Well, the first important thing that I will say is open your Bibles. Turn in your Bibles to Luke chapter 23.
Let's pray.
Our Father, this morning our prayers are instructed by Scripture.
And for one, I'm reminded of the text in Psalm 119 where the psalmist prayed,
Open thou mine eyes that I might behold wondrous truths of thy law.
And apart from your working to give us understanding, we will leave here unchanged, indifferent,
no more drawn to the glory of Christ than we were before.
And so we are thankful for the instruction of Scripture that reminds us to beg for those things that are appropriate and honoring to Christ.
We are also reminded of the words of Zechariah where he said,
Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord.
And we are dependent upon the Spirit of God making your word clear, persuasive, encouraging, convicting for the glory of Christ.
We ask in Jesus' name. Amen.
Amen.
So allow me to do something just a little different here.
The second service.
I'm going to ask whoever's running the slides, would you just not do them?
Because I'm not used to this.
Okay.
So bear with me.
Just follow me.
How's that?
And don't look for little prompts on the screen because they'll throw you off and they'll probably throw me off.
And we'll all wonder what happened on the way to Gethsemane.
So let me start by saying this.
Earlier as I was sitting here on the front, which is my place, a little girl asked me,
Are you preaching?
I thought, how is she?
Well, it's this, you know, the rig that gives me away.
And I said, Yes, I am.
I said, Will you pray for me?
She got this little quizzical look on her face.
And I said, Did you know that you're supposed to pray when the pastor preaches?
And with a little innocent face, she said, No, I didn't.
I said, Well, the Bible says to do it.
And how many of you know that praying is part of your obligation while someone is preaching the word of God?
Wave your hand just kind of like this so I know you don't need fresh instruction.
Go ahead.
The scriptures are explicit that you have an obligation to pray for the preaching of the word of God.
Now, when a pastor says something like that, there's a little follow-up that should always happen.
Do you know what it is?
Where's that in the Bible?
Shouldn't that be the thought?
Where do you find that?
And that Tim Kenoyer really has no authority,
nothing of significance to say apart from Scripture.
2 Thessalonians 3, verse 1 and 2.
Pray that the word of God would have free course and bear fruit among you.
And if I'm redundant and repetitious about one thing in particular,
apart from believing the Lord Jesus Christ,
it ought to be pray when a man's preaching.
And I will not be put out, if you think it's necessary,
while I am preaching, to go ahead and say out loud,
Lord, help him.
It's not going to bother me.
I say it when I'm preaching.
Because apart from the enabling of the Spirit of God,
the preaching of the word of God is not made effective,
either in the hearts of believers or in the lives of unbelievers.
So, with that as an introduction,
let me say that it will also be my privilege, Lord willing,
and the creek doesn't rise,
that I preached on May 18th.
And I'm going to tell you ahead of time what I'm going to preach that week
so that you can appreciate this morning the organic unity of Scripture.
What I mean by that is how the Bible fits together.
And what we are going to be looking at this morning has bearing
on the central theme of the Scriptures,
which, by the way, is Jesus.
The first passage that became significant in my life was passages that convicted Tim Kenoyer
of the darkness of his soul and his absolute depravity.
And I remember the terrible burden of realizing that I was a sinner that stood justly condemned before a holy God.
And I was broken by that.
The second passage that became very significant to me was in Romans,
several different texts that say,
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Well, that's not the Romans passage,
but it says,
whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Romans 10, 11.
And I remember crying out and finding the blessing and the relief of salvation through the Lord Jesus alone.
Later on in my life,
the Lord used 1 Peter 1, verse 8 in particular
to really change some of the trajectory of my life.
Some of you may know it by heart.
Whom having not seen, we love.
Though now we see him not yet believing,
we are filled with joy, inexpressible, and full of glory.
And that verse got a hold of me.
Because I realized that while I didn't want to admit it,
more often than not, I was like that nasty little queen,
you know, mirror, mirror on the wall,
who's the fairest of them all?
Now, I know none of you think that way.
But you know when other people are talking about what's a blessing to them,
you're thinking you're it?
Or when people aren't thinking about you,
you're a little put out, right?
Huh?
And that verse began convicting Tim Knoyer
that he didn't love Jesus like he should.
And that began a journey.
That will end up in eternity.
