Building a Life of Sacrifice

Cross Creek Community Church, Pastor Dave Martin - March 29, 2015 “Defining Moments” Palm Sunday, Luke 19:29-44

A certain courthouse in Ohio stands in a unique location. Raindrops that fall on the north side of the building go into Lake Ontario and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, while those falling on the south side go into the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico. At precisely the point of the peak of the roof, just a gentle puff of wind can determine the destiny of many raindrops. It will make a difference of more than 2,000 miles as to their final destination… The spiritual application is clear. By the smallest deed or choice of words we might set in motion influences that could change the course of others’ lives here and now, and could also affect their eternal destiny – Defining Moments! Our Daily Bread, June 12, 1994.

Bible records many “Defining Moments”... David’s Goliath, Stephen’s Martyrdom, Noah’s Flood, Moses’ Burning Bush, Elijah’s Jezebel, Joseph’s brothers, Joshua’s Jericho, Daniel’s Lions, Peter’s Waterwalk...

Defining Moments have altered and forever sealed into our memory & lives the facts of how things can change in a moment of time…  Tsunami Wave, Hurricane Katrina, 911, Berlin Wall fell, Shuttle Disaster, First moon walk, JFK Assassination, The Great Depression, Titanic, WWII… They are earmarks of our history but by no means are they the end. For many Defining Moment’s, “World Shaking Events” await us in the future...  Many of us have encountered a moment of time when we were steered in a new direction...  Many of you made a conscious decision to step out in faith trusting God… changing course of your life  This past week Cross Creek experienced Celebration Sunday where we received a special love offering toward our new building project… Building for Life, for additional classroom space and multipurpose area  Someone wrote & prayed a powerful prayer that was placed in the wheelbarrow last week… Let me read:

Celebration Sunday Prayer… Dear Heavenly Father, I come before you to ask for great things with high expectations of abundant blessings to transform this community for you. Use these monies to build walls and classrooms in which children will give their hearts to you. Where they will memorize your word and hide it in their hearts. Where they learn that they are loved and how to love in return. Where they will learn to serve, not be served. Where they will make friendships to last a lifetime. Where they feel safe. Where they discover their talents and value. Where they will remember you. So when they leave this place and go out into this world each day, as we approach your return, their shields are strong to quench the firing arrows that will inevitably fly at them. God, surely the church is your people and not the four walls that surround us. But we ask that you raise up men to work with willing hands to accomplish the construction. Strengthen their brotherly love and unite and edify them to be the husbands and fathers to lead our families. God, encourage the hearts of our women to come before you in prayer and thanksgiving and to meet the needs of your people in our homes, church and community. You have called us each to serve you and may this building be a city on a hill to illuminate this valley for you. Be with our shepherd as he guides us and has such passion and vision. Protect us, unite us and call us for great things. We love you and thank you in advance for what you will do here. In Jesus name, Amen

I could not read this without tears welling up in my eyes… Well, the Lord heard and answered all our prayers with an incredible offering… Are you ready? Here it is! Celebration Sunday Offering… Cash/Checks 63,917.00 Coins 2,636.68 (Swimming pool full, with a machine two days count) Faith Promises 36,867.00

Total, Building for Life Sunday 103,420.68 PLUS: Regular Tithe/offering 12,538.30 (That’s over $79,000 cash/checks one Sunday!) Existing building fund of 18,208.15

(+ Individuals who were absent this past Sunday and those who have moved away and watch via streaming)

 What a sacrificial giving, what a love, what a joy as we give to the Lord! Thank You Jesus! God is working!  Celebration Sunday was a defining moment in so many ways individually & corporately as a church!  This Palm Sunday we’re going to look at the Triumphal Entry – a Defining Moment

The Triumphal Entry records a defining moment in the life of Jesus Christ, the Nation of Israel and the Church. Making His way to Jerusalem, Jesus went through Jericho where He encountered Zacchaeus (Luke 19) and healed two blind men (Mt 20:29-34). Jericho is about 17 miles from Jerusalem. Hundreds of thousands Jewish worshipers were making their way to Jerusalem for the upcoming Passover – ascending some 3000 feet in elevation to Mt Zion the Temple Mount. As they journeyed they sang the psalms as they marched. Song of Ascents, the title given fifteen short psalms from Ps 120 to Ps 134. Ex, Psalms 121:1-2 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

 But as they approached Jerusalem they came to Bethany, 2 miles from Jerusalem on the Mt of Olives. Bethany is where Jesus earlier resurrected Lazarus from the dead (John 11) infuriating the Jews who placed a price on the head of Jesus (Jn 11:57 – orders to report Jesus if found so he could be arrested)  Six days before Passover, Jesus pauses at Mary, Martha, Lazarus house... the crowd swelled (Jn 11:9)  The next day a great crowd accompanied Jesus Christ (Messiah) into Jerusalem… “Triumphal Entry”

1. Defining Moments in Serving the Lord. Luke 19:29-35 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.'" 32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying the colt?" 34 They replied, "The Lord needs it." 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.

 Jesus said, go to the village ahead... You will find a colt... Untie it and bring it here… The two disciples fully obeyed… They used their own coats for a saddle & helped Jesus upon this colt (never ridden before) all in fulfillment of O.T. prophecy… Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.  The colt was a symbol of peace. Jesus came to bring peace, v42... Donkey is also a symbol of service.  Jesus was not coming as a conquering King in pomp & ceremony but on a lowly donkey – a sign of peace  Vs31,32 “The Lord needs it” (o kurios) strong expression; supreme authority, same as saying “Jehovah”.  A defining moment for the two disciples and in fulfillment of OT prophecy – Presentation of the Messiah!  Seen throughout scripture… David, Daniel, Moses, Paul, Disciples… God shows up as we serving the Lord…  Perhaps a DM could be yours when you realize God wants to work through you as He did last Sunday!  Last Sunday you experienced a Defining Moment in your life as you prayed, considered & gave!!  Faith without works is dead… Real faith is always seen in serving, in giving, in loving… Making a difference!

