Palm Sunday

Welcome to Church at Home

Hey family. Welcome to the Pittman home. We are so glad that you would join us in our home and allow us to join you in yours. Today I am joined by my family; Maegan, De’Nira, and Caleb. My son Keith Jr, Katrinna, and Kyla and Kalaya are joining us in Jacksonville. Maybe your family gatherings are looking a little different nowadays, I want to encourage you from my family to yours, you can and will get through this, you are not alone, use what is in your hands. The same device that gives us anxiety because of the news, is the same device that can be used to reach out the ones you love or post an encouraging scripture or even invite someone to church…Church at Home.

Chronicles of a King

We are kicking off a new series entitled Chronicles of a King. Where we will spend this entire week looking at the final week of the earthly ministry of Jesus. Today is Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week, the Triumphal Entry.

Prayer

Lord we thank you that when we gather in your name, no matter how we gather, you are in our midst. I pray that you speak to us today. We posture ourselves with open hands to release and receive. Open our eyes, ears and hearts.

Scripture

Matthew

Matthew 21:1–11 ESV

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.”

Background/Context

The Triumphal Entry

21 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,

To give you context, Jesus has just performed one of His most powerful miracles, raising Lazarus from the dead. This was huge because up to this point, the things that Jesus did, could be dismissed or rationalized away. After all, OT prophets did miracles too, even raising the dead. But this one was different. This one, was a man that rotted and Jesus was not only able to give him life, but animate what was once still, bring color to what was once pale and purpose to what was lost hope. They have a celebration Naturally a big crowd followed him into Jerusalem. Jerusalem was was buzzing with activity as well as they were preparing for Passover and was hosting a great deal of visitors already.

This is a story of preparation. Preparation paves the path to purpose.

5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,

To give you context, Jesus has just performed one of His most powerful miracles, raising Lazarus from the dead. This was huge because up to this point, the things that Jesus did, could be dismissed or rationalized away. After all, OT prophets did miracles too, even raising the dead. But this one was different. This one, was a man that rotted and Jesus was not only able to give him life, but animate what was once still, bring color to what was once pale and purpose to what was lost hope. Naturally a big crowd followed him. He was finally recognized. He was on His way to Jerusalem when verse 1 happens.

Observations

‘Behold, your king is coming to you,

humble, and mounted on a donkey,

Freedom Prepares us - Untie and Bring

Jesus begins by instructing His disciples to go ahead of Him to Bethphage and grab a donkey and it’s colt and bring them to him. More specifically, He says they need to be untied. That seems like a detail that doesn’t require mentioning. Why would Jesus emphasize them being untied specifically? Perhaps there was a great message communicating a deeper principle. Perhaps there are things that God wants of us that are tied up. Sometimes we are so busy that we end up tied up into things that don’t allow us to move forward.

on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’ ”

We are only as useful as we are free.

As long as we are tied to the world, we won’t be free in the kingdom.

As long as we are tied to the world, we won’t be free in the kingdom.

There are moments we are brought to a standstill so that we can see why we are still standing in the same spot. Relationships, same spot. Finances, same spot. Jesus sent two disciples, two messengers to bring freedom to what was bond. Be untied! You are loosed. You are free…but free to do what?

Obedience Prepares us - The Lord has need of it

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.”

Jesus instructs them on what to say, the Lord has need of it. The text doesn’t imply that they hesitated at all. I wonder why. Maybe they have seen Jesus do so much at this point they trusted Him. He walked on water, calmed storms, healed the sick, resurrected the dead…they trust Him because they have seen Him do so much. I suspect that you have see Jesus do so much, so you can trust Him.

Psalm 37:5 ESV

5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

Psalm 37:25 ESV

25 I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.

The writer is saying, I have some milage and God does not leave His people stranded. Lost jobs but not forsaken. Sick but not forsaken. Downsize, but not forsaken. You can trust Him. Your challenge today is the thing you talk about that you conquered tomorrow.

Psalm 37:5 ESV

5 Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

What is the password?

Jesus even gave them the words that they would need. There are 2 schools of thought, either God was working on the heart of the man who owned the animals or Jesus already made an arrangement with him previously and they arranged a password. Which every it is doesn’t matter. What matters is, their obedience was the password.

We are often waiting for a move of God and God is waiting for us to move.

What if your obedience was the password to your breakthrough?

What if your obedience was the password to your breakthrough?

Obedience can’t be dependent on our observations, because we have a limited perspective

What does the Lord need from you?

