REMEMBRANCE DAY

 

     In 1918 on the 1th hour of the 11th month on the 11th hour they signed papers to end the great war.  Today we are remembering this event 100 years later.  They called it the war to end all wars.  Of course some 21 years later they fought another world war that claim the lives of 60 million people.  At any time in the World there is never less than 30 wars being fought.  Today we are rememnering the ulitmate sacrifice given by others.  Canada has had in all our modern wars 619,636 soldiers killed and 154,361 wounded.  Today I want to remind you of the greatest sacrfice ever offered for mankind.  That was the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on a cross on a hill called Golgotha.  He paid the ultimate price for the freedom of mankind.  Jesus said Himself the greatest gift of love with when you laid down yur life for a friend.  John 15:13.

Here are 10 reasons why Jesus died and paid the ulitmate price.

#10) To destroy hostility between races

 Paul said, "He “has broken down…the dividing wall of hostility…making peace…through the cross” (Ephesians 2:14-16).  God sent his Son into the world as the only means of saving sinners and reconciling races. Only as the races find this reconciliation will they love and enjoy each other.

#9) To give marriage its deepest meaning.  It says, Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church.  Eph 5:25. God's will marriage is for a husband to love his wife the way Christ loves his people, and for the wife to respond the way Christ’s people should. This kind of love is possible because Christ died for both husband and wife.

#8) To absorb the wrath of God

God’s law demanded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). But we have all loved other things more.  Since our sin is against the Ruler of the Universe, “the wages of [our] sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  So God sent his own Son, Jesus, to divert sin’s punishment from us to himself.(1 John 4:10). God publicly endorsed Christ’s accomplishment by raising him from the dead, proving the success of his suffering and death.

 

#7) So that we would escape the curse of the law

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).The law’s demands have been fulfilled by Christ’s perfect law-keeping, its penalty fully paid by his death. “A person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ” (Galatians 2:16). Our only hope is having the blood and righteousness of Christ credited to our account.

#6) To reconcile us to God

The reconciliation that needs to happen between man and God goes both ways. God’s first act in reconciling us to himself was to remove the obstacle that separated him from us—the guilt of our sin. He took the steps we could not take to remove his own judgment by sending Jesus to suffer in our place: “While we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son” (Romans 5:10). Reconciliation from our side is simply to receive what God has already done, the way we receive an infinitely valuable gift.

#5) To show God’s love for sinners

The measure of God’s love is shown by the degree of his sacrifice in saving us he gave his only Son” (John 3:16). The measure of his love increases still more when we consider the degree of our unworthiness. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Our debt is so great, only a divine sacrifice could pay it.

 

#4) To show Jesus’ own love for us

The death of Christ is also the supreme expression that he “loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). It is my sin that cuts me off from God. All I can do is plead for mercy.Jesus paid the highest price possible to give me—personally—the greatest gift possible.

#3) To take away our condemnation

The great conclusion to the suffering and death of Christ is this: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). To be “in Christ” means to be in relationship to him by faith.The death of Christ secures freedom from condemnation for those who believe that Christ has served their death sentence.

#2) To bring us to God

“Gospel” means “good news,” and it all ends in one thing: God himself. The gospel is the good news that at the cost of his Son’s life, God has done everything necessary to captivate us with what will make us eternally and ever-increasingly happy—namely, himself. “Christ…suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

#1) To give eternal life to all who believe on Him

Jesus made it plain that rejecting the eternal life he offered would result in the misery of eternity in hell: “Whoever does not believe is condemned already....the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:18, 36).But for those who trust Christ, the best is yet to come. “No eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). We will see the all-satisfying glory of God. “This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3).For all these reasons and more, Christ suffered and died. Why would you not embrace him as your Savior from sin and judgment, and live with God eternally?

There are many stories of personal sacrifice from all the wars Canadians have fought.  In WW1 we had Billy Bishop in two years as a airplane pilot shot down 72 enemy planes.  There was Tommy Prince the most decorated Aborginal soldier who won 11 medals in WW2 and the Korean War.   There is Leo Major who liberated the Dutch town of Zwolle a community of 50,000 from the Germans by himself.  All people who made great sacirfices on behalf of others.  They should be remembered.  As we close today let us remember the words of as he closed his eys to die.Its Finished, Jesus Christ gave His life so we could have eternal and abundant life.  He destroyed the power of death, hell and the grace.  He came to destroy the works of the devil. 

