"The People Were Moved"

Luke 19:35-40

Matthew 11:17 “And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.”

Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

Moved by God's Spirit: Transforming Our Lives

Summary: This theme focuses on how the presence of God can inspire and move His people to act in ways that glorify Him and serve one another.

Application: Understanding how we can be moved by God's Spirit encourages believers to be open to divine promptings in their daily lives, leading to changed hearts and actions that reflect Christ’s love.

Teaching: This sermon emphasizes the importance of being sensitive to God's Spirit and the transformative power that comes when we allow ourselves to be moved by Him.

How this passage could point to Christ: Throughout Scripture, we see the role of the Holy Spirit actively moving individuals to fulfill God’s purpose. Ultimately, we recognize that Jesus is the fulfillment of these movements, providing the ultimate example of being moved by the Spirit to serve and sacrifice.

Big Idea: When we allow ourselves to be moved by God's Spirit, we become agents of transformation, both in our lives and in the lives of others.

Recommended Study: As you prepare this sermon, consider exploring how the Holy Spirit has moved in pivotal moments throughout Scripture using your Logos library. Investigate the personal narratives of figures like Moses and the apostles, and examine the implications of receptiveness to the Spirit in these stories. Look into contemporary theological perspectives on the relationship between the Spirit's prompting and human action, which might offer enriching insights for your audience.

1. Moved to Generosity

Exodus 35:20-29

You could highlight how God moved the hearts of the Israelites to contribute willingly to the construction of the Tabernacle. Their generous response exemplifies what happens when individuals are sensitive to the Spirit’s prompting: a community is transformed by their unity and willingness to serve God’s purposes, mirroring Christ’s self-giving nature. Consider encouraging the congregation to be open to the Spirit, just as the Israelites were, allowing their actions to reflect Christ’s love.

2. Moved to Empowerment

Acts 2:1–4 “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Perhaps you could use the Pentecost as an example of how the Spirit moved to unify and empower the early Church. The sudden transformation of the disciples from timid followers to bold preachers illustrates the Spirit’s capacity to instigate powerful change. You might suggest that being open to such movements can likewise renew and empower today’s believers, invigorating their mission to reflect Christ in a diverse world.

3. Moved to New Life

Romans 8:13-16

It may be insightful to speak on how the Spirit enables believers to live as children of God, prompting them to put to death the deeds of the flesh. This life-changing movement redirects focus from self to living by the Spirit, revealing the intimate relationship with God through Christ. Encourage the congregation to trust in this transformative process, as it assures their identity and inheritance in Christ.

4. Moved to Peace\Praise

John 14:25-27

You might stress how Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to guide and teach His followers, bringing them peace and assurance. This movement by the Spirit offers comfort and clarity, especially in trials. Such divine assistance suggests believers can lean into this continuous presence of the Spirit to transform worry into peace, reflecting Jesus’ serenity in every circumstance.

jesus’ advance into the city (19:35–40). 19:35–40. Jesus advanced down the west side of the Mount of Olives (v. 37) toward the city and was praised by the crowd as their Messiah. The act of spreading their cloaks on the road (v. 36) in front of Jesus was a sign of respect. The whole crowd of disciples (mathētōn) began joyfully to praise God … for all the miracles (dynameōn, “evidences of spiritual power”) they had seen. These believers quoted (v. 38a) from Psalm 118:26, a messianic psalm of praise. The Pharisees understood the meaning of what was going on, for they told Jesus to rebuke His followers, so they would stop calling him Messiah or King. Jesus responded that there must be some proclamation that He is the Messiah. If not, even inanimate objects (stones) would be called on to testify for Him. All history had pointed toward this single, spectacular event when the Messiah publicly presented Himself to the nation, and God desired that this fact be acknowledged.

David had The Ark of the covenant back it signified God’s presence and Help. He danced out of his clothes.