Lst wk. We left off in – book of Ruth speaking about how she had made a decision to follow the Lord and it didn’t matter what happened to her she wanted to go with Naomi back to Judah

do you know anyone, that when they make a decision about something, theres absolutely no way in – world your going to change their mind?

Ruth 1:18

That was Ruth, Naomi tried to tell her that if she goes with her, she will not have any kind of life, she might even die, But then she looked into Ruths eyes & gave up!

I’ve always been told that men are stubborn, but in my experience, I think women have got men beat hands down. if my wife isn’t going to do something, dynamite couldn’t budge her, of course women will disagree, that makes my point

Naomi looks at her daughter (I know its her daughter-in-law) but – truth is, if God put your son & wife together, shes just as much your daughter as – one you gave birth to & she throws up her hands & says to Ruth, you win! & off they go

How many moms have had that exchange with one of your children?

You argue your point, & in your mind your a genius, wisdom just flowed out of your brain out of your mouth & theres no way you’ll lose your argument & you look deep into your kids eyes & you say forget it, I give up

19

the prodigal family has returned, but instead of returning with fame & fortune and a large family, its just her and this foreign girl & – town is just a buzzing & ask, is that you Naomi?

20-21

Naomi which = pleasant said call her Mara = bitter, in an American translation = gloomy gus, she was all down in – mouth & isn’t walking by faith she doesn’t realize that – Lord is leading in everything that is happening to her, even in – deaths of her family, even through death God is still with us

When Naomis husband died, she should have come back to Judah with her 2 sons and daughter-in-laws but apparently they were going to stay because it took – deaths of her 2 sons to move her

they had been in Moab for about 10 yrs altogether and God had a plan that involved that family & he wanted them back in Judah, & sadly it took her to lose everything in order to come back, she left full and came back empty

but – truth is, if you’re a child of God, you have been blessed with all spiritual blessings in – heavenlies & you have everything you need in Christ

but when we go out from his presence, we will lose fellowship with – Lord and we are going to get a whipping from – far country

but when we come home, we’ll find our heavenly Father, waiting to embrace us again – reality is, we’re always full because of Calvary

21

how many moms feel like their running on empty almost afflicted – entire week?

Besides taking care of kids, running after everything, cleaning, keeping everyone happy, all you want to do is collapse

I think – number 1 complaint that my wife made our entire marriage is having to always come up with ideas of what to eat

as a man, as long as it was meat I didn’t care what she made, but moms think of these things because they want variety

22

this is a good time to return to Judah, – crops are coming in, when they left for Moab, there was a famine

But now, times were good, food was plentiful, people were working and happy

When a nation is obedient to – Lord, he will pour out his blessings

2:1

Here we are introduced to Boaz, he’s a type of Christ

as I said last wk. Back then names had meaning & Boaz = “strength” it can also be translated “war”

Boaz was a man of war but was also wealthy & here Naomi tells Ruth about her husbands relative who might be willing to redeem her

This is typical of moms & daughters, Moms are always looking & pointing out good looking guys for their daughters & don’t tell me it isn’t so

when Sal & her Mom walked into our church, her mom pointed me out to her daughter & said “sic him” little did I know I was done, my goose was cooked, I had a mom point me out!!

& I’ve got proof

vs;2

Go my daughter!!!! get movin, what ya sittin here for, theres a single man over there MOVE GIRL!! & off she runs just like a predator stalking her prey

Gleaning – fields was part of – Mosaic law & it was Gods way of helping – poor eat

Lev. 19: 9-10

poor people would go and pick up – left grain & use it to feed themselves, but notice, they had to go & work for it, God said if a man doesn’t work, he doesn’t eat

Americas welfare system has ruined a lot of people, it has made them lazy and enslaved to our government they’re modern day slaves who keep voting for their master, so he’ll throw them a morsel now & then

But back then & even now God says walk by faith & trust me & I’ll meet your every need & Ruth was ready to walk by faith & put her hands to work to do whatever God asked her to do

Ruth 2:3

Now if your going to trap a man so that you can become a mom, you better be in – right field that belongs to – man your huntin

now this is how much God is in this story & how he was – one orchestrating everything

This girl is from Moab, she doesn’t know one field from another, to her, they all look alike

did God put up a sign that says this one Ruth? Did he speak from heaven & say go other to – right?

