The Bride in Worship
The Bride of Christ • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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PRAYER
Text: Luke 19:29-40
Almost 2,000 years ago Jesus approached Jerusalem and its surrounding area for the final time before His crucifixion.
As we studied a few weeks ago on Wednesday night, this was MORE than a triumphant entry — it was the culmination of a Triumphant Journey.
The culmination of a triumphant LIFE — a life lived to the fullest.
As Jesus rode into Jerusalem, all that the Father had sent Him to do, Jesus had accomplished — except these final, most difficult things.
Dying Empty
Dying Empty
Day before yesterday I came across a book entitled:
Maximizing Your Potential: The Keys to Dying Empty
I haven’t gotten the book, but it’s that last part that really intrigues and challenges me.
The Keys to Dying Empty
The concept of dying empty is so-o-o countercultural.
In our modern culture we try to accumulate as many things as possible.
We want to die surrounded by our “things.”
Like we could “take it with us” when we die, when the Apostle Paul reminds us in:
1 Timothy 6:7 (TPT) Isn’t it true that our hands were empty when we came into the world, and when we leave this world our hands will be empty again?
So this author seems to be suggesting that we should go out of this world with empty hands.
To follow the example of Jesus.
To walk in the footsteps of Jesus.
To do what our State Men’s director said last week when he invoked a sports metaphor just before he dismissed the State Men’s Conference. He said…
Make sure before you leave, to leave it all on the field.
He was saying, don’t walk away from this conference with any regrets.
Let’s make sure we have given God’s plan for this conference every bit of our efforts, all of our energy, every bit of our strength, ALL of the resources God has entrusted to us.
That is even more true of our lives.
That is certainly what Jesus demonstrated.
Not just in the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, but what He did in the Garden, what He did after He was arrested, drug through the mockery of a trial.
He was beaten, paraded through the streets in shame and killed in the most painful and horrific way.
He left it all on the field of this world.
Jesus died empty — He gave it all — and so should we.
The Father expects us to follow the example of His Son, Jesus.
That’s why…
Jesus said in: John 12:26 (NLT) Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
And 1 Peter 2:21 (NLT) [says] For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you. He is your example, and you must follow in His steps.
So, we see Jesus, coming into Jerusalem.
He is leaving it all on the field.
We see His example — and we follow it.
Jesus — the King of Shalom
Jesus — the King of Shalom
At the same time, as we see Jesus riding into the city on the back of a young donkey, the crowds recognized Him for who He is — the King.
Yes, the King of Israel, but more.
Maybe the crowd didn’t see Jesus as the King of kings.
But we should.
Certainly the image of a King is what Jesus intended all to see as He rode into the city.
He portrayed the image of a Peaceful King, a peaceful Son of David, coming to rule and reign.
And so He is. Jesus said in:
John 14:27 (LSB) “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.
John 16:33 (LSB) “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
No, Jesus did NOT come to give political peace or to, at that time, end all war.
That IS coming.
Isaiah 2:4 (LSB) And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war.
Oh how the people yearned for such a time.
How WE yearn for such a time!
But THIS coming to Jerusalem 2000 years ago shows us He came to give us a peace that is greater than those things.
It is peace — shalom — in our souls.
Shalom with our Creator.
Shalom with our God.
Not just an absence of conflict, but a presence of wholeness.
The Lexham Bible Dictionary reminds us that “shalom” carries the fundamental meaning of welfare, prosperity, or wholeness as well as the absence of hostility.
Jesus shows us that as He rides into Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday, He is fulfilling a prophecy of shalom made in
Isaiah 9:6 (LSB) For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace [Prince of Shalom].
Jesus came over 2000 years ago so that even today, in 2024, we can have peace — we can have shalom.
Yes! Even in our day that is filled with war, bloodshed, tribulation, chaos and confusion.
But Jesus is the Prince of Shalom, who in the midst of turmoil, gives us a peace that surpasses understanding
As says: Philippians 4:6–7 (TPT) Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, 7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.
The Crowd’s Response
The Crowd’s Response
We clearly see that the revelation of The King stirred a response from the crowd.
Luke 19:38 (TPT) They shouted over and over, “Highest praises to God for the one who comes as King in the name of the Lord! Heaven’s peace and glory from the highest realm now comes to us!”
How can those who long for God, who cry out for His Kingdom, not worship its manifestation?
How can we not be like heaven’s congregation in…
Revelation 4:9–11 (LSB) And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
We used to sing the KJV version of vs. 11:
Thou art worthy!
Thou art worthy!
Thou art worthy O Lord!
To receive glory, glory and honor
Glory and honor and pow'r
For Thou hast created,
hast all things created
For Thou hast created all things
And for Thy pleasure they are created
Thou art worthy O Lord!
As the Bride of Christ, the church is called to lifted praise and worship to the King.
The Fire Bible, listing characteristics and activities of the ekklesia, the church, says:
(8) The local congregation will consistently meet together—typically on the first day of the week (20:7; 1Co 16:2)—for worship, ministry [to one another?] and mutual encouragement through God’s written Word and the gifts and works of the Spirit (1Co 12:7–11; 14:26; 1Ti 5:17
Yes, we gathered today to strengthen koinonia.