QUOTES FOR MAY 12, 2025

 

REST IN THE LORD

 

Rest in the Lord

 

Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon.

 

     Well here we are again looking at Jacob’s final prophetic speech to his sons.  Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah have been address now it is Zebulon and Issachar.  Jacob looks at Zebulon and says, you are going to be a seafaring nation.  Your territory will be near the sea.  Now this was interesting considering that in Joshua times when the land was settled Zebulon was given seashore on two fronts.  On the east their body of water was the Sea of Galilee and on the west the Mediterranean Sea.  Here are some interesting series of side notes concerning Zebulon.  They answered the call to help Gideon to fight the Midianites, they went to make David king and they were the first tribe in Israel to answer the call by Hezekiah to come to Jerusalem and to destroy their idols.  Zebulon’s mother was Leah and his descendants would compose one of the largest groups of fighting men.  They were also single out in the song of Deborah has great helpers when taking the land. 

     So here is Jacob showing how their land would be allotted, the significance in the Israelite federation and their prophetic future.  His name means gift, to dwell and prince.  He would be a gift to Israel and they would be a nation of people who loved the sea and known for it.  This is my thought.  I think that maybe Zebulon had discussed with his father a love for the sea and boats.  They would also be a haven, a resting place for those who made their living on ships.  The people of Zebulon were famous for their hospitality and tolerance for strangers.  Let us be like Zebulon, be the first to hear the call of God and respond.  Let us be takers of the land.  Let us give up all our idols.  Let us be hospitable and let us be people of adventure.

 

Issachar is a rawboned donkey lying down among the sheep pens.  15 When he sees how good is his resting place and how pleasant is his land, he will bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to forced labor. 

 

     Issachar name means reward.  Now Scholars of the Talmud say that this blessing refers to his name but also some have said that because he was more of a pragmatic person.  He saw his place in the family as one of peacekeeper.  Jacob knew that Issachar was a raw and rugged individual when he was young he did like to venture out but as he was getting older he was he became more sedate and prefer comfort and stability verses ambition and action. 

     There is a powerful lesson we can learn from Issachar.  Let us never lose our sense of adventure our desire for new things.  Let us keep learning, growing, and striving to be better in the Lord and as a person.  Let us be careful that with age and circumstance that our comfort becomes more important than our desire for change.  So many people do not like change.  They like the stability of the same day after day.  Talk about the guys I see at Tim Horton everyday dropping off Rebekah.

     People like consistency, stability and predictability.  Yet with it also comes, slavery.  Jacob says that because his need for comfort as he gets older Issachar would begin a spiritual and physical pattern for his descendants for future acceptance of situations that even unhealthy situations for consistency.  This acceptance for predictability is so dangerous.  We have nations accepting corruption, evil leaderships because as the old saying goes, the devil you know over the one you don’t.  We have women and men staying in abusive relationships because at least they know what to expect.  Issachar would bend his shoulder to the burden and submit to force labor.  His desire for peace, comfort and stability would make him submit to tyranny, slavery and loss of self esteem.  Brothers and sisters this happens every day, in marriages, homes, communities and countries.  For a myriad of reasons, spouses stay in abusive relationships out a sense of false love or to be loved.   People prefer attacks on self –esteem for economic security and doing it for the kids.  Now I believe any relationships can be saved, fixed and made better with the Lord’s help, with counseling and a choice to do something about it.  Yet being abused, enslaved, threatened is not a relationship it is evil and wrong.  We allow governments, employers, management and society in general to do this.  I call this the Issachar complex.  Our comfort, stability, predictability makes us accept abusive people to exploit us.  True believers are not enablers.  We are peacemakers but we are strong in the Lord and we allow the Lord to guide us and if change needs to be made we make it.  Change can be good. 

 

Here are some benefits to change: 

 

Personal growth.  You grow and learn new things every time something changes.

Flexibility. Frequent changes make you easily adapt to new situations, new environments, and new people.

Improvements and progress

Life values are often look at and changed

Strength, you actually become stronger

New opportunities you never dreamed of.

