Not What We Expected
What happens when you expect one thing from someone and they do the unexpected? What if that Person is God? This sermon will explore how the greatest Man ever to live (every human being will say He is Lord one day), wields His power, lived His life, and inaugurated a Kingdom that is very unexpected.
“What are we to understand by the bruised reed, and smoking flax? The language of the prophet no doubt is figurative. What is it that these two expressions mean? The simplest explanation seems to be, that the Holy Spirit is here describing believers whose grace is at present weak, whose repentance is feeble, and whose faith is small. Towards such people the Lord Jesus Christ will be very tender and compassionate. Weak as the broken reed is, it shall not be broken. Small as the spark of fire may be within the smoking flax, it shall not be quenched. It is a standing truth in the kingdom of grace, that weak grace, weak faith, and weak repentance, are all precious in our Lord’s sight. Mighty as He is, “He doesn’t despise anyone.” (Job 36:5.)
The doctrine here laid down is full of comfort and consolation. There are thousands in every church of Christ to whom it ought to speak peace and hope. There are some in every congregation, that hear the Gospel, who are ready to despair of their own salvation, because their strength seems so small. They are full of fears and despondency, because their knowledge, and faith, and hope, and love, appear so dwarfish and diminutive. Let them drink comfort out of this text. Let them know that weak faith gives a man as real and true a saving interest in Christ as strong faith, though it may not give him the same joy. There is life in an infant as truly as in a grown up man. There is fire in a spark as truly as in a burning flame. The least degree of grace is an everlasting possession. It comes down from heaven. It is precious in our Lord’s eyes. It shall never be overthrown.”
Sermon Discussion Questions:
In what way is God not what we would expect?
How is His ways different from the world's?
How did Jesus show this in His life, ministry and teachings?
What did you learn about self-promoting", "self-demoting", "God promoting"?
How did Jesus model this?
What did you learn about Jesus' attitude to those who are weak and needy?
