Sore Losers

As we strive to put God First in this new year....God will begin to work…God will speak to you…He will convict you.....How will you react to Christ in 2023?

Text: Matthew 21:15

“When the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased” (Matthew 21:15).

Title: Sore Losers

(Prayer)

The reaction to Jesus Christ coming on the scene was not altogether favorable in our text.

We think that when Christ comes into our life that people will be pleased, for our life will be a much better life. But that is not always the case.

Christ came to Jerusalem and set things in order.

Some were delighted, some were not.

Some were Sore losers!

Sore loser=a person who becomes very upset or angry when he or she loses a game, contest, etc.

ILL: Can you imagine…ping pong after church.....Bro. Eric loses to bro. Chris....Eric throws the paddle, smashes the ball with his boot, flips the table, and storms out calling bro. Chris all kinds of mean and degrading names…you would call him a sore loser.

Sore displeased=very displeased! Caused them pain!

When you get saved and your life is transformed for the good, everyone will not rejoice. Some will be very critical, for Christ is rejected by many.

God wants to do some wonderful things in Faith Baptist Church this year...

God wants to do some wonderful things in your life this year...

I. The Work of Christ

“Wonderful things.”

Whenever Christ comes on the scene, He can bless with “wonderful things.”

“He hath done all things well” (Mark 7:37) is the Bible’s report about the conduct of Jesus Christ during His earthly ministry.

Two wonderful things are reported here that Christ did that met with mixed reactions.

A. Cleansed the sanctuary.

“Cast out” (Matthew 21:12).

The Temple was a corrupt place. Christ cleaned it out and restored it to its holy function.

You would think the religious leaders especially would have been delighted.

But they were provoked, for they rejected Christ.

Jesus wants to cleanse your heart!

Ephesians 5:25-26 KJV - 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

Let God Cleanse your heart this year!

The Word of God will clean you up!

Colossians 3:16 KJV - 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

B. Cured the sick.

“The blind and lame … healed them” (Matthew 21:14).

After cleansing the Temple, Christ healed many people.

Those especially mentioned who were healed were blind people and lame people.

Before salvation you were sick with sin.

Sin is a disease, a sickness.

Before salvation you were blind…

2 Corinthians 4:4 KJV - 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Before salvation you were lame

You weren’t able to walk to heaven.

This “wonderful” thing should have caused much rejoicing, and it did except among His critics—They are a cruel bunch.

II. The Praise for Christ

“Children crying … Hosanna to the son of David.”

Christ was praised for these “wonderful” deeds.

A. The source of the praise.

“Children.”

If we had more children praising Christ we would have a lot less juvenile delinquency in our land.

Too many children are praising corrupt athletes and Hollywood stars today rather than the “Star of Jacob” (Numbers 24:17). God bless all the ministries that endeavor to bring children to Christ.

If you are saved you are a child of God.

Galatians 3:26 KJV - 26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

B. The receiver of the praise.

“Hosanna to the son of David.”

This praise recognized Who Jesus Christ was. He was the Messiah, the fulfillment of the promise to David.

True praise will recognize the proper identity of Christ.

You do not praise Christ if you deny His Deity and blood atonement and His Messianic claims as the critics do.

III. The Sore Losers

“Sore displeased.”

The reaction of the religious leaders to the “wonderful things” Christ did sounds like our country today.

ILL: You walk up to someone’s door and tell them about the gift of eternal life! I don’t need that!

ILL: Google rating for our church: “These people are going door to door leaving fliers on doors. Are they also going door to door checking locks? I dont appreciate you violating my space! I do not like pulling up and seeing your fliers on my door and wondering what else happened here. Mail them or hand them out but going to an unoccupied residence is disrespectful.”

ILL: Some Christians on Christmas Day: “ Jesus came to be born! He came to give his life! He came because he loves me! Wow!”

And then when Christmas falls on a Sunday: Oh blast! Christmas is on a Sunday this year! I don’t think I can make it....

They are being “sore displeased” over the “wonderful things” Christ that Christ has done.

Sometimes we can become sore displeased (weary in well doing)

I’ve been teaching a Sunday school class for 8 years....I don’t want to anymore.

I don’t want to go out soul winning

I don’t want to sing a special

I don’t want to read my Bible

Be not weary in well doing.

ILL: You women....Can you imagine being married to one of the chief priests or scribes?

Anytime you bring good news to him…he is sore displease!

Honey… I made you your favorite dinner....”Oh great!”

Honey…your football team won the game......”Be quiet!”

Honey…I bought your favorite coffee from Java Nicks.....he throws it out the window

Sweetheart…there is a beautiful rainbow outside!.....”What?!”

Baby…the giant medical bill that we would never be able to pay for has been taken care of by a good Samaritan!......”NO! How dare they!”

Just a sore loser.

Can’t make them happy.

Application

How will you react to Christ in 2023?

God wants to do some wonderful things in Faith Baptist Church this year...

God wants to do some wonderful things in your life this year...

God will speak to you if you allow Him...

God is speaking.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

God will speak to you this year if you allow Him..

1. God speaks through the Word of God

Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

2. God speaks through the Holy Spirit

John 14:26 - But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

3. God speaks through preaching

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

This year, in 2023, if you allow it, God will speak to you.

What will your reaction be?

God is going to try to sew some seeds in your heart.. through Bible reading, Holy Spirit, through preaching.

What will your reaction be?

Matthew 13:3-9

3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Matthew 13:18-23

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

1. Some won’t meditate on it (they ignore it.)

4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up:

19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.

This is hard ground.

Sometimes when I’m preaching I can see it on someone’s face....(all you Sunday school/jr. church teachers know)...

That person is there but they are ignoring what you are saying.

ILL: Phone calls from unknown numbers… I don’t answer...

I ignore those calls. Do you ignore God’s voice?

ILL: Yesterday Abbi and myself were travelling back from Fort Worth, we went to an Allsups, man in front of us drunk as a skunk…trying to buy some alcohol. The cashier asked the man for his id… the man didn’t respond....

He wasn’t listening!

Sometimes we treat God like we are drunk. God speaks clearly.

The result is no fruit.

Application

Be sure to listen and take time to understand the Word of God

2. Some won’t apply it to their lives

5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth:

20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

This is the tumbleweed Christian

As soon as any resistance blows in....they just blow away.

This is the shallow Christian

The result is no fruit.

The ground is soft, they begin to develop… but they do not allow the root to penetrate their heart. They hear the Word, they even understand the Word…but they do not apply it to their lives.

Application

The Word of God is for you!

3. Some choke the Word out through the cares and riches of the world

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Some receive the Word

8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold.

The result is fruit!

The amount varied!

Be a hundredfold Christian!

Final application

Prepare your hearts for God to Speak.

DON’T BE A SORE LOSER.

Matthew 7:24 KJV - 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

OTHER

The Way God speaks:

1. God’s Word is clear

1 Corinthians 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion

When it comes to salvation, and our every day walk with God, God’s Word is clear.

Basically, if God wants you to know it, then it’s in his Word.

ILL: I had someone tell me the other day that the Bible is confusing… and so I asked him… ”What part is confusing?” …He couldn’t tell me....It’s just an excuse to not read it.

2. God’s Word