Meeting the Messiah

Title: Meeting the Messiah!

Text: Luke 19

Introduction: Ps 119.18; The C2C Journey; Luke 19

This story matches or compliments the previous story – The story of Blind Bartimaeus (18.35); balance; one both sides of the town of Jericho; one is oppressed and the other is an oppressor. Both show us that money isn’t what is truly longed for – not really. Both are not friends with the crowd. Bartimaeus is asked, “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus doesn’t say, make me rich! He wants to see. His blindness isn’t something that money can fix. Zacchaeus is in a similar situation, but he doesn’t even know that money isn’t what he wants. But once he finds what he wasn’t even looking for, he starts giving his money away.

Our text (19.1-10) is presented in a chiastic structure;

           A. Jesus Enters and passes through Jericho (on mission to Jerusalem)

                        B. Zacchaeus – money for himself

                                    C. The crowd is hostile

                                                D. Climbing up the tree

                                                            E. Jesus – a kind, loving act

                                                D. Climbing down the tree

                                    C. The crowd is angry

                        B. Zacchaeus – money for others

            A. Jesus – His mission and purpose

I’d like to present this story in 3 separate scenes:

            Scene 1: Leaving Jericho (1-4)

            Scene 2: Under the Sycamore (5-7)

            Scene 3: At Zach’s (8-10)

Transition: Let’s take a look at this opening Scene

Scene One: Leaving Jericho. (1-4) An introduction to our characters; rd 19.1-2a; two characters;

• Jesus – enters and is ‘passing through’; this will be important;
• Zacchaeus – rd v 2b; lit.: he was a ruling (arch) tax collector and he was rich. Despised by the Jews; traitor, Tax Collectors & sinners in the NT and Rabbinic literature. a tax collector could charge whatever tax he wanted. He was responsible to charge so much to be sent to the government (king, emperor) and anything extra was his pay, so he could charge as much as he wanted. The trickle-down effect.

So, Jesus has come to Jericho, but he doesn’t stop in the city, but passes on through. This has got to be a real let-down for the people. Zacchaeus knows his moment to Jesus is quickly passing by – literally!

His Situation: rd v 3; He was seeking to see; Jesus; but he had a problem and his problem is 2-fold:

• 1^st, he was small in stature; lit.; his stature was micros;
• 2^nd, and most important, the crowd wouldn’t let him see Jesus; 1^st Century, Middle Eastern Culture demanded that the respected be treated as such and a way be made. A special place at the parade, as it were. A Review Stand. But Zacchaeus wasn’t respected. He was despised and hated. So, he was crowded out.

Ill.: all of us have something about ourselves that bother us. There is usually something about us that we’d like to change. A person who is smaller in stature is sometimes – made to feel – well, picked on. It shouldn’t be that way, but mean people pick on people of all sorts. They just do – that’s what bullies do. Example: The song Short People. Do you Remember Randy Newman’s Song? The back lash he got from the public pushed him to a point where he came to hate the song. Maryland’s Delegate Isaiah Dixon introduced legislation to make it illegal to play Short People back in 1978.

My brother Jerry was short. By the time he got to middle school, he would ask who the toughest kid was in the school. Usually by lunch, he would pick a fight with that guy and give him the fight of his life. That usually would give him a title of respect. Yeah, he may be short, but he’s scrappy. Don’t mess with him.

I’ll never forget Mrs. Sue Brown in Copperas Cove. I hurt her feelings. She refused to stand on the front row in the choir loft, in spite of the fact that she was the shortest person in the choir. Sometimes you couldn’t even see her on the 2nd row. For sure, it was harder to hear her. Once, when solos were handed out, someone asked why I didn’t think to give Ms. Sue a solo. She was certainly capable. I answered back that I didn’t give it to her because she was too short. I knew what I meant by that, but she didn’t Her feelings were hurt. What did her height have to do with her being able to sing. Well, my point was that no one would hear her because she was hidden by the people in front of her. Simply put, her voice wouldn’t carry over their shoulders. I didn’t mean to hurt her feelings, but her stature was a touchy subject. I’m forever grateful that she didn’t let that fester, but instead came to talk to me about it.

Money had given Zacchaeus a lot of things, but respect wasn’t one of them.

He Didn’t let His Situation Stop Him – He Overcame these Obstacles; How? You ready for this? Two Actions:

• 1^st, He didn’t focus on his problem. He placed his focus on Jesus. He could have sat back and cried. I’m too short, no one likes me! But instead, he wanted to see Jesus! So, rd v 4; He did two things immediately: He ran ahead, he climbed a sycamore tree; Not much info for us modern day Americans, but for a Jewish Man in the 1^st Century, this sentence tells us a lot.
• 2^nd, He Humbled himself; really, he became undignified; Ken Bailey:  Middle Eastern adults do not run in public if they wish to avoid public shame.

ill.: The father of the prodigal son; furthermore, they don’t climb trees.

ill.: Ken Bailey tells us more in his comments on this verse about Sycamore Trees of the Middle East, that they have dense foliage and large leaves. In order to avoid being seen, it was the perfect place for Zacchaeus to hide from the crowd, but still be able to see Jesus. Bailey writes: Sycamore fig trees have large leaves and low branches. One can climb into them easily and just as easily hide among their thickly cluster broad leaves. Both of these features were important to Zacchaeus. (Literature records these particular trees, Jericho and Sycamore, were used as beams to hold up roofs) Additionally, such trees were only allowed some distance from town (75ft or more; practical? I have a Magnolia Tree). Zacchaeus chose to climb a tree growing outside of Jericho, assuming the crowd would have dispersed (or at least thinned) by the time Jesus reached the tree.

