Sermon – “RE” (Part 2)

13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” 16 And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them. 17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false wit-ness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” 20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to en-ter the kingdom of God!”

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

24 For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. 25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Re part two. Some people are looking at the screen like three. What does remain. So if you weren’t here last week you missed part one. God wants to really us he wants us to re just going to kind of pick up right where I began last week. Reading he wants to read D.M. us. He wants to restore us. He wants to wants us to have remission of our sins he wants us to repent. So those four was last weeks so I want to hit on just one topic from last week just kind of a preview. And that’s the reading part if I got if I was able to to get one point across. Last week I hope the reading part sunk in that God redeemed us from our sins and we think every Dean. I hope that we don’t think that God just cancelled our since we’ve heard that preach that our kids sins are cancelled. They were actually were not cancelled. They were reading. Jesus Christ paid the redemption price for our sins. Yes they’re cast into the sea of forgetfulness. Once we repent and believe in Jesus Christ but the price for our sins has been paid. That is why it is now cancelled. When you believe in Christ he didn’t just say ah right. Man’s evil they’re wicked we’re just I’m just going to forget about their sin. It’s no Jesus Christ redeemed us from our sins and you know is us thinking about this and I don’t think about this from last week’s message. You know I think of the parable that Jesus told. Where there was a man that he owed his master a lot of money a great amount of money probably a millions and millions of dollars in today’s comparison. And he had no way to pay it. So he goes to the master and asked for forgiveness and the master forgave his sins he didn’t say one no I want you to pay this much or that much he cancelled his dead forgave it. And then this server goes out and finds another servant that owed him a small amount. And he to ask him for mercy. Oh have mercy me give me Tom I’ll rip a six no throw him in prison. But that all things about forgiveness. It’s about forgiveness he was willing to forgive the debt the master was but that one servant was not willing to forgive the other servant or debts have been forgiven or sins have been paid for. We have been redeemed by Jesus Christ. Amen. So last week redeem restore remission repent so this week. What is our reward for this week regeneration refuge refresh God wants to refresh us and receive. I’m going to begin with receive and you might think want to how to receive stuff. Ma’am I’m a good receiver but are we are we receive in it the right way with the right heart so beginning with receive and turning to Mark Chapter ten versus thirteen through twenty three then they brought the little children to him that he might touch them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them when Jesus saw it he was greatly displeased and said to them. Let the little children come to me and do not forbid them for sets is the kingdom of God. Assuredly I say to you. Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means an OR it and he took them up in his arms laid his hands on them and blessed them. Now as he was going out on the road one came run. Now before him and ask good teacher. What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life. So Jesus said to him. Why do you call me good. No one is good but one that is God you know the commandments do not commit adultery do not murder do not steal do not bear false witness Do not be fraud on are your father and mother. And he answered and said to him Teacher all these things I’ve kept from my youth then Jesus looking at him loved him and said to him. One thing you lack go your way. So whatever you have give to the poor and you will have traitor and haven’t and come take up the cross and follow me but he was sad at this word and want to weigh sorrowful for he had great possessions then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples how hard it is for those who have riches to enter the Kingdom of God they got his blessings to the hearing and reading of His Holy Word. Let us go to the Lord in prayer. Heavenly father we do thank you and praise you for your work. We thank you Lord for your word. It gives us understanding and just reveals your ways into us and Father God as we continue in your word today I just pray that your spirit be present to do touch all of our hearts and minds that we might receive what you have for years and father let there if there’s anything in this message is not a few Lord let it be gone by I just pray that you would receive all the glory and the honor and praise father that we might receive we might receive what you have for us not just today but every day father may we receive it with a humble heart may we receive it with grace father in order may receive it to bring glory and honor to you to your kingdom Oh Lord in Jesus name Amen. As I read that last part of that passage you might be wondering why did I add that part about the rich young man. I hope before I finish that part. You understand why. But as I read this passage there are some. And it really perplexes me. Why in the world with the disciples rebuked the parents who were bringing their children. I mean they’re just common every day moms and dads are bringing our young children up to Jesus and or want him just to lay their hands on on the children. Why would the disciples say oh no get away. Don’t do that. Don’t bring up kids don’t be interrupting Jesus. You know there’s no sure way to understand why they would did this why they reacted that way the Scripture