JESUS FRIEND OF SINNERS

Snippet

In a moment of naked honesty, ask yourself, “Do I whole heartedly trust that God likes me?”  (Not loves me, because theologically God can’t do other wise.)  ‘And do I trust that God likes me, not after I clean up my act and eliminate every trace of sin, selfishness, dishonesty and degraded love; not after I develop a disciplined prayer life and spend ten years in Calcutta with Mother Teresa’s missionaries; but in this moment, right now, right here, with all my faults and weaknesess?’  If you answer without hesitation, ‘Oh yes, God does like me; in fact He’s very fond of me,’ you’re living in the wisdom of accepted tenderness.”  Brennan Manning The Wisdom of Tenderness New York New York Harper Collins 2005 pg 49

Scripture

The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. Matthew 11:19

Song

           Jesus, Friend Of Sinners               BY CASTING CROWNS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG7CB3xsTS8

Jesus, friend of sinners, we have strayed so far away

We cut down people in your name but the sword was 

never ours to swing

Jesus, friend of sinners, the truth's become so hard 

to see

The world is on their way to You but they're tripping 

over me

Always looking around but never looking up I'm so 

double minded

A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart 

divided

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to the world at the end of our 

pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for 

what breaks Yours Yeah...

Jesus, friend of sinners, the one who's writing in 

the sand

Made the righteous turn away and the stones fall 

from their hands

Help us to remember we are all the least of these

Let the memory of Your mercy bring Your people to 

their knees

Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against 

when we judge the wounded

What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines 

and loved like You did

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to world at the end of our pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for what 

breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast

For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that 

You came

Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast

But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper 

at Your feet

'Cause You are good, You are good and Your love 

endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love 

endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love 

endures forever

You are good, You are good and Your love 

endures forever

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners

Open our eyes to world at the end of our 

pointing fingers

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Help us reach with open hearts and open doors

Oh Jesus, friend of sinners, break our hearts for 

what breaks Yours

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast

Yeah...

You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper 

at Your feet

Sentence Prayer

Praise to You Jesus

Friend of Sinners, you have been a friend closer                      than a brother.

Father thank you for the giving or your sinless son,

to be my sin and my righteousness

Holy Spirit give me a hunger and thirst for the lost,                    to continue

   

the story of Jesus friend of all sinners.  Amen

A.dore Jesus for being sinless and taking on my sin           (Romans 3:23-26)

C.onfess all your hypocrisy towards lost sinners

T.hank God for all the forgiveness that has been                 granted to you.

S.upplication  Pray earnestly for one sinner who has 

not yet, met their best friend Jesus