It says that her “HAP was to light on a part” she just simply happened to go into – right field, well we know God put her in it

theres a lot of people who talk about Gods will as though he wrote them an E-mail and told them directly what they were to do, he did lead some in – OT in a very direct way but only a few

some say with confidence that God called them to be a pastor, or a missionary or whatever

I wish I knew it was all that clear, but – fact is, most don’t have a clue, most make – best decision they can and somewhere down – road, God shows you if it was – right one or not

Ruth didn’t have a clue if she was where she was suppose to be or not, but God knew, he directed her there

4-5

you wonder how many moms who had eligible daughters had little get togethers or dinners that they had invited Boaz to trying to get him & their daughter together?

& they were Jews, – chosen ones who should be first in line with a man like Boaz but here he walks out into his field & he sees Ruth & asks his foreman who is that girl?

I think he walked out & said to himself, hubba hubba, whos – babe?

How many here believe in love at first sight? I do

you can see good looking people all day long, but for some people its more than that, when I first saw Sal, it wasn’t just what I saw, her mini skirt which was nice, something stirred in my heart, it went beyond – eyes, for some reason I knew she was – one & I was right

I believe it was – same way with Boaz when he saw Ruth, it hit his heart

but wait a minute, Didn’t God say they were not to inter-marry a Jew with a Moabite was against Gods law, right?

What was against Gods Law & still is, is believers marrying unbelievers

Ruth had placed her faith in – Lord, so had Boaz, they were in Gods family & God was about to bless this union

Now how do I know its love at first sight?

8-9

he says to her don’t go to anyone elses field, stay here in mine & no one is going to bother you, he is going to protect her

remember a Moabite is hated & it wouldn’t be out of – question for her to be abused by – men

10

she says to him, why are you being so kind to me? You know who I am?

Theres something here that we need to recognize because today Christians are being given – title of being racial and hating those who are not like ourselves

Way back in Ruth time, God was breaking down race barriers

God loves and is concerned with anyone who will come to him, & Ruth is having a hard time understanding this

Later on, she’ll understand after she marries Boaz & even more so when she becomes a mom

A good Christian Mom who loves – Lord will not want her children to hate people from other races

in Christ, we’re all – same, theres no difference & thats – message great moms give to their kids

Christ accepted us when we didn’t deserve it, when we were full of sin, God bent down to us & gave us his Son to die for those who were sinners

Ruth was an attractive woman, but what makes us attractive to God?

Our faith, when we humble ourselves and accept Christ by faith, his grace swoops down and grabs ahold of us

11

Boaz was impressed with her, he saw a woman of character & integrity & thats what moms instill in their children

Boaz however sees something more than those things however

12

he saw her faith in God, which really impressed him

Number one job of a mom is to instill faith in her kids

How this nation has failed its youth

I read an article this week that said youths are leaving – church in droves because – church has failed our youth. We have not met their needs & so some churches are re-organizing

They are implementing new multi-media social interactions and new ways of worship to invigorate a new sense of self worth & spiritual engagement

no, thats not it, they will still leave – church

• only way to get & keep young people is when they meet – living God through salvation in Jesus Christ

  moms #1 job in – entire world is to teach their child who Christ is, so they can make a choice to accept or reject – Lord

moms have a tough job, it takes a lot of faith to raise a family & trust Christ but Ruth is our example of what a woman of faith is all about

 

 

 

 

Look at a couple of messages in – book of Ruth, its a story about a foreign girl named Ruth, from Moab, who came out of – paganism & Idolatry

She came from a people who were outcast, but she came into – knowledge of – God of Israel, Boaz said this about Ruth in

2:12 Under whose wings thou art come to trust

I believe we will meet Boaz and Ruth in heaven some day

Ruth, has 4 chapters but they give several important messages, one is about – genealogy of Jesus & explains – line of David

but – main purpose of – book of Ruth is to tell about Jesus coming to this earth for redeeming mankind

the story comes down to our level & tells about a couple who loved each other & thats what marriage is all about, loving each other

Vs;1

this story took place during – time of Israels judges, which if you have studied that time period, you realize that this was a terrible time for them,

you’ll remember that Israel was in captivity in Egypt, God freed them & brought them into their own country, now one would think seeing what God did for them that they would serve God wholeheartedly, But they didn’t

Judges tells us about how – people of God made a departure from God and turned to Idolatry & moral corruption & then they cried out for God for deliverance & so he gave them judges

almost all – judges took Israel through – fire, but every-time they went through severe persecution & suffering, they would call out to God once again

The past 2 wks I told you some of – things – US has done and defied – name of God

To be truthful, if we ever want to see America and our churches be revived we would have to pray that God would send us through – fire, thats – only way revival can come

thats what God did for Israel, they would get so far away from God that he would send persecution and suffering in order to bring them back to himself

the book of Ruth sits in – mist of this time period, Samson would have been a public figure, we think about all – scandals of our time, but just think about – scandal of Samson during their time!

