Second Sunday in Lent: Matthew 15:21⁠–⁠28

Our children could be free, even though they sing in their chains. Even a Child of Adam can sing.

On the night He was betrayed... Imagine - He's giving this communion to people who, every one, will deny Him. He didn't exclude them. He knew what was in man and He doesn't exclude us. This is communion; the body, the blood, the Word. Just because some people abuse sacraments and abuse them, it doesn't devalue the truth. God has chosen bread and wine - the common things, in which to give Himself to us. On the night he was betrayed he said, “Take and eat for this is my Body. Take a drink, for this is my blood.” Make sure we can't conceptualize these things, and reduce them.

1 John 2:15 (KJV) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

What's the world? What's this thing we're not to love?

1 John 2:16-17 (KJV) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. [17] And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

When we were children, we thought as children. We thought that if we heard the word “world” we understood what it meant. Hopefully, today, we will respond to this word, "We do not understand things as we should."

If you’d like, watch the 10 Minute Video by David Wells (link on GO main web page).

Worldliness is that system of values in any given culture that makes sin look normal and righteousness look strange or weird.

You will hear things like, “Why are they so legalistic?” The world is passing away, and as Christians, if we love the world the love of the Father is not in us.

It gives public affirmation, credence, and public approval to fallen human nature.

One of the biggest things the world is into is religion - the religion of morality. Morality is relative to each culture. What is moral here would be immoral to another culture and they might not even call it sin. You can probably think of some examples you've seen of what David Wells is talking about; how sin is made to look normal.

One example of sin that have become normal in our culture and in home, the home near you, would be victimization. “Who me? I don't hold with that." “Yes, there are circumstances that justify my being offended.” Offend-ness is one of the things. The world is angry. The News could be the world. One time I heard of a guy who watched the news for 4 hours a day and that was all he could talk about. Who cares if there is a depression? I'm not asking for it, but what if there was? We'd all be set free. When will you no longer be intimidated? The cost of oil is going up, and there are wars and rumors of wars, and there are starving people in India. What about the political situation? Have you been following that? There's no one to vote for. But if you want to vote for no one, vote, and it would be a good thing.

Have you thought of the religion of works? Religion is boasting in works. If you want to know what it is, just turn on your TV. “My life is my own. I'm autonomous and my feelings are what are important.” “People need to respect me and give credence to my views.” Narcissism is the center. Churches are making an appeal to your Narcissism. It has nothing to do with the Gospel, but it is good moral preaching and not even good law preaching. There are wages for breaking the law. "How can a loving God punish people?" This question is part of the world too.

How about suspended dissatisfaction? Look at you today; what are you dissatisfied about? Aren't you getting what you want? Whose fault is it? “It's my parents, my children's, the school's fault.” "Well, my daughter wasn't picked to sing a key part and it's the director’s fault ."

If you’d like, listen to the latest 2 CD's from Whitehorse Inn.

One thing they were saying about church is that it is over familiar with people. It can become an entertainment place. Wells says that there was a reason church buildings used to be different. If a church isn't different, it will become so acculturated it won't be distinguishable from the world.

Liturgy - we're in uncharted waters, but we have men who have gone before us. We're talking about a church building set aside for one purpose.

“My life is my own and church is a place where I'm built up in self-esteem and my god-project is supported.” We have unrest in our lives and suspended dissatisfaction. In the world it is profitable for people to be angry. Look at the youth culture of the world today. It is filled with anger and blame and self-pity. We've all grown up in Adam. Children have an expectation of their parents meeting all their needs. The whole system is one of hating parents so the State can be your mother and run your life; for the state loves you more than your parents. The state has goodies for you and they will help you out - send you more money. No, they won't take care of you. They'll give you a little dole. Not enough though. Just enough to keep you in suspended dissatisfaction.

Biblical thinking is opposed to worldly thinking. It is alien. It says, "I have sinned." What do you mean that you've sinned? "I've made some bad choices." What about hearing, "I have sinned in thinking evil of some person in this church.” Confess that it is sin, and that there is no justification for it, for thinking evil of another family. It is worldly stuff. There is pride in thinking you're better because you can see something in someone else.