The Reason for this being so far away? Because of the possibility of being ceremonially unclean; P 178;

This tells us something else; Zacchaeus outside of town waiting because Jesus had spurned the people’s reception and decided not to be hosted by any of them. He has made his way through town and had left Jericho… just to find Zacchaeus. Now, it’s probably no big deal to you that Jesus saw Zach in the tree. He was probably kind of hidden. But, here’s the big question: how did Jesus know his name?

Scene Two: The Sycamore Tree (5-6)

rd v 5;

• Zacchaeus: He knows your name, too.; you’re not anonymous here today; Oh, maybe to us! But not to Jesus! Rd 5b;
• Hurry up, Come Down – I like this little play on words (hurry up & come down); playful, fun; I wonder if this lets us in on the fun side of the Messiah’s personality that we often miss. His response… he hurried down; He joyfully received him (into his house);
• I’m going to your house. σήμερον γὰρ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ σου δεῖ με μεῖναι. Implied: not theirs.

And how do they respond? Rd v 7; they grumbled. I wonder if even one thought: cool! What do they do? The lash out. Why is it that when we’re hurt, we lash out at others – especially those we don’t like! A couple of reasons:

1^st, I think they feel a little slap in the face (they feel slighted?). Do you honestly think Jesus snubbed them to be mean? NO! I wonder why we don’t often rejoice at others’ blessings and successes. Why can’t we just be happy for someone else’ blessings?

2^nd, They’re also being judgmental! Remember the tree – it would be unclean, so is Zacchaeus and his house. He was Obedient – hurried, came down, received him; joyfully; that means he received him into his house. And he throws a party. Well, who is going to come? Probably not the grumblers! Probably other Tax Collectors and Sinners like himself!

Scene Three: at the house of Zacchaeus. (7-10)

            Rd v 8; Have you ever noticed that so many stories in the Bible told by Jesus don’t have an ending?

• What happens to the blind beggar in the previous chapter? He’s healed and can see, but what did he do after he went home?
• Did the older brother eventually go into the house w/ the father and celebrate his little brother’s return?
• And, what about the prodigal son? He came home, but what did he do on the next morning? Did he live a changed life?
• Did the man who was rescued from the road by the good Samaritan leave the hotel a changed man, having been the recipient of grace and mercy?
• What about the 10 lepers? All were healed and only one returned to say thank you, but what about the other 9? They didn’t return to say thanks to Jesus, but what about a changed life? How did they live after they got home?

Luke tells us in this story about a commitment to make amends; This story isn’t in Matthew or Mark; We don’t have time to break this all down, what it all means, but Jesus tells us; rd v 9; Salvation has come! And how do you know, because of a changed life! Salvation has come! Passive voice; it’s not something Zacchaeus has done, or even will do. It’s not because he’s giving back what he’s robbed or because he’s now choosing to be charitable. Rd v 10; What a great reminder – the story isn’t about Zacchaeus. It’s about Jesus! And we’re given a reminder of His purpose: to seek and to save the lost.

What can we gather from this story and apply to our lives: three Principles and three Imperatives…

1. Focus on Jesus, not your problems

2. Humble Yourself (It’s really difficult to not do number two while doing number one.)

3. Respond to the Invitation of Jesus. Q.: When was the last time you threw a party for Jesus and invited all of your lost friends just to invite them to meet him? Ill.: Time I went to UT Tyler (Chinese)

Three Imperatives:

1^st, Demonstrate your Repentance: a changed life. If you’ve not done so, now is your chance. If there is sin in your life. Stop doing what you’re not supposed to be doing and start doing what you’re supposed to be doing. Period.

2^nd, Live w/ No Regrets: Don’t live w/ the regrets of yesterday. We’ve all made poor decisions, bad decisions that have hurt us and others around us. Where you can, go back to those people and ask for forgiveness. Payback what was stolen or taken. It’ll be hard but make amends where you can. Where you can’t, ask for forgiveness. But don’t live w/ regrets!