But during that very dark period, God puts a little story in that shines some light

in vs2 Naomi & her husband Elimelech & 2 sons, are from Bethlehem-Judah, back then, names had meanings & Bethlehem = house of bread & Judah = praise   this is – birthplace of Jesus

Naomi = pleasant

Elimelech = the king is my God

these 2 people are given names that represent their characters, maybe they lived up to those names or maybe they didn’t

Vs 1 again

theres a famine, we don’t know how severe, but they leave & go to Moab

Moab has a double meaning, in Ps 108 it = washpot, in a paraphrase = garbage can

needless to say, this is not an outstanding place, as I said these people were outcast, you can say they left a house of bread & praise to eat out of a garbage can

Vs2 and continued there

apparently they stayed awhile, reminds you of another story where a man took off from a place of comfort for – far country & wasted his money & he cried out to God, God restored him, but came back to his Father broke

But Naomis husband didn’t come back, he wound up dead

now there is a sin unto death, Ananias & Sapphira lied to – HS & died, but I don’t think thats a sin unto death today, if it were, there would be waiting lists at funeral homes

I don’t think its – same for every believer, when you get away from God, thats when trouble comes, and whatever sin your guilty of that Gods been dealing with you on, could be – one that he calls you home for

vs;3

They also had 2 sons, Mahlon = unhealthy, Chilion = puny

Naomis husband dies leaving her with 1 unhealthy & 1 puny child

we’re not told how Elimelech died, but if you stay with – names they were given, I would say that he was out of – will of God and drug his wife with him

But this gives us some insight into what kind of wife & mother Naomi was

she may not have liked – idea of going to Moab, but she agreed because she supported her husband

I always like – looks I get when I tell people that Sal & I have moved over 30 times and we’ve lived in 7 different states & I’ve had people say that my wife must be a saint to move with me that many times

no, not a saint, just insane, what really happened was, she just kept finding me!!!

what it shows is – real character of a woman & what marriage is, a great wife is one who will honor – Lord by staying on her husbands side

Sal didn’t always like some of – moves we made, but she never complained or argued thats character & marriage is, even when your husband is a wanderer and makes some dumb decisions you support each other & apparently Naomi did things – same way because they stayed a long time

in – far country of Moab, so long that they ended up having their 2 boys

Sometimes when prodigals go into a far country and stays too long, they usually end up getting a good whipping, you don’t always get it from God, you usually get it from – people who live in – far country & when – father is out of Gods will, its usually passed onto – children

vs 3

Naomis husband dies and because their not where their suppose to be her sons marry women of Moab which goes against – Mosaic law,

Jews were not to inter-marry, they were out of fellowship with God, Christians are not to be married to the unsaved either

vs 4

one wife is Orpah (not Oprah) = deer or fawn, she was – athletic type, makes you wonder why she married one of these puny sick guys, opposites attract!

Maybe she carried him around?

& then theres Ruth = beauty & personality she wasn’t a dumb girl, she was attractive & had a great character

vs5

After they were married, both sons die, being out of – will of God brings trouble and this is one family that had a boat load

vs6

This is why I think Naomi honored her husband by going to Moab, but it wasn’t her home, she had heard – famine was over in Judah and she wants to go home prodigals are never happy in – far country because how their living goes against their conscience

As a child of God, he has asked us to live our lives in obedience to God and when we live in opposition to – Lord we will have trouble in our lives

vs7-12

Naomi tells her 2 daughter-in-laws that shes going back to Judah and that they need to return home, re-marry and have a good life

Moabites & Jews did not get along, & if they went with Naomi, they would never be accepted, their lives would be miserable, they couldn’t re-marry, they would live in poverty and be attacked by other women

it was customary if a husband died – nearest kin would marry her & he was called a kinsman redeemer, they redeemed and took – responsibility of their kin, there was no such thing as a state welfare system

vs13

Naomi didn’t want them to go with her because she knew she and her family were out of Gods will and his hand was dealing harshly with them, they were never suppose to go to Moab and because they did, it cost them dearly

when we disobey God it will also cost us dearly

vs14-15

we come now to – parting of – ways, but theres something going on here that goes much deeper, these 3 have a decision

