Embracing Peace and Praise: The Heart of Holy Week

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Christ's Peaceful Kingdom

In a world rife with conflict and strife, the message of Palm Sunday stands as a beacon of hope, reminding us that the kingdom of Jesus is one of peace. This peace is not passive but active, calling on followers of Christ to be peacemakers, to embody the humility and gentleness of Jesus in every interaction. The image of Christ entering Jerusalem on a donkey, a symbol of peace, challenges us to reconsider our approach to conflict and to seek reconciliation and understanding in place of discord and division. As we reflect on this event, we are reminded that our actions and attitudes should mirror the peaceful nature of our King, impacting the world around us with the serenity and love that comes from Him. [06:43]

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." (Matthew 5:9)

Reflection: How can you be a peacemaker in your current relationships and what specific steps will you take to initiate peace in a situation of conflict?

Day 2: Childlike Faith in Worship

The shouts of "Hosanna" from the children on Palm Sunday exemplify a pure and joyous form of praise, untainted by the complexities and cynicism that often accompany adulthood. This childlike enthusiasm in worship is something to be aspired to, a reminder that faith and adoration should be expressed with a wholehearted and unreserved passion. As adults, it's easy to become bogged down by life's burdens, but the call is to maintain a sense of wonder and awe in our relationship with God. By doing so, we can experience the fullness of joy and the richness of worship that comes from a heart that is fully engaged and alive with faith. [27:06]

"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3)

Reflection: What aspect of your worship can you approach with a more childlike faith, and how can you express your praise with the same unfiltered joy as the children shouting "Hosanna"?

Day 3: The Vital Presence of God

The presence of God is not merely an addition to our lives and gatherings; it is the very essence of what gives them meaning and power. Without His presence, our actions and worship can become empty rituals, devoid of the life-giving power that transforms and renews. The departure of God's glory from the temple in Ezekiel's time serves as a stark warning against complacency in our spiritual lives. It is a call to seek God earnestly, to desire His presence above all else, and to ensure that our worship is a dynamic encounter with the Divine, not just a routine exercise. [13:46]

"And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules." (Ezekiel 36:27)

Reflection: In what ways have you allowed your spiritual life to become routine, and what specific changes can you make to invite and recognize God's presence in your daily activities?

Day 4: Authenticity in Worship

Jesus' cleansing of the temple is a powerful call to authenticity and purity in our worship. It is a rebuke of the commercialization of faith and a reminder to resist the temptation to turn our spiritual practices into transactions. Instead, we are called to create spaces where everyone can encounter the healing and transformative power of God. This act of Jesus challenges us to examine our own hearts and the practices of our faith communities, to ensure that they are places of genuine encounter with God, where all are welcome to come and be transformed by His love and grace. [31:03]

"Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 7:11)

Reflection: How can you contribute to making your faith community a more authentic space for worship, and what can you do to ensure your own offerings to God are sincere and heartfelt?

Day 5: Worship as a Spiritual Weapon

Worship is more than a song or a ritual; it is the outpouring of our innermost being to God. When we worship, we align ourselves with the heavenly chorus, and our praise becomes a powerful tool in spiritual warfare. It invites the kingdom of God to manifest on earth as it is in heaven. This understanding of worship challenges us to view our praise not just as a personal expression but as a communal act that has the power to break down strongholds and bring about change in the spiritual realm. [39:32]

"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:4)

Reflection: What stronghold in your life or community needs the intervention of God's power, and how can you use worship as a weapon to bring about spiritual victory in that area?

Sermon Summary

In my sermon today, I focused on the significance of Holy Week, particularly Palm Sunday, and the profound implications it has for our faith and daily lives. Holy Week is a time when we remember the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion and, more importantly, His resurrection. The resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith, providing us with hope and the assurance that we can face tomorrow without fear because Jesus is alive and walks with us daily.

I delved into the account of Palm Sunday as described in Matthew 21, where Jesus made His humble entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. This event is not only a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, such as Zechariah 9:9, but also a declaration of Jesus' kingship and the nature of His mission – one of peace rather than war. The donkey symbolizes peace, contrasting with a horse, which would have signified war. Jesus' entry from the east, as prophesied, signifies the return of God's glory to the temple.

The response of the people, laying down their cloaks and palm branches, signifies their recognition and honor of Jesus as the Messiah. The shouts of "Hosanna" from the crowd, especially the children, were calls for salvation and deliverance, acknowledging Jesus as the one who brings salvation.

I emphasized the importance of the presence of God in our worship and daily lives. Like Moses, we should desire God's presence in all that we do, recognizing that without Him, we can achieve nothing of eternal value. The departure of God's glory from the temple in Ezekiel's time serves as a warning against complacency and ritualism in our worship.

Furthermore, I spoke about Jesus' actions in the temple, where He overturned the tables of the money changers and declared His house a house of prayer. This act was a rebuke of the religious exploitation and a call to authentic worship. It also set the stage for healing and miracles, as those who were blind and lame came to Jesus in the temple and were healed.