– Do you know why you shouldn’t live w/ regrets? Everything from your past makes you who you are! Don’t regret your mistakes but learn from them. It helps you acknowledge you’re weak and you need Jesus! A rod to measure how: repent as publicly or privately as you sinned. Which is the 3^rd requirement here…

3^rd, No Repeats: Just because you made poor decisions when you were younger, doesn’t mean you have to keep making them! Someone posted a statement by Paul Washer: He asked when is the best time to plant an Apple Tree? Answer: 30 years ago. Question: When is the 2^nd best time to plant an apple tree? Today! Sure, it would have been better if you had made some changes 30 years ago. But if you didn’t, don’t keep making the same mistakes. Plant new seeds today! Make the change! That’s what repentance is! Do you remember v 9; Salvation has come? Remember: Salvation isn’t earned, it’s simply expressed. Finally, don’t forget the purpose Jesus had; rd v 10; And so it is w/ us; You may say, but Fred, you don’t know how bad I was… Listen to Rick Warren: Abraham was old, Jacob was insecure, Leah was unattractive, Joseph was abused, Moses stuttered, Gideon was poor, Samson was codependent, Rahab was immoral, David had an affair and all kinds of family problems, Elijah was suicidal, Jeremiah was depressed, Jonah was reluctant, Naomi was a widow, John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least, Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered, Martha worried a lot, the Samaritan woman had several failed marriages, Zacchaeus was unpopular, Thomas had doubts, Paul had poor health, and Timothy was timid. That is quite a variety of misfits, but God used each of them in his service. He will use you too if you stop making excuses.

Malachi 1.1-5

Title: The Love of God

Text: Malachi 1:1-5

Introduction: Deuteronomy 7; Luke 14; You guys know I’m training to climb some mountains. I do that in so many different ways. I like to jog in the woods, hike, climb, ride my bike. One time, I went running in a state park and I came across a Dutch Oven Society. They were located off the trail in a camping area. I didn’t even know something like that existed! This is a group of people who have a passion for Dutch Oven Cooking. The gather on certain weekends in certain parks across America. Usually, they have a potluck dinner at some point.

As I came upon the group, I met a man named, C*, who was wonderfully kind to me. You guys know me, I’m a talker. I went around visiting with the different cooks. My interest was piqued. I wanted to learn how the different cooks cooked the different types of food. There were so many different styles. It was truly fascinating. Throughout my visiting the different campsites, some in the DOS asked me to hang around and eat with them. In a short while, all of these members were going to bring their different foods and create a potluck fellowship dinner. I know what that is! I heartily agreed.

However, as folks were bringing their food together on the picnic tables that had been lined up together, I met a man named L*, a long-time member of the Dutch Oven Society. L* was visibly angry with me. I didn’t know why then, but now I think I do. Runners, hikers, bikers are there every weekend; they pop in and eat without bringing any food; L* had grown calloused toward those of us who were dressed like me – the mesh shirts and shorts, running or biking garb. He made me feel very uncomfortable and very unwelcomed. I quietly slid toward the back of the line and made my way out of there. I missed out on the fellowship and food.

I’ve thought of that experience over the years and found it to be similar to the church. How do we communicate the love of God to others who visit this place?

We’re in Malachi. I’d like to preach the introduction to Malachi, because Malachi’s first message to Israel is how much God loves them.

Verse 1 gives us a great introduction, filling in any questions we might have about who? and what?

Haggai and Zachariah called the people to finish the Temple. Malachi builds upon their call, by calling the people to faithfulness. rd v 1; An Oracle – lift, carry – as in burden (KJV); This is something that is heavy on Malachi’s heart; Jeremiah 20.9; And what is that? Yahweh’s Word; you see all the caps? This is what a preacher or a prophet does: he shares God’s Word.

Now, the writer gets more specific: this is God’s Word to Israel; This is important for us; remember: the context of a passage informs its application – it states how this applies to the people of that era, that time. And yet, God’s Word is timeless and powerful, having pertinence and relevance for us today.

One last note about the opening verse. Malachi is the Hebrew word for angel or messenger; this is probably his real name. We don’t know that for sure. It might be that it was a title, like: the oracle of the word of the Lord by a messenger/through an angel. Turn to Mal 3.1; See, that’s how it is translated here.

So, let’s begin by looking at what the Lord says through Malachi to Israel; and then, let’s draw some application for us.

What we notice 1^st is how God confesses his great love for Israel.

I. The Confession of God’s Love (2)

exp.: rd 2a; I have loved you; says Yahweh; Verhoef stated in his commentary that this verb “Love” shows continuous action; God has always loved his people and always will love his people; rd 2:b; but you say; you can underline those words; if you do a study of Malachi, you’ll see these words repeated in 1:6,7,13; 2:14; 3:7, 8, 13; It’s the style by which Malachi delivers his prophecy; And they respond (rd v 2b); How have you loved us?

This might seem rather bold; but it is so like us, too? Isn’t it? For them, this makes so much sense, seeing they’ve been in exile and have returned, but things are like they used to be. They don’t have a king, they’re not independent. Their sovereign is a Persian King. It’s not the same – and so they complain.

They think God’s love is tied up in who and what they used to be! They equate God’s love with good things such as blessings. They’re stuck in the past and can’t get over the fact that it ain’t like it used to be. And maybe they’re thinking: if God loves us so much, why isn’t it like it used to be?

Do you ever get that way? Isn’t that why we like to sing the old songs – and not really learn anything new? Do you miss the good old days, but in reality, you’re missing the current days when God is doing something new and special in your life because you can’t help but looking back all the time?

