “I CAN’T SLEEP; MY CONSCIENCE IS BOTHERING ME. ENCLOSED FIND A CHECK FOR $50. IF I STILL CAN’T SLEEP, I’LL SEND YOU THE BALANCE!”
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II. GUILT CAN MOVE US FROM CRIMES TO CONFESSION OF THE HEAD AND HEART.
MP III. CONFESSION OF THE HEAD AND HEART MOVES US TO COMPENSATION FROM THE HEART TO THE HANDS. RESTORE WHAT HE TOOK AWAY..... SHALL ADD A FIFTH...BRING A TRESPASS OFFERING...IT SHALL BE FORGIVEN. . 6:4-7
REPENTANCE – THE WORD RESTORE IS THE WORD MEANING TO RETURN..AND WHEN WE TURN FROM THE WRONG TO THE RIGHT IT IS CALLED REPENTANCE. IT MEANS TO TURN FROM SIN TO GOD; IT’S A CHANGE OF HEART SEASONED WITH REGRET. IT’S A CONDITION OF THE HEART THE CAN MOVE US TO RESTORATION. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN REPENTANCE MEETS WITH RESTORATION? WE SEE PUT INTO EFFECT RESTITUTION. RESTITUTION IS THE IDEA OF REPLACING THAT WHICH WAS TAKEN OR DESTROYED OR LOST. IT IS WHAT WE’D CALL PUNITIVE DAMAGES. LEVITICUS SAYS THAT IF SOMEONE ROBS, CHEATS OR STEALS...THEY ARE TO RESTORE THE AMT. IN FULL PLUS ADD A FIFTH.
IMP. IS SEEN IN THE WORD RESTORE...SALEM..DERIVITATIVE OF SHALOM..PEACE. WE ATTEMPT TO MAKE WHOLE THE WRONG; RIGHT THE WRONG BY ADDING SOME IN GOOD FAITH.
19 JESUS ENTERED JERICHO AND MADE HIS WAY THROUGH THE TOWN. 2 THERE WAS A MAN THERE NAMED ZACCHAEUS. HE WAS THE CHIEF TAX COLLECTOR IN THE REGION, AND HE HAD BECOME VERY RICH. 3 HE TRIED TO GET A LOOK AT JESUS, BUT HE WAS TOO SHORT TO SEE OVER THE CROWD. 4 SO HE RAN AHEAD AND CLIMBED A SYCAMORE-FIG TREE BESIDE THE ROAD, FOR JESUS WAS GOING TO PASS THAT WAY.
5 WHEN JESUS CAME BY, HE LOOKED UP AT ZACCHAEUS AND CALLED HIM BY NAME. “ZACCHAEUS!” HE SAID. “QUICK, COME DOWN! I MUST BE A GUEST IN YOUR HOME TODAY.”
6 ZACCHAEUS QUICKLY CLIMBED DOWN AND TOOK JESUS TO HIS HOUSE IN GREAT EXCITEMENT AND JOY. 7 BUT THE PEOPLE WERE DISPLEASED. “HE HAS GONE TO BE THE GUEST OF A NOTORIOUS SINNER,” THEY GRUMBLED.
8 MEANWHILE, ZACCHAEUS STOOD BEFORE THE LORD AND SAID, “I WILL GIVE HALF MY WEALTH TO THE POOR, LORD, AND IF I HAVE CHEATED PEOPLE ON THEIR TAXES, I WILL GIVE THEM BACK FOUR TIMES AS MUCH!”
9 JESUS RESPONDED, “SALVATION HAS COME TO THIS HOME TODAY, FOR THIS MAN HAS SHOWN HIMSELF TO BE A TRUE SON OF ABRAHAM. 10 FOR THE SON OF MAN* CAME TO SEEK AND SAVE THOSE WHO ARE LOST.”
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APP: RIGHTEOUSNESS ALWAYS SEEKS TO RESTORE THAT WHICH WAS LOST TO A BETTER POSITION...
ILL RESTITUTION – COPPER NAILS - I ONCE HEARD THE LATE DR. F.E. MARSH TELL THAT ON ONE OCCASION HE WAS PREACHING ON THIS QUESTION AND URGING UPON HIS HEARERS THE IMPORTANCE OF CONFESSION OF SIN AND WHEREVER POSSIBLE OF RESTITUTION FOR WRONG DONE TO OTHERS.
AT THE CLOSE A YOUNG MAN, A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH, CAME UP TO HIM WITH A TROUBLED COUNTENANCE. “PASTOR,” HE EXPLAINED, “YOU HAVE PUT ME IN A SAD FIX. I HAVE WRONGED ANOTHER AND I AM ASHAMED TO CONFESS IT OR TO TRY TO PUT IT RIGHT. YOU SEE, I AM A BOAT BUILDER AND THE MAN I WORK FOR IS AN INFIDEL. I HAVE TALKED TO HIM OFTEN ABOUT HIS NEED OF CHRIST AND URGED HIM TO COME AND HEAR YOU PREACH, BUT HE SCOFFS AND RIDICULES IT ALL. NOW, I HAVE BEEN GUILTY OF SOMETHING THAT, IF I SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE IT TO HIM, WILL RUIN MY TESTIMONY FOREVER.”