 

Benefits of Risk

 

Risk urges you to learn new skills and evolve already existing ones.

Fear of failure gets obliterated once you embrace a risk-taking culture.

It inspires creative thinking.

 

Now our recent Covid 19, we a period of dramatic change and that change is still going on.  Folks do not be deceived we are paying and will pay for this crisis for years to come.  300 billion dollars and counting this year alone.  As a church we have learn the value of meeting together, virtual meetings, online communication.  Of using text, phone and social media.  We also are now church right now different than ever before.  Social distancing, sanitizing, masks, no singing are our reality this day.  Do we like the change not all but maybe right now this may be best, I do not know but one thing I refuse to do is give up.  I lost two things during this crisis.  I lost my physical pulpit but not my virtual.  I lost my radio dream but last Friday I was given it back.  I will be back on the air on July 6.  I did not like the change but I was forced to learn to adapt, grow and change.  I also learned  never take anything for granted.  God is in the change business.  Stability often leads to stagnation, acceptance and slavery.  If God wants you to change you can either do it when He wants you to do it or it will be forced on you. 

 

Now  in 1 Chronicles 12:32 From Issachar, men who understood the  from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do.  Men of Issachar is a must read for men who are meditating on God's Word day and night. It is current as only God's Word is and is enlightening and appropriate for male leaders in the Body of Christ, Godly husbands, Godly brothers, Godly fathers, Godly uncles and Godly step-fathers.  Great Thought.

RETURN TO EGYPT

 

Now the famine was still severe in the land. 2 So when they had eaten all the grain they had brought from Egypt, their father said to them, “Go back and buy us a little more food.”  3 But Judah said to him, “The man warned us solemnly, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’ 4 If you will send our brother along with us, we will go down and buy food for you. 5 But if you will not send him, we will not go down, because the man said to us, ‘You will not see my face again unless your brother is with you.’”  6 Israel asked, “Why did you bring this trouble on me by telling the man you had another brother?”  7 They replied, “The man questioned us closely about ourselves and our family. ‘Is your father still living?’ he asked us. ‘Do you have another brother?’ We simply answered his questions. How were we to know he would say, ‘Bring your brother down here’?”

 

Lesson One:  Ignoring and procrastinating will not make problems go away.  In fact it makes them worse.  Note, here, Jacob is named as Israel.  He is no longer a supplanter he is a prince with God.  The past has been erased.  Jacob or Israel made it worse by waiting.  It has actually been defined as a mental disorder.  It's a sign of a serious underlying health issue. For example, ADHD , OCD , anxiety, and depression are associated with procrastination. Also, research suggests that procrastination can be a cause of serious stress and illness.  Of course we know Jacob’s problem he did not want his son to go to Egypt.  Did you know that 95 percent of us procrastinate to some degree. While it may be comforting to know that you're not alone, it can be sobering to realize just how much it can hold you back.  Usually involves ignoring an unpleasant, but likely more important task, in favor of one that is more enjoyable or easier.  Jacob did not want to face a future problem.  In this case we see classic procrastination.  He hoped the problem would go away.  He waited until the food was gone.  He then played the blame game.  He got after his boys by bringing the problem on Him.  They did but blaming them wasn’t solving the problem. People who like Jacob wait too long end up making it worse and stressing themselves out and others.  So here are some suggestions to deal with difficult situation.  Define the problem and meet it head on.  Look for solutions.  Give yourself reasonable time to solve it.  Ask for advice.  Ask the Lord for wisdom and guidance.  Then proceed.  Another lesson is that other people’s sin affect us.  The boy’s sin did and sometimes it is up to us to solve it.  If that happens just accept it has happen and solve it with grace, love forgiveness and mercy.  Don’t hold it over their head.  God did not with you.

 

8 Then Judah said to Israel his father, “Send the boy along with me and we will go at once, so that we and you and our children may live and not die. 9 I myself will guarantee his safety; you can hold me personally responsible for him. If I do not bring him back to you and set him here before you, I will bear the blame before you all my life. 10 As it is, if we had not delayed, we could have gone and returned twice.”  11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your bags and take them down to the man as a gift—a little balm and a little honey, some spices and myrrh, some pistachio nuts and almonds. 12 Take double the amount of silver with you, for you must return the silver that was put back into the mouths of your sacks. Perhaps it was a mistake. 13 Take your brother also and go back to the man at once. 14 And may God Almighty[a] grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you. As for me, if I am bereaved, I am bereaved.”