Have you ever questioned God’s Love because of it? Especially, when things aren’t going well? When I was a youth pastor, I came across a book for my teens entitled, If God Loves me, then why can’t I get my locker open? Man, you can just feel the immaturity in that title, can’t you?

Honestly, I see the same immaturity in long-time, older church members who can’t get past the good old days.

Along with maturity comes a deeper understanding of God’s love. Write that down as the 1^st application for the day: Along with maturity comes a deeper understanding of God’s love. Malachi himself provides an eloquent commentary on God’s love in 3:6; rd 3:6; how has God show us that he loves us? Because he hasn’t killed us as our sins deserve!

rd 2c; the etymology of this word ‘loved’ in the Hebrew, has been attached to the word which means “to be on fire” but in the sense “to love”; It is used to describe love in every type of relationship; the burning passion of a love for one’s child; for one’s husband or wife;

the love ‘ahāb’ of God appears 32 X’s in the OT; rd p. 196, Verhoef; God’s love is sovereign and unconditional;

Deu. 7:6-13; God has treasured them; loved them; been faithful to them; and redeemed them; In a sense, election and redemption are synonymous with God’s love. Hosea is probably the most popular of the minor prophets on God’s love, Malachi is close behind. Hosea preaches about a loving God toward an unfaithful, adulterous people. Malachi stresses God unconditional, everlasting love toward a disobedient, belligerent people. He confesses his love for his people…but you say…rd v 2b; God’s answer, Lam 3:23 – Because of the steadfast love of the Lord, we are not cut off…Those he doesn’t love, he doesn’t care for, he doesn’t chastise, nor does he discipline;

t.s.: which brings us to the 2^nd section on God’s Love…

II. The Expression of God’s Love (3-4)

exp.: rd 2c-3; Jacob I have loved; Esau I have hated; I have laid waste. I think sometimes, people are quick to explain away what God has declared. I want to be careful of that. There is a literary device called Semitic Comparison.

ill.: Semitic Comparison. This is where a harshness is used to express how great the opposite is; The best example I know of is found in Lk 14:26 (compare Matt10.37). I’d encourage you to read Genesis 29:30-33 as another example.

The context of Malachi, in the verses that follow, show a clear disdain toward the Edomites. Does that mean God hates them? Or simply that he rejected them? The focus isn’t on the word hate, obviously. The emphasis is on the rejection part. And his rejection of Esau and his descendants is clear in the following passage: rd v 3-4; God rejects Esau, he won’t bless, but will tear down, and even if the Edomites do their best to rebuild, they won’t be able to;

ill.: Listen to the NICOT (Pieter Verhoef) In the light of Scriptural evidence we are warned against reverting to human psychology in interpreting God’s love and hate. Both his love and hate are far more profound than the corresponding human sentiments. Both concern God’s sovereign and radical decree.

Let me ask you: Can you and I love with the same love that God does? We may try, but we are not able to come near it with our human frailties and failures. We try but our selfish passions creep in. The master is on a whole different level than we are….

app.: and we see in verse 5 that God says: And for you, oh Israel, you are loved, you will be blessed, you will not be cut off…. And you will see this…

t.s.: Which is the 3^rd section on God’s Love

III. The Reception of God’s Love. (5)

exp.: rd v 5;

• You will see – God is faithful to fulfill his promises; He hates wickedness, sin, rebellion, idolatry, selfishness…Proverbs 6:16ff; ¹⁶There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: ¹⁷haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, ¹⁹a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

**You will see – and they did see: Verhoef: This prophecy concerning the permanent ruin of Edom and the Edomites has been fulfilled in the subsequent history. The Nabateans drove them from their territory, and the Maccabees added to their distress. In 185 B.C. Judas Maccabeus crushed their resistance. And according to Josephus, 50 years later, John Hyrcanus caused them to be circumcised. Their end came during the time of Simon of Gerasa. You will see and

• You will say – Great is the Lord “above Israel” or “beyond Israel”;

t.s.: That was for them. But what about us?

What say you about God today? I say he loves you….Hear the word of the Lord: But God demonstrates his own love toward us in this, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. And, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but will have everlasting life. And this one, the wages of sin is death (that’s the hate part), but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Conclusion: John Payne recently shared with me some similarities between the law and the gospel. He said at law, there are three elements to complete a valid gift: (1) intent to make a gift; (2) delivery of the gift, and (3) acceptance of the gift. These match our three points:

1. The Confession of God’s Love – His intentions toward us are clearly stated. For God so loved the world
2. The Expression of God’s Love – Delivery of the gift; that he gave his one and only Son
3. The Reception of God’s Love – Acceptance of the gift; that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

I have a $5 bill. If I say this is yours, I’m giving it to you – but you walk out and never take that gift from my hand, whose is it? The gift must be accepted by the recipient.

Take-a-ways:

1. Along with maturity comes a deeper understanding of God’s Love.
2. Simple knowledge does not save. Acceptance and Reception mean everything.

There is one last observation, one last insight I want you to get before we close, and it is this: God’s love is communicated through you. Individually and corporately.

