 What a beautiful day it is. Amen? This is the day the Lord has made We will rejoice and be glad in it. Amen Father we praise you we thank you for your goodness Lord For your mercies are new every day and we will praise you We will shout Hosanna Hosanna to the highest our king our Savior Have your way today Receive our worship God In Jesus name we pray we all say amen sing with us church sing praise We're watching from thank you for joining in we're so glad you're with us on Palm Sunday as well Thank you for praising the Lord with us wherever you're at. Let's check out this morning's announcements video Let's see what's coming up everyone and welcome to Calvary Chapel Cina Valley We're so happy to have you here with us and we're excited to tell you about some great events that are coming soon Gathering today to celebrate the cornerstone of our faith the resurrection of Jesus Christ We celebrate because it fulfills God's promise that he would rescue us Had Jesus remained in the grave his promise would have been a lie, but he didn't he died for us That we might live through him Our good Friday evening services at 7 p.m. Easter Sunday morning services are at 8 30 11 a.m Be sure to arrive early to navigate our parking lot check your kids into the classroom and be blessed by our extended worship If you have invited friends or family who will be joining us for the very first time We have a special welcome tent that will be available for visitors outside of the sanctuary Encourage them to stop by on a good Friday or Easter Sunday for a refreshment and a friendly welcome from our volunteers If you're a single mom to school-aged children, we want to invite you to attend our annual Mother's Day dinner This event includes a delicious dinner time of worship and an encouraging devotion for the moms while your kids enjoy their own Special dinner and activities in their classrooms. The event is on Friday, May 12th, and is just $12 per family Our next father-and-son fishing trip is coming soon We'll be heading to Browns Mill Pond Campground in Bishop for a long weekend of hiking fishing Bible study and outdoor sports This is a great time for fathers to connect with their sons alongside one another The trip is happening from Thursday May 18th through Sunday May 21st We hope to see you there. Whether you're visiting for the first time or have May Chino Valley your home We're blessed to have you with us. These announcements are just a few of the upcoming events classes and opportunities to get involved There's so much more you can be a part of you can sign up for any of our events through our website at Calvary CCV org Or by visiting the events tab on our church app Thank you for worshiping with us today as we get ready for our Bible study Don't forget to place your cell phone on silent and help us limit distractions by staying seated until the service is over Thank you for being with us and we hope to see you again soon. Have a blessed week Well, good morning second service and welcome to Calvary Chapel Chino Valley If this is your first time here, we want to say welcome and God bless you Want to welcome those who are joining us online this morning and those who are in the patio amen to that clap Just a couple of reminders that we have our Sunday evening prayer Which is our monthly Sunday evening prayer for all our church family. That is this evening at 5 30 p.m In the mini chapel now if you don't know where the mini chapel is at you Go through these doors here and you make a left you'll see chapel store and it's right in there And it's a great opportunity for our church family to gather together and to pray specifically for all the things that are we're going through as a church individually As families and so it's a great time for our church family to get together and corporately And pray and have some time in worship together as a church family Everyone is welcome. And again, that's at 5 30 this evening in the mini chapel This Wednesday evening and pastor david will share a little bit more about this This Wednesday evening we have a a guest speaker pastor holland davis And he's going to come and give us the demonstration of the Passover setter If you don't know what the Passover setter is come Wednesday night, you'll find out No, I'm just teasing you guys. That wasn't a good joke It's going to be it's learning the significance of what Passover is and how it points to Jesus christ and it's in connection to our celebration of the death burial and resurrection of Jesus christ And so, uh, I know pastor david will share a little bit more about that That's going to be this Wednesday evening at 7 p.m And then a reminder that all of you are invited to our Easter season as pastor david will present a series of Easter messages for good friday and for Easter sunday morning And a great it's a great opportunity to come join our church Family as we gather together to celebrate really the cornerstone of our belief Which is the death burial and resurrection of our lord and savior jesus christ And we have these fires that are available for you You can pick them up in the foyers and on the back it has the information That gives more information about our services And this is a great opportunity to use us as a tool To to give to your friends and your family and your co-workers And it's a great opportunity to invite them especially for this weekend coming up For wednesday for friday and for sunday And uh, and what a great opportunity it is to invite So invite your friends and family to come out and join us and invite your co-workers because they will Hear the gospel and the celebration that we have of our risen savior And then as mentioned on the video announcements that we have our father son annual father son fishing trip And that's going to be may 18th to the 20 may 21st. You can actually go online and register for that It's a great time where fathers and sons get together and they spend time fishing and fellow shipping with other brothers And if you like more information, you can go to our website and you can actually register online The cost is 33 dollars and again all the information is online So min if you're wanting to take your sons Or nephews or anything like that stop by the website. You can register online and uh, and and what a great weekend That's going to be as we continue our time in worshiping the lord with our tithes and offerings last week I shared out a second Corinthians chapter 9 and it's a verse that we're all familiar with and it says there But I say this he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and who who sows bountifully Will also reap bountifully so let each one give as he purposes in his heart Not grudgingly or of necessity for god loves a chill for chill for a giver last week We we looked at the same verse and we talked about what is purposed in our hearts Today I want to ask what is it? It says god loves a cheerful giver. Well, what does that mean? Well, it means that in god given us his son, jesus christ That he did it in a way that was cheerful Because he knew that all of us through the death