THE TREE OF LIFE TEACHING MINISTRY
Pastor/Teacher, Dr. Maurice H. Sykes
LUKE 2:7(b) "...THERE WAS NO ROOM FOR THEM AT THE INN."
* In the summer of 1970, I was in New York City (Harlem). I was meeting someone at a motel to spend the night. But when I got there, there was no room for me at the inn...Until I offered the desk clerk $20.00. He found room for me at the inn.
* I had a friend named Ward: A skillful, tactful, and faithful City Public Works employee. Ward never missed work. But for over 20 years they could find no way to promote him...no room for him at the inn...Until he gave a certain official $500. They found room for him at the inn...he was promoted, quickly.
The world can always find room for you in their "inn" if you are willing to pay the price, or if you know someone who has "the juice, the influence, the connections."
* I knew a man who was a drug addict and wanted to get free. He wanted to get into a certain rehab program, but there was no room at the inn for him. There was a three month waiting list, until...a friend of his at Yale University made one phone call. In less than 7 hours they found room for him at the inn!
* Then there's the story of a teenage girl, on a friday night, who was not allowed into the church. There was no room for her at the inn. Because she was wearing pants, dungarees...can you dig that? Talk about legalism!!! But a young, angry minister saw the incident, took the teenager by the hand and paraded her throughout the church in front of the very minister who had barred her. (Obviously, I had to confess/repent of the spirit in which I confronted the issue.) They found room for her at the Inn.
THERE IS NOTHING NEW UNDER THE SUN.
* In this life, many parents are literally pushing kids (not young adults, but kids) out of the home...no more room for them at the inn. Young adults should be encouraged out of the home to mature through the issues of life --- the real world. Kids, however need the parents' guidance---what's the deal?
Certain parents, who are shacking up with their lovers, often see the kids as being in the way. So they sometimes ignore them or sometimes deposit them with friends or relatives. And then the parent and lover can go party, do their own thing without worrying about the kids.
NO MORE ROOM FOR THE KIDS AT THE INN. IT'S HAPPENING.
* A single, young girl who worked diligently to support herself. She got pregnant and had her baby. When she returned to her job she was treated like an enemy --- no more room for her at the inn. Her supervisor and the supervisor's relatives criticized the unwed mother unmercifully. They humiliated her in front of other staff, and told her that she was going to hell because she was an unwed mother and because she didn't have their spiritual beliefs.
Wise-Guy Christians! It hurts! Makes one angry. God hates it. It's an attack against His grace!
Under great pressure, humiliation, and low self esteem, the unwed mother quit her job, broken! She still has not found room for herself at the inn.
* Then, we have our Savior, Lord and our God, the Lord Jesus Christ. He met with the same stoney hearts that you and I have met and will meet, whether in the church or out of the church. Joseph and Mary entered Bethlehem...a multitude of people there...hustle and bustle...people there from all over the nations to be counted in the census. And, no doubt, much partying going on. When ever the world gets together there's always a party, always corruption, always arrogance and pride, sexual perversion, money-deals...ad infinitum. And it appeared that no one noticed that Joseph and Mary needed help. Help appeared to be necessary: Joseph pressing for a room, Mary probably in dismay that she had no where to settle and deliver the baby. This teenage woman, favored by God to carry Jesus, was pondering her total experience of being pregnant apart from a sexual relationship with a man. Mary was going to deliver the baby soon and needed peace. But, "...there was no room for them at the inn."
Matthew 8:20 reminds us that..."the foxes have holes, and birds of the sky have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay His head." His destiny began in Bethlehem, no decent place to emerge and go forward from ...no room for him at the inn. During his earthly ministry, nowhere to lay his head.
It appeared that no one cared that God had visited his people! No one seemed to care that an "explosion of light" had entered the earth! But carefully note this:
I believe that God had spoken to someone there. Joseph and Mary did find a place to settle. Not a comfortable guest room, not a place with an intimate ambiance, no comforts of home. Yet, it was where God wanted them to be! That's the deal.
They settled in a stable, a cave...with animals ... smelly ... with an animal feeding trough as Jesus' bed, and straw for His mattress. This was God's plan! But, someone allowed them to settle there. They just didn't walk in and "liberate" the stable, this stable belonged to someone. God had prepared this place to launch his great invitation to the world. This birth, in every way, reveals humility: the birth of Jesus in a lowly way, unassuming and no trappings, no hint of aristocracy. This birth identified with the every-day people who had meager means...who were weary and heavy-burdened. He was not born as the weathy children were. He came at the lowest possible level! He identified with the common people, immediately. And yet, He's God!
Spiritual Truth: Humility is the path to promotion in the Kingdom of God. Jesus the Christ was promoted from a walk and a work on the earth to a position on the Cross. Jesus the Christ was promoted from the position on the cross to a location in Hades. Jesus the Christ was promoted from a location in Hades to His rightful position---His destiny: He was seated at the right hand of God the Father.
Now that's promotion!
Jesus the Christ humbled Himself from "jump street"--- He allowed Himself to be put on the Cross...He willed to be put on the Cross...He pressed to be put on the Cross. (Philippians.2:8) again, there was no room for them at the inn because that was the plan of God. But God had prepared someone to allow Joseph and Mary to settle into that stable. Someone cared!
We have an omniscient God. Do you think that He would allow the fate of Joseph, Mary and Jesus to be left to happenstance? Do you believe that God sent Joseph and Mary into a strange place to fend for themselves? Our God is a God of order and purpose. Therefore, the plan all along was for Mary and Joseph and Jesus to be rejected by the world's accommodations. God provides, for our good His purpose and His glory.
They were not supposed to have a room in the inn!
***Closing Spiritual Truth: Within an uncaring world, within an uncaring crowd...God has help for His people. There is room for you at the inn-the Cross---the Church!
Isaiah 41:10 "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you (as the unbelievers do in their panic) for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you. Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
***Never underestimate the grace and provisions of God for you. Never. With God, you count!***
That's the deal.
---MHS
Dr. Sykes is the Pastor/Teacher at St. Luke UAME Church, Camden, New Jersey