Conclusion: Do you remember my opening story about the Dutch Oven Society? Before I met L*, I couldn’t wait to tell Lisa about this neat group of people who cook w/ dutch ovens. I felt welcomed and invited. I was interested in what made these people get together. Truth is, I think people who can cook using a Dutch Oven are pretty impressive. It’s an art and a science. And I thought that maybe it would be a place I could fit in. But after meeting L*, I never went back. It only makes sense that he was the last person I visited with – because I left.

About 9-10 years later, I met a woman who, along with her husband were avid members of the Dutch Oven Society. I was serving as a chaplain to a bank there in Tyler and had known this lady for some time. Her husband is also a minister, so we had a connection from the first day I met her. I have no idea how we got onto the subject, but it soon became obvious that she and her husband were passionate members of the Dutch Oven Society.

I told her I had been there once. Once. But I have never returned. She was so disappointed. She tried to convince me that it really is a wonderful place. She told me how much fun they all have. Most all of the people were wonderful people. I asked her about L*, and she frowned and said that he was still there.

This got me to thinking: How do people miss out on God’s Love? Is it enough to tell them about it? Or, do they need to see it? How much damage can one person do to an organization when they don’t live out that organization’s ideals?

Let’s bring this home: When do we hurt our cause?

• When we think this is all about us. I’m talking about ‘church’ – this building, this worship service, these pews, these programs; These things are nothing more than idols if they come before God. When we begin to become resentful toward outsiders because we don’t like the way they act or the things they do.
  • When we don’t realize that the love of God comes through us to others. It’s time we take this message back to the streets, back to our neighborhoods and neighbors and yes, to our enemies (or those or don’t really like us.)

I’m not going to become the next Dutch Oven Champion. Me missing out on learning to cook with a Dutch oven is no big deal. But someone missing out on the Love of God because of me, just breaks my heart.

Four Elements of Revival

Title: What Does It Take to Revive A Church?

Text: Ezekiel 37.1-14

Introduction:

When I was in college, I did a research paper on the Walsh Revival of 1904. It began w/ some young people and just exploded, lit.: around the world. Men would rise early and go to the church house for a time of worship, fellowship, prayer. As they were leaving and heading off to work, students then came in and did the same. Next, women came in. Business would close down for lunch. People would stop in through the day. The church doors were open all day and people were kept coming all day long and into the evening hours. The pastor would get up and lead the benediction come 9.30, 10.00 pm and then the people would start singing again, going til midnight and later. The people just couldn’t get enough of God and Worshipping him!

Businesses changed. The police had nothing to do because crime came to a standstill. Pubs shut down because no one was coming. They had to re-train the horses that worked in the mines because the men no longer used foul language and the horses didn’t understand the commands w/ out the bad words! The police, which used to be crowd control managers, were no longer needed. So, they formed singing groups and would entertain at events!

One story goes that at a trial hearing, the man simply stood up and pled guilty. He said he needed forgiveness, repented of his sins. The Jury started singing, like they were in the choir loft or something. They just had a church service in the courthouse.

I know that revival isn’t something you schedule on a calendar, but I know it’s real. I tasted something like this once, many years ago. I think we started at 6 pm. The pastor got up and led us in a benediction at 9.30, it took another hour to get people to leave.

What does it mean for a church to experience revival? Have you ever experienced an authentic revival within the church?

What is revitalization in a church? How does it begin? Where does it start? Turn to Ezekiel 37. I think I have some answers for you this morning. Rd v 1-14; Pray; There are at least four elements to this revitalization of Israel.

But as we open up and begin reading Ezekiel 37, we’ve got to gain some context. Ezekiel was a prophet in the Time of Israel’s Exile. Their lives had been destroyed. The Temple, destroyed. The Walls of Jerusalem knocked down. The house and buildings burned. People were exiled, that is, those who were still alive. Their identity and understanding of who they were was destroyed. What would become of them? As a nation, they were dead. The Northern Kingdom had been destroyed in 722 BC. Their 10 Tribes would basically disappear as the Assyrians intermarried with them. They became a new people known as the Samaritans. Now, 136 years later, The Southern Kingdom was experiencing something similar. Would this be the end of them?

But God had a plan for them. Note 1^st element of Revival:

I. The Work of the Lord (1-3)

exp.: rd v 1;

1. The Hand of the Lord; 39 x’s in Scripture; most of the time it appears it is in the neg.; But not so with Ezekiel, in Ezekiel, 7 x’s, it appears to be a good thing; the point is that Ezekiel, every single time we see the hand of the Lord, it is good; Here, look what the Hand of God does; rd 1&2;
2. He brought me; He set me; He led me;

Q.: Where does God, bring, set, lead him to? The middle of a valley – negative, as opposed to Mountain Tops; Q.: And just what is this valley filled with? dry bones; dead people! What an image! Not even a cemetery! it appears to be, not a cemetery, but a place where bodies have been dumped and decayed.

