Palms

There were thousands of Palm Sunday messages offered at churches around the globe yesterday. Each one probably spoke about Jesus and His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Our church's pastor even spoke about the significance of the palm tree in Greek culture and the "victory" they proclaimed. This morning, I thought of one more "Palm Sunday" connection that most likely didn't get made.

If you Google the words "Jesus" and "Palm" in a search for images you will see picture after picture of Jesus, most likely riding on a donkey, surrounded by lots of people waving palm branches. The search results are expected.

Now add one word to that search. Search Google for images using the words "Jesus" and "Palm" only add the word "Nails." You will get an entirely different result. That's because there are two meanings to the word palm. Yes, a palm is a tree. But it is also the inside of a human hand. It is where Jesus was nailed to the cross.

Our pastor told us on Palm Sunday that palm branches were used to sweep the temple after the Maccabean revolt which ended in 160 BC. I just thought it was interesting that palms were used to clean a dirty temple and Jesus' palms were used to clean OUR dirty temple - our souls.

This Friday we will celebrate Good Friday. It could easily have been called Palm Friday in my opinion. Either way, it is a time to reflect on the cleaning of our hearts by recalling what Jesus did for us on that cross.

"26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    From the house of the Lord we bless you.
27 The Lord is God,
    and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
    up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you;
    you are my God, and I will exalt you." - Psalms 118:26-28

Jesus Go!

The latest video game craze these days is Pokémon Go! People play it on their phones and they are playing it by the thousands! Or should I say . . . millions.

It's an interactive game where you actually, physically participate in the game itself. That can be fun, but it also can be dangerous, especially when you get close to busy highways.

Why are people so "into" this game? People all over the world are playing it. But the game is nothing new, really. People have been playing a similar "Go game" for thousands of years. Open up your Bibles to the Book of Matthew.

"16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - Matthew 28:16-20

We are instructed to GO and tell everyone about Jesus! But before we can begin our mission we need to download the app - The Holy Spirit app.  We can do that by placing our faith in Jesus, the Son of the Living God. If we repent of our sins, turn from our worldly ways and follow Jesus we will get a free Holy Spirit download and incredible powers in the game of life.

We can't heal the sick or raise the dead but we DO know someone who can. Jesus! We have no power in and of ourselves but we know someone who does. Jesus! When Jesus commands us to "GO", do we? Or do we stay at home with our butts on the couch and not even play the game we have been commanded play? Hmm. How can we call ourselves Christians if we don't follow His instructions? That's part of the basic game instructions.

Can a Christian who doesn't evangelize, in one form or another, truly call themselves Christian? Can we be considered followers of Christ is we don't follow Him? If we don't . . GO?

At the end of this story there is a link to a video called Tic Tac Toe evangelism. The concept begins with a simple act of kindness to those we know - our neighbors. Use that act as a springboard to open up conversation. Somewhere in that conversation, as you get to know one another, tell them about Jesus and what He's done for you. It's that simple.

In Pokémon Go, players earn experience points and earn their way to the top by battling make believe creatures. In Christianity we don't have to earn anything. Everything has been accomplished for us when Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross. All we have to "do" in the Christian faith is believe in Jesus, that He was, and is, the Son of God, that His death paid the price for OUR sins and that through our faith we are given eternal life through the loving grace of God our Father. And then GO!!

Isn't that worth going and telling the whole world about?

I Will Follow - Chris Tomlin

Tic Tac Toe Evangelism - Mike Henry

Redeemed

I thought I'd start things off a little backwards this morning. Usually I have links at the end of my messages. But today I would like you to watch this first before I get rolling on redemption.

Redeemed - Skit Guys (song by Big Daddy Weave)

Have you undergone a change in your life? A dramatic change. What caused that change or led you your life suddenly changing? Was it the death of a loved one? Or perhaps it was a birth? Did you suddenly come clean from an addition? Or did you finally get that job you've been waiting for?

I know one man who reflected on his OWN life after seeing a friend die from cancer. He began to think that he had better get his OWN life in order . . . just in case HE died suddenly. What caused him to think that? Why would he be concerned about getting his act together/ That implies that he KNEW his life needed repair . . . improvement.

There is another man in my life who struggled with alcoholism for many years, yet to day he is as clean as can be, although he still battles the yearnings. Where did this man get the strength he needed to stop that addiction? It could have been a failing marriage. It could have been his children watching him stumbling in the door one night and witnessing his shame.

Another man I know was addicted to drugs. He SOLD the drugs to support his own habit. He knowingly sold kids drugs, getting them dependent upon him for their supply. He gradually turned them on to harder drugs so they would keep coming back for the more expensive means of getting high. Why would this man suddenly stop doing that, give it all up, and lead a more productive and legal life?

Each of those men met Jesus. They finally reached a point in their lives when they reached rock bottom. They were finally willing to try "anything" - even Jesus!! And when they did that, when they finally got so desperate that they turned to Christ they discovered the cure for what was controlling their lives. They left that life behind and began following Jesus.

"24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and will then repay every man according to his deeds." - Matthew 16:24-27

If we go through life without God's Holy Spirit to guide us and convict us of our sins, what hope do we have of being saved? Absolutely none! God gives us the power over sin. We can conquer anything through Christ!! Any addiction, any situation, any trial or pain. We can defeat our enemies through the blood of Christ. When Jesus died on the cross He took away our punishment, he defeated our deserved future, death, for us. It is through our faith in Him that we can truly live. It is through the love of Christ that we have been . . . redeemed.

"13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13

For examples of how people have defeated their demons through their faith in Christ check out I Am Second.