Recap

Well church… welcome to Palm Sunday.

This is the day that remember and celebrate Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem through the sheep Gate ride on the back of a young donkey signifying a king coming in peace — which makes sense as he Is the Prince of Peace!

He fulfilled all the prophecy about who he is all the way down to his very death on the cross and resurrection. He was silent before the accusers as a sheep is silent before the shearers. Jesus is absolutely amazing!

I know typically we would read that story today where the people caught wind of what was transpiring and they new the miracles that Jesus had done over the previous 3.5 years. They were excited that the messiah was present and they were even more excited thinking that Jesus was going to overthrow the Roman govt and rule and reign from Jerusalem. But as the story goes on, we know that come Friday, he takes his last breath on the cross and dies as the sacrifice for you and for me.

He is betrayed, beaten, whipped, a crown of thorns placed on his head. He is forced to carry a cross when he is beaten to the point that the bible says that he was barely even recognizable as a human. Nails through his hands and feet, he hangs for you and me. His clothes were wagered for. His accusers mocked him. He was spit upon and aside from John, he was abandoned by his closest friends.

All of these things happened in a week much like the one you will live out this week. He went from praise to persecution. From upmost acceptance to asphyxiation. Jesus lived a week we would never want recreated.

But he did it with purpose. He did it with function. He did it to bridge the gap between a fallen humanity and the one true deity. He made a motion with a prayer of supplication and completed the prayer with the highest dedication. Jesus made a way.

And today, we will wrap up James which as I finish and recap the last 4 messages, we will see why Jesus did what He did.

So, instead of reading all that we have gone through now… I am going to simply jump into today’s word and then we will recap at the end.

So what are we seeing here?

1. If we aren’t careful, the things that seem valuable can actually corrupt us.

2. Grumbling about others doesn’t do much more than open the door to judgement . So endure and let your yes be yes and your no be no.

3. Don’t forget there is power in prayer .

4. Point people to the truth .

1. We should view trials in our lives as a means of growth , praying for wisdom to resist temptation during difficult circumstances.

2. As Christians, it is important that we do more than just listen to and study the Bible, we have to apply its words to our lives.

3. We shouldn’t discriminate against anyone based on their outward appearances or circumstances, but instead show love to all people.

4. Faith without a change in outward behavior , is useless.

5. A person’s words can make or break them. Christians, with God’s help, should learn to control their mouth.

6. Earthly wisdom is centered on selfishness , but true godly wisdom focuses on others .

7. Allowing yourself to be influenced by the world will ultimately sever your relationship with God and produce strife with the people around you.

8. Any plans we have for the future should revolve around God’s desire for our life.

9. Use money to help, not hurt, others.

10. Be patient during times of suffering, because hope is on the way.

11. Prayer is appropriate for all situations, including times of adversity, sickness, and confession.

Hebrews 10:25 NLT

25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

We will never arrive and there is always something to be learned, even if you are hearing the same story in the bible for the 100th time… God can/will still use his word to bring some new understanding to the same story. So, don’t stop coming because leadership is changing. This is just as much about you worshipping God as it is about you getting something from the pastor’s teaching.

Ecclesiastes 7:10 NLT

10 Don’t long for “the good old days.” This is not wise.

Are things going to be different? Yes… but don’t complain. Pray and serve well

Love with all your heart!

John 3:16 NLT

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

God’s whole purpose in Jesus was to show his love for his creation creating a way for us to come to him and destroying the separation that sin created. Now we can come to the father as seek his forgiveness in our time of need.

Malachi 3:9–11 NLT

9 You are under a curse, for your whole nation has been cheating me. 
10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! 
11 Your crops will be abundant, for I will guard them from insects and disease. Your grapes will not fall from the vine before they are ripe,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

God told Malachi that the nation was cheating him. Not the priests. Not the pastor. Not the Levites… They were cheating HIM.

Y’all the tithe belongs to the Lord. This is still His house and though the full scope of ministry might look a bit different in this season, this is where the tithes belong. They don’t follow me. They never have. They never should. They belong to the Lord.

Psalm 37:4–5 NLT

4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. 
5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you.

No one can grow you but you. The health of the fruit of God in your life is contingent upon your connection to the vine. Jesus is that vine. The moment you separate yourself from him… the nutrients of His spirit in your life cease to flow. In that, the fruit spoils quickly.