And I will be satisfied
when I see him as he is,
and I shall be like him.
Isn't that good?
So how does that relate to today?
Well,
our pastors have been working their way
through the last portion of Luke,
and one sermon after another
has just reminded us
of the beauty and the glory of Jesus.
Isn't that right?
I mean, I remember Pastor Andrew
preaching about the love of Christ for Judas.
Judas.
It's like,
you're kidding me?
And I just,
that's my Jesus.
And you know,
if he can love Judas,
Tim's within his range.
And then the other week,
Pastor David was talking about
Jesus praying in the garden,
and he was talking about the burden
of what it was to go to the cross,
and he was willing to do that.
Nevertheless, not my will,
but yours, right?
That's my Jesus.
And last week,
Pastor Andrew,
by the way,
how many of you are praying
for Pastor Andrew
on a regular basis
before he goes,
raise your hands.
Everybody get your hand up.
Just out of practice.
Go ahead.
Look at me.
Pray for your pastors,
right?
Okay?
But last week,
come back to the subject.
Pastor Andrew was talking about
Jesus and his love for Peter.
how broken Peter must have felt
when he denied the Lord Jesus.
And Jesus loved him anyway.
Never changed his mind about Peter.
And if Jesus won't change his mind about Peter,
he won't change his mind about Tim.
And so here we are this morning
in another portion
where the takeaway
that I want you to take with you
when you leave this morning
is that,
wow,
that's my Savior.
And I have every reason
to love him
because he is so unbelievable
in his love
and his grace.
I want us to look in
three simple steps.
Number one,
what do we see in the text?
And we're not going to spend
a lot of time there
because I think the text
is fairly well known
and while there are
some important pieces
to draw from it,
I think the
overarching
question
is going to be
why did Jesus
do what he did?
namely in being quiet
in the face
of false accusations.
Then the last thing
that we're going to look at
is
how does this fit
into my life?
One of the characteristics
of Bible preaching
is that it's not just
an explanation
of the text itself
but it is a spirit-enabled
application of
how does that fit
my life
and how should I live
because of Jesus?
Well, let's look
first of all at the text
and just a reminder
to you here
that where we are
in chapter 23
is we are
after chapter 22
and in chapter 22
Jesus had been
before the Sanhedrin,
the high court
of the nation of Israel
and they had brought him in
and their intention
was to accuse him
and to put him to death
and their accusations
across the board
were all false.
Every one of them.
They lie about this,
they lie about that,
they lie about the other thing
and they couldn't even get
their lies to fit
and I've thought about that.
That must have been
profoundly frustrating
for the individuals
who are bringing
the accusations of Jesus
to get,
you know,
hey, would you mind
telling a lie about Jesus
and that the next guy
couldn't pull off the lie
to make it fit
with the previous one?
It was a mess
and he was quiet.
One false accusation
after another,
he was quiet.
I had the privilege
of raising four children
and one of the things
I learned about children,
maybe my mind
were different,
but in our children's case,
sometimes things would happen
in the basement.
Do you understand
what I'm saying?
things would happen
in the basement
and more often than not
it happened with my boys,
not as much as my girls,
but my,
and I'd hear something
going on down there
and then suddenly
I'd hear running,
coming up the steps
and sometimes I thought
to myself,
the first person
is probably guilty.
But one of the things
I noticed is that
when my boys came up
to deliver a report,
they were always innocent
and they were ready
to declare their innocence
with all sincerity
and passion
just befitting
of the moment.
You know,
it's like,
yeah,
innocent as,
you know,
wind-driven snow
and it's normal
and so here
we kind of find Jesus
with all these accusations.
He didn't say a word.
Didn't say a word.
Finally,
you know the scene.
The high priest says,
are you?
And he says,
yeah,
you got that one
and he says,
by the way,
the day is coming when?
And he makes it clear
that judgment
is going to happen
and there's no question.
Well,
we've heard what you said.
You're guilty of blasphemy.
You deserve death.
They decide
we can't put him to death
formally,
legally
so we have to march him over
to the Roman authorities.
That's Pilate.
That's where we pick up
in the passage
that we're looking at
this week
and we find that
they come in the morning
before Pilate
and they come to accuse him
and interestingly enough,
and I want you to notice this anyway,
in verse 2,
they begin to accuse him saying,
we found this man
misleading our nation
and forbidding us
to give tribute
to Caesar.
completely different accusation
than what had gone on
all night
in that trumped up judgment
against Jesus,
completely inappropriate
and contrary
to a Jewish law.
