2024.03.24. Palm Sunday. Purim. Global Day of Repentance 2024
William Akehurst, HSWC
This year 2024, Passover Week comes 4 weeks after the Passion Week from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Sunday (Easter). There's something to be said with the Jewish Celebration of Passover being out-of-sync with the Christian Easter calendar. Time will tell.
Scripture: Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:37-44, Mark 1:14-15, Acts 3:19, Luke 24:47, 2 Corinthians 7:1, 1 John 3:3, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Ephesians 5:26-27, Proverbs 6:16-19, Psalms 51:1-17
ILLUS: Israeli Soldiers preparing for battle crying out Hosanna – Save Now. Scripture tells us that the Jews will cry out for the Messiah, and then HE will come!
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PURIM
Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the saving of the Jewish people from annihilation at the hands of a man named Haman, an official of the Achaemenid Empire, as it is recounted in the Book of Esther.
Haman was the royal vizier to the Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes),
His plans were foiled by Mordecai of the tribe of Benjamin, and Esther.
Esther is Mordecai's cousin and adopted daughter who had become queen of Persia after her marriage to Ahasuerus.
The day of deliverance became a day of feasting and rejoicing among Jews.
According to the Scroll of Esther, “they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor".
Purim is celebrated among Jews by:
• Exchanging gifts of food and drink
• Donating charity to the poor
• Eating a celebratory meal
• Reading the Scroll of Esther
• Wearing Costumes and makeup
According to the Hebrew calendar, Purim is celebrated annually on the 14th day of the Hebrew month of Adar, the day following the victory of the Jews over their enemies, the 13th of Adar, a date now observed in most years with the fast of Esther.
Current Events: HAMAN & HAMAS similarity
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PALM SUNDAY - THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY
Matthew 21:1-11
1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ”
6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.
8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’
Hosanna in the highest!”
10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?”
11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Luke 19:37-44
37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying:
“ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’
Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”
40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
Don’t neglect the times when CHRIST is in our midst and is calling you to Repentance.
Jesus wept over the people of Jerusalem, for they were missing it.
They were missing the whole point of HIS coming as HE says,”If you only knew what brings true peace.”
Discern the times in which we live.
Discern the urgency of the hour.
Discern the dangers of the time in which we are living.
Discern the importance of the time in which we live.
This is an urgent call of a spiritual nature.
To witness to those who are missing out.
To proclaim the good news of GOD’s REDEMPTION.
To stand up to live for HIM and HIM alone.
Jesus wept because the people were not discerning the times in which they were living.
They didn’t discern their opportunity for their salvation.
They were not discerning that HE had come from Heaven.
They were not believing in JESUS or that GOD had sent HIM.
JESUS wept at their unbelief.
For GOD HIMSELF had stepped down from Heaven to Earth to show them the Way, the Truth and the Life and that no one comes to the FATHER, except through HIM.
It’s time we discern the times.
It’s time we discern the dangers awaiting those who are missing out.
It’s time we sense the urgency of the hour.
It’s time we sense the dangers of our time and the importance of our existence in this day.
It’s time to act, to do.
“The People cried out Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest, meaning, Save Us now.
We today should call out in repentance to be saved from chaos in the world, our own sin, and for us to be made ready as the bride without spot or wrinkle, waiting for the bridegroom. All of it amounts to nothing unless our hearts are turned to HIM in a tight relationship. Repentance is a gift to come back wherever we strayed.” ~Lois Akehurst
Today, we are nearer to the Return of CHRIST than ever before.
The clock is ticking.
And the hour of decision is now.
It’s time to get right now with GOD.
GLOBAL DAY OF REPENTANCE March 23, 2024
Today marks the Global Day of Repentance. A cry to turn our hearts to GOD in repentance to believe in HIS Salvation.
DEFINITION OF REPENTANCE
Mark 1:14-15 14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
CALL TO PREACH REPENTANCE
Luke 24:47 …and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
LIFESTYLE OF SEEKING HIS PURITY AND HOLINESS
2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
1 John 3:3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
REPENT TO HAVE THE LORD HEAL A NATION
2 Chronicles 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
REPENT AS HIS BRIDE BEFORE HIS SOON RETURN
Ephesians 5:26-27 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
PERSONAL REPENTANCE – REFLECT AND PRAY - WHAT AREAS DO YOU NEED TO SEEK REPENTANCE ?
Proverbs 6:16-19 16 These six things the LORD hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
17 A proud look,
A lying tongue,
Hands that shed innocent blood,
18 A heart that devises wicked plans,
Feet that are swift in running to evil,
19 A false witness who speaks lies,
And one who sows discord among brethren.
A PRAYER OF REPENTANCE
Psalms 51:1-17
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness;
According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,
Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions,
And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned,
And done this evil in Your sight—
That You may be found just when You speak,
And blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,
And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts,
And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness,
That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins,
And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence,
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation,
And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways,
And sinners shall be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
Amen.
Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,
Bill
