2.11.15 3.8.2020 WJCTT He Tackles Unbelief in those Holding on For dear Life Luke 7.18-35

1 Entice: Everyone, even the most faithful has doubts. We all have. Elijah did. David did, Abraham, Joshua. Even John the Baptist did. If each of them had doubts if difficult questions, the sting of rejection and misinformed expectations haunted them: Well, you and I are no different.

2 Engage: Even those who are true believers, ardent admirers, and devoted disrupters have times in their lives where we do no more than hold on for dear life. So, what do you do with those doubts? That is the ultimate question. It can take a long time, even a whole life to time to resolve and reconcile the message of the Kingdom with the messy reality our lives.

3 Expand: Jesus ministry created an ever-expanding audience. Each person who examined what was happening brought his/her own agenda to the experience.

· Many were

· Some

because they could not compromise Him.

· Others

· Still others

because the message of the Kingdom promised hope-promised righteousness.

4 Excite: From the very beginning there was tension. Only Jesus can resolve that tension. Doubt and disorientation are resolved in through faith. To walk that path requires stubbornness, and the desire to hang on to Jesus whatever happens, to obey regardless of the obstacles to doggedly persist despite any doubt.

4 Excite: From the very beginning there was tension. Only Jesus can resolve that tension. Doubt and disorientation are resolved in through faith. To walk that path requires stubbornness, and the desire to hang on to Jesus whatever happens, to obey regardless of the obstacles; to doggedly persist despite any doubt.

Explore:

Explain: specifically He….

Luke 7:18–23 ESV

18 The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, 19 calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 20 And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’ ” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. 22 And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. 23 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

1.1 Deep, difficult questions require hard explanations.

1.1. These Questions occur because we are disconnected and disappointed with the details of our life-forgetting the big picture.

1.2 These Questions are resolved when we trust Jesus, obey His voice, & embrace His mission

1.3 Sometimes we doubt our own faith, commitment or resolve and project that on God. Our doubts need not be prison bars or drive distance between Jesus and us. We simply need to be reminded of the big picture encompassed by His mission to seek and save.

Luke 7:24–30 ESV

24 When John’s messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings’ courts. 26 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is he of whom it is written, “ ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’ 28 I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

7:24-30

Jesus has a passionate Kingdom vision. John His predecessor had paved the way and was now imprisoned for his disruptive message. Jesus’ response is impassioned-even angry. Father and Son understand that Kingdom creates conflict when it is rejected…

2.1 The Kingdom is rejected because it is not about wealth and power.

2.1.1 John was not in competition with the Tetrarch (Antipas was symbolized by a reed, and he lived in luxurious splendor)

2.1.2 John came to confront such a display while many would have rather he collaborated. Hence the powerful rejected him. (Going so far as to imprison and execute him.)

2.2 Kingdom faithfulness is about grace and righteousness not position and influence.

2.2.1 Those who had no influence but longed for the righteousness of God embraced John’s ministry of preparation.

2.2.2 Those who thought that position and influence were the pinnacle of godliness rejected John’s ministry.

Luke 7:31–35 ESV

31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, “ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ 33 For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”

Luke 7:31-35

3.1 Jesus tells a little parable to illustrate how adult human beings mirror children in our expectations. He describes 2 ways to be “religious” 2 kinds of spiritual responses.

3.1.1 Let’s play funeral!

3.1.2 Let’s play festival!

3.1.3 Regardless of the game, someone pouts.

3.2 Like the questions which haunt us and the rejection which surrounds us God addresses our shallow expectations by providing an answer which redeems those expectations. (All of God’s wisdom is vindicated by the actions of all of God’s servants).

3.2.1 God used John

3.2.2 God used Jesus

3.2.3 The Kingdom breaks into the world.

Shut Down:

1 Jesus words

are words, which should humble all of us. No matter how long we have been a believer each us will be in a place like John in Jail. We will be like the Pharisees, seduced by power and influence; we will be like pouting children. In short, we all have doubts. At times each and every one of us is holding on for dear life. Jesus is the solution to the doubts we may have. Jesus is the rock to which we cling and upon which we can build a secure life of faith.

2 What do you seek? What are your questions? What do you expect? Jesus awaits you. He can handle your doubts if you are willing to let Him share them. He can handle your all your questions… will you be ready to ask, will you embrace His answer; when Jesus comes to town?

2.11.15 3.8.2020 WJCTT He Tackles Unbelief in those Holding on For dear Life Luke 7.18-35

Start:

provoked

pouted

plotted

partied

Hang on to Jesus because He anticipates your anxieties and dissipates your doubts.

1 Anticipates Hard Explanations.

2 Anticipates Heated Exchanges.

3 Anticipates Human Expectations.

“blessed is he who does not stumble, over me”