HE THEN WENT ON TO SAY THAT SOMETIME AGO HE STARTED TO BUILD A BOAT FOR HIMSELF IN HIS OWN YARD. IN THIS WORK COPPER NAILS ARE USED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT RUST IN THE WATER. THESE NAILS ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE AND THE YOUNG MAN HAD BEEN CARRYING HOME QUANTITIES OF THEM TO USE ON THE JOB. HE KNEW IT WAS STEALING, BUT HE TRIED TO SALVE HIS CONSCIENCE BE TELLING HIMSELF THAT THE MASTER HAD SO MANY HE WOULD NEVER MISS THEM AND BESIDES HE WAS NOT BEING PAID ALL THAT HE THOUGHT HE DESERVED. BUT THIS SERMON HAD BROUGHT HIM TO FACE THE FACT THAT HE WAS JUST A COMMON THIEF, FOR WHOSE DISHONEST ACTIONS THERE WAS NO EXCUSE.
“BUT,” SAID HE, “I CANNOT GO TO MY BOSS AND TELL HIM WHAT I HAVE DONE OR OFFER TO PAY FOR THOSE I HAVE USED AND RETURN THE REST. IF I DO HE WILL THINK I AM JUST A HYPOCRITE. AND YET THOSE COPPER MAILS ARE DIGGING INTO MY CONSCIENCE AND I KNOW I SHALL NEVER HAVE PEACE UNTIL I PUT THIS MATTER RIGHT.”
FOR WEEKS THE STRUGGLE WENT ON. THEN ONE NIGHT HE CAME TO DR. MARSH AND EXCLAIMED, “PASTOR, I’VE SETTLED FOR THE COPPER NAILS AND MY CONSCIENCE IS RELIEVED AT LAST.”
“WHAT HAPPENED WHEN YOU CONFESSED TO YOUR EMPLOYER WHAT YOU HAD DONE?” ASKED THE PASTOR.
“OH,” HE ANSWERED, “HE LOOKED QUEERLY AT ME, THEN EXCLAIMED, ‘GEORGE, I ALWAYS DID THINK YOU WERE JUST A HYPOCRITE, BUT NOW I BEGIN TO FEEL THERE’S SOMETHING IN THIS CHRISTIANITY AFTER ALL. ANY RELIGION THAT WOULD MAKE A DISHONEST WORKMAN COME BACK AND CONFESS THAT HE HAD BEEN STEALING COPPER NAILS AND OFFER TO SETTLE FOR THEM, MUST BE WORTH HAVING.’”
DR. MARSH ASKED IF HE MIGHT USE THE STORY, AND WAS GRANTED PERMISSION.
SOMETIME AFTERWARDS, HE TOLD IT IN ANOTHER CITY. THE NEXT DAY A LADY CAME UP AND SAID, “DOCTOR, I HAVE HAD ‘COPPER NAILS’ ON MY CONSCIENCE TOO.” “WHY, SURELY, YOU ARE NOT A BOAT BUILDER!” “NO, BUT I AM A BOOK-LOVER AND I HAVE STOLEN A NUMBER OF BOOKS FROM A FRIEND OF MINE WHO GETS FAR MORE THAT I COULD EVER AFFORD. I DECIDED LAST NIGHT I MUST GET RID OF THE ‘COPPER NAILS,’ SO I TOOK THEM ALL BACK TO HER TODAY AND CONFESSED MY SIN. I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW RELIEVED I AM. SHE FORGAVE ME, AND GOD HAS FORGIVEN ME. I AM SO THANKFUL THE ‘COPPER MAILS’ ARE NOT DIGGING INTO MY CONSCIENCE ANY MORE.”
I HAVE TOLD THIS STORY MANY TIMES AND ALMOST INVARIABLY PEOPLE HAVE COME TO ME AFTERWARDS TELLING OF “COPPER NAILS” IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER THAT THEY HAD TO GET RID OF. ON ONE OCCASION, I TOLD IT AT A HIGH SCHOOL CHAPEL SERVICE. THE NEXT DAY THE PRINCIPAL SAW ME AND SAID, “AS A RESULT OF THAT ‘COPPER NAILS’ STORY, EVER SO MANY STOLEN FOUNTAIN PENS AND OTHER THINGS HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO THEIR RIGHTFUL OWNERS.”
REFORMATION AND RESTITUTION DO NOT SAVE. BUT WHERE ONE IS TRULY REPENTANT AND HAS COME TO GOD IN SINCERE CONFESSION, HE WILL WANT TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITY TO PUT THINGS RIGHT WITH OTHERS.
ILLUSTRATIONS OF BIBLE TRUTH BY H.A. IRONSIDE, 1945, MOODY PRESS, PP. 104-106
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CLOSE: LINK TRESPASSING WITH JESUS GOING INTO ENEMY TERRITORY TO PAY THE RANSON, AND RESCUE US AND THEN REWARD US WITH THE SPOILS OF WAR. IS 53...
