Bless You

PO - While sinners, Christ died for us.

Crown of life - steadfast under trial

Victor’s crown - temperate in all things

Crown of righteousness - love at His appearing

Crown of rejoicing - to the soul winner

So may way’s we often forget to count, to include among our blessings.

Read Psalm 118:26 and say that second part to the person next to you.

Psalm 118:26 ESV

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.

INTRO -

10,000 Sermon Illustrations The Doughnut

As a minister was addressing a group of men, he took a large piece of paper and made a black dot in the center of it with a marking pen. Then he held the paper up before the group and asked them what they saw. One person quickly replied, “I see a black mark.” “Right,” the preacher replied. “What else do you see?” Complete silence prevailed. “Don’t you see anything other than the dot?” he asked. A chorus of noes came from the audience. “I’m really surprised,” the speaker commented. “You have completely overlooked the most important thing of all—the sheet of paper.” Then he made the application. He said that in life we are often distracted by small, dot-like disappointments or painful experiences, and we are prone to forget the innumerable blessings we receive from the hand of the Lord. But like the sheet of paper, the good things are far more important than the adversities that monopolize our attention.

This reminds me of a bit of verse which, though I admit is somewhat trite, does express good practical advice. Someone has written: “As you travel down life’s pathway, may this ever be your goal:/ Keep your eye upon the doughnut, and not upon the hole!”

Yes, rather than concentrating on the trials of life, we should fix our attention upon is blessings. Let us say with the psalmist, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits” (Psalm 68:19). - R. W. D.

TRANS - The time of the Jesus was different. Yet, God’s blessings are still amazing.

Let’s travel back to that day of Jesus’ teaching on earth and see for ourselves three aspects of blessing: believing, receiving, & becoming.

What does it say?

Mark 11:1–11 ESV

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’ ” And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!” And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

What does it mean?

Believing in Blessing

Where were Bethphage, Bethany, and the Mount of Olives in relation to Jerusalem?

The “Mount of Olives” is east of Jerusalem; its slopes provide a good view of the city.

“Bethany” was on the southeast slope about 2 miles from Jerusalem and out of sight.

The location of “Bethphage” is not certain; yet probably nearer Jerusalem.

Most Jerusalem is mentioned first because it is the goal whereas the other two are mentioned by their relationship to the great city.

POINT - If you were a pilgrim heading to Jerusalem, you anticipated the blessing that lied ahead.

Today, how do we view our Lord’s Day?

Myself, it’s my favorite day.

I get to worship my Lord with my family.

What is the significance of riding into Jerusalem on a colt?

Jesus didn’t catch a ride because He was tired; the rest of the journey was very short in comparison and all down hill.

Jesus didn’t walk into the city as pilgrims do.

The “never ridden” donkey serves a special purpose; it is unique.

Zechariah 9:9 ESV

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

It the intention of Jesus to enter Jerusalem as the King of Isreal.

Do you see it?

Can you see it?

Our gathering here is an amazing blessing!!!

It’s more than, “we get to gather for worship;” You get to gather for a football game.

It’s more than I get to see my friends; we can see one another anyplace.

It’s here we witness the coming together together and with God’s own Spirit in a way unlike any other event on the planet.

It’s this corporate worship that provides you and I an opportunity to see, hear, and be part of something so much bigger than anything else in which we might participate.

Do you believe that?

Receiving the Blessing

Why did people spread their coats and branches on the road before Jesus?

Spreading clothing before a monarch was an understood practice both biblically and even among the Hellenist culture.

2 Kings 9:13 ESV

Then in haste every man of them took his garment and put it under him on the bare steps, and they blew the trumpet and proclaimed, “Jehu is king.”

A stone relief adorning the sarcophagus of Adelphia shows a man placing a garment under the beast on which Adelphia rides.

Receiving the blessing requires our participation.

Do you realize that when we sing, our praise and worship is to God and our songs of hymns are to one another?

That’s right, we sing to God and to one another.

Sadly, some fail to see this and more often play the part of critic.

They miss the blessing because they are not participating in worship, but coming to see “what they can get” not to see what they might give.

