What Jesus Refuses to Do - The Power of No

 

This is the manuscript of the sermon preached on Sunday February 1, 2026.

He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. (Matthew 12:19-20 NIV)

Who we are tomorrow is decided by the "choices" we make today. Even Jesus lived this out. We know He was divine, but He was also fully human. He didn't take a "short cut" to maturity; He grew through the same seasons we do. He didn't skip the process of learning, growing physically, or developing social grace. He was aimed in the right direction from the start.

He chose what to do, and just as importantly, He chose what not to do.

Here are three things Jesus refuses to do.

Jesus refuses to lose His patience with you.

Jesus refuses to kick you while you are down.

Jesus refuses to be an intruder.

Scripture 

Matthew 12:14-21 NIV [14] But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. [15] Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. [16] He warned them not to tell others about him. [17] This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: [18] “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. [19] He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. [20] A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. [21] In his name the nations will put their hope.”

Isaiah 42:1-4 NIV [1] “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. [2] He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. [3] A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; [4] he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

     

Introduction: 

As we begin our time together today, we are at the beginning of Black History Month. It is a time to honor the resilience, the profound contributions, and the sacred dignity of Black lives. Yet, we cannot speak of dignity without also acknowledging the weight of current events. Our hearts are heavy as we look toward Minnesota, where recent tragedies involving ICE have left families shattered and communities in mourning. These moments remind us that while we seek the "citizenship of heaven," we are still called to stand for mercy and protection for the vulnerable right here on earth.

Last week, we spent some time looking at what Jesus does for us. We talked about how He loves us right where we are, sets us free from the things that bind us, and changes our status from "struggling captives" to "citizens of heaven."

But today, I want to flip the script. I want to talk about what Jesus doesn’t do—the things He actually refuses to do.

I came across something fascinating this week.   There’s a specific spot  in the Swiss Alps where you can stand with three pieces of wood. If you toss the first piece in one direction, it hits the Danube and flows all the way to the Black Sea. Toss the second piece another way, and it ends up in the North Sea via the Rhine river. Toss the third in a different direction, and it travels the Rhone river out to the Mediterranean.

It is famously known as the "triple watershed" or the "Roof of Europe" because it is the only place on the continent where water (or a piece of wood!) can split off into three different seas via three major river systems.

Think about that. Those three pieces of wood start in the exact same spot, but they end up thousands of miles apart. Why? Because of the direction they were aimed at the very start.

Our lives work the same way. Who we are tomorrow is being decided by the "choices" we make today. Even Jesus lived this out. We know He was divine, but He was also fully human. He didn't take a "short cut" to maturity; He grew through the same stages we  do from infant, to adolescence to adulthood.  He didn't skip the process of learning, growing physically, or developing social graces. He was aimed in the right direction from the start.

Here is a staggering insight about the life of Jesus. 

Hebrews 5:8 NLT Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. 

Think about that. It doesn’t mean He was ever disobedient; it means His obedience wasn’t just a theory—it was a choice.   You can study everything there is to know about a marathon, but you don't truly "learn" the race until your lungs are burning and you choose to keep running.  As the Son of God, Jesus always knew what obedience was intellectually. However, there is a difference between knowing the definition of a word and experiencing it.  Jesus "learned" obedience by experiencing the physical and emotional weight of staying faithful to God's will while facing temptation, exhaustion, and eventually, the cross.

He chose what to do, He chose to stay faithful to God’s will, and just as importantly, He chose what not to do.

Here are three things Jesus refuses to do.

1. Jesus refuses to lose His patience with you.

2. Jesus refuses to kick you while you are down.

3. Jesus refuses to be an intruder

1. Jesus Refuses to Lose His Patience with You

We love the stories of what Jesus did—healing the sick, raising Lazarus, performing miracles. But look at what He refused to do.  Here’s our text for today

Matthew 12:19-20 NIV [19] He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. [20] A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.

Our text says He won't quarrel or cry out, and He won't break a "bruised reed."

Martin Luther once famously said in a moment of frustration, "If I were God and the world treated me the way it treats Him, I’d have kicked the wretched thing to pieces long ago!"

Honestly? 

Most of us feel that way sometimes. But Jesus doesn't. He is mercifully patient. Think about the Samaritan woman at the well. She was hiding from her community, carrying a heavy load because of her past. 

Jesus didn't start the conversation with a list of her sins. He started by asking for a cup of water. 

John 4:7 NIV When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” 

The entire conversation with this woman is in John 4:1-40, but here is the point I want to make. Jesus was very patient and stayed in the conversation through her deflections until she was ready to see the truth.

She deflected by bringing up racial tensions

John 4:9 NIV The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)

She questioned  His physical ability to get water.

