How to Live in Confusing Times?

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Good Morning, welcome to our online service … It was great to had a Zoom call on Wednesday evening and have some face to face time with some of you… we had so much fun and laughter which was much needed..

As time goes on we are going to be hosting more of those kinds of events and hope that you can join in.

I’m also hoping that after Easter we can resume small groups and encourage greater participation in these kind of Groups...

Good Morning, welcome to our online service … It has been great to have been able to have that Zoom call on Wednesday evening and have some face to face time with some of you… we had so much fun and laughter which was amazing..

We are going to be hosting more of those kinds of meetings and my hope is that we can gather together in more of these kinds of environments!

This morning is Palm Sunday and it the beginning of holy week or the Passion of Christ.

This morning is Palm Sunday and it the beginning of Passion week.. This year it’s going to be a very different Easter for all of us… thankful for creativity and there are multiple ways we can celebrate the importance of the resurrection message..

Well, this morning is Palm Sunday and it the beginning of Passion week..

This year is going to look a different Easter for all of us… I was reading the news recently and my eyes caught the headline.. “Easter Cancelled… “

The news and media has been reporting that churches are going to be closed for Easter… It was interesting seeing those words in Print... … because before this we would never have thought that would ever happen..

Well, I think quite the opposite that there will be more opportunities for the church to share the Easter message…

even though we are not going to be gathering together in the church building we will be Celebrating Easter together…

Here is the thing.... even though we are not going to be physically gathering together on easter in a church building we will be Celebrating the Resurrection…

I don’t think I have ever read that in print before… well the good news is that Easter has not been cancelled… In fact that is impossibility..

As many of you know it has been a difficult week with the Corona Virus spreading across the country and put huge burden upon our hospitals who are feeling the shortages of masks, ventilators.. New York is at EpiCenter desperate need of help and our prayers..

Everyday the president and medical advisers have been give us the country these briefings telling us about what is happening in New York and around the country. One thing is for certain that things are fluid situatation and things are changing every day..

Even though Churches around the world will not be gathering in buildings we will be as believers (some 2.18 billion of us) be Celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus…

So.. Next week we will be celebrating the Resurrection and encourage you to invite your friends and families to join us for that online Service---

and the death toll numbers continue to rise. New York being the at EpiCenter for the moment and are desperate need of help and prayers..

A lot has changed in our world and just a few weeks as this Coronavirus continues to spread…

It has been a difficult week for us as a nation as the Covid Virus continues to spread across the country and the death toll numbers continue to rise. New York being the current Epi-Center and desperate need of help and our prayers..

…In a matter of weeks our lives have come to this screeching holt and how are we going to move forward…

We need to be praying for our wisdom for our leaders and the health of our Nation cities and towns.. and especially for the governor Coumo and the people of New York as they face the worst of it... We need be praying for our Doctors and nurses who are are on the front lines.

We are living in uncertain times!

Many of us are asking the same kinds of questions right now..

What is unique about this pandemic is that we all are affected…to some degree or another... …

Covid 19 is that we never have we seen something like this impact the whole global community… We have family in Africa, England, Boston and we all facing the exact same challenges…

like How long can this go on for? how is going to impact our lives, our health, our work our finances? These are some real questions and concerns..

We are all living between the tension of the known and the unknowns…

And many of us are asking similar questions... like How long can this situation go on for? And if it continues how is going to impact our work and our finances?

Are things going to look different post this virus?

And the Big question is How do live “Normally” in “Confusing Times?”

WE are concerned about the safe of our own safety and our families and friends… So the question

How do live “Normally” in this “Confusing” Time?”

How do live “Normally” in “Confusing” Time?”

We as Humans don’t do well with uncertainty.

First of all.. most of us have both

Pay attention to your fears, just like you do the wail of a smoke detector, but don’t let your fears become your thermostat. How do you do that? The way to keep your fears from controlling you is to keep them in proper perspective. That’s different from ignoring the alarm or simply dismissing it.:

Some years ago, Dutch researchers conducted an experiment in which they told one group of people that they would receive 20 strong shocks.

