Time of Visitation
Notes
Transcript
How many people desire to see the will of God enacted in this world? Would we desire the kingdom of God to be established physically now? If yes, are you living for you king now, living a way that He deems acceptable for His kingdom?
What we have been looking at in Luke is the time when the second member of the triune Godhead who was not created but has existed from eternity past. Stepped out of the infinite and became finite like one of us.
The people desired to see Him set up an earthly kingdom and overthrow the governing authorities, but the plan of God is so much larger than our finite brains can grasp.
Today we look at Jesus mourning “Jerusalem.” This isn’t actually the city, though the city does bear the consequences for the people. Jesus is speaking of the people of Israel and using Jerusalem to describe the people there.
Luke 19:41-44
What was the fault of the People?
What was the fault of the People?
v.44- The people do not recognize their time of visitation.
A time of visitation is a time of inspection, followed by a time of either praise and encouragement or a time of reprimand and punishment.
They failed the inspection
God is now living among them and what is their reaction?
John 8:59
59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
Eventually they would crucify Him.
God was among them, and they knew it not.
Why didn’t they know?
Why didn’t they know?
v.42
Hidden from their eyes.
God had made them blind to the truth, just as He had done in Isaiah.
Isaiah 6:9-10
9 And he said, “Go, and say to this people: “ ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
10 Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.”
God doesn’t allow them to see the truth. Because their hearts are evil.
They had detested the things of God earlier, and now he wasn’t going to let them see the truth.
Romans speaks of people not honoring Him as Israel was doing.
Rom 1:21-23
21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
The people didn’t glorify God, the looked to other things. Their hearts were evil.
Rom 1:28
28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
They are people who constantly reject that their is a creator. Reject the one who has led them out of captivity.
God does not allow them to see the truth.
It happened then, it will happen in the future.
2 Thess 2:9-12
9 The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders,
10 and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
11 Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,
12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
God still allows some to have blinded minds.
This comes today the same as it did then.
They do not have a love for the truth.
It is only by the grace of God that we are enabled to see the glorious truth of Jesus.
What Was the Result?
What Was the Result?
v.43-44
God doesn’t say, “well, I didn’t let you see the truth so I guess I’ll let you get away with that indiscretion.
No, we see that people have a rejection of God and He allows them to sink farther into their sin.
With the city of Jerusalem, there is great destruction.
Vespasian and later continued by his son Titus will come and attack Jerusalem in 66 A.D. with the fall in 70 A.D.
During that time he will lay seige to the city of Jerusalem.
v.43, barricade around you.
At the worst part of the siege people were eating from the public sewers, cattle and pigeon dung, leather shields, hay, clothing.
There was even an account of a mother roasting and eating her her child.
By the end of the seige Josephus records nearly 1.1 million Jews dying.
Before leaving, Titus ordered that the entire city be completely leveled.
v.44, not one stone on top of another.
Where Do We Fail
Where Do We Fail
The failure of Israel was not seeing God among them for they did not have for a love for the truth.
Do you have a love for the truth?
Do you have a love for the truth?
There are believers today who say that they have a love for Jesus, but they only have a love for who they believe Jesus is, not the truth.
Do you spend time in prayer?
Do you love to read your bible?
Do you love to sing praises to God?
Do you lead your family in the ways of God?
Do you Recognize the presence of God?
Do you Recognize the presence of God?
In every area of your life
God isn’t the God of Sunday mornings.
Do you realize that He wants you to honor Him the rest of the days of the week?
Do you realize that He doesn’t belong in your religious folder, but that He is the God of your family, your business, your free time.
Phil 4:8-9
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Practice these things.
God is among us, the things that are pure and excellent. If we desire peace with God, we must practice these things.
Do you see Him as Lord?
Do you see Him as Lord?
He is ever present, if we have a love for the truth, this means we must obey what He says, what He commands.
Not with eye service, but to bring Him glory in all parts of our lives.
If you don’t have a sold out love for Jesus. Pray that He will turn your heart to Him today.