Making God Happy, Part II
Matthew 21:12-22
1. Things that Make God Angry:
a. The Depreciation of Worship.
b. The Exploitation of People.
i. Gentiles.
ii. Travelers.
iii. Disabled.
c. The Stumbling Block. (Matthew 21:13, Luke 17:1-2)
2. Things that Bring God’s Compassion: (Matthew 21:15-17)
a. Those that Come to Him. (Matthew 21:14, Micah 7:18-19)
Micah 7:18-19, Who is a God like you, forgiving iniquity and passing over rebellion for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not hold on to his anger forever because he delights in faithful love. He will again have compassion on us; he will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.
b. Those Who Trust in Him. (Matthew 21:15, Psalm 9:10)
Psalm 9:10, Those who know your name trust in you because you have not abandoned those who seek you, LORD.
3. What Kind of “Tree” Are You? (Matthew 21:18-22)
a. The One that Bears No Fruit and Receives Judgment? (Matthew 21:18-19, Revelation 3:14-16)
Revelation 3:14-16, Write to the angel of the church in Laodicea: Thus says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the originator, of God’s creation: I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth.
b. The One that Bears the Fruit of Faith [i.e. In Prayer]? (Matthew 21:20-22, Hebrews 11:6, John 15:1-2)
Hebrews 11:6, Now without faith it is impossible to please God, since the one who draws near to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
John 15:1-2, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit.”