 

Lesson Two:  Judah then offers to guarantee Benjamin’s safety.  He however does not offer his children.  His offer was reasonable.  Rueben had offered his children to be killed and Jacob rejected it.  When Judah made the offer it was reasonable.  He also pointed out the obvious.  They could have been back to Egypt twice.  Logic, reason, wisdom and love often resolve’s difficult situations.  Judah was I think in this case an excellent negotiator.  There is a great lesson for us here when faced with a difficult situation with others.  Walk in love acceptance and forgiveness.  Be reasonable, state the obvious, offer a wise compromise or solution and seek to reconcile.

So Jacob does what he always did.  He knew he had to send Benjamin so he sent them back with the best of the land as a gift.  He did this with Esau.  He knew that a gift often brings down barriers.  Next, he told them to take back twice as much silver to rectify that oversight or mistake.  Jacob when he knew had to do something he did all he could to rectify what had happened.  We must do the same.  Jacob gives us a lesson here that we must do all we can and then involve God in the situation.  He said may God grant you mercy in the sight of this man.  Course Jacob did not know God would because Joseph was his son.  I love this fact.  Jacob as a God loving man wanted divine help.  Always involve God in all you do.  Whatever situation, scenario or problem you face involve the Lord right away.  Say, God here is what happening.  I turn it over to you.  It is yours.  Now remember God always has the solution.  As soon as you ask the answer is on the way.  He is not surprised by what is happening.  He has already placed the people, resources and solution in place.  It has to do with timing.  Remember that.    Jacob was bereaved and he accepted what was happening as divine will.  When you are in this place remember God’s will is the most important thing.  God has a purpose for everything.  Even if we do not understand it.

 

5 So the men took the gifts and double the amount of silver, and Benjamin also. They hurried down to Egypt and presented themselves to Joseph. 16 When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Take these men to my house, slaughter an animal and prepare a meal; they are to eat with me at noon.”  17 The man did as Joseph told him and took the men to Joseph’s house. 18 Now the men were frightened when they were taken to his house. They thought, “We were brought here because of the silver that was put back into our sacks the first time. He wants to attack us and overpower us and seize us as slaves and take our donkeys.”

 

Lesson Three:  So the boys took Benjamin and took the silver back to Egypt.  They hurried and presented themselves to Joseph.  I love the fact that the boys wanted to rectify the situation and get their reputation back in place.  They knew that Simeon was in prison and needed to be released, they knew that Benjamin was the condition for his release and their survival.  They met the challenge head on.  I think Judah was the main reason.  He had pledged himself to make it happen.  A simple lesson if you have been accused of wrong doing do everything you can to make the situation right.  Accept responsibility, state the facts, get and give the whole story, forgive as you go, cooperate, ask for divine help, stay strong, be truthful and then move on.  Be a person of truth, integrity, accountability, transparency and godliness.

     Now Joseph, when he saw Benjamin he had his steward get everything for a meal with them at noon.  So we know that they arrived in the morning.  His steward took them to Joseph’s house.  Now notice their reaction.  They thought he was going to make them slaves and take their property because of the silver.  Fear, remorse and guilt has a huge part to play in wrongful deeds.  These boys through their dealings with Joseph would plague them.  They had no idea that divine favor would be given to them.  The extreme reaction is often where people go when they are plague by negative feelings of wrong done to them or by them.  I don’t want you to be like these boys.  When you have done wrong follow what I have already suggested.  Also remember that divine favor, grace and mercy is given without any strings attached.  When you ask God for forgiveness, make the decision to not do it again and receive his forgiveness.  Remember God will never bring it up again and if it comes up again it is either the devil or the consequences.  If the devil shut him down by reminding him you have been forgiven and where he is going.  If it is consequences deal with them as they come. 

 

 

 

 

THE CONTRAST

 

May 12 – The Contrast - Isaiah 28:5-9

 

     There is a promise to the remnant and a warning to the wicked.  In that day the remnant will have the Lord giving them a glorious crown and wreath.  This will be the prize of the effort and faithfulness that they exhibited.  The Lord will be spirit for justice and judgment.  He will be the source of strength in times of battle. 

