Is There Room for Jesus Today
by Andrew Grosjean
Canaan Baptist Church
Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 ([And] this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Beth-lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
I. In your Fellowship Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
What we are talking about here is the sad state of a church when there is no more room for Jesus there. Unfortunately, this happens all too often. Most people have no idea that it has. But Jesus warned several times in the beginning of the Book of Revelation that if a church did not repent, Jesus would remove their candle stick. This means that the glory of the presence, power, and validation of God. There are many churches that used to be valid and living churches from which the glory of God has departed. There are many churches that think they are valid. They are prosperous like the church of Laodicea. They were sophisticated. They were powerful. They were rich, but they had shut Jesus out. This is the sad state of many churches today. They are prosperous and powerful, but they have no room for God. Jesus was knocking on the door, not only of the individual heart, but also of the church. They had locked Him out. Do we lock Him out today as the Church of Laodicea did so long ago.
A. When you are Self-Satisfied
They closed Jesus out because they were wealthy and had no need for Jesus. When we are self sufficient in our lives, very often we become self-satisfied as well and do not need God.
B. When you have no Shame
Jesus was locked out of the church because they had no shame. Jesus told them that they needed to buy white garments. This is a figure of their purity, but it was also perhaps a clue as to what their problem was. They were wearing the world’s dress code instead of following God’s standards of modesty. Clothes are supposed to cover the shame nakedness, but our society celebrates this shame. This shameless was one reason why Jesus had no place in that church.
C. When you cannot See
This is what happens when a church has no more room for teaching the truth of God’s Word. Jesus is not only left on the outside of the church, but the people inside are left without spiritual light. If we are going to maintain a place for Jesus in our churches, then we must get His light from His Word. We need His eye salve to heal our spiritual blindness.
II. In your Finances Ephesians 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are [your] masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether [he be] bond or free. 9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
A. Employees
Do you keep room for Jesus in your work place? Paul says that we need to work for our “master” as if we were working for Jesus. Would you treat Jesus the way you treat your manager or foreman? We need to serve with the proper respect.
B. Employers
We bosses, managers, and foremen, we need to treat those under us with respect. God does not show favoritism. He does not show favoritism. Neither should we. We need to be careful to be abusive with threats. We need to respect our employees because God is watching.
C. Endowment (Tithes and Offerings) Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it]. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
An endowment is a gift that we give to a person or organization that empowers them to do something. God calls us to do this when it comes to the church. God makes it clear that you can do more with 90% of your income than you can with 100%. The reason is that the tenth, tithe, 10% is not yours. It is in fact God’s. Now, the offering is what ever God puts on your heart. It could be $1 or $1000. You let your conscience be your guide. But give God something above what is His. So be faithful to Him and see if He does not open the windows of Heaven for you as well.
III. In your Family
Have you kept a place in your family for God. Fathers, do you lead your family in devotions? God puts this responsibility for responsibility on the father. Of course, mothers of utmost importance, but God puts the final responsibility of the father for the spiritual temperature and dedication in the home. Have you kept a place for Jesus in your home, or do you push Him out?
IV. In your Faith Rev. 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
This should be understood in the context of the church that was pushing Jesus out. But it is a soul winning verse. Beyond that, it is not just for soul winning. It also has bearing on a Christian’s life after salvation.
A. Standing Out Side
For the one who has never trusted Jesus as his Savior, Jesus is standing at your heart’s door today. He is standing outside because He will not force His way in. Jesus is a gentleman. He will not force you to love Him, seek Him, or turn to Him. He waits for you to respond. He could force anything He wanted. He certainly has the right as God. But He has limited Himself. He has condescended to us. He gives us the authority to say no, even to Him. Please, do not say no.
For those that have been saved and have the Spirit of Jesus in your heart, Jesus is still left on the outside of parts of our souls. We say, “Oh yes, Jesus come into my life.” Meanwhile we are building on rooms on the back of the house to hide our pet sins. Then when Jesus wants to get in there, we start building closets. Then we build drawers. No, my friend, let Jesus have it all.
B. Sounding the Call to Sinners
Jesus calls to us all because we all are sinners. There is none of us that is righteous enough to get to Heaven on our own. We have been tainted by the evil of our sinful choices.
C. Supping with the Saints
Jesus is waiting to come in so that we can have communion with Him. Supping here is just a word for communion. He not only wants to spread the table of spiritual food for us. He wants to sit down and commune with us my friend. God wants you to know that He knows you. He wants you to know Him.
December 20, 2009sn
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