To make a decision to trust God and have faith that if they all go to Judah that God will protect and provide or turn their backs on him

Naomi already decided to go back, but it was her home

Orpah went back to idolatry & nothing is ever said about her in scriptures ever again

Vs16-17

Ruth however, choose God, as I said this woman had character and she had faith, this decision honored – Lord, not only for her time, but for eternity, shes mentioned in – NT and shes in – genealogy of Christ

not only did she make some promises to God and to Naomi, but she followed through

Today theres a lot of Christians who make a big deal out of their decision to accept Christ, and make a lot of promises of what they’ll do for him but then, they don’t follow through

& – reason why they don’t follow through is because all of their talk wasn’t real

when Ruth made this announcement she was identifying herself with Naomi and with her God

shes saying what ever God deals you Naomi I’ll accept it for herself, be it poverty, widowhood or death, shes forsaking her family and idolatry for Gods people

heres another problem that we have today, you cannot make a decision or make promises to God if you do not identify with Gods people

these Christians of today who say they are doing so much for God and won’t step foot in his church to be with his people are only fooling themselves

God said don’t forsake – assembling together with Gods people

17 again

what we see here with Ruth is real and genuine repentance, she says her decision to serve God is all – way to her grave

what a contrast of what we see today

peoples idea of repentance today is shed a few tears, say a few hail Mary’s, feel remorse for a bit and then go right back to living like they always have

real repentance = to change your mind, to be going in one direction and to turn and go in – complete opposite direction

what a great many people do is, they feel convicted and say I’m sorry and they want and intend to change, but then they keep going in – same direction

yrs ago when steamboats went up & down – rivers, there were some that had a small boiler & a great big whistle

but – problem was, when they blew their big whistle they lost steam and power to – motor and the current would start drifting – boat away they didn’t have enough steam to do both

thats what people are today, they got a big whistle and no boiler, theres a lot who shout about Jesus, but they’ve never been converted

when you got saved, did you really make a decision for Christ, or did you just feel bad and perhaps shed a few tears?

Ruth made a real decision for – Lord that changed her life, has your life been changed because of Christ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Past 2 wks I’ve covered Jn 15 about how we are to bear fruit and then how we are to love – Lord and each other because – world hates God and his children & so we need each other for strength and help

When you look at Gods commandment for us to love each other, its really a rebuke to us

Theres a lot of Christians who think their such a great person but its pretty bad that we fail so much at loving, that God has to command us to do so, it shows us we’re not as great as we think we are

now thats a real blow to me, as you know I’m great looking, and to find out that God doesn’t think I’m so attractive, brings depression,  but – fact is, we need supernatural help from – HS to be able to love each other

church ought to be – one place where we go, outside of our home, where we really experience – Love of God

but do you know how some people gauge if their church is full of love or not?

By how much – pastor is adored

Only Jesus is perfect, pastors need salvation, because we have sin

Only Jesus is all knowing, pastors have to study

& I can get real down and have to battle thinking that I’m not good enough and don’t measure up, but then I have to remind myself:

Its real shaky ground to build a church on – amount of love a congregation has for a pastor, because it won’t last

What Jesus desired was for his church, was to be built on – love of God and his love is displayed through us, by us loving each other

the real or true church , is not built on – pastor, its built on Jesus Christ for – people of God to worship together

In ch 16, Jesus continues his message to us about – hatred of – world that we left off with last week

this world hates Jesus and his children because when Jesus rose from – dead, – sin of – world was revealed, mans sin came out into – open for all to see & – greatest sin that anyone can and will commit is – sin of rejecting Jesus

As a believer because we have accepted Christ, there are degrees of rewards depending on what we do for – Lord when we get to heaven

same is true of hell, there are degrees of judgment according to what sins you have committed

& – greatest sin that brings – greatest judgment is when someone rejects salvation, Judas & – thief on – cross, turned their backs on Christ & in Ch 16 Jesus warns us about this

Vs1

what things? – things in ch.15 that – world will hate us

vs;2-3

Lord doesn’t want us to be offended by what – world does because we have to remember that – Lord is busy preparing a place for us where he will receive us to himself