John 4:11 NIV “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? 

She finally switched to a theological debate about the "proper" place to worship.

John 4:20 NIV Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”

Every time she tried to change the subject, Jesus stayed with her and gently redirected her to the heart of the matter.

John 4:23-26 NIV [23] Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. [24] God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” [25] The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” [26] Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

And what happened as a result of Jesus’ patience with her.

John 4:28-30, 39-42 NIV

[28] Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, [29] “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” [30] They came out of the town and made their way toward him.

[39] Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.” [40] So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. [41] And because of his words many more became believers. [42] They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”

Or look at Peter. After Peter denied Him three times, Jesus didn't show up after the Resurrection to say, "I told you so." He made him breakfast. Read the story about this encounter in John chapter 21. 

Peter had denied even knowing Jesus three times after His arrest.  After making breakfast for Peter and some other folk, he gave Peter three chances to say "I love you" to heal those three denials.

John 21:15-17 NIV [15] When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” [16] Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” [17] The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 

2. Jesus Refuses to Kick You While You’re Down

Let’s Look at Matthew 12:20 again; A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory.

Matthew uses the image of a "bruised reed." Picture a stalk of grain in a field that’s been stepped on. It’s hanging by a thread. Most of us would just snap it off and throw it away. But Jesus? He’s the one who props it back up. He refuses to give up on you just because you’re struggling.

The second half of that verse says, "a smoldering wick He will not snuff out."

Back then, people used linen wicks in oil lamps. When the oil ran dry, the flame would disappear and the wick would just smolder and smoke. It’s useless, it smells bad, and the easiest thing to do is just pinch it out.

Maybe that’s how you feel today. Burned out. Like you’re down to your last bit of smoke and the light is almost gone.

The world tends to pile on when we’re weary. But Jesus is the Great Encourager. His favorite phrases weren't "Try harder" or "Do better." 

He said things like "Be of good cheer,"

Matthew 9:1-2 NKJV [1] So He got into a boat, crossed over, and came to His own city. [2] Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven 

John 16:32-33 NKJV [32] Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me.  [33] These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

To those feeling empty or discarded by the world He said "Blessed are you"

Matthew 5:3-12 NKJV [3] “Blessed  are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [4] Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. [5] Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. [6] Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. [7] Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. [8] Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. [9] Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. [10] Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. [11] “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.  

Notice Jesus doesn't say "Blessed are the strong/perfect." He says "Blessed are you" to the very people society considers "bruised reeds."

He said "Peace I leave with you" Even in His own darkest hour, His priority was encouraging His friends. He said this to the disciples just hours before He faced the cross.

John 14:25-27 NKJV [25] “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.  [26] But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.  [27] Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  

Jesus refuses to discourage the weary. He doesn't want to crush you; He wants to refill your oil. He lifts burdens; He doesn't add to them.

3. Jesus Refuses to Be an Intruder

Finally, there is one other thing Jesus strictly refuses to do: He will not enter where He isn't invited.

He is a Savior, but He is not an intruder. The blessings He offers are available to everyone, but He won't force the door.

There’s a famous painting by Holman Hunt called The Light of the World. It shows Jesus standing knocking at a door covered in vines and weeds. If you look closely at the painting, you’ll notice there is no doorknob on the outside. The door can only be opened from the inside.

Revelation 3:20 NKJV Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.  

Jesus is patient, and He is encouraging, but He is also a gentleman. He stands at the door of your heart and knocks. He pleads with us, He invites us, and He urges us—but He refuses to force His way in.

Conclusion

In the corner of that famous painting, the artist,  Holman Hunt, wrote a short prayer in Latin. The prayer simply says, "O, do not pass me by."

That’s the choice for us today. Jesus is waiting with all the patience and encouragement in the world, but the door knob is on your side.

Closing Prayer

"Lord, we are so grateful that You aren’t like us. We’re grateful that when we would have run out of patience, You stayed. When we would have snuffed out the light, You fanned the flame.

Right now, we look at the 'bruised reeds' in this room—the hearts that feel stepped on by life, by the world, or even by their own mistakes. Thank You for being the One who doesn’t break us further, but heals us. We look at those who feel like a 'smoldering wick'—those who are exhausted, burned out, and down to their last bit of hope. Thank You for refusing to kick us while we're down and for offering us Your peace instead.

Jesus, we recognize that You are standing at the door of our hearts right now. You’ve been knocking so patiently. We don't want the vines of busyness or the weeds of pride to keep that door shut anymore.

As we leave this place, help us to be mindful of our choices. Help us to choose the path that leads to You. We open the door. We invite You into our mess, our weariness, and our joy.

Don't pass us by, Lord. Stay with us, change us, and lead us home.

