SPEAKER_00 0:00

Amen. Alright. Now, Romans 12. Let's get to it. Romans 12. We are going to mention Palm Sunday today. It is Palm Sunday. And uh we're going to actually read Matthew 21, which talks about Palm Sunday, or what is really it's Jesus's Jesus' triumphal, triumphal entry or triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem. Romans 12.2 though, we're on this topic of transformation, transforming. We're calling this still transforming. So we're on this topic of transformation all year. And this is not just transformation on the outside, this is transformation on the inside. Christ working in us, changing the inside of us so that we can produce something different on the outside. Romans 12.2, I've been telling you, I haven't even got past the transformation part, trying to stir that in your heart, show you it's possible, show you it can be done, show you we need continuous transformation in your lot in our lives. I believe after Easter we'll start getting into the mind aspect and start digging into there a little bit more. But Romans 12.2 has been kind of our staple for the whole year. We've been stuck there uh looking at that, letting it dwell in our hearts. So Romans 12.2, the new living translation, don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Now, if you have a Bible, uh, Matthew 21, verse 1. Let's hop over to there. Um, we're gonna take the story of Jesus' transformation in Matthew 21, and we're gonna go ahead and may you may be a little as you read through it, you might kind of wonder how we're gonna get into the topic of transformation here, but but we will. Uh so let's read Matthew 21, and Jesus is already deep into his ministry, deep, three years deep into his ministry. Uh, he is days away from dying on the cross, and in Matthew 21, he makes uh uh an entry, a magnificent entry, a triumphant entry, a very uh publicized entry into the city of Jerusalem. So verse 1 is where we catch it. As they approach Jerusalem, that's Jesus and his disciples, as they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethpage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there with colt with her colt, uh, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, says the say the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away. So this took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet. Say to daughter Zion, see your king comes to you, gentle, and riding on a donkey, and a colt, the foal of a donkey. The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed. This is what they shouted as Jesus rode this donkey into the city of Jerusalem. They shouted, as we sang earlier, Hosanna to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest heaven. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, Who is this? The crowds answered, This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee. Um, can we read verse nine together? Um I'll tell you when to start reading with me. And read it from the screen. Let's just read it together, right? The crowds that went ahead of them and those verse nine, the crowds that went ahead of them and those that followed shouted, say it with me. Hosanna to the son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed in the highest heaven. Those are beautiful words, aren't they? Like really precious words to be yelling and screaming, and and uh even more so when you're actually speaking them, screaming them, yelling them at Jesus and towards Jesus. It's beautiful. Uh so we are actually in uh if you haven't been with us, you've been missing. So we're in part 10 of this still transforming thing. Go to Spotify, go to Apple Music, go to YouTube, go to your local record shop, and you will find all the past sermons. All right? Anybody remember record shops? Anybody? Record shops? Nobody? Record shops? All right. Never mind. Let's pray. Father, thank you for your word. Thank you, Father, for every seed sown. We thank you, Father God, that it falls into good ground today. The seed of your word shall take root in the soil of our hearts, and we shall see the fruit of it in our lives. According to Hebrews 4 12, your word is quick and powerful today. According to Isaiah 55, 11, your word shall not return void. According to Jeremiah 1, 5, you'll watch over your word to perform it. I pray now, Father, that even as I stand here, even as I stand here, the Spirit of my Father speak through me. Use these lips of Clay to speak your word without error and with excellence, according to your desire. For if we gather to hear the truth of your word and not the opinion of man. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Now Jesus makes a triumphant entry into Jerusalem. What's happening in verse in Matthew 21? This is the beginning of what we call Passion Week. It's the beginning, it's a it's the beginning of this special week that is a week before the crucifixion of Jesus. Some things are gonna take place during this week. Things like Jesus clearing the temple, uh, Jesus upsetting the teachers and the religious people in the temple, uh, things like cursing the fig tree, uh, things like the Passover are about to take place during this time, this this Passion Week, all leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Uh this week we're gonna you'll see the uh the prayer that takes place in the Garden of Gethsemane. You'll see the betrayal of Judas against Jesus. Like all this is about to take place, but this week, this Passion Week, the beginning of all these events, first starts with the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. And it's not just any kind of entry, he's coming on a donkey. Uh