NO ROOM
(Luke 2:1-7)
and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.
She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.
Introduction: The Virgin Birth of Jesus
A. It was a Famous Event.
B. It was a Fantastic Event.
C. It was a Foretold Event.
D. It was a Far-reaching Event.
I. THE REASONS WHY THERE IS OFTEN NO ROOM FOR JESUS.
A. Pleasures
(Luke 8:14) The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
B. Money
(Luke 18:18-20) A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. You know the commandments: ’Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’"
C. Business
(Luke 12:16-21) And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ’What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ "Then he said, ’This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I’ll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ’"But God said to him, ’You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ "This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God."
C. No Love
(Luke 16:19) "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, ’Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ "But Abraham replied, ’Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’ "He answered, ’Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’ "Abraham replied, ’They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’ "’No, father Abraham,’ he said, ’but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ "He said to him, ’If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’"
D. Religion
(Luke 11:37-44) When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table. But the Pharisee, noticing that Jesus did not first wash before the meal, was surprised. Then the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give what is inside the dish to the poor, and everything will be clean for you. "Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone. "Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. "Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without knowing it."
II. THE RESULTS OF THERE BEING NO ROOM FOR JESUS.
A. Choked
(Luke 8:14) The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
B. Sad
(Luke 18:23) When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth
C. Death
(Luke 12:20) "But God said to him, ’You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
D. Hell
Luke 16:23) In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
E. Apostasy
(Luke 12:10) And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
III. THE REMEDY FOR HAVING NO ROOM FOR JESUS.
A. Receptive heart
(Luke 8:15) But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
B. Obedience
(Luke 18:22) When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
C. No Self-reliance
(Luke 12:19) And I’ll say to myself, "You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry."’
(Luke 16:19) "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.
D. Faith in Jesus
(Luke 12:8) "I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God.