Obedience can’t be dependent on our observations, because we have a limited perspective

I was talking with a good friend who told me his wife was furloughed and he likely would soon. He had so much peace. He actually told me that he was looking for opportunities to encourage people but also give what he had to help. Don’t let the crisis turn you into a hoarder; God is rich in mercy is will supply all yours needs. We hoard kindness, encouragement, we can hoard what we have. The owner could have made money off of his animals, but the Lord needed. Generosity during times of scarcity leads to abundance. Abundant, peace, joy, freedom, blessings. What is God asking of you right now?

Surrender Prepares Us - Cloaks and Palms

Surrender Prepares Us - Cloaks and Palms

Jesus is given the red carpet treatment. Cloaks represent covering and palms represent victory associated with a military conquest. What a confusing image of Jesus riding on an untamed animal, we never seen that and instead of filled with pride from winning a war, He arrives with gentleness and humility. Jesus was doing a new thing. What if we want Jesus to move in one way but He moves in another? In our walk with God...

Not only do we have to trust His way, but we have to trust His ways.

Praise Prepares Us - Hosanna ()

There was a crowd in front of Him and behind Him and they were shouting Hosanna, glory in the highest to the son of David, Hosanna. This was an allusion to the Hallel found in , but is often viewed as a Messianic praise. It would be sung during Passover, however the timing of it isn’t a coincidence. They are treating Jesus like His is a king. I want you to notice the arrangement of praise…before Him and behind Him. They were praising before Him and behind Him. Jesus was in a cocoon of praise. We should praise before He moves and after. Our praise ushers the presence of God into our situation and our praise seals in what God has done.

This praise was acknowledgement of who Jesus is and an invitation for Him to get involved.

They wanted freedom from Roman bondage, Jesus was providing freedom from death.

Sometimes the fruit causes us to cry out but His presence deals with the root.

When we invite God into our situation, we have to trust the way He addresses it.

City shaken

The whole town was in an uproar. It is impossible for Jesus to enter your world and everything stay the same.

Dead things don’t stay the same when life shows up

Darkness doesn’t stay the same when light shows up

Sickness doesn’t stay the same with the healer shows up

We need to stop trying to be the same when God is bringing a change; Change breaks chains.

Hosanna

Who is this?

The question is asked, who is this? The people that seen Jesus do so much still fell short of the appropriate answer, they said He is the prophet from Galilee. That was a partial truth. He is not just a priest or a prophet, but He is also our King!

Don’t just let Jesus speak in your life, let Him be Lord of your life

If He isn’t Lord of all, then He isn’t Lord at all

Questions

What are the things that Jesus wants you to be free from?

What does Jesus need of you?

What are you praising God in advance for?

Communion Blessing

Jesus’ Body (the bread): the leader(s) lifts the bread and prays: Blessed are you, Lord our God, king of the universe, who brings forth bread from the earth. We thank you, Lord Jesus, for your body that was given for us and given unto us so that we can be whole.

Jesus’ Blood (the juice/wine): the leader(s) lifts the cup and prays: Blessed are you, Lord our God, king of the universe, who brings forth the fruit from the vine. We thank you, Lord Jesus, for your blood of the covenant which was poured out for the removal of all sin.

The Sabbath/Table Guide: This prayer and others like it can be found on our website and app. It is called The Table and really helps by walking you through communion, sabbath, prayers, declarations, etc. If you truly engage this in your home with your family, friends, or even you are single, in your home, it will change your life. There is nothing that will impact you more than truly putting the Word of God into practice in your life.

Closing

For Church at Home, in addition to the Daily Prayer Book, you can mention The Holy Week Guide in conjunction with these additional elements:

—Chronicles of A King series starts this weekend and we’ll incorporate these graphics and lower thirds.

—Chronicles of A King - Holy Week Devos will be posted everyday during Holy Week at 7am.

Priestly Blessing

Numbers 6:24–26 ESV

24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

For Church at Home, in addition to the Daily Prayer Book, you can mention The Holy Week Guide in conjunction with these additional elements:

—Chronicles of A King series starts this weekend and we’ll incorporate these graphics and lower thirds.

Here’s the link to the series graphics:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/iasd8mlokr2xwz4/AADz169Y3GzyMoY5Qfoyd7wBa?dl=0

—Chronicles of A King - Holy Week Devos will be posted everyday during Holy Week at 7am.

Here’s a sample of the Holy Week Devos (will land on stories and live in a highlight) which content was pulled from Holy Week Guide: