Message | The 4 G's - Week 4: God is Gracious, So We Don't Have to Prove Ourselves

4G’s - Week 4
God Is Gracious

God Is Gracious—So We Don’t Have To Prove Ourselves

CHARACTER OF GOD TO BE GRACIOUS:
“…you are a God of forgiveness, gracious and merciful, slow to become angry, and rich in unfailing love…” Nehemiah 9:17b

11To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. 12The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.13“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. —Luke 15:11-13

14About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. 15He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. 16The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.17“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ —Luke 15:14-18

20“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’22“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began. —Luke 15:20-24

THE LIE THAT WE BELIEVE:
I mess up, then God will not answer my prayers.
I need to do something to make up for my mess up, because Jesus didn’t do enough.
I need to punish myself, because Jesus wasn’t punished enough.
I need to sweat it out, because Jesus didn’t sweat enough.

RESTLESS ANGER
28“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. —Luke 15:28

JOYLESS DUTY
“All these years I’ve slaved for you…”—Luke 15:29

ANXIOUS PERFORMANCE
“never once refused to do a single thing you told me to…” —Luke 15:29

PROUD COMPARISONS
“this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes” —Luke 15:30