Friday: Triumphal Entry 4

"It is written," He said to them, "My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a 'den of robbers'".

Good Morning, my dear brothers and sisters. It is Friday and the day we pray for all those working in the Fields of Harvest for our Lord Jesus, and my dear brothers and sisters, once again I say this should be all of us. Please buckle down in prayer and lift all those going to the Fields, and if you are one who is not, or is sort of slacking off in that department, please ask God to equip you and send you out.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for your faithful prayers. I had another really bad day yesterday, went to the doctor's again, went for another Cat Scan (the cat is getting rich), more x-rays. I was told that because of the "blasting" of the stones to break them up, some of the pieces are now lodged in the tube (there is a name for it) that goes from the kidney to the bladder. I was told to double up on pain meds (and that is a bunch) and to drink a lot of water and cranberry juice. I did all that and by afternoon, I was either getting some action on movement or was "loaded" with Oxycodon. I did get up and do a few things that needed done. I really felt better, but the old stone must have friends, for it is 2:30 AM, and it is back. Please, please keep praying folks, this is all between The Lord and me at this point ... and as you might figure this is a very, very busy week in the life of an old (really old) pastor. But again, God is not going to send me out to do a job and not put me in shape to do it. OK, ENOUGH ABOUT ME ... HOW ARE YOU FOLKS? Please let me hear from you. Thanks.

Triumphal Entry 4: As I told you, I have asked Jesus to plant the messages on my mind that I might lay them out for you like an artist might do for a painting or a good author might do in a book. Yesterday we went with Jesus as He went riding into Jerusalem, He was very happy, He was enjoying the children dancing and singing, and we even joined in on the singing as we ended the message.

Now, Jesus goes into the temple area and what He saw there really upset Him. Jesus was, dare I say, mad! Yes, I can say that ... Jesus was mad! Let me bring this out at this point, this tells me that when some things happen to you, or when you see something happening, it might be ok to get mad. After all Jesus did set the example. It happened a few years back, we were going to Bible school, and I was one of the teachers, helping with the music. Some of the kids, ages about 11 to 13, got out of hand, really would not settle down and it was during the program at the end of Bible School. I stood up, stopped the program and gave the kids what for ... I told them they showed no respect for the Lord and for the kids who where behaving, and I told them they were putting shame on their very own parents and even their own selves, then I was taken apart by a couple of people ... I should not have said anything ... I said excuse me, I was in charge of the program, if I chose to do nothing, that would mean I put my stamp of approval on these kids actions. Now I am not comparing myself to Jesus, but He did, after all, set that example for us to follow.

Matthew 21: 21 - Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He over turned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 "It is written," He said to them, "My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a 'den of robbers'". (NIV)

The Bible tells us that people came to the temple to see Jesus and to be healed, and the children came to sing and dance. What Jesus saw when He arrived was the temple being turned into a market area and a gambling joint. After Jesus overturned the tables, and maybe a person or two, he praised the children. Matthew 21: 16 - "Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked Him. "Yes" replied Jesus, "Have you never read, 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?" (NIV)

Putting this in my mind and picturing Jesus mad, or upset, I would picture Him taking the tables down, maybe breaking up some things that might have been out of line. However, I see Jesus as also using this as instruction period as in Matthew 21: 16. Notice He did not curse at the people, or yell and scream, He just got upset and tried to change their minds on things, and of course He messed up their stuff a tad. Even in times when Jesus was upset He still took time to teach, and I would think also show honor to His Father in Heaven. So learn this lesson from me on this ... if you get upset, for whatever reason, please do not do anything that would bring dishonor to Jesus, or our Father in Heaven. Get hold of God, talk to Him about why you are upset, and let Him help you deal with it.

Dear Father in Heaven, please keep us working in Your Fields as the Bible tells us the crops are ripe for picking, and we need to get the harvest in before it is too late. Please keep us safe in our work for You. Lord, I confess right now I really need Your healing hand on my body. I also ask Your healing hand on Pastor Tony and Ruby, and on Pastor Charles. I also ask Your touch on Faye Beard as she is heading for a back operation. Lord, please bless these days, the upcoming Holy Week, and all the extra services. Lord, fire up pastors all over the world that preach and teach the truth, and Lord, use them to get the message of Salvation out, when so many people come to church for one of their two Sundays. Lord, load us for this. Anoint us for Your work, and Lord, I am claiming right now, that by Your hand I am healed, and I am getting back to work for You. In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen.

Ok, let's do it again, let's go out sharing our blessings and sharing some good songs of praise. Let's get this Friday before Palm Sunday started on the right foot. And remember this, really remember it ... share those blessings. Love ya, dan.

All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him, in His presence daily live ...
I surrender all, I surrender all.
All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender, humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken, take me, Jesus take me now.
Oh I surrender all, I surrender all.
All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power, let Thy blessings fall on me.
Oh yes I surrender all, I surrender all.
All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

one more time
I surrender all, I surrender all.
All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.

There's room at the cross for you,
There's room at the cross for you;
Tho' millions have come, there's still room for one,
Yes, there's room at the cross for you.

So I surrender all, I surrender all.
All to thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all.