Fair Weather Friends
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When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead.
Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too,
for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.
The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors
took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!”
Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:
“Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem. Look, your King is coming, riding on a donkey’s colt.”
His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.
Typically we focus on the fact that the sacrificial lambs must be presented at the temple in order for them to qualify for the passover.
It is symbolic and prophetic that Jesua, the Lamb of God should present Himself at the temple to fulfill the requirement of an official sacrifice.
This week however, I want to focus on the response of the crowd
Look at verse 9
When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead.
Many gathered there were there because of the sensationalism of the ministry!
It is easy to be on the bandwagon when things are going good! The real demonstration of commitment comes when things are difficult
We know that in a week, many of these same people would be crying out for His execution!
I would like to propose to you today the 4 C’s of the Christian life
Conviction, Commitment, Character, and Calling
Conviction
the dictionary defines the word to mean a strong persuasion or belief. b : the state of being convinced.
the state of mind of a person who is sure that what he or she believes or says is true
Conviction is the driving force for every aspect of the Christian life
convictions are the truths one believes about God, themselves, and the surrounding world that lay a foundation for action
Simply put, do you really believe the Word of God?
If so, then everything you say, area and do are centered in His Word!
Without convictions, momentum toward a goal can not be developed for in difficult times actions will wain!
It is the foundation upon which the others pieces rest!
The Apostle Paul was convinced that his understanding of the Scriptures was correct, arresting Christians was the right thing to do !
Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest.
He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains.
When he realized the truth of his error, his conviction to the Gospel drove everything else he did!
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
That brings us to the word commitment!
The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity
an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action
I love Miriam Forster: an agreement or pledge to do something in the future
You cannot have a commitment to something without believing it is right!
Commitment sees only the success of the cause!
It doesn't get deterred by the difficulties but presses on to the finish line
Look at what God told Ananias about the Paul’s future
“But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem!
And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.”
But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.
WOW! Do you mean that there is rough sailing ahead? Bring it on!
I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.
I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches.
Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?
If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.
You see, the reality of life is that difficulties build Character!
You see character is built in the heart!
There’s good news and bad news when it comes to developing character
So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
Do you see it? Endurance.
Endurance can only be developed by enduring. Without conviction and commitment, character cannot be developed
But the bad news is that affliction is a core ingredient to God’s training room for character. You can’t learn character from a textbook. You have to learn it from hardship.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.
And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.
You see there is an interplay between these three things! Each working together brings forth the last of our qualities, Calling
To know that you are called means that you have a conviction driving your commitment developing your character to stay the course!
Jesus said
But Jesus told him, “Anyone who puts a hand to the plow and then looks back is not fit for the Kingdom of God.”
OUCH! Strong words but true
God’s work has suffered enough failures by charlatans claiming to be “men and women” of God!
A large crowd was following Jesus. He turned around and said to them,
“If you want to be my disciple, you must, by comparison, hate everyone else—your father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be my disciple.
And if you do not carry your own cross and follow me, you cannot be my disciple.
“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?
Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.
They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’
“Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him?
And if he can’t, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.
So you cannot become my disciple without giving up everything you own.
Counting the cost is a requirement for entering the Lord’s service
Are you willing?
Can you allow the Lord to fulfill His plan for you?
I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering.
God is calling His people to readiness
No soldier goes to battle planning to surrender to the enemy
Where will you stand?
Will you be like those who welcomed the Lord in the good times but cursed him through the difficult ones?
King Davud cried out
Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.