They then told a second group they’d receive only 3 strong shocks along with 17 mild ones, but the shocks would be administered randomly.

Those researchers discovered that the second group sweated more and experienced faster heart rates than the first.

Well this morning is Palm Sunday and it the beginning of Passion week.. This year it’s going to be a different Easter for all of us…

The reason was their uncertainty caused them more discomfort than the intensity of the shocks

Harvard psychologist Daniel Gilbert made this observation “that an uncertain future leaves us stranded in an unhappy present with nothing to do but wait.”

When we live in uncertain times it can put us on edge… and the bigger question… is

T/s How do live during this uncomfortable time of uncertainty...

Today we are going to celebrate Palm Sunday Jesus Coronation...

Thankful for creativity and there are multiple ways we can celebrate the importance of the Jesus death and resurrection ..

This was a confusing time…

This morning we are going to be Looking at Johns account of Jesus entry into Jersualem… and we are going to see that the Coronation of Jesus as King and Messiah…Shows us how to respond to Confusing times...

We are going to Look Johns account of Jesus entry into Jersualem and see what his Coronation as King and Messiah… helps us to navigate confusing times.

Lets Read our text together.

John 12:12–16 ESV

12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.

John 12:12

The first thing I want us to consider is what is happening behind this text…. You see this was a confusing time…

It was a confusing time… around the death of Christ…

The Roman Empire controlled everything in the entire Region … and all the Jewish leaders were really puppets… The Herods were simply given authority …simply to keep the people calm…and hopefully avoid any rebellions or riots that would interfere with Roman interests.

There was also great anticipation and expectation for the Messiah to come and rescue them..

the people felt trapped and people were ready for a Deliverer… to save them.

there main worry about Jesus was if he was going to cause riots and problems for Roman interests… the people felt trapped and people were ready for a Deliverer… to save them.

The Roman Empire didn’t want any rebellions to rise up or riots that would interfere with Roman interests…There is this top down Control… and oppression… so the Jews felt trapped… And many of them were holding on to the words of the prophets and praying for and anticipating the Messiah to come and save them...

The Jews felt trapped… And many of them were holding on to the words of the prophets and praying for and anticipating the Messiah to come and save them...

at the same time

Jesus ministry had expanded around the region and more and more people began to follow him and his teachings… Jesus brought another level of confusion, because the religious leaders could not accept the claims of Jesus being the Son of God… And so were desperately looking for ways they could rid of Him.

As Jesus ministry expanded around the region and the religious leaders were confused they could not accept the claims of Jesus being the Son of God and were secretly looking for ways the could get rid of him.. The disciples and followers Jesus believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but struggle to understand the purpose of his mission.

religious leaders, because they could not accept the claims of Jesus being the Son of God and were secretly looking for ways the could get rid of him..

On top of this the disciples themselves were confused over the purpose of Jesus mission.

The disciples a themselves were confused over the purpose of his mission.

the religious leaders were confused they could not accept the claims of Jesus being the Son of God and were looking for ways the could get rid of him.. The disciples and followers Jesus believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but struggle to understand the purpose of his mission. They thought that Jesus would rescue them from Roman control..

Jesus came at a difficult and confusing time for many… Israel found themselves under the watchful eye of the Roman Empire… who controlled everything… Jesus and his miracles were spreading around the region and the religious leaders were confused they could not accept the claims of Jesus being the Son of God and were secretly looking for ways the could get rid of him.. The disciples and followers Jesus believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but struggle to understand the purpose of his mission. They thought that Jesus would rescue them from Roman control..

Jesus and his miracles were spreading around the region and the religious leaders were confused they could not accept the claims of Jesus being the Son of God and were secretly looking for ways the could get rid of him.. The disciples and followers Jesus believed that Jesus was the promised Messiah, but struggle to understand the purpose of his mission. They thought that Jesus would rescue them from Roman control..

It is only later on the other-side of the Resurrection could they make sense of the coming of His Kingdom. John tells us

John 12:16 ESV

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.