     The prophets and priests are warned.  They have allowed beer, wine and alcohol to affect their visions, dreams and prophecies.  What they bring is like filth and vomit.  They cannot teach or explain what they are saying because they have detached themselves from the Lord and speaking their own ideas not the Lord’s.

May 11 – Fading Glory - Isaiah 28:1-4

 

May 11 – Fading Glory - Isaiah 28:1-4

 

     The Lord addresses the pride, drunkards of Israel.  The once beautiful country has now become a shadow or fading glory of what it once was.  They are relying on the past instead of embracing the future. 

     This brings the wrath of God through natural disasters such as, hail and storms which create floods to destroy and cause hardship.  It is their pride and arrogance that have caused this.  The Bible says pride comes before a fall in this case it is true. 

     The beauty of the landscape is fading, and hasty fruit of the summer will be eaten up by the wrath of God.  So sad when someone allow the past or pride to take away the present blessings.

PAUL'S TESTIMONY

 

Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek.

 

Today we are looking at some principles and truth from the life of Paul about why he held his position on salvation by faith alone. 

 

1.      In Vs 1-3. After fourteen years he went up with Barnabus and Titus which the background for their coming is covered in Acts 15.  Tis is in response to the revelation he had been given by the Lord.  He meets with the leaders of the church.  Paul wanted them to either confirm or correct his version of the gospel.  Paul knew that the message we preach must be willing to stand the test of the scripture and the confirmation of others.  When you preach the literal truth of the Bible it can’t be attacked because you are staying with thus says the word of the Lord.

2.      Paul’s message is summed up in Roman 10:9-10, you believe in your heart, and you confess with you mouth.  Salvation is by faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

3.      Paul also knew that the good news he was presenting to the gentiles had to be in line with what the apostles were teaching because they had been personally instructed by Jesus and had first hand knowledge of what He taught and how he lived.   They were the gatekeepers of the truth.

4.      He knew that he didn’t want to run his race in vain.  He wanted to make sure he was on the right track.  He had already been sincerely wrong, and he did not want to make the same mistake.  Paul points out that Titus felted compelled to be circumcised even though he was a Greek.  This was to satisfy the Judaizers in the church.  Sometimes you make little accommodations to keep the unity of the faith but never on the essentials of the gospel. 

 

This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.

 

1.      Paul says you must be careful about false believers they can infiltrate the ranks of the church and if not exposed they can cause people to become slaves to false doctrine, practices and belief systems.  They may not be agents of satan but they cause confusion, doubt, and cannot save.  

2.      False gospel takes away the freedom, victory, the benefits, promises and truths of the gospel.  It will put you under the bondage of satan, religion or man.  It always undermines what Jesus did on the cross through His broken body, shed blood, death, burial, and resurrection.  People can sincere but sincerely wrong.

3.      Paul says he did not give in to them a moment so the gospel might be preserved for you.  Know what you believe and absolutely refuse to compromise. The gospel is to precious, powerful and important to water down.  It would lead to what the Laodicean church would face a generation later.  Prosperity without faith and spiritually that was wretched, pitiful, blind, lame and poor.

4.      Remember how you react and proceed in the immediate does have an effect, on the long term.  Make sure you do it with thoughtfulness, wisdom, knowledge, understanding and discernment.

 

As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message. 7 On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised 8 For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles.

 

1.      Paul points out here that those who were held in high esteem should not really matter to us.  As soon as you set someone up as a hero, icon or important you are setting them and yourself for a major disappointment.  People fail, fall, say and do wrong things. 

2.      Remember when God chooses to bless someone it is not because they are special or have done something special it is the grace of God alone.   God doesn’t show favouritism and he is no respecter of persons.   Another important lesson is that we all have seasons of growth, stagnation, fruitfulness, pruning, blessing and barrenness.  Seasons of life all have their purpose and you must never fully judge of person by what their going through it is a part of their story but not their whole story.

3.      What happened is they recognized that Paul had a ministry to the gentiles as Peter had a ministry to the Jews.  We all do.  We are all called to bring Christ in our world and love those He brings to us.  No two ministries look the same because of the call, personality, giftings, abilities, talents and focus.  Also never judge by visible immediate results it takes time to reap a harvest.

