Many
religious people today are worshiping according to their own inventions. But if
we worship God according to the doctrines and commandments of men, we worship
God in vain. Jesus said “And in vain they worship
me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mk 7:7). We need to
know God and His will if we must worship Him in Spirit and truth (John 4:23). You can understand why Paul addressed
the Athenians in Acts 17:23 “The one whom you
worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you”. We’ll concentrate on
the kingship of Jesus Christ as he entered Jerusalem in his last days on earth.
Jesus had
just finished telling the people the parable of the gold coins where the one
with the one coin after the return of the master was deprived of the single
coin and given to the one who had ten coins because of his stewardship which
also applies to the stewardship of our souls. After telling them this, He went
on to Jerusalem and at the mount of Olives he sent the disciples to get a colt
that has never been ridden.
1.
Jesus is master and
all knowing (vs 29-34)
He knew
what the disciples will see ahead of them and what the owner will ask. Jesus
gave them the response of the one who is Lord and master of the universe. I
believe the man knew the master needed the donkey. He also knew the master
otherwise he would have asked who is the master. The man didn’t resist the
request because he knew who the master was. Do you know the master? Are you ready to
hand it over to the master?
The man
handed over the donkey. Today God wants you to hand over your heart to him in
obedience. If you hand your heart to the master, you’ll worship him in spirit
and in truth. Your worship will come from your heart not the mouth nor drums or
atmosphere but at all times and everywhere worship will flow from your heart.
You’ll be
able to worship God in giving even to the construction project of the church
because the master needs it. It doesn’t matter the situation in which we are,
worship will flow from those who know God.
He knows
everything, your past, present and future. Why can’t you confide in Jesus? The
disciples went to the village and found everything just as Jesus said. He is
omniscient and you can’t hide from him, so give your life to him so that you
can worship him everywhere; alone or in public without shame or fear, even in
the presence of your enemies just like Gideon did in the camp of the enemies (Judges 7:15).
2.
He was courageous to
live the truth (35-37)
In his
final week Jesus wanted all to know without doubt that he was Jesus the Christ,
the son of the living God, the one who is worthy of our worship. So he took the
great courage to enter Jerusalem like a king sitting on a donkey after the
tension he had in the last years of his ministry with religious leaders. It
takes courage to live out the truth in your life despite all opposition, shame,
attacks, sickness, troubles or whatsoever even coronavirus. Live the truth,
don’t just speak it but live it without fear. Jesus did even though he knew he
will be killed for who he was. He was not afraid to enter Jerusalem in hiding
but he entered on a donkey with a crowd shouting for Him.
3.
Jesus boldly claimed
to be the Messiah (vs 35)
In
fulfilment of Zechariah 9:9, the king is
coming riding on a donkey. He was coming as the prince of peace who rules the
heart of men, not like a warrior. He was coming to save; that is the Messiah.
If Jesus
was contented with just being a prophet or any other title, he would have lived
to a good old age. But that was not his goal; but to be truthful, that’s why those
who worship him must do so in spirit and in truth. But because He claimed to be
the Christ, the saviour, the Messiah, He started his journey to the cross.
Throughout
scriptures Jesus travelled everywhere he went by foot. He never rode on
anything but just for the last two miles of his trip to Jerusalem he asks for a
donkey which had never been ridden before. It was not because Jesus was tired
but because he wanted to pass the message. In First Samuel 6:7 two cows that
have never been yoked were to carry the ark of the Lord’s covenant, now Jesus
is to ride on a colt that has never been ridden because he was bringing the new
covenant that’ll be made in his blood because He is the Messiah. Can you see
the parallel? He knew where He was going.
4.
The crowd responded in
praises (vs 38-40)
The
disciples throw their cloaks over the donkey for Christ to sit on. People
spread their cloaks and tree branches on the road as he rode on. Jesus was
given the red carpet ushering as the king of Kings. Others took palm branches
and went forth to meet Jesus as the apostle John says in John 12:13. They shouted “God bless the king who comes in the name of
the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
There were
some people around who didn’t want Jesus to be worshiped. The Pharisees were
there. They said “Teacher, command your disciples to be quiet”.
Jesus replied “I
tell you, if they were to keep silent, the stones would cry out!”.
They were not to keep silent, but if they were to, something else will shout
because he is the God who gives life and the spirit. Even stones will do it in
worship to the creator.
Is anyone
asking you to keep quiet before the king of kings? Is anyone asking you not to
worship the Lord our God? Will you give true praise and worship to God or you’ll
be like the Pharisees or like those who’ll turn and say crucify him?
Conclusion:
If you
truly know who God is, you’ll worship him in spirit and in truth. You’ll not be
influenced by music, by people around you not even by the problems around us.
But if you have never had an encounter with Jesus, or you don’t know when you
ever received Christ in your life, you are wasting your time here. You are just
like the Pharisees or those who shouted Hosanna in the highest and turned back
to say crucify him. You are worshiping in vain even though you’re here today.
It’s time for you to give your life to Christ. Thank God that coronavirus has
come to remind us of how the end times may look like. It will be worse than
this, but after death, where will you be? Swimming in the lake of fire or with
the king of kings? It’s time you bow your head and make things right with God.
To you who
have believed:
·
God
is Holy Spirit, so worship him in the holiness of your spirit (Is 1:15,16)
·
God
is benevolent spirit, so worship him with a spirit of gratitude and
thanksgiving (Ps 100:1,2)
·
God
reigns over all things, worship him in reverence and awe (Is 6:1-5, Rev 1:12-18)
·
God
is spirit of wisdom and intelligence, so worship him in totality of your mental
ability (Mt 15:5,6)
·
God
cannot be seen with eyes of men, so worship him in faith (Ex 20:4,5, 2Cor 5:7)
·
God
is loving, worship him with a spirit of love for him and fellow worshipers (Mt 5:23-24)
·
God
is a forgiving spirit, worship him with a forgiving spirit (Mt 6:14,15)
·
God
is a fatherly spirit, worship like a child who trust and depend upon the Father
of our spirit (Mt 6:9, Hb 12:19)
Knowing who
God is and how you can worship God, I trust you’ll adjust your pockets to truly
worship God with your giving for the church project starting from your heart.
No comments:
Post a Comment