burial and resurrection of jesus christ That we would be set free that we would be forgiven that we would be our chains of addiction would be broken And all of this that god gave to us through his son jesus christ so that we may be free And we see this model of this as it says god loves a cheerful giver God loves a cheerful giver because those who he those who have Pleasure in giving display the glorious grace of his son jesus christ because it's the act of giving that god gave to us We are being moved and transformed into the image of jesus christ And so when we give our gifts to the lord when we tithe our hearts out to be cheerful because god Loves those who are cheerful and again when we think about what how god has given us jesus christ And he gave it he gave him to us so freely That we would one day be here on a sunday morning Worshiping the lord What an amazing god we serve and we use this as a model as we give back to the lord that we are to be cheerful Because of all the blessings he's given us And so why does god love a cheerful giver because it demonstrates and and displays His grace and love for each and everyone as he's given us his son jesus christ who has set us free And forgiven us of our sins so this morning as we give our gifts to the lord We're reminded that god first gave to us that we may be set free And when we give to the lord through our tithes and our offerings not only are we furthering his kingdom But we're bringing glory and honor to his name So this morning we have many reasons why to be cheerful in our giving So what i'd like to own there's multiple ways that we're able to give to the lord this morning For those that are watching online on facebook and youtube There's a link that you can click on and opens up a page to give and and we all know that for those who are here Who brought your gifts to the lord? We have a copy boxes. We have electronic kiosk We have a qr code in your pews And there's an envelope there that you may put your give give your gifts to the lord But when we remember how how amazing god's grace is and what he gave us In order for us to be here this morning Why wouldn't we give from a cheerful heart? So what i'd like to do is pray for the offering and then we'll have another worship song Father we thank you so much For your demonstration of and display of your love for us That you have given us your son jesus christ to forgive us of our sins lord Who has given us grace and mercy and who has filled us with your spirit So lord as we are reminded of your great demonstration And lord we're reminded to give to you in a cheerful way Because it was because of you that we are here today So lord i asked that your hand would be on those who are giving and and that it would further your kingdom and bless those But may your name be glorified and honored and lord we lift up our pastor this morning as he Shares with us the significance of palm sunday. May we always Hide your word and live your word in our hearts and throughout our lives May you be glorified and honored in jesus name amen Can we all stand together family? As we're in this season of celebration of our savior's resurrection We know that there's also spiritual warfare raging around us And we look to where our help comes from amen. Let's look to him and sing to him and give him glory church To man lift it up church Your name is the highest your name is the greatest your name's above This building is Transformed into a sanctuary where we lift our praise and worship to you Lord our our hearts are open. We ask that you would speak to us through your word by your spirit and help us to know How valuable jesus is and as we leave this place equip us for works of service We lift up those who are watching online Those who are outside Those of us who are here. I ask that you would just speak to us now draw us to yourself in jesus name amen Turn to your neighbor and say god bless you. I'm glad you're here Well, good morning. Let's open our bibles together to matthew. We're in matthew's gospel today chapter 21 We'll be looking today at the The triumphal entry and we're going to be using matthew's text to do that We do have a prayer tonight. We have A young adult study on monday tuesday. We have our men's Bible study that ends with a breakfast that's at 6 30 in the morning fellas If you'd like to be part of that and as was already mentioned this upcoming wednesday We're not going to be looking at the book of romans. We're going to have holland davis Who's going to come and do what is called a satyr? He's going to come and share about christ in the Passover And it's going to be not only a teaching But it's going to be a visible thing where he's going to have a table and bread and the various elements that relate to To pass over and an explanation Concerning those things if you've never had an opportunity to see christ in the Passover Presentation we invite you to be with us again. That's just coming coming up Wednesday on on friday. We'll have a friday evening good good friday service then on sunday As has already been mentioned we changed the time a bit For that sunday only because we have a prolonged time of worship And I normally give an invitation and so for that sunday only we're going to be changing our second service To 11 rather than 10 45 which means that you're going to be on time this upcoming And so that'll be this upcoming Easter sunday Today we're going to be looking at palm sunday. We're going to look at it from chapter 21 here in matthew's gospel So i'll begin reading at verse one i'll read to verse 11 and we'll get into our study We're looking at the triumphal entry also called palm sunday So it it begins here in verse one matthew 21 Where matthew writes at verse one now when they drew near Jerusalem and came to beth phage At the mount of olives then jesus sent two disciples saying to them Going to the village opposite you and immediately you will find a donkey Tied and a cult with her loose them and bring them to me And if anyone says anything to you you shall say the lord has need of them And immediately he will send them now all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet Saying tell the daughter of zion Behold your king is coming to you lowly and sitting on a donkey a cult the fall of a donkey So the disciples went and did as jesus commanded them They brought the donkey and the cult laid their clothes on them and set him on them And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out saying Hosanna to the son of david Blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord Hosanna in the highest And when he had come into Jerusalem all the city was moved saying who is this? So the multitude said this is jesus the prophet from nazareth of galilee Now as is my normal way of doing things i'll share a few things to give us a bit of a context and then develop it and Get into our passage before us So we're looking at what has been called the triumphal entry. It's also called palm sundae And this is the last major public appearance that jesus makes before his crucifixion This particular event is