Praise is Contagious
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Introduction:
Pledge
Passage -
1 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,
2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.
3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,
5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble, and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.
7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them.
8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9 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!”
10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”
11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Title: Praise is Contagious
Title: Praise is Contagious
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Segway:
Expound on Story (1-11)
What we have is Jesus getting ready to enter Jerusalem.
This is a significant time of the year for Jews.
Millions of people coming to Jerusalem for Passover.
As they prepare to enter the City (coming down the hill) Jesus (understanding scripture) sends 2 of his disciples (I am thinking John and James) ....
They are to get a donkey and colt.
This was to fulfill prophecy. (Zach 9:9)
Matthew inserts this passage in his letter.
Jesus tells them that if anyone asked tell them “the Lord needs it.”
There is a little play on words here .... Greek word can be used as “King or Lord” but this word in Hebrew is LORD!
What we know is that if the King wanted property of a citizen all he had to do was summon for it but saying “The Lord (King) needs them.”
that person was obligated to give it, no questions asked.
The 2 disciples do as directed and bring the donkey and colt back and Jesus mounts it.
Matthew tells us about people spreading their coats and cutting palm branches down and laying them on the road.
They are shouting praise to Jesus.
I believe in is recorded where the Pharisees tell Jesus to silence the people and He said if this was done the rocks would cry out.
Picture this “the rocks would have to praise Him if the people won’t”
So when they enter the city a great stirring was taking place.
Isn't that what happens when Jesus comes on the scene?
He causes a Stir!
Body:
I want to focus in on (Vs 6-11)!
Specifically - “PRAISE”
Webster definition - “Express warm approval or admiration of.”
Biblical definition - “To glorify, or the act of glorifying God, frequently in communal worship“
:1-3 Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD! 2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! 3 From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the LORD is to be praised!
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD!
2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and forevermore! 3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
from this time forth and forevermore!
3 From the rising of the sun to its setting,
the name of the LORD is to be praised!
4 The LORD is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens!
5 Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high, 6 who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
who is seated on high,
6 who looks far down
on the heavens and the earth?
7 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
8 to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.
9 He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the LORD!
And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
;
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God ....
47 praising God
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.”
“Praise our God,
all you his servants,
you who fear him,
small and great.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Though we may have little of this world’s goods we have much for which to praise God. A woman was dying in the poorhouse. The doctor bent over her and heard her whisper, “Praise the Lord.” “Why, auntie,” he said, “how can you praise God when you are dying in a poorhouse?” “Oh, doctor,” she replied, “it’s wonderful to go from the poorhouse to a mansion in the skies!”
In my studies I ran across this old Jewish legend which says that, after God had created the world, He called the angels to Him and asked them what they thought of it; and one of them said, “One thing is lacking: the sound of praise to the Creator.” So God created music, and it was heard in the whisper of the wind, and in the song of the birds; and to man also was given the gift of song. And all down the ages this gift of song has indeed proved a blessing to multitudes of souls.
Sometime praising God is just simply saying “THANKS!”
Climax:
As we focus in starting with verses 6-7, we see two of the disciples go into the village and retrieve what Jesus asked them to get (A Donkey and a Colt).
What we read in verse 7 is their response once they did what was asked ..... put on them (donkey) their cloaks and Jesus sat on them.
This is significant!
First off, them placing their coats on the donkey is an act of kingship.
The Greek word here “SAT” implies royalty.
If Matthew was to use the word “road” it would have been a commoner.
So what we have is the 2 disciples “Praising” their king (Jesus).
Then look what happens ....
Vs 8 - Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
What this is indicating is that the crowd is responding to what they are seeing.
The 2 disciples PRAISING their new King!
Some of the crowd become overly zealous (throwing their coats on the ground) while others (not so zealous) laying palm branches.
This is an act of royalty coming. (laying out the red carpet) PRAISING
Vs 9 the crowd ramps it up by becoming vocal, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
What they are pronouncing is their “COMING MESSIAH.”
They are doing this with PRAISE!
Now look at verse 10 - And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”
As a matter of fact Matthew tells us that in the city the children were shouting PRAISE (Verse 15).
I want you to see this .....
Praise started because ....
2 disciples were obedient
Which lead to .....
the crowd seeing the 2 disciples and they responded by their actions “praising.”
Which lead to ....
the crowd vocalizing their praise.
Which lead to .....
the city being stirred with praise (Children Praising).
Climax:
There are some glaring truths we can receive from this passage.
We must be listening!
The 2 disciples listened and, in turn, obeyed.
Obedience gives birth to Praise.
Thank the Lord “cell Phone” were not invented yet.
They might have been 2 distracted posting on FB or their Instagram.
I find that the main reason we are not listening is because we are distracted.
This is one of the tools Satan uses ....
David Wells in his book, (God in the Whirlwind: How the Holy Love of God Reorients our World), identified two challenges facing 21st century Christians.
David Wells in his excellent book, God in the Whirlwind: How the Holy Love of God Reorients our World, identified two challenges facing 21st century Christians.
The first one is Conformity!
The first one is Conformity!
Wells identifies , the second one as distraction. He writes, “The second challenge I am going to mention is the extraordinary bombardment on our mind that goes on every day from a thousand different sources that leave us distracted, with our minds going simultaneously in multiple directions. How, then, can we receive from Scripture the truth God has for us if we cannot focus long enough, linger long enough, to receive the truth? Every age has its own challenges. This one is ours. It is the affliction of distraction.”
Wells identifies , the second one as distraction. He writes, “The second challenge I am going to mention is the extraordinary bombardment on our mind that goes on every day from a thousand different sources that leave us distracted, with our minds going simultaneously in multiple directions. How, then, can we receive from Scripture the truth God has for us if we cannot focus long enough, linger long enough, to receive the truth? Every age has its own challenges. This one is ours. It is the affliction of distraction.”
We must be listening to God!
The Will revealed!
The Lord will not hide his “Will” like an Easter egg hunt and we have to go find it.
The Lord was very specific and detailed for the 2 Disciples.
When we think of the disciple and the Lords will for them we can attest there are 2 categories for His will
The Major: their major calling (God’s will) is to go make disciples. (This is for all of the faith).
The minor: go get a Donkey.
Both are very significant to God but we would look at one more significant than the other.
Here is what I do believe .... If we are not obedient with the minor things I would be safe to say we are not going to be obedient with the Major things.
Major or minor: He will not keep it from us. All we have to do is ask, seek, and knock!
Finally
Praise is Contagious!
It started with the disciples ..... spread to the crowd ..... and into the city!
You want to test this precept?
Go into your place of work tomorrow at lunch time and start praising your spouse.
Telling of all the things they do that is awesome.
I guarantee someone else will start doing the same thing. Trying to out praise the next.
The next thing you know its out into the shop.
Conclusion:
In order for Praise to become contagious we must be obedient.
In order for us to be obedient we must be LISTENING.
How is your listening been?
Have you been listening to that voice of God?
Do you believe God has a plan for you, a purpose, his will done through you?
He is not hiding it from you. Come and Ask!
When is the last time you praise out loud?
In front of everyone?
I am going to ask the Praise team to join me as we end the service with Praise!
While we are praising, if the Lord has speaking to your heart, come up and spend some time in prayer.