Sermon outline: "When The Lord Would Not Answer"

#1 · May 4, 2002, 10:20 am

Quote from Forum Archives on May 4, 2002, 10:20 am
Posted by: avhughes <avhughes@...>

Greetings Brethren!

Here is an outline that you might want to preach something the Lord leads you to.

Preach on preachers!

Al Hughes

www.kjv.com/bbc

More sermon outlines at: www.hurricane.net/~avhughes/page6/index.html

When The Lord Would Not Answer

Matthew 15:21-28

·         1 Samuel 28:6— And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

·         Proverbs 1:28— Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

·         Micah 3:4, 7— Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings …Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.

         Have you ever prayed, but it seemed that God was not listening? Have you ever read your Bible and not have it speak to your heart? The silence of God is a great mystery.

         There are three times during the earthly ministry of Christ when He would not answer. There is a great lesson contained in these three instances.

I.     Silence of required HUMILITY (Mt. 15:21-28).

         A.   The desperation

                1.    Distress— He went about the cities helping the oppressed; quick to respond to the appeals of the needy.

                2.    Discerning—"O Lord, thou son of David."

                3.    Distant — She was a Gentile.

         B.    The disregard(v. 23)

                1.    His silence was to drive home the lesson that she had no claim on the Son of God; no right to expect help from Him (v. 24).

                2.    God had given up on the Gentiles when at the Tower of Babel they made it clear they did not want to know the true God (cf. Rom. 1:21-24, 28; Eph. 2:11-12).

         C.   The determination (v. 25-27).

                1.    Adoration (worship) (v. 25). To prostrate oneself to ascribe worth to another.

                2.    Acknowledgement (vs. 26-27). She acknowledges her unworthy position.

                3.    Appeal (v. 27).

         D.   The deliverance (v. 28).

II.   Silence of rebuked HYPOCRISY (John 8:3-11). This time it is a Jewish woman who is in trouble and her trouble. Her trouble is very different from that of the Gentile woman.

         A.   The APPREHENDED. She was condemned by the Law of Moses.

                ÆThis woman had to learn the same lesson of the first woman had to learn— Because she was condemned, she had no claim or right to expect anything but judgment from the Son of God.

         B.    The ACCUSERS (v. 5). These hypocrites were not interested in condemning the woman, but Jesus Himself. The did not point out the woman to humiliate her, but Him!

                ÆThey reasoned: "He is always talking about forgiving sinners. Now we will force Him to either acknowledge the Law that this woman should be stoned, or to condone immorality by siding with this harlot against Moses."

         C.   The ANSWER (vs. 7-9).

                1.    He did not deny the woman deserved judgment.

                2.    He simply pointed out they were not in a position to bring the accusation. Yes the woman should be stoned, but so should they! (cf. Lev. 20:10).

                3.    They were caught in the very trap that they had set for Him!

                4.    Answer of forgiveness (v. 11).

                ÆCf. Prov. 17:15- "He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord." Isn't this what Jesus did in the case of this woman? Doesn't God Himself justify the wicked everyday according to Rom. 4:5—"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that JUSTIFIETH THE UNGODLY, his faith is counted for righteousness." How can God do this without violating the basic rules of justice?

III. Silence of reconciling harmony (Mt. 26:62-63; 27:12-14). Here it is the Lord Jesus Himself who is in trouble. He is being judged

         ÆWhy did He not answer? Why did He stand speechless, taking the blame for sins He never committed?

         A.   Because He is my RECONCILATION! He came to bear MY sins. SEE 2 Cor. 5:19-21

         B.    He is my REPRESENTATIVE! Isaiah said, "…He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so HE OPENETH NOT HIS MOUTH." (cf. Isa. 53:7-12).

                Æ He did not answer simply because He when He was accused, He was taking my blame. He was taking my guilt! If you and I had been there, charging Him with our sins, He still would have remained silent! What love!

