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Upcoming Sermons & Devotional Message
September Sermons 2025
9-21- Rosh Hasanah
Numbers 29:1-6 Acts 11:1-4; 18
9-28-The Lord is in This Place
Genesis 28:10-17 Acts 16:25-31
Devotional Message : These will change 1-2 times a week. Stop by often to read the new message.
Some Thoughts on Spiritual Entitlement
Spiritual entitlement can be dangerous. Remember, we all stand on level ground at the foot of the cross. But sometimes, we think that because we’ve known or followed Jesus longer, we should get preferential treatment.
The people of Nazareth may have felt that way about their hometown rabbi, Jesus. One day, Jesus came home for a visit. He went to the synagogue on the sabbath, read the scroll from Isaiah where good news is proclaimed to the poor—the prisoners are set free—the blind see…miracles were expected!
The people of his hometown were clear about their expectations. They knew him—and felt entitled to experience the miracles they’d heard about.
“All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. ‘Isn’t this Joseph’s son?’ they asked. Jesus responded, ‘Surely you will quote this proverb to me: “Physician, heal yourself!”’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’” (Luke 4:22- 23)
If Jesus healed in other towns, he would surely heal here, right?!? The time for preaching was over. Now it was time for healing. They expected Jesus to do for them what he’d done elsewhere. They may have even demanded it out of a sense of entitlement.
But instead of doing what the people expected, Jesus told a couple stories in which God’s prophets did miracles for outsiders, but not for Israel. By implication, Jesus would bypass the town of Nazareth and take his ministry elsewhere. Not surprisingly, the people were so furious they wanted to kill him (4:28-30). Nazareth knew more about Jesus than any other town, but rejected him most emphatically. Their spiritual entitlement prevented them from faith.
There are two important things to learn from this. First, Jesus doesn’t owe anyone anything. The fact that he does anything for anyone is a matter of pure grace. He gives whatever he wants, whenever he wants, to whomever he wants—or not. He is Lord. We are not.
The second thing to learn follows from the first. We should never make demands of Jesus. Those who came to him with humility often received what they asked for. But whoever makes demands of Jesus has misunderstood the master/servant relationship. He is master. We are not.
Guard your heart against spiritual entitlement, my friends!
