Opening Illustration: What is Easter all About? Skit Guys!
Sermon: Breakthrough from The Grave!
Series: Breakthrough 2020
Tag line: “Aint no Grave going to hold my body down!”
Theme Song: “Aint no Grave!” Bethel and Molly Skaggs
Thesis: The Palm Sunday parade of Jesus entering the city reveals a lot of faces – a lot of stories – a lot heartache – a lot of deception - a lot of miracles – a lot of testimonies – but few really understood what the parade was all about – they had their own ideas but few knew the historic connection of this parade in the History of Heaven and to Resurrection power from sin and death. It was all found in Jesus!
Scripture Text: Luke 19:28-44: The Triumphal Entry
28After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,
30“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.
31If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
32Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.
33As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
34They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
35They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.
36As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.
37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
41As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it
42and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
43The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side.
44They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
Matthew 21:1-11: The Triumphal Entry
1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples,
2saying 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.
3If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5“Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
6The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.
7They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them.
8A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
9The 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!”
10When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Please note: The main idea for this sermon taken from sermoncentral.com “The Crying That Stopped the Parade” Contributed by Eugene Morell on Mar 29, 2012
Introduction:
The Scene of Psalm Sunday:
The beginning of the breakthrough from the grave to resurrection power and victory over sin and death starts with a parade on the outskirts of Jerusalem – We have a donkey (or two). We have Jesus riding on the colt – we have disciples making pronouncements of Jesus – we have Jesus disciples and followers walking with him praising Him – in the entourage there is James and John, Peter, Thomas, Andrew, Judas, Mary and Martha and their brother who Jesus had just raised from the dead – Lazarus – there are victory shouts for all the miracles – blind healed, deaf hear, dead raised to life, people delivered from demons, lepers made whole to name just a few – there are shouts echoing through the crowd, there is a lot of singing, high fiving, there is a lot of chanting (Jesus – Jesus – Jesus).
I imagine there is a lot of laughter and excitement and jubilee. There are people taking the shirts off their backs and throwing them on the road in front of Jesus as he is riding on the donkey. What a scene! Then there is another group of people from the crowd laying palm branches on the road too in front of Jesus as he is progressing into the great city for Passover! The crowd is ecstatic to see the myth – the legend they have been hearing so much about! It’s the miracle worker – the healer – the great teacher – the prophet – the Aire of David. This must be their promised king to Israel – the Deliverer! Jesus is getting the honor that Generals usually get as they enter into their home city after winning a great battle. The people are pumped up to say the least – the masses are honoring Jesus as a great king and deliverer and singing Him praise “Hosana”. Hosana means the one who saves or rescues and is used in a way of adoration!
So as Jesus is slowly riding in on the donkey with all the commotion and praise - I believe he is looking at the faces in the crowd! Looking them in the eyes – recalling their stories – knowing their hearts. You may be thinking, “Why do I believe that?” Here is why I believe that!
Personal Illustration: The faces in the crowd at parades:
Year ago – seems like a lifetime ago maybe about 17 years ago – I would drive the float for Ashley who had won Mrs. Clayton and the other princesses in different parades and towns – The faces I saw in the crowds are still echoing in my mind years later – we did about 17 parades that year by the way! I saw a lot of faces in the crowds.
Parades were nothing new to the McCartney family in Wisconsin prior to this!
The girls Tiffany, Ashley and Christa were also in High School Marching bands - so for years we had did a lot of parades through many different towns as they marched in the parades with their bands. We would go and watch them March and listen to their band numbers. Follow them along the way and cheer them on.
But it was different when you were not on the sideline watching the parade and actually in the position of everyone looking at you – as I drove the float – really people did not look at me but at the float with the girls! The girls where waving and doing the royal thing. I was just driving the truck which was pulling the float. But I always tried to look at peoples faces in the crowd as we progressed down the street with the parade – it was interesting what I would see and even hear as we slowly drove down the streets of these towns in the parade.
What did I see and hear?
I saw people who revealed all the ache of their lives written on their faces.
I saw people who showed through their face all the wrong choices they had made in their lives.
I saw the people addicted to stuff and how they were trapped in their addictions.
I saw happy people.
I saw families doing the parade together.
I saw broken families doing the parade apart.
I saw stressed our people.
I saw farmers.
I saw construction workers.
I saw factory workers.
I saw moms.
I saw lots of kids of all ages. They were for the most part looking on in awe at this amazing parade and waiting for the candy to come!
I saw kids on their dads or grandpa’s shoulders.
