Love That Does Not Quit

We will be taking the 23rd, our Lottie Moon Mission Offering, but of course if you are going to be gone that day or you just get anxious about it, you can turn it in any time. Make sure you indicate that it's for the Lottie Moon Offering, which is a primary support for our foreign missionaries all over the world. I want to read a passage this morning from Matthew chapter 23, if you'd like to find that in your Bibles. I think it'd help you to follow along and if you have something that you see that makes a special, jumps out at you, you'll kind of remember where it is. I want to read verses 37 through 39 of chapter 23 this morning. Christmas is really about the beginning of the ministry of Jesus' life. It's not though about a baby. It's about the beginning of something that was a world and life changing event. And when Jesus came, it wasn't simply to be a baby. He liked to focus on that because a baby's harmless. But a man who proclaims a message that requires something of us is dangerous. So Christmas, we kind of look over the life of Jesus and we see the baby in the manger. But Jesus' coming was more, about more than that. Jesus came to give warning to people. The people he talked to here in this story were people he was convinced had never entered the kingdom of heaven. And so the coming of Jesus was a message about the requirement that he had that people yield themselves completely to him and to give him authority over their lives. I like this first candle to remind us that the message of Jesus, the coming of his life in this world, was a message of warning. He said to them, if you continue to live in rebellion against me, there is no way that you can avoid hell. What a powerful and strong word that is. But in contrast to that, the coming of Jesus was also about a way in which he could show us what the powerful love of God was really all about. I like this second candle to remind us that God's love is clearly and plainly shown in the life and work and ministry of Jesus. This is a passage that to me seems to reflect the very heart of what God's love is about. Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who killed the prophets and stoned those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate, for I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. All of us like to be around people that like us, people that we enjoy being with, that are friendly to us. One of the hardest things in the world is to go talk to someone that you know is mad at you or doesn't like you. How painful and difficult that is. But Jesus knew exactly the people to whom he was coming. Before he came to the earth, he and the father had worked for years trying to get the message of change into the lives of the people of Israel. They had sent prophets to tell the kings and to tell the priests how God wanted them to behave. And they saw what happened every time they did. Every time the people of Israel strayed away from God and God sent someone to them to correct them and turn their life back a different direction, they were always angry because these prophets had come. They always were resistant to the message that they gave. Some they stoned, some they put in jail, and some they killed. Jesus knew this. He knew it before he ever came to the earth, how they reacted to the message of God. And so he didn't come blind to it, and still he came. Jesus was determined to bring the message that God had for the people regardless of whether or not they received it well or they resisted. There's a picture here of God's powerful, great love. It's easy to love the people that like us, it's easy to love the people that are nice to us, it's easy to love the people who are friends to us. What is so difficult is to be nice and kind and caring to people who hate you, who even want to kill you, but that's what Jesus was. So we see here in this picture of Jesus the enormous strength and power that drives him to care for someone else. This is the kind of love that comes to reside in a person who yields himself to Jesus Christ. When he comes into your life, this love now lives in you. Jesus knew what the people were going to do when he came. He knew what the people in Jerusalem, the city, the headquarters for the Jewish religion, how they would react to him. The same way their forefathers had reacted with anger and resentment and bitterness to him trying to correct them or to change their behavior or to change their own way of living. And it came to pass. Jesus was not surprised at these people, he knew exactly what they were. He didn't argue with them or fight with them, but at the end of his ministry he felt it necessary to confront them. And in verse 33 of this same chapter he said, you snakes, you brood of vipers, how will you escape being condemned to hell? He knew who these people were, resistant to his message, resistant to the changes God wanted them to make, and deadly in their opposition. He called them snakes and vipers, poisonous snakes whose bite can kill. And yet Jesus came to them. It's easy for us to make in our own lives a list of people that we like and we want to be around and we find comforting and encouraging to us, and to be with those people. But the love of God in Jesus Christ drove him to go over that line, not to stay with his disciples, but to present himself to the people who needed him most, but who wanted him least, and he didn't give up. I want you to think in your own life about someone you've prayed for, you've been concerned for. You may have prayed a long time for them. You may have seen they've been resistant to what you wanted to do and how you wanted to help them. They may have even been rude to you at some time and said nasty things to you in the way, in the process of what you're trying to help them and encourage them or present Christ to them. And after a long period of time, you've sort of given up on them. Now if I were to ask you, have you given up on these people? Can God change them? You'd say, oh yeah, God can change them, but you know in your own mind and in your own heart you don't expect it. I'll tell you how this happens to us. God puts someone on our mind and heart. We start praying for