We make an intentional effort to be knit together in close fellowship with God AND each other as we all do life together.
To encourage one another to keep our eyes on Jesus.
We are here to pray together and FOR one another.
We are here to assimilate the Word of God into our lives.
To make the Word part and parcel of who we are.
We are here for the manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit and the Fruit of the Spirit.
But we are also here to worship Jesus.
As we just sang, He is worthy!
Dr. Ray James, writing in 39 Characteristics of Healthy Churches tells us that:
Worship is a critical part of church health.
He writes:
Unhealthy churches do not have an atmosphere of genuine worship, in song or otherwise.
The unhealthiness often is evident when the singing is “all about the show”, as the leader is the only one singing all unfamiliar songs, and the congregation is simply standing and watching.
Worship, by definition, is to show “worth-ship” of God; and our worship is to be to Jesus Christ the Son of God, who laid down His life for the redemption of all mankind.
Love, adoration, and devotion to Him should permeate His sanctuary.
The music pastor/worship leader respectfully leads the congregation in singing praise and worship to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; to His Father and to the Holy Spirit.
Recognizing before entering the church’s sanctuary the people may have encountered all sort of turmoil that besets us daily, it is the worship leader’s ministry to bring the congregation reverently into the presence of God.
The tempo may be upbeat, fast or slow. The music may be contemporary or traditional – but the objective must be to bring adoration and honor to God, as we enter His presence.
So, the crowd on that 1st Palm Sunday worshipped Jesus.
So, we too must worship Jesus.
And, in the power and anointing of the Holy Spirit we CAN!
2 Corinthians 3:17 (NLT) For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
When we let go of the distractions and hindrances of this life, then the Holy Spirit can begin to pour out revelation and prophecy and knowledge into our lives.
When that happens we have the freedom to be ourselves in the presence of God.
It is at that place where God has us right where He wants us – in His presence – focused totally on Him.
And when we see Him like that we worship!
Maybe we’ll fall down.
Maybe we bow or tremble in His presence.
Maybe we shout.
It doesn’t matter – there is freedom!
In worship we will have FREEDOM TO KNOW OUR GOD.
The psalmist wrote in Psalm 22:3 that God inhabits the praises of His people.
He is enthroned in the praises of His people.
When that is so, then we go back to the previous point, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.”
When we worship in Spirit and in truth and God inhabits the praises of His people then when we worship we are creating an intimate atmosphere between God and us so that we can come to know Him better.
The more we worship the more He reveals Himself to us.
1 Corinthians 2:9–10 (LSB) But just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” 10 But to us God revealed them through the Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.
Like the crowd on that 1st Palm Sunday, let’s lay aside the cares of life and worship the King!
There WILL Be Discouragement
There WILL Be Discouragement
But, make no mistake, the enemy knows the power of worship and hates it when individuals worship.
He especially hates it when the church worships.
Like the Pharisees in the crowd, the enemy want worship to stop.
Jesus makes it very clear.
Worship WILL happen.
If people will not worship — Creation will.
I don’t know about you, but I love Jesus too much to let a rock take my place.
I want to worship Him for who He is.
He is my Creator.
He is my Savior.
He is my Healer.
He is my provider.
He is my Rock.
He is my shield.
He is the lifter of my head.
He is my soon-coming King.
How can I not worship?
I want to worship Him for what He has done.
He came and walked amongst us — He experienced all that it means to be human.
But He didn’t stop there!
He suffered and bled and died.
He was buried.
But on the third day — He ROSE from the grave!
He defeated death.
How can I let rocks worship?
NO!
I will worship Jesus for what He has done.
I want to worship Him for what He is going to do.
Revelation 21:3–5 (LSB) And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain. The first things passed away.” 5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
The devil wants to squelch worship.
He will do everything he can to stop it in its tracks.
But I have resolved that I am going to worship.
Have you?
I want to put the fear of God into the devil.
I want to serve him notice that he is a defeated foe.
That happens through a praising, worshiping church!
No Rocks!
No Rocks!
The Pharisees thought they could stop worship if they could just stop the crowd.
But Jesus told them that the worship of Almighty God will never stop.
If necessary, the rocks would cry out.
But with God’s help the rocks can keep silent.
I will worship Jesus.
I will praise and worship Him for who He is.
I will praise and worship for what He has done.
I will praise and worship Him for what He is SOON going to do
As Psalm 150:1–6 (MSG) Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy house of worship, praise him under the open skies; 2 Praise him for his acts of power, praise him for his magnificent greatness; 3 Praise with a blast on the trumpet, praise by strumming soft strings; 4 Praise him with castanets and dance, praise him with banjo and flute; 5 Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum, praise him with fiddles and mandolin. 6 Let every living, breathing creature praise GOD! Hallelujah!
Oh worship team come and lead us in worshipping Jesus.
As they come, are you ready?
Have you died to self — to sin?
Have you received forgiveness for your sins?
Have you coronated Jesus as King of your life?
If not, come and let’s pray together.
If you have, lift your voices.
Lift your hands.
lift your hearts in worship.