I saw the poor and the wealthy at the parades.
I saw apathetic people.
I saw angry people.
I saw drunk people.
I saw policemen and firemen.
I saw a lot of faces in many of the small towns across NW Wisconsin that year.
There were 1,000 faces in the crowd that I saw – I did not know most of their names – but each face had a story – each face had a divine destiny to be achieved or thrown away – each face created in the image of God. Each face unique and different. Each face represented dreams and hopes. Each face looking at the focal point of the parade in that moment. Each face with a story to tell. I always wondered as a certain face stood out to me in the crowd “What is your story?”
T.S. - Back to the parade of Palm Sunday and Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem!
What faces in the crowd did Jesus see singing and shouting! Who were the people at the parade that he looked at! The difference with Jesus is He most likely knew their story! He too saw their pain!
Who do you picture in the crowd that day? What faces do you see?
Let me suggest a few faces in the crowd that day:
1. Group 1: The coat off the back givers – these are the ones who will give Jesus the coat off their backs (literally):
a. Jesus saw the face of these sacrificial givers – yes - the ones laying their coats down on the road in front of him! This was recorded in heaven and these people would be rewarded for their sacrifice. This group of people so appreciated what Jesus had done for them that they literally took their coats off and laid them in the mud or dirt to honor Jesus! Jesus saw their faces – he knew their stories:
i. Who were the faces in this crowd - Was it maybe the:
1. The two blind men Jesus healed?
2. The boy delivered from the evil spirit?
3. The crippled woman healed on the Sabbath?
4. The Canaanite women who was healed?
5. Some of the 5,000 feed by Jesus miraculously?
6. Zacchaeus the forgiven tax collector?
7. Jesus’ mother Mary?
8. At least one of the lepers who was healed out of the 10?
9. Some of the 72 he sent out?
10. Jairus the Synagogue ruler who Jesus raised his daughter from the dead?
11. The Centurion whose servant was healed by Jesus?
12. The widow whom Jesus raised her son from the dead?
13. The man healed of leprosy?
14. The paralytic Jesus healed who was lowered through the ceiling?
b. I read a book a few years ago which keeps coming back to my mind and heart Robert Crosby’s book: The One Jesus Loves.
i. In his book he has a tag line: “Grace is unconditionally given. Intimacy must be relentlessly pursued!”
1. In his book he describes the 6 rings around the Lord in Chapter 2: he describes them this way:
a. The crowds – Jesus drew a crowd – impressive crowds 10,000 or more people would come hear Him and see Him. This represents the outermost ring of association with Jesus and the least commitment to Him. Crosby states, “The crowds represent those who follow Jesus to the places of watching and listening” (The One Jesus Loves, Page 13). John 12:19
b. The 5,000 – the next level of relationship is found in the crowd that Jesus touched and helped. See John 6:1-15. Crosby notes, “The 5,000 represent those who follow Jesus to the places of feeding and healing.”
c. The 70 or 72 – this level of relationship with Jesus gets closer to the heart of God. A select group rose up out of the crowd to share and participate in the ministry and mission of Jesus. They leave the level of observation and enter in serving and participating with Jesus in ministry. See Luke 6:12-13. Crosby states, “The 70 represent those who follow Jesus to the places of working and serving.”
d. The 12 – then out of the crowd arises a band of brothers a close knit group that hangs with Jesus, see Luke 6:12-13. The 12 represent those who walk with Jesus, to the places He leads them, they leave all to follow Him.
e. The 3 – we discover out of this group of 12 emerges 3 who are even closer to Jesus. These 3 saw, heard, and experienced the most with Jesus. The 3 represent all those who choose to be closer to Jesus and follow Him to places of glory and places of suffering for the mission.
f. The 1 – in Scripture one person rises up to be the closest to Jesus during His earthly ministry. He sat next to Him at the Last Supper, he hung on every word of Jesus, He was at the cross when all others fled, he was given the task by Jesus at the cross to care for His mother Mary, he was given a Revelation that would inspire the world. His name you may be thinking is John.
2. Each one of these levels of relationship are very important to Jesus but in each level of closeness is an invite to come closer to Him! Jesus says, “Come on take another step closer, it will be amazing!”
a. The great invitation from God is to draw near to Him – come closer to Him – Yes, the one who sits on the throne in Heaven wants you to come closer to Him, Yes, the one who created the universe with the stars and the milky way – wants you to worship Him not from afar with words and rituals but face to face in an intimate way! The followers of Jesus should want to be in only one place and that is closer to Jesus each day.
