Never, Never, Never Series

1. “Never” has powerful implications

a. Intentions of finality – “I’ll never do that again.” “Never in a million years.”

b. Intentions of determination – [Winston Churchill once spoke at a commencement address several years after WWII. He walked to the podium and said, “Never, never, never give up!” Then he turned and sat down.

2. I read an article recently in which the author identified some things that never happened with Jesus in the biblical narrative. This started my “wheels turning.”

3. Think with me of some NEVERS regarding Jesus:

I. Jesus Never Asked for the Details of Sin

A. We Know He is Aware of Our Sins – He is God in the Flesh (a Great Mystery)

1. He Made Us and Knows Our Weaknesses

2. He Sees Us – “Where are you?”

B. We Know He Confronts Sin – whole purpose of the Cross

1. He is Harsh with the Harsh

• Woes to Hypocrites in Matthew 23

• Moneychangers in the Temple

• A word of caution – Matthew 7.1; Galatians 6.1

• We are servants and peers in the LORD, not dictators to one another

o We see actions and jump to conclusions – sometimes act incorrectly

o He sees actions and hearts – acts correctly toward us

2. He is Compassionate with the Contrite – Isaiah 66.2b

But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word.

• Pharisee and Tax Collector – Luke 18.9-14

C. We Know He is Anxious to Forgive Us – Luke 23.34

1. The Reason He Came – Seek and Save – Luke 19.10 cf. Ezekiel 34

2. He wants us to practice forgiving “7 x 70”

3. No Groveling – He gives us dignity

[Woman in Adultery – John 8.11 – “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

II. Jesus Never Rewarded the Self-Serving – Matthew 7.15-27

A. The Deceptive Teachers – 7.15-20

1. Misleading People (especially those claiming to be Messiah)

2. Self-serving purposes

B. The Need to Know Jesus – 7.21-23

1. Know implies relationship/fellowship, not just knowing of – Acts 19.13

2. Disciples did not know the exorcists of Mark 9 and wanted to stop them; Jesus knew them

3. Caution – We mustn’t try to use Jesus for self-serving reasons; be genuine

C. The Path to Knowing – 7.24-27

1. Hear and Do –

2. Sinai – Do and Hear – Exodus 19.8

III. Jesus Never Turned Down an Invitation

A. Hospitality is a high Mitzvah (good deed)

1. Rabbis traveled and lived off of hospitality

Yossei the son of Yoezer of Tzreidah would say: Let your home be a meeting place for the wise; dust yourself in the soil of their feet, and drink thirstily of their words. Pirkei Avot 1:4

2. Turn Down Invitation = Rob of Blessing

B. Receiving Hospitality was Part of His Nature

1. 3 Visitors to Abram (Genesis 18)

2. Do to others = do to me – Matthew 25

C. Jesus Accepts the Invitation of:

1. Friends – Luke 5:29 And Levi made him a great feast in his house, and there was a large company of tax collectors and others reclining at table with them.

2. Enemies – Luke 7.36-50

3. YOUR Invitation

• See in our treatment of others (Matthew 25)

• Easy (and good) to invite friends

• More challenging with those out of our comfort zone

• We never know who we might entertain with hospitality

o Angels – Hebrews 13.2

o God (Genesis 18)

o Treat all strangers as though they are Jesus

1. Some Things Jesus Never Did

2. Contrast NEVER with ALWAYS

3. ALWAYS stands and knocks on out Hearts – Revelation 3.20

4. Always invites us to himself – Matthew 11.28-30

5. Always ready to forgive and redeem – 2 Peter 3.9