Make Room for Jesus - Temple Chapel

Luke 2:7 NASB95

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Hospitality was a big part of the culture for most people in the Bible, sometimes to the point of extremism.

so to turn away a pregnant woman, meant that the place where they wanted to be, was truly and really full (inn, guestroom)

There was no room for Jesus, just not enough space . . . apparently

Someone else got there first.

and we put a lot of priority on who was first

when I taught, one of the first arguments among K’s was someone cutting in line . . . “I was here first”

a common saying in first come, first serve

and there was no room for Jesus because others got there first

Why am I making this point?

Most of us, in some area of our life, have said, “Sorry, there’s no room for you, Jesus”

and the main reason is that someone/something got there first

Jesus can’t change our personality, values, relationships, purpose or even our schedule

because we won’t let him in . . .

I can’t help it, that’s just the way I am (quick temper, bad attitude, rebellious) - because we won’t let Jesus in

I know what the Bible says, but that’s just what I believe - because we won’t let Jesus in

I know what the scripture says, but that’s just the way I feel -

because I was raised this way, got here first

what my friends think

popular opinion

because my culture (family, race, left wing politics, right wing politics, national)

has culture gotten there first, beautiful things about culture, but also because humans are sinful, every culture has sinful aspects

bad experiences got here first

sometimes people have hurt you, and the pain turns bitterness - and you won’t let Jesus in because the bitterness has been there for a long time

church hurt got here first

my dreams got here first

busy schedule got here first (school, school work, after school activities, chores at home) - these things were already on my plate, there were here first

so I can’t see having a quiet time

I cant see going to church, chapel will by my church

All these things are there, and they were there first, and have settled in real good . . . am I can’t see moving them out!!!

but I am glad that Jesus is my Lord and savior

depends . . . on the who?

there is an exception for “first come, first serve”

the only thing that calms us down, when someone tries to take over our first . . . is if we find out the “who”

Though I had this seat first, you can have it because you are elderly

if I am in a long line to get into a football game, and I see them escort a lady past everybody . . . everyone will be upset until they find out that she was the coach’s wife

though I might be on the road first, I will allow the motorcade to pass me by without an attitude, when I find out that it is the governor’s motorcade or the presidential motorcade

the who can make a difference . . . then it doesn’t matter who got there first

and if they had known that Mary carried within her, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords

The true first and end . . . Alpha and Omega

they would have removed someone for the King of Glory, “I’m sorry but you’ve got to go”

someone would have volunteered to move, “let them have my spot/place . . . after all, it’s the son of the Most High God!”

but they didn’t know the who, so they went with “someone else got here first”

For Christians

So we can excuse the people of Bethlehem, for they didn’t know who he was “you are not the only pregnant woman in town” . . . but we as Christians of 2022 say, that we know who He was

our Lord and Savior

the one who suffered, bled, and died, and rose again, and coming back

so for us who profess to be Christians, the question is, “are there some rooms . . . some areas in your life that Jesus has trouble getting into because, someone else or something else got there first?”

Are we telling Jesus, “I’m sorry, but there is no room . . . things are at capacity, someone else/something else got here first!”

and there simply isn’t any room for you, Jesus

And it is tough to move out what was already there first, but look at the who

this is Jesus the Christ we are talking about . . . the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, The true first . . . Alpha, and the end . . . Omega . . . He, is asking to come in

somethings should be outright getting kicked out, to make room for Jesus

somethings can stay, but need to be pushed to the corner to make room for Jesus

worldly thinking, you can’t stay any longer, get out

being self absorbed, you have overstayed your welcome, you gotta go

greediness, grab your coat

unforgiveness, don’t forget your hat on the way out

I don’t care if you were here first, Jesus the Christ is coming in!

some of you other things, like career . . .you can stay as long as Jesus says it’s ok, but the master bedroom is no longer yours

There is a connection between the who and what you do . . . What you do reveals a lot about the who

when the shepherds found out that the Savior was born, everything became secondary

they left their jobs, their sheep in the middle of their shift to come see Jesus

So is that the deal? Angels did not come to you?

That could be a problem because angels are not sent to everybody, and that could be one reason why we don’t make room for Jesus, for . . .

