"And They Took Offence At Him" (Mt. 13:57)

Read Matthew 13:57.

"And they took offence at Him."  Why?  The context (13:53-56) says that offence came because Jesus said things straightforwardly, powerfully and wisely.  Their common sense had no place for His truth. What they couldn't explain they refused to accept.  As a consequence, they received the "nothing" that their framework conditioned them to expect (13:58).

Today rationalism works like this:  "This claim of truth has been forwarded to an automatic voice message system."  What's the pre-determined message?  If it's not what I want to hear or if it challenges any dearly held understanding, then reject it.

Hindrances To Pentecost (Part 6) (Ac. 1:4-2:13)

THERE IS THE HINDRANCE OF PHENOMENA (2:1-4).

Wind, fire and tongues – are they for today or not? That question caused (and still causes) a lot of attention, speculation and division. It is helpful to note that the phenomena are not for their own sake. 

Phenomena must always remain secondary to the purpose. Three purposes for tongues are given in Ac. 2:1-13.

• First, speaking in tongues is the initial, physical evidence of being baptized in the Holy Spirit (Ac. 2:4) for the purpose of being a bold witness (Ac. 1:8).
• Second, speaking in tongues assists in giving due worship to God (Ac. 2:11b).
• Third, speaking in tongues is a sign to unbelieving observers (Ac. 2:6-8, 12).

Your stance on speaking in tongues might vary from the classical Pentecostal viewpoint, but the truth around which we unite is that the Holy Spirit wants to move powerfully in your life, your church and your community.

THERE IS THE HINDRANCE OF PERSECUTION (2:5-13).

Those who disbelieve attribute what is inexplicable (supernatural) to what is explainable (natural). Some overhearing bystanders said that the 120 were drunk (Ac. 2:13). This was an example of rationalism.

If we're going to get to Pentecost and fulfill its purposes, then we're going to have to get comfortable with persecution. Right now in the United States, persecution isn't physical but verbal. Nonetheless, that is already too high a price for some Christians to pay. Many don't want to be embarrassed about anything having to do with faith in Jesus.