They thought that Jesus would rescue them from Roman control..

So these were confusing and uncertain times…But the good news Is that Jesus comes to us as the Servant King…

We are going to be looking at the Jesus entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday….We see that the answer to many of our anxiety and fears… is found in this King who comes to us as the king of peace....

… For example the Gospel of John has 21 Chapters --- Jesus last week begins in chapter 12 --- More than 1/2 of Johns Gospel is dedicated to Christs suffering, death, burial and resurrection..

is that chapter 1-11 deals with his earthly ministry and than from 12 -21 is to about the last week of Jesus life.. So about 1/2 of Johns Gospel is dedicated to the passion of Christ..

12 -21 chapters so 1/2 of John’s writing is dedicated to the last week of Jesus life..

Easter is the Central message of the Gospels… and it begins with the Triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

Lets Read our text

John 12:12–16 ESV

John 12:12-16

Lets talk a little of what is going on behind this text...

This was a difficult and uncertain time … and there was lot of tension and uneasiness in the air...

1. The Nation of Israel were feeling trapped....

The Roman Empire was a super power and controlled everything in Palestine and the whole entire Region … and all the Jewish leaders were really their puppets…and were given pseudo power they had just enough authority to keep the people calm…and avoid any rebellions that would interfere with Roman interests.

So in order to alleviate the tension the people were hoping and praying for a Savior… they had this Messianic Expectation..

So they were looking for a Savior to deliver them for op

There was also great anticipation and expectation for the Messiah to come and rescue them..

at the same time

2. Religious leader were in Crisis.

As Jesus ministry had expanded around the region and more and more people began to follow him and his teachings…

This brought on a Crisis of theology for the Religion leaders … Because Not only did Jesus heal the sick and forgive sins… He claimed to be the Son of God…..

The religious leaders could not accept the claims of Christ and so the way that they tried to alleviate the tension is to get rid of Him.

The way that they tried to alleviate the tensions was to to desperately find a way or opportunity to get rid of Him.

And so were desperately looking for ways they could rid of Him.

The way that they tried to alleviate the tensions look for an opportunity to get rid of Him.

And so the way were desperately looking for ways they could rid of Him.

3. The Disciples were Confused

On top of this the disciples were confused over the Purpose and mission of Jesus coming...

And this tension is only resolved later... after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus.

It is only later on the other-side of the Resurrection could they make sense of the coming of His Kingdom. John tells us

vrs 16 we told that His disciples did not understand these things at first,but not until Jesus was glorified…did they remembered.. and it made sense..

Vrs 16 tells us as Jesus went toward Jerusalem at the time of the feast — the disciples knew that had possibility of putting Jesus and disciples in Dange

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.

but not until Jesus was glorified…did they remembered.. and it made sense..

Most of have gone through those seasons in life where things just don’t go out as you had planned.. at at the time there was fear and anxiety.. or you couldn’t understand why? It is only until later did you see…God’s providential hand… You look back you can see maybe how you avoided another situation...

Have you ever had an experience where in the moment or a season where there was maybe fear and anxiety.. or you couldn’t understand why… and then later on you reflected you realized that God providential hand was in the mix… the Bible tells us

… the Bible tells us

Have you ever had an experience where in the moment there was maybe fear and anxiety.. or you couldn’t understand why… and then later on you reflected you realized that God providential hand was in the mix...

Proverbs 16:9 ESV

9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Psalm 16:9 ESV

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.

What is difficult about going through uncertainty… is that you don’t have clarity their are a lot of unknowns..

or you couldn’t understand why… and then later on you reflected you realized

We don’t always understand God’s ways and purposes… But ultimately His will is going to prevail.

Corrie Ten Boom who survived the holocaust said this… “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

Corrie said… “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

So in our text ... these were confusing times and uncertain times…and we learn from the Coronation of Jesus… It that Jesus comes to us as Sovereign King in times of uncertainty...

So these were confusing and uncertain times…

And the way to handle

T/s How do we handle uncertain times… .

1. WE NEED TO GET BACK TO PRAISE.

3. We Exchange Our Fears

1. WE need to Be Prepared to Praise

We are going to be looking at Jesus Coming to Jerusalem

Social scientists have found that the positive effects of ‘Awe and wonder” when people experience a sense of awe, they feel more empathetic and more connected with others.

One scientist concluded, "Wonder pulls us together—a counterforce to all that seems to be tearing us apart."

The Wharton School of Business evaluated the New York Times' most emailed articles and found that the ones that evoked awe were the most shared.

Jesus TRIUMPHAL Entry into Jerusalem comes on the heals of the Resurrection of Lazarus from the dead… It begins Awe and wonder...

… Just four days before coming to Jerusalem... Jesus had called Lazarus to come out from the grave…It’s a dramatic story

Jesus friend Lazarus was deadly sick…and his good friends Mary and Martha send a message to him to come quickly… but Jesus timing is delayed and when he eventually arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been buried.…So it seemed that all was lost ...Jesus was too late…

God is never late… He is on a different times schedule than ours…

Habakkuk 2:3 ESV

3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.

Habakkuk 2:4 ESV

4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.

This was a divine Delay..But Jesus goes to the tomb of Lazarus and says those to those standing around remove the stone.. at this point Martha’s is.... like... Lord you don’t want to do that --- he has been dead for 4 days…the smell will be too much to bare...

Jesus goes to the tomb of Lazarus and says them to remove the stone.. Martha’s response is Lord you don’t want to do that --- he has been dead for 4 days… it’s not going be good…

Jesus turns to Martha and say,,

“did I not tell you if you believe I will show you my glory” …

The stone is removed and Jesus calls out to the Father to show those around him his glory… Jesus then with a Loud voice… “Lazarus come out” and all of sudden there is some stirring in the tomb… Notice nobody went in… but Lazarus came out still rapped in his grave clothes...

The resurrection of Lazarus was a major miracle… You can imagine that all of those who knew Lazarus would have been impacted.. Those who had been apart of the funeral planning and consoling the family… any doubt would have been removed.

Here is the thing--- You can’t keep a Resurrection story secret..

Bethany was small town maybe 3 Miles outside of Jerusalem… but....

News of his resurrection went viral....and when the chief priests heard this about the resurrection they put a target on Lazarus…and put him on their hit list.

when the chief priests heard this news they started making plans… added Lazarus name to the hit list..

Here is the thing about Christianity…it is a message about resurrection… and a message about resurrection is unstoppable… 2000 years, later we still hear celebrating the Resurrection…

This moment, perhaps more than any other, was the high mark of Jesus’ popularity and influence…

This moment, perhaps more than any other, was the high mark of Jesus’ popularity and influence

This alarms the chief priests and they begin plotting how put Jesus to death.... and they add Lazarus to the “Hit List”

So when Jesus came into Jerusalem of passover riding on a donkey the atmosphere was electric and full of expectation.

John takes u

Even if the religious leaders had gotten to Lazarus it wouldn’t have stop the story that God raises the dead..

Jesus death and Resurrection still celebrated 2020…

How Do you prepare to Praise?

If there is any lessons, we can learn from this Pandemic is the importance of Preparation.

There is the part of Preparation that predicts or anticipates .... That is what the Stay in Place orders are all about… we have experts and scholar pouring over grafts and charts - trying to predict this virus is going to play out… and how they can flatten that curve..

• There is the part of Preparation that predicts or anticipates .... That is what the Stay in Place orders are all about… we have experts and scholar pouring over grafts and charts - trying to predict this virus is going to play out… and how they can flatten that curve..

But nothing can stop a Resurrection story!

When Jesus came, there was already Messianic expectation they were thinking the Messiah came…

•There is the part of Preparation that requires predicting..… right now we have experts and scholar pouring over grafts and charts - trying to predict how this virus is going to play out… and how they can flatten the curve… • When Jesus came, there was already Messianic expectation they were thinking the Messiah came…

When Jesus came, there was already Messianic expectation they were thinking the Messiah came…

And as the stories of Jesus teaching, miracles and claims began to spread across the region. People were excited…

What a perfect time for a Kings Coronation… Passover… when Israel building these booths to celebrate how God delivered them from the Egyptians and rescued them for the wilderness… and their entry into the promise land..

