18 September 2005
Zechariah 9:9 (KJV)
Numbers 22: 27-30 (KJV)
Mark 11:2-7 (KJV)
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
CP Walker Multicultural Gospel Service
Taegue, South Korea
BIG IDEA: God will use anything and anyone (including a DONKEY) to ASSIST Him in HELPING us HELP, EMPOWER, and DELIVER one ANOTHER.
REFERENCES: Numbers 22:20-31 (The story of Balaam, Balak, and the donkey); Matthew 21:2-7 (Were a donkey and colt brought to Jesus, or only a colt?); Mark 11:2-7; Luke 19:30-35; Mark 11:1-11 (The King – Jesus – Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem); Matthew 16:13-20 – Free Access; Philippian 4:13 (I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me); Mark 11:24 – Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them; Ephesians 2:18 – For through him we both have access by one Spirit untot he Father); Romans 5:2 – through whom we have gained ACCESS by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of glory.); Exodus 23:5 (KJV) - If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him; Isaiah 1:3 (KJV) - The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Zechariah 9:9 (KJV); Mark 11: 2-7 (KJV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Zechariah 9:9 (KJV); Mark 11:2-7 (KJV)
III. READ THE TEXT: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly,and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass – Zech 9:9 (KJV)
&
… as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a
colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and
bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do
ye this? Say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and
straightway he will send him – Mark 11:2b-3 (KJV).
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to affirm to OTHERS that GOD has need of them; because, IF GOD can USE a DONKEY (to assist Him in doing Ministry); He can USE THEM TOO.
V. SERMONIC THEME: “loose him”
INTRODUCTION:
Who can ever forget the Biblical Account (in Matthews 16:19-31) where Jesus ask his disciples What were the people opinion of him?
As you may recall, he asked Who do men say that I, the Son of Man am? They replied, some say John the Baptist, some say Elijah or one of the prophets ... Then Jesus pressed them … and asked What do you think?
Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. … Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
******************Take 5 Beats************************
MOVE 1: In other words, the Keys of the kingdom of heaven enables and empowers believers to forbid and to permit.
a. In fact, in the Old Testament the “power of binding and loosing was always claimed by the Pharisees.
b. For they – the Pharisees – became the administrators of all public affairs so as to be empowered to banish and readmit whom they pleased, as well as to loose and to bind.
c. In essence, what this meant is that they – the Pharisees (according to Josephus – a Great Theologian ) - possessed and exercised the power of tying or untying a thing by the spell of their divine authority.
d. So, by virture of their OFFICE they gained certain AUTHORITY which was respected and honored by all.
**************TAKE 5 BEATS*********
MOVE 2: The Pharisees were able to “bind heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but – unlike JESUS - seldom could the Pharisees be found loosing folk or things from BURDENS or HARSHNESS.
a. For don’t you remember, it was Christ himself that warn us in Matthews 23:4 … by saying:
b. …“ they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. .
c. My brothers and sisters, I’m so glad that I serve and worship a Savior that desires to FREE me from heavy burdens.
d. But sometimes, the manner in which the LORD desires to work – to FREE US …
e. FROM HEAVY BURDENS is by having those of us that are in the household of faith to LIGHTEN & TO CARRY ONE ANOTHERS LOAD.
*************TAKE 5 BEATS ***********
MOVE 3: In other words, the designated offering today for the victims of Hurricane KATRINA is just another manner of GOD having NEED OF US to help our fellow brothers and sisters in their time of need.
a. For don’t you remember the Scriptures in Galatians 6:2 - Bear ye one another burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ.
b. In other words, as believers – we are our brothers’ KEEPERS.
c. But, if we refuse to allow God to use us TO HELP, EMPOWER, AND DELIVER HIS PEOPLE, He will AND CAN USE anything.
d. I can’t speak for you, and you. But, I’ve made-up in my mind that if God CAN USE ANYTHING, HE CAN USE ME.
e. Turn to your neighbor (that person sitting right next to you or behind you), and say neighbor – If God can use anything, He can use me.
**********TAKE 5 BEATS************
MOVE 4: For who can ever forget the story of BALAAM AND HIS DONKEY in Numbers 22:22-35? For don’t you remember?
a. In Biblical Literature, the Donkey, throughout, is described as either wild or domestic.
b. The wild donkey is described fond of liberties (Job 39:5), anti-social, and compare to Israel and their love of idols in Jeremiah 2:23-24;
c. … while in CONTRAST the Domestic Donkeys were described as Knowing its Master’s Crib – Isa. 1:3;
d. Strong; and having been used for bearing burdens.
e. The Domestic Donkeys were the primary method of transportation in the
Biblical era, since horses were used almost exclusively for WAR.
***********TAKE 5 BEATS**********
MOVE 5: It was also the tamed domestic DONKEY that was used to carry the King and other prominent citizens.
a. In the Book of Numbers – Chapter 22 – we find a prophet by the name of Balaam was ultimately saved by the actions/behaviors of his Spirit-led Donkey who ….
b. while carrying her Master on a God-led mission - identified in their path death angels 3 times.
c. Each time the Donkey avoided the Angel which stood in front of her with a Sword to Kill her Master;
d. and each time that the Donkey avoided the Death Angel, …
e. … she recievie a whipping from the prophet who – unlike his donkey - was unable to see … the angel in front him.
************TAKE 5 BEATS*********
MOVE 6: Finally, the Lord allowed the Donkey to speak, and the Prophet to see that the Donkey was being used by God to help deliver him from the
hands of death.
a. Likewise, in our text, this afternoon, we find Jesus in the midst of his Final Journey to Jerusalem which is often referred to as the “PASSION WEEK”.
b. I submit to you this afternoon that this event was well-planned.
c. For Jesus had been on his way to Jerusalem for quite some time.
d. And what looks like, at first glance, Jesus giving two of disciples permission to take a young donkey that had never been ridden before.
e. But, a closer look at the scripture will reveal the wisdom and foresight of our Savior.
***********TAKE 5 BEATS *********
MOVE 7: A Savior who was fully aware of the Prophetic Book of Zechariah and the needs of the young donkey …
a. ... that for whatever reason found herself tied-up in the sweltering heat
of the sun.
b. No doubt, like Abraham and Moses before him, Jesus also had need of
the donkey.
c. And the owners respecting His divine authority … just needed to know
that it WAS JESUS who had need of the Donkey …
d. My brothers and sisters, I don’t know the fullness or the totality of God’s Vision for my life.
e. And I never claimed to be the best preacher or the best chaplain around.
f. But, like the owner of the Donkey, in our text today, FREELY gave the disciples the DONKEY that Christ had need of without a struggle;
g. Likewise, I have FREELY given my life over to CHRIST and told HIM that He can use me.
h. He can use me in the pulpit; He can use me in the classroom; He can use me on my job; and in my family.
***********TAKE 5 BEATS*********
CELBERATION: There’s a song that many of you are familiar with that says, to the Lord, …
If you can use anything LORD; you can use me.
Touch my hand and my feet; Touch my Heart and Speak to me …
If you can use anything LORD; YOU CAN USE ME!
FOR … “THE LORD IS GOOD, A STRONG HOLD…
IN THE DAY OF TROUBLE, AND KNOWETH
THEM THAT TRUST IN HIM …