them. We say, I know God you can change them. I know you can help them. That's God working in us, telling us that they need this. It's God causing us to keep on doing it even though they don't respond. But after a while, we get to looking at what's taking place and we say, nothing seems to be working here. These people aren't being changed the way they should because I've been praying for them earnestly and sincerely and faithfully for this long period of time. And I still believe that God could do something about it, but what happens is we just quit. And we may even think how fruitless this has all been to see something take place. That's what the devil does to you. When you start, you have this name in your mind and you say, I know this person really needs God, and so I'm going to pray for them every day that they'll turn their lives over to him and they'll see their life headed the wrong direction. And with great earnestness, you do that. But after a while, you start hearing this voice in your head saying, it isn't working. It comes back again when you pray, it's not really working. It comes back again when you pray, this is doing no good. And you look at it with your human eyes and you can see that the voice in your head is telling you the truth because you can't see any change. The voice that prompts you to pray for these people and prompts you to keep on praying for these people is God and his love inside of you compelling you to do this. The voice that says it's not working is Satan talking to you, trying to get you to believe that the power of God and what he's asked you to do is worthless and fruitless. Gary Burke told me a story this week about himself. And the first time Gary and I ever went out to visit together, we went to a young man's home and a single guy, and we sat down and talked with him a little bit and realized he had never made a commitment of his life to Christ. And there in that room, Gary said, would you like to receive Christ as your Lord and ruler and savior today? And he said, I sure would. So he said, well, let's kneel here and pray. And so we knelt in his front room over on Franklin Street and prayed for him. And he prayed to receive Christ into his life. He came to church a little while and then disappeared, gone. Gary and I talked about that a couple of times, about how this event seemed to have no impact and no value and no use. This week, Gary went to Salina to a concert. And in the concert, a guy walked up to him, and he'd changed a lot and didn't have any hair anymore. And all his hair had hanged down to a goatee on his chin. And Gary didn't even know who he was. And he said, do you remember me? And he said, no. And he gave him his name. He said, oh, yeah, I remember you. He said, I want to thank you and Doyle for coming over to see me that night. I received Christ then and moved away from there, but I'm involved in a church. I go regularly, and I'm working in that church. And I just want to thank you for what you've done for me. You see, Satan tries to convince us that the things we do for God are fruitless. When God tells us that something we ought to do, we need to believe him with all of our hearts. Now, I want you, each of you, to think of someone that you've prayed for, that you've given up on. I'm sure that every one of you here has someone like that. As I was talking about this and reading through it, I realized it was my sister, someone for me. I renewed my pledge to pray for her regularly. Who is it that you've given up on? The love of God didn't give up. Even though the people are nasty, even though they're vipers and snakes, he didn't give up. He kept coming, and he kept telling them the message that Father had given him to tell them. He kept doing exactly what the Father had asked him to do. You not only see in this story the determination of God's love to reach out to people, but you also see in this story how persistent it is. Jesus said, How often have I longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Isn't that a sad sentence? Jesus came to Jerusalem time and time again, apparently. He stood in the temple and he taught and preached. And the religious leaders who were in this crowd that he was talking to repeatedly heard what he had to say. And over the years, it turned from being disinterested in Jesus to being disturbed by Jesus, to be angry by Jesus, to be angry enough now to plan to kill him. Every single step got farther and farther away from what he wanted. But the picture he has here is a beautiful picture of love. It's one of the few places in the Bible where God is pictured in the female gender, a hen. I don't know if you've ever seen chickens raised. My mom used to raise chickens. And whenever they hatch a bunch of those little chickens, they don't have feathers like the big birds do. And when it's cold, the mother hen will stand out there with her wings just sort of draped with a space under them. And those little chickens will run up underneath those wings. A chicken's body has more temperature than a human body does. They're very hot. Those chickens can get up under there, those little chickens. And when it's raining, they don't have any way to shed the water that falls on the small ones. But when it hits the feathers of that bigger bird, it just rolls right off. You've seen it on ducks and geese if you haven't seen it on chickens. And there those little chickens will be in the cold, damp weather, in the warmth of their mother's body, heat, and under the cover of her wings. A beautiful picture Jesus paints for himself. I see you in need. I see you in trouble. And I come to you. And I want to give you the comfort of my presence. I want to give you the protection that I can give you, but you're not willing. No little chicken strays away from its mother when it's under that warmth and it's a little rainy and cold. They know better, but people don't. But Jesus shows that even though continual resistance to him became harder and harder and harder, still he came offering them the promise of the covenant. The covenant he made with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all those preceding them. The covenant he made with Israel and the covenant he now