As Christians, we are called to have discernment. to discern the times, we are living… The people of Iscar “knew the times we are living in”

If we can predict we Prepare…

We have heard things like no one would have ever thought we would have this kind of Crisis… but the lesson is the best way respond to a Crisis is before it happens..

- You don't prepare for battle in war time you prepare in peace time. -the bible has much to say about being prepare.

Ephesian 6: Put a the whole armor that you will be able stand after doing all to stand. Prepare you mind for action. I love that stories of those of you that are using your isolation to prepare yourself, → we can't control what is going on around us but we can take time to prepare our heart.

It is passover time and the streets of Jerusalem are teeming with people from surrounding region.. they have come to celebrate the feast of passover… Which celebrated Israels deliverance from Egypt and their entrance into the promise land… It is significant because Jesus himself is the fulfillment of passover He himself becoming the sacrificial lamb….

Passover was a major Feasts and there are estimates of several 100 000 people in the streets..

Josephus the first century historian tells us that 30 years later referenced over 2 1/2 million people attending passover..

that makes way our deliverance and entrance into God’s promises of sonship.

Josephus the first century historian tells us that 30 years later referenced over 2 1/2 million people attending passover..

The crowd had to Jerusalem to to celebrate the feast of passover… Which marked Israels deliverance from Egypt and their entrance into the promise land…

The timing of .

Passover was a big deal...

-- Religious fundamentalists.. opposing rules

-- Plans to put squash news of the major miracle of Lazarus..

The reason we need to Embrace Praise is because praise is Critical Praise is one of the ways that we do spiritual battle… ..

-- These were revisionists if they could put a twist on the events...take out Lazarus...

The reason praise is Critical for us Christians is because Praise is one of the ways that we do spiritual battle…

Prayer prepares our hearts but Praise Prepares the Victory..

-- He just was resurrected now he faced death threat.

I…

Israel prepared for Praise as they broke branches and went out to meet Jesus…

When Jesus arrives in Jerusalem the crowds is anticipating His arrival…

-- What solidifies peoples Faith was the Resurrection..

B. Living with Discernment...

- Live life that is fully prepared for His coming.

How do we prepare to Praise ?

Palm trees were symbolic of nationalism… going back to the Maccabean revolt and victory of chasing

Israel went and broke branches and then went out to meet the Savior.

--- They heard that Jesus was coming.. and they took branches..

This was symbolic of ancient Warriors coming back and celebrating Victory-

You have Christ coming and you have the crowd going out to meet him.

- You have Christ coming and you have the crowd going out to meet him. They placing themselves in the path of the savior it positionally .

What we Learn is that Praise ....

Praise Paves the way for Spiritual Victory....

We told that the crowd went and gathered palm leaves… A symbol of nationalism and patriotism… The Palm leaf was significant symbol for Israel…

Just a few hundred years previously the Maccabeans had revolted against the greeks and taken back Jerusalem.. and they celebrated through the street with Palm leaves… you will find palm leaves on ancient coins…

Normally praise was given after the Victory --- The Roman would have these big victory celebrations and parade through the streets…

But Here in the Coronation of Jesus … Praise was Celebrated before the Victory… The victory would be won on the cross when Jesus would cry out it is finished…

We stand in a long tradition in the church of those who Praise God in the middle of Trial..in the middle of the storm…

Job who lost everything.. and said -Though he slay me I will still hope in Him..

Whether it was

Job who lost everything.. who said -Though he slay me I will still hope in Him..

Joseph kept praising in the Prison

Daniel in the Lions Den

David praised God in his exile..

Paul and Silas sang Hymns in the Prison..

We praise not from the places of strengths but from places of our weaknesses.