So here they come
to the civil authorities
and instead of saying,
you know,
we've got a problem
with a theological issue
in the fact that
this man is saying
that he is God's son,
no,
we're concerned about
something completely different.
This is a political matter
and we're very concerned.
What was their accusation?
You're misleading the nation
and that word means
to kind of twist
and take the people
away from where
they should be.
Now we get to the second part
and that's really
the interesting part
and part in fact
because here they are
accusing Jesus
of something completely contrary
to what his public teaching
had been.
they said
that Jesus
was encouraging
the nation
not to pay
their taxes.
I'm not going to ask
if any of you
have ever been audited
because I would expect
you not to wave at me
if you have.
But if you think
that an audit
by the IRS
is something
that you prefer
not going through,
I assure you
that not paying taxes
to the Roman authorities
was far more severe
and the consequences
more destructive
to your well-being
than what we go through here.
And the Romans
were very, very interested
in seeing that
all of their taxes
were gathered.
And they brought a charge
that should have
made Pilate's hair
stand on end.
It's interesting actually
when you read
the portion
of scripture here
that Pilate
was really not
put out by that.
Now there's a reason
because Pilate
was not ignorant
of what was going on
in his jurisdiction
and he fundamentally
knew that
the problem
that the Jewish leadership
had with Jesus
had nothing to do
with Rome
or taxation.
It had to do
with their
internal
dispute
with Jesus
and what he was teaching.
But they come
and they make
these charges
and once again
I want you to recognize
that in the face
of these false allegations
for all practical purposes
Jesus is quiet.
He doesn't say anything.
And you stop
and recognize
that apart
from the earlier response
that he had given
to the high priest
regarding his deity
fundamentally
his communications
with Pilate
were quite similar.
And it was striking
to Pilate
that in the face
of these accusations
Jesus was quiet.
in particular
because Pilate
knew
that he was
in the position
at least he assumed
that he was in the position
of putting Jesus
to death.
What's the deal
with you?
I'm in the situation
that should I decide
you can be executed
or should I decide
you could be
forgiven
and excused.
In the text
it is interesting
that in the face
of the false accusations
that Jesus
was subjected to
that eventually
as we read there
in the passage
Pilate says this
I find no guilt
in this man.
I want you to understand
that in making
that statement
Pilate was making
a judgment
that had standing.
He wasn't just giving
a little bit
of an opinion.
You know what
I'm not real sure.
No, this man
is innocent.
Practically speaking
the matter should
have stood there
but as you read
in the text
in verse 5
it says
but they were urgent
when they found out
that Pilate
was not willing
to accommodate
their false accusations
against Jesus
they became
even more animated
and more concerned
with the fact
that their ambitions
of seeing Jesus
crucified on the cross
were going to come
to an end
and they weren't going
to accomplish
their agenda.
I do want you
to understand
that by this point
in Pilate's
public life
he had already
endured several
very significant
political upheavals
among the Jews
and the powers
that were in Rome
were becoming
a little suspicious
of Pilate's ability
to reign
to govern
and that helps us
understand a little bit
why once the
public outcry
became so significant
and so pointed
that Pilate went ahead
and listened further
and eventually
accommodated
the unjust
ambitions
of a wicked people
in a desire
to crucify Christ.
Well as things
are playing out
okay
we also read
not usually stirring
up people
but he's teaching
throughout all Judea
and from Galilee
even to this place
and when Pilate
heard those words
Judea and Galilee
he thought to himself
ha!
a brilliant
opportunity
of political
dodgem.
Why?