coming on what some would consider uh the lowest of probably, I guess, horse breed or whatever kind of breed that is, a donkey, not a horse, uh, not some magnificent big horse, like he's coming on a donkey, and he rides the town on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy given in the Old Testament, that your king comes on a donkey. And we see that even though he comes on a donkey, the news of what Jesus has been doing has already been spreading throughout areas. The news of his miracles, the news of his teachings, his words have spread across regions. And now as he comes to Jerusalem, the main city, the cherished city of the Jewish people that is currently under Roman control, but this precious city that that is just so uh adhered to and admired in a precious joan, a precious gemstone for the people that are Jewish. They are here, and they see finally Jesus coming into the city of Jerusalem, and their excitement is obvious. And in verse 8, I'll go back to it, look what they're doing as he rides into town on a donkey. They throw their cloaks, that's their garments, they they lay them before Jesus on the road, so this donkey doesn't even touch the road. He's walking on the garments of the people. They take palm trees, Palm Sunday, and not just wave them, but they lay them on the road again for this donkey to walk on these branches. And and what is happening here, it's it's their picture this it's like they're rolling out the red carpet for Jesus. That's pretty cool. Like they're rolling out the red carpet for him. You know what I'm talking about? A red carpet, like the fancy red carpet, the movie stars walk on, the important people walk on. The president walks on a red carpet towards Air Force One. Like they, these are it's an it's a symbol of honor, it's a symbol of respect. It was a way, hear me, it was a way to welcome a king. He does his animal, not even, listen, not just his feet, not even his animal will touch our roads. It's a way to show honor and respect. In 2 Kings 9, uh, we have a story from back uh in the people of Israel in the Old Testament. Look what it says. They, the people of Israel, quickly took their cloaks and spread them under him on the bare steps. Who's him? Well, then they blew the trumpet and shouted, Jehu is king. This practice goes all the way back to the Old Testament. A practice that they did back then to honor a king, to give respect to a king, to symbolize the stature of this person. So here's Jesus being honored, revered, respected. But if that's not enough, because in verse 9, they shout expressions of joy, shout expressions of honor. I'll show them to you again in verse 9. Hosanna to the son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest heaven. And by the way, they're not just saying them the way I'm saying them now, they are shouting this, they are yelling this. Hosanna to the son of David. They are publicizing their joy, they're publicizing uh how happy they are, and they're also publicizing, hear me, they're publicizing even their expectations. Because what I want to do is take verse 9 real quick and just simply paraphrase these words for you. Paraphrase what verse 9 is saying, kind of more in words we can understand. And the paraphrase goes like this: this paraphrase of verse 9, it's on the board. Save us, our king, who comes to fulfill God's mission. Save us, we beg you. Take your rightful throne and extend heaven's salvation to us. This is what they're declaring. This is what they're speaking. Save us. That's Hosanna. It's a definition of the word Hosanna, save us. The meaning, save us, our king, save, save, uh, God, save us. It has to do with the word save, save us, our king, who comes to fulfill God's mission. Save us, we beg you. Take your rightful throne and extend heaven's salvation to us. And this isn't new either. This actually is something that is written years before Jesus makes the triumphant entry. And good old David in Psalm 118, he actually says these same words. Lord, save us, Lord, grant us success. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord from the house of the Lord. We bless you. Prophecies being fulfilled. And by the way, God still fulfills prophecies. Amen to that. Like prophecies being fulfilled. This is a joyous moment. This is a moment that marks heaven, it's a moment that marks the world. Like things that were spoken thousands of years before are unfolding right before the eyes of these people. And as we see it in scripture, it's coming to pass. And good news side note: why is it coming to pass? Because if God speaks it in the name of Jesus, it always comes to pass. It's coming to pass. And and everything, I think you would agree with me, hear me, that everything that the Jewish people hear, everything the Jews are doing, it looks great, doesn't it? It sounds great, doesn't it? It's like in line, like this is like what you would expect to welcome Jesus into our city. Stop everything, pause everything. Let's go welcome him as he rides into town. Let's go welcome him as he makes his entry. Let's go make sure that not even his donkey touches the road. Let's go shout out who he is and what he's gonna do. All of this sounds wonderful and it looks incredible. But there's a problem. There's actually a problem with this. And you may think it's catch this with me. There could be a problem when you're praising Jesus. There could be a problem when you're worshiping Jesus. There could be an issue when you're exalting God. That sounds weird. And yet I'll tell you today, it's on the board that the problem is this. The people had an expectation that did not align with the mission