We have limitations… and when we have concerns we feel helpless.. Right now… we can help by staying home… What praise does is tap into the God who has no borders and restrictions…

God ...is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

Ephesians 3:20 ESV

20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,

T/s How do we handle uncertain times… .

1. WE Embrace Praise

2. WE Express Our Praise

John tells us that Crowd when out to meet Jesus… they began to cry out.... with praises… What they declared was the Word of God... The verse that they quoted was well known verse and was sung at feast of passover… and it was from …

Perhaps that is why the writer to the Hebrews tells us to offer a sacrifice of praise. It hurts sometimes to obey this commandment.

It is costly, for it sometimes cuts across the grain of our experience.

-We see this in the NT. Miracle of Jesus →

→ last week we saw that Jesus didn't come for those who are well bet those who are sick. → → The issues is our sense of need

--- Luke tells us in

⇒ How desperate are we?

Luke 9:51 ESV

51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

... It was all planned.... Jesus had instructed his disciples to go head of him to certain mans house and remind him that He was going to be borrowing two of his colts...

in Elijah's day God allowed a famine to inflict Israel why to turn Ahab + Jezebel away from false worship of Baal of idolatry

---vrs 14 Jesus found the Donkey.. because He planned it...

T/S How do we live in Confusing times?

They expressed praise-

1. WE Embrace need for Praise

2. WE to DEClARE Our Praise

1. WE need to Be Prepared to Praise

John 12:13 ESV

13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!”

John 12:

John tells ..

Now this is interesting because you have Crowd declaring the word…at the same time that Jesus was on His mission to save them.. Praise is about celebrating what God has already promised in His Word…

Some translations say →-Some say they began to cry out.... → Hosanna — which means save us… it is a cry and plea for help → Literal interpretation is "O Lord, save"→ → I

We praise when we Declare what Gods

a cry and plea for help → Literal interpretation is "O Lord, save"→ → It is taken as a directly from Psalms

Psalm 118:25–26 ESV

25 Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.

When we praise God with the word it build up our faith…

The Psalms are Songs that Change our focus... Instead of looking and the worries of the Day we are looking to the God who comes to our aid...

The Crowd Began to Praise...

The word praise is connected to three Hebrew words.. three verbs..

Halal which means to make a loud noise…

Yada… which means to praise God with bodily actions or gestures… the other is

Zammar… which means to praise with musical instrument or singing....

We can praise where every we are…

Gives this list of how we can praise…and it goes through all the instruments praise Him with.. trumpet.. lute … harp.. strings… cymbals… praise him with dance...

Some of us may not be able to play an instrument or sing very well.. but the Bible has a special verse for us..

VRS 6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!

This past week listen to Governor Andrew Coumo and his plea for masks, gowns and ventilators.. He is amazing leader with big heart… It made me think of those 3000 patients in New York on those Ventelators.... every breathe is struggle.. and one of the side affects of this disease is shortness of breathe…

Praise the Lord!

The Psalmist tells us in

That we can praise the Lord at all times and his praise shall continually be in our midst...

Those of us who are able to breathe easily need to be declaring Gods praises..

We are worried about be infected… but I can tell you that

Praise is contagious

The phrase → “They cried cried out”….Is written in imperfect tense… meaning that there was this ripple effect.... The excitement of the crowd was contagious… and it kept on Growing..

⇒ We know what Contagious praise can look like → Just look at what happens at the superbowl when our team scores… Here is the thing praise erupts not only in the Stadiums but in millions of homes around the globe....

we have these 100 000 Seated auditoriums that rupture in to praise whenever their team scores…

We’ve been in worship services where we have been caught up in Praise… Praise is contagious...

this is a cry and plea for help → Literal interpretation is "O Lord, save"→ → It is taken as a directly from

Psalm 118:25–26 ESV

25 Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.

Praise is Contageious when get this vision of Our King that comes to us..

I have been sharing these short devotionals from the psalm with you. ⇒ And one of the reasons is that they are songs of praise ⇒

The Psalms are Songs that Change our focus... Instead of looking and the worries of the Day we are looking to the God who comes to our aid...