We are not looking for Him

Jesus often comes in an unassuming way.

in this story, Jesus came through a poor couple, expecting a baby . . . a couple that there are some rumors about

and when he was grown, Isaiah says, there was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him . . . in fact he was despised and rejected

God will do that

spoke in a still small voice

a little girl told a general, I know someone who can help you

prophet told General, just wash in the Jordan . . .I thought something big would happpen

He came to you before though that relative that everyone in the family knows is a real Christian, and they said, “Always put God first, baby” . . . not very impressive

Through a voice in your mind, that says, “you need to take God seriously” . . . very a unassuming

He is coming to you now through a preacher in Ft. Worth, on Bessie Street . . . not spectacular at all

and what do we do, just blow these things off

and God has given you the choice to blow it off

you can ignore what that Christian relative said

you can push the thoughts from god out of your mind

you can disregard the preacher from Bessie Street

but it does not eliminate the truth that Jesus showed up in your life, and you did not make room for him

the other reason we don’t make room for Jesus (Christians), is that we know him, but . . .

We don’t know know Him.

you can know something or someone without knowing it

Tell me about Washington D.C. . . . . “a city”, a child would say with lots of confidence . . . yeah, but

A child deep in thought would say, “a city named after George Washington” . . . you are not wrong, but it is clear that you don’t know, know

Who is Tom Brady? . . . Tom Brady played football (so did I, in 4th and 5th grade . . I need something more)

you know, but you don’t know know . . . you got it, but you don’t get it

and with Jesus, we know, but we don’t know know . . . we got it, but we don’t get it

That’s why somebody wrote the old song, “I don’t know who He is to you, but I know who He is to me” . . . they’re saying that they know, know

When we don’t make room for Jesus, it seems that must not know, know

to some Christians, he is like a historical figure only: a long time ago , he died for my sins, so that I can go to heaven . . . and that’s all they got

But Jesus is God in the flesh . . . Immanuel . . . God with us

Creator, Savior, King

and not just “a long time ago” . . . but right now, 2022 (Creator, Savior, King) . . . and tomorrow

he is so big picture that he controls world events

yet he is so detailed, that he numbers the hair on your head (hair number 458), and he counts your tears

he has all power, and has all knowledge, and is everywhere

you can ignore him, but you cannot avoid him

you can deny his existence, but he is more real than you will ever be

you can go against him, but are simply a candle in a hurricane

Now I finally understand why the old people used to say

He’s so high that you can’t go over him

He’s so low, that you can’t go under him

He’s so wide, that you can’t go around him

you must come in at the door

And Jesus is all of that, and yet says, I want to be your friend, I’ll be your ride or die

and he did die, died for your sins, and my sins

your bad attitude, and my bad attitude

your ugly thoughts, and my ugly thoughts

your evil works, and my evil works

he suffered, bled, and died, but he is so awesome that he overcame death itself, and came back to life, to never die again . . . we call that resurrection

and Jesus said

John 11:25 NASB95

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,

This is the Jesus that we need to make room for!

Creator, Savior, the King of Glory

the Bible says, open up and the King of glory shall come in!

Psalm 24:7–10 (KJV 1900)

Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle.

but again the choice is yours . . you can tell some things in your life, “you’ve got to get up out of here!”

or

you can tell everything in your life, “stay where you are” . . .and it’s not that I don’t have room, the truth is, “I will not make room for Jesus”

Christians, we must make more room for Jesus

too many rooms in our lives that we put “keep out” signs for Jesus

don’t let block him because he seems unassumming

remember who he is, and let him in!

Make room for Jesus!

Invitation - Well Jesus ended up at a place where they made room for him

the fact that he was laid in a manger, shows that something got displaced, someone said, you can use this if you want

you might not make room for Jesus, but someone will

they might not be as well off as you, as smart as you, as educated as you, as experienced as you . . . maybe all they have to offer is a manger

but Jesus will go where there is room

and the miracle of his birth happened where they made room for him

you want God to do a miracle, but you won’t even let him in the room

If you have not accepted Jesus at all, why?

is it because something else got in your life first?

another religion got here first

worldliness got here first

atheism got here first

church hurt got here first

and since they got here first, there is no room for Jesus?

those things are not worth keeping the Jesus out

Jesus made room for you, will you make room for him?

examine your TIME room, is there room for Jesus

school work

chores at home

after school activities

social media is a way of life

after school jobs

so I don’t have time for church, chapel is the kinda of my church

I barely make it to school on time, so I don’t have space for a quiet prayer time with Him

Youth room

hanging out

social media

video games

peer pressure

RELATIONSHIP room

hurt and unforgiveness, bitterness,

What is in your RESPONSE room

What is in your LIFESTYLE ROOM

popularity

peer pressure

Obedience room

what’s in your MONEY room

greed - the only money I give is what my parents pass on me to