 

9 James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.

 

1.      James, Peter and John, the esteemed leaders and the ones who have leadership in the church at Jerusalem have him the right hand of fellowship.  The confirmed, recognized and approved of what Paul and Barnabas were teaching and the grace that had been given to Paul.  The persecutor now preacher was fully commissioned, approved and recognized to continue their mission and ministry to the gentiles and they were to go to the circumcised. 

2.      They saw that they had two paths both were important in the ministry of God.  No two ministries are the same.  One is not important than another for example an apostle, prophet, pastor, teacher or evangelist is not important than another.  They have their functions and responsibilities in the church structure.  Just like a singer, worship leader, Sunday School teacher, children’s worker, greeter or kitchen setup is not valued or important.  All have their function of importance.  I have been a pastor for decades but I have never shied away from doing the little things and never will. 

3.      All they asked of Paul was that he remember to work with the poor the very thing he wanted to do all along.  They recognised Paul’s natural bents and giftings and they encouraged it.  That is what leadership does.   

 

Conclusions

 

               What are the lessons we can learn today?

 

1.      Make sure what your belief lines up with the word and stand the scrutiny and examination oof others.

2.      Never allow your faith to become, cold, indifferent or compromised. 

3.      When dealing with criticism be wise, thoughtful, forgiving, patient, willing to be corrected, humble and listen. 

4.      Never put someone on a pedestal because they will disappoint you.  God doesn’t show favouritism and you should not.  Remember people are also in different stages of life and we are all growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. 

5.      No two ministries look alike but both are important to the function and importance to the universal and local church.  Never judge a ministry on the immediate it takes time to grow and mature a fruitful ministries and never despise small beginnings. 

6.      Never be to proud to do the small things.  David started as a shepherd, Joseph a slave and prisoner, Jacob a keeper of animals and Jesus as a carpenter. 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

   

QUOTES FOR MAY 11, 2026

 

PRAYER

 

     One of the things that people of faith often talk about is prayer.  Prayer is actually universal.  Every major religion in the world has prayer as its backbone.  Prayer for the Christian of course is made in Jesus’ name.  He is the portal, the avenue and channel in which prayer flows.  Jesus said in the book of John that you could ask anything in His name and it will be granted.  That is so powerful and full of assurance. 

     Prayer is also one of the main themes of the Book of Psalm in fact many of the Psalms are prayers.  One of the main things that we see in the psalms is David laying his situation before the Lord.  Here He is calling out to the Lord.  David wanted the Lord to come quickly.  It is obvious that the need was immediate.  He says, “Lord hear my voice as I call to you.”  It was David’s desire that his prayer would be like incense.  A sweet smell in the nostrils of the Lord.  One of the practices of the tabernacle priests would offer incense daily to the Lord. 

     When I was growing up, I went to a more traditional church, and I had the privilege of being an altar boy.  It was my responsibility to swing the censor that was used in worship.  There were certain patterns and ways it was presented.  One Sunday morning I got to close to the priest and hit him in the back of the head with the censor.  I heard words come out of his mouth that morning that should never been uttered in church.  Needless to say, I was relieved of my duties. 

     As David did his daily prayers a priest would be off to the side offering incense.  As David lifted his hands on worship the smell of the incense would make its way to David’s nostrils, and its sweet flavor would remind him of the presence of the Lord.  There is a sweet flavor to the worshipper.  In that moment we are worshipping the Lord in spirit and in truth.  Prayer and worship will unlock your divine intervention today. 

     It has always been my recommendation that we spend time with the Lord everyday in the study of the Bible, the practice of prayer and the act of worship.  The Bible calls David a man after God’s own heart.  David spent time with the Lord twice a day.  Which was impressive because He was the king of a very important and expanding Kingdom.  So, if David could find time or I should make time we should do the same.  It will always be time well spent.  Peter said that we are to cast all our cares on the Lord for He cares for us.  This is done through the channel of prayer.  So today worship the Lord, read the Bible and pray in the beauty of holiness and receive divine intervention today.    

PALM SUNDAY

 

Today is Palm Sunday and around the world they celebrate this day in many ways.  We will celebrate it by having Communion.