In Your powerful and merciful name we pray, Amen."

What Jesus Does for Sinners

This is the manuscript of the sermon preached on Sunday January 25, 2026 at Christ Church

John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (Revelation 1:4-6 NIV)

Think about the inexhaustible resources that belong to Jesus Christ and are freely available to us by faith. For these spiritual riches to be ours, we have only to receive him as our Savior and confess him as our Lord. Then all that Jesus possesses and all that he does for sinners will be credited to our account.

This can be described as “The  Great Exchange”. It describes a spiritual "bank account" where Christ’s infinite assets are transferred to us the moment we place our trust in Him.

Here are three things that Jesus does for sinners;

Jesus loves us in our sins.

Jesus frees us from our sins

Jesus lifts us out of our sins.

 Romans 5:6-17 NIV [6] You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. [7] Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. [8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! [10] For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! [11] Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. [12] Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— [13] To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. [14] Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. [15] But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! [16] Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. [17] For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!

               

Introduction

In the late 19th century, the Union Pacific Railroad issued bonds to fund the expansion of the American West. These were "Gold Bonds," meaning they promised repayment in actual gold coin rather than paper currency.

In the early 2000s, a group of heirs and investors came forward with several of these original bonds. They argued that because the U.S. had abandoned the gold standard in the 1930s, the "face value" of the bonds should be adjusted to the current market price of gold.

While a bond might have had a face value of $1,000 in 1896, the claimants argued that with compound interest and the skyrocketing value of gold, the railroad owed them hundreds of millions of dollars per bond.

Well the Union Pacific and the U.S. court system rejected the claims. Courts generally ruled that the 1933 Gold Clause Resolution passed by Congress legally converted all "gold" obligations into standard U.S. dollars, effectively wiping out the massive "hidden value" the heirs hoped to find.                                    

In contrast to this, think about the inexhaustible resources that belong to Jesus Christ and are freely available to us by faith. 

For these spiritual riches to be ours, we have only to receive him as our Savior and confess him as our Lord. Then all that

Jesus possesses and all that he does for sinners will be credited to our account.

This can be described as The  Great Exchange. It describes a spiritual "bank account" where Christ’s infinite assets are transferred to us the moment we place our trust in Him.

Romans 10:9-10 NIV [9] If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 

And Romans 8:16-17 NIV says[16] The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. [17] Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Text: 

Revelation 1:4-6 NIV [4] John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, [5] and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, [6] and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

In our text, the Apostle John in his communication to the seven churches in the province of  Asia, moves from a formal greeting to a profound declaration of Christ’s character and His specific actions on behalf of humanity. These verses highlight Jesus’ past, present, and future work.

The text for our message this morning focuses on three things Jesus does for sinners.

1. Jesus loves us in our sins.

2. Jesus frees us from our sins

3. Jesus frees us from our slavery to sin and changes our status

 I. Jesus Loves Us in Our Sins

The heartbeat of the Gospel is found in the final phrase of verse 5: "To him who loves us." In the original Greek, this is a present-tense, continuous reality. Literally, it means He "is loving us" right now.

Jesus  Loves Us Exactly as We Are: We often feel we have to "clean up" before approaching God, but the Bible reveals a Savior who meets us in our mess. Think of it this way a  parent waiting for a traveling child doesn't wait for them to shower before leaning in for a hug. They don't see the dirt; they see the person. They rush to meet them exactly as they are—disheveled and worn out—because the welcome is more important than the wash. The embrace isn't the finish line; it’s the beginning.

Jesus Loves Us Sacrificially: Sacrificial love, Agape love, is not a passive feeling that waits for us to arrive; it is an unstoppable pursuit that comes to find us. It is the love of God who refuses to leave His greatest treasure in the hands of the enemy. This love didn't just feel compassion from a distance; it took on flesh, took ridicule and beatings, and took on our debt. The Cross is the proof that God’s love is not a word He speaks, but a price He paid. It is not a passive feeling but an active, driving force that led Him to the Cross.  Agape is a verb, an action word, not a noun.

Romans 5:6-8 NIV [6] You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. [7] Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. [8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

II. Jesus Frees Us from Our Sins

The end of verse 5 gives us our 'Declaration of Independence.' It says He 'freed us from our sins.' This word freed literally means to 'loose what is bound.' Think of a ship tied to a pier or a prisoner chained to a wall—Jesus walked into the mess of our lives and cut the ropes. He didn't just change our clothes; He changed our status from 'captive' to 'citizen of the Kingdom.

Philippians 3:20-21 NIV [20] But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, [21] who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. 

Just as a citizen living abroad follows the laws and customs of their home country, we are called to live by the "customs" of Heaven (love, grace, and truth) while we are here.