doesn’t give us a reason. But some commentators suggest that maybe these disciples were trying to help Jesus manages time a little better. You know I mean think about it. We know that he preached to thousands he fed the five thousand he fed the four thousands and teach in the multitude and plus the healings you know the disciples are probably a lot like you know more now. Lord you don’t have time for these kids over well look at him. You’ve got blinded eyes you’ve got to go open. You’ve got crippled you’ve got to touch and heal. You know you’ve got the multitude to speak to and to teach you know we’ve got to help you manage your time a little bit. You don’t have time for this because we’ve got to be in the next town to morrow morning. All these parents wanted was for Jesus to touch their children. He could lay their hands upon their heads and bless them. It was a common custom among the Jews to lay their hands upon the heads of those that they were blessing. Those that they were praying for they lay their hands upon them. Lay in the hands upon one was a way of dedicating whenever we have dedication the children will lay their hands or hands upon him and dedicate him to the Lord. Is a way to consecrate one to God So could you blame these parents for one the bring the little children to Jesus God in the flesh and allow him to do either his hands upon them. How awesome. How awesome would it be to take your child. Up to God and then lays hands upon that child consecrating once a God how a million. I can buy moma bit. I’ve been right there not a line one that take my daughters up in the God touch. So they were trying to may just time for them for him. They were insinuating that children mourners important. They weren’t so important. Take up Jesus time. Whatever the reason was the word is very clear that Jesus was very displeased. But when he saw it he was greatly displeased. And he said to them not I envision Jesus saying this homily. But it’s starn. Let the little children come to May do not forbid them for of sets is the kingdom of God. But surely I say to you. Whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means an OR it. I think that was a pretty stern rebuke and I envision the disciples hanging their heads a little bit after that saying sorry I’m sorry master forgive me. It interesting. Those are children are growing up under a little sometimes we tell him why don’t you grow up grow up a little bit. But here Jesus saying. Peter like a little child. When it comes to receiving that came of God we must be like the little child. Why would he say this because when we enter the Kingdom of God we enter it as helpless children don’t we. We are unable to hear can say themselves. All right. I’m glad no hands went up. We cannot save ourselves we cannot do it. We are totally dependent upon what Jesus Christ did upon neck cross. They’re totally dependent upon His grace and mercy. Just as that little child has total dependence and faith in their parents and the householder the way it should be anyway that child is completely dependent upon their parents aren’t taking that child depends on their parent to feed them to clothe them to provide shelter for them to protect them. If a child gets hurt. What do they do become the mom and dad don’t. Mom or Dad so that parent can comfort them or put a bandaid on or help them if that child has a problem that they’re struggling with what do they do they come to Mom or Dad for direction for counsel. This is the kind of relationship the God wants with us as that little Cho comes to the parents. God wants us to come to him as a little child for direction for comfort hip he wants us to trust in Him completely. Just as a little child does a little child as a four year old concerned about the cares of the world. No they have not a care in the world. Do they care about money. No they don’t care about money. Mom Dad worries about that all they know is when I sit down eat dinner that is going to be there when they need clothes mom and dad going to provide them. That’s what God wants us to do with our relationship with him. Be that dependent upon him. That’s why I added the part about the rich young ruler. Here he was so concerned about the cares of the world that it hindered his relationship with God He would not receive it as a little child. Oh no I’ve got too many important things to do. Matthew seven seven through eleven says Ask and it will be given to you seek and. You will find knock and the door will be open for everyone who asks receives and he seeks finds it to him who knocks it will be open or what man is there among you. If his son asked for bread will give him a stone or if he asked for a fish will give him a serpent. If you then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children. How much more. Will your father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him. Have you ever let that really sink in. We’re going to give good gifts to our children not something is going to harm them or hinder them. So if we don’t have all we have to do is ask of God and I’m not just talking I’m not talking about material things here. No I’m talking about the things of God If you want knowledge ask God but we were going to put the work into it if you want the spirit ask God He will give to those who ask. But we have to ask. And we have to receive We have to be willing to receive We were see from from the Lord the same way the people in the Bible received whether we’re talking about salvation or healing or baptism in the Holy Spirit or rather we’re talking about the gifts that we read about in Corinthians. How do we receive Him by faith we receive by faith. James emphasizes this in chapter one verses five to seven. Tell us tell us what to do if we are lacking something in our lives. Yeah. He tells us. I’m getting my words here mixed up. We ask God and James five it’s just wanted says if any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives to all liberal. Only and without reproach and it will be given