https://youtu.be/0AMXH-JjfPU

Matthew 11:1-19 Have you ever been misunderstood? Trying to do something, or explain something, and people misconstrue what you say and say you aren’t who you are and try to turn people against you?I’ve had it happen. Here at this church- I’m not mad about it- just saying it happensProbably happened to you in a relationship, or at work, or some other timeIts frustrating for us- not sure if it frustrated Jesus- but this story kind of deals with itLets see what we can get out of this passage- 

Waiting doesn’t change who Jesus is

Now you may not know or remember- but John was the forerunner of ChristMalachi 3:1 “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant,In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming, ”Says the Lord of hosts.And John is this messenger. He’s the one fortold to ‘prepare the way” and he goes to prisonJohn the Baptist The Bible indicates in Matthew 14 that John the Baptist was placed in prison by Herod Antipas as a result of John condemning Herod for having divorced his wife and then having married Herodias, the divorced wife of Herod Antipas' half-brother Philip.So John is in prison- the guy who said “Prepare the way of the Lord” and called people to repentAnd two of his disciples come to him and he says to go to Jesus “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”Think about it- John is in prison for being someone who is calling people out on their sins to return to God- he knows that God is/has sent a deliverer and you’re in prison. Not delivered. Here’s the truth- when you have hope in something that you don’t see happening- it can easily turn into despair. It can wreck your heart and you think things and create narrativesJeremiah complained that God had deceived him- Jeremiah 20:7 O Lord, You induced me, and I was persuaded; You are stronger than I, and have prevailed. I am in derision daily; Everyone mocks me.Its human to do this! John is in prison and wondering- are you the guy, or should we look else?He felt deserted in prison. He had to know- Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey A colt, the foal of a donkey,- he knows this but he is in prison (Not a prison like today)- these prisons are dank, dark, stench filled underground torture chambers- “a fate worse than death” to discourage crime. Can you imagine living under that condition- John probably was contemplating denying ChristHenry- The remaining unbelief of good men may sometimes, in an hour of temptation; call in question the most important truthsWhat do you do when the Jesus you expected isn’t the Jesus you see? You’re in prison! If we were honest, many of us identify with this prison experience of JohnFeeling like we’re locked up- sitting in some sort of prison and questioning our faith“This Jesus- is he the one- or should we be looking for some other deliverer” Because when you are WAITING you think and feel like God is never going to SHOW UPI get it- Paul probably felt that way when he was beaten and whipped in prisonBut you don’t get to give up- you are not going to give up- you are not quitting. Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;I don’t care what kind of prison you’re in- don’t look at your circumstance- look at God!Its normal to feel that way- I am just admonishing you TODAY- DON’T GIVE UP DON”TGala 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.I know MANY people who didn’t reap the harvest because they gave up- Show up is 90% of it. Isaiah 40:30-31 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,