Any Room for Jesus?

Any Room for Jesus?

by Andrew Grosjean

Canaan Baptist Church

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 ([And] this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Beth-lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

I. Our world does not really have any room for Good People. They kept Joseph, Mary, and Jesus all out in the cold.

A. Joseph was a Respectable Father

He was committed to doing the right thing. He did not want people to think that he was immoral with Mary. Nor did he want to publicly accuse her. Our society has no room for men of purity. We push our men to be effeminate. We do expect them to be immoral. We expect them to be selfish. The world does not know what to do with men that are serious about God and about doing right. Joseph could have left Mary alone and left her to do her own thing. But no, Joseph was committed to his wife. Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20 But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.

B. Righteous Woman (truly a virgin).

Though she was a virgin, people did not believe. The world expects their daughter to be immoral. After all, it is their own body right? They can do what they want, right. No, that is not God's way. And the world does not know what to do with a young lady that is committed to virtue.

C. Responsibility of a child Matthew 19: 14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.

Our world is intolerant of children. They choose anything and everything they want rather than let children have a place in their life. Yes, children are a responsibility, but they are worth it.

People think that Planned Parenthood has the answers. No, we need to stop shutting out children out of our lives, even the unplanned ones. What would our world have been like if Planned Parenthood had come along to Mary and said, “Look, you are an unmarried woman. People are going to look at you differently for the rest of your life if you go through with this pregnancy. You don’t have any money. You don’t have a job. You don’t have any family to support you. And Joseph is homeless right now. Why not just terminate this unplanned pregnancy and wait until you are better established.”

NO! God knew exactly what He was doing. Yes, a new baby is a hard thing sometimes, but God sent them all the money that they needed so that they were not homeless. In fact, they received all the resources they needed. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh went a long way in that society. Do not close your door to any little child. God has someone that will open their lives to them. Bring them into this world. There is a family that will take them in if you cannot raise them yourself.

D. Real families.

I can just imagine that Inn Keeper saying, “If it were just one of you. . . But we have a policy, No children in our Inn. In fact, no birthing in our Inn. If it were just one or two, but not your whole family.” We live in a country where our laws, taxes, and policies give advantages to unwed mothers and divorced people. Our world, in the name of compassion actually makes it harder for real families to continue. We do this by offering aid to unwed mothers, but the mother in the same situation financially except that she is married is refused. We do this also when our tax system makes it cheaper for the unmarried person than for the married. We do it again when our government pays for mothers to put their own children to death. This is a societal atrocity of which our nation should be ashamed. We need to support those families that want to do the right thing and get married. We need to support those parents that want to do the right thing and take the responsibility for their children.

II. No room for Genuine Pauper (Poor).

If Mary and Joseph had been rich when they got to the inn, that Inn Keeper would have found room for them. But they were not rich until later when the wise men visited.

A. Poor in Silver.

They did not have the world’s wealth, and so they did not get the world’s respect. While poverty is not a virtue, neither is wealth. We need to remember those in the past, in our spiritual heritage who were not wealthy in the worlds goods. Jesus at some times during his earthly ministry said that he did not even have provision for lodging. Paul said that he knew how to suffer want during his ministry as well. This world will always show preference to the wealthy over the poor. But his is not God’s way. He does not show favoritism. He does not love one man over another. He does not respect one’s wealth. He needs nothing of our possessions.

B. Poor in Sophistication I Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching [was] not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Being sophisticated is fine. Understanding the nuances of conversation and communication is advantageous. But this does not make us any more acceptable to God. Being educated on the finer points of polite society does not make God love us anymore. The world does prefer the more sophisticated person over the unsophisticated, and the world tends to push those out that are not. If Mary was carrying a Prada purse, and Joseph had Armani robes . . . And if they rode in on a Limo camel instead of a Yugo donkey, they would have gotten a room. If Joseph was an attorney with a Rolex sundial on his wrist, they would have gotten a room because they would have been seen as sophisticated. They had no worldly influence. They had no political pull. They were simple and good people.

God, on the other hand, says that He chooses the simple in this world to confound the wise. He uses the foolishness of the Gospel to save everyone. If you want to get to heaven, you have to be like a child. A child is not rich or sophisticated. He is not educated or wise by the world’s standards. He is simple. That is God’s way for salvation. You have to come in simple if you come in at all.

