Making Way for the King: Embracing True Identity
Summary
In today's gathering, we explored the profound significance of making way for the King, Jesus Christ, in our lives. As we reflect on the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, we are reminded that He came not as the earthly king the Israelites expected, but as the eternal King who brings salvation and peace to our souls. This Palm Sunday narrative challenges us to lay down our self-identity, much like the people laid down their cloaks, to make room for Jesus to reign in our lives.
The Israelites anticipated a king who would liberate them from Roman oppression, but Jesus offered a far greater freedom—freedom from sin and eternal separation from God. His entry on a humble donkey symbolizes His gentle and servant-hearted nature, contrasting with the worldly expectations of power and dominance. This humility calls us to examine our own lives and the ways we might be holding onto self-driven ambitions, pride, or the need for control.
We are invited to surrender our self-identity, ambitions, and the burdens of shame, insecurity, and unforgiveness. By doing so, we allow Jesus to redefine these aspects of our lives through His love, strength, and grace. The story of Rima and John, members of our church, beautifully illustrates the transformative power of surrendering to Jesus as King. Their lives, once marked by chaos and addiction, were radically changed as they embraced Jesus' lordship, finding peace, purpose, and freedom.
As we lay down our old selves, we are called to put on the new self, clothed in the righteousness and identity of Christ. This involves daily choices to embrace the truth of the King, declaring His greatness and allowing His Spirit to lead us. By doing so, we shift our focus from our circumstances to the eternal truth of who Jesus is.
Let us continue to make way for the King by embracing His truth, laying down our self-driven desires, and allowing His transformative power to work in our lives. As we approach Easter, may we reflect on the cross and the new identity we have in Christ, living lives that honor and glorify Him.
Key Takeaways:
- Surrendering Self-Identity: Just as the people laid down their cloaks for Jesus, we are called to lay down our self-identity and ambitions to make way for the King. This act of surrender allows Jesus to redefine our lives with His love and purpose. [01:05:13]
- Embracing Humility: Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey symbolizes humility and servanthood. We are challenged to embrace humility, laying down pride and control, and allowing Jesus to lead us in His ways. [01:06:49]
- Redefining Our Struggles: Through the cross, Jesus redefines our struggles, turning shame into a future, insecurity into strength, and disappointments into goodness. By surrendering these burdens, we experience His transformative power. [01:10:34]
- Putting on the New Self: We are called to put on the new self, clothed in the righteousness of Christ. This involves daily choices to embrace our new identity in Him, allowing His Spirit to lead and guide us. [01:13:21]
- Declaring the Truth of the King: By declaring who Jesus is, we shift our focus from our circumstances to His eternal truth. This act of praise builds our God-identity and strengthens our faith in His promises. [01:17:01]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:02:30] - Opening Prayer
- [00:04:15] - Gratitude for Volunteers
- [00:05:30] - Reading from Matthew 21
- [00:07:00] - Jesus' Triumphant Entry
- [00:10:00] - Expectations vs. Reality of the King
- [00:13:45] - Making Way for the King
- [00:17:30] - Surrendering Self-Identity
- [00:21:00] - Rima and John's Testimony
- [00:25:00] - Laying Down the Cloaks
- [00:30:00] - Redefining Our Struggles
- [00:35:00] - Putting on the New Self
- [00:40:00] - Embracing the Truth of the King
- [00:45:00] - Invitation to Surrender
- [00:50:00] - Closing Prayer and Worship
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Making Way for the King
Bible Reading:
- Matthew 21:1-10
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Observation Questions:
1. What actions did the people take to welcome Jesus into Jerusalem, and what did these actions symbolize? [00:07:00]
2. How did the Israelites' expectations of a king differ from the way Jesus presented Himself during His entry into Jerusalem? [00:10:00]
3. What was the significance of Jesus riding on a donkey instead of a horse, and how did this contrast with the expectations of the people? [00:10:00]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the act of laying down cloaks relate to the concept of surrendering our self-identity to Jesus? [01:05:13]
2. In what ways does Jesus' humility challenge our own ambitions and desires for control in our lives? [01:06:49]
