|
Introduction:
We have a situation
in this passage that is a crisis. It was customary in those days for
there to be bread in the house, in case a traveler knocked at the door
hungry. In our passage, the traveler knocked, but the host had no bread.
Therefore, he had to run out in the middle of the night to borrow some
bread from a neighbor. If we apply this to the church today, we are in a
real mess. We better have some fresh bread in the church, in case a
weary hell bound sinner knocks on the door. So there is:
·
A
Precious moment (the knock on the door)
·
A
Precious meal (some bread)
·
A
Precious Memory (traveler got some bread)
Our problem today is that a lot of preachers
and churches are not even making any bread in their ovens. We can't make
people eat, but we can keep on making bread. Today, there are three
kinds of bread:
·
False Bread (akin to canned biscuits. You might like them, but I want my
bread fresh from the oven. Preachers need the anointing of God on their
preaching, which is the power source. Too many are enjoying the ease of
canned sermons. ("Study to show thyself approved").
·
Father's Bread (Jn. 6:30 "my Father giveth you the true bread from
heaven".
·
Fresh Bread (Lk. 11:3 "Give us day by day our daily bread") I am proud
to belong to the "Breadmaker's Association". We are in the business of
making bread so that a hungry and dying world can find food for their
souls.
I.
A
DESTITUTE CONDITION (V. 5)
A.
Because There Was No
Preparation
It was "the midnight hour". This is a
portrayal of the hour we live in. It is the "midnight hour of the age of
grace". We are not told why the oven was cold, but the results are the
same. It spells a time of trouble. We can only ponder why this host
could not supply the bread for this weary traveller:
·
lack of time
·
lack of ingredients
·
lack of tools
B.
Because There Was No
Possession
("I have nothing")
The bottom line was: "No bread". The only
difference I see in this man and the situation today is that he made no
excuses. He had nothing, but at least he tried to find something.
Pulpits of today sometimes are filled with men of self esteem, pride and
arrogance. Under God, why can't we just admit, "I have nothing".
C.
Because There Was No
Power
("lend me three loaves")
This reminds of the 10 virgins in Matthew 24.
Five were wise, five were foolish. But at the midnight hour, the foolish
tried to borrow some oil from the wise. We will never feed the lost of
this world with borrowed bread!
II.
A DESPERATE
CONCERN (VV. 6-7)
A.
A
Concern
For The Need ("I have nothing")
We live in the days of "microwave preachers".
Just throw them into the microwave and in 3 minutes they are done. It
cannot be done with canned biscuits and it cannot be done with bought
bread. We have become a church that is impregnated with the Word of God,
but we aren't having any labor pains. Old time preaching has been
replaced with 7-11 praise songs. You know, repeat the same seven words
eleven times. We are like Naomi in the Book of Ruth, "I went out full,
but the Lord hath brought me back again empty".
B.
A
Conviction
About The Need ("a friend is come to me")
We seemed to have reached the point in our
churches, where we send record amounts of money to foreign lands, but we
are moving our churches out of the local neighborhoods and ignoring the
lost man just across the street. We have a need across the street and
across the seas.
C.
A
Confession
About The Need ("nothing to set before him")
Jesus said, "Without me, ye can do nothing".
If you take God out of the word "Good", then you will wind up with a
"O". Perhaps, some churches would be more in line with what they are, if
they renamed their church, "Mount Nothing Baptist Church".
III.
GOD’S DIVINE
CONTROL
(VV. 8-11)
A.
A Divine
Issue
God does not always answer on the first
knock. But he does always supply the need. Notice v. 5, the man asked
for 3 loaves. Then notice v. 8 "as many as He needeth". Asking is our
job - the amount is God's job.
B.
A Divine
Intervention
Somebody had to intervene in this situation.
Could it possibly be that this man smelled fresh bread coming from
another house? We need fresh bread from the oven, not rituals or
rigermortis.
C.
A Divine
Instruction
There are three divine principles given
here...They are: ASK - SEEK – KNOCK
Conclusion:
There are also
three divine promises given here. They are:
1. Ask - God will not fail you - He has stood
with you
2. Seek - God will not fool you - He has been
straight with you
3. Knock - God will not forsake you - He will
shield you
|