3. Robert Crosby states from his book The One Jesus Loves, this: The Bible shows Jesus to be more than a messenger of doctrine. Instead, the Gospels give us a broad tapestry of people’s experiences with Him and their encounters of Him. Resounding within each of the four accounts of His life and ministry, from Matthew to John, is an appeal reverberating with this message: Get to know Him! Come closer” (page 21).
a. Jesus’ passionate cry was “Come” to everyone in the crowd that day and for us today.
i. “Come, follow me …and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19)
ii. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
iii. “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest” (Mark 6:31).
iv. “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37).
c. If Jesus was to enter Chicago today riding on top of a Ford Mustang what would you say and or do as he passed by you – as he looked into your face?
i. Would you give him the shirt off your back? The coat off your back? Would you do this so you could be more intimate with Him? Would you respond to His voice to come have coffee with him after the parade? To die for Him and stand with Him and His message? Would you honor Him in front of the crowd of onlookers? Would you stand up and praise Him?
1. What is your position in the crowd?
2. How intimate are you with Jesus?
3. Would you be a part of the group who gives the shirt off their backs to Jesus?
2. Group 2 - The Palmers – these are the ones who will go break Palm branches off the trees and become palm branch layers for Jesus!
a. This group in the crowd were also committed to Jesus too but not as much as the ones laying their coats in front of Jesus on a dirty or muddy road. Or in other words the ones willing to give Jesus the shirt off their backs group!
i. Laying your own coat down in the mud costs you something were as picking branches off the tree does not cost you anything – unless it’s your tree!
1. They gave by doing an act of service picking the branches and then laying them in front of Jesus.
ii. Maybe they said, he deserves the Palm branch’s but I am not giving him my coat – that cost money!
1. What are they thinking: “Giving my coat means, I would have to clean it and it could even get ruined or worse the donkey could do his business on it.”
a. “No Palm branches are good enough for Jesus!”
b. “Besides he does not need my money!”
i. Kyle states thought about Jesus followers: “There is no way to follow Jesus without him interfering with your life. Following Jesus will cost you something. Following Jesus always costs something.”
1. Idleman, Kyle. Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
b. Who were the faces Jesus saw in this crowd of palmers? He also knew their stories too!
i. Some of the family members of the ones healed by Jesus or delivered by Jesus?
ii. Is this the crowd when Scripture says, “Jesus healed many” but their names are not mentioned group?
iii. The couple who got the blessing of Jesus turning water into wine at their wedding?
iv. Maybe some of the guest who drank this great wine?
v. The sons of Zebedee’s mom?
vi. The woman caught in adultery?
vii. Some of the ones who heard Jesus preach the series from the sermon on the mount?
viii. The ones who remember the good meal he provided?
c. I read another book about 4 years ago around Easter called “Not A Fan” by Kyle Idleman and his tag line to his book was, “Becoming a completely committed follower of Jesus.”
i. He challenges us as Christians – you know the ones with the fish on the back of our cars - in his book:
1. “Time for the D.T.R. So where do you start in determining if you really are a follower of Jesus? How do you decide if this is even something you would want to consider? Let’s begin by having a D.T.R. talk with Jesus. Some of you will recognize what the letters D.T.R. stand for. If you’re not sure, let me give you a hint. For a young man involved in a romantic relationship, these letters are often enough to strike fear into his heart. He likely dreads the D.T.R. talk. In fact, many young men will postpone, run away from, and put off the D.T.R. for as long as possible. I have even known a few guys who have terminated the relationship when they sensed that the D.T.R. talk was imminent. Now do you want to guess what DTR stands for? Define the Relationship. This is the official talk that takes place at some point in a romantic relationship to determine the level of commitment. You want to see where things stand and find out if what you have is real.”
a. From Idleman, Kyle. Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
b. He takes this thought a little deeper when he says:
i. “The biggest threat to the church today is fans who call themselves Christians but aren’t actually interested in following Christ. They want to be close enough to Jesus to get all the benefits, but not so close that it requires anything from them.”
ii. He goes on to point out the problem: “An Accurate Measurement” Am I a Fan or Follower? The problem with asking that question of yourself is this: it’s almost impossible to be objective. After all, if you say, “I’m a follower,” what makes you so sure? What are the measurements that you use to define your relationship with Christ? Most would determine the answer to this question by using a highly subjective method of measurement. Many fans mistakenly identify themselves as followers by using cultural comparisons. They look at the commitment level of others around them and feel like their relationship with Jesus is solid. Essentially they grade their relationship with Jesus on the curve, and as long as they are more spiritual than the next guy, they figure everything is fine.”