Galatians 5:13 13 You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love. 1. Defining Moments in Serving the Lord!

2. Defining Moments in Worshiping the Lord. Luke 19:36-40 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" 40 "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."

 Jesus was a wanted man, yet the people went wild...The people praised God for all the mighty works they had seen... spreading clothes on the pathway a symbol of subjection to a Ruler King (roll out red carpet)  Some estimated Jerusalem swelled to nearly 2 million people during this time, the atmosphere was charged… A great Celebration as Jesus entered Jerusalem… Only time Jesus permitted a public celebration and proclamation on His behalf… His Official Presentation as Israel’s long awaited Messiah…  In the midst of a huge throng of people, they loudly proclaimed Jesus in jubilation … o “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord” – Luke (Usher in the kingdom of God) o “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest” – Luke (Like the birth announcement from angels) o “Hosanna” – John, Mark (Save now! – people desired to be saved from Roman oppression) o “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our Father David” – Mark (the messianic, earthly kingdom) o “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” – John, Mark, Mt (OT quote Ps 118:26) o “Blessed is the King of Israel” – John (Political, National, Spiritual King of Israel) o “Hosanna in the highest” – Mark, Mt (Save us we pray to God Almighty – Ps 118:25-27) o “Hosanna to the Son of David” – Mt (Salvation from Roman oppression, David – Messianic line)  Then the Pharisees (religionist) “shut up” – Jesus replied – I will be praised & hailed King no matter what.  If you fail to worship your Savior, yet stand speechless, emotionless - don’t expect God to work in your life  Allow this day to be a DM in your life... Jesus is God, I too will worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth!

John 4:24 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” Romans 12:1 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.  Fully surrendering to God in every area of our lives… As a living sacrifice in love with the Lord!

3. Defining Moments in Recognizing the Lord. Luke 19:41-44 41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to you."  Jesus saw the hearts of the people and He “wept” – sob, uncontrollable outburst of deep sorrow/ tears.  The prediction of Jerusalem’s terrible fate we see the compassion of our Lord for a people doomed to utter destruction... Sin dooms the fate of the nation of Israel, they will reject their Messiah, Jesus Christ.  This is a tragic defining moment... For 3 years Jesus healed the sick, lamb & the blind, He cast out demons, raised the dead, He stilled the storms, fed the multitudes, cleansed the lepers... He fulfilled hundreds of OT prophecies even now riding into Jerusalem on the back of an unbroken young donkey, Zech 9:9  The Jewish leaders knew the scriptures yet rejected Him (though some believed)... Many people wanted his miracles not His forgiveness. They wanted freedom from Rome’s oppression not a servant king…  The people wanted a conquering warrior King not someone riding a donkey... Jesus burst out sobbing!  Jesus then predicted the destruction of the temple which was fulfilled by Titus of Rome in AD 70… After a siege of 143 days, killing of 600,000 Jews, taken thousands more captive and then destroying the temple and the city… WHY? Because they did not recognize the time of God’s coming to them! Israel’s Messiah  They rejected Him… They saw the miracles… feeding multitudes, healing blind, leper, raising dead, they heard His teaching… BUT, Jesus claimed Deity… Before Abraham was, I AM… I and my Father are One…  Jesus claimed to be God in the flesh… Christ/Messiah/Anointed One… Reason Crucified for blasphemy…  Defining moment, even to this day... Salvation turned from the Jew to the Gentile & the Church was born Romans 11:25-26a I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved... [Yet future, at the end of the Tribulation Period when Jesus returns to earth]

 Even though He knew they would reject Him, it was a defining moment for Jesus... to go to the cross.  We see God’s sovereign plan… Redemption through His Son to those in believe in Him through faith

John 3:16-17 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (Study - 1Jn 4:10, 1Co 1:18, 1Pet 3:18, Mt 13:15, Eph 5:17)  We all have a sin problem needing forgiveness… Jesus sacrificially died for you…  Two groups people: The saved believe & are not condemned; the unsaved do not believe & condemned

Consider the “Defining Moments” in your life... Jesus came not to condemn but to save you - whosoever God works in each person’s life. There are moments, both positive and negative, which have defined and redefined who we are. Those events penetrated our lives with such power that they affected the very core of who you are and what you believe… Defining Moments  Your marriage, first child, college or military, death of a loved one, a dreaded disease, fiery trial...  Defining Moments in your life where you get rocked to the core... often this is the place you hear God!  We must not be like the religious Jews with hard hearts who did not recognize God’s coming to them…

4. Defining Moment in Receiving the Lord Personally. John 1:10-13 10 He came into the very world he created [incarnation], but the world didn’t recognize him. [human ignorance and blindness caused by sin] 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. nlt [supernatural work of God in regeneration by the Holy Spirit]  All who believe in Jesus and accepted Him into their lives will be saved and go to heaven, eternal life!

Defining Moments… In the life of Jesus, defining moments in our lives… Be absolutely sure of your salvation in Jesus! Be evaluating life’s moments through the lens of scripture! Be living worthy of your calling, reaching your world for Christ!

Be praying for and inviting people you know to our Good Friday and Easter services next week! Let’s Pray (Next two weeks read Mt 27 & 28 daily)