recorded in all four of the gospels here in matthew 21 as well as mark 11 and luke 19 and john chapter 12 It occurs in his last week But it actually is concluding a journey that he had begun earlier luke tells us in chapter 9 Of his gospel verse 51 as the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven Jesus resolutely set out for jerusalem And so before jesus entered jerusalem, he's passing through Jericho i'm going to begin with that he passes through jericho as he's moving on his way To jerusalem and we'll look at bethany and beth fazian just a moment But i want to start at where he's at in jericho luke 19 tells us that he entered and passed through jericho on his way to jerusalem And jericho is about 15 to 18 miles just to the north and a bit to the east of the city of jerusalem Jericho was on the main road And being on the main road they would have many publicans or tax gatherers who would be there be there they would collect taxes And so as jesus was entering into Jericho there was a tax gatherer her name his name was was zakias And zakias had sought to see jesus now He was what is called a chief tax collector. That means that he held a high office Chief tax gatherers would hire people to collect the taxes and they were known for one thing. They were known for greed Zakias was ahead of the entire tax district of jericho and its vicinities And that would mean that he would be well known in other words He had what would be called fame or name recognition So he had what a lot of people want even if it comes in a in a way that isn't flattering his name was known by many people He had he was famous. He was well known in that area He was also very rich But he was hated because zakias was becoming rich off of his own people Rome would make demands of a certain percentage They were to receive a certain amount of tax for certain things and anything that the Tax gatherer could could reap in that was above what rome had had stated Became theirs and so this man had become rich off of his own people And he and he was greatly hated by them But being a rich man he was accustomed to have anything he wanted He was accustomed to satisfy any material desire that he might have And when you think about that even today The idea that you would have enough money to satisfy whatever need or desire you might have then it's something we all understand There are some people who have a lot of money some people who have a little money some people who have very little But then there are the exorbitant rich those who have so much money. They don't really know what to do with it Zakias had an awful lot of money. He was somebody who had a good amount of money He was somebody that was capable of meeting any material desire that he had But his wealth Made him will say comfortable, but his wealth had never given him contentedness Money gave him an advantage But money could not bring a soul satisfaction It's been said that material wealth is a terrible master because it makes promises that it cannot fulfill And when pursuing riches is a passion it becomes exhausting And proverbs 23 4 and 5 The writer says don't exhaust yourself acquiring wealth be smart enough to stop When you fix your gaze on it. It's gone for its sprouts wings for itself and flies to the sky like an eagle You know the more you have The quicker it goes sometimes And when gaining Finances becomes your master passion. You'll never be satisfied every every man every woman Has a master passion you have That you have what it is inside of you that drives you to achieve And you're willing to give up anything to get that whether it's recognition whether it's money whether it's Popularity of some sort whatever it may be many people are willing to give up almost anything and some have given up Everything so they can acquire that thing that they desire and when gaining finances is your master passion You'll never be satisfied Somebody once said man is the only animal whose desires increase as they are fed. He is the only animal that is never satisfied And there's truth to that Solomon said in ecclesiastes 5 verse 10 and he would know he was the richest man on the face of the earth at that time In ecclesiastes 5 10 he said whoever loves money never has enough Whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income And that's true the eyes of men the proverb says i'm never satisfied When jesus was speaking concerning this jesus made it clear. He said your treasure ought to be stored in heaven Because he said where your treasure is there your heart will be also Now when he said that in matthew chapter 6 he went on to say in matthew 6 verse 20 24 no one can serve two masters Either you will hate the one and love the other or you'll be devoted to the one and despise the other He went on to say you cannot serve both god and money. You can't do it. They're mutually exclusive You will have one master passion and jesus said make sure that it's god Now this man was very rich But very empty And he wanted to see jesus Again money and fame had not satisfied his spiritual needs. So he sought out jesus There was a uh saint in the early church named augustin And he said our heart is restless Until it rests in you Now it's possible that he had heard that jesus was a friend of publicans and sinners There was a time when jesus had gone to a meal And while he was there there were sinful people there and And uh the Pharisees and other religious people who saw that Were very upset about jesus dining with them with them even asking the question Why does your master eat with these sinners and jesus said well those who are well don't have a need for a Physician, but those who are sick are the ones who need it. He didn't come to call the righteous But sinners to repentance And so jesus had relationships with people drawing them to himself and it's possible That this man zakias had had heard that christ is a friend of publicans and sinners And it would have provoked him possibly to to search out jesus for answers Jeremiah tells us in in jeremiah 29 13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart And there's zakias. He's very short Couldn't see over the crowd. We know the story He knew that jesus was about to pass by he wanted to see him And because he wanted to see jesus he made an effort to do so he climbed a tree In luke 19 verse 5 it says when jesus came to the place he looked up and and saw him and said to him Zakias make haste come down for today. I must stay at your house What I want you to note is that jesus knew where he was jesus knew who he was and jesus knew what he needed And so he says come down Now as often happens people were upset that jesus actually paid attention to him Luke 19 7 says when they saw it they all complained they murmured greatly saying He's gone to be the guest with a man who is a sinner Jesus showing compassion to someone they hated caused them to turn on him Now the complaint didn't come just from the religious people. No, it it came from the entire crowd Because this man became rich off the backs of his own people and they despised him for it And they