3. How can the story of Rima and John illustrate the transformative power of surrendering to Jesus as King? [01:21:00]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: What aspects of your self-identity or ambitions might you need to lay down to make way for Jesus as King? [01:05:13]
2. Consider a situation where you have held onto pride or control. How can you embrace humility and allow Jesus to lead you in that area? [01:06:49]
3. Think about a struggle or burden you are currently facing. How can you surrender this to Jesus and allow Him to redefine it through His love and grace? [01:10:34]
4. Identify a specific area in your life where you need to put on the "new self" in Christ. What practical steps can you take to embrace this new identity daily? [01:13:21]
5. How can you actively declare the truth of who Jesus is in your life, especially when faced with challenging circumstances? [01:17:01]
6. As Easter approaches, what specific actions can you take to reflect on the cross and the new identity you have in Christ? [01:20:27]
7. How can you invite others to experience the transformative power of Jesus as King in their lives, similar to how Rima and John were invited to church? [01:21:00]
Devotional
Day 1: Surrendering Our Self-Identity
In the narrative of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, we are reminded of the call to lay down our self-identity and ambitions, much like the people laid down their cloaks for Jesus. This act of surrender is not about losing ourselves but about allowing Jesus to redefine our lives with His love and purpose. By letting go of our self-driven desires, we make room for the King to reign in our hearts, transforming our lives in ways we could never imagine. This surrender is a daily choice, a conscious decision to trust in His plan over our own. [01:05:13]
Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV): "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
Reflection: What is one aspect of your self-identity or ambition that you need to lay down today to make room for Jesus to redefine it with His love and purpose?
Day 2: Embracing Humility
Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on a donkey is a powerful symbol of humility and servanthood, challenging the worldly expectations of power and dominance. This humility invites us to examine our own lives, to lay down our pride and the need for control, and to allow Jesus to lead us in His ways. Embracing humility means recognizing that true strength lies in gentleness and servanthood, following the example of Christ who came not to be served, but to serve. [01:06:49]
Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV): "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."
Reflection: In what area of your life are you struggling with pride or control? How can you practice humility today by serving others as Jesus did?
Day 3: Redefining Our Struggles
Through the cross, Jesus redefines our struggles, turning shame into a future, insecurity into strength, and disappointments into goodness. By surrendering these burdens to Him, we experience His transformative power in our lives. This redefinition is not just about overcoming struggles but about seeing them through the lens of Christ's victory, allowing His grace to turn our weaknesses into testimonies of His strength. [01:10:34]
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (ESV): "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Reflection: What struggle or burden are you currently facing that you need to surrender to Jesus? How can you allow His grace to redefine this struggle in your life today?
Day 4: Putting on the New Self
We are called to put on the new self, clothed in the righteousness of Christ. This involves daily choices to embrace our new identity in Him, allowing His Spirit to lead and guide us. By putting on the new self, we are not just changing our behavior but embracing a new way of being, rooted in the truth of who we are in Christ. This transformation is a journey, one that requires us to continually seek His presence and guidance in our lives. [01:13:21]
Colossians 3:9-10 (ESV): "Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."
Reflection: What is one practical step you can take today to embrace your new identity in Christ and allow His Spirit to lead you?
Day 5: Declaring the Truth of the King
By declaring who Jesus is, we shift our focus from our circumstances to His eternal truth. This act of praise builds our God-identity and strengthens our faith in His promises. Declaring the truth of the King is not just about words but about living a life that reflects His greatness, allowing His truth to permeate every aspect of our being. As we declare His truth, we are reminded of His faithfulness and the hope we have in Him. [01:17:01]
Psalm 145:1-3 (ESV): "I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable."
Reflection: How can you declare the truth of who Jesus is in your life today, both in words and actions? What impact might this have on your faith and those around you?
