“Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.””
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭11:20-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬
http://bible.com/111/mat.11.20-24.niv

Sodom, tyre, Sidon - towns God judged in the OT

GOD surely sends His mercy, as long as we are willing to repent

1. In blessings yet unaware of it

• God has already come to seek us, bless us and form a r//s with us (not call you to serve in certain ministries) --- God calls us to make us holy
• Do we always feel discontented? Think deeper what you're struggling with?
• God's grace is hidden in our lives, if we take note, we would have uncovered it

• Jas 4:6
• The cities were proud (do not need JC)
• GOD is happy with us to have material possessions, but if we are proud because of this, then this is sin
• Greatest arrogance in a man - Disown source of life
• 1 Co 4:7 “For who separates you from the others [as a faction leader]? [Who makes you superior and sets you apart from another, giving you the preeminence?] What have you that was not given to you? If then you received it [from someone], why do you boast as if you had not received [but had gained it by your own efforts]?” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭4:7‬ ‭AMP‬‬
• What do you have is what you do not received? Eg you're not born smart 
• Pride comes from disbelief in God and trust in selves 
  • Unrepentant (about being smug that we can do without God), still want to indulge in our own desires
• Humble = repentant 
  • Comes with sorrow (sackcloth)
  • But sometimes we feel thrilled with our sins.. We are in a strange situation [sorrow yet desire the secret joy]
  • Delighted yet sorrowful [transition state] = the fact that you're still sorrowful means Holy Spirit is not letting you off, and still convicting you into thorough/full repentance. - God will give grace to the humble
  • Repent for not relying fully on God 
  • Being humble is not about not boasting only, but also accepting the lot/portion God has given us

• Opportunities that God has given us - eg workplace, school, families 
• In these opportunities, do we repent and follow God's will?
• The more privileges/ blessings you receive from God, the more you need to be in fear and trembling! 
• If God gives you more spiritual insights --> give more counsel and encouragements, take in more "rubbish, shit", love more.. <But God is not blind!>
• If you have more money; knows something.. Do you act on it? 
• Less problems? Does it make you more focused on caring for others?

4. Did Jesus fail His mission?

• Being God, cannot even convince people to believe in these unrepentant cities! ??
• “So I ask, Have they stumbled so as to fall [to their utter spiritual ruin, irretrievably]? By no means! But through their false step and transgression salvation [has come] to the Gentiles, so as to arouse Israel [to see and feel what they forfeited] and so to make them jealous. Now if their stumbling (their lapse, their transgression) has so enriched the world [at large], and if [Israel's] failure means such riches for the Gentiles, think what an enrichment and greater advantage will follow their full reinstatement!
  
  Lest you be self-opinionated (wise in your own conceits), I do not want you to miss this hidden truth and mystery, brethren: a hardening (insensibility) has [temporarily] befallen a part of Israel [to last] until the full number of the ingathering of the Gentiles has come in,”‭‭Romans‬ ‭11:11-12, 25‬ ‭AMP‬
  
  • Grace will return to Israel and save them --> but God allowed this momentarily rejection so that his grace can be extended to the Gentiles 
  • Jesus "failed" now due to sin of men, not "lack of power" -> but God's power is such that it will still fulfill His redemption plan (Glory of GOd)
• Think: sometimes we are perplexed.. When we follow God and preached to people, just don't get the desired outcomes.. Even Jesus didn't get the desired outcomes! In the course of our serving, this happened so that we can go deeper in God's heart, and not be discouraged, for God is still in control - He will not lose (Cf Ro 11)
• But certain failures exemplifies the glory of God. 

________