of Jesus. And you're saying, well, what does that mean? Well, I'll explain it to you very simply. Save us our king who comes to fulfill God's mission. Save us, we beg you. Take your rightful throne and extend heaven's salvation to us. The paraphrase from earlier. What's the issue with that? Hear me. The people weren't waiting. The people were not waiting for an earthly king. I'm sorry. The people wanted an earthly king, not a spiritual king. The people were looking for somebody, listen, to lead a revolution and overthrow the Roman government that is suppressing us. The people are actually looking at Jesus as some type of political leader that will take his place on a throne that is rightfully his and govern the people in accordance to the way they should be governed. They were not looking. They were not looking at Jesus as they're looking at him. They're not seeing one to die on the cross for them and save them. Hear me, of the biggest problem, the sin in their heart. They're looking at Jesus and saying, Jesus, see that government? Let's go get them. See those people in charge? We're down, Jesus. Let's let's go take what's ours. And Jesus is like, ah, you got the wrong guy. I'm not here to do that. That that's that's actually, I'm not here to be an earthly king. I'm here to be the king of your hearts. I'm I'm not here to lead a political revolution against a nation. I have come to destroy the curse of the enemy. I have come to do a work that no one can do except me, and that is, as we've been talking about, rescue you from darkness and bring you into the kingdom of God. And the people are here, and they're shouting, Hosanna, save us. They're shouting, Son of David, that is, he is our king. But little do they realize that their expectation does not align with the mission of Jesus. It doesn't connect with what he has really come to do. Overthrow the government, lead a revolt. No, the only revolt I am leading is against the kingdom of hell. The only kingdom I've come to destroy is the kingdom of Satan. The problem is not the P, the problem is not the government. People, the problem is your hearts. I've come to work on this and do this. And and what what happens? Because remember, this is the triumphant entry. They see Jesus coming, and it's like they think their big brothers come, like, oh man, you're gonna get it now, man. You're gonna get it now, you're gonna get it, you're gonna get it. You know, like they think here he comes, like, like it's it's on now, it's on now. Yeah, talk to talk to him. He's gonna come on, Jesus, show him what you got. And Jesus is there, like, I don't know what you want me to do, man. And he and remember, it's the beginning. And some days go by. This is we're not at the crucifixion yet. This is the crucifixion week, passion week. We're getting there, and some days go by. And they're noticing. Jesus, aren't you gonna go talk to the people, the political leaders in charge? Hey, Jesus, aren't you gonna start making a plan, put a plan together of how we're gonna overthrow this government? What are we doing? And all of a sudden, now the people are realizing He's not changing anything. And he can put it on the board. And you know what happens? When Jesus does not meet expectations, there's a change amongst the people. All of a sudden, they're like what's his problem? I don't know. I don't know. I thought he was gonna go and and handle something, I don't know. I thought he came to get us out from under this room and I don't know. And then all of a sudden, there's there's this now this little grumbling and changing, and the days are going by. And you know how we know this? Because take I'll take you now to Matthew 27. A few days later, a few chapters later, this is when Jesus is presented before the crowd. He's been pressed with charges that aren't even true, they're false charges, and now a decision needs to be made in verse 22. What shall I do then with Jesus, who is called the Messiah? Pilate asked. They all answered, crucify him. Why? What crime has he committed? asked Pilate, but they shouted all the louder, crucify him. They go from Hosanna to crucify him. And and I listen, I will be the first to admit, were all the people who were present shouting Hosanna, still all the people that were present saying crucify him? I don't know. I'm not sure. Like that whole crowd on the road saying Hosanna is now the whole, the whole crowd crucify him. I'm not gonna lie to you. And and and I I can't say with conviction that all of them are the same people, but I can say this is that Peter tells us something very interesting later in Acts chapter 2, when Jesus has already rose and ascended to heaven, and Peter is preaching his first message to thousands of people. Look what he tells them. Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this. God has made this Jesus whom you crucified. Both Lord and Messiah. And then my favorite one's 37. Look, when the people heard this, they were cut to the heart. Oh man, why'd you have to go there, man? They didn't have an argument. They didn't push back. I mean, if you were accused of being the reason why Jesus had to die, and you know in your heart, like, hey, I had nothing to do with that, I think somebody would be like, hey man, I'm innocent. Nobody said anything. They were ripped. And they heard Peter and they said, He's right. So this leads to the question why is there suddenly a change from welcoming Jesus to crucifying Jesus? Why why the shift? Why the change? How do we go from one moment to worshiping and praising and to the next moment, I want to see him dead? And I submit to you, it's actually not that