The Obedience Filter
Palm Sunday • Sermon • Submitted
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A little boy was sick on Palm Sunday and stayed home from church with his mother. His father returned from church holding a palm branch.
The little boy was curious and asked, "Why do you have that palm branch, dad?"
"You see, when Jesus came into town, everyone waved Palm Branches to honor him, so we got Palm Branches today."
The little boy replied, " Aw Shucks! The one Sunday I miss is the Sunday that Jesus shows up!"
Well PRAISE GOD… every time God’s people get together, bet it in the building, online, or in this parking lot, Jesus shows up!
The story of Palm Sunday has three major story lines. Obviously, it is the time when Jesus as King enters into the City of David as King. Another story line is the praise and adoration that the people gave, only to change their minds a few days later. The third story line about specific and complete obedience will be the focus of our message this morning. We have already read , but let us focus on our text verses.
And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and 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 hither.
Now more than ever it is important that we as believers filter every action, every word, every emotion through the Jesus obedience filter:
Why am I doing this?
Am I fulfilling Jesus’ need?
Am I completely obeying?
This is the Obedience Filter.
Why Am I Doing This?
Why Am I Doing This?
King James Version Chapter 11
And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this?
And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.
King James Version Chapter 11
And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this?
Pleasure only leads to poverty of the soul as well as poverty of wealth.
He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich.
Lust leads to corruption and slavery
Lust leads to corruption and slavery
From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Love must be the motivation
Love must be the motivation
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Love is the best motivation for obedience.
Love is the best motivation for obedience.
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
I was waiting for my test results from a Christian Education class at the Bible College where I attended. I knew I had every answer right and I was anticipating an A as my grade, but to my disappointment I received a C. The teacher admitted I had every answer right, but I had failed to follow directions. In the opening instructions it said, "Do not put in outline form." Because I failed to follow instructions I recieved a lower grade. I argued with the teacher, "I got every answer right. I deserve an A." He replied, "You didn’t follow directions. You deserve an F but I had mercy on you and gave you a C.
Am I Fulfilling Jesus’ Need.
Am I Fulfilling Jesus’ Need.
King James Version Chapter 11
And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him
This is not some random guy… this is the Lord
This is not some random guy… this is the Lord
The Creator
And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
lk 19 40
The Messiah
And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord:
The Messiah v 9
The Savior
Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.
The King
Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.
The Lord has a need!
The Lord has a need!
And they brought the colt to Jesus, and cast their garments on him; and he sat upon him.
And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.
To Fulfill Redemption's Plan
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
Laborers -
Laborers -
Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
To teach disciples
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
To Cross Barriers with the Gospel
And he must needs go through Samaria.
Am I Obeying Completely?
Am I Obeying Completely?
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 hither.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Glory ye in his holy name: Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.
Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, for ever.
A preacher tells the story...
I was waiting for my test results from a Christian Education class at the Bible College where I attended. I knew I had every answer right and I was anticipating an A as my grade, but to my disappointment I received a C. The teacher admitted I had every answer right, but I had failed to follow directions. In the opening instructions it said, "Do not put in outline form." Because I failed to follow instructions I recieved a lower grade. I argued with the teacher, "I got every answer right. I deserve an A." He replied, "You didn’t follow directions. You deserve an F but I had mercy on you and gave you a C.
As we hurl into the most unique Holy Week we have ever faced, let us remember the lessons learned from this Palm Sunday account. Run every word, every action, every attitude through the Obedience filter:
Why am I doing this?
Is this fulfilling Jesus’ need?
Am I obeying completely?