“Empty to Filled” week 4

“Filled with Praise”

Introduction:

For many, the thought of praise centers on singing on a Sunday morning along with their friends and family as they gather together for a weekend celebration.

Our expressions of Sunday morning worship has evolved through the years. Many aspects remain the same such as worship songs accompanied by a piano, guitar, or today a worship band. We clap our hands and celebrate the hope Christ has brought to our lives through His resurrection.

Many of us can remember the days when we would sing hymns together. As a worship pastor for the first 20 years of our pastoral ministry, I can readily remember the “worship wars” as the hymns began to be replaced with the current contemporary worship songs.

Unfortunately, these worship wars were exactly that, a distasteful display of attitudes and perspectives expressed forcefully. The expectations and often demands were; “we should sing the old hymns of the church and forget these new songs.”

As these perspectives were expressed, many became offended and equally pushed back with their perspective of what praise and worship should look and sound like.

All the while, I wondered what God thought about this. Was He pleased with our spirits, or was He grieved in His spirit as to where our perspectives and beliefs had arrived?

It doesn’t seem to happen quite as often today, but every now and then, distant rumbles can still be heard in our worship expectations.

Opening . . .

Today, we celebrate the triumphal entry of Christ. It is the familiar narrative of Jesus entering Jerusalem to the cheers and worship of those who had gathered to place palm branches on the path before Him.

The Lexham English Bible (Luke Chapter 19)

The Triumphal Entry

28 And after he* had said these things, he traveled on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

29 And it happened that when he drew near to Bethphage and Bethany, to the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, ‘Go into the village in front of you, in which as you* enter you will find a colt tied, on which ⌊no person has ever⌋ sat, and untie it and* bring it.* 31 And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’* you will say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent went and* found it* just as he had told them.

33 And as* they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ 34 So they said, ‘The Lord has need of it.’ 35 And they brought it to Jesus, and throwing their cloaks on the colt, they put Jesus on it. 36 And as* he was going along, they were spreading out their cloaks on the road.

37 Now as* he was drawing near by this time to the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began rejoicing to praise God with a loud voice for all the miracles that they had seen, 38 saying,

“Blessed is the king,

the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven

and glory in the highest!”

39 And some of the Pharisees from the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 And he answered and* said, “I tell you that if these keep silent, the stones will cry out!”

Opening Observations:

The time of Jesus’ crucifixion is near.

Jesus enters Jerusalem in fulfillment of prophecy. 9 “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Look! Your king comes to you;

he is righteous and victorious,

humble and riding on a donkey,

and on a male donkey, ⌊the foal of⌋ a female donkey!”

As Jesus entered the city, the crowd became exhuberant in their praise and worship

The religious leaders pushback on the praise Jesus was receiving instructing Him to “rebuke Your disciples!”

Jesus states that worship is required.

What is the significance of the triumphal entry?

The people hailed and praised Him as the “King who comes in the name of the Lord” as He rode to the temple.

Jesus’ purpose in riding into Jerusalem was to make public His claim to be their Messiah and King of Israel in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

Jesus rides into His capital city as a conquering King and is hailed by the people as such, in the manner of the day.

The spreading of cloaks was an act of homage for royalty.

Jesus was openly declaring to the people that He was their King and the Messiah they had been waiting for.

A difference of purpose:

The praise the people lavished on Jesus was not because they recognized Him as their Savior from sin.

They welcomed Him out of their desire for a messianic deliverer, someone who would lead them in a revolt against Rome.

When He failed in their expectations, when He refused to lead them in a massive revolt against the Roman occupiers, the crowds quickly turned on Him.

Those who hailed Him as a hero would soon reject and abandon Him.

Could there be another level of significance?

The writer of Hebrews . . .

The Lexham English Bible (Hebrews Chapter 12)

2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the originator and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

“The joy set before Him” . . .

Praise goes before to prepare the way for the battle.

The story of Jehoshaphat . . . (2 Chronicles 20)

The Lexham English Bible (Chapter 20)

22 “And ⌊when⌋ they began with singing and praise, Yahweh set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who were coming against Judah.”

Could our worship be for the purpose of fighting a spiritual battle?

Could the worship Jesus received at the time of His triumphal entry into Jerusalem be “the joy that was set before Him” that made the way to the cross?

Could our worship invite God into our spiritual battles for the purpose of defeating the enemy?

God’s residence . . .

The Lexham English Bible (Psalms Chapter 22)

3 “Yet you are holy,

enthroned on the praises of Israel.”

Our worship invites God’s throne into our situations.

God “inhabits” or dwells among our praise.

Filled with praise . . .

Becoming filled with praise opens a path forward to victory.

Becoming filled with praise establishes the joy of the Lord which is our strength for battle.

Becoming filled with praise is something that is possible before we see the victory.

Becoming filled with praise invites God to “set ambushments” against the enemy on our behalf.

Becoming filled with praise enables us to “endure suffering” like Jesus.

The next time . . .

The next time you feel like complaining, choose praise instead.

The next time you start to lose hope, choose praise instead.

The next time you can’t see a way forward, choose praise instead.

The next time you think your situation is beyond God’s control, choose praise instead.

Prayer . . .