hard of an answer. And it's the same slide, just put it on the board with me. Why? Because the people did not see Jesus do what they wanted done. It's as simple as that. You didn't do what we wanted you to do, you should die. You didn't do what, hear me, what we think needs to be done, you should die. You got our hopes up? We've heard all these amazing things about you, and now you're here and you're doing nothing that's truly that in their minds, nothing that's helping us, you should die. Crucifying. All because you're not doing what we want you to do. I I highlighted, did you see the word today? I highlighted the word. What they wanted to be done. So, can I ask you a question and we'll bring this thing home to roost? What is your response when you are not seeing God do what you would like him to do? What is your reaction when you've been praying and God's not answering the way you would like him to answer? What is your response when you keep coming to church and you don't see change that you're hoping to see change? What happens when when you keep trying to believe and keep reading your word and it doesn't seem like that thing that you're hoping for isn't coming to pass? What is your response to all of it? Because I guarantee you, if you're not careful, you may look at these Jewish people and say, How could they do such a thing? How could they turn their back on Jesus like that? And if you're not careful, you get presented with the same situation. Jesus isn't doing what you hope he would do. Well, now it's your turn, sweetheart. What are you gonna do in that moment? How is your response gonna be? How are you gonna talk? How are you gonna keep telling others about the things going on in life? Are you suddenly depressed and bummed and sad and angry everywhere you go because Jesus, you aren't doing it. I'm so mad, Jesus, I'm waiting for you. I'm so sad and angry. Or are you maintaining a faith and a trust and a hope and believing that God, I don't know when, God, I don't know how, but hear me, I've made my decision, and Lord, no matter what's going on, what's my response? I still honor you, I still worship you, I still praise you, I still say Hosanna to the Lord God Almighty. I still say, blessed be the name of my God. I still say, God, there's no one like you. I worship you, I glorify you. My God, it doesn't look good, but it shall not keep me from worshiping you, God, every day of my life. And I think to myself that that's the challenge, and put it on the board that I submit to you Palm Sunday, this special day. Actually challenges us is challenges us to examine why do we exalt Jesus? And then within this whole story, I've I've I've read this story every year, three times a year maybe, but come this resurrection weekend. I've read this story at least 40 times in my life. That's how old I am. 40 times in my life. I even know songs about this thing. I know songs that go with this story. Jumping up and down, jumping up and down, jumping up and down, shout Hosanna, Hosanna, jumping up and down, jumping up and down, jumping up and down, shout Hosanna, Hosanna. Here comes Jesus riding on a donkey. Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna to the King. Wave the trees of glory for his glory. Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna to the King. That's what I know. You should talk for me because I'm tired, man. I went roller skating yesterday and woke up thinking I need time all again, man. Josh, can we add that to the set list? He literally went, ugh. I know about I've read about this. I see it and I'm like, wow, this is and the whole time, what I did not catch is that these people are here exalting Jesus, lifting up the name of Jesus, but hearing me put it on the board, crowds were exalting him because of what they hoped he would do. And to me, listen, now that I've been able to read this thousands of years thousands of years later, that's messed up. To have the heart and the mindset of why we are shouting Hosanna, why glory to him, why save us, King? Why all these things? Simply because you want him to do what you want him to do? That on the board, I'll say it like this. This is an incorrect understanding of why he is exalted. I'll say it again. What you see behind me. This is an incorrect understanding of why he is exalted. You do not exalt him for what you hope he will do. I'll say it again for those in the back. You do not exalt him for what you hope he will do. Do you understand why you exalt Jesus? They're doing it. Incorrect understanding. Do you understand why you exalt him? Do you understand why you lift up his name? Do you and I understand why we worship him, why we praise him, why we glorify him, why we sing songs to him that lift up his glory, lift up his amazingness? Why we do these things? Do you know why? I'll tell you why we don't do it. Hear me. You don't exalt him so that your own agenda can be fulfilled. I got plans, God, I got things I want to get done. I want to make so much money. I want to have such a big family. I want to live in this area. I want to do all these things. Glory to God. That's wrong. You don't exalt him because you want to see your plans come to pass. God, I want this for my kid and this for my wife and this for me. I want us to be able to do these things, go to these places. God, I have all these plans in mind, and God, I really want these plans to get done. Hallelujah to you, Lord. Wrong. And I'm telling you, if you're not careful, you get into a mindset sometimes where you come before the Lord and you're not even thinking about Him. You're just thinking about everything you need as you worship Him.

