Don’t Block The Blessing

Secular -

A $50 bill and a $1 bill met on the conveyor belt at the Federal Reserve, both about to be retired and shredded. As they moved down the line, they started chatting about their lives in circulation.

The $50 bill puffed out his chest and bragged, "I have had the most amazing life! I’ve been to the finest steakhouses in New York, I went on a Caribbean cruise, I was used to buy tickets to the Super Bowl, and I spent a wild weekend in Las Vegas!"

"Wow," said the $1 bill. "That sounds incredibly exciting."

"It really was!" the $50 replied. "But enough about me. What about you? Where have you been all these years?"

The $1 bill smiled warmly. "Oh, I’ve had a very purposeful life. I’ve been to the Methodist church, the Baptist church, the Lutheran church, the Catholic church, the Presbyterian church..."

The $50 bill interrupted, looking confused.

"Wait a minute... what’s a church?"

Historical/Cultural Context -

This Gospel is written by Matthew, also known as Levi who was a former tax collector. It was most likely written between AD 50-60. Matthew left everything behind to follow Jesus. Matthew wrote primarily to Jewish believers—people who knew the Old Testament well. Matthew had one goal: to prove that Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the King of Kings, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. Connecting the Old Testament prophecies to the life of Christ, proving that every word God spoke was coming true in Jesus. The key themes of the Gospel include Jesus as King, The Kingdom of Heaven, Fulfillment of Prophecy and discipleship.

Biblical Text -

Matthew 13:54–14:12 NKJV

When He had come to His own country, He taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?” So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. Because John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.” And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

-[Prayer]-

Life Principle - Worldly Thinking & The Things Of This World Will Cause You Trouble.

Life Point- Don’t Let Worldly Thinking Stop The Work Of God In Your Life.

Exegetical -

Matthew 13:54–58 BSB

Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t His mother’s name Mary, and aren’t His brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Aren’t all His sisters with us as well? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at Him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own household is a prophet without honor.” And He did not do many miracles there, because of their unbelief.

Homiletical -

Jesus goes home and He teaches them in their synagogue, their church but He wasn’t received well. It says they took offense to Him.

Let me tell you something, your family is one of the hardest places to witness. Because of their familiarity with you. They take offense real quick because they have seen you grow up and now that you are a Christian they have seen you sin. It used to amaze me that I could say something to my kids until I was blue in the face and yet someone else can say the same thing and they accept it without question.

It is because they think they know you. know who you are. They are familiar with you. But you are what the Bible says you are. That means you are a blood bought child of the king.

Romans 8:1–2 BSB

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death.

That old stuff is over with and yes you are going to make mistakes. But you get up, you apologize to God and the person who you offended and you move on. Don’t dwell in the valley of dissappointment in yourself. If God can forgive you your sins, why can’t you forgive yourself?

1 John 1:9 BSB

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Notice something else. It says that He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

Does it say that he couldn’t or that He didn’t?

You see one is an act of the will, while the other is a question of ability.

Jesus had the ability to do the miracles but because of their unbelief He didn’t do them.

It simply means you have to trust the Word of God to do the work of God in your life.

Isaiah 55:11 BSB

so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.

The Word of God and the promises of God are what is important. You believe that and let God do His work.

Now the problem comes in when we think the Word says something that it did not say.

Ephesians 4:14 BSB

Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.

There is many a teacher out there right now teaching things that aren’t the truth. They teach a Gospel which is no Gospel at all and it will serve no purpose but to bring you heartache and cause you to doubt what God said in His Word.

So what do we do about that? Thanks for asking. We ask God for wisdom and discernment which He gives liberally to all who ask.

James 1:5–8 BSB

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

But we can’t be double-minded when we ask for wisdom about our situations, circumstances, and what teaching we hold on to. No, we must know deep down in our bones that if we ask for wisdom, He will give wisdom.

Being double minded and having unbelief in what God said will stop the acts of power from happening in your life. That’s what the word miracles hear in the Greek means is acts of power by the way.

Now going back to our text, I want you to think about something. When was the last time you didn’t receive a teaching from a pastor, teacher or even an evangelist because you were too familiar with the person giving you that Word?

I know of people who will still go to church but completely reject what the preacher is saying because they didn’t particularly like something he did or a decision that maybe he made about something in the church.

Folks that is familiarity. It’s time to get off the high horse and get on your knees and repent before God.

Illustration -

You know this reminds me of a story that happened to me once. I wore some pants that were hemmed a little too high to a church I was filling in at. Because they weren’t hemmed to match the shows I was wearing. Did you know that when that church was looking for a pastor and they called me to come preach, not a single individual there could tell me what I preached? A deacon there later told me that on that Wednesday the topic of conversation was about how high my hem was on my pants. That was their main concern. Not was I scripturally accurate. Did I preach the Word, nope my pants.

So he called me and asked me about my pants. To which I informed him about my pants. He went back and told them all about my pants and one man was horrified and asked did he really ask me, to which he said yes. You all were so concerned, I asked the man. He told me every person in that room hung their head in shame.

Life Point - Don’t Get Sucked In To The Things Of This World.

Exegetical -

Matthew 14:1–12 BSB

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet. On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted and sent to have John beheaded in the prison. John’s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother. Then John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.

Homiletical -

This is a recount of the death of John the Baptist with which we have discussed at length. If you would like, you can go back in our podcast archives and pull up previous messages and get that if you missed it. Also available on youtube.

That being said there are some things we are going to touch on here.

Herod is now touching on Jesus. Now being the Roman Citizen and pagan worshipper that he was, he really thought John had come back from the grave.

But he hadn’t he was hearing about Jesus.

Now notice what got Herod into trouble. It was his longing for worldly pleasures. You see everyone who was present at this dance was a who’s who of the ancient world in that region. Because it was his birthday they were all there.

In front of all of them he gave this girl an oath to have whatever she wanted. Now oaths were a big deal and should be more of a deal than they are today. They were a legally and morally a contract. Beyond what we have today as contracts. He was so honor bound to do what he made an oath to do that had he not done so he would have lost not only respect with those present but also any business deals that could come from those present.

So Herod being Herod looking to make sure the money keeps flowing and business keeps going, did what was immediately expedient. He had John beheaded.

Jesus teaches us to avoid oaths

Matthew 5:33–37 BSB

Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.

As Christians our word should be our bond. We should be able to speak simply. Where oaths are not needed. If someone says they will do a thing, they will do it. No need for oaths, and therefore no need to be caught up in them either. Ever been caught up in a contract you wish you hadn’t? Like a credit card with way too high an interest rate or a mortgage. Our something that had a gotcha in it?

With Christians we are not to behave like the world.

However, the world doesn’t behave like that today. Their are those that will give their word or sign something they shouldn’t and try to get ahead in business and then say the wrong thing and end up wrecking their careers or even their personal lives. You hear about it all the time on the news, not that there is much on the news to watch anymore.

Jon Courson puts things in the world like this:

“Watch out for an environment wherein alcohol is flowing, and seductive music is playing. I don’t care what society says. I don’t care what the demands from your boss might be. Watch out. Herodias is dancing. You’ll get sucked in, and you’ll regret it later.”

Life Principle– Worldly Thinking & The Things Of This World Will Cause You Trouble.

Call to Action – altar call….