The lament after worship

Introduction

Maybe 6 years ago, not sure why, I was invited to this worship concert. I don’t quite know what it is at that time, but it is basically a Christian concert. It was a very different experience in some way. There were large screen, very professional music, dance and smoke, but maybe too loud for my taste, it goes on for more than 1 hr. The songs have good lyrics too most of the time. People are shouting, raising their hands, you know. They seem using their whole heart to worship God. Some even cried. While it may not be how I would like to worship God every week, it is an enlightening experience, I thought yeah, I could learn from worship like that, expressing my emotions in front of a God who is great, maybe like David right?

But then after the whole worship concert, I was observing those who are catching the train. Maybe it’s just a small group of them. But there was some uneasy in it. They were hyped, they were loud. They were even maybe sound rude to others, you know. I’m thinking, these doesn’t seem people who have just worshipped God, they look like finishing going to a concert. On 2020, this church has to fire one of its pastor because of leadership issues and breaches of trust, plus moral failures.

Even our worship could be grand, could be full of people, could look like we use our whole heart and mind towards him, it might be

The Rejoice

Context:

Luke 19:37-39 “As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.””

THey are quoting Psalm 180, Psalm 126. They are recognizing the Messiah. Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. But here is JEsus, in the moment. But the week is over. They will be shouting crufixion. When Luke 19 , the story lines slows way down. It details the last week of his life.

Shout. Hosanna is the highest, heaven of earth, king of kings. Do it with confidence, do it with might. Shout joyfully, loud voice. In our worship, say it or sing it. But not all agree Luke 19:39 consternation Luke 19:39-40 “And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” They knew sitting the donkey, they know Zecharisha, they know prediction Messiah coming to song. They knew this crowd but they didn’t. Tell them to be quiet. It is to force them to act, some response. Wanted to arrest Jesus after passover. Then we will arrest him. Not God’s plan, his son would die on passover. Because he is the fulfillment of passover. Mount of olives take that stone, this is stones that didn’t cry out. That was an exciting worship to be part of. Electric crowd, frantic crowd. God isn’t seeking frantic worshippers nor frentic worshippers, but authentic worshippers. However, Despite the fact the moment caught up parade, sings praises. I believe a very large majority of church goers are merely unthinking, slumbering worshipers of an unknown God.They are singing and praising. Honour as the Messiah, but Jesus is weeping. Sunday he is coming to Jerusalem. By Thursday . they go from blessed is the king to cruify him. This is so short-lived. But he weeps for them.

Even stone cries out!

Weeps for those who don’t recognize him

Luke 19:40-44 “He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” And when he drew near and saw the city, he wept over it, saying, “Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.””

1. Jesus weeps over those who don’t recognize him because what they will miss. He weeps those who don’t recognize him. Lazarus sheding a tear. That’s the word JOhn 11. But here luke uses weeps - sob bitterly. 42 If you had know on this day the things that make for peace. They missed his peace, because they missed him. THey are lots of people today don’t have peace because they have Jesus. Tormenting guilt and shame and unresolved sins in our life. We are not peace with God and us. But when we have a relationship Jesus, by faith we accept the forgivenesxs. The forgiveness of Jesus gave us peace unlike anything else the world have to offer. John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” The wonder of God of peace and floods our soul when we are right with the Almight God.

Do not miss God’s coming time for you.

Weeps for those who rejects him

Luke 19:43-44 “For the days will come upon you, when your enemies will set up a barricade around you and surround you and hem you in on every side and tear you down to the ground, you and your children within you. And they will not leave one stone upon another in you, because you did not know the time of your visitation.””

Visitation paqad (count, pay attnetion, remember, punish) epi over skope (watching over). overseeing of church.

He prophsying about something here, in fact he kind of repeats. IN Luke 21:5-6 “And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”” Luke 21:20 ““But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.” What is he talking about here, because you don’t recognize him, they will be army stone of temple mount. What is refeering roman armies 70.AD down on to street value. Only 38 years later, one stone left another. They’re looking at the beatuiful temple, King Harold get a good look see her is going to become rubble. Josephus who are first century of eyewitness when the roman came and besighed Jerusalem.1.1 millions Jews died 97000 would become. Jewish 66-73 revolt final standoff the few jews had managed to prolong masada down by the dead sea. Last renmanet the conflict between 66-73 Jewish Revolt. Lasting memorial the ROman army did when they besighed. It is an indicment those who reject Jesus as these are his prophetic word. THese things will happen you didn’t your time of your visitation. It is all avoidable. Some tragic , we too reject Jesus. The fact is judgement comes, a picture Jesus reveals himself, people suffer consequence, is painting a cosmic, a warning. Listen , God heart breaks for those who receive him if we believe him.

Ezekiel 33:11 “Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?” The judgement intended for us was placed on JEsus so we do not have to face the consequence of sin. 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” IF we put our faith on the innocent and have the peace surpass all udnerstanding. otherwiwse we face judgement. Because we have his son.

Jesus still longs for us to recognize him today

When you loook back in your life, that’s probably God. That’s God revealing to me. Things that happens that is not concidence. Ask yourslef, how many times, did God get your attention. Or is he getting attention? This is not . Do you see him. I am calling. Do not miss God’s savlatgion. I want a relationship with you. Whole generation did not recognize him. Despite 300 propheices. despite Daniel and Nehemiah. They still didn’t miracle after miracle. How many and how times does he have to do it. So we would not miss out peace. Or suffer the consequence of rejecting him. Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Are you in Christ? Do you have a relationship with him. Please do not miss God’s coming to you.