Palm Sunday: Palms Of Victory

The truth is that it is not either/or, but both/and….He will come the first time on donkey, the second time in the clouds!

D. Jesus Reigns in His Stealth Kingdom

1. During World War II, some conquered countries preserved what they could of their nation through underground movements and secret meetings, sometimes outside of the conquered nation -- to keep their identity and government alive. The church is different; we are not in survival mode, but "thrival" mode…

2. Jesus current Kingdom on earth is growing.

3. "Most evangelicals now live in China, South Korea, India, Africa and Latin America, where they are transforming their religion. In various ways, they are making evangelical Christianity at once more conservative and more liberal. They are infusing it with local traditions and practices. And they are even sending “reverse missionaries” to Europe and the United States.

4. "In 1960, there were an estimated 50 million evangelical Christians in the West, and 25 million in the rest of the world; today, there are an estimated 75 million in the West, and 325 million in the rest of the world (representing about 20 percent of the two billion Christians worldwide), according to Robert Kilgore, chairman of the board of the missionary organization Christar."

[source: http://www.religionnewsblog.com/13711/evangelical-christianity-shifting-outside-west]

II. The Palm Signifies REJOICING (Leviticus 23:40)

They tell us that following Jesus brings joy

A. We Live A Tabernacles Lifestyle in a Subjugated World

"On the first day you are to take choice fruit from the trees, and palm fronds, leafy branches and poplars, and rejoice before the LORD your God for seven days." Leviticus 23:40

The Jews were subjugated to the Romans, but Jesus’ followers were free in a different realm…

B. God wants us to manifest His joy

1. Romans 14:17, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…"

2. Life is better if we take a joyful attitude

3. Les & Leslie Parrots: key to marital joy is a positive attitude and adjusting to circumstances beyond one’s control…

III. The Palm Signifies God’s SALVATION (John 12:12-16)

They tell us that Jesus saves now but will one day bring His salvation to the entire earth

Note: typo in sheet…should be John 12:12-16

A. HOSANNA means, "save now"

B. Based on a PSALM

Psalm 118:23-27

"The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

"O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar."

• Tabernacles is the Feast of the Millennium; this was a taste of it…

C. But God’s timing is not ours; His first century followers wanted Jesus to set up His Kingdom on earth; 2,000 years have gone by, and he hasn’t yet.