Then, God asks him a question: rd v 3a; Can these bones live? Ah, no; You know, maybe if they was flesh around it and the corpse hasn’t been dead for too long? 3 minutes? I can hear the Lord saying to me: Fred, just answer the question! But look at Ezekiel’s answer: (3b) O’ Lord God, You know. (Adonai Yahweh)

app.: Here I think, is the 1^st application for us this morning. No people is so far gone, so dead, that God cannot bring them back to life. Even if it looks like it is humanly impossible, nothing is impossible for God! Do you believe this? The answer isn’t yes or no! The answer is: Only by the work of the Adonai Yahweh.

exp.: So, look what Adonai Yahweh asks of Ezekiel; rd v 4-5; Uh, you want me to talk to these dead bones? Don’t you think that’s pretty absurd? Lord God, dead bones don’t have ears. They don’t listen! They can’t hear!

Oh, friend, don’t you believe it! Sure, dead bones don’t listen to you and me, but they can hear and obey the word of the Lord, and that is the 2^nd element needed for Revival!

II. The Word of the Lord (4-8)

exp.: Ezekiel, you prophesy over these bones – and I will cause breath to enter them! rd v 6; Notice that God gives Ezekiel the Words to say; Ezekiel’s only words are a response to God and his obedience to the Lord’s command;

1. Commands Him:
   1. Prophesy – a passive imperative! Now, if ever there was a definition of a Preacher – this is it! He’s passive, in that, there is nothing about him in this message; If he brings his best dog and pony show, it means nothing and amounts to nothing! 2^nd, He is following a command of Adonai Yahweh!
   1. Say – in the original language, this is the simplest form of a verb; active voice; he is now involved; Funny, huh? I say funny, because God can do this alone. But that isn’t the way he works. He chooses to use people. Here, God uses Ezekiel. Q.: How might God be choosing to use you?
2. Gives Him the Words: rd v 4;  
   1. Hear the Word of the Lord (4) – Shama; Deu. 6.4; this is also an imperative: the Hebrew word “Shama” means to use the perception of the ears for hearing; to hear and comprehend information; Gen 29.11-13; to hear and respond; indeed, older translation will translate this word ‘harken’
   1. Let’s read again what he’s to say; rd v 5-6; So, what does he do? rd v 7a; “So, I prophesied as I was commanded.” Obedience! 2^nd application today: God just might be desiring to use you, but it requires obedience on your part! And look what happens: rd v 7b; Wow, Ezekiel takes the 1^st step of obedience and God begins to work! Ezekiel speaks God’s Word and God begins to work immediately.

exp.: rd v 8; interesting, it all doesn’t happen at once; more work is required;

app.: God Commands; We Obey; God Works!

t.s.: so what happens; rd v 9; he says, Call for the Wind – and that’s the third element for revival:

III. The Wind of the Lord (9-10)

exp.: It’s amazing to me how many times this word appears in these 14 verses; one word in Hebrew, but three in English; ַ רוּחַ (rû^aḥ); spirit (1), Wind (10) , breath(e), well, if you can’t find a verse with this word, you’re not trying hard enough! v 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, and down in 14 when we get there!

Often times in Scripture, the wind represents the Holy Spirit; This is the picture we see here: a mighty rushing wind! rd v 8-10; Notice this time that this word is a name – O Breath; It’s like he’s saying – and could be translated: Come from the four winds, O Spirit, and breathe on these slain, that they might live! 37.1 – Spirit; Rd v 10; I did and it did and they did! And they stood, an exceedingly great Army!

t.s.: The Elements we’ve seen so far are: The Word of the Lord, the Work of the Lord, the Wind (The Spirit) of the Lord, and There is one last element I notice here in this passage: The Will of the Lord.

IV. The Will of the Lord (11-14)

exp.: rd v 11-14; These bones are Israel; Israel feels dead, lost, cut off; 3x’s we see a popular phrase from Ezekiel: Then you shall know that I am the Lord. 6, 13, 14

app.: That’s His Will; that’s what he wants! This isn’t about Israel and her depression! God is passionate about His Glory. That’s what he desires more than anything else; He wants the Holy Spirit to breathe life into us and make us an exceedingly great army. Not because we’re depressed about the rotten state of the United States. God doesn’t want to Make America Great Again! America is only great if God is displayed as Great in her! For some reason, God chooses not to act alone, but he chooses to use us for His glory. He wants to do this work in us, so that all will look at us and say: We know that He is the Lord. That’s why he wants to breathe his life into us – for his glory.

Conclusion:

I love the last few words there in the chapter: I have spoken and I will do it declares the Lord. Now, contextually, he did – Israel returned to her land and grew. As time went by, God brought the promised Messiah. And in Acts chapter two, God breathed the Holy Spirit into the Body of Christ.

I believe we have the makings of revival right here. What I mean is: we’ve got all of the elements – The Lord’s Word, The Lord’s Holy Spirit, and we know it is the Lord’s Will. All we need now is for the Lord to Work. Will you pray for that? And then, will you participate?

