back to indexPassion Week Tuesday Devotionals - 3.26.2024
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So why don't we just take a minute to just quiet our hearts 00:24:53.760 |
The India mission trip was a response to God speaking to my heart. 00:25:01.760 |
There were so many reasons why I shouldn't have been on the team. 00:25:05.760 |
For one, I suffer from severe motion sickness. 00:25:22.760 |
you can be sure that I will be in bed, out of commission, 00:25:29.760 |
So the length of travel and number of connecting flights to India 00:25:37.760 |
When I was asked how the church could pray for me, 00:25:41.760 |
my prayer request was that I don't get motion sick. 00:25:49.760 |
Usually people ask for God's mighty work to be done to them. 00:25:58.760 |
But I am here to tell you that our God does hear not so spiritual prayers too. 00:26:09.760 |
He showed me that he is God who meets all of our needs, 00:26:18.760 |
Lord has been working in many areas of my life, 00:26:40.760 |
really challenged and encouraged me to grow and to seek after God. 00:26:54.760 |
and in my life there are construction signs everywhere." 00:27:02.760 |
my critical spirit, and my reluctance to serve, 00:27:20.760 |
the fact that I am standing here speaking to you is nothing short of a miracle. 00:27:25.760 |
I would never in my right mind come up here to speak to such a large group like this, 00:27:31.760 |
something that only God can do as I try to obey. 00:27:42.760 |
One of the verses that comforted me all these years is Philippians 1.6, 00:27:50.760 |
that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." 00:27:57.760 |
Even with my reluctance, resistance, and rebellion, 00:28:01.760 |
it's comforting to know he will complete the work he has begun 00:28:12.760 |
Galatians 2.20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ. 00:28:16.760 |
It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. 00:28:23.760 |
I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. 00:28:35.760 |
It's all because I am seeking to live in obedience to him. 00:28:43.760 |
but my desire is to grow, to have a greater affection for him." 00:28:49.760 |
I want to encourage you that you are never too old to change, 00:28:58.760 |
and never too old to live for him in obedience. 00:29:14.760 |
Okay, thank you so much for that encouraging testimony. 00:29:20.760 |
as we walk through some of the Scriptures tonight? 00:29:27.760 |
and then to consider your amazing work through Christ, 00:29:32.760 |
but also then to consider your heart, your desire, 00:29:38.760 |
And God, as we were encouraged by that testimony, 00:29:41.760 |
to live our lives in such a way where it's yours, 00:29:44.760 |
and that, God, we would honor and glorify you. 00:29:49.760 |
So as we do a walkthrough of the events of Tuesday of Passion Week, 00:29:55.760 |
I do want to give us just a brief, brief review 00:30:00.760 |
that on Saturday, just an easy way to remember 00:30:10.760 |
six days before the Passover, he was at Mary's house, 00:30:13.760 |
Lazarus was serving, and then Mary anointed him, 00:30:17.760 |
and he commented that he's being prepared for the burial. 00:30:20.760 |
And then on Palm Sunday, this is Jesus' entry. 00:30:25.760 |
What we well know is that though Christ was looking 00:30:29.760 |
at the whole city, crying and weeping at its condition, 00:30:32.760 |
the people were singing "Hosanna, Hosanna," and rightly so, 00:30:38.760 |
And then on Monday, we learned yesterday night 00:30:44.760 |
and he clears the temple of all the merchants. 00:30:52.760 |
recall that it wasn't just a small pocket of people. 00:31:00.760 |
and you think that it was in that kind of scenario, 00:31:03.760 |
in the merchant's hall that Jesus threw the tables, 00:31:18.760 |
We're talking about a scale much bigger than that. 00:31:24.760 |
the kind of commotion Christ made just last night, okay? 00:31:43.760 |
Appreciate it, I don't know why it's not going. 00:31:45.760 |
On Tuesday, I wanna give you a brief overview 00:31:49.760 |