I called for a return to genuine praise and worship, where our internal adoration for God is expressed outwardly without reservation, much like our unashamed enthusiasm at a sports event. True worship is not about the formality of music or liturgy but about a heartfelt response to God's presence and works.

In conclusion, I encouraged the congregation to embrace a posture of praise and to expect miracles as we invite the glory of God into our midst. I urged everyone to be part of the army of praisers, welcoming Jesus, our King, into our lives and our church with shouts of "Hosanna!"

Key Takeaways

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Bible Reading

Matthew 21:1-11 (NIV) — > As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 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. If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: “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.’” The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 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!” When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

2. Zechariah 9:9 (NIV)
> Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

3. Ezekiel 43:1-5 (NIV)
> Then the man brought me to the gate facing east, and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown. The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.

Observation Questions

What specific instructions did Jesus give to His disciples regarding the donkey in Matthew 21:1-3?
How did the crowd respond to Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, and what did they shout? ([24:06])
According to Zechariah 9:9, how is the coming king described, and what is He riding?
What significant event does Ezekiel 43:1-5 describe, and from which direction does the glory of the Lord enter the temple?

Interpretation Questions

Why is Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey significant in the context of Old Testament prophecy? ([17:25])
How does the crowd's reaction to Jesus' entry reflect their understanding of His identity and mission? ([24:48])
What does the act of laying down cloaks and palm branches symbolize in the context of Jesus' entry into Jerusalem? ([22:45])
How does the cleansing of the temple by Jesus relate to the call for purity and authenticity in worship? ([31:03])

Application Questions

Reflect on the significance of Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey as a symbol of peace. How can you embody the peace of Jesus in your daily interactions? ([18:56])
The children’s shouts of "Hosanna" were pure and enthusiastic. How can you cultivate a childlike faith and enthusiasm in your worship? ([27:06])
The sermon emphasized the importance of God's presence in our worship and daily lives. What steps can you take to ensure that your worship is a dynamic encounter with God rather than a routine exercise? ([13:46])
Jesus' actions in the temple were a call to authentic worship. Are there areas in your life where you need to resist the temptation to commercialize your faith or judge others' offerings to God? ([31:03])
True worship is an expression of our innermost being. How can you make your worship more heartfelt and less about external forms? ([39:32])
The sermon called for a posture of praise and expectation of miracles. How can you actively invite the glory of God into your life and church community? ([28:59])
Reflect on a time when you felt the presence of God in a powerful way. How can you seek to create more opportunities for such encounters in your personal and communal worship? ([30:22])

Sermon Clips

1) "There are moments when God's people were so disobedient and so not connected to what he was doing that he said I can't waste my time being here with them... sometimes the glory of the Lord departs and we don't even know that it departed because we're having church and we've learned how to have church with or without God." [13:00]( | | )

2) "I'm trying every day to be more like him but I do know this I'm not him... when I believe him then his righteousness settles down on me and he gives me a covering of righteousness from his own right doing so that now when the enemy sees me the enemy thinks he's looking at Jesus because I'm covered in his righteousness not mine." [21:16]( | | )

3) "There's something about the naivity of a Child... there's something powerful about a little child is because they're not cynical... the Bible says that a child shall lead them... unless you become like a little child you will in no wise enter the kingdom." [27:06]( | | )

4) "When the glory of God comes in the temple things don't stay the same... when the glory comes Miracles come... I'm ready for miracles to walk into this building... I want to see it happen every time we come together." [34:45]( | | )

5) "Real praisers real praisers know how to praise God in a way that will change an atmosphere and Jesus had to walk in and tell the religious you can't play games in here anymore... real praisers know how to praise God in a way that will change an atmosphere." [33:23]( | | )

6) "There is an army that is Awakening there is an army... real praise and real worship is about to come back into the house of the Lord... praise and worship is not music... it is a manifestation of Praise In Worship when you clap your hands because there has to be a hand clap inside the hand clap." [38:57]( | | )

7) "Praise it's kind of like being at the ball game... in church when we see God do a miracle there ought to be something that rises up in the people of God that causes us to jump up give God a shout... you ought to be grateful that you have a god that is willing to touch you right where you are." [41:02]( | | )

8) "I don't want to do anything on a Sunday without you... I don't want to do anything without God... the glory of the Lord is coming back to the temple but he is coming from the East... he is east of the temple and he's saying there's a little village over here just opposite of where we are." [13:46]( | | )

9) "The glory of the Lord came and it filled the temple... who is the glory of the Lord... Jesus is the glory of the Lord and as the glory of the Lord he was the only one who kept the law the whole law and didn't break any law so we have all fallen short of the glory of the Lord." [19:44]( | | )

10) "The Bible says that he drove out all those who were selling and buying on the Temple grounds and he overturned the tables of the money changers... my house will be called a House of Prayer but you're making it a den of robbers... when the glory comes Miracles come." [31:03]( | | )

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