Take-a-ways:

1. Consider: I think of this place – Tarpley Baptist Church. How many years ago was it that no one came to this place on Sunday mornings? But, look at it today? I wonder what it would take to return it to a valley of dry bones – an empty shell collecting dust. I don’t want that, but I wonder, is it a simple, quick trip? And wouldn’t that be a shame.
2. Surrender: Think about Ezekiel’s surrendered spirit to the Lord. What would it take to be totally surrendered to the Lord? As a church, as an individual? I think we often desire revival. I think we’d love to see a spiritual awakening in our country. I think we’d love for our country to come back around to God – but, the problem is that we’re usually thinking that’s what ‘they’ need. Those people who are burning down buildings and flags, those people who are rioting and looting mom and pop shops. But the truth is, it won’t get out there until it gets in here!
3. Pray: Ask the Lord to do as he did with Ezekiel – that we would be brought and led and set, right where he wants us, in order that me might gain a proper perspective.

Why Did Jesus Have to Die?

Title: Why Did Jesus Have to Die?

Text: Isa 52:13-53:13

CIT: The Suffering Servant pays the penalty.

CIS: The Suffering Servant pays the penalty.

Introduction:

Joshua Bell emerged from the Metro and positioned himself against a wall beside a trash basket. By most measures, he was nondescript—a youngish white man in jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, and a Washington Nationals baseball cap. From a small case, he removed a violin. Placing the open case at his feet, he shrewdly threw in a few dollars and pocket change as seed money and began to play.

For the next 45 minutes, in the D.C. Metro on January 12, 2007, Bell played Mozart and Schubert as over 1,000’s people streamed by, most hardly taking notice that he was standing there. And, not even knowing that they were in the presence of greatness. Joshua Bell first made his debut at Carnegie Hall at the age of 17. I remember only one person who actually recognized him.

Transition: today I want to look at the promised messiah, that few would even take notice of as he stood in their presence. He had been promised by God – but they missed him, even though they stood in his greatness.

Let me give you some context for our sermon situation. There is a group of us who have been reading through the Bible. The program is called Cover to Cover and it takes about 90 days. Where we are on this Journey is that we’ve just finished up Isaiah and Jeremiah. This week, we’ll cover Lamentations and Ezekiel. So, we’re in the Major Prophets. What we’re discovering in our reading is that there is a major theme that runs through Scripture.

The story of the Bible to this point is pretty basic. God created a man and a woman and put them in a garden he had created. They had an intimate relationship with him. Their work was to tend the garden and enjoy it’s produce. In this life of luxury, the man and the woman were commanded to leave one tree’s fruit alone and not eat it, but everything else was there for their enjoyment. However, they rebelled against God’s one command. The trusted the lie of the devil and instead of what God had told them. Because of their rebellion, God banished them from garden and their lives were now filled with toil and struggle. Sin had entered the world.

God now has chosen a man through whom he would build a nation. That nation would be called Israel. Once again, God would dwell in their presence and allow them to experience the joy of a relationship with him. He gave them his law and provided a sacrificial system through which their sins could be atoned for. But just as with Adam and Eve, the people rebelled. They had inherited a land flowing with milk and honey. Now, they would be exiled from this land of promise, as Adam and Eve had experienced.

But throughout the stories of the Bible, we’ve learned of one who would come and restore that relationship – the relationship that had be destroyed by Adam and Eve – that had been destroyed by the people of Israel. This One has had many names. In our text today, he is called my servant, the arm of the Lord, and the righteous one. We know him as Jesus. He would come and die for the sins of man – to pay the penalty of death for us all. In our text, Isaiah 52.13-53.12, we will learn of this one who is to come, the purpose for his coming, and what the Father would accomplish through his son on our behalf.

The question I would like to pose to you today is: Why did Jesus have to die? We find in here, Isaiah list 4 reasons: It was God’s

1. His Purpose
2. His Plan
3. His Punishment
4. His Pleasure

We pick up in Isaiah 52:13. First, why did Jesus have to die?

I. To Accomplish His Purpose (52:13-15)

exp.: it begins, “Behold”; that’s a good start; and then the subject, the hero of our story is quickly introduced, “My Servant”; Gen. 39:17 this is the word used to describe Joseph. Even though he was 2^nd in charge, just beneath his master, he still was bought and sold, had not rights;

Dr. John N. Oswalt, author of the Isaiah commentary for the NICOT, writes: שָׂכַל (sakal)is usually translated ‘be wise’ or ‘prosper’ but neither of those translations gathers up the full sense of the context here: to act with such wisdom that one’s efforts will be successful. He likes ‘accomplish his purpose.’

rd v 14; Future Tense as expressed in the Past; like it’s already happened; this makes it definitive; God has a purpose in all that he’s about to do; and just to let you know that he is sovereign, he lets us in on it all, hundreds of years before it happens! Even when it uses the past tense, it is still in the future, as if it has already happened; God knew what he was going to do!