don't want him to come to christ I was thinking about that. Have you ever gotten angry because somebody you hated got saved? Oh lord jesus, I pray for everybody for that one. May he go to hell In your name amen. I say a double Have you ever I have I have I'll be honest with you I you know as an early believer that man, you know, everybody gets saved except that one jesus let them burn and let them burn for a long time In your name amen You know, I remember a woman who was very bitter because Her husband and and she had gotten a divorce and and after the divorce he had He had gotten right with the lord and and met another woman and got married and was happy And I still remember speaking to this particular woman who said it's just not fair. It's just not fair There are people who get bitter when your life is better And so that's what's taking place here There's seen this take place and and they're unhappy that he's actually going to the house of this man Who's who's actually been made able to afford that house through their tax dollars? And serve said about and so jesus responds to this in luke 19 He said at verse 10 the son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost That's why he came to seek and to save Zacchaeus heard that he was coming into town Zacchaeus made an effort to see him climb the tree and look down upon him Jesus stops looks up says I need to have a meal with you I'm going to come to your house today the people over here all of this they get upset He's gone to the house of a sinner and then jesus makes it very clear. That's why I came I came to seek and I came to save that which is lost which i'm blessed by god to be able to say That's what he did with me. That's what he did with us He came to seek us out and he found us and he saved us In romans 4 25 it speaks of jesus being delivered over to death for our sins But he was raised to life for our justification And so jesus has been coming he went through uh He went through Jericho and he's on his way to another village. It's called beth phage notice verse one here in chapter 21 as he's coming It says they drew near Jerusalem and came to beth phage at the mount of olives And jesus sent two disciples saying to them going to the village opposite you and immediately you will find a donkey Tide and a colt with her loose them bring them to me and if anyone says anything to you You shall say the lord is need of them and immediately he will send them And so jesus is entering into beth phage It's a it's a small village directly opposite another city or another village called bethany In john 11 verse 8 it says that bethany was located about two miles outside to the northeast Of the city of jerusalem He and his men are in an area that is called the mount of olives just outside in just east of the city walls Jesus is now moving to accomplish the task that his father sent him to He's about to lay down his life In order that he might reveal God's love and mercy to sinful man And john 10 verses 14 and 15 he had said I am the good shepherd. I know my sheep my sheep know me Just as a father knows me and I know the father and I lay down my life for the sheep Well, he stops just before entering into jerusalem at the small village of beth phage Now there's excitement. You have to see this in your mind's eye for a moment. There's excitement in the crowd You see jesus is coming from the jericho region as mentioned 15 up to 18 miles or so as he's coming Out of that region and he administered to a man there by the name of zekius, but he also had performed a miracle That uh, he had restored the sight to two men who were blind bartimaeus is one of them and He had done this amazing miracle. It was so amazing that the people began to just have enthusiastic excitement at this man who who has done this incredible work and as jesus has left and is Moving on down. He's already gathered a crowd and there are people already Who are on their way to jerusalem to celebrate pass over and all and so they're all kind of gathering together and there's a large cluster of people and There's an excitement in bethany Recently jesus had raised a man by the name of lazarus from the dead And there would have been again this amazing enthusiasm in that region Because here's the man who is a miracle worker. Here is a man who healed the eyes of the blind Here is a man who raises the dead to life. And so they're all just lined up and excited There are people following along in in the trail of this this parade if you will And so they began to draw near to jerusalem It says in verse one that they they drew near to jerusalem and came to beth faze And so they're approaching jerusalem and as they do so jesus now Sends out two of his disciples they go out on an errand And i want you to notice that by this jesus is initiating the events that are are leading to his entrance into jerusalem And by doing this he's also initiating the events that result in his crucifixion Verse two tells us that he gives a very simple command go into the village opposite you go into bethany You're going to find a donkey tide and a colt wither loose them. He says and bring them Now up to this point in matthew's gospel especially Jesus has been discouraging any kind of public honor. He's been discouraging it In matthew chapter eight verse four for example, he had cleansed a leper And jesus said to him see that you tell no one Go your way show yourself to the priest offer the gift that moses commanded as a testimony to them Don't tell anyone In chapter 16 verse 20 Peter had just made his confession of faith. Thou art the christ the son of the living god Well, they were in a place called cesarea filipi And after he had made that confession jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the christ Later in chapter 17 verse 9 After jesus was transfigured the transfiguration that's recorded there in chapter 17 As they came down from the mountain jesus commanded them saying Tell the vision to no one until the son of man is risen from the dead So he's been saying to his to the people. He's been saying to his disciples. Don't say anything, but now they are Now, why would he want to keep it silent for a while? Well, jesus had healed a paralyzed man on the Sabbath And it had caused great anger And it had become well known by this time that they wanted To put him to death. You see that in john 5 17 and 18 In john 7 verse 1 it says after these things jesus walked in galilee galilee is to the north For he did not want to walk in judaea which is in the south because he said the jews the jewish authorities the jews sought to kill him And so he knows that his his life is in jeopardy. He knows that But he wants to come in in the city And he wants to make sure he does it in a way that protects everybody and achieves a goal that he has and so It's time for his mission To be concluded that he's been sent on and so he gives two of his his men his disciples an order again in verse two It says go into the village opposite you. You're going to find a donkey He said there that is tied and a colt with her loose them and bring them. He