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LUKE 19:41-44

"THE TIME OF VISITATION"

Intro: I believe that to each man there comes a day of God's visitation, that day that  God
       has ordained for him to receive Jesus Christ as King. "Seek ye the Lord  while He may
       be found, call upon Him while He is near, lest the evil days come  when you say, I 
       have no pleasure in them."

I. THIS WAS THE DAY OF ISRAEL'S VISITATION.
        A. A day foretold by their prophets.
                1. Daniel 9:25, "From the time..."
                2. Zech. 9:9, "Rejoice greatly O daughter of Zion, shout O daughter of
                   Jerusalem: Behold the King."
        B. Jesus had made careful preparation.
                1. Sent disciples to get colt.
        C. First time Jesus allowed any king ot public acclamation.
                1. When Pharisees called for Him to halt His disciples He responded..."the
                   very stones..."
        D. The day of God's visitation is a day of:
                1. Rejoicing, vs. 37 "Began to rejoice and praise God."
                2. Worship, vs. 38, "Blessed be the King."
                3. Peace, vs. 38, "Peace in heaven."
                4. Glory, vs 38, "Glory in the highest."

II. THEY FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THEIR DAY, WHY?
        A. They were blindly following their blind leaders.
                1. Rather than search out for themselves they were swayed by
                        the prejudices of highly biased men.
                2. Men today are highly opinionated against the Bible who have
                        never really read it or made a serious study of it. Why?
                        a. Somewhere along the line, they heard someone say, Bible sull of
                           contradictions.
                                1. "Name me a few."
                3. Blind prejudice will cause you to miss your day of visitation.
        B. Others feared for their positions.
                1. What effect will it have on my business if I submit to the Lordship of 
                   Jesus Christ.
                2. Some fear what being righteous and honest would do to their futures.
        C. Still others miss because of pride.
                1. Can you imagine what the Romans thought of this procession?
                2. Some today miss God's day of visitation because of pride.
        D. Whatever the cause how tragic to miss.

III. THE RESULTS OF THEIR MISSING.
        A. From the divine side sorrow.
                1. See Jesus as He weeps.
                        a. He can,s,ee the calamities ahead -
                        b. He can see the temple in flames and leveled.
                        c. He can see the ruinous heap of what was once Jerusalem the golden.
                        d. He can smell the stench of the slain bodies.
                2. These are the tings He sought to spare them from.
                        a. He desired to bring them peace but they chose rather a sword.
        B. From the human side hopelessness.
                1. If you miss God's day of visitation for your life, where are you going to
                   find peace?
                        a. You have chosen a sword, chosen to fight God rather than submit.
                        b. Your life will be in turmoil and conflict, no peace with heaven
                           means no peace on earth.
                2. What is holding you back from acclaiming Jesus as your King today?
                        a. Will Jesus be weeping as you go out the door today?