2016-02-28
Pastor Jonathan Falwell
Memory Verse:
Joshua 3:5
And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”
Today, we begin the countdown to Resurrection Sunday. The day we celebrate our risen Lord. As we move towards that special day, we want to take a look at the week leading up to Christ’s death and resurrection. We will look at a few of the significant events of that Passion Week that have direct implications on how we are to live today.
Matthew 21:10-13
And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” 11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.” 12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
Getting the House in Order
One of the first things that Jesus did during this week leading up to His death is to get His house in order. After His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, He went up to the temple where he found people taking advantage of those who were there to worship. He used this as a teachable moment and emphasized holiness.
How do we get our house in order to make way for Jesus in our lives?
1. Recognize who He is
vs 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” 11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”
– we must understand and be aware of the presence of Jesus in our lives in order to get ourselves in shape for
Him to do His greatest work
2. Recognize what He expects – HOLINESS!
vs 12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.
Jesus expected the temple to be treated with the kind of respect for which it was created
Presence of God
Representation of God
Repentance
Preparation
Joshua 3:5a And Joshua said to the people, Sanctify yourselves…
1 Peter 1:13-16 NLT So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. 14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. 15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. 16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
1 Peter 2:11 NLT Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. 12 Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.
3. Recognize what brings Him sorrow
vs 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
Isaiah 53:7 NLT I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer. I will accept their burnt offerings and sacrifices, because my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
– When God’s people continue to live in sin as if there has been no transformation because of the Gospel, it brings Him sorrow
Luke 19:41 NLT But as he came closer to Jerusalem and saw the city ahead, he began to weep. 42 “How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes. 43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you from every side. 44 They will crush you into the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you did not recognize it when God visited you.”
– The reason He died was to change us! “New Creation” – 2 Cor. 5:17
Matthew 26:28 For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
“Holiness, as taught in the Scriptures, is not based upon knowledge on our part. Rather, it is based upon the resurrected Christ in-dwelling us and changing us into His likeness.” – A.W. Tozer
4. Recognize what happens next
vs 14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.
Joshua 3:5b … for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.
– Obedience brings joy, peace, contentment
Malachi 3:10b NLT … “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!”