says to me So Knowing that this is taking place He sends two of his disciples and gives them a very simple order The enemies of christ are plotting to arrest him John 11 57 says both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment that if any man knew where he was He should show it that they might take him. So he's aware of what's taking place So he gives them a very simple order. It's going to preserve them. It's going to give them safety It's going to give him opportunity to do what he needs to do But the order he gives is very simple. It's not very complicated It doesn't require planning on another part. They just need to follow the order One of the things that I discovered a long time ago and I'm learning it to this day one of the things is that Uh, following a simple order very often is the step that you take towards a deeper maturity in christ He doesn't command us normally to do something that requires an awful lot of effort on our part or An awful lot of faith on our part. He actually begins by giving us the small things to do And and being able to do the small thing Is something that very often leads to being able to do the greater thing when our church first began many years ago now I had a young man who was with me After a wednesday bible study we used to use a an industrial building off of grove street in ontario and It it sat a hundred and twenty people and that's about what we would see on a wednesday night and a sunday night during that time And so I still remember a young man who waited till everybody had left and And because the seats were not fastened to the floor Whenever anybody got up, obviously they'd push the seat so they could get out and exit and on so after the wednesday night study I would I would just go there and I would just straighten out the chairs That's what I would do is no big deal. It's only 10 million No, it's only a hundred and 120 of them. It's no biggie and and so I was doing that I was there just straightening out the rows and this young man. I'll never forget you know, it's only a few rows several rows and and As I was going through each one of the rows straightening out each one of the chairs to make sure that they were They were even and all he walked with me through the entire 120 chairs he followed me as I went through each row telling me how he wanted to serve the lord And I smiled at him, you know He went to serve jesus. Why don't you start straightening out some chairs? A lot of times we we we don't really think things through do we We you know, I want to serve the lord. What does that mean? Well, you need to send me on a mission To wherever I want to go. I think the hawaiians need the gospel. So you need to send me there I had one guy volunteered to go to spain just to preach the gospel if I would send him so You know, we we don't count the cost and we don't understand that that Maturity is something that that is incremental. It begins doing the smaller things they always remain the smaller things because as you grow in the things of the lord You realize that everything that is accomplished came from him anyway But there's a certain amount of obedience and faithfulness that you have in luke 16 verse 10 It says he who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much It's a simple principle and all So you'll never be a great leader If you are not first a great learner Now as this is taking place, let me add something. This is more than likely Prearranged When he's doing this and giving these this way to to speak and all He's safeguarding his men because they're after him and they're also looking out for his men The owner of the animals would more than likely have been a disciple and when he heard that said he would release them Notice he says in verse 3 again if anyone says anything to you you shall say the lord has need the lord The word lord in in reference to crisis It's an important thing for me to say at this point. The the word lord Is speaking of the one who owns everything He's the lord we we americans don't have a real good grasp of that It's part more of a of a culture that is built on kings dukes earls and the rest They understand what it means to be referred to as a lord when you refer to as a lord That is a royal title that that that means that when a lord gives you an order When there was a kingdom with a king and all of that that means that they had a certain amount of authority And so the word is used in reference to god in reference to jesus christ because he is the lord And as the lord he owns everything That's the whole point the lord who owns everything has need of them the lord who owns everything Has need of the donkey and the colt Now when the word need is used there that word need is is a word that simply speaks of a necessity. There's a necessity for this So the lord has need of those In other words god uses what we offer him to perform his amazing works For his work to be done. There are those whom he equips to perform that work We're responsible for the work that we do But the results are from god So no man glories Because god did it through me when somebody walks up and says, oh, you're an amazing person. Look what you know I I don't like I don't like it when someone says, oh, it's all the lord because often that's just that's just pride you know Oh, that's all the lord. I remember somebody telling me I told somebody I said, you know years ago now I said that was amazing with you know, oh, it's all the lord and I say yeah, I know that I know that I'm just telling you good job Because we know that it's the lord who does the work. We know that you don't take the glory or the credit And god is the lord who owns all things. That's why Jesus said, why do you call me lord lord? And do not the things that I say If I'm really your lord Why aren't you obedient? He said if you love me keep my commandments. Oh, I love you lord I really do keep my commandments. Oh, I love you lord. I really do but I won't do that and so if you want to grow in the things of christ you learn to do the simple things And the lord had need and that's all you need to say Now when you read your bible in the new testament, you'll see this quite often the lord needed water pots So that he could turn water into wine at a wedding The lord needed a boat So he could preach to the crowds turning peter's boat into a pulpit The lord needed to drink a water. So he asked a Samaritan woman for a drink The lord needed a fish and he needed some bread So he could miraculously feed multitudes the lord needed a garden called Gethsemane So he could rest and pray and ultimately be betrayed The lord needed a tomb for burial and it was provided for him by joseph I wonder I wonder what the lord may have need of from us It's just something I have That he has need of When our church was very young The first year of our church I concentrated undeveloping Men into leaders. That's what I did then and that's been a focal point of our ministry For all of the years that we have been in ministry is to equip men encourage men Exort men And so for the first year I concentrated on that