I'm a new creation. My life is not my own. I’ve been bought with a price. Jesus is my center, not me. Thank God! Did you forget? That is sin. "But it seems so normal." What are all the appeals on TV? You need some more. You're such a loser; you need some Nike's or some really good stuff. I which I could get a sweatshirt with bit lettering on it saying "K-Mart." I can see that I'm offending somebody right now. Why do you spend your money on that which does not profit? "Why? Because I want the approval of men, and I want to be attractive."

Jesus is my center, not me. When Jesus comes to a man it is over. It may take a little while to realize that, but you are a new creation. You’re no longer to have the mind of this world. You were once darkness. Your mind was once darkness. You were so deceived, you thought was normal was the world's culture. Some are still deceived and they don't know the sins and burdens they bear today. It is easy for the witch to lull you to sleep. "I'm going to raise you up to be a prince, or a king. Just do my bidding for me." The Silver Chair – Wow! It’s no fun until you realize who the main character is, until you get to be in the story. Until then, you'll just think it's entertaining.

The Bible says to take every thought captive. C.S. Lewis - watch out for pity, it will make a dog in a manger, the tyrant of the universe.

This weird view we’re to have comes down to not trusting our own mind. The Bible says that a man who trusts his own mind is a fool. My perspective is tainted by my sin nature and lust to be right and to appear good in the eyes of man.

The only thing that will help is the Word of God coming into our life every day.

Do your children get sympathy when they come home with their story of how they weren't picked? They like it when someone does something wrong, so they can keep their offence. This is the heart of man. It is normal to be offended. People are offended all the time, as if God owes them good weather. Or people are offended with their boss. The world considers this normal, but we don't consider this normal. Parents could say, "Where's Jesus in this situation, this conversation you're bringing home? Let's call that person right now. We'll not have any separation in this family or between us and any other family." "Let's get everything clean right now, according to the Word of God." Our pride isn't even a consideration.

"Well, I just want to be alone now. I don't want to be aware of your problem." "Leave me alone. I need to be entertained." Entertainment can be funny. "Well, I need to consume something, or someone." These are worldly attitudes.

This is not my message today; just a prelude.

How many of you have seen your children attacked by that normalcy, and you're the one who is weird? This is what you get for loving them and supporting them. Don't worry about it. God is sovereign.

Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

We've all heard this. What does it mean? Haven’t we all come to the Lord? How many of you know that sin separates us, at least when it is un-confessed? The sin itself doesn't, but the un-confessed sin that causes your bones to roar, your soul to roar and not be at rest; to be anxious, to be like Martha. Martha is every man - troubled about many things And she's going to stay troubled about many things until she hears the Word. Jesus has no pity on her. He loves her. He goes as far as to tell her that she is cumbered about, a distraction to the Gospel. I have to take time away from other people to minister to your same old story about how your brother and sister are offending you because they won't do what you think they should. But I want to tell you about your sister Mary; Mary has chosen the better part and you haven't. You've chosen the stupid part - being troubled and full of care. What are cares? The seeds of cares choke, such as seeds of worry. How can I get my life more together? How can I get away from this?

“Martha,” He says, “Mary has chosen the better part. She sits and listens, and hears what Jesus has to say.” When you're in torment, unrest, you're really not hearing Jesus. You may be in deception and not even know it. You may think that you're doing all this stuff and it is not enough to please Him, and that lazy bum over there sits and does nothing, and acts like there's nothing left to do. Maybe she's hearing Jesus.

Now remember, in the civil realm there is plenty to do. But if Mary isn't helping you, it is nothing to get worked up about. You walk before God, I hope; before His face, in His countenance, in His presence, and it doesn't matter what you do. It's not the important thing. Mary sat and Martha served. What's your motive in serving? Martha’s motive is always to get Jesus in debt to her. I've done all this and you're not even helping me out here.