was making with his own disciples. If you will come to me, I will make sure to give you the guidance you need and I will provide for you. The mother hen provides for her chicks, the warmth of her own body, the care for those chickens. As a mother hen protects them, a predator comes to eat the baby chicks and they've got to get the mother first. She stands between them and the chickens. This is covenant promise God makes. I will protect my children. I will provide for those who belong to me. He was making this to the people who are planning to kill him. Not to his own disciples. I know you hate me and you've turned your back on me. But every time I come to Jerusalem, I come and say again to you, will you accept the gift I want to give you? Will you allow me to be the Lord and Redeemer of your life? And each time they simply became more angry. But the next time Jesus came to Jerusalem, he offered the same thing. The persistence of God's love. It's not annoyed because we don't respond immediately. Aren't you thankful for that? He's not annoyed because we forget the promise the next day we make to God. He's not annoyed because of the weakness that we have that causes us to make vows to him that we just can't seem to keep. He comes back. And you found this. You make a promise to God. You don't keep it. You feel embarrassed and ashamed. One day you open the scripture, your heart's open to God, and you feel his warmth of forgiveness come into your life. And he accepts you even though you failed him. God's love is persistent. And whenever it stops being persistent, it starts being our love. I came into a room one time where there were some people sitting at the table going through visitation cards. And one of them was our outreach director and the other was a Sunday school teacher. And they were going through the cards we had for their class. And as I walked in the room, one of them said, well, this guy hasn't been here in a long time. And he threw it in the trash can. I've been to see this guy a lot of times. I don't think they're interested in throwing it in the trash can. How different God is. I've been to you time and time again. And each time you get more angry with me. You get more obstinate. But I am not giving up on you. Jesus had no wish to suffer. But he had inside of him a love for people who needed help. And nothing would stop him. He even said to them, I'm going to be going away. But I'm going to send you prophets and wise men and teachers. Even though you kill me, you're still not going to get rid of my love for you. Because I'm going to come in the minds, life, and hearts of people. And they are going to come and keep telling you the same message I am telling you. The message of life and hope. And they did. James, one of those standing right there in Jerusalem. Was killed by the very people Jesus made this promise to. And in a short while, persecution would reign within the city of Jerusalem. And the believers and followers of Jesus were driven all across the countryside. For fear of their lives. But God did not stop. Still there were people who came to the city of Jerusalem to say. Jesus Christ was the Messiah. The messenger sent by God. Now that's the pattern he has for us. When he puts that person on your mind and on your heart. And you know that you're supposed to pray for them. And you know you're supposed to go visit them. And you know you're supposed to make friends with them. And they seem remote and distant and it looks like it's failing. Remember this story. I am sending someone to you. And you are that person God sent. That he put that name in your head. And don't give up. Your human nature will tell you it's fruitless. But say to your human nature, I'm going to do it anyway. God told me to. Your own heart will grow cold toward it. Because you don't see the result. We're often encouraged by results. And discouraged when there are no results. But say to yourself in spite of that. This is what God has asked me to do. And I'm doing it for him. Not for the result. Because God's love drives us. To do what he tells us to do. Jesus said to those who are standing there with him. This is a sad part of the Christmas story really. Really sad. Look. Your house is left to you desolate. What he was telling them. Is that their own city of Jerusalem was in decay. Jerusalem, Jerusalem. That's how he started this. The evil of your own lives is going to cause God to bring judgment on you. And right now, your own city and your own nation is declining. This was about 30 A.D. In 40 years. The city of Jerusalem was completely destroyed. The temple was destroyed. And there's no more. No more since that day. Of the kind of worship in Jerusalem that they had before. Right now. Even though you cannot see it. Doom is coming to you. You know the people around you. Who you've been praying for. With their life without Christ. Are facing doom. They may not know it. They may think life is wonderful. They may think everything's great. They may even be able to point to a lot of human successes. But without Christ in their life. Their destiny to be with him. They're facing eternal damnation. And even though they may think things are going well. God's judgment is headed for them. Jesus said, you don't know it. But right now, your own house is in the process of being destroyed. Now see, they didn't know that. What was going to happen. But Jesus did. The people you pray for and you talk to. They may not know what's happening to them. But God does. And if he sent you as a warning person to them. You are the hope they have. Jesus said to them finally. You won't see me again. Until the next time that I come. And you will know then that I am the Lord. His words were. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Those people standing in front of Jesus. Would not have said those words. On their life. They didn't believe them. They would never have said blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. About Jesus. But Jesus knew something they didn't know. If they died. The moment they opened their eyes. They would see Jesus standing there as the judge. And they would say. Oh my gosh. This is the Lord. Too late. He knew that those who were still living at the time that Jesus would come. When he came in this glorious fashion. They would look up and say. We never realized it. But this was the Lord. One way or the other. All of us will recognize Jesus Christ as the Lord. It will either be in terror. And fear. Or in glory. And happiness. We know that. We know that. But the people that God puts on your mind. Do not understand it. We have the words of life for them. And God has called us to this great mission that he started with Jesus on this earth. Of coming to declare that the kingdom of God is at hand. It's here. Right now. Close to you. Ready for you to receive. And each one of us. Are that messenger sent by God to the people who do not recognize that to say. Jesus Christ is Lord. I've experienced it. I know who he is. Here's what he's done in my life. Would you like to receive him as the Lord for yourself? It starts with you. With a name in your head. Of someone. It keeps coming back to you. Keeps coming back to you. It's an assignment from God. You've been sent. To that person. You begin to make friends with them. So that you know who they are. And they know who you are. Until they can tell the personal things of their life. And you can tell those of yours to them. And then you wait for God to tell you what you want to say. He wants to say to them. And you tell it. And you invite them to come to your Bible class. Or your small group. Or church with you. You share with them what Christ has done. And ask them if they're ready to follow him. It's that simple. But boy, is it hard. Simple things can be hard. Not hard to do. Not hard and complex about how you do it. But just hard to bring yourself to do it. And it is here that God's love drives us. Would you bow your heads please for a moment? Prayer. I want to ask first of all about you. If when you go to sleep tonight. You woke up and Jesus was standing in front of you. And you realize that life on this earth was over. Would there be fear? Or happiness? You can make sure that it's happiness by saying right now to God. I recognize who you are. And I want to pledge to you. To live my life in submission and obedience to you. The whole direction of your life will change. You'll be changed from being an enemy of God to his friend. You'll be changed from someone separated from God to someone who's a child of his. Jesus said, I've come so many times and this is what I've wanted to do. But you're not willing. So you have the option. God places it in your hand. He's willing. He's ready. Are you? Do you know that you've made that kind of commitment to Christ? And today when I was talking about this. A name came to your mind that you've given up on. I want to ask you to make a promise to God. That you're going to make this person a regular part of your prayer conversation with God. That you're going to go out of your way to make friends and maintain the friendships with this person. And if God gives you an opportunity to tell them what he's done for you, you will do that. You will encourage them to receive Christ as Lord of their lives. And not give up. Will you make that promise? He promised them, I will send a prophet, a wise person, a teacher to you. And you're the one he's sending. Will you accept that assignment? So Lord, we encounter you today. Who come to us again. Maybe you're saying to us the same thing you've told many times. We thank you for not giving up on us. I ask Father that today, each one of us who heard what you've asked of us. Will say to you, yes Lord, I obey. In the name of Jesus, I ask this. Amen. We're going to sing an invitation hymn this morning. I know that you can make the promise to God in your seat where you are. Exactly like you'd like to. But you know, it's easier for us to keep promises we've made to God. When there are other people that know about it. If God has asked you to pray for someone and you've given up on and you renew that. You may feel like it will help you to come public and openly and say to me or someone else standing here. There's a name on my mind, you ought to tell us a name. I make this commitment again to God to pray. And to be faithful and loving and caring for this person. Perhaps today is the day in which Jesus has come to you and said I'm here again. Asking you, will you follow me? You know it's right and you know you should. So in the process of these moments, he's saying to you, this is what I want you to do. I want you to leave your seat, walk down this aisle and say to this fellow, I give my life to Jesus. Would you stand please as we're singing? Jesus has come again. Say here I am. I'm asking you. Love me. Do what I tell you. I love you. In Bethlehem's home was there found no room for thy holy nativity. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus. There is room in my heart for thee. Heaven's arches rang and the angels sang. Proclaiming thy royal decree. But of lowly birth, come to earth and in great humility. O come to my heart, Lord Jesus. There is room in my heart for thee. Would you join me please in prayer? Father, I thank you for Alan's willingness to resume his prayer for someone you placed on his heart. I ask for each person here who's made that promise to you that we wouldn't take it lightly. That we would hold ourselves accountable to you and to each other for the faithfulness you've asked of us. I ask, Father, for those who heard you say today, today is the day to give your whole life to me. And said no. I ask that you would not give up on them. But that you would come again and offer your wings as a shelter of their life. We leave this place as your people to serve you. We ask that the world might see in us your great love that this season celebrates. Amen. This evening our church council at three o'clock for those on it. In our evening business meeting we talk about what God wants us to do in the life of our church. And the mission he's given us in our community. We'd like you to be there to pray with us and find God's direction. We hope you'll come. Isn't he beautiful? Beautiful, isn't he? Prince of Peace, Son of God, isn't he? Isn't he wonderful? Wonderful, isn't he? Counselor, Almighty God, isn't he? Isn't he? Isn't he? Isn't he? Isn't he?