unknown 25:57

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 25:58

And don't look at me funny. I've done it before in my life.

unknown 26:00

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 26:02

Who will be honest and said I might have done that once or twice in my life? If you didn't raise your hand, I will call it now. You're a liar. It happens to everybody up here. Oh God, if I can only get that, I can only get that hallelujah. Oh Lord, if I can only get that new job. Hallelujah, God. Oh Lord, if my wife would only listen to me. Not this wife, your wife. You know, if my wife would only listen to me, hallelujah God. Hallelujah, Lord. Like, like you, you, you get into listen. I'll say this. You worship with a selfish mindset. You exalt him with a selfish mindset. And we're all guilty of it. That is what they're doing. They literally coming, they literally see Jesus fulfilling prophecy, and they are being selfish. They literally see the Bible coming to pass in front of their eyes, and they are worshiping him with a selfish mindset. And I think to myself, my God, have I done this? And when the finally the story unfolded in such a way, and I asked God, have I done this? I felt like God laughed and said, You've done it more times than you realize, son. You don't even exalt him so that you can feel good. You don't even exalt him because I want to feel better, God.

SPEAKER_01 27:23

Selfish mindset.

SPEAKER_00 27:29

Some of you Bible scholars are already ruining my sermon. You exalt him for who he is. Who he is. And you know who he is very simply and plainly. He is the Son of God. And and that and that and that title alone puts on us the responsibility and should put on us the desire to say, My God, Jesus, if that's all you ever are, then I worship you for all the days of my life, my God. I worship you, I exalt you because you are the Son of God. You are God. That's why I lift you up. That's who you are. Hear me. They wanted a deliverer. Jesus said, I didn't come to be your political deliverer. They wanted somebody that would become a new rule in this political, in this uh earthly stage. And he says, I'm not here for that either. And I tell you today, you shouldn't look at Jesus as somebody who just delivers you from your troubles. You shouldn't see Jesus as just somebody who, well, he's gonna help me when times get hard. You and I shouldn't see Jesus just as somebody who hear me, we're gonna rub a rub a bottle here, and he's a genie, and we get wishes granted from him. Selfish mentality, wrong mindset, incorrect understanding. We never exalt him because of what he can do for us. He is simply the Son of God. Hear me, he's the Lamb of God, he is the only way to the Father, he is the way, the truth, and the life. He's the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace, the door, the good shepherd. He is God and God alone. Church, this is Jesus, the morning sun, Jesus, the Prince of Peace, Jesus, the resurrection and the life. This is Jesus. And why do we worship him? Not even because of what he's done. We just say, Jesus, I exalt you because it's who you are. It is Jesus. Holy are you, glorious? Are you, magnificent are you? That's why I worship you because of who you are. And forgive me when I've done it differently. Forgive me when I've had a selfish mindset. Forgive me when I've done it with the with my own assumptions wanting to be granted. And you look at me funny, you say, Have I really done that? Sometimes we just come to church because we're in good moods. Sometimes we come and worship God and we feel like I come to church once a month to mark off my calendar and say, Well, at least I was there. Selfish mentality. Now they're gaining it out. Give me five coming. We're gonna be alright. We're gonna be alright. We're gonna be alright. Can we be honest? We get lazy, we get selfish, we start thinking about which is why I want how tired I am, and all these things. But yet I'll get to church today. I can at least go this month, I can at least go once a month. Selfish mentality. You are starting to get a mindset if you're not careful that all of a sudden you're coming to church for you. Hey, church wasn't made for you, it was made for him. It was come so you could find Christ. It was some so you could hear about Christ, it was come so you can exalt Christ, not you. And I get we want community, amen to that. Yes, we want people to feel welcome, amen to that. But let it always be known we are here to lift up the name of Jesus above all, to lift up his name above all. And I'm telling you right now, sometimes we think, well, well, I'm gonna go ahead and go pray to God, but you haven't prayed to God for a month. But now that you need something, God, here I am. I I haven't, I haven't talked to God in weeks, but God, I'm really having some trouble with you. So here I am. Selfish mentality. And I'm not just talking about y'all, I'm guilty of it too. Say amen if you're guilty of it too. We get guilty of this thing, and the whole time there is Jesus just wanting to be with us. There is Jesus just wanting fellowship with us. There is Jesus just saying, Come be at my feet. There is Jesus just saying, I want to have