Because he knew
that Herod
who was
the one
responsible
for these areas
Judea and Galilee
was in town
and the Roman
court system
allowed for an
individual to be judged
where he committed
the crime
or where he was
accused of the crime
where he lived
or in
Rome
okay
and so when
Pilate
heard that
Herod was in town
he thought to himself
now I have an out
I really don't
be responsible
for putting this
guy to death
because I know
this is just
a matter of
political
intrigue
and hateful
attitude
towards an
undeserving
individual
who's falsely
accused
let me hand
this off
to
Herod
how many of you
have ever found
it convenient
to have somebody
else do your
dirty work
we've all done
that
it's like
yeah I saw
that hand
go talk
to your
dad
that was
terrifying to me
because he would
always say
go pick a belt
I never found
one that worked
okay
so
here is
Pilate
thinking to
himself
ha
I have this
opportunity
of handing
off judgment
to
Herod
now we do
know
that
when Herod
had the
opportunity
he was
quite
intrigued
by this
and he
thought to
himself
you know
what
I've been
curious
about this
Jesus
remember
earlier
is this
John the
Baptist
come back
from the
dead
and didn't
know who
he was
and he'd
heard
now by the
way
you do
have to
understand
that
authoritarian
individuals
like Pilate
and Herod
did work
hard
to have
kind of
a pulse
on what
was happening
in their
region
because
they were
responsible
particularly
for civil
obedience
and so
they would
have known
well there's
this guy
going around
doing miracles
he turned
water into
wine
and he
walked on
water
and he
healed
the sick
and he's
raised the
dead
and Herod
thought to
himself
you know
what
I'd
really
like to
see him
do one
of these
you know
Jesus
shows up
they mock
him
Jesus
doesn't
answer
doesn't
show a
miracle
he's
quiet
he's
quiet
and it
frustrates
Herod
and he
sends him
back
to
Pilate
who
ultimately
gives
in
and has
Jesus
delivered
to be
crucified
that's
in broad
terms
the
what
of the
text
now you
can work
through
the particular
details
and see
it for
yourself
and it's
there to
be
considered
and it's
there for
our record
to understand
what happened
but I think
another thing
that is very
important for us
to understand
as we are
working our
way through
the text
is it's
appropriate
when we are
engaged in
personal Bible
study
to ask
the question
why
why do
you do
that
and you
probably have
done that
when
one of your
children has
come to you
or somebody
else has
come and
said
so and so
did such
and such
to me
and you
ask yourself
why
why did
you do
that
and so
what I want
us to do
next is I
want us to
think about
the why
behind the
silence
of our
Savior
because it's
significant
the why
is significant
in part
because
the truth
of the matter
is the
silence
is not
normal
now you
may think
to yourself
oh well
I am very
guarded
in what I
say
but the
truth of
the matter
is you're
not
we all
struggle
with our
tongue
James makes
that clear
doesn't it
we struggle
with our
tongue
I will tell
you that the
older I get
the more
pleasure I
take in the
things I
don't say
rather than
the things I
do say
and in
relationship to
that one of
the things that
I found that
has helped
me and I
have said so
many things
that I
shouldn't have
said
is a
passage of
scripture
there are
many of
them that
come to
mind
but one in
particular
Proverbs
chapter 10
verse 19
when words
are many
transgression
is not
lacking
when words
are many
transgression
is not
lacking
do you know
what that's
saying
the more
I talk
the higher
the probability
that I'm
going to say
something I
shouldn't
now in
relationship
to that
because I
would I
would make
the assumption
that most
of you
here are
believers
and since
you are
believers
I'm going
to make
another
assumption
that you're
concerned
with your
ongoing
spiritual
development
and your
progressive
hatred for
sin
right
I don't
want to keep
on doing
those things
that I
have done
in the
past
if there
is a
sincere
desire
to grow
and change
it will
show up
in the
battery
of bible
verses
you have
that are
supportive
of your
struggle
did you
understand
what I
said
I'm a
deer
hunter
and I've
learned that
more arrows
are better
than fewer