He says, "Come unto me." Who do you think is calling you to come unto Him? It's an invitation, but look who is invited.

Notice, there are some presuppositions in the statement. All who labor and are heavy laden. In Psalm 73; the wicked man is not in trouble. Why should he labor? His only labor is in the gym, working out. Why should he be troubled with children or a wife? Why should he be heavily laden? God put Israel in Egypt and it says that Pharaoh oppressed the children of Israel and put burdens, weights on them. "Well, that doesn't sound like a very gracious God." We're all in the world as Children of Adam, and we still have a flesh. Sometimes the ground yields its fruit hard, until we receive the One who broke the curse, and then we're back in paradise - resorted to the One who is paradise.

Every man wants to build a tower so he can climb up and make a name. Babylon is confusion - an attempt to climb up to heaven through our beautiful works. “Look what my hands have created,” Nebuchadnezzar thought. How swift everything ended for him and he became a beast and was eating grass. That has implications for every man. All flesh as grass. He lost his counselors, the things that could have brought him into truth and rest and peace. The Holy Spirit, our counselor, he lost, grieved and vexed. He was so proud that no one could hear him anymore. All he could do was babble.

“Come unto Me,” Jesus says. A woman had a vexed daughter. She heard a rumor about Jesus. We've all heard rumors. She comes to Him.

Matthew 15:22-23 (KJV) And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. [23] But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.

This is Jesus' way of saying "come." Have you felt sometimes in your life that the Lord hasn't answered you in your problem and your cares, and you feel sometimes like giving up? You're asking for yourself, but this woman is asking for her daughter.

This parable is about salvation - about a God who doesn't answer you, and that is His answer. She's making a claim on Jesus that only a child of God (Israel in this situation for Canaanites had no claim) could make. She finds out as He tests her that she becomes a true Hebrew - Abraham's child, who has faith. Her daughter is vexed and the disciples tell Jesus to give her what she wants, the quick fix. “Let's get her out of here, for she is such a disturbance.”

Matthew 15:24 (KJV) But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

He has not come to save the righteous. He has come to the lost, the least, the little.

Matthew 15:25-26 (KJV) Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. [26] But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

This is a strange way to invite people, isn't it? A famine invited the prodigal. Blessed are those who are poor in spirit - run out of what they were hoping in. It’s all vanity if you’re hoping in you. God does live in man and puts His gifts in non-Christians. When you receive from anyone, you're really receiving the gifts of God. To God be the glory.

Matthew 15:26 (KJV) But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogs.

Here is true humility; here is a confession of total depravity: I was raised in a culture that is anti-Christ.

Matthew 15:27 (KJV) And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' table.

Matthew 15:28 (KJV) Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Then Jesus pronounced healing to her daughter.

“Come unto me and I’ll give you rest,” Jesus said.

Hebrews 3:15-16 (KJV) While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. [16] For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.

They hardened their hearts because the way was hard; no water, no meat, etc. They thought and said, “Moses is trying to run our lives. Where is God? I remember what we had going for us back in Egypt, and now I think I want to go back. Maybe Pharaoh really was God and cared more about our heart felt needs than Jesus. At least there was fish. Above all, there were fleshpots in Egypt. What are we doing here in a desert if God loves us?”

Have you ever been in a desert? God's getting ready. How long does it take? It depends on God.

Hebrews 3:16-17 (KJV) For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. [17] But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness?

Some of them were Christians, believers for 40 years and He was grieved with them. Why?

Hebrews 3:18 (KJV) And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

The unbeliever cannot receive rest. Though the father had given the older brother everything, he couldn’t receive it because he didn't believe. Faith = Jesus; not my faith. I’ve got a vexed daughter and I have a little problem today even believing.

Hebrews 3:19 (KJV) So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

They couldn't enter his rest. Anybody can keep their unbelief today. An indication of unbelief is no rest, being agitated, surrounded by enemies, and threatened by cares, worry, doubt, and troubles. Cast your cares on the Lord and he shall sustain you. Your problem is not your children; it's you. If you want to tell me about your children, you’re doing something dangerous. Children, your problem is not your parents. You should thank God every day for your parents. Look at what they've put up with.

