“MAKE ROOM in your Head”
Sunday, December 8, 2024
There is a big difference in NEED vs. WANT?
What is required in embracing need over want?
When Jesus arrived to earth… the people were in a very different headspace about Him.
John 1:10-12 (NIV)
[Jesus] was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…
Jesus’ own did not RECEIVE him, because they didn’t RECOGNIZE him.
There was NO ROOM in their understanding to embrace who Jesus was… because their minds were already fixed on who they wanted him to be.
John 1:45-46 (NIV)
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
Matthew 21:23 (NIV)
Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him, “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
Isaiah 53:2 (NIV)
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
What did the people want?
They Wanted Retribution
Genesis 3:15 (NIV)
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.
They Wanted a Victorious Ruler
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.
Micah 5:2 (NIV)
…out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
Are we any different?
What did the people need?
Genesis 3:7-9 (NIV)
Then the eyes of both of them, [Adam and Eve], were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
Because of Sin, Our Innocence Was Lost…
Because of Lost Innocence, We Needed a Savior!
Colossians 1:22 (CEV)
But his Son became a human and died. So God made peace with you, and now he lets you stand in his presence as people who are holy and faultless and innocent.
Because of Sin, Shame Is What We Bear…
Because of our Shame, We Needed a Shame Bearer!
Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured he cross, scorning its shame… enduring such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Because of Sin, Our Relationship with the Father Was Broken…
Because Our Relationship Was Broken, We Needed a Restorer.
I John 3:1, 4-5 (NIV)
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! …Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that [Jesus] appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.
Where do we begin? So many thoughts… so much confusion… where do I begin in changing my thinking?
Genesis 3:21 (NIV)
The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.