arrows
and what do
I mean
by that
if I miss
with one
I'd like
to have
another
and another
until I
accomplish
my end
okay
same thing
with bible
verses
you're
struggling
with a
matter
of sin
whether
it is
in the
matter
of
moral
purity
or it's
the matter
of
pride
cometh
before
a
and a
haughty
spirit
before
I hope
that that's
not the
end
of the
passages
that you
have
that relate
to that
ongoing
struggle
my point
is this
is that
when we
recognize
that we
are dealing
with a
battle
of sin
in our
heart
one of the
indications
that we're
taking that
struggle
seriously
is we
begin to
fill up
our mind
with passages
that the
Holy Spirit
will bring
to mind
to help
us with
that battle
amen
the Holy Spirit
is really not
obligated to
help me
with my
self-talk
how many of
you know
what I mean
by self-talk
now Tim
the Holy
Spirit is
obligated to
take the
scriptures
and use
them
is not
my word
a fire
is not
my word
a hammer
the word
of God
coupled with
the spirit
of God
is going
to help
Tim
Knoyer
be a
little
less
inclined
to do
and say
and think
some of
the things
that I
do
my point
the larger
focus is
that silence
is not
normal
and it
would have
been normal
for Jesus
to defend
himself
secondly
we do
have many
Bible
examples
of individuals
who when
they're falsely
accused
they went
ahead and
had something
to say
Acts chapter
4
Peter and
John
before the
Sanhedrin
they had
something to
say
how is it
that these
unlearned
men
are so
proficient
well
they figured
out they
had been
with Jesus
I think
about
Stephen
in Acts
chapter 7
brought with
false
accusation
and any
of you
who have
read
Stephen's
little
brief
sermon
know
that he
starts out
with just
a wonderful
recitation
of Old
Testament
history
and he
ends up
what does
he do
you hard
hearted
stiff
neck
he lets
them know
that they
are having
a problem
with sin
and it
just
turned
them
angry
well we
think about
Paul
falsely
accused
he defended
himself
and I
think about
the passage
in Luke
chapter 12
verse 11
and 12
let's look
at it
just for
a moment
you're in
Luke 22
so turn
back
just for
a second
Luke
chapter 12
verse 11
and 12
here's what
it says
and when
they bring
you before
the synagogues
and the
rulers
and the
authorities
do not
be anxious
about how
you should
defend
yourself
or what
you should
say
a little
comment
here
probably
most of
us here
when we
know we're
going into
an adversarial
conversation
we write
down
I hope
some of
the things
that we
think
need to
be said
am I
right
I used
to put
them on
a little
three by
five card
or a little
note
somewhere
so I
knew
where I
was
and I
knew
what
I
thought
needed
to be
said
at the
moment
after I
prayed
and
thought
about
it
and
Jesus
says
by the
way
when
you're
in
this
situation
don't
fret
about
it
why
for
the
Holy
Spirit
will
teach
you
in
that
very
hour
what
you
is
this
here's
Jesus
who
was
quiet
contrary
to the
general
nature
of
humanity
number
two
he
was
quiet
contrary
to
the
passage
in
Luke
chapter
12
that
tells
us
when
you're
brought
in
and
false
don't
worry
about
it
the
Holy
Spirit
will
give
you
something
to
say
so
we
have
to
ask
ourselves
why
didn't
Jesus
say
anything
it's
important
now
when
we're
trying
to
figure
out
why
Jesus
was
silent
let me
again
give a
little
note
in
relationship
to
that
question
when
we
are
looking
for
a
significant
answer
to
a
difficult
question
make
it
clear
in
your
thinking
that
the
Bible
is
the
best
resource
to
get
a
reliable
answer
can
I
say
that
slowly
the
Bible
is
the
best
resource
to
get
a
reliable
answer
I
am
grieved
of
heart
by
how
often
I
see
believers
professing
to
believe
in the
sufficiency
of
scripture
who
will
rely
upon
every
other
form
of
advice
than
scripture
well I
quote
such and
such a
psychologist
or I'll
quote
such and
such a
therapist
or I'll
quote
such and
such a
person
who
had
a
screed
on
Facebook
or
wherever
else
and
those
things
really
kind of
wrap me
around
the
axle
and
I
am
fully
persuaded
of
their
significance
and
the
scripture
is not
in
them
it's
not
a
bad
idea
to
consult
the
internet
when you
want to
figure out
how to
change
your
oil
okay
but
when
you're
trying to
deal
with
a
problem
of
your
soul
a
person
who
has
a
Ph.D.