And after a year We began women's ministry And so my wife marie Began a woman's ministry After the year of spending time with the men laying out laying down foundations so now marie is leading the women's ministry and We have women small groups and things like that marie in our early years was actually not only the leader of the women's ministry, but she also led a woman small group So she would go to the house of a woman named laura Laura would be the hostess and marie would be there overseeing And she was one of the leaders of the women's ministry that was performing She was the leader of the women's ministry, but she was one of the women's leaders who would actually do Studies herself and encourage the women in that way. She had a very personal Touch in that while our kids were very small I mean when our church began my son joseph was Was just a little boy. He was very he was still a little guy as an infant And um my oldest daughter I think my oldest daughter was around four years old at that time and dav My son was a little over two and joseph was like three months old or so So we had small kids and so When marie would go and and that would mean that my my uh, Corinne was probably five or six years old And so she would go and she'd be with the ladies and my my wife loves to be with the ladies and minister to them And share with them, but me i'm a man. I don't like Being with these kids Like you do How cruel, huh? How cruel? Every man's nodding at me ladies. Just know that It is just a different thing. It's a different thing so I tell her I said maybe you can go but you need to come home at such and so time because I ain't gonna put up with this that much It got to the point Where I would call laura's house It would ring it when when the study should be over. I'd give marie a few minutes, of course, but I'd call laura would answer the phone Hello pastor david and that's before you had Caller id It was one of those phones that you actually dialed remember that so maybe you remember that Hello pastor david I'd say hi laura and she'd say she's coming right home I'd say thank you laura. That was our whole conversation. That was it. Then I'd be waiting for marie to come home and The lord really spanked me over that really did So I just stopped letting her go period. No He really did he really did he said She's growing She's being used and you're Just because you don't like baby city and it's the way I thought I'm talking a long time ago now You've got to grow up you have and he really Really and he finally said what do you have that I have need of? my wife my wife Some of us Maybe a wife has a husband the lord wants to use I remember a woman in this fellowship in this hall who approached me on one occasion And said you know pastor, I've been praying for my husband to get closer to the lord and and Get on fire for jesus. I've been praying and praying for so long and now he is he went to the men's retreat She said and he came back and he's totally changed. She wants to serve. She says I have to be honest with you I don't like this. I don't want him doing that. So god had answered her prayer and the way she was responding Was I don't want to turn him loose. I want to see we can do that So I wonder if there's any here or listening right now that the lord has he has need of something that you have But you won't let it go You won't let it go because this is mine right and so The lord had need of these donkeys He had need of them and that's all that needed to be said and if it is I believe very humbling when we realize that god has a need of something from us Now In verse 4 it says all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet saying Tell the daughter of zion. Behold your king is coming to you lowly and sitting on a donkey a cult the full of a donkey Why did he need this to fulfill a prophecy Made by a prophet named Zechariah Five hundred and twenty years before christ It's found in Zechariah chapter 9 verse 9 In his entrance into jerusalem jesus literally fulfilled this prophecy No, we need to remember that jesus's life in ministry fulfilled the word of god and the prophetic word He came to fulfill old testament prophecies concerning the first coming of messiah In matthew 5 17 he said this he said do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them So by their obedience Zechariah's prophecy is being fulfilled his entrance to jerusalem is literally fulfilling Zechariah's prophecy Now there's a simple reason he had need of the animals They were needed in order to enable him to enter jerusalem in the manner conforming to prophetic requirements and worthy of the messiah the messianic king It says in verse 5 Zechariah is told Tell the daughter of zion. Well that that speaks of jerusalem Jerusalem is called zion mount zion in scripture In psalm 48 verses 1 and 2 he used to actually sing this as a song Great great is the lord and greatly do be praised in the city of our god in the mountain of his holiness Beautiful for situation the joy of the whole earth is mount zion on the sides of the north the city of the great king And so mount zion speaks of jerusalem And so he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey because it represents his rule the rule is is humble and gentle A king riding a donkey is symbolic of royalty Coming in peace in the old testament book of judges chapter 5 Verses 9 and 10 My heart is with the princes of israel with the volunteers among the people Bless the lord You who ride white donkeys who who sit on saddle blankets And you who travel the road. This is a picture of royalty Now matthew had already given a picture of messiah's rule, which is gentle in matthew 12 19 through 21 He will not quarrel nor cry out nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets A bruised reed. He will not break its smoking flax. He will not quench till he sends forth justice to victory and in his name Gentiles will trust And so the picture of messiah coming as jesus is here Is one of a gentle ruler bringing peace But when a king would enter in And he was Coming in war. He normally is pictured as riding on a horse revelation 19 verse 11 I saw heaven open and behold a white horse And he who sat on him was called faithful and true and in righteousness. He judges and makes war in his first entrance He wrote on a donkey a second He's riding on a war horse Jesus came humbly bringing peace to those who received him Now mark makes a statement in mark 11 verse 2 He said That jesus said go into the village opposite you and as soon as you have entered it You will find a cult tide on which no one has sat Loose it and bring it On which no one has sat as a picture of something reserved for sacred use it reveals His lordship lordship now here's something a practical application to that On some on a cult that no one has sat on Now i'm no i'm no cowboy I i've only been on one horse in it and and i fell off of it It was in front of a supermarket. It was just moving too fast and i just I just fell I'm no horseman But I have heard that Unless the uh cult or the horse is broken no one's going to sit