Oakbrook Evangelical Free Church

What is going on?
What is the current picture?  How is it going?  What is my knowledge and relationship with Jesus?
We are looking for key issues that call for change.
4:21 “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
~ Anointed by the Spirit
~ Declares good news - arrival of a new era
~ I not only tell you the promise  / I am the promise!
Listeners and hearers are put in the position of having to make a choice.
~ Can’t sit on the fence!
~ Not only to you have to respond to the message but you have to respond to Christ!
I.    The response to Jesus from his hometown, 4:22-30
II.    The response Jesus received from others, 4:31-44
A.    The Crowd’s response
The crowd does reflect on his message.  They were
Amazed / Perplexed = unsure and confused
B.    Jesus’ response
Jesus knew them very well

1.    A proverb  “Physician, heal yourself!”
“Show me!”
Miracles are a powerful proof of who Jesus is.
But are never enough for someone who does not want to come to Jesus!
Must be willing to ‘hear’ the word of God.

2.    A principle
No prophet is accepted in his home town!
You know this by personal experience.
Difficult for them to view you in a different perspective.
Know your family  “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
Carpenter -
Difficult for them to think about him outside the box they had him in.
Difficult to gain a new perspective / reframe their thinking
the box of family
The box of race
The box of socio/economic status
The box of culture
Even his brothers rejected him until after the resurrection!
John 7:2-5 “But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, “Jesus’ brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. “No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” “For even his own brothers did not believe in him.” NIV

All limiting them in their way of “seeing” or “not seeing” him.
3.    Some history that serves as a warning
2 stories from their history - Well known to them!
Refers to a low point in their history
1 Kings 17-18 / 2 Kings 5:1-14
During a time of the people of Israel rejected God.
~ God led Elijah to a poor widow-woman in Sidon
“As surely as your God lives”  = statement of faith
Went and made Elijah some bread from all she had.
Day by day supplied.
Son got sick and died…Elijah prayed and son raised from dead.
~ Elisha
Naaman - commander of armies of Aram
Probably Ben-Hadad II
Aftermath of victory - God is sovereign over all nations.
Captive girl from Israel - “If only my master would see the prophet”
Sent a letter to King of Israel
Elisha heard about the king’s unwise response.
“Have the man come to me so he will know there is a prophet in Israel”
Hey, you have to see this…2 Kings 5:9
Listened to the voice of his servant!

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; “And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.” NASB95
Psalm 17:3 “You have tried my heart; You have visited me by night; You have tested me and You find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.” NASB95
Psalm 19:12-14 “Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. “Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins; Let them not rule over me; Then I will be blameless, And I shall be acquitted of great transgression. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” NASB95
What is your story?
What is His perspective?  How does Jesus see it?
“He taught them in their synagogues”
Rabbi - 14 times in gospels.
Teacher - 41 times
John 13:13-14 “”You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. “Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” NIV

In the garden after his resurrection:
John 20:16 “Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).” NIV

John 8:12, 32 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life…Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”" NIV

He is my teacher!
John 16:12-14 “”I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. “He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.” NIV
There is hope for renewed vision
new excitement
New strength
New beginnings!
Acts 2:17-18 “”‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. “Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.” NIV
Isaiah 40:27-31 “Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”? “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. “Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; “but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” NIV
Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” NASB95
James 1:21-25
“Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.” NASB95
Where am I really?
The Lord knows my heart!
Others may have inside!
Am I exposing my mind to his Word?
What are some possibilities?
What key areas need change? / What is hindering me in my relationship with Christ?
What is my plan?  What one area do I want to change?
Is there someone who knows me and can help me?
What is my plan / strategy to change?