Now, what is this purpose? We see in v 13;

• He shall be high and lifted up, and he shall be exalted; this specific phrasing is used 4 times by Isaiah, no other place in the OT; in the other three times, it refers to only to God; So, this Servant is equal with God; What is the Servant’s purpose? His Glory! This isn’t Israel being exalted to the place of God. This isn’t some prophet who will be raised to the exaltation of God. No, this is God himself, coming as the long-expected Messiah; Phil 1:5-11; John 1.1-2
• He shall suffer; This will be appalling. First, to a small, narrower group, rd v 14; 2^nd, to a larger group – the world even, rd v 15;  He’s not going to be attractive, instead, he will be unattractive by the world’s standards, a servant, a person punished and beaten, we will not want to gaze upon his beauty, but rather look away in disgust or because of his shame; Whatever attractiveness there might be, would come from whatever is inside him, for it will not be on the outside; and he will shut the kings up, because he has been exalted above them and how can one who comes from such a situation ever be lifted above them? How can one so helpless save? How can one so low, be raised so high?
• He Shall Save; this will become ever so clear as we get to the rest of the passage;

t.s.: First we see the Purpose of God is going to be accomplished, but just how? Well, he has a plan…

II. To Work His Plan: Our Redemption (53:1-3)

exp.: rd 53:1; 2^nd title: the arm of the LORD; He would send his son; 40:10-11; 48:12-14; 51:9 we see a title, the title of the one who is the ‘Arm of the Lord’; Here we see that God has had a plan and that plan is our redemption, not just Israel, but all nations; What does that plan include?

Meeting the Messiah – the arm of the Lord. Rd v 2; a young plant; this word describes the little tree that begins to grow off of a root sticking up out of the ground. Nothing noticeable or impressive, usually snipped off by the gardener and forgotten about in no time; this verse expands on the thought established in 52:14; this isn’t saying that he lacks good looks. This is saying that his arrival isn’t anything spectacular. He doesn’t arrive as a mighty oak. He’s not the consummate professional who crushes those who get in their way and command a certain type of following or respect. Instead of a massive oak, he’s a young plant, a leaf or two, weak in appearance; rd v 2b; Think of the fulfillment of this verse: Jesus, born to a blue collar worker, a carpenter; He wasn’t rich, He didn’t have famous parents, he wasn’t born in a palace. An animal’s feeding trough was his bed. Nothing to attract us! Rd v 3; despised; English: 1 : to look down on with contempt or aversion. Hebrew: to look down on. Not contempt. NO aversion. It’s the same word, just take out the emotion. It means to regard as negligible, worthless, or distasteful. Its not that he wasn’t one of the winners. It was that he was one of the losers. He is weak, how can he be strong enough to save us. He is sickly, how can he heal our diseases.

ill.: And we hear the Pharisees cry out in Lk 23:35: He saved others, Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God! His Chosen One!

app.: How can this man, save us? How can this be God’s plan?

t.s.: third… why did Jesus have to die for us?

III. To Impose His Punishment (53:4-9)

exp.: rd v 4; have you noticed the pronoun ‘we’, now it turns to the pronoun ‘our’. What we didn’t notice before we see now, and it is our grief and our sorrows he bore; the very thing that made him “unattractive” – the sickness, the pains – these are ours; the poet does a great job here! Our faces are distorted because he grosses us out. What a loser! And then here, and again in vv 10-12; We see that it isn’t him at all, but it is our sickness and our weakness that he’s carrying. That which we despise is really what we see in us!

This is what theologians call “substitutionary atonement”; Our ugliness, our sin, our shame was placed upon him. He didn’t just die for the sins of the people, he died in our place. That cross – it was designed for you and for me. He suffers for the people, so they won’t have to; He suffers and dies for us, so we won’t have to;

rd v 5; he was pierced, he was crushed, he was punished because of our sin, our grief, our guilt! It was on Him! He took our stripes! We call them mistakes, shortcomings, “we’re just not perfect.” God calls it sin and the full measure of how seriously God takes this sin is displayed on the Cross. In the Words of CJ Mahanney, “He visited Jesus on the Cross with his full, furious, righteous wrath. Because these shortcomings, theses mistakes are the stuff of death and destruction, and unless someone pays by dying and being destroyed, we must pay ourselves!”

app.: rd v 6; rd v 7; rd v 8 – who even cares about his fate? This is what sin does? What does it do? It kills; It destroys; It leaves desolate; rd v 9; again, past tense to describe a future event; He would be crucified between two thieves; He would be buried in a borrowed tomb; Joseph of Arimathea; Note: 9b – not only did he not ‘do’ anything deserving punishment, he was innocent in his motives; He didn’t speak deceitfully;

t.s.: Why did Jesus have to die? The 4^th reason listed by Isaiah’s prophecy…

IV. To Satisfy the Payment Due (53:10-12)

exp.: It was the Purpose of God, The Plan of God, The Punishment required by God and here – It was the Pleasure of God. Say what?!? Look at for 10; The Lord was delighted (was pleased; took pleasure) (10); The Lord was satisfied (11); Verse 12 gives us the reason for his satisfaction: rd v 12; This action by God brought redemption to us.

Conclusion: And what a great day to remember the grace of God toward us.

            Today we are going to participate in the Lord’s Supper. We’re going to do this a little different because of the COVID-19 guidelines. Hopefully, you’ve already received the elements. If you haven’t, we want to make them available to you.

What we practice: Open and Closed Communion