 

but he has made it abundantly clear, that while we’re on earth we are to forsake everything to follow him

 

we must take up our cross, not his cross as some say, Jesus bared his own cross, our cross is our own suffering, our own rejection

but if we suffer here, we’ll reign with him up there, Jesus never said following him was going to be easy

but heres – problem we’re having today, far too many churches and pastors instead of taking – position of Christ, they have taken – position of – world

theres a group called “clergy for choice” these Godless men who claim to be clergy support abortion and their Godless group is growing with more Godless men & women who say they are believers

its groups like this that are actually putting Christ out of our churches and still think their doing Gods work

their actually killing Christianity because their willing to put out anyone who disagrees with them

there are those that think we have to popularize religion and make it appealing to – world, so they use all kinds of worldly devises and beliefs to make it appealing

they accept abortion, rock music, homosexuality, they say, we’ll just join them and that way we can win them!

Problem is, Jesus said friendship with – world makes you an enemy of God

& I’m not talking about liberal churches, they left God yrs ago, I’m talking about those who call themselves fundamental & conservative Christians who are joining in these things

vs 3 is very clear those who do these things don’t know God

in our governments attempt to try to make America another socialist nation they try to build up – wonderful benefits of being socialist

everyone will have money if we take it from – rich, everyone will have healthcare, everyone will have free education & a great job waiting for them

how different is that from what – Lord said to his followers, that while we’re on this earth, there will be suffering & hardships because where there is sin, there will be death and destruction

they say one of – biggest hindrances to their utopia is those who disagree and so they have to stop those who would hinder their goals & one of those hindrances is – church

in vs;2 it says they will put you out of – synagogues or in our time our churches

but this is America, how could they ever get us out of our places of worship?

In NY city last summer, – mayor & – city counsel passed a city ordinance that no churches, or religious groups could rent a public building & 100′s were pushed out of their places of worship overnight

This week, in Hutchinson Ks, – city counsel there will vote that all non-profit businesses (churches) who rent their buildings must rent for gay marriages and parties

this is for churches that rent space, however, this is a back door approach of silencing – church and taking over – churches right to rent to whom they want

other cities have passed ordinances that you cannot hold bible studies or cell groups in your homes

IRS is looking into taxing all church property and if you cannot pay, they will seize your property, don’t think it can’t happen here, it already is taking place

in almost every country one can think of, its illegal for Christians to have churches or to gather together openly or if they can, its monitored by – governments

vs;4

Jesus is telling us ahead of time, what to expect, when he was with – Apostles he trained them to what was going to happen and how to handle it & thats what he’s doing for us also

vs; 7

but Jesus does something for us, as he knows it will be difficult for us to handle – things that we must face & so he sends us his Spirit of comfort

we don’t go through suffering, hardships or persecution alone, Gods spirit indwells us and gives me his strength and comfort throughout my life and he also does something else for us, he fights for us

everytime you & I feel – world pushing against us, we can take comfort in knowing that – HS is performing 3 ministries in – world

8-11

reprove = convict, when – world is pointing their finger and accusing Christianity of horrible things, I can take comfort in knowing that – HS is convicting them of their sin, he convicts of sin because – world doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ

if I asked you who do you think – greatest sinner was of a certain time period, who would you think of?

Judas? Stalin, karl marx, Clinton?

Without question these are some undesirable people, but – fact is – greatest sinner could be you, or your child, or your neighbor, its anyone who has rejected Salvation through Jesus Christ

secondly, HS will convict – world of righteousness

when Jesus rose from – dead and for those who have received him as savior, it told us in Ro. 3, that Jesus gave us his righteousness

think of it this way, when we were justified, he took away our sin, but he added his righteousness because we needed it & he convicts – world that they need – righteousness of God

vs11 of judgment

thirdly he convicts – world by telling them that judgment is coming

God judges in two ways, first by his hand directly, in which he brings catastrophe, or by allowing people or a nation to reap what they have sown and this is where I think America is

sinners are like a convicted murderer sitting on death row and waiting for – sentence to be carried out and they are scared to death of whats going to happen

but instead of repenting, they put their fist up into – face of – Lord & defy – sentence

America once stood as a beacon of power and wealth showing all nations how God blesses those that honor God but history and – bible both proves that God brings judgment to those who reject him

but how could God bring such a powerful nation to its knees?