time with you every day, every day, every day. I want to be with you, child. I want to love on you, I want to help you, I want to touch you, I want to spend time with you, I want fellowship with you. And there he is waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting. Saw my dog at the door this week, and he was there waiting at the window, just looking at me with sad eyes, like Manuel, when are you coming back? Manual, where are you going? Manuel, can I go with you? And I thought, is that not Jesus sometimes? When are you coming back, Manuel? When are you gonna pay attention to me? When are we gonna have some time together? When are we gonna do some stuff together? But if I only come back when I need something, selfish mentality. Selfish mentality. And we're all guilty of it. We're all guilty of it. Look at your neighbor and tell your neighbor, especially you, man. Just especially you. Especially you. You specifically, you, you specifically, you. We're all guilty of it. Maybe it's a little too much, but we're adults and you're okay. I heard an old school pastor, old school pastor, old school pastor. It wasn't even my pastor, although he would say something like this. He says, Some of you visit, some of you visit your drug dealer more than Jesus. And I think to myself, eh. But is there some truth to that? And I think to myself, this is where the Jewish people are. They're worshiping with an incorrect understanding. They're exalting Jesus with a selfish mentality. They're worshiping God, exalting him, and they're not thinking right. Because hear me, Jesus didn't come to lead these people to a political transformation. Jesus came to lead these people to a personal transformation. This was about the heart. This was about their life. Jesus is saying, you have a greater need than political change. You need a change of life. You need a change in your soul. You need a change in your heart. That's the change you need. And and unfortunately, with this incorrect understanding, they exalted Jesus. And you know what happens? Let's wrap this up. You know what happens? Put on the board. Incorrect understanding of why Jesus should be exalted, steered the people away from the transformation God desires for their lives. The danger of it. Matt brought a beautiful teaching on Thursday in our spiritual development class, and he spoke about how we need to have a proper understanding of Jesus when we worship him. We need to have a proper understanding of who he is when we worship him. And I tell you today, these people did not have a proper understanding of Jesus when they worshiped him. And because of incorrect understanding, hear me, they are literally transformed from Hosanna to crucify him. And that reminds me of how dangerous it is when we as the people of God get selfish intentions, selfish ambitions, selfish assumptions in our heart. And if we're not careful, we begin to worship God because God, I need you to do this, and I want you to do this, and God, I'm seeking you because I want this, and I go to church because I need this, and all of a sudden it goes back to the question earlier: why do you exalt him? And if it's only because you want something, I promise you, look at me. When he doesn't answer the way you want him to, there you go. The faith shuts down, the hope shuts down, the desire to serve him starts like starts crumbling a little bit more. Because God, you're not doing what I want you to do. God, you're not answering the way I want you to answer, God. Hear me, I'm doing all these things, God. Why aren't you doing this, God? And all of a sudden, now the God-led transformation that's trying to be done, all of a sudden starts to diminish a little bit more. And it's amazing how quickly it can happen simply because we exalt him with an incorrect understanding. I think that might have been a little deep there. But did you understand what I just said? Did you understand how I just spoke it to you? The dangers of exalting him with selfish ambition, selfish intentions. I want, I need. Listen, God doesn't work according to our timeline, he works according to his timeline. So, God, help me. Help me. An incorrect understanding of why Jesus should be exalted, steered the people away from the transformation God desired for their lives, and put it on the board, and it can still and it will do the same to us today. And I say it because I've seen it. I've seen where people are not getting prayers answered. They're not, God's not doing what they thought they want God to do. They're having selfish intentions, selfish ambition. They start getting, hear this one, they start getting mad at God. And all of a sudden, God, I'm done. I'm done. And that transformation that had wheels, and that transformation that had momentum starts to slow down. And slow down. And by the way, there's no parking brake in this thing. Once those wheels slow down, there's only one way to go. And once those wheels stop, there's only one way to go. You're going backwards. You start lacking faith, lacking hope. And you start thinking to yourself, why am I doing this? That is what happens when people go from Hosanna to crucify him. Transformation just like that. But there's