in
psychology
and
an
SS
in
theology
is
not
your
best
resource
what do
you mean by
SS
I mean
you know
something they
learned in
Sunday
school in
fourth
grade
it's
not
significant
enough
to stake
your
life on
it
I don't
have a
problem
with
individuals
who
don't
on
the
instant
have a
Bible
answer
I
have
a
problem
with
people
who
don't
look
for
a
Bible
answer
can I
say that
again
slowly
I
have
a
problem
with
people
that
don't
look
for
a
Bible
answer
there's
something
wrong
when we
believe
that the
God
of this
universe
the
savior
of
mankind
can
be
trusted
to
get
us
to
heaven
but
not
give
us
adequate
counsel
on how
to
solve
the
problems
we
have
in
life
there's
something
wrong
and we
wonder
why
we're
in
the
mess
we
are
so
we
find
that
Jesus
was
quiet
and we
have
to
ask
why
well
first
I
want
you
to
know
that
Jesus
never
said
anything
that
his
father
didn't
tell
him
to
say
that's
pretty
striking
isn't
it
how
many
of
you
would
like
that
to
be
true
of
you
Jesus
never
said
anything
that
wasn't
according
to
his
father's
will
John
chapter 8
verse 28
listen to
this one
I do
nothing
of my
own
authority
but speak
just
as
the
father
taught
me
sometimes
I have
to
ask
myself
after
I've
said
something
and
you
know
the
alarm
bell
goes
off
in
my
conscience
any
of
you
have
that
problem
it's
like
and
and I
get
caught
between
two
things
self
justification
well
you
righteous
man
Tim
76
anything
yeah
right
where's
it
that
in the
Bible
Jesus
never
said
anything
that
his
father
didn't
instruct
him
to
say
hey
here's
another
passage
John
chapter
12
verse
49
and
50
I
have
not
spoken
on
my
own
authority
but
the
father
who
sent
me
has
himself
given
me
a
commandment
what
to
say
and
what
to
speak
and
by
the
way
the
best
way
to
know
what
the
father
wants
you
to
say
are
you
worried
for
this
one
is
by
being
sure
that
what
you
want
to
say
is
corroborated
supported
confirmed
in the
scriptures
right
I
can't
tell you
how many
harebrained
ideas
I've
had
that
I
thought
were
just
so
full
of
righteousness
and
later
on
I
thought
you
know
what
there
is
not
a
Bible
verse
that
comes
close
Jesus
said
I
never
said
a
thing
that
my father
didn't
want
me
to
say
and
we've
all
been
there
haven't
we
one of
the
things
that
happens
in
human
life
is
after
we
say
something
we
sometimes
particularly
in
believers
lives
I
want
you
to
understand
that
believers
have
this
little
alarm
bell
that
goes
off
am I
right
it's
like
oh
I'm
not
sure
about
that
one
and
then
you
get
an
argument
with
yourself
well
I
wouldn't
have
said
what
I
did
if
he
hadn't
said
what
he
did
well
it
needed
to
be
said
it
was
true
you
know
I
you
know
what
I'm
saying
here's
Jesus
I
never
have
said
anything
that
my
father
didn't
want
me
to
say
I
want
to
be
like
that
so
we
can
safely
say
if
Jesus
was
quiet
now
it
was
because
the
father
wanted
him
to
be
quiet
we
do
know
secondly
that
Jesus
was
quite
aware
that
what
he
could
say
wouldn't
change
people's
hearts
anyway
back
up
you're
in
Luke
chapter
23
but
just
go
back
if
you
would
to
Luke
chapter
22
and
read
what
we
find
out
there
in
verse
67
if
you
are
the
Christ
they
said
tell
us
but
he
said
to
them
if
I
tell
you
will
not
believe
and
if
I
ask
you
will
not
answer
how
many
of
you
on
occasion
have
known
that
nothing
you
say
is
going
to
make
any
difference
and
swine
lest
they
turn
and
rend
you
there
are
times
that
getting
in a
dispute
is
prompted
by
individuals
who are
quite
full
of
their
own
righteousness
and
believe
that
they
are
the
end
of
persuasion
there's
a time
to be
quiet
and
Jesus
here
in the
text
made
it
clear
that
there
was
a
time
to
be
quiet
there's
something
even
more
important
than
those
two
things
though
and
I
want
you
to
understand
that
behind
this
business
of
being
quiet
in
a
very
unusual
and
challenging
time
is
the
fact
that
Jesus
submitted
to
the
plan
of
salvation
he
knew
what
was
going
on
he
knew
why
he
had
come
and
he
knew
what
needed
to be
done
and
so
I
ask
you
when
you
stop
and
think
about
Jesus
being
quiet
in
this
is
your
heart
drawn
to
consider
that
I
know
why
he
was
quiet
he
had
me
in
mind
he
was
thinking
about
the
cross
he
was
thinking
about
my
redemption
he
was
thinking
about
the
plan
of
the
father
for
all
of
eternity
to
bring
about
the
salvation
of
individuals
and
he
knew
how
this
was
supposed
to
play
out
and
there
was
no
reason
to
interfere
if
you
think
with me
back
through
the
history
of
scripture
and
I
take
you
back
just
for a
moment
to
Genesis
chapter
3
where
sin
entered
the
garden
you
will
remember
that
after
sin
entered
the
garden
God
provided
skins
and
where
do
skins
come
from
animals
now
we
don't
know
for a
fact
what
the
first
animal
was
because
it
doesn't
tell
us
and
when
the
scripture
doesn't
tell
us
we
probably
do
well
not
to
add
our
own
thinking
to
it
would
you
agree
with
that
but
something
had
to die
to
provide
a
covering
we
also
know
!