1. Idleman, Kyle. Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus. Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
d. So the Palmers represent another group in the crowd not as a close on the ring with Jesus but closer than our next groups.
3. Group 3: The talkers – these are the ones who praise Jesus with their words but have no faith in action!
a. Once again, this crowd is further distanced from Jesus on the intimacy circle – more toward the outer circle to be honest.
i. Maybe they did not experience His personal touch maybe they heard about him through a friend of a friend.
1. They have knowledge of Jesus but not necessarily intimacy with Him.
2. Kyle states this about those who are fans and those who are followers: “Fans often confuse their admiration for devotion. They mistake their knowledge of Jesus for intimacy with Jesus. Fans assume their good intentions make up for their apathetic faith.”
a. He adds, “Fans are happy to follow Jesus as long as that doesn’t require any significant changes or have negative implications.”
i. Idleman, Kyle. Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
ii. Who were the faces in this crowd of people? Jesus knew their stories too and their motives for praising Him and getting involved in the parade:
1. Some of the synagogue regular attenders?
2. People who want to believe Jesus is the promised King of Israel who will deliver them from the Jews?
3. Maybe a bunch of friends of the former Zealot Simon one of Jesus disciples?
4. Some of the oppressed people looking for someone to deliver them from poverty?
5. Some of the Temple workers?
6. Some of the Carpenters?
7. Some of the vineyard workers?
b. James 2:14-25: Faith and Deeds
i. 14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?
22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.’
1. James the ½ brother of Jesus tells us plainly that you have to be a doer of the word – not just a hearer or talker but a doer!
ii. Quote: “Many have made a decision to believe in Jesus without making a commitment to follow Jesus. The gospel allows for no such distinction.”
1. Idleman, Kyle. Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
iii. Quote: “Fans have a tendency to confuse their knowledge for intimacy.”
1. Idleman, Kyle. Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
c. Question from Robert Crosby: “How far are you willing to follow Jesus? To the places of watching and listening? To the places of feeding and receiving? Or to the places of working and serving?” (Crosby, page 105).
i. So, would you associate you place in the crowd with this group?
ii. When was the last time you actually served Jesus and His Kingdom or even Church?
iii. Are you a talker or a doer James 1:22?
d. We progress now to the next line of intimacy with Jesus or connection with Jesus!
4. Group 4: The ones with their hands out: These are the ones who only want the candy and goodies! They are just there at the parade for the stuff but they are saying nothing and doing nothing – they just have their hands out! They just want some candy!
a. This crowd of faces is only there at the parade for the chance at the goodies – maybe Jesus will throw them some candy!
i. Jesus see’s their faces and he knows their stories too!
1. This could be people with no clue of who He is or really cares who he is - they are just there for the candy – the goodies – they like a good parade and free candy!
2. Maybe some of them are children who just don’t understand yet who are just hungry?
3. Maybe they are curious about this Jesus and want to see if He would do a miracle for them?
b. The groups are getting further away from intimacy with Jesus and now we enter ones in the crowd who are hostile to Jesus – and many in this group would like to eliminate him.
5. Group 5: The naysayers and critics – The Rednecks! This crowd Jesus has had run ins with before. They are complaining about all the praise he is getting – and they want it to stop – He needs to stop it. He refuses! If the people did not do it then the rocks would cry out.
a. What do their faces look like: Religious leaders and their minions – they are scouring – looking down on Jesus and the mob in their religious dress and robes. Jesus sees their faces and knows their stories too!
i. These would be all the religious people who are about the do’s and don’ts and do not want traditions to change? They cannot even recognize their own Messiah who is right in front of them!
1. Kyle makes this observation about religious leaders:
a. “In the Bible, we read about a group of religious leaders known as the Pharisees. The Pharisees knew a lot about God. When someone wanted to play “Bible Trivial Pursuit,” “God-opoly,” or “Bible Baseball” they would dominate. They knew about God, but what we discover is they really didn’t know him. In Matthew 15:8 Jesus describes the Pharisees this way: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’ That description seems to fit most fans I know. Like the Pharisees, many fans have given their minds to the study of God, but they never surrendered their hearts. These were men who had plenty of knowledge about God, but they didn’t really know God. This is what often separates the fans from the followers. It’s the difference between knowledge and intimacy.”
i. Idleman, Kyle. Not a Fan: Becoming a Completely Committed Follower of Jesus . Zondervan. Kindle Edition.
ii. This would be a bulk of the religious leaders of the day?
iii. This would be the politically correct Jews who want to keep the Roman’s happy?
iv. This would be the liberal politicians?
v. This would be the ones in opposition to what Jesus represents – God in the Flesh – God’s Word - Truth!
vi. I imagine this group holding up signs like you see at parades promoting their sinful ways or recruiting people to their sin filled beliefs during the parade?
