PALM SUNDAY~ SHOUTING HOSANNA, HOSANNA & THEN LATER SHOUTING CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM John 12:12-15

This morning as many of you know…is Palm Sunday 2021 The day, taken from the Gospels, where a whole city threw a parade for Jesus. As Jesus rode into the city, the people threw Palm branches in anticipation of his coming. Thus we get our word Palm Sunday. This day marked a time of celebration where Jesus was the worshipped and praised.
This day is Bittersweet for us because even as we read of the celebration we know that Friday is coming…The cross is coming. We know that many in this same crowd will within a few short days exchange words of praise to words of death.
SHOUTING HOSANNA, HOSANNA AND THEN LATER SHOUTING CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM.
ON FRIDAY THEY ARE SHOUTING GIVE US BARABBAS, WE WANT HIM, CRUCIFY JESUS CRUCIFY HIM.
Why the change?
Well there are many possible reasons, but one simple reason is that their words did not match their heart.
THEY POSSESSED A CASUAL NOT A COMMITTED FAITH.
They had religion but they missed the person Jesus…So how can we have a committed faith…How can we be real and sincere? Consistent in all that we do…
WELL THIS MORNING I WANT TO OFFER YOU SOME KEYS TO JUST SUCH A FAITH.
THE FIRST KEY IS THAT A COMMITTED FAITH IS NOT SELF-CENTERED IT IS CHRIST-CENTERED
This sounds obvious, but we often miss it.
In America, we tend to say to God,
“Hey God, here is my calendar, here is my agenda… Now I can squeeze you in here or here.
Pulling God out or turning to God only when it is convenient or useful.
In our passage, the people praised Jesus as He passed by, but many of them praised him for two reasons.
FIRST, BECAUSE OF HIS MIRACLES.
He had healed the sick, raised the dead…
They praised Him because he was serving them and
SECOND, because they saw in Jesus a way to be politically delivered from the Romans…
To be set free from Rome as Israel was set free from Egypt. THEIR PRAISE WAS TEMPERED WITH THE ATTITUDE OF JESUS WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR ME.
A few days later at the trial they saw a beaten and disfigured Jesus… A man who no longer looked like a deliverer or a conqueror. And as words were said about him, they bought into all the lies and quickly changed their position.
FOR THEM IT WAS ALL ABOUT ME, ME, ME.
TODAY, PALM SUNDAY 2021 WE CHOOSE TO HONOR OUR GREAT KING, JESUS CHRIST BY GIVING HIM OUR VERY BEST. WITHHOLDING NOTHING…GIVING HIM OUR ALL.
A SECOND KEY IS THAT A COMMITTED FAITH IS RELATIONSHIP DRIVEN.

In our own lives a committed faith comes only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
e One where every day is fresh and new!
As(He) personally directs our steps.
IN ORDER TO HAVE A COMMITTED FAITH WE MUST DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS.

A THIRD KEY IS THAT A COMMITTED FAITH IS NOT SWAYED OR BLOCKED BY OUR PERSONAL TRIALS AND CRISES.

A COMMITTED FAITH TAKES THE GOOD WITH THE BAD. Knowing that all we are ever promised is that in the midst of both our good and bad; JESUS WILL NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US. HE WILL STAND WITH US.

GOD HAS PLACED US EXACTLY WHERE WE ARE. WE MUST TRUST HIM. In the trusting We eventually see that He is using our pressures, trials, and difficulties to bring us to a new level of spiritual beauty.
True Contentment comes when we accept what God is doing and thank Him for it.

THIS MORNING IS YOUR FAITH CASUAL OR COMMITTED?

[rosepeirce]

Asking for prayers, my granddaughter Breanna has gone into induced labor, and were praying for a safe delivery. In Jesus name we pray. Amen