Dear brothers and sisters, it is indeed a beautiful day with the sun out bright and the Son in my heart bright also. Today as we go forth with our food distribution, I am praying that all of our workers put that Jesus smile on their face. Please pray for our ministry team and all others coming in to help. Pray for those also who receive the food, for that someday they get jobs and can also be at a point in life where they can give back. Happy Spring, folks. Yes, it is the first day of spring and today the days and nights are equal. This morning I saw a robin, and now I guess I am going to need to be a witness in court. (Joke, people, a joke.) I know you are laughing so hard you just might wet yourself from that one. Okay, I will get to the message. The Triumphal Entry.
The Triumphal Entry 3/20/2013 Day Three (The First Day of Spring)
Luke 19:28 - After Jesus had said this, He went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As He approached Bethpage and Bethany at the hill called the Mont of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, saying to them, 30 "Go to the village ahead of you and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, 'why are you untying it' tell him, The Lord needs it." 32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as He had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" 34 They replied, "The Lord needs it." 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As He went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When He came near the place whee the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen. 36 Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" 40 "I tell you," He replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." (NIV)
Picking up from yesterday we find that the two disciples that went ahead found the colt, the donkey colt tied up just as Jesus said. And they went right to untying it. You notice that one did not untie it while the other was the "look-out", for they were following instructions from Jesus and they were not afraid of what they are doing. When they were asked by the owner or owners of the colt what they were doing they said taking it to the Lord, again just acting in the Lord's behalf. This is what might happen today. The Lord sends two ahead of Him and telling them the same thing, you will find a colt tied up, please untie it and bring it to me. If anyone of them questions you, tell them the Lord needs it. Now the Lord is the same, never changes, but the workers, well, look at what might have happened. They arrive and find the donkey colt and after looking around to see if no one is looking they start to untie it, like they might be stealing it. Someone comes and stops them, saying, what are you doing? Jesus made us do it, Jesus made us do it, said one, while the other one "ran away." Now why would I say that? I am saying that because so many people when confronted with something in public that the Lord wants done are ashamed to say they are working for the Lord. Maybe they are not ashamed but what else would it be if you are denying the Lord before others? That is what it would be. Let me give you an example. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just a few years back said she supported the marriage of one man to one woman and stood firm on that and it was her Christian belief. Then just the other day she did the turn-around. Just out of the blue she now supports the right of anyone to get married. Yes, a woman to another woman, or a man to another man. Why, more than likely because she wants to run for president and she is getting ready for that. So to use a term of today, "God gets tossed under the bus." Not the first time that has happened. God has, and again to use the term of today, God has seen the undercarriage of many a bus. Another one, and this one local to Harrisburg, PA. When the mayor of the city of Harrisburg, Linda Thompson, who states she is a Christian and prays each day in her office to start the day (a good thing) but right before the election, she stood in support of our President and even had race baiter Al Sharpton in to speak. The president and Al Sharpton both support abortion and gay marriage. And under the bus God did go!! I would pray that all of us, when we are out working for the Lord and in all we do we should work for the Lord would be strong enough in our faith to stand firm for Jesus regardless if we were even going to get shot for what we say. STAND UP, STAND UP FOR JESUS.
Moving on, the two get back with the colt and put their coats on it and put Jesus up on the colt. I want you to think about this, if you were to picture Jesus on the colt in your mind, how would you picture Him? Sitting across the animal like a person rides today or sitting sideways on it? I would think Jesus, because of the fact they wore robes, would have sat sideways. Anyway, He is now on the donkey colt, and off they go, with the disciples singing and calling out praises in loud voices and spreading their cloaks (coats) on the road as did those coming out. But like today, someone had to complain. "Tell your disciples to stop", called out the Pharisees in the crowd. Of course Jesus told them no. He told them if they stopped rejoicing the stones would cry. Think about it, folks, how the people were rejoicing. Recently we watched as hundreds of thousands of mostly Catholics gathered and cheered as they found out they had appointed a new Pope. Then we saw how the people lined up to get a look at him as he rode in the back of an open Jeep instead of the bullet-proof Popemobile. I am sure you heard about the former Pope! One night after a late trip out, the pope had flown back in on his plane and was greeted by a chauffeur with his limousine. It was a quiet night and it was just the two men, so the pope asked if he could drive the car, it had been a long time since he drove and never a big long Caddy like this one. So the chauffeur got into the back, put up the window between and the pope started driving. Well, the pope got carried away with speed and soon a local police officer pulled him over. When officer friendly walked up and saw who was driving he said, sit still a minute, I will be right back. So he goes and gets on the radio and calls in, how do I handle a speeding limo when a big dignitary is in it? The dispatcher asked, how big is that dignitary, a rock star, the mayor of our town? No, bigger than that, said the police officer. The governor maybe, asked the dispatcher. No, bigger than that, said the officer, I am thinking maybe God the Father or Jesus! Why are you thinking that? Because the pope is the chauffeur.
I must stop this, I really must. Anyway, all joking aside, Jesus was cheered and held in high honor and glory by most all as He rode on ahead. What happens next? What happens when Jesus hits the town on the donkey? Did the pope get a speeding ticket? (Stop it, Dan.) One last thing about today and those omen who went ahead for the donkey, would it not be nice if we did do things right and had the nerve to always stand up for Jesus and say "God made me do it" instead of doing things wrong and in our sin we say "the devil made me do it." Let's do it right and stand up for Jesus saying "Jesus had me do it!!" (Pass that on.)
Dear Father, as You know, I love You, and I give You thanks for the message and also for supplying me with a few good stories along the way. I pray that today we are not afraid to do good and give the glory all to You. In Jesus' name, I want to do this. AMEN.
Now go forth sharing your blessings and loving each other. I love ya. (Pass it on.)
Pastor Dan.
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