Church Requel
Jesus is the ultimate promise keeper! That isn’t just a statement about our future, but also about our present. Today we talk about how Jesus’ promises to us become our protection in times of difficulty. Open your Bible to Luke 13:31-34 and prepare to be encouraged in your faith!
Luke 13:31-35 NIV
Shelter Under The Wings / Luke 13:31-35 NIV
#1 - Jesus is determined to ______________ to me.
Jesus is a promise - keeper! The promises Jesus makes are the promises that Jesus keeps. Always! We read in Hebrews 13:8 that Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever! So some insight into Jesus’ interaction with the Pharisees about Herod helps us know Him!
“Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’” Luke 13:32 NIV
What’s going on? Pharisees tell Jesus he had better get out of town because Herod is after him. “Herod wants to kill you!” Jesus essentially tells them that Herod is inconsequential to what Jesus is going to do. Jesus is going to keep on doing exactly what he is doing. Herod will have 0 impact on God’s plans.
Have you ever felt like you needed to tell Jesus what is going on? Jesus, have you seen the news? Jesus, do you know the political situation? Jesus, do you understand my job situation? And what does Jesus do or say? Let me tell you about God’s plans. God will just keep on doing what God is doing.
“For the Son of God, Jesus Christ … was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.”2 Corinthians 1:19-20a NIV
Every promise ever made to us in Scripture is ultimately fulfilled in Christ. Not yes or no, wishy washy, maybe so maybe not. But always YES! It’s as if Jesus is saying: “Don’t worry. I got this! This doesn’t change anything! Watch me do my work. Third day is coming!” Every promise. Every time!
“No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back one word of what I said.”Psalm 89:34 TLB
What promises? Eternal Life, Forgiveness, Holy Spirit, Money/Finances, Our needs, Healing, Wisdom/Guidance, Children/Family/Marriage, Peace, Overcoming Temptation, Protection, Fear, Resurrection, End of Suffering.
http://www.bibleinfo.com/en/topics/bible-promises
#2 - Jesus is determined to ______________ me.
Jesus looks toward the city of Jerusalem and thinks back to all the prophets God has sent to them. He thinks of how much He loves them. He looks forward in time only seven decades away when Rome will level the entire city, including the Temple, when one stone will not remain on top of another. His heart is broken.
“How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings.” Luke 13:34 NIV
Do you KNOW that your Savior and Lord longs to protect you? Do you know just how much Jesus loves you? Jesus gave His life for you! He longs to protect you! But like Jerusalem rejected the prophets and caused Jesus’ longing to protect, Jesus does not force Himself into our lives…
#3 - Jesus is determined to _________________ .
“… and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate.”Luke 13:34b-35 NIV
Could that also be a statement of our houses? Our lives? Desolate without Jesus? What a mess we have made of things! How bad do things have to get before we realize our need of a savior?
Maybe your entire house isn’t desolate, but you have that one room of your life where the door stays shut to the Savior’s redemption. When Jesus cleans house, he doesn’t do maintenance clean or fake deep clean. The REAL DEEP CLEAN is what Jesus will always want to do in your life! But you have to be willing. No desolate houses. No desolate rooms!
Peter explains to us why Jesus hasn’t actually returned yet. He promises his 2nd coming. He will keep his promise. But He is patient…
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 NIV
Never forget what we’ve been learning these past 4 weeks. The offer of Jesus to change our lives, for us to invite Him in, is a limited one!
How does this help me when I’m in the thick of troubled times? Simply this: Jesus never promises that we won’t go through troubled times. But He does promise that His promises remain sure even in our troubled times! So the question for the Christ-follower going through tough times is this: “What will I focus on?”
Jesus is determined! I have to be just as determined!
#4 - My determination in my troubled times:
Change my focus from my __________ to Jesus’ __________ .
We do not usually choose our problems. But we always can choose what we focus upon. Our circumstances describe this moment. Our focus in the midst of our circumstances define our eternity. Our choice! To be lost in the circumstances of the moment or to know our eternal salvation despite the circumstances of the moment.
Jesus never leaves us. He never fails us. We are promised that in many places in Scripture - over and over! That doesn’t mean we alway realize His Presence. How could there be a difference between the REALITY of His Presence and the FEELING of His Presence?
“I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’” Luke 13:35b NIV
Peter lives out decades of Christian life without the physical presence of Jesus after walking with Him for 3 years. Can you imagine what that must have been like - each day waking up and wondering if today is the day? That’s why He wrote what we looked at earlier, about Jesus’ patience in His return. What did Peter do, though, to overcome the physical absence of Jesus in his life? How could he always know that the Spirit of Christ was with him? Peter remembered Jesus’ promises!
“He has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world cause by evil desires.” 2 Peter 1:4 NIV
Peter wrote that down and the Spirit of God kept that in our Scripture because THIS IS HOW WE PARTICIPATE IN THE DIVINE NATURE too! Remembering Jesus’ great and precious promises is our key to living a victorious life in Christ, despite the corruption of the world, despite the circumstances, the problems, the disappointments. What will you focus on? Are you determined to focus on Jesus’ promises? Your choice!