TRESPASS OFFERING POINTS TO THE
CHRIST PERFECT PAYMENT FOR THE SIN OF THE WORLD
AND THE ABUNDANCE OUTPOURING OF HIS SPIRIT.
WE SEE IN ISAIAH 53..
1 WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR MESSAGE?
TO WHOM HAS THE LORD REVEALED HIS POWERFUL ARM?
2 MY SERVANT GREW UP IN THE LORD’S PRESENCE LIKE A TENDER GREEN SHOOT,
LIKE A ROOT IN DRY GROUND.
THERE WAS NOTHING BEAUTIFUL OR MAJESTIC ABOUT HIS APPEARANCE,
NOTHING TO ATTRACT US TO HIM.
3 HE WAS DESPISED AND REJECTED—
A MAN OF SORROWS, ACQUAINTED WITH DEEPEST GRIEF.
WE TURNED OUR BACKS ON HIM AND LOOKED THE OTHER WAY.
HE WAS DESPISED, AND WE DID NOT CARE.
4 YET IT WAS OUR WEAKNESSES HE CARRIED;
IT WAS OUR SORROWS* THAT WEIGHED HIM DOWN.
AND WE THOUGHT HIS TROUBLES WERE A PUNISHMENT FROM GOD,
A PUNISHMENT FOR HIS OWN SINS!
5 BUT HE WAS PIERCED FOR OUR REBELLION,
CRUSHED FOR OUR SINS.
HE WAS BEATEN SO WE COULD BE WHOLE.
HE WAS WHIPPED SO WE COULD BE HEALED.
6 ALL OF US, LIKE SHEEP, HAVE STRAYED AWAY.
WE HAVE LEFT GOD’S PATHS TO FOLLOW OUR OWN.
YET THE LORD LAID ON HIM
THE SINS OF US ALL.
7 HE WAS OPPRESSED AND TREATED HARSHLY,
YET HE NEVER SAID A WORD.
HE WAS LED LIKE A LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER.
AND AS A SHEEP IS SILENT BEFORE THE SHEARERS,
HE DID NOT OPEN HIS MOUTH.
8 UNJUSTLY CONDEMNED,
HE WAS LED AWAY.*
NO ONE CARED THAT HE DIED WITHOUT DESCENDANTS,
THAT HIS LIFE WAS CUT SHORT IN MIDSTREAM.*
BUT HE WAS STRUCK DOWN
FOR THE REBELLION OF MY PEOPLE.
9 HE HAD DONE NO WRONG
AND HAD NEVER DECEIVED ANYONE.
BUT HE WAS BURIED LIKE A CRIMINAL;
HE WAS PUT IN A RICH MAN’S GRAVE.
10 BUT IT WAS THE LORD’S GOOD PLAN TO CRUSH HIM
AND CAUSE HIM GRIEF.
YET WHEN HIS LIFE IS MADE AN OFFERING FOR SIN,
HE WILL HAVE MANY DESCENDANTS.
HE WILL ENJOY A LONG LIFE,
AND THE LORD’S GOOD PLAN WILL PROSPER IN HIS HANDS.
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JESUS PAID IT ALL
I HEAR THE SAVIOR SAY,
‘THY STRENGTH INDEED IS SMALL,
CHILD OF WEAKNESS WATCH AND PRAY,
FIND IN ME THINE ALL IN ALL.’
2 LORD, NOW INDEED I FIND
THY POW’R AND THINE ALONE,
CAN CHANGE THE LEPER’S SPOTS
AND MELT THE HEART OF STONE.
3 FOR NOTHING GOOD HAVE I
WHEREBY THY GRACE TO CLAIM;
I’LL WASH MY GARMENTS WHITE
IN THE BLOOD OF CALV’RY’S LAMB.
4 AND WHEN, BEFORE THE THRONE,
I STAND IN HIM COMPLETE,
‘JESUS DIED MY SOUL TO SAVE,’
MY LIPS SHALL STILL REPEAT.
CHORUS JESUS PAID IT ALL,
ALL TO HIM I OWE;
SIN HAD LEFT A CRIMSON STAIN,
HE WASHED IT WHITE AS SNOW.
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illl
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[1] Logos Hymnal. 1st edition. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995
[2]Tan, Paul Lee: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers. Garland TX : Bible Communications, 1996, c1979
[3]Tan, Paul Lee: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers. Garland TX : Bible Communications
, 1996, c1979
[4]Tan, Paul Lee: Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations : A Treasury of Illustrations, Anecdotes, Facts and Quotations for Pastors, Teachers and Christian Workers. Garland TX : Bible Communications, 1996, c1979
[5]Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2004, S. Lk 19:1-10
[6]Galaxie Software: 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press, 2002; 2002
[7]Tyndale House Publishers: Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 2nd ed. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, 2004, S. Is 53:1-10
[8] Logos Hymnal. 1st edition. Oak Harbor, WA : Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1995