good news. Tell your neighbor he ain't done yet. Tell your neighbor he ain't done yet. He ain't done yet. He ain't done it. Let's wrap this up. There's good news. Put on the board. At all times, we must maintain a correct understanding of why we exalt Jesus. Hear me? At all times. All times. God, you're not answering my prayer. Sorry. I don't exalt you for what you do. I exalt you because of who you are, God. God, my family's not my family's not changing the way I want them to, God. I've been praying for years. But God, it's okay. I'm gonna worship you because you're still God. God, I've gone back to the doctor two, three times already. And God, they're saying it's not getting better. They're saying it's getting worse. But God, you're still my God. And God, if I'm not healed on this side, I'll be healed on the other side of eternity, God. And the only way I'm getting there is because you're a good God. So I exalt you anyway, my Lord, my God. God, my child said he hates me, she hates me. And they walked out that door, they walked out, they said they're never coming back, my God. It hurt, it broke my heart, my God. But Lord, I have trained them up in the way they should go. I am on my knees praying for them, God. I am trusting you, Lord. Where I'm at, there they are. You are there, my God. So, my God, as for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord. My God, I'm gonna keep exalting you. I'm gonna keep worshiping you. I'm gonna keep praising you. My God, I've had the hardest time lately. It's been the hardest week. I've had a lot going on, but Lord, it's Sunday. And as much as I want to stay under these covers and be comfortable, God, and it's raining outside, Lord, and I'm I'm just tired, God, but Lord, you are God, you are my God, and the least I could do is go and offer you a sacrifice of praise and worship today, my God, because you are still God. God, there's a lot going on in my life. How many have had a lot going on in their lives at times? Like, there's a lot going on in your life, man. A lot going on. And hear me, all that going on wants to silence your praise and silence your worship and shut your mouth and get you to start doubting and get you to come before God now with a selfish intention, like, God, I really need this done. And lo and behold, there's the Holy Spirit saying, Hey, hey, hey, don't lift them up because of what you need them to do. You lift them up because he is Lord of your life. He is God and God alone. So to every person I tell to, to every person sitting here today, to every person present here today, I beg of you, I beseech of you, as Paul would say, I beseech of you, I beg of you. Always maintain the right purpose behind your worship. Put on the board when you exalt Jesus with the correct understanding, you lean more into your godly transformation. Listen, this is why problems may not change, but problems can change you. This is why situations may not change, but situations will change you. Because you come before the Lord with the correct understanding. I know why I'm exalting you, God. And guess what happens? Oh, you're growing in faith, you're growing in character, you're growing in hope. Great things are happening inside of you, and all of a sudden, little do you realize you're getting stronger, you're getting wiser. Why? Because you're leaning more into your godly transformation, not away from it. So worship him with the correct understanding and with the hopeful help of the Holy Spirit. Here's what happens, you ready? Worship him with the correct understanding. Your God, your God, your God, your God, your God. I worship you, I exalt you, I praise you. That doesn't know what this is going on, it doesn't matter. Well, I need this, it doesn't matter. You're God, your God. Glorious are you. I worship you because of who you are. I worship you because you're God. You know what happens? A lot of times people like to say, when you worship, a lot of times I hear people say, You make God bigger and your problems smaller. But I have another one for you. Add it to the bank. When you worship, you just don't make God bigger. You make yourself smaller too. Your pride gets smaller, your assumptions get smaller, your needs even get smaller because you're realizing as I worship you, God, this has nothing to do with me. This is all about you and who you are. My plan out the window, my agenda out the window, my assumptions out the window, my selfishness out the window. God, it's all about you. Great are you, Lord, and greatly are you to be praised. Hallelujah to the Lamb of God. And um, I think to myself as we close that I just hope you understand. God gets bigger, and every every problem gets smaller, but even you get smaller. Can hear me? And suddenly as your pride goes, your submission to God goes up. As your will leaves, God's will becomes a higher priority. As your desires flee, it's all God, what are your desires? That's what I want. Make yourself small as you worship him. He becomes bigger. And guess what happens? The bigger he becomes, the greater the transformation in our life takes place. Because everything else fades. And now it's you know what? God, what do you want? That's what I want.

