Lst Sun. night, I got a couple of hrs sleep & woke up & couldn’t fall asleep again, I had a lot on my mind

And according to – Godless liberals I’m small minded so it didn’t take a lot to fill my mind!!

& one of – things I thought about was how many people have left – churches that I’ve pastored over – yrs. There really weren’t allot, but in every church there were a few

Now I understand when there are huge problems where – people are fighting or a doctrinal issue is being violated, or – Word is not being preached

But what if – pastor IS preaching – truth? What if he’s doing his best to feed – flock & people are growing?

What if God is blessing in many areas? But a few people still leave?

This is one of – hardest areas that I had a difficult time dealing with, because no matter what, it was my faulteven if someone left because of something someone else did, it was still my fault because I didn’t fix it

I use to get so angry, because according to some, I didn’t preach like their favorite TV or radio personality, they weren’t growing spiritually

if I didn’t get to someones house who had been missing for wks, they quit, because I was uncaring

I use to think, since when did God make me responsible for someones spiritual growth or have to be someones babysitter?

At what point does it become a Christians responsibility to see to their own growth and to their own attendance?

When we stand before – Lord, I won’t be there to hold anyones hand or to be blamed for anyones lack of responsibility

because I’ll be in that same line with my own problems

With most of those who left, it never really surprised me however,

because on – most part, they were – ones who never attended much anyway, or they always had some problem, or crisis in their lives, or were angry about something

I use to take peoples dislike of me very personal, & – Lord reminded me that he himself was hated long before I ever came on – scene, & if they hate him, they will hate – ones who represent him

I told you lst wk, in 2007 when I left – pastorate I was severely discouraged because I was tired of being – focus of everyones blame

when – truth of – matter was, they were – ones who were reckless with their relationship to Christ

& when you really look at what scripture says, a pastor will only be – leader of those who are committed & I will never be – leader of those who are not

I thought about those who have left our churches and I could not think of one person who was a committed Christian, who loved – Lord & his church, ever left

Jesus is our best example of being a leader of – committed

Lk 4: 14-15

When Jesus first began his ministry, there were those who were committed to following him, said he was glorified of all

Jesus preached – truth, he was faithful to preaching – gospel

But then, he went to his hometown, Nazareth

Vs;16

going to your hometown when you’ve been away should be a wonderful experience

Sal & I left Michigan at age 17, & went to W. Virginia, then to Texas, to Oklahoma, Indiana, Illinois

& everytime we came home to visit, it was great, to see family, & remember things you did as a kid, it brought allot of memories

But when Jesus went home, it wasn’t a good experience, his oldest friends & relatives tried to kill him

he was rejected violently in his hometown after reading scripture & making a brief statement about his ministry in his hometown synagogue

vs; 17-29

why was he rejected? Well to answer that, reveals why he is still rejected today

modern man has – same problem with Jesus as they did back then

Jesus hasn’t changed & neither has man, & man cannot handle – truth & they rejected Jesus because of unbelief

what went wrong that day was that – true gospel was majestically preached in pure perfection & power by – Son of God himself,

but – truth was no more of a crowd pleaser then, as it is today

do you ever wonder why a politician will never tell – truth? Because they know – people will refuse it

& thats why Obama can lie his head off & people know he’s lying but they will follow him because it pleases them

Gingrich told several lies in one debate in S. Carolina & they were documented lies & he still won that primary

Romney has also stretched – truth to benefit himself & yet he remains on top

• problem is, we have become so familiar with politics & lies that it doesn’t faze us anymore

& that was – problem Jesus had, their unbelief was due in part to familiarity

vs;16-17

Nazareth was a small town & I’ll bet you almost everyone in that synogogue that day knew Jesus, they knew his family

& it was kind of a kick to have someone who had been away to come and read to them

as a guest, it would be an honor to him to be able to read to his family & friends, it would give him a chance to show everyone what he has learned

It was also – custom of a guest to stand while reading, afterward to would give – scroll back to – scroll attendant & take your place back on – floor

18-20

Jesus did something that was unthinkable, instead of going back with – crowd, he SAT DOWN, in front of – congregation

he took – position of – teacher & priest

notice it says everyones eyes were fastened on him, I’ve heard it said that they were so excited to have this new teacher

nope, they were shocked, actually greatly offended, after-all, this is – next door kid, our homeboy, no one ordained him to be our priest, who in – world does he think he is?