 

 

1.      Palm trees don’t grow in Poland, so people make artificial palm leaves, decorating them with tissue paper flowers and ribbons. Some of these fake palms can be higher than 30 metres and need multiple people to carry them! There are competitions for the best ones.

2.      People in the Philippines will decorate and weave palm fronds into complicated shapes, called palaspas. They’re blessed at a church and carried home.

3.      People in Norway decorate their homes with birch twigs and painted eggs for Palm Sunday.

4.      In the Netherlands, it’s all about the rooster. In some towns, kids have a procession where they carry crosses decorated with ribbons. On top of them is a rooster made from bread.

5.      Pussy willows are a lot easier to find in Latvia than palms, so the day is known as Pussy Willow Sunday. Parents even wake kids up on the Sunday with pretend swats from the willow branches!

6.      In Ethiopia call Palm Sunday Hosanna (say 'ho-san-nah'), after the cheer people were said to have greeted Jesus with when he arrived. People weave palm fronds into elaborate rings to wear on the day.

7.      Willow branches are a big part of the celebration in Bulgaria along with flowers. Palm Sunday is more often called Flower Day because of all the springtime blooms. People will make wreaths of pussy willows and flowers and decorate their homes, often having big family dinners on the day.

8.      In some towns in Belgium, there are Palm Sunday processions and kids go door-to-door offering palm leaves in exchange for coins.

 

Things about Palm Sunday that Remind Us Christ is King

 

1. God's Word tells us the people cut palm branches, waved them in the air, and laid them out on the ground before Jesus as He rode into the city. The palm branch represented goodness and victory and was symbolic of the final victory He would soon fulfill over death.  “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 1 Cor. 15:55

 

2. Jesus chose to ride in on a donkey, which directly fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy of Zech. 9:9. In Biblical times, it was common for kings or important people to arrive by a procession riding on a donkey. The donkey symbolized peace, so those who chose to ride them showed that they came with peaceful intentions. Jesus even then reminded us that He is the Prince of Peace.  "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey." Zech. 9:9

 

3. When the people shouted "Hosanna!" they were hailing Christ as King. That word means "save now," and though in their own minds, they waited for an earthly king, God had a different way of bringing true salvation to all who would trust in Him.  "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!" Ps. 118:26

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." Rom. 10:9

 

4. The Bible says that Jesus wept for Jerusalem. Amid the praise of the moment, He knew in His heart that it wouldn't be long that these same people would turn their backs on Him, betray Him, and crucify Him. His heart broke with the reality of how much they needed a Savior.  "As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it, 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." Luke 19:41-42

 

5. Palm Sunday reminds us that the reign of Christ is far greater than any man's mind could ever conceive or plan. Man looked for someone to fight their battles in the present-day world. Yet God had the ultimate plan of sending His Son to fight the final battle over death. This is the greatness of why we celebrate this week. Because of Christ's ultimate sacrifice, we can be set free of death.  "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,'" John 11:25

 

We have so much to be grateful for this week. The enemy knows that, and you can bet, he will do everything he can to distract us from this Holy Week's true meaning. Don't let him win.  In this Holy Week, may God direct our thoughts and attention towards what matters most, Jesus Christ our King...

Let's choose to focus on worshipping our Lord, thanking Him for the gift of His sacrifice, celebrating the power of the Resurrection, and the new life found in Him alone. Grace.  "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" 2 Cor. 9:15

 

Conclusion

 

1.      Palm Sunday is the beginning of the Passion Week.  It is the final week of Christ’s life.  He will culminate with his body being broken and His body being shed.  He will die, be buried, and then rise again.

2.      It is the most important event in human history.  God became man and then died for the sins of all mankind. 

3.      The Irony is that Jesus will always be something we don’t expect.  The crowds waned a conquering king not a suffering servant.  Paul puts who Jesus is in this simple greeting.  The Lord Jesus Christ.  He is master, Lord and ultimate authority.  He is God with a face 100% God and 100% man and perfect union of God and man.  He is the Savior, Messiah, and Redeemer of Man.  Don’t confuse Who he is and what he has done. 

4.      Communion brings that all into focus.  His broken body was for our healing and His shed blood brought our redemption.  Let us remember and celebrate that today.