“Come unto me,” He says. Come unto Whom? Come unto a reduction, a domesticated Jesus, a nice-guy Jesus, a prettified Jesus, a construction of men's mind that they bow down to and pray to which is really them. But wait a minute! You might be coming to the Holy Spirit too, who is convicting you of your old excuses, continual anger under the surface, and continual blame under the surface. Come unto whom? One man came to Jesus in Luke 18, a rich man, and Jesus told him to give it all up and follow Him. He left sad. Give up the thing that is oppressing you. Give it to Jesus. Lay it out before God. Take it to court. Well, it depends on which god you lay it out before. Some people's gods always agree with them.

Perhaps I’ve been acting like I'm in suspended dissatisfaction. He satisfies the longing soul so that there is no unrest. A death takes place to all the things that were tormenting me. He takes me to an eternal time zone, greater than the one I've been living in. Yes, the things of earth do grow strangely dim - the things we lust after- in the light of His glorious grace. He absolutely crucifies us and marries us at the same time.

Come. Who does he welcome? Sinners - you that have no money. Why don't you have any money? You've been wasting it on designer jeans? For whom? I'm not saying you can't have good things. You should know you can have good things, and I don't think you have to be condemned about them either. "Well, I have to be circumcised first, before I can come - keep certain laws first and be good and then I can come to Jesus." "Well, I'm too bad." Some people were trying to put laws on the new Christians, a yoke neither we nor our fathers were able to bear. Are you trying to bear a yoke, making a show in the flesh? Come as a sinner, a law breaker, to Jesus. Why are you heavily burdened? It is addressed to you. "Well, you have to keep the Law of Moses." No you don’t.

Psalm 38:1-8 (KJV) A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance. O Lord, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. [2] For thine arrows stick fast in me, and thy hand presseth me sore. [3] There is no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sin. [4] For mine iniquities are gone over mine head: as an heavy burden they are too heavy for me. [5] My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. [6] I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all the day long. [7] For my loins are filled with a loathsome disease: and there is no soundness in my flesh. [8] I am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart.

Psalm 32:1-2 (KJV) A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. [2] Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

This is not you unless you confess your sins. If you have no sins to be forgiven, why come to Him. Come to the water, you that have no money and have nothing going except your cares, fears and doubts. Come, eat - taste and see that the Lord is good. Come unto me, unto the Living Water, the Baptism. Come to where your transgression is forgiven and your sins are covered. Transgressions are things you habitually do that seem normal. Sin is something deliberate. But both are forgiven.

Psalm 32:2-5 (KJV) Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. [3] When I kept silence, my bones waxed old through my roaring all the day long. [4] For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer. Selah. [5] I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Sometimes there is a deception that becomes part of our normalcy. You can carry a story for a long time. It's like C.S. Lewis says in The Great Divorce: You grumble so long that you don't grumble anymore – you’ve become a grumble. In this world we live in, people are grumblers, murmurs, complainers. This can happen to a Christian too, if he or she is separated from the Lord and won’t come to Him.

The Lord laid on Him the iniquities of us all. You may not want Him as a burden bearer. Aren't you sufficient for these things? No.

Psalm 32:5 (KJV) I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Come! What is he looking for? The one thing you didn't bring - your sin. It's what he wants. We could read The Freedom of the Christian again. "Well, I have to keep these things. My father worked hard for me to have this image and I've worked hard to maintain it."

Blame – “It's ______ (fill in the blank) fault. It's the pastor's fault. It's the Church's fault. It's the company's fault." Just do it your way. That's all over for a Christian.

Will you come before the Lord and say, "It’s not my neighbor; I have sinned. I'm confessing my transgressions?" Then the healing comes. Give all those things to Jesus that makes you weary and heavy laden. "Well, I just get busy when I'm burdened and try to work my way out of it, sweat my way out of it." There is wickedness in my flesh that refuses to believe God and is always troubled - continuously casting up mire.

