The Road To The Cross: Getting Ready For Arrival

2015-03-29 
Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Today, we observe the ordinance of the church – communion. Earlier, we celebrated the ordinance of baptism. Both point us to the truth of the Gospel – that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again for our salvation.

Communion:
1 Cor. 11:23 (NKJV)
“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.”

Memory Verse:
Mark 11:9 (NKJV)
“Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’”

Getting Ready For Arrival

Over the past few weeks, we’ve been talking about walking the road with Jesus. We’ve talked about being sure we are “all in” in our commitment to serving and representing Him. Last week, we were in the Garden of Gethsemane with Jesus and the disciples in the hours leading up to His death. Today, we take a step back in time to earlier that week when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem.

Mark 11:7 (NKJV)
“Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD! 10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David That comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!’”

All of us play a role in preparing for His arrival. All of us must be making ourselves ready and helping to get the world ready for His coming. Today, let’s talk about what it takes to be ready for arrival.

1. Sacrifice
8a “And many spread their clothes on the road…”
– They were willing to give their all in order to pave the way for Christ
– This must be our heart attitude as well
– Willing to give, willing to make sacrifices, willing to do whatever it takes to point people to Christ.
– Prayer is essential

2. Work
8b “…and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.”
– Giving is important. Going is also important
– Giving and praying make a huge difference, but faith without works is dead
– We must be willing to serve, to work, to bring people to Christ

3. Worship
9 “Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: ‘Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’”
– A continual recognition of who Christ is
– As they traveled the road that day in Jerusalem, there was no marketing, no commercials announcing the event, it was just ordinary people realizing He was different and they would do anything to mark His arrival and to be in His presence.
– Will we do the same?