SPEAKER_01 43:54

God, what are your desires? That's what I desire. God, what are your plans? I want those plants. All because God, you are God.

SPEAKER_00 44:06

And your ways are always better than my ways. Church, last point. Go all the way to the last one. So, my question to you: are we exalting him when life goes our way? Or are we exalting him because of who he is, even when his path leads to things we do not expect? And I think that's the heart behind Palm Sunday.

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Why are you exalting him? Why are you worshiping him? Why are you praising him? Why do you lift up his name? Why?

SPEAKER_00 44:42

And in the name of Jesus, every selfish intention is gonna leave my life in Jesus' name. Do not rob yourself of the transformation God wants to do. You say, But Pastor, there's a lot of things I need. Join the line, man. There's a lot of things we all need. Tell your neighbor, tell your neighbor, get in line, man. There's a lot of things we all need. But the one thing we have in common that we all need is our Lord God Almighty. So what if we worshiped him together? What if we exalted him together? What if the transformation in your life we celebrated, and the transformation of my life we celebrated? What if we lift him up always for who he is? No need, no agenda, no assumption, no God.

SPEAKER_01 45:37

I'm hoping for this. No, no. I worship you because you're God and you deserve all the honor and glory. I got a song on my heart. Oh man.

SPEAKER_00 46:04

Because of who you are, I give you glory.

SPEAKER_01 46:11

Because of who you are, I give you praise. The sound guys have caught on.

SPEAKER_00 46:18

Hear me, hear me. You hear it? Because of who you are, I will lift my voice and say, Lord, I worship you because of who you are. Lord, I worship you because of who you are. Jehovah Jirah. My provider. Jehovah Nisi. Lord, you reign in victory. Jehovah Shalom, my Prince of Peace. And I worship you because of who you are. Lord, I worship you because of who you are. Every head bowed, every eye closed. Worship team, quietly come up, quietly, quickly come up. I worship you because of who you are.

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No agenda. No needs. No assumptions. Because of who you are.

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I give you glory. Because of who you are. I give you praise. Because of who you are. I will lift my voice and say, Lord, I worship you.

SPEAKER_01 47:51

Because of who you are.

SPEAKER_00 47:55

Father, convict us today if there's ever been a selfish motive behind our worship. Forgive us today if there's ever been a selfish intention behind why we exalt you. Today, you ready? Lift up your hands. In the name of Jesus, we are not engaging in selfish worship. Lord, we exalt you always because of who you are. Your ways are better. Your ways are higher. I hear you. Yeah, I hear you. I hear you. I hear you. Some of you, I'm proud of you. You have your hands lifted right. Even right now, you're lifting your hands despite tears, despite you've been crying all week, and here you are lifting up your hands. Some of you have been fighting bad news all week, and yet here you are saying, God, I ask God, you're worthy. Some of you are here today and you're saying, Pastor, I've had the hardest time lately. This has been the hardest year so far, and yet here you are saying, God, I exalt you, my Lord. Some of you are here today and you're thinking to yourself, I don't even know how I'm getting through all this, but my God, here I am to exalt you for who you are, my God. No selfish intention, no selfish agenda. Some of you have questions that you're waiting for answers to. Some of you have things of your family right now that you just are not understanding, you wish would change. Some of you are in the middle of the biggest marriage battle of your life. And I tell you today, ready? The Father sees you. Don't leave on me now. Don't give up on me now. Will you worship him because of who he is? Will you exalt him because of who he is? Will you glorify him at all times just because he is God? Today I pray, Father, that is the desire of our heart. That is the desire of our lives. That is the desire, Father, that we will always carry. That no matter the season, we exalt you, hear me, with the correct understanding. It's about you, not about us. It's about him, not about them. It's always to exalt you, God. It's always to exalt you, God. And I pray today, you ready? As we exalt you with the correct understanding, Lord the Father's hand goes to work in our life. As we exalt you for the right reasons and the right purpose and with the right heart, you begin to do a work we could never dream or imagine of. On this Palm Sunday, let it be marked. We worship you because of who you are. All honor, all glory to you, our God, our King. In Jesus' name we pray.

SPEAKER_01 51:00

Amen. Give the Lord a handclap. I love you.