Come to whom?

Luke 14:16-24 (KJV) Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: [17] And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. [18] And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. [19] And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. [20] And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. [21] So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. [22] And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. [23] And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. [24] For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

Bring in the poor, the maimed, the halt and the blind - those who are burdened and have lost hope. They've got nowhere to go. "Where shall we go Lord, for you have the words of life?"

1 John - if you say you have no sin you make God a liar. But if you confess your sin, he's faithful and just to forgive you. If you heart condemns you, he's greater than your heart. Perhaps you've hardened your heart for so long it's normal to you to be separated.

Three Claims of Jim Durkin. 1) I will not run, 2) I will not blame, and 3) The circumstances I am in today are the result of decisions, choices I made earlier.

It wasn't the culture or your parents, if you're a new creation and you believe God. There could be a continual brooding about “somebody who is not recognizing you or your children, and "they" are always this way, etc.” Someone is pretending to be a Christian while all the time nursing a harem of fondled hatreds. He didn't even know it. You can't know it until you come, until the Holy Ghost convicts you, and he operates in his office as the one who convicts before he comforts. By the way, you might want to consider the Holy Ghost. Again, we go and throw the baby out with the wash water. You've heard of so much abuse of the Holy Ghost in Charismania; you've thrown the baby out. You might have heard abuse of in proclaiming sacraments, or of liturgies that area dead, and of mystery cults. There is a reason we do what we do.

Come to whom? The devil tells you to stay away until you're pure. You're purified by faith in Jesus, and that is not of yourself - it is a gift. He has become your sanctification. “Yes, but they never notice my family." Watch for the spirits behind that. Some people have been toting spirits a long time, and they don't even know it. Those deceptions, that spiritual darkness in high places that we war against, are reasonings, other stories that come into your mind. You haven't moved anywhere. You still have that same old story - running, blaming, and hiding. Adam hid. He wouldn't come to God. He didn't know God. But God came to him, in Jesus.

Come to whom? Is. 54 - your husband is your maker. Come to the one who wants to give you the beautiful exchange. "Well, why would I want to exchange my greatness or my rightness? I'm free and I'm not in trouble as other men, why would I want to come?" Come to the one who is the end of the law for righteousness for everyone who believes. Come to the one who has imputed His own righteousness to the Bride - to you. You have a spiritual husband. Have you been estranged? If you're separated from your husband you don't get his stuff.

Come! Come you who can't live up to your own expectations.

You can hear things two different ways. You can hear that Jesus died for you, as law: "You mean to say that I'm that bad?"

Psalm 107:9-12 (KJV) For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. [10] Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; [11] Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High: [12] Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

Adam you’ll live by the sweat of your brow, until you hear Jesus - until you come to Him. It is a sweaty life, a religious life, a Martha-ized life - doing many wonderful things for God. The life of a Christian who believes God is ecstatic - a continual receiving each and every day.

Psalm 107:13 (KJV) Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

The darkness is the deception of sin. There are a lot of people who are not deliberate about sin, but they are caught in deception. They don't even know what story has taken hold of them.

C. S. Lewis in his book, SURPRISED BY JOY, uses the following words to describe what is inside of him: “a zoo of lusts, a bedlam of ambition, a nursery of fears, a harem of fondled hatred.

Psalm 73:5 (KJV) They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

God is calling people that are in trouble, heavily burdened. They may not know they're bearing the burden of their reputation - trying to impress people in the world, long-distance friends. It's pointless. If they cared about you, you wouldn't have to impress them and you'd be free to be who you are. It's refreshing to be around people who are such bad sinners; they are forgiven much and are a joy to be with. People who haven't been forgiven much are judgmental.

Where the explosion is going to come from is people who have been forgiven much more than you. You just haven't been that bad.

Who is he calling? Come unto me all you who have not been angry with the Lord this week? No. Come all who have not been self-centered this past week or this morning? Is that who he's calling? No. How about you who have been faithful in everything? No.

