Romans 5:7-8 (NIV) Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
I am going to be using this passage today to preach to you about … “THE UNEXPECTED”
As we begin to consider “THE UNEXPECTED” my mind moves to many times throughout scripture, OT & New, where God likes to work in the realm of the “unexpected”
· Recall acct of camp staff praying over me to the “begin to think in the realm of the supernatural”
o So I tell you all today, “let’s begin to think in the realm of the unexpected”
· Everything about the One who we call “Jesus” seems to defy expectation.
o It was true then, it is still true today… (even though they/we were told beforehand)
o They had every prophecy about the EXPECTED Messiah & still somehow the “religious people” of His day treated Jesus as if He was UNEXPECTED.
· Everything about the way He handled people was unexpected…
§ the Pharisees, Scribes
§ His disciples
§ All the others, who came to Him for signs, miracles, wonders, healings, teachings
· Think of the “Be” attitudes
· Think of the conversations going on during the Last Supper
· Think of the way He said “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” Luke 18:16-17 (NIV)
o Everything about His birth, life ministry, miracles,
o His death, burial, resurrection & ascension: “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” 1Cor 2:7-8 (KJV)
o The impartation of His Holy Spirit: “And suddenly [unexpectedly]there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind...”
o Sadly, at this time, in the course of human history, the world at large is making the same mistake as the promise of His coming again is becoming less & less expected.
· And… yet… we are told to expect… “The Unexpected”!
o Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
o 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
I’m going to take a couple of accounts in Scripture that brings us even closer to why we are here today by the grace of God.
{{{EXPAND ON PSGS BELOW & BRING CROWD TO REALIZE}}}
· Peter, after Jesus said “cast your nets” & they took a good haul of fishes. Peter says a most unexpected thing “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!” Luke 5:8
o Why does he say such a thing? He could have said “thank you” & just been amazed by the miracle, but with this unexpected catch of fish, he responds in kind of a revelation that standing before him was no ordinary man.
· Isaiah, when he has a vision of God, in His glory
o Isaiah 6:3-5 (NIV) “And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory. ”At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.”
The MAIN POINT in which I have brought you to today is to illustrate what Christ did in response to our sinful ways was profoundly… “unexpected”.
· Consider, for a moment ALL that we’ve done against Him
o {{ELABORATE ON SINS COMMITTED}}
· …How could you or I expect a “holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens” kind of God to have anything to do with us???
o What does this truly tell us about our God, that He KNEW we would do all the sinned previously mentioned AGAINST HIM & yet still, He goes ahead & creates us anyways?
o And moreover, NOT ONLY did He create us despite His knowing we would fall short, but He made provision for us to be justified by His blood
§ He was/is “lamb slain before the foundations of the world”,
§ “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
o On top of that He made provision for us to be sanctified through His Spirit & eventually glorified by the power of His own resurrection.
· What I want to remind us today is that…
o We are not worthy of grace, mercy or blessing. These are both unexpected & undeserved… so knowing this…
o WHAT KIND OF A RESPONSE DOES THIS ELICIT FOR THE UNBELIEVER & BELIEVER ALIKE???
§ Does this realization still cause our hearts to stir in 2010?
§ We, as created beings, by a stark & honest long look at ourselves are compelled to respond with… “the unexpected”
§ An unexpected approach to the altar, an unexpected knee to be bent in submission, unexpected voices being lifted up, unexpected repentance to be offered…
o AND HE, IN KIND… will respond…
§ With the UNEXPECTED peace that passes understanding
§ With UNEXPECTED joy inexpressible & full of glory
§ With the UNEXPECTED power of His Holy Spirit
§ With UNEXPECTED signs, miracles, wonders, healings & restoration
