THE KING IS HERE

INTRO

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A MOMENT WHERE YOU EXPECTED ONE THING…BUT GOT SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT?

YOU ORDERED SOMETHING ONLINE, IT LOOKED AMAZING IN THE PICTURES…THEN IT SHOWED UP AND IT WASN’T WHAT YOU THOUGHT.

OR YOU WENT INTO A SITUATION WITH EXPECTATIONS…AND REALLY DIDN’T MATCH.

PALM SUNDAY IS EXACTLY THAT KIND OF MOMENT.

THE PEOPLE WERE SHOUTING, WAVING PALM BRANCHES, CELEBRATING…BUT THEY MISUNDERSTOOD WHO JESUS REALLY WAS.

THEY WANTED A KING…BUT NOT THE KIND OF KING HE CAME TO BE.

MAIN IDEA

JESUS MAY NOT BE THE KING WE EXPECT, BUT HE IS EXACTLY THE KING WE NEED.

1. THE KING CAME IN HUMILITY

Matthew 21:5 NLT

“Tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘Look, your King is coming to you. He is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.’ ”

A. HE DIDN’T COME WITH “POWER”, BUT WITH PEACE.

JESUS DIDN’T COME TO TAKE OVER, HE CAME TO TAKE IN.

THE KING OF HEAVEN CHOSE A DONKEY OVER A THRONE.

HIS POWER WAS REVEALED THROUGH HIS HUMILITY.

B. HE DIDN’T DEMAND ATTENTION, HE INVITED HEARTS.

Zechariah 9:9 NLT

Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.

GOD DOESN’T FORCE HIS WAY IN, HE INVITES HIS WAY IN.

JESUS ISN’T LOUD, HE IS LIFE-CHANGING.

THE KING YOU CAN TRUST IS THE KING WHO IS GENTLE.

C. HE DIDN’T CONQUER ROME, HE CAME TO CONQUER SIN.

John 18:36 NLT

Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”

THE WANTED POLITICAL FREEDOM, JESUS BROUGHT SPIRITUAL FREEDOM.

THE REAL ENEMY WASN’T ROME, IT WAS SIN.

JESUS DIDN’T COME TO FIX YOUR SITUATION FIRST, HE CAME TO SAVE YOUR SOUL.

2. THE CROWD MISSED THE MOMENT

Luke 19:41–42 NLT

But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.

A. THEY PRAISED HIM WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT NOT THEIR LIVES.

Matthew 21:8–9 ESV

Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

IT’S POSSIBLE TO SAY THE RIGHT THING AND STILL MISS JESUS.

VOLUME DOESN’T EQUAL SURRENDER.

YOU CAN CELEBRATE HIM AND STILL NOT FOLLOW HIM.

B. THEIR EXPECTATIONS LIMITED THEIR REVELATION.

IF YOU DEFINE JESUS BY YOUR EXPECTATIONS, YOU’LL MISS HIS REALITY.

A SMALL VIEW OF JESUS LEADS TO MISSED ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS.

GOD WON’T FIT IN YOUR BOX, BUT HE WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

C. THEY WANTED TO SEE WHAT HE COULD DO, NOT WHO HE WAS.

MANY WANT A SAVIOR, BUT NOT A LORD.

FOLLOWING JESUS MEANS SURRENDERING CONTROL.

IF JESUS IS ONLY USEFUL TO YOU, HE’S NOT TRULY LORD OF YOU.

3. THE KING IS STILL HERE TODAY

Revelation 3:20 NLT

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.

A. HE COMES TO YOUR PERSONALLY.

JESUS DIDN’T JUST ENTER JERUSALEM, HE WANTS TO ENTER YOUR LIFE.

THIS ISN’T JUST A STORY, IT’S AN INVITATION.

THE KING IS NOT DISTANT, HE IS NEAR.

B. HE BRINGS PEACE INTO CHAOS.

John 14:27 NLT

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

GOD’S PEACE ISN’T BASED ON YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES.

YOU CAN HAVE CALM IN THE MIDDLE OF CHAOS.

WHEN THE KING IS PRESENT, PEACE IS POSSIBLE.

C. HE DESERVES MORE THAN A MOMENT, HE DESERVES YOUR LIFE.

Romans 12:1 NLT

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

DON’T JUST HAVE A PALM SUNDAY MOMENT, HAVE A SURRENDERED LIFE.

JESUS DIDN’T COME TO BE PART OF YOUR LIFE, HE CAME TO LEAD IT.

PARTIAL SURRENDER LEADS TO MISSED TRANSFORMATION.

CONCLUSION/CLOSE

THE SAME CROWD THAT SHOUTED “HOSANNA!” ON SUNDAY…WAS SILENT ON FRIDAY.

WHY?

BECAUSE JESUS DIDN’T MEET THEIR EXPECTATIONS.

BUT WHAT IF THE PROBLEM WASN’T JESUS…WHAT IF IT WAS THEIR EXPECTATIONS?

LOOP BACK CLOSE

JUST LIKE ORDERING SOMETHING AND GETTING SOMETHING DIFFERENT…

PALM SUNDAY REMINDS US:

JESUS MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU EXPECTED…BUT HE IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED.

AND TODAY THE QUESTION ISN’T JUST…IS THE KING HERE? THE QUESTION IS, WILL YOU RECEIVE HIM?

EVERY HEAD BOWED. EVERY EYE CLOSED.

TODAY WE TALKED ABOUT HOW THE CROWD MISSED THE MOMENT…

THEY SAW JESUS…

THEY SHOUTED TO JESUS…

BUT MANY NEVER TRULY SURRENDERED TO JESUS.

AND I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE TODAY…ARE CLOSE TO JESUS…BUT NOT SURRENDERED TO HIM.

YOU CAN COME TO CHURCH..YOU CAN KNOW THE SONGS…YOU CAN BELIEVE IN GOD…BUT STILL NOT HAVE MADE HIM THE KING OF YOUR LIFE.

Scripture:

Romans 10:9

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Today, this isn’t about religion. This is about surrender.

Not just “Hosanna”…but “Jesus, You are Lord.”

Maybe you’re here and:

You’ve never given your life to Jesus

Or you did at one point, but you’ve drifted

Or you’ve been around church, but He’s never truly been King

Today is your moment.

Don’t miss this moment.

The King is here.

And He’s not coming to condemn you—He’s coming to save you.

Scripture:

2 Corinthians 6:2

“Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

If that’s you, on the count of three, I want you to lift your hand.

You’re not joining a church. You’re not making a promise you can’t keep.

You’re simply saying:

“Jesus, I’m giving You my life.”

1… you’re not too far gone

2… this is your moment

3… lift your hand all over the room

You can put your hands down.

Let’s pray this together—out loud, as a church family:

SALVATION PRAYER (ABC STYLE)

A — Admit

Jesus, I admit I’ve sinned and gone my own way.

B — Believe

I believe You died for me and rose again.

C — Confess

I confess You as my Lord and my King.

Jesus, today I give You my life. Forgive me, change me, make me new.

From this day forward, I’m following You.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.

PASTORAL FINISH

Come on, Central Church—let’s celebrate every person who just said yes to Jesus! 🙌

This is why we do what we do.

And remember—

The King is here… and when the King is in your life, everything changes.