Paul could have been sophisticated in his preaching to the Corinthians, but he refused to be so. He wanted those at Corinth to be moved and persuaded by the Spirit of God rather with how well he could speak or the inspiring nature of his philosophies. Paul was simple in preaching that salvation is a free gift that you cannot buy. You have to just believe and receive it.

C. Poor in Spirit Isaiah 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven [is] my throne, and the earth [is] my footstool: where [is] the house that ye build unto me? and where [is] the place of my rest? 2 For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: but to this [man] will I look, [even] to [him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

This is the person that God accepts, but the world has no room for. The person who is poor in spirit recognizes that he has nothing to make himself more valuable to God than anyone else. God loves us all the same. The poor in spirit is not prideful and recognizes his utter dependence on the provision of God, both physically and spiritually. The world has no room for this person because they eat up the person who is humble and meek. They detest the person that is not egocentric. They want those that are self absorbed and full of themselves. They say that do not like those people, but why is it that these people fill our entertainment world and are the big stars? The Inn keeper had no room for two humble people with no money and no influence.

III. No room for God’s Plans

A. His Son Psalms 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

The world had no room for Jesus in that day just as today. Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. The world and the Jews back then could not accept that. The Muslims today also cannot accept that. The Jews back then knew that calling Jesus the Son of God made Him equal to God the Father. They understood that the son has the nature of the father. So, they would not call any man the son of God because that would mean that that man was equal in nature to the Father.

The Jehovah False Witnesses and other similar groups do not understand that today. They will call Jesus the Son of God, but not Deity. They do not really understand what they are saying. The Bible demonstrates conclusively that Jesus was saying that He was equal to God by calling himself the Son of God. John 5:18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

Other groups like the Mormons diminish the deity of Jesus by saying that He was the brother of Lucifer. Satan may have been a son of God, in that he was a direct creation of God, like all the angels are. But only Jesus was called the only begotten Son of God. Jesus is more than any angel including Lucifer because He created everyone of the angels. Jesus was not created because the Bible says that He created everything that has been created. Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

The world has no room for Jesus because He is the only begotten Son of God, equal to God in glory, power, and deity. He became a servant to the Father for our redemption, but God will raise Him to all glory.

B. His Sovereign Matthew 2:11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Jesus is the anointed Sovereign of God. The world has no room for Jesus because He is the Lord of all. I am not a democrat or a republican. I am definitely not a libertarian or a green party person. I am a Theistic Monarchist. I believe that God will rule on this world in the person of Jesus Christ. He will rule on the throne of David in the city of David. He is the rightful monarch of the world. And He is deity. So, I am a Theistic Monarchist. The world has no place for Him still today just as then two thousand years ago. They have no room for Jesus to rule as Messiah in Jerusalem. So, they keep pushing Him, God’s Sovereign, out of society and their lives and our governments.

C. His Salvation Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

Finally, the World pushes Jesus out of their lives today because He is God’s only salvation. This is not accepted because people hate to admit that they truly need Jesus. This is going to make some enemies, but every religion except for Biblical Christianity teaches that Jesus is not enough to get anyone to Salvation.

Roman Catholics, Mormons, Jehovah False Witnesses, Muslims, Modern Judaism, Eastern Religions as well, they agree on one point of doctrine. They all say that you have to follow a certain code of conduct to have peace with their various gods. They all disagree on the particulars. What is and where is Heaven/paradise/eternal rest? They all have differences. Which things should you do to be a good person? They all have their own specifics. But they all agree on one point. You will not get to the eternal rest if you do not do something and keep doing it.

This is in direct opposition to Ancient Judaism and Christianity. Abraham was made righteous, not by sacrifice, but by faith. Christ is not welcome in our world because the World has no room for His brand of Salvation. He was the sole price for salvation, not the blood of bulls and goats, not becoming a missionary or wearing holy underwear, not by following the Watchtower, not by obeying your papa or praying to the mother, not by the five pillars. . . All of these things are the works of the flesh and cannot save anyone. The only thing that saves anyone is the perfect and complete sacrifice of the sinless God/man. He demands that you come to Him on His terms: Simple Faith. You are a pauper before God. You do not get to Heaven by being good or doing good.

This world has no room for Jesus because He is God’s given salvation.