1. What signs would they be holding up?
vii. I imagine most of the Roman soldiers would be in this group?
viii. I expect most of the Romans leaders would be in this group too?
ix. I expect the Jewish officials in this group too?
b. Would you be in this group? Most would say no-way but there are more in this group than you think today within the church!
6. How about other faces: Who do you think were some the famous people in the crowd that day!
a. What others faces did Jesus look into as he rode on the donkey?
i. The local politicians?
ii. The Actors and Actresses?
iii. Leaders of organizations?
iv. Business owners?
v. Reporters?
vi. The officers of the Roman army?
vii. Nicodemus?
1. Do you think he made eye contact with him and this is why he sought Jesus out?
2. Did he and others hear Jesus say – come to me – you must be Born Again!
b. How about other faces in the crowd: Who do you think were there in the crowd that day?
i. The carpenter who made Jesus’ cross?
ii. The soldiers at the cross who were to part of his crucifixion?
iii. The soldier who when He died after the earth quake and sky turned dark say, “He praised God and said surely this was a righteous man!”
iv. The ones who later that week would cry “Crucify Him?
v. Jesus family – His brothers – sisters - cousins?
vi. Pilates staff members?
vii. Herod’s staff members?
viii. The thieves on the cross?
ix. Barabbas?
x. Temple Guards?
xi. The Roman guards who would guard the tomb of Jesus?
xii. Others?
c. I wonder when Jesus looked at the faces in the crowd – what or who he saw – I believe he saw all the testimonies in the crowd! The walking miracles in the crowd! The lost in the crowd! The deceived ones in the crowd! The religious blindness in the crowd! The hungry in the crowd! The loves ones in the crowd!
d. But does or did he see you in the crowd?
7. The sudden stop: The parade at one point all of sudden comes to a screeching halt!
a. Jesus stops the parade in his tracks – everyone comes to a screeching halt – people bump into the people in front of them – people stumble – and Jesus starts weeping for the people and city of Jerusalem because they are blind and clueless. He gets a vision of the future and sees all their future pain and suffering coming their way – he starts prophesying what will happen in 70AD - 40 years away – he is saying things that should not be said in the middle of a parade and a celebration. Come on Jesus “Be happy” – let’s keep this parade moving forward!
i. Jesus has been pictured as by some as emotionless – but here is another reference to him shedding tears over the people he loved!
ii. He wept when he saw the pain and grief of Mary and Martha in John 11:33-35 – now he weeps for the people of Jerusalem because he sees how deceived they are and clueless to what is coming! Luke 19:41 - He sees how quickly their cheers will turn to cursing’s toward him by Friday – He sees how sin has blinded them – it’s written on their faces – He sees into their souls – He sees how they cannot even see their deliverer – Their Messiah - He is right there in front of them. The knowing and the deception breaks Jesus heart – He weeps!
b. I still think Jesus looks into the crowds of people today and weeps! What do you think?
Conclusion:
What do we need to know from this message?
Answer: We need to know that Jesus still looks at the crowd of faces in this world and he knows your face and your story. He knows your potential and the reality of where you are at in intimacy with Him. He wants you to draw closer to Him and be in mission with Him.
Why do we need to know this?
Answer: We sometimes think we are just a face in the crowd and no one ever sees us – really see’s us. But Jesus see’s you and he knows your story and He has a plan and purpose for your life. He also knows if you are living up to fulfilling that plan or purpose. He knows what group you fall into in the crowd too – but He wants you to come closer!
What do we need to do in light of this message?
Answer: We need to come closer to Jesus! We need to draw near to God each day in different ways and especially in times of trial and tribulation. We need to connect with God every day! We need to move a circle closer to Jesus!
Why do we need to do this?
Answer: When we do, we will find peace and intimacy with him – we will understand that He knows our name and our story – we will discover we are part of His Story – History! When we do this – draw near to God - we will experience deeper intimacy with God, we will enjoy His presence more, we will hear His voice clearer and we will make sure nothing robs us of this special position with the Lord. He will be a priority in our life not a side kick. He will be our passion! We will have joy in the journey of life even as we progress through the trials and tribulations of life – like today!
