Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, (Luke 19:4)

Luke records the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. (Luke 19:28-44)  The Lord rode into the city on a colt.  The disciples spread their clothes on the road and lavish Him with praises “saying:" 'Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!' Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" (Luke 19:38)  One would think such an occasion would bring happiness, but instead it invoked tears from the Savior.

We are often touched when others cry –the tears of a child or of a grieving mother or wife.  But, when a man of strength, power, and conviction cries, we know we are in the presence of deep emotion.  Why did Jesus weep?

Jesus wept out of sympathy for human suffering and sorrow.  He predicts troublesome days for Jerusalem.  (Luke 19:41-44)  In chapter 23 Luke again records Jesus:  "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.”For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!' (Luke 23:28-29)  This he said foreseeing the destruction of Jerusalem that would come in 70 AD.  It was compassion for the human race that motivated him to become poor that we might be rich. (II Corinthians 8:9)  It was compassion that prompted him in his tireless ministry to the lepers, lame, blind, hurting mothers, and sorrowful fathers.  It is this compassion that draws the hardened sinner to him today.  This is what makes Jesus so dear to his disciples. 

Jesus wept out of regret for those who are in the wrong.  Jesus promised God would punish Jerusalem "because you did not know the time of your visitation." (Luke 19:44)  God was in their midst and they rejected him!  Are we also affected by sin in the same way?  Do the foolish drunkard, foul-mouthed fool, the negligent parent, and the fool who espouses error leave us with a feeling of contempt and sorrow?  They should, because this is how Jesus felt!

Thus, as Jesus proceeds toward Jerusalem for one final confrontation with its religious leaders, he is overwhelmed with grief and tears.  His tears break into a passionate lamentation, for God had been in their midst and they did not acknowledge him.

Jesus must feel the same way toward a society like ours.  His word is found in almost every home in America, but it is virtually ignored.

By George Slover
 

"Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

This sermon clearly reveals the striking simplicity of the gospel message.  The banner of the gospel is the name of Jesus.  The great cause of the gospel is our salvation!  The proof of its validity is the known facts of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection.

The gospel of Christ cuts through all of the speculation and gets to the root of problem.   Man is lost in sin and separated from God.  He needs a savior.  This is the deepest need of every soul.  Man’s most important question is:  “What must I do to be saved?”

Salvation from sin is by a name.  A name stands for whatever rights, power, or authority that one may possess.  The name of Jesus is sufficient to secure pardon.  By his sacrificial death, he forever satisfied the justice of God (Romans 3:26-28), and the conscience of man (Hebrews 10:1,2).  Because of who he is and what he has done, Jesus has a name that is above every name. (Philippians 2:9,10)  

Salvation from sin is by only one name.  This is exclusive.  The apostle did not wave the banner of any religious party whether Confucius, Mohammed, Buddha, Luther, Calvin, or Smith.  Jesus is the only one who can secure salvation.  Many will try to add someone else’s name with Christ’s name.  Only Jesus Christ possesses all rights and power for salvation.  We must not substitute man made rituals, traditions, or heroes for simple obedience to Christ.  He has “a name that is above all names” and must be accepted as such.

Salvation from sin by the name of Jesus Christ is for all of mankind.  It is an invitation “given among men”.  Pardon is the inward yearning of all.  Health, love, knowledge, and human acceptance pale in comparison to man’s need for fellowship with God.  The free gift of God is offered to anyone who will accept it!

Many paths lead to various places, but only one road leads to the fulfillment of man’s greatest need.  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. (John 14:6)  Will you accept Jesus as your Savior?  Will you wave the banner for His cause?

By George Slover
 

And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD," says the Lord GOD, "when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. (Ezekiel 36:23)

The 70 year captivity served a purpose in punishing Judah for her wickedness.  Yet, the captivity would prompt charges from the heathen nations that Jehovah was feeble.  Thus, God reveals a much nobler purpose in all of His working – i.e.  Jehovah’s name would be sanctified.  To accomplish this task we read of four things God would do for Judah.

"For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. (Ezekiel 36:24)  He would remove them from heathen influences and give them the land.  God’s name is sanctified today by those who refuse to ally with the defilements of the world.  Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty." (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)  Such a change is a sign of genuine conversion.

"Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. (Ezekiel 36:25)  The law required the mixing of water with the ashes of a heifer for moral purification. (Num. 19:17-19)  Today, the sinner is cleansed by the blood of Jesus (Eph. 5:25-27) when he yields to the command of immersion in water. (I Pt. 3:20,21)  This is a necessary step to one’s being right with God.

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)  God would remove the old unreceptive heart and give them a heart of flesh.  This Old Testament utterance anticipates one of the richest truths of the New Testament.  Folks sometime view salvation as purely a change of the soul’s destiny, but fail to see that real conversion involves a change in one’s nature.  By the power of the gospel, pride, and stubbornness are broken down.  The renewed heart is ready to receive the call of God.

"I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. (Ezekiel 36:27)  The renewed heart produces a new kind of walk.  It is manifested by a life devoted to keeping God’s judgments.  Peter says, “for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:1-2) 

It is remarkable to find in Ezekiel’s prophecies an anticipation of the promises the New Covenant.  We live by the gracious assurance that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

By George Slover
 

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13)For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. (Romans 12:3)

In George Reavis’  “Animal School”, the animals decide to organize a school.  They adopt an activity curriculum consisting of running, climbing, swimming, and flying.  To make it easier to administer the curriculum, all the animals take all of the subjects. The duck is great at swimming, but a poor runner. The rabbit started at the top of his class in running, but dropped out because of the make-up work in swimming.  The squirrel was an excellent climber, but was frustrated with his flying lessons.  The eagle was a problem child, because in climbing class he insisted on using his own way to get to the top of the tree.  The prairie dogs stayed out of school because there were no classes in digging and burrowing.  What is the moral of this fable?  Do you see any similarities between the fable and the passage above?

In the context Paul is speaking of the body of Christ. (vs.4) The members of the body must not argue with each other, nor envy each other over their relative importance.  Each part has a function no matter how prominent or hidden they may be.  An honest assessment of self, and recognition of the importance of others will hold vain pride in check. 

No matter what the gift, each one must recognize that such gifts come from God.  One may be quite gifted in public speaking, another in quickly making acquaintances, another in leading; others have a special touch with those who are hurting.  But each gift comes from God.  There is no room for pride or arrogance.  God wants each one to use their gift out of a sense of mutual service.  Our focus must be on meeting the needs of the body “for we are members one of another”.

Furthermore, our worth in the body must be solely viewed through the grace of God.  Without Christ we are worthless, hell bound sinners.  That applies to every one of us.  A reminder of our common dependence in the same Savior will promote humility rather that pride and arrogance.

Instead of thinking so much of your own worth, turn your attention to the ministry of your brother.  Acknowledge his efforts and see to his needs. “There is room in the kingdom of God, my brother for the small things that you can do; Just a small kindly deed that may cheer another is the work God has planned for you.”

By George Slover
 

"Thus they changed their glory Into the image of an ox that eats grass. They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt, (Psalms 106:20-21)

It amazes me how often God revealed himself to Israel with mighty deeds.  It is frightening to read of how they rejected him.  The verses above remind us of the sin at Horeb (Exodus 32:1-10) when they made a golden calf.  Their sin was four-fold.

First, Israel disobeyed God’s command.  Israel was indebted to God for his delivering them from Egypt.  They had already pledged their allegiance to him.  Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, "All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient." And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words." (Exodus 24:7-8)  They were instructed to wait until they received a word from the Lord, but instead they acted without direction.  Such disobedience is often due to impatience with God.  (Exodus 32:1)

Second, Israel did not believe God.  Israel failed to trust God.  God had provided abundant evidence by his mighty deeds in Egypt.  However, Israel put their trust in an idolatrous image and rejected the one who was truly God, the Savior!

Third, the Israelites followed after their own devices.  This is a common pattern of mankind.  First, he rejects Jehovah.  Next, he fashions a god in his own likeness.  Finally, he follows the whims of his own heart.  They did what they wanted rather than what God approved.  This love of self is the root of all false religion.  The triumph over self-will is the objective of God fearing people.

Fourth, Israel dishonored God.  The command of God was plain.  "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; (Exodus 20:4)  The carnal mind walks by sight and not by faith.  Thus they changed their glory Into the image of an ox that eats grass. (Psalms 106:20)  And, they worshiped the image rather than God.  

Like Israel, many in modern times do not rightly value the power of Jehovah God.  Thus, they exchange him for a material god who serves their own worldly self-indulgence.  The result is tragic. 

BY George Slover