Places Where We Need to Make Room for Jesus

Is There Room for Jesus Today

by Andrew Grosjean

Luke 2:1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2 ([And] this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Beth-lehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

I. In your Fellowship Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and [that] the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

What we are talking about here is the sad state of a church when there is no more room for Jesus there. Unfortunately, this happens all too often. Most people have no idea that it has. But Jesus warned several times in the beginning of the Book of Revelation that if a church did not repent, Jesus would remove their candlestick. This means that the glory of the presence, power, and validation of God. There are many churches that used to be valid and living churches from which the glory of God has departed. There are many churches that think they are valid. They are prosperous like the church of Laodicea. They were sophisticated. They were powerful. They were rich, but they had shut Jesus out. This is the sad state of many churches today. They are prosperous and powerful, but they have no room for God. Jesus was knocking on the door, not only of the individual heart, but also of the church. They had locked Him out. Do we lock Him out today as the Church of Laodicea did so long ago.

A. When you are Self-Satisfied

They closed Jesus out because they were wealthy and had no need for Jesus. When we are self sufficient in our lives, very often we become self-satisfied as well and do not need God.

B. When you have no Shame

Jesus was locked out of the church because they had no shame. Jesus told them that they needed to buy white garments. This is a figure of their purity, but it was also perhaps a clue as to what their problem was. They were wearing the world’s dress code instead of following God’s standards of modesty. Clothes are supposed to cover the shame nakedness, but our society celebrates this shame. This shameless was one reason why Jesus had no place in that church.

C. When you cannot See

This is what happens when a church has no more room for teaching the truth of God’s Word. Jesus is not only left on the outside of the church, but the people inside are left without spiritual light. If we are going to maintain a place for Jesus in our churches, then we must get His light from His Word. We need His eye salve to heal our spiritual blindness.

II. In your Finances Ephesians 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are [your] masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether [he be] bond or free. 9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

A. Employees

Do you keep room for Jesus in your work place? Paul says that we need to work for our “master” as if we were working for Jesus. Would you treat Jesus the way you treat your manager or foreman? We need to serve with the proper respect.

B. Employers

We bosses, managers, and foremen, we need to treat those under us with respect. God does not show favoritism. He does not show favoritism. Neither should we. We need to be careful to be abusive with threats. We need to respect our employees because God is watching.

C. Endowment (Tithes and Offerings) Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye [are] cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, [even] this whole nation. 10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it]. 11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

An endowment is a gift that we give to a person or organization that empowers them to do something. God calls us to do this when it comes to the church. God makes it clear that you can do more with 90% of your income than you can with 100%. The reason is that the tenth, tithe, 10% is not yours. It is in fact God’s. Now, the offering is what ever God puts on your heart. It could be $1 or $1000. You let your conscience be your guide. But give God something above what is His. So be faithful to Him and see if He does not open the windows of Heaven for you as well.

III. In your Family

Have you kept a place in your family for God. Fathers, do you lead your family in devotions? God puts this responsibility for responsibility on the father. Of course, mothers of utmost importance, but God puts the final responsibility of the father for the spiritual temperature and dedication in the home. Have you kept a place for Jesus in your home, or do you push Him out?

IV. In your Faith Rev. 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

This should be understood in the context of the church that was pushing Jesus out. But it is a soul winning verse. Beyond that, it is not just for soul winning. It also has bearing on a Christian’s life after salvation.

A. Standing Out Side

For the one who has never trusted Jesus as his Savior, Jesus is standing at your heart’s door today. He is standing outside because He will not force His way in. Jesus is a gentleman. He will not force you to love Him, seek Him, or turn to Him. He waits for you to respond. He could force anything He wanted. He certainly has the right as God. But He has limited Himself. He has condescended to us. He gives us the authority to say no, even to Him. Please, do not say no.

For those that have been saved and have the Spirit of Jesus in your heart, Jesus is still left on the outside of parts of our souls. We say, “Oh yes, Jesus come into my life.” Meanwhile we are building on rooms on the back of the house to hide our pet sins. Then when Jesus wants to get in there, we start building closets. Then we build drawers. No, my friend, let Jesus have it all.

B. Sounding the Call to Sinners

Jesus calls to us all because we all are sinners. There is none of us that is righteous enough to get to Heaven on our own. We have been tainted by the evil of our sinful choices.

C. Supping with the Saints

Jesus is waiting to come in so that we can have communion with Him. Supping here is just a word for communion. He not only wants to spread the table of spiritual food for us. He wants to sit down and commune with us my friend. God wants you to know that He knows you. He wants you to know Him.

December 20, 2009sn