*How does the Savior come to us? John tells us that...

Jesus came to us riding on a donkey ...

This reveals much about Jesus and His Kingdom… The donkey was humblest mode of transportation…in fact usually Donkey were burden bearers who carried the luggage… Jesus didn’t come as a general on a Stallion too rescue Israel from oppression of Rome.. His mission was much larger than that…

in fact usually just carried luggage… Jesus didn’t come on a Stallion and rescue them from Roman oppression

He is the servant king → While Israel looking for a Savior on a Stallion and come and rescue them from Roman oppression → Jesus come in HUMIlity

→

⇒ This is a fulfillment of a prophecy from .⇒ Where 500 years before the prophet… spoke of the Coming king and ...His Kingdom Rule --

Zechariah 9:9 ESV

9 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.

The Coming King of Zion

9 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.

Think about Christ and his Kingdom should inspire praise..

Jesus Kingdom is Eternal → If Jesus saved Israel from Rome → It would have made the history books. It may have been' significant for the next 100 ⇒ 500 years- but then it would have been forgotten...

Matthew 20:28 ESV

28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

… Jesus came to establish an eternal kingdom that would go on forever and ever..

-You see his Kingdom is Eternal → If Jesus saved Israel from Rome → It would have made the history books. It may have been' significant 100 ⇒ 500 years- but then it would have been forgot -The reason why Jesus still relevant today is because he came to town on a donkey, not riding on a Stallion… Jesus came to establish an eternal kingdom

T/S How do we live in Confusing times?

One of the mistakes we think about praise is that it has to be spontaneous…that we have work our

--- When Jesus went to Jerusalem... It was all planned.. He set his face towards Jerusalem.

Easter was not an accident it was Christs mission..

3. Live a life that focused on Praise

What do we do when Life Gets Confusing?

The meet Jesus with Praise...

We need to learn not only to think praise.. Praise needs to be verbalized..

Psalm of Praise...

T/S How do we live in Confusing times?

1. WE Embrace Praise

2. WE Express Our Praise

3. We Exchange Our Fears

3. We Encourage Our Friends

Most of us have have a smoke detector and a thermostat. One is an alarm; the other is a control. That smoke detector can’t control smoke. It can only alert you to the presence of smoke.

The thermostat, on the other hand, cannot only detect the temperature of the room, it can control the temperature by turning your heater and air-conditioner off and on.

John 12:14–15 ESV

14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

John 12:14 ESV

14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

John

John 20:14–16 ESV

14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion;

behold, your king is coming,

sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

The psalm says do fear Not ⇒ … This phrase comes up as command or imperative about 33 times in the Bible… Often imperative are given because it takes faith and obedience to follow through… Fear is the natural response… to crisis…

Most of us have have a smoke detector and a thermostat. One is an alarm; the other is a control. That smoke detector can’t control smoke. It can only alert you to the presence of smoke. The thermostat, on the other hand, cannot only detect the temperature of the room, it can control the temperature by turning your heater and air-conditioner off and on.

But the Bible tells in That God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love power and a sound mind...

Bible tells in That God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love power and a sound mind...

How do we deal with Fear… John tells us .... Behold… is a focus Word…It means pay attention…

Behold your King comes to you sitting on a Donkey… Jesus was coming to the City of Peace Jerusalem and the King of Peace.... When focus on Him he will come to our town our city with Peace..

Dr. Timothy Tennent, the President of Asbury Theological Seminary, recently wrote this blog.. that makes a fascinating connection between the Coronavrius and the season of Lent.

We need to take Precautions- →

When a Tsunami comes-the water recedes back… it would be foolish to just stand there…There is a big difference between Faith and foolishness.. that presumes on the grace of God...

Faith means we discern and then act with wisdom. To be honest Having faith means that you Don’t have the answers and that you are trusting… When Jesus went to the cross and died… they were confused… When Jesus rose from the dead then assended that was confusing...

⇒ Take higher ground⇒ Do what is needed take care of your health you families.

It was only later did they have understanding

Do not be Fearful --- because your King comes to you....