to him but let him ask in faith with no doubting for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind for let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. We must receive by faith that is the key to receiving by faith and trust in him. Then I want to turn to regeneration or rebirth. I like Rebirth better. It is an inner recreating of fallen human nature by the power of the Holy Spirit. It changes our disposition from lawlessness godless self-seeking individuals into one of trust in love and of repentance for past rebellious nature. It creates within us a heart that loves to follow God or rebirth enlightens or want spiritually blinded my eyes to discern spiritual realities. The man who is dead in their sins cannot quicken the Spirit of God within them. Do you understand that a person that is dead in their sins cannot quicken the Spirit of God within them. Why because one must be born again we must be born again regeneration. Then we are filled with the Holy Spirit when we repent of our sins and are born again the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our lives. The regenerated man has for ever cease to be the man that he once was his old life is over his new life has begun. He has a new creature in Christ buried with him out of reach of condemnation and raise with him to new life new life in Christ. When Bible translator Daz out rid out Outridge was working in New Guinea. He came to the word born again as he was translating the Bible. And he asked his native code translator to think of a good way to express what it meant to be born again. The man explain this custom he says sometimes in our country says people go wrong and they will not listen to anybody. We all get together in a village and place that person in the midst of us the elders talk to him for a long time and tell him you have gone wrong. They say that all of your thoughts all of your tensions all your values or wrong. Now you have to become a baby again and start to really learn everything. It was the answer the desert was looking for and that’s what the Bible tells us. No one can see the kingdom of God and this becomes like a baby again every learns everything from God’s word in his equal thirty six twenty four through twenty eight The Lord says for I will take from you. Among the nations. I will take you from among the nations gather you out of all countries and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you and you shall be clane I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and you will keep my judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I give gave to your fathers. You shall be my people and I will be your god did you hear all the I Will is in there. God is saying he will make these changes in us if we allow Him by faith. He will sprinkle us and cleanse us. He will put a new heart in us and a new spirit within us when we allow Him Second grittiness five seventeen says. Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation old things have passed away. Behold all things have become new. If before Christ. I was a drunkard after Christ. I am no longer a drunkard. If before Christ. I was a thief. I no longer steal after I am born again. He changes us puts a new heart a new mind in us. Jesus told Nick a name as in John Chapter three. Says there was a man of the fair seas named naked AMOS A ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him. Rabbi we know that your a teacher come from God for no one can do these things that you do unless God is with him. Jesus answered and said to him most assuredly I say to you unless one is born again. He cannot see the kingdom of God and a good name is said to him. How can a man be born when he is old Kenny enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born. Jesus answered Most assuredly I say to you unless one is born of the water and the Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God That which is born of the flesh is flesh that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit do not marvel of us said to you you. Must be born again you know there may be a lot of churches out there that you know it is by His grace that we are saved. But a lot of fruits. I’m going to call a greasy Grace. They forget about that born again part just come as you are and it’s all good. We’re all saved. We must be born again. We cannot overemphasize that we must be born again. There must be a change. You know if you walk up to a an apple tree and you look at that tree and every apple in there is rotten it’s no good. It’s not edible you recognize that that tree is bearing bad fruit. Right. But if you walk up to a tree and you look at it and that fruit on errors lushness it’s plot it’s good it’s encouraging you look at it’s like pleasing to the eye. You can take of it in a neat because that’s a good tree. Our life is looked upon as a tree. What kind of fruit. Are we bear. Once we are born again we’re not going to bear that rotten fruit but we’re going to bear good fruit. And everything that we do we must be born again and when we’re born again we can take refuge Psalms before I read the so I’m going to read forty six one through seven this psalm at times have been has been called Luther’s song it was that which he was accustomed to saying when he was in times of trouble when at times were dark when the enemy of the truth appeared to triumph when disaster seemed to calm over the cause in which he was engaged and the friends of the Reformation were dispirited disheartened and sad Luther was accustomed to say to his fellow. ABERS com Let us sing the forty six song. It says God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear even though the earth be moved and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea though its waters roar and be troubled though the mountains shake with its swelling there is a river whose streams shall be shall make glad the City of God the Holy Place of the tabernacle the Most High God is in the midst of her she shall not be moved God shall