         C.   He is my REDEEMER! This is the basis on which Jesus could help the Gentile woman and the Jewish adulteress. He was to bear their sins on Calvary.

Hallelujah! What A Savior!

Posted by: avhughes <avhughes@...>

Greetings Brethren!

Here is an outline that you might want to preach something the Lord leads you to.

Preach on preachers!

Al Hughes

http://www.kjv.com/bbc

More sermon outlines at: http://www.hurricane.net/~avhughes/page6/index.html

When The Lord Would Not Answer

Matthew 15:21-28

· 1 Samuel 28:6— And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

· Proverbs 1:28— Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

· Micah 3:4, 7— Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings …Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.

Have you ever prayed, but it seemed that God was not listening? Have you ever read your Bible and not have it speak to your heart? The silence of God is a great mystery.

There are three times during the earthly ministry of Christ when He would not answer. There is a great lesson contained in these three instances.

I. Silence of required HUMILITY (Mt. 15:21-28).

A. The desperation

1. Distress— He went about the cities helping the oppressed; quick to respond to the appeals of the needy.

2. Discerning—"O Lord, thou son of David."

3. Distant — She was a Gentile.

B. The disregard(v. 23)

1. His silence was to drive home the lesson that she had no claim on the Son of God; no right to expect help from Him (v. 24).

2. God had given up on the Gentiles when at the Tower of Babel they made it clear they did not want to know the true God (cf. Rom. 1:21-24, 28; Eph. 2:11-12).

C. The determination (v. 25-27).

1. Adoration (worship) (v. 25). To prostrate oneself to ascribe worth to another.

2. Acknowledgement (vs. 26-27). She acknowledges her unworthy position.

3. Appeal (v. 27).

D. The deliverance (v. 28).

II. Silence of rebuked HYPOCRISY (John 8:3-11). This time it is a Jewish woman who is in trouble and her trouble. Her trouble is very different from that of the Gentile woman.

A. The APPREHENDED. She was condemned by the Law of Moses.

ÆThis woman had to learn the same lesson of the first woman had to learn— Because she was condemned, she had no claim or right to expect anything but judgment from the Son of God.

B. The ACCUSERS (v. 5). These hypocrites were not interested in condemning the woman, but Jesus Himself. The did not point out the woman to humiliate her, but Him!

ÆThey reasoned: "He is always talking about forgiving sinners. Now we will force Him to either acknowledge the Law that this woman should be stoned, or to condone immorality by siding with this harlot against Moses."

C. The ANSWER (vs. 7-9).

1. He did not deny the woman deserved judgment.

2. He simply pointed out they were not in a position to bring the accusation. Yes the woman should be stoned, but so should they! (cf. Lev. 20:10).

3. They were caught in the very trap that they had set for Him!

4. Answer of forgiveness (v. 11).

ÆCf. Prov. 17:15- "He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord." Isn't this what Jesus did in the case of this woman? Doesn't God Himself justify the wicked everyday according to Rom. 4:5—"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that JUSTIFIETH THE UNGODLY, his faith is counted for righteousness." How can God do this without violating the basic rules of justice?

III. Silence of reconciling harmony (Mt. 26:62-63; 27:12-14). Here it is the Lord Jesus Himself who is in trouble. He is being judged

ÆWhy did He not answer? Why did He stand speechless, taking the blame for sins He never committed?

A. Because He is my RECONCILATION! He came to bear MY sins. SEE 2 Cor. 5:19-21

B. He is my REPRESENTATIVE! Isaiah said, "…He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so HE OPENETH NOT HIS MOUTH." (cf. Isa. 53:7-12).

Æ He did not answer simply because He when He was accused, He was taking my blame. He was taking my guilt! If you and I had been there, charging Him with our sins, He still would have remained silent! What love!

C. He is my REDEEMER! This is the basis on which Jesus could help the Gentile woman and the Jewish adulteress. He was to bear their sins on Calvary.

Hallelujah! What A Savior!