Looking to Jesus with faith doesn’t mean that you understand..

Now those who closest to Jesus did not understand. →

John 12:16 ESV

16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him.

John 12:

Praise will acknowledge that God is in Control… even when we loose control.

makes a fascinating connection between the Coronavrius and the season of Lent.

you can be a disciple and still not understand-you don't have all the answers ⇒

Iurrect and glorification of Jesus.

⇒ He said it could be but we just don't know. We do that we are getting closer →

It's okay, to not know the answer ⇒

The word 'Corona' has its origin in Latin and it means crown. So, the virus is called Corona because when viewed under a microscope it actually looks like a thorny crown.

Because-this made sense to the disciples only after the resurrect and glorification of Jesus.

Conclusion

1. WE Embrace Praise

2. WE Express Our Praise

The thorny 'corona' on Jesus’ head was symbolic of his self-denial and sacrifice. It offers a dramatic picture of Jesus the true King who embraces our brokenness.

3. We Exchange Our Fears

While our world today is obsessed with the thorny crown virus, as Christians let us be obsessed with our Savior who wore a crown of thorns to give us eternal life.

3. We Ewith Ressurection

Praise is going to point us back to the Savior....

Conclusion

John ends this section by going back to to the Crowd that came from Bethany with Jesus…They were the ones who had witnessed the Resurrection… While the majority of people in the crowd… are going to be some of the people who Cried out Hosanna are now going shout out Crucify Him... But there are these that know what they had experienced and seen and they continue through the same difficult days.... But their approach is different...

There were some that met him in Jerusalem, but then the crowd that had travelled with him were those who had seen Lazarus raised from the dead… Can you imagine how powerful Jesus riding into Jerusalem --- an Lazarus with them coming from Bethany...

John 12:17–19 ESV

17 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. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

John f12:

This Group of people lived in this world that had gone out of control… the Made a huge impact… You cannot hold back the Resurrection.... The Pharisees said to one another…

Now within the crowd are another audience those who had seen Jews raise Lazarus from the dead.

Christianity is about resurrection

→ Those who saw Lazarus shared what they had experienced.....

At this point there is a parallel between Lazarus…The tomb represents no hope finality… Everyone thought that Jesus was too late for Lazarus… That first Easter those three days seems like Easter was cancelled. there was a closed sign on the tomb… If Jesus didn’t rise every sickness and every disease... Would have won the day… because of the finality of death..

But that is not what happened because on the third day the tomb stone was opened and Jesus Conquered sin death and the grave…

Christians are 3rd Day people.

We resurrection people → Witnesses to the fact that Jesus

Christ is very much alive today.. This is something to Shout about..

The Bible tells us in the Psalms That Everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Experienced the resurrection

a. This group was giving eye witness account

b. Message says that they looked at one another and threw up their hands

The Pharisees took one look and threw up their hands: “It’s out of control. The world’s in a stampede after him.”

CONCLUSION

When you read the Gospel accounts of the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion, the Roman soldiers mockingly placed a thorny crown on Jesus because of the accusation that he claimed to be the King of the Jews! The thorny 'corona' on Jesus’ head was symbolic of his self-denial and sacrifice. It offers a dramatic picture of Jesus the true King who embraces our brokenness. While our world today is obsessed with the thorny crown virus, as Christians let us be obsessed with our Savior who wore a crown of thorns to give us eternal life!

Why is Praise important?

1. Praise-recognizes God is Sovereign and that God will will prevail..-

2. Praise agrees with the Word of God and lthen declares it over your life… It changes our attitude t because it puts God front and center stage..

3. Praise will set you free from the clutches of fear…

We Look Up..

Look up, we're not hindered anymore

Look around, He's already won the war

Look up, look Up

Freedom is contagious

Come and join us in His praise

Bless the name of Jesus

It's for freedom we are saved

Freedom is contagious

Come and join us in His praise

Bless the name of Jesus

It's for freedom we are saved

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1. WE need to Be Prepared to Praise

3. We Exchange Our Fears