Matthew 11:25-26……Working

Matthew 11:25-26……Working

11:25 At that time (Jesus’ denunciation of the prideful unrepented cities.) Jesus said, (prayed) “I praise (thank) you Father, (Expresses intimacy) Lord of heaven and earth, (Expresses God’ sovereignty over all creation. including those He chooses to Save and grant spiritual revelation.) because you have hidden these things (Jesus’ identity, teachings, Gospel message. Not concealed, but hidden in plain sight) from the wise and learned (arrogant, proud, know-it-alls) and revealed them to little children. (humble, dependent) 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. (i.e. God’s gracious plan and will.)

Continued From Book

“Warns against being wise in our own understanding, that we have it all figured out and don’t need God.” ⇒ Intelligence comes with the temptation to excuse away anything a person does not like or prefer. This is not fundamentally different than the way a person with great wealth can fool themselves into thinking they need nothing and no one else—not even God. Are you going to be like the strong and wise and say no thanks Jesus, I got this, I can figure it out on my own I don’t need this church or God thing. Or will you respond humbly like children and say I need you God because everything I’ve tried is not working………(To be Continued)

“Teaches how God reveals Himself to those who realize their lost and desperate condition and need for His help.” ⇒ Will you humbly recognizing that your a lost and hopeless sinner who needs God’s Saving grace. (cf. Matt. 5:3,  Rom. 3:23, James 4:6)

“Even today, we put our hope in our intelligence, our education, our ingenuity, our intellect, rather than God.” ⇒ The problem with being wise and intelligent is that we often rely more on our intellectual prowess to direct and understand our lives, than we do walking humbly in relationship with God, and trusting Him to lead us as servants of his kingdom.

“God is not being cruel or unjust in hiding Salvation from some people. But rather it’s people’s own hardened and prideful heart that keeps them from believing.” ⇒ When it comes to freedom and God’s sovereignty in election. First, God has the power to reveal the Gospel to everyone. The fact that some reject God and the gospel is not due to any lack of authority or power on God’s part. Rather it’s own own free will to choose to believe or not believe. Everyone knows something about God. That is plain from passages like Psalm 19 and Romans 1. There is a general revelation that is experienced by everyone. All people know there is a God, but they suppress that truth. However, knowing that God exists and knowing the God who exists are two different things. The first requires general revelation, but the second requires special revelation. This special revelation is required to know God intimately………..(To be Continued)

More Notes & Applications

Teaches how even in the face of seeming opposition and defeat we can always find consolation in the overruling plans and purposes of God. (V. 25)

Teaches how God wants not ability, but humility!

Warns how pride and arrogance can shut the door to God’s grace and keep us out of heaven.

Teaches how logic and reason is not enough to solve every problem, that you need to hand it over to God.

Teaches how prayer can be spontaneous. Prayer does not have to be in a church or on your knees…just talk to God. Jesus prays in the open…aloud for all to hear. There’s no problem with silent prayer, to pray in a secret place, but here… Jesus wanted His disciples to hear His heart, and there are times when an audible prayer is appropriate.

Even in today’s world with all the doctorates and PHD’s that people have the world is still in chaos, there’s crime and famine everywhere, we still have problems with our relationship with Russia and the middle east.