But then it gets worse

vs 21-22

They must have looked at each other & said; did he just say that God has sent him?

We have to remember that they were awaiting – Messiah, a king was coming to save Israel

not this local nut from down – street

they were familiar with Jesus, yeah he was a good speaker, but they had known him for his entire life

their knowing him became a barrier to them believing

familiarity can cause unbelief, some kids grew up in a Christian home or attended church & went to youth groups their entire childhood & they have – same problem – people did in Nazareth

they have just enough knowledge of Jesus to keep them from receiving him as Lord & Savior

In Russia, – Kremlin was – political center of an atheistic Communist regime, was filled with spiritual symbols

Cathedral Square is composed entirely of ancient churches and cathedrals, Each Orthodox church has 2 murals over – western doors that depicts paradise on one side and hell on – other with – white throne in – middle

Stalin, Lenin & other communist leaders walked past these murals thousands of times

but apparently they became so familiar with these symbols that they became blind to its spiritual significance

but we don’t have to go very far to find people who have ignored symbols that are pointing to God

in every town, there are churches with steeples & crosses & people see them everyday & never stop to consider what it really means

Isn’t it amazing at how certain groups are trying to get rid of crosses & why bother? Their not changing many hearts.

Vs 23

Jesus knew what they were thinking before they ever said anything, he says I know what your going to say, show us a miracle, one of those they say I did in Capernaum

Jesus was sort of a celebrity, it was rumored that he did some unexplainable tricks, so Jesus show us one!

Convince us, you say your – one God has sent, prove it

Vs;24

theres still people today that want to see some miracle but then they reject him when he doesn’t conform to their expectations

Jesus consistently refuses to allow men to dictate – terms on which they will place their faith in him

he himself is all – proof that faith needs and true commitment to him will provide its own proof

I want us to understand something, miracles do affirm – faith of those that already believe

but they don’t do one thing for those who don’t believe

how many times have we seen something happen that we know was a direct answer to prayer & you tell someone who doesn’t believe & they say oh thats nice

those folks could have proven he was – Messiah in an instant, if they would have repented and believed in him as Lord & Savior

but instead, they chose to put up a smoke screen in their heads but Jesus knew what they were thinking

wouldn’t you think someone would have said, wait a minute, how did he know I was going to ask for a miracle?

Vs;28

Jesus was also rejected because of pride & self righteousness

Its enough to turn your stomach when you watch & listen to people today who are so full of themselves, its a wonder they don’t have an ice cap on – end of their noses its so far up in – air

& then they attack – name of Jesus, they attack his children, they hate anyone who will tell – truth & stand on convictions & morals

in their deluded minds, anyone who would believe they need Jesus is a crazed lunatic

But we know thats what sin does to someone who rejects Jesus

It brings moral & spiritual bankruptcy

sin imprisons man taking away his freedom

Sin blinds man taking away his ability to see – things of God

& Sin oppresses man breaking his heart, his will, and his life

the worshippers in Nazareth had a problem with sin, they were not ready to admit they were poor, wretched & naked sinners before God

their pride prevented them from bowing their knees in submission to God

& sadly there are many churches all across our nation with – same problem, their too familiar with Jesus & too proud to admit they need a Savior

Jesus came to Nazareth to present – gospel, he didn’t go there because he needed them, he doesn’t need any of us, we need him

That was – last time he visited Nazareth, don’t let today be your last visit