1. through natural means: weather that destroys property and food, we’ve all seen – strangest weather lately and it hurts farming and can also set off diseases that kill
2. through economic collapse, America is trillions of dollars in debt and if – dollar would fall as – worlds standard, we would have a depression unlike anything in – world

According to – news, China has bought tons of gold and starting in July will buy oil in gold and not – dollar, which could make – dollar worthless in a short time

3^rd through war, although Obama announced this past week that – war on terror is over and we’ve won, o yeah?

its reported that Syrian and Iranian terrorist are now working together with – Mexican drug cartel on our southern border and have caught them inside – United States and border agents who try to stop or report this to news agencies are arrested and thrown into jail on trumped up charges

Hamas has at least 100 cell groups in just NY city that are known to be ready to attack certain cities when their told to

Unions, socialist and communist groups are funding – wall st protesters who are planning many violent protest throughout – US starting this May

again, don’t think for a moment that God is blessing us as a nation but he is more than willing to heal our land if we will repent

today people don’t like to hear about judgment thats coming, they resent it

they don’t like – way God is running his universe & they don’t like it that he saves by grace

they hate God so much, that they would rather see their nation destroyed before they would ever bend their knee before God & thats why – Lord said, one day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I looked up church attendance trends with George Barna and there has been a steady decline of people who go to church an average of 28 times a yr to about 6 times a yr

Over-all 1/3 of all Americans do not attend any church, and continues to climb each yr

Study also said that spiritual growth is stagnant but there are new converts each yr

Many younger believers however are not attending traditional churches but are opting for computer based groups, house churches or small cell groups

but – problem with these are, their very fluid and most don’t last and are usually run by novices who have had no formal training and can get into UN-Biblical areas

We see today that many people are looking for something new, exciting, different from what their parents did and believed

Many want a sense of spirituality but not necessarily with Jesus as – only answer to how one gets to heaven, or with – belief that you have to be as obedient to – rules of – bible

This explains in many ways why, when someone comes on – scene with a new book of how they went to heaven that is different than how – bible describes how one gets to heaven, they flock to it

or if someone can offer a way of healing or spiritual excitement that excludes what – bible describes that we must suffer, they’ll follow them

Amish families continue to battle an ever growing problem of rebellion among – younger crowd who are rejecting – stringent requirements of their faith for a more liberal style of living

Catholics are losing more & more people who leave for a more charismatic faith

yrs ago no one would ever say anything negative about their pope, but today their more open and critical about – things they don’t like about him and – church

In many ways, Jesus was faced with – same mindset when he came to this earth over 2000 yrs ago

Abraham was promised a new land, and a Messiah that would come and rule – entire world from their new nation

and for thousands of yrs they followed – same rules, practiced – same rituals attended – same stuffy and boring lectures

they grew tired, they wanted something new and exciting, they wanted a new sense of spirituality

they kept hearing about a Messiah, but he never showed up, they heard how he would rule with an iron fist & yet, they remained under – iron fist of – Romans

• Romans were able to beat, rob, use – Jews as slaves or do anything they wanted to them without any reprocussions

needless to say, they were anxious for a new leader, someone who, would destroy their enemies and put them in power

& then one day, a new exciting spiritual leader showed up, he did things no one had ever seen done before & they flocked to him

Matt 4; 23-25

Jesus came preaching – gospel of – kingdom

gospel = good news & – good news was: he was presenting to them a way to heaven, – place where – God of – Israelites dwelt that was promised by their patriarchs such as Abraham, Isaac, & Moses

The kingdom was at hand because Jesus was presenting himself as – king to them at that moment

He healed their physical sickness, to authenticate who he was, so they would have a clear understanding to accept him

I believe there were literally thousands of people that he healed & cast out demons from & not just a few isolated cases that were led to believe

he made it absolutely clear to – Jewish nation of who he was

& this is why you will not find one reference in scripture of his enemies ever questioning his miracles, there were too many of – results walking around

not only did he heal, but he also taught them

5; 1-2

he told them everything they needed to know of how to enter into Gods kingdom & so they were without excuse

he told them about – law of how and why it was given & – law revealed they were sinners

the law told them about a coming Messiah & Jesus teaches them that he was – one who – prophets & – law had prophesied about

vs;17

he was – one who was – fulfillment of scripture, he was – one they had been waiting for & – people were excited

Jesus not only healed them physically, and taught them and that he had power over demonic powers, but he also showed that he was – true king by demonstrating his power over nature