But if you imagine, Pastor Peter Chong explained 00:31:57.760 |
Then he walks with the disciples to Jerusalem, 00:32:01.760 |
comes back to home base, et cetera, et cetera. 00:32:16.760 |
he has a confrontation with the religious leaders, 00:32:19.760 |
and that's where I'll spend the bulk of tonight 00:32:31.760 |
but sees the poor woman give out of her poverty, 00:32:38.760 |
the late afternoon, as they're leaving Jerusalem, 00:32:58.760 |
The first is gonna be the reaction to the fig tree. 00:33:07.760 |
that Jesus and the disciples, as they're walking, 00:33:34.760 |
It says, "As they were passing by in the morning, 00:33:37.760 |
"they saw the fig tree withered up from the roots. 00:33:44.760 |
"'The fig tree which you cursed has withered!'" 00:33:53.760 |
This interaction is quite strange in some ways 00:34:52.760 |
Now, giving him sympathy, any miracle is surprising. 00:34:57.760 |
But Jesus says, "What I want you to have is faith 00:35:01.760 |
"because much greater things are going to happen." 00:35:03.760 |
And secondly, the main problem then, Jesus shows, 00:35:09.760 |
There is an absolute void of faith within Jerusalem, 00:35:16.760 |
he is going to show them just how dead it is. 00:35:24.760 |
So the tension started to arise from the previous section 00:35:32.760 |
So as they're walking, they walk into Jerusalem 00:35:36.760 |
my guess is there are already crowds waiting for him. 00:35:45.760 |
It said that they were seeking for opportunities 00:36:02.760 |
and we'll together walk through this segment of scripture, 00:36:22.760 |
essentially what you have is the confrontation 00:36:51.760 |
so we're talking about the head honchos, okay, 00:37:20.760 |
to both their authority and their livelihood. 00:37:28.760 |
you know what, you guys aren't going to answer me, 00:40:16.760 |
"the kingdom of God will be taken away from you 00:41:31.760 |
and I'm just going to give you a summary of it. 00:44:03.760 |
they threw out a bunch of their religious belief 00:44:28.760 |
"Then the Pharisees went and plotted together 00:45:48.760 |
as you don't even believe in the resurrection. 00:46:01.760 |
"Teacher, what is the greatest commandment in the law?" 00:46:15.760 |
it says "No one was able to answer him a word 01:01:30.760 |
Our God, first and foremost we again want to say thank you, thank you. 01:01:35.760 |
I thank you God that you meticulously accomplished your will. 01:01:40.760 |
Both confronting and stirring up those who are the enemies of God 01:01:45.760 |
and that ultimately that even at their hand you'd be persecuted and to give up your life. 01:01:50.760 |
We know God that all of this is under your sovereignty. 01:01:55.760 |
You're so sovereign that God you use all of that to your glory. 01:01:59.760 |
And so help us to have faith that no matter what's going on in our lives 01:02:04.760 |
and even if we cannot give reason or rationale for the things that happen 01:02:09.760 |
help us to have so much trust in your sovereignty that we are strong. 01:02:16.760 |
And though God we sometimes feel weakness and we walk by sight 01:02:20.760 |
would you have mercy on us and help us Lord God to persevere. 01:02:24.760 |
We thank you this day it's in Christ's name. Amen. 01:02:29.760 |
and then I do have just a couple announcements, important announcements for the week. 01:02:33.760 |
That number one for those of you guys who still are thinking about the Passover dinner 01:02:41.760 |
There is still room for about 15 to 20 people. 01:02:45.760 |
And so you can sign up now and then our team will put you into tables 01:02:57.760 |
And then please note that specifically for Sunday, Easter Sunday 01:03:01.760 |
we still have need for some helping hands for volunteers. 01:03:10.760 |
And then at the end of the day to help out with cleaning. Okay. 01:03:20.760 |
And if you have any questions you can hit up Justin and the logistics team 01:03:24.760 |
for any questions about how to help serve that day. Okay. 01:03:27.760 |
Alright everybody. Thank you. We'll see you guys tomorrow.