3/18/23 The Real Deal
Notes
Transcript
It was Palm Sunday, and the mother’s 3-year old son had to stay home from church because of strep throat. When the rest of the family came home carrying palm branches, the little boy asked what they were for. His mother explained, “People waved them to give praise to Jesus as he walked by.”
“Wouldn’t you know it,” the boy fumed. “The one Sunday I don’t go, and Jesus shows up.”
If Jesus is truly our Lord and Savior then it will be evident, especially in our transgressions
Matthew 21:1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.
7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Jesus at the Temple
I have often wondered, If these people had really been worshipping Jesus, really praising Him, would have been so quick to change their tune?
Maybe we’ve sensed that in ourself. Maybe looked inside our heart during a week, and said, “Where’s that attitude of thankfulness and praise and surrender to God that I had this past weekend?”
How can WE make my worship REAL and LASTING? We first have to identify the counterfeit characteristics
Let me give you THREE Characteristics of counterfeit worship: So we then know what real worship is.
1. Saying “God is real” only when I see Him working.
These people were praising Jesus because there was a teaching in their religion that their KING, their Messiah, was going to come to Jerusalem, and that he was going to conquer all the world, and put an end to the oppression of the Romans.
In fact, the word “Hosanna” means “SAVE US!” They were meaning “save us from the Romans”, when Jesus was really there to save them from their SINS! In fact, I think it grieved Jesus so much that he cried:
Luke 19:41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
Jesus was more interested in saving them from their SINS than in saving them from their PROBLEMS.
Jesus is still interested in the same thing today: You can have problems, and still go to heaven.
Then, Jesus didn’t do what they expected. He didn’t marshal an army. . . he went to a nearby town with his disciples, and spent the night there at a friend’s house.
All of a sudden, the people realized. . . he’s not doing what we thought he was going to!
Now, here’s the question for you and me: How do you react when you don’t see God working in your life the way you want instead of the way you need?
Praising Him only when you can see His hand working is not really that hard – real worship and real faith is believing Him and praising Him when you can’t see Him working like you think He should be!
2. Saying “God is good” only when everything is going well.
“Most of the crowd spread their coats in the road, and others were cutting branches from the trees and spreading them in the road.” (Matthew 21:8)
These people were honoring Jesus by doing this! This was like rolling out the red carpet in our day. . . it was the special guests who got the special treatment!
Why were they doing this? The same reason I was talking about a moment ago – they thought everything was going well. The Roman government had been so oppressive and cruel – raping, killing, torturing. If a Roman soldier was shopping, he could pull you out of the crowd as a Jew and make you carry his purchases for him for up to one mile!! So for the Jews, this was heaven! They thought:
- It’s the end of my troubles.- The people who deserve it are finally going to get it!- We’re gonna finally get the respect we deserve.- My family is going to be so much better off!
Kind of like us.maybe at times . . we worship God when:
- The bills are paid.- Our enemy at work just got fired.- Our family is going great!- Our health is good!
The question: What’s your attitude toward God when something goes wrong?
3. Saying “God is boss” only when it doesn’t change my plans.
9. The crowds going ahead of Him, and those who followed, were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David; Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest!" 10. When He had entered Jerusalem, all the city was stirred, saying, "Who is this?"
11. And the crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth in Galilee." (Matthew 21:9-11)
The word “Hosanna” means SAVE US.
These people were ready to follow Him to the death. . . as long as He did it their way.
The question: Do you love Him enough to take His plan for your life?
How can I be a person who gives God REAL worship?
1. Trust Him when I don’t see Him working.
2. Stay true even when everything is falling apart.
3. Surrender my life and plans to Him.
Surrender to God is not something that needs to be feared!
Hand holding a dime in the vase. WONT LET GO
We often refuse to surrender to God because of small things. Don’t let the small things keep you from being a person who is totally committed to God!
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