He’s calling those who haven't been faithful and are hopeless - in utter despair that they could pull anything off. Come all you who have been jealous and envious that someone else got your part. Come all you who are angry.

Come all you in the choir who haven't been angry with the director, or your parents, or your brothers or sisters, you're qualified to come into my presence now. No! Come all you who live up to the teaching of Jesus come? No. All you who haven't blamed, or excused, or run from Him, come? No! Come all you who didn't deny him this week? No.

Come unto whom? The end of the law for righteousness, the friend of sinners. He is a friend of sinners. "Well, maybe you ought to go to him, but you won't find me going there for he is a friend of sinners." Come! "Look, they won't come, so call the people who are poor, halt, maimed and blind." You with the anointing come? No!

Come to the great exchanger. He wants your sins - the one thing he’s concerned about getting from you The only thing, He wants all of your sins - all of them - hidden ones, the ones you're ashamed of, the ones you're denying you even have he wants them all. "Well, when I was silent my bones roared. I had no rest all day long. I was tormented. I had to watch The Guiding Light." I'm not mad at people who watch The Guiding Light. I'm out of the judging business, for that is God's business.

If there's going to be an explosion, it means every person in ear shot will come as they really are. How are they? You know. Get real! Maybe some people can't. Maybe the prince of the world has blinded their eyes so they can't hear the gospel. I don't understand it just yet. Faith is such a gift, but not everyone will receive it. Those who will come have lost hope, utterly despaired of hope. But we're all like Woody Allen, an existentialist. He contemplates suicide but then he remembers this Delicatessen on 44th that has these amazing Corned Beef sandwiches. He is an intellectual and has figured it out. I'm not against Woody - nobody told him.

God is so great; maybe Lazarus would be an extension of his greatness. The Pharisees wanted to kill Lazarus. Lazarus would think, "Why do you want to kill me? I didn't do anything. All I got was to be raised from the dead." He raises people from the dead all the time. He’s called the resurrection. Come unto him. Jesus is the resurrection - not an event. There's nothing He delights more than in resurrection.

He's come for sinners. Has he come for you?

Song 1:4 (KJV) Draw me, we will run after thee: the king hath brought me into his chambers: we will be glad and rejoice in thee, we will remember thy love more than wine: the upright love thee.

Paul counted everything loss for the excellency of knowing Him.

Matthew 11:29-30 (KJV) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Receive your exchange. Marry him. Come out of what makes you burdened - the law for righteousness. Come to the High Priest who ever lives to make intercession for you. Come to the blood of the Lamb that is sprinkled on the mercy seat, where his mercy and kindness are for you. Come sinner! He's your friend. The others, the good people, won't come. The offended people would like to come, but they are mad at him. People won't come to God because they have an offence against him. He has not done what they thought he should. Blessed is the man who is not offended in me. He even says for those who are offended in Him to come to him.

All my friends are sinners. Come, you who have been brought to utter despair. Cast your burdens upon him for he cares for you.

The burdened woman came, and he raised her daughter. Elijah covered the widow's son with his body. Body of Christ, can you cover the widow's son's body? Can you give him back?

The woman for Canaan came for a gift, but he wanted to give her everything - he wanted to marry her. His silence brought out her humility.

Come, taste and see. Why would you be tossed?

One of the most gracious words you'll find in the Catechism is this: I believe that I cannot by my own reason, strength, believe Him, or come to Jesus. Our mind is so programmed to what is reasonable and logical. We have categories in our minds that have nothing to do with the power of God's Word, which is bigger than all the minds in the world put together. Worldliness makes that which is sin normal, and the true righteousness which is God, weird.

Love not the world. The man who cannot come, Jesus invites. The man who says, "Jesus, help my unbelief." The Holy Ghost has called us by the gospel and had given us gifts. Come. Where will you find him? Down among the lilies feeding his flock.

Come! “I'd like to, but I'm offended. If she wouldn't have said that I wouldn't have gotten angry." No, they just brought out the anger that was already there. God sends his Spirit, his gifts to do that. He talked to them and he washed them.