This is the true story of a guy by the name of Martin Leu, who was a man from Nebraska who decided that as long as he had life in his veins, he would use it to save others. Over a period of forty-five years, Martin went to the blood bank over and over again. By the time he was finished, he had donated over 200 pints of blood.

To put that in perspective, the average human body only holds about 10 to 12 pints. Martin Leu literally gave his entire body's volume of blood back to the world twenty times over. Doctors estimate that his 'liquid gift' saved hundreds of lives—people he never met, who were facing death until his blood was poured into their veins.

But as inspiring as Martin Leu was, his sacrifice had a limit. He could only give one pint at a time, and he had to wait weeks for his body to replenish it.

But look at Jesus Christ. When He hung on that Cross, He didn’t just give a pint; He gave it all. And unlike a human donor, the blood of Jesus is an inexhaustible resource. It doesn't just save a few hundred people in Nebraska; it has the power to loose the chains of slavery to sin, of every person in human history.

Martin Leu’s blood gave people a few more years of earthly life; His sacrifice was physical, but Jesus’ sacrifice was eternal. He didn't just give a portion of Himself; He poured out His very life to settle our spiritual debt.

1 Peter 1:18-19 NIV [18] For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, [19] but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 

Jesus redeems sinners His blood frees a repentant sinner from the bondage of sin into the liberty found in Him. 

1 Peter 2:22-24 NIV [22] “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” [23] When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. [24] “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 

III. Jesus frees us of From Slavery to Sin and changes our status

Finally, verse 6, of our text  reveals our new status: He "has made us to be a kingdom and priests." Jesus does more than just pardon us; He promotes us. He doesn't just pull us out of the pit; He seats us in the palace.

Jesus made a startling promise in John 12:32: 'And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.' When the world 'lifted Him up,' they intended it to be a display of ultimate shame. They lifted Him up on a jagged cross, between two thieves, in the sight of a mocking crowd. 

But Jesus knew a secret the world didn't: His descent into shame was the beginning of our ascent into glory. He was lifted up in agony so that you could be lifted up in grace. This 'lifting grace' finds a life weighted down by the gravity of sin—defined by failure and degradation—and it defies that gravity. It picks you up from the ash heap of your past and seats you in a life defined by divine purpose

Look around you today. The 'lifting grace' of Jesus is still at work in the quiet, everyday corners of our lives:

Jesus doesn't just lift the 'super-Christians.' He lifts sinners. He takes lives defined by 'what used to be' and elevates them into 'what can be' through His power. It all starts with realizing that He has already reached down to lift you up. You don't have to climb your way to Him; you only have to reach out and let His lifting grace take hold."

Conclusion

We began this morning talking about the heirs of the Union Pacific Gold Bonds—people who held onto old documents, hoping for a payday that never came. They went to the courts with their claims, but the law had changed, the gold was gone, and their "hidden value" was wiped out. They were left with nothing but worthless paper and a broken dream.

How different it is with the Kingdom of God!

The world is full of people chasing windfalls that don't exist and seeking value in things that can be "wiped out" by a single act of Congress or a shift in the economy. But you and I have been given a bond that is backed by the Throne of Heaven.

Matthew 6:31-33 NIV [31] So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ [32] For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. [33] But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 

When you realize that Jesus loves you exactly as you are, He takes away your need to perform. When you realize He has freed you by His blood, He takes away your shame. And when you realize He has lifted you into His kingdom, He takes away your insignificance.

Your account is not empty. Your inheritance is not tied to the gold standard of this world; it is tied to the "unsearchable riches of Christ." 

1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV [3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, [5] who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 

You are a child of the King, a priest of the Most High, and a joint-heir with the Savior. Don't leave here today trying to "break free" from chains that He has already broken off.

Walk out of those doors in the "lifting grace" of Jesus Christ. You are no longer defined by the pit you were in, but by the Palace you are going to.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We thank You today for the Great Exchange. We thank You that while we were still powerless, while we were still disheveled and had the stench of sin on us You ran to us and embraced us.

Lord Jesus, we confess that we have often lived like spiritual paupers when You have made us royalty. Forgive us for staring at the chains on the floor instead of walking through the open door. We thank You for Your blood—that inexhaustible resource that didn't just wash us, but freed us forever.

Today, we reach out and take hold of Your "lifting grace." Lift those of us who feel we have failed; those of us  who feel like we aren’t enough; those of us who feel like we are stuck in sinking sand. Remind us that our names are written in Your book, and our account is overflowing with Your righteousness.

Help us to align our priorities with Your will. May we live not to get a blessing, but from the blessing we already have in Christ, who loves us, and freed us, and lifted us.

In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.