POINT - Getting up, getting ready, and going to church will get you hear, but unless you are prepared for worship, you will not be part of worship or part of the blessing.

What does “hosanna” mean?

At the time “hosanna” ment “save us” and might, also carry the idea of a prayer “save us we beseech thee.”

In Psalm 118:25:

Psalm 118:25 ESV

Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!

Over time the word came to have a more emphatic meaning such as “Praise the Lord”

Today is often sung or said as more of a praise rather than in its original sense of asking for blessing.

Whether we ask for or seek to become a blessings, the focus must begin with “eyes on Jesus.”

After all, he is the reason for our hope, security, and ambition in ministry.

ILL - I like it when people talk back to me when I’m preaching. Not like interruptions, that’s just rudeness, but as in taking part of the preaching.

I like to hear the, “Amen,” and, “Hallelujah.”

During my NOBTS class, I felt the other students getting sleepy. I had to get them engaged. You’ve seen me do this before. I shared how when I raise this hand it means, “Hallelujah,” and when I raise this hand it means, “Amen!”

It may seem ironic that to give praise to God results in us receiving blessings.

Be engaged, part of, and participate in the preaching. Don’t miss out on your blessing. Anticipate and look for it. Work for it. Don’t forgo the blessing of corporate worship and preaching.

In order to receive, you got to give.

Don’t worry about what others think. Consider what God thinks; this is His Day!!!

Do you sing, “Happy Birthday” to visitors at a party or to the person who you’re celebrating?

Try it one Sunday; really think hard about to whom you are singing, praying, and to who’s message you seek when the preacher speaks.

Then, give thanks and get blessed.

He set it up like that, not me, not Paul, not the church.

It’s all His.

It’s God’s system and you can’t out give God.

So give and get blessed just as He seeks to bless you every time we meet.

Becoming a Blessing

What messianic overtones do the crowd’s words in Mark 11:9–10 convey?

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” was directed to pilgrims approaching the temple.

Here, it is applied to Jesus as the coming Messiah.

V.10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” clearly notes that Jesus is implementing the kingdom.

ILL - I believe that with God all things are possible. That is, when you set out to do exactly as God has you do, you can’t fail. God employs and empowers us for works both great and small. You may not live to see how you bless, but God’s Word say’s your work will follow you into heaven.

Revelation 14:13 ESV

And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”

Get this, when you become a blessing, you serve God (and you can’t mess up trying, save never to attempt), when you work, what blessings you don’t see in this life you will see in the next.

Think on that for moment.

Blessed by God, from God, in eternity, in Heaven.

How great is that!

What political implications are included in the phrase, “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David” in Mark 11:10?

The phrase, “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David” is unique to this book.

Jesus’ own reminder of how the kingdom of heaven, the coming kingdom, and even His reminder to pray, “thy kingdom come” was a very present teaching, the people had that on their minds.

Yet, it’s more probable that they had “self” considerations at hand and in mind prior to Jesus’

Quite understandably, this saying expressed their desire for national restoration.

For these people, the return of the Davidic kingdom was forefront on their minds.

Many were on their way to celebrate the passover. The thought of escape from Egypt was on their minds. So, too, were thoughts of how long until their delivery from foreign oppression?

Also, in the crowd were those who wanted to force Jesus to become their king.

John 6:15 ESV

Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Then we have the amazing power of Jesus to do the miracles

John 12:17–18 ESV

The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign.

Regardless of the account, undoubtedly they wanted Jesus as king.

POINT - Well, Jesus is our king.

Hebrews 2:9 ESV

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Acts 2:30 ESV

Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,

Revelation 5:9–13 ESV

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Who will you tell?

Will you keep it secret this coming week?

Or, are you willing to trust Jesus and set out from here anticipating a blessings seeking to share the news of King Jesus?

What do I do with this?

The people who come to the temple, who seek God, can expect blessing.

Receiving blessings was true for all people, not just Jews, who were on their way to the city.

We, too, can expect blessing as we approach God in worship.

Make it your ambition, use your bragging right, tell others how you are blessed when you worship Jesus.

Who handed out trulife cards this week?

Were you spiritually blessed?

Remember to pick up at least one to give away this week

Then, come back next week and share your story about sharing His story.