Numbers 35:27-28 (KJV) And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood: [28] Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high priest: but after the death of the high priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession.

If you don't know what these Scriptures mean, you need to find out and teach your children. If a Hebrew killed somebody, maybe by accident but not always, there were 6 cities they could run to for refuge from the revenger of blood. The Lord says come to the city, you that have hated, judged, condemned, and been indifferent. None of that matters. Come unto me for I know you. I know all that Adam is. Come!

God is a refuge unto us. God is our refuge, an ever present help in time of trouble, in time of condemnation when the accuser comes. God gives us Himself, or He'll send Joseph, or famines. Joseph's brothers weren't at rest or peace. They were in trouble because they never came to acknowledge their sins. God is always making a way in my life for me to acknowledge my sin.

Steven Hein: God has called you, elected you, and predestined you. He's got you and He'll do anything to keep you, including allowing you some pain. It might seem some days like you're slipping out of His hand.

If God didn't have any mercy, we wouldn't fear him. We would fear moving away from the mercy. God writes His law in our hearts, and gives us a heart of flesh instead of heart of stone, and He will put His words in our hearts and they will flow out of our hearts in our vocations.

Hebrews 9:11-12 (KJV) But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; [12] Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

He purchased you out of your bondage to sin, out of your bondage to stories, out of your bondage to this culture, to your own fears. He purchased us out and He continues to be a High Priest who ever lives to make intercession for us, so that when we sin, He can come and intercede before the Father, and say, "Yes, but they believe me, your Son, Father." That's all it takes. I can't believe him through my own reasonings - that too is gift.

Hebrews 10:22 (KJV) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

How do you draw near? In faith, you've already done that. It is finished. Try and it is never done - you'll go away today thinking it was a good word but how hungry you are now. Come unto me all you who don't say grace at your meals. "Well, I would, but He knows I've got a lot to do." He knows and he still loves us.

Hebrews 10:22 (KJV) Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

He gave you his heart in exchange for yours. Ps: 57:7 Come to the water - you that have nothing to bring but your sins, come, buy, drink. Delight yourself in fatness, the fatness of your soul, the largeness of your soul.

The best attribute a salesman can have is abundance, and it covers a multitude of other things. Be an abundant giver. Out of the abundance of your heart, your mouth will speak. Come you that are silent. When you come to Him, you'll be like a certain man I know who can't shut up. He's come to a good thing. Come, buy, and drink. To be washed is to be baptized every day, hourly, minutely. You are always being washed - baptized. Come to the baptism.

All I've said today is summed up in this:

Hebrews 12:22-24 (KJV)

But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, [23] To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, [24] And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

Notice the faith of the writer.

Jesus is the mediator, the umpire between you and God, who always says, "I forgive them, for they don't know what they do. They are blind and don’t realize what they're doing, trying to make an identity for themselves when I've given them my own."

Here is faith - you are come!

The Freedom of the Christian. The covenant is a marriage covenant. All that he has is yours. All that you have is his.

You've come to Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. That means that you're not the finisher of your faith. You don't have to be careful and worried that you can't come because you're an unbeliever. You're an unbelieving believer.

Where is He to be found? In the city - Mt. Zion. God is not interested in numbers - 50 people is plenty.

You've come to Jesus, the mediator of the covenant he's made with you, to marry you, and to give you what is His. We don't fellowship as the righteous but as those who need baptism every day.

Psalm 51:7 - wash me and I will be clean. Yes, it's done in the eschatological realm, but down here, on this earth, we need it daily. You're sanctified by Christ as the Church gathers, comes to this building, every Sunday.

So, I want to proclaim to you in the name of Jesus: I proclaim to you the forgiveness of all your sins in the name of Jesus Christ. It is a proclamation of something that has happened. It’s too late. He has already forgiven you. He's ended every other story and gives you his story, and he continues to do this daily for you, in the ways he gives himself to you every day.

Come, you who labor and are heavy laden.

AMEN