be here and God shall help her just as the break of dawn the nations raged the kingdoms were mood he uttered his voice and the earth melted the LORD of hosts is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. How little you no matter what our Earth this earth can come tumbling down around us but he is still our refuge. He is the place where we can find peace. There is a river whose strings shall be shall make glad to City of God the Holy Place of the tabernacle of the most high. It shall not be moved my friends this world can tumble down but God’s tabernacle shall not be moved. We can trust it. It will always be there he is our refuge or hiding place. And other faithful man a god. Charles Wesley shortly after his conversion in seventeen thirty eight. He sat one summer day in his study and a little bird pursued by a hawk flew in through the open window and sought refuge in his bosom where the baffled Hawk dare not. Followed. The dance and lead to the writing of writing of a familiar him Jesus Lover of My Soul and it goes like this. I’m not going to sing it. I’m going to read it. Praise the Lord. Oh lovely man. None can with the compare. Madi in place from every wind that blows in the My heart is freed from anxious care. I know that I love to me increasingly flows my cover from the wild and stormy blast whose fury would my trusting soul alarm in the eyes shelter till the storm is passed. Safe in the eye keeping not can do harm done to me from the the the living strains of life a bound whose healing waters make the Spirit whole who drinks of the eternal life have found an error again shall thirst the longing soul the Rock of Ages in the is my rest beneath the shadow in a weary land a pilgrim all my ways supremely blessed to the above his love the way has planned it is in him where we can find refuge from the storm or from the cares or those things that makes us anxious and he wants or sold to be refreshed. That leads me to refreshing refreshed refreshing or refreshed. You know I think there are times when we forget that God really does want us to be refreshed. But I think that it is so important to God that he instituted a way for us to be refreshed and that way is found in the Ten Commandments is that important to him in Exodus Chapter thirty one verses fifteen through seventeen. It says work shall be done for six days. But the seventh is the Sabbath of the Sabbath of rest. Only to the Lord. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day he shall surely be put to death. Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel forever for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed. God set the example he rested and was refreshed God wasn’t tired. I don’t think God could get tired he has gotten. But he set the example for us that he rested and was refreshed. God did not do away with the Sabbath. It is a perpetual covenant covenant. We are still in that perpetual covenant were not Jewish but there is no difference read a New Testament there is neither Jew nor Gentile. So this is a perpetual covenant so still last today. It didn’t say in verse fifteen just keep whatever day you choose. He says but the seventh is a sabbath of rest holy to the Lord. It is holy unto God he chose that day. If it’s important for God to rest. How important should it be to us to rest in order to be refreshed. God knew that we would need a rest because God knew that we would work our fingers to the bones that would work seven days a week sixteen hours a day. Well there are many that are doing it and do it they do not get that rest. I have coworkers that work seven days a week all the time it’s very very very rare that they take one day off. At the MIT I used to do that it wasn’t always at the river but seven days a week got work. Praise God that he showed me that we needed rest. I found another little story called rushing life. Miss Lady Kalman wrote this in a in a book called springs in the valley. It said in the African colony African colony history in the deep jungles of Africa. A traveler was making a long trek coolies had been engaged from a tribe to carry the heavy loads so on the very first day the march they rapidly went very far. So this traveler encouraged by all the distance they travelled that first day she had I hopes of a very speedy journey. But on the second morning. These jumble tribesmen refused to move. They just sat there resting for some strange reason she couldn’t understand it. So as she inquired as to why this strange behavior. The traveler was informed that they had gone too fast. The first day and that they were now waiting for their souls to catch up to their bodies then Miss common concludes with this penetrating exportation. This whirling rushing life which so many of us live. Does for us what that first march did to the poor jungle tribesmen the difference. They knew what they needed to do to restore life balance. Too often we do not is incredible that that was written. Fifty years ago. And look up. Look how much. More in a rush. We are today we need to let our souls catch up to our bodies enjoy that rest. Matthew eleven twenty eight through thirty says Come to me. All you labor in are heavy laden and I will give you rest take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart and you will find rest for your souls for my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Dear friends do you want rest for your souls enjoy his rests enter into His rest. I praise God that he give us a Sabbath rest because he knew that we were going to need it. He knew that we were going to need that rest. The rest from the rigors of the week rather be physical or mental or emotional rigors God wants us to enter into His rest he instituted it because he knew that we would needed rest for your souls. So if you’ve been gone like crazy all week slowed down a little bit but your soul can’t so there’s no wonder we have so many ailments sometimes because we don’t allow our body to rest. God knows that we need enter into his wrist Amen.