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Shamefully Handled |
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Introduction: The Jewish leaders recognized that the Lord had spoken this parable against them. It sets forth in brevity the history of Israel. The opening verses come from Isaiah 5 and leave no doubt that Israel is the subject of this parable. God has chosen Israel to be His people; He had separated them from all nations in the world, setting a hedge about them, consisting of His revealed will in the Word of God.
The Jews truly had been richly favored, and therefore, God had a right to expect fruit from them. He sent His servants and they refused to hearken. Then in the final gesture of love, God sent to them His only Son. They took Him and killed Him. The sending of the Son was the last trial of divine mercy with His chosen people. Christ is God's last appeal to men. It is a disgrace the way some things are handled today. I could declare to you how our tax-dollars is shamefully handled by the politicians, how the education of our children is shamefully handled, or how our liberties are shamefully handled but each of these are messages in themselves. I want to give you some spiritual matters that are shamefully handled.
1. God's Son is Shamefully Handled
John 19 alone tells us in the day that Jesus walked upon this earth that He was smitten, spit upon, scourged, and mocked. He was shamefully handled then. "by wicked hands have crucified and slain." He was battered and bruised by wicked hands. Isaiah states that He hid not His face from shame and spitting. Guards blindfolded Him and mockingly taunted Him to identify them as they each passed by, and spat on Him and stuck Him in the face. Soon thereafter He is stripped of His clothing and scourged. Place crown of thorns on His brow and a reed in His hand for a scepter and then bow before Him mockingly.
His trail was the result of a conspiracy. According to Jewish law, a unanimous verdict of guilty was considered an acquittal and yet the Bible says, "they all condemned him to be guilty of death." The witnesses did not agree.
We are guilty of shamefully handling Him today:
A. By not speaking for Him
B. By not speaking to Him
C. By not reading of Him
2. God's Spirit Is Shamefully Handled
The Spirit of God is treated lightly and given credit for things that He would not allow or be a part of. Some say that he throws you on the floor and makes you act in an indecent way. The Spirit of God will never lead you to do anything contrary to the written Word of God. He will never lead you from darkness into light.
A. He is quenched - not doing what He would have us do - negative
B. He is grieved - doing what the Holy Spirit would not have us to do - positive
C. He is resisted - deal with our hearts
D. He is insulted - Hebrews 10:29
(Hebrews 10:29) "Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?"
To sin with a high hand .... arrogant attitude insults the Holy Spirit of God which indwells every believer. You are like a husband who brings home a disease-infested girlfriend and says to his sweet, loving wife. "You will just have to endure it. I am keeping this gal right here with us." Just push the Holy Spirit aside and give Him little attention.
3. God's Scriptures Are Shamefully Handled
(2 Timothy 2:15) "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."
People handled the Bible shamefully by putting other books on the level with it, by saying that it is not inspired completely or verbally, by letting dust form on it from lack of use, by failing to claim its promises, and by heeding to obey its admonition.
(1 Thessalonians 2:13) "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."
A. Appreciate It
1. Peculiar in its construction - "Word of God"
2. Priceless in its content
3. Powerful in its communication
(Hebrews 4:13) "Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."
a. Powerful in its changes
b. Powerful in its comforts
c. Powerful in its challenges
d. Powerful in its cleanses
B. Appropriate
C. Apply it
D. Needs to be in our lives
1. A reassertion of the necessity of the Word
a. Indispensable
2. A recognition of the nature of the Word
a. Infallible
b. Inexhaustible
c. Incorruptible - not liable to decay ... it is eternal in nature
d. Indestructible
3. A realization of the nourishment of the Word
4. God's Saints Are Shamefully Handled
Mocked, laughed at, called names, lied upon ... God's children. 1 Thes. 2:2 Isaiah was sawn asunder: Jeremy was stone; Amos was murdered with a club;
(1 Thessalonians 2:2) "But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention."
John the Baptist was beheaded; Stephen was stoned to death. Hebrews says "Others had trial of cruel mockings and scourges, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonments: THEY WERE STONED, THEY WERE SEWN ASUNDER, WERE TEMPTED, WERE SLAIN WITH THE SWORD: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (of whom the world was not worthy)."
A. Ought to love one another
B. Pray for one another
C. Forgive one another
D. Edify one another
5. God's Supply Is Shamefully Handled
Blessing of God is shamefully handled. "What hast thou that thou didst not receive?"
A. His supply of talents
B. His supply of treasure (financial)
C. His supply of time
Waste the blessings of God on the things of this world, but don't invest in that which will last for eternity. Waste God's blessing on the temporal instead of investing in the eternal.
Conclusion:
Are you guilty of shamefully handling spiritual things? What do your actions portray? What does your attitude manifest? |
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