Quotes
He was making an entry that said I am the messiah I am the one that you have been waiting for I am the king that is here to deliver you to set you free but the thing was the israelites were actually expecting a very different king they were expecting a king that was going to deliver them from rome from the day -to -day the temporary oppression that they had in that day but jesus was coming in a way far greater than they ever imagined he was coming as the king that was eternal he was the coming as the one that was going to save not just their souls but the souls of all of humanity when we surrender to him he was coming as the one that was going to bring peace to our souls he was coming as the one that was going to bring freedom to our inner world he was coming as not just the king of the temporary but the king of eternal [00:10:00] (52 seconds)
My life before knowing god as my savior feels like a distant memory it's actually hard to put into words everything is so different now but i gave my life to the lord nine years ago they were some of the first salvations that we ever saw in our church and honestly my life before knowing him feels like a completely different existence before god i was lost without any real sense of purpose on the outside everything looked great i had a good life raised in a loving family did well in school went to university lived a good job landed a good job but underneath all of it i was reckless chasing short -term highs living only for myself i started drinking in my early tens most weekends drinking with friends without my parents knowing that pattern didn't stop it followed me into adulthood then i met my husband john our life together quickly became centered around drinking partying and eventually drugs it became normal for us after a few years we got married on the outside everything seemed happy but deep down things were unraveling we argued a lot communication broke down i felt so lost confused and alone john began struggling with depression i found it hard to cope at work i had no idea to help him in the middle of that chaos we decided to start a family hoping that that would help things looking back we were so naive we thought having a baby would fix everything it didn't made things worse probably that's when god met us though through an invitation from my sister and brother -in -law we walked into life church i never experienced a church like that in my life [00:21:00] (86 seconds)
When we give self that room, it leads to emptiness, it leads to unfulfillment, it leads to us being in this cycle of trying to capture something that isn't ours to capture. And God has not called us to live our identity, who we are, based on self. No, He's called us to crucify self. All through Scripture, it talks about crucifying our flesh, crucifying ourself. Galatians 5, verse 24 said, those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. That's what, again, Easter is about, crucifying ourselves, crucifying that part in us that is not of God. [00:40:00] (43 seconds)
Romans 8 says, We know in all things God works for the good of those who love Him. It doesn't matter what goes against us, God is able to turn it to good when we seek Him because when we love Him, He delights in honoring us. So we know that because of the cross, He is able to turn all things around. The next one, He turns unforgiveness. What defines us is that we are forgiven. To stay focused on the fact that His grace met me. So how can I judge anybody else? How can I withhold my forgiveness from others when His forgiveness reached me? We are all sinners, Scripture says. We all need a Savior. [00:55:00] (46 seconds)
To clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. To every day make a decision, I am putting on a new self. I am stepping into what God has for me. So guys, you can put on the new self. But Romans 13 verse 14 says, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh. Ephesians 4, put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Colossians 3 verse 10, since you've taken off your old self with its practices, you've put on a new self, which has been renewed in knowledge and the image of its creator. We are called to put on a new self. [01:00:00] (38 seconds)
Embrace the truth of the King. The people were declaring on that day, Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest heaven. They were declaring who their King was. You know what? We've got to get better at declaring who our King is. We are so good at declaring our circumstance, so good at declaring our old self, so good at declaring all those things that were up on the stage before, so good at declaring our struggles. We've got to be better at declaring who our King is. Because see, praise, when we declare who our King is, it builds our God identity. It shifts the focus from us to Him. [01:05:00] (45 seconds)
But to be honest, it was broken thing after broken thing. She ended up marrying another guy. He passed away from cancer. She had a stillborn child. She had a child with Down syndrome. She married another man who also passed away. Her life was filled with a lot of stuff. But see, the Grandma that I knew was somebody that was just sold out loving Jesus. She was so kind. She was so loving. All the things from the past, none of that stuff to find her. And when I went home, I found her little notebook. And in this notebook, there was Scripture after Scripture declaring who her God was. He is my source. He will make me rise on wings of eagles. I do not have a spirit of fear. I have a spirit of strength, a sound mind, a discipline. And she had Scripture after Scripture. And those Scripture declaring who her God was redefined who she was. [01:10:00] (58 seconds)
Now I know that there are some of us here today And if you ought to be honest Jesus is not your personal Lord and Saviour He is not King in your life And today is an opportunity for us to pray a prayer right now Where you invite Jesus to be your King To be your Lord To surrender to Him as your personal God Maybe you once made that decision But other things have just got in the way They're distracting you And if you ought to be honest You're not living in that place of proximity Where you can honestly say Jesus is King of my life Because He deserves no other place than to be King He does not take second place He does not just sit with everybody else in our lives No He deserves to be King So if you're here and you know You know what today I want to pray a prayer Where I give my life to Jesus Where I'm saying no to the wrong things That I've been following Pursuing my own desires And I'm saying yes to Him The incredible thing about the cross And Jesus dying on the cross for us Is that we can come to Him just as we are And He takes our wrongs And because of the victory of the cross He gives us a new start in Him He makes all things new He turns us into a new creation [01:15:00] (68 seconds)
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