that
when
God
said
to
Abraham
I
want
you
to
take
your
son
up
that
mountain
and
I
want
you
to
sacrifice
him
as
Isaac
and
Abraham
are
marching
up
the
mountain
remember
Isaac
says
I
get
it
here's
the
fire
here's
the
wood
where
where's
the
lamb
right
what
does
Abraham
say
God
will
provide
and
God
provides
a
lamb
when
the
nation
of
Israel
in
slavery
in
Egypt
was
told
that
every
firstborn
was
going
to
die
there
was
one
remedy
it
was
blood
on
the
doorpost
and
on
the
lentils
when
John
the
Baptist
saw
Jesus
coming
do you
know
what
he
said
behold
the
lamb
of
God
that
takes
away
the
sin
of
the
world
turn
in your
Bibles
now if
you would
back
to
Isaiah
chapter
53
why
was
Jesus
quiet
and
at
your
own
leisure
when
you're
home
later
I
want
you
to
read
from
Isaiah
chapter
52
verse
13
all the
way to
the end
of the
chapter
and just
do that
with a
quiet spirit
and revel
in the sweetness
of the Lord
Jesus
but in
verse 4
surely he
has borne
our griefs
and carried
our sorrows
yet we
esteemed
him
stricken
smitten
by God
and afflicted
he was
pierced
for our
transgressions
he was crushed
for our
iniquities
upon him
was the
chastisement
that brought
us peace
and with
his wounds
we are
healed
all we
like sheep
have gone
astray
we were
turned
everyone
to his
own
way
and the
Lord
has laid
on him
the
iniquity
of us
all
he was
oppressed
and he
was afflicted
yet he
opened
not his
mouth
like a
lamb
that was
led
to the
slaughter
and like
a sheep
that before
it shears
is silent
so he
opened
not
his
mouth
probably
one of
the most
striking
portions
of Isaiah
chapter 53
is verse
10
I think
in the
King
James
it says
for it
pleased
the
Lord
to
bruise
him
I
think
that
God
the
father
was
willing
that
his
son
should
die
for me
it's
overwhelming
so how
does that
fit
today
well you're
here this
morning as
one who
knows the
Lord Jesus
and your
heart just
kind of
thrills when
you stop
and think
that's my
savior
who loves
me
and someday
I'm going to
see him face
to face
there may be
some of you
that this
morning you
have to
admit
like in
revelation
where it
says
to the
church at
Ephesus
you've lost
your first
love
and this
morning the
truth of
the matter
is your
heart is
just
indifferent
to the
sweetness of
the savior
that in
eternity
will occupy
all of
your thinking
and your
joy
and you're
sitting here
saying you
know there's
something wrong
with me
and I don't
want to
stay this
way
well there's
a remedy
cry out to
the Lord
and say
look do
something about
this stone
cold heart
you know I
can mock
a movie
where someone
stands up
and says
mirror mirror
on the wall
who's the
fairest of
them all
but I am
caught in
that sin
and I
wanted to
change
I can tell
you this
God answers
that kind
of prayer
there may
be some
of you
here that
do not
know
Christ
and I
can tell
you you
know full
well what
the bitterness
is of being
a self
focused
unhappy
insecure
guilt ridden
person and
there is no
remedy for
your soul
except in
Jesus
let's close
in prayer
father
let your
word
fall
on fertile
soil
to the
glory
of Christ
amen