on it When they sit on it it begins to respond and you have to have to break the horse. We all know that we've watched Movies that show that if you haven't done that and so What's interesting here is an unbroken animal yielded to the lord without resistance When you look at the ministry of christ Remember how people who are demonized? The demons would yield We know who you are They they they would yield to him. He'd be silent and come out and and the demons would yield to christ When so when there was a fever jesus would basically just Take command of the fever and the fever would would break blindness. He would heal the blind Leprosy paralysis even death itself yielded to jesus christ three times in the gospels It's mentioned to us how that he raised the dead to life Death yielded to christ even creation itself When the waves were tossing and turning and and the men felt that the boat was going to be swamped by the water jesus Told them to cease be still and according to matthew 827 they said even the winds in the sea obey him Demons and fevers and blindness leprosy death itself the sea Everything yielded to christ all creation yielded to his authority, but men Men refused to That's amazing to me even a donkey Fall a cult yielded to him and men refused to Someone once asked if god can use even the most humble and lowly creature for his glory How might he use you? If you're available and willing Well verse 6 tells us the disciples went and did as jesus commanded them Mark 11 4 through 6 says that the disciples went and found a cold outside in the street tied at a doorway As they untied it some people standing there asked What are you doing untying that cold? They answered as jesus said told them Told them to and and the people let them go Well verse 7 says to us they brought the donkey and the cold laid the clothes on them And set them on them So they put their garments on both of them They didn't know which he was going to ride Whether we're doing is they made a cushion for jesus to make it more comfortable for him to ride upon Now as this is taking place verse 8 a very great multitude Spread their clothes on the road others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road and the multitude Who went before and those who followed cried out saying hosanna to the son of david Blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord hosanna in the highest So notice he says to us in verse verse 8 that there was a great multitude and they're spreading their outer garments on the road What they're doing is they're rolling out the red carpet It's a it's a way to honor a king And there were others who are cutting down palm branches and they're spreading them on the road John 12 13 speaks of palm branches which are symbols of peace and joy And so that's what's happening They're welcoming him with symbols of joy and peace. He's riding in with humble gentleness as a messiah as king And so as this is taking place Jesus Went down that mount of olives and people are beginning to come out. They're pouring out of the city of jerusalem Crowds are leaving the area of uh, bethendi there on the mount of olives and beginning to to go down a slope Which eventually will will go into an ascent and people who are from the city of jerusalem are coming out of the gates And what's happening is there are already Pilgrims who are on the way But two crowds of people are now merging they're converging into a single crowd And they're opening up the pathway for jesus on the donkey on the colt to be coming down And as they're doing so they're throwing their their their outer garments so that he's walking on them They're rolling out the red carpet and they're waving palm branches and all which are symbols of victory and all and it's a welcome That is fit for a king Well in luke 9 19 verses 40 went through 44 luke gives us him inside he says Now as he drew near He saw the city And he wept over it Saying if you had known even you Especially in this your day The things that make for your peace But now they're hidden from your eyes For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you Surround you and close you in on every side And level you and your children within you to the ground And they will not leave in you one stone upon another Because you did not know the time of your visitation Imagine that in the midst of all the cheering and and waving of the palm branches and throwing of the garments and And all the people screaming osana save now save now there was another time when the voice of a voice of excitement and enthusiasm rang out In luke chapter 2 It says in verse 8 There were in the same country shepherds Living out in the fields keeping watch over their flock by night and behold An angel of the lord stood before them and the glory of the lord shone around them They were greatly afraid The angel said to them do not be afraid for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be for all people For there is born to you this day in the city of david a savior who is christ the lord This will be the sign to you. You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising god and saying glory to god and the highest on earth peace good will toward men when jesus was born heaven was filled with a brilliance and angels who were saying glory into god When he was born when he's about to die And he's entering into the city hosanna to the son of david once again rings out Crying out loud to the son of david And they're saying blesses is one who comes in the name of the lord hosanna and the highest Many of those voices will be Oh in the future Those voices that were crying out Hosanna Will kind of morph into others who are crying out crucify Angels crying out glory to god People crying out hosanna to the son of david And then ultimately crucify him crucify him Crucify him on the one moment There's joy exhilaration jubilation excitement Blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord And just a few days later The voices changed And they become those who want him dead His heart was broken He's looking down He sees this beautiful city before him the city of jerusalem The city of the great king and he cries He had wept earlier For a friend named lazarus Who had died had been buried And had gone into what others thought was the state of putrification So when he had said remove the stone they said it's been four days by now he stinks He's decaying And the scripture tells us that jesus just looked there and he wept jesus wept What do i learn from that i i learned that jesus has a heart for an individual but now i see him Weeping over a city Over a people Not only does an individual matter But the people matter too All of them do because obviously Cities are made up of individuals If you'd have known If you'd have only known Your day Your messiah is entering in And what this is and he refers to it in this way He said you didn't know the time of your Visitation the word visitation is speaking of your inspection. You are rejecting the one who was sent to you You didn't recognize me he's saying Even though the prophets Had foretold From the very beginning Even when he was born it was that ungodly herod who said where is the messiah to be born And the rabbis were able to tell him micah five two Bethlehem They knew And yet they didn't know There it's been said there are none so blind as the one who will not see And their eyes are closed The hatred for jesus is so intense The rejection of christ is so intense. It was intense then and it is intense now There is still a hatred for christ I hate to say it this way, but it's true Even in our beautiful nation that was founded on christian principles Christians are now the enemy of the state. You know that We are regarded as enemies why because we stand in the way of the movement to alter the entire soul of a nation God has placed us here as watchmen To cry out and warn because what's happening right now Is a destruction of the underpinnings of a nation built on the foundation of the principles of god's word itself Be aware because it's happening even as i'm standing here I won't go into a lot of what i could go into but i will say this be aware There is a the mask is being taken off when you have people who are saying that drag queen ought to be able to influence your children even in the military where your tax dollars are being spent To support that There's something going on be aware be aware Somebody says oh that was in no it is now The devil i'm telling you is taking his mask off and jesus as he was looking Jesus said you didn't know the time of your inspection of your visitation And he's weeping because judgment is coming which it did come by the way Under Titus of Rome in ad 70 when he destroyed everything Well as this has taken place I'll close with verses 10 and 11 when he had come into drusselm all the city was moved saying who is this and the multitude said This is jesus notice the prophet from nazareth of galilee Who is this jesus the prophet they say now? He is more than the prophet his jesus messiah The shouts of hosanna will yield to the christ of crucify In john 1 10 through 12 we'll close with this it says he was in the world And though the world is made through him the world did not recognize him He came to his own but his own did not receive him But to all who did receive him to those who believed in his name He gave the right to become children of god He came to his own country and his own people they did not receive him But as many as received him to them gave he the power the authority to become god's children And so even though they rejected him he was much more. He isn't simply the prophet Of course, he's a prophet. He wasn't simply the teacher. Yes. He's a teacher. He wasn't simply the good man Yes, he's a good man. He was that and more he was messiah He is the one who came to lay his life down for us He is jesus the savior of the world the one whom we worship and the one we praise and the one we thank And the one we love the one who saved us. That's what he is and we must never forget that Jesus christ our savior. He is more than a prophet. He is our messiah father We bless you and we thank you for your work that you have accomplished through your son jesus christ I thank you lord for the truth that has set us free for your word which has been given to us I thank you lord for the transformed lives that we have had that we have experienced because we have believed most Surely in who jesus christ actually is lord. I lift up us this fellowship But I pray that we lord would be walking in your spirit walking in your truth I ask that it would be the number one desire of our life is to be found pleasing to you So lord, I lift up this congregation. I lift up those who are watching right now I ask lord in jesus name that you would just work in all of us to your glory Draw us to yourself Even as our eyes are closed and our heads are bowed there may be some right now Who are here who need to get right with god whether you're a backslider or Or whether you're somebody who's never said yes to jesus, you know, you're a sinner You know, you're lost and you know enough of what jesus has taught for you to know that he can save you And if you need to get right with the lord even right now All you need to do is open your heart and say god be merciful to me. I'm a sinner forgive me Lord may the blood of christ May it actually wash away my sin And may I become your temple May your spirit dwell in me And may I be born again If you need to get right with the lord right now and you need prayer, would you raise your hand? Let me pray for you right where you're at just raise your hand that I might see you father You see these hands, you know the reason why they're being raised to you I ask in jesus name that you would just reach down and touch every person Whose hand is raised and that father you would flood them with a sense of your forgiveness and your presence And from this moment on lord, I pray that as they're being washed that your spirit will fill them And you will awaken in them a hunger for you And a hunger for your word and fellowship and the other things that go along With becoming a new person in christ I ask that you would do this because it gives glory to you brings honor to you and it transforms us So we lift this to you now and we thank you and receive by faith And bless you. Thank you. You can put your hands down There may be some right now who are going through a physical malady and illness sickness of some sort condition Perhaps you have a friend who is and you're concerned for them and you want prayer That the lord might touch their body or touch yours God is a healer We we simply ask and and it's up to him But we do ask and if you need need prayer for healing Would you raise your hand and let me pray for you father you see these hands You know the reason why these hands are being raised to you ask in jesus name That lord you would touch their bodies or if they're lifting a friend or family member that you would you would touch them So we lift all of this to you now lord And I ask that you would just reach down and perform that healing and all glory goes to you lord All glory goes to you by faith. We ask lording and we would receive by faith and we give you praise. Thank you You can put your hands down Jesus I ask that you keep moving amongst us in your name Amen, let's all stand Amen Again, we'll close with a a word of prayer and a song I look forward to hopefully seeing you throughout this week again If you don't normally come to a wednesday, I'd invite you to be there with us this upcoming wednesday We have a You know opportunity to get a good teaching on on what Passover actually actually means and then obviously our friday night I'd love to have you with us and and and sunday As we celebrate Jesus lord, we bless you and we thank you as we're about to leave We ask that you would go with us May we be found faithful. We have friends lord family members who need to hear I ask that you would put them on our heart and an opportunity Lord to invite them that they might hear the truth that will set them free We lift these things to you now in jesus name. Amen. God bless you