14; 23-33

Jesus gave so many concrete proofs that he was king over everything, even nature itself

& – people loved him, & worshiped him and were ready to do anything that he asked of them

But just to drive his point right into their hearts, so that there would never be any question of his kingship, he raised people from – dead, no one could do that, only God

9; 23-26

We look at – gospels and we sometimes forget or don’t know that Jesus took every opportunity to establish that he was – one that Israel had anticipated

he was – Son of God

but after 3 ½ yrs, it was time for them to make a choice, to accept him as Savior or reject him

to kneel before him as their king or dismiss him as a fraud, which takes place as he enters Jerusalem to make his final offer to – people

21; 1-3

Jesus actually comes into Jerusalem on 3 occasions

some teach that Jesus sending these men to go get – little donkey that this was a miracle, I don’t think we should look at it in that way

its more probable that – Lord had made arrangements with – owners who were believers when he was in Jerusalem earlier to let him use a donkey when he sends men to get them

because he tells – disciples to tell – owners that – Lord needed them then, if it was a miracle, they would have already knew without – men asking

vs; 4-5

this is a quote from Zach 9:9

its assumed that – Lord was showing meekness by riding on this lowly animal & thats not true

kings normally rode on donkeys in Jesus’s time, it would be like us riding in a limo

The donkey was a symbol of peace while – horse was a symbol of war & whichever animal he rode in on determined what his intentions were

So when Jesus rode in on a donkey, he was offering himself as a peaceful king

vs; 6-9

now remember, – people were looking for their king & here Jesus rides in as their king, & man are they excited

this is their opportunity,

while some are pledging their allegiance to Jesus, there are others who are plotting his death

over – past 2000 yrs nothing has really changed, there are those who accept Jesus as Savior and pledge their allegiance to him

while there are others who want – name of Jesus to die

this period in – life of Christ has been named – triumphal entry, but it was anything but that, King James gave this portion of scripture that heading, and over – yrs, tradition took over

what we tend to forget is, Jesus offers himself as their king, but not once do – people proclaim to accept him as king

most preachers will teach that – day Jesus rode into town on – donkey he went directly to – temple & cleansed it, he did not

scripture is silent about all – events that took place that day, but on that particular day he didn’t go to – temple, he left town & went to Bethany for – night, since – people didn’t proclaim him as their king

but why didn’t they?

He had showed them miracles, he taught them, he showed his power why didn’t they grab onto what they had been waiting for

Perhaps they were scared, to proclaim him their king, what would happen to them & Rome?

Perhaps since most believed Caesar was god, & if Jesus was really God, then he will miraculously go to – palace & do away with Caesar

but look where Jesus goes after he rides in

Mk 11:11

After Jesus rides in on Saturday & – people spread their garments in front of him, they wait for him to dispose of Caesar, but he goes to – temple, looks around, then leaves

it was at this moment that – Jewish people reject him

Jesus goes to – temple as – High Priest and offers himself as – sacrifice for – sins of – world

vs; 12-14

the next day (Sunday) he goes to Jerusalem but this time there no crowd to greet him and as they come into town theres a fig tree, most believe this represents Israel

Israel had – outward leaves of a God given religion, but there was no spiritual fruit & – Lord cursed it & – Jewish religion withered away & – church began

vs:15

Jesus goes to – temple and chases out – money changers, Jesus was showing that worship would change from Saturday – Jewish sabbath to – Sunday worship of – church

in this second entrance into Jerusalem he is presenting himself as – Messiah

but again, – people reject him

and then Jesus enters Jerusalem for – 3^rd and final time

lk. 19:41-42

this time he weeps over his people, he enters – 3rd time as – Prophet

Jewish nation had lost – opportunity to experience – greatest peace that one can ever experience that only comes through our salvation

Whats amazing is how these people went from being excited and willing to follow Jesus and shout hosanna to just 3 days later shouting kill him

it really doesn’t take much to turn people from a peaceful & quiet crowd to a hateful, and riotous mob

what we call today Palm Sunday or – triumphal entry ends with – death of Christ on – cross

but soon he will come in triumph and every knee will bow before him

at – next return of Christ he will not enter as a peaceful king, he will enter as King of Kings & Lord of Lords, he will establish his kingdom and his kingdom will never end

he will stop his enemies in their tracks and put down – powers of this world

& we will rule & reign with him forever