December 28, 2003 - Lesson: Matthew 12.15-21

Sermon Title: Wicks and Sticks

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INTRODUCTION:

  1. This morning I would like to introduce you to the person standing next to me.

    1. Oh, you say, "You cannot see a person standing next to me."

    2. Take my word for it, :there is a person standing next to me."

      1. He is my counselor, my friend, my companion and my guide.

      2. He is my teacher and my source of strength.

      3. He is my savior.

    3. He is one whom I have complete trust.

    4. He is one who loves unconditionally.

    5. I love him with all of my heart, soul, mind and spirit!

  2. Let me introduce to you Jesus called the Christ.

    1. Ah, but you say that you already know him.

    2. Is it that you know of him, or do you really know him.

    3. There is a very good reason why I ask this question.

      1. There is a lot of confusion surrounding Jesus.

      2. People have misunderstood him.

      3. People have misused him.

      4. People have mistreated him.

      5. People have abused him.

      6. People have used him to abuse others.

    4. I would like this morning to help set the record straight.

    5. That is if you will let me.

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MAIN BODY:

  1. I could overwhelm you with statistics.

    1. More than 10,000 personal interviews conducted during 2003.

    2. George Barna identified four critical outcomes that emerged from those interactions regarding faith and lifestyle.

    3. "Millions of Americans Are Spiritually Satisfied-and Confused

      1. "Contradictions and confusion permeate the spiritual condition of the nation.

  1. Studies conducted during 2003 indicate,

        1. for instance, that while 84% of adults say their religious faith is very important in their own life,

        2. 66% also say that religion is losing influence in the nation.

    1. "While people are clearly spending less time involved in religious practices such as Bible reading, prayer, and participating in church activities, 70% claim that their own religious faith is consistently growing deeper.

    2. "Further... 84% of adults claim to be Christian

    3. "Three out of four say they are either absolutely or somewhat committed to Christianity

    4. "Three-fifths say they believe the Bible is totally accurate in all that it teaches, the moral foundations of the nation are crumbling.

    5. "This year brought about increases in the proportions of people who contend that cohabitation (60%), adultery (42%), sexual relations between homosexuals (30%), abortion (45%), pornography (38%), the use of profanity (36%) and gambling (61%) are "morally acceptable" behaviors...

    6. "Yet, although just 38% of the adult public have confessed their sins and accepted Christ as their savior, 99% claim they will not go to Hell after they die.

      1. "In fact, a majority of Americans do not believe that Satan exists and most adults are leery about the existence of Hell.

      2. "America's spiritual confusion undoubtedly relates to the fact that most people own a Bible but few know what's in it.

      3. Research showing that only 4% of adults, and just 9% of born again Christians, have a biblical world-view that sheds light on the distorted viewpoints that reign in the U.S.

  1. I could attempt to persuade with psychological rationalizations

    1. Eve Kavenaugh, in Prayer of the Flesh observes: (1)

I have been shocked by the number of Christian men and women who come to their deathbeds knowing nothing about the God of love and mercy. They have known instead the Judge of impossible standards, and they have been, naturally enough, afraid to meet that God.

      1. Are we afraid because we do not let Jesus in fully?

      2. Consider The Onion Principle

        1. Layer 1 is the outer layer with smooth protective skin. Outside this layer is the world at large including the people we meet, do business with, work with, and with whom we have social contact.

        2. Layer 2 is the first inner layer. This is for friends, pals and others we know and like.

        3. Layer 3 is the next inner layer. This is for close family members, and close friends we know and trust.

        4. Layer 4 is for romantic, trusting friendship (boyfriend/girlfriend)

        5. Layer 5 is for embarking on a loving long-term relationship

        6. Layer 6 is for the children if the onion is a parent

        7. Layer 7 is for a total partnership of love and commitment

        8. Layer 8 is the innermost layer. It is your most personal, private inner emotional space.

    1. Jesus wants to relate to you on the deepest level.

  1. Influence with rewards

    1. Proclaim justice: And he shall show judgment to the Gentiles--

      1. That is, He will publish the Gospel to the Gentiles.

      2. The word is mishpat, it is used among the Hebrews to signify laws, precepts, and a whole system or body of doctrine.

    2. In his name the Gentiles will hope, Matthew 12:21: And in his name shall the Gentiles trust--

      1. In his name the Gentiles shall hope.

      2. Jesus Christ is the sole hope and trust of mankind.

      3. To trust and hope in his name, JESUS, is to expect salvation and all things necessary from him alone, to despise, comparatively, all earthly promises, to esteem, love, and desire heavenly things only, and to bear with patience and tranquility all the losses and evils of this life, upon the prospect and hope of that felicity which he has purchased for us.

  2. Influence with love.

    1. Not the love of the songwriter

Falling In Love With Love (From The Boys From Syracuse Lyrics by Lorenz Hart, music by Richard Rodgers

I weave with brightly colored strings
 to keep my mind off other things;
 So, ladies, let your fingers dance
 and keep your hands out of romance.

Lovely witches
 let the stitches
 keep your fingers under control.

Cut the tread but leave
 the whole heart whole.
 Marry maids can sew and sleep;
 wives can only sew and weep!

Falling in love with love is falling for make believe.
 Falling in love with love is playing the fool;
 Caring too much in such a juvenile fancy.
 Learning to trust is just for children in school.

I fell in love with love one night when the moon was full
 I was unwise with eyes unable to see.
 I fell in love with love, With love everlasting,
 But love fell out with me.

    1. Real love: Matthew 12:19-20

      1. 19He will not wrangle or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets,

        1. The spirit of Christ is not a spirit of contention, murmuring, clamor, or litigiousness.

        2. He who loves these does not belong to him.

        3. Christ therefore fulfilled a prophecy by withdrawing from this place, on account of the rage of the Pharisees.

      2. 20He will not break a bruised reed.

        1. A reed is, in Scripture, the emblem of weakness

        2. A bruised reed must signify that state of weakness that borders on dissolution and death.

      3. He will not quench a smoldering wick.

        1. A smoldering wick is the wick of a lamp, and what is intended to point out its expiring state, when the oil has been all burnt away from it, and nothing is left but a mere snuff, emitting smoke.

      4. He will do all this because he will eventually bring justice to victory.

        1. This implies a great tenderness with which the Jesus should treat the weak and the ignorant, whose good desires must not be stifled, but encouraged.

        2. Jesus does not quench the faint desires after salvation, even in the worst and most undeserving of men.

    2. Such desires may lead to the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of peace.

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CONCLUSION

  1. Annie Johnson Flint has written:

[God] giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater;
 [God] sendeth more strength when the labors increase.
 To added affliction he addeth his mercy;
 To multiplied trials, he multiplies peace.
 His love has no limit, his grace has no measure;
 His power has no boundary known unto men.
 For out of his infinite riches in Jesus,
 God giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

  1. I like that, I hope that you do to.

    1. But more than that Jesus has been introduced.

      1. A bruised reed he will not break

      2. A smoldering wick he will not put out.

    2. Accept him into you life at the deepest level.

    3. You can trust him and let him help you by providing the strength that you need to live and love.

      1. Eve Kavenaugh, Prayer of the Flesh, quoted in Practicing Our Faith (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers, 1997), 172. Used by permission of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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