WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:01.120 God, come on. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:07.919 Oh Lord help me. 00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:09.839 How do I compete with that? 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:12.560 I tell ya. 00:00:13.599 --> 00:00:14.160 All right. 00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:15.439 Thank you, David. 00:00:15.919 --> 00:00:18.320 Let's go ahead and open up in a word in prayer before we get started. 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:21.760 Heavenly Father, I just pray that you just take over this moment. 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:26.399 Just take this moment and deliver the word as you intended to this audience. 00:00:26.559 --> 00:00:33.759 A specific word for this day, God, that will inform them but also motivate and encourage them in Jesus' mighty name. 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:34.479 Amen. 00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:35.039 Amen. 00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:36.159 Alright, well, good morning. 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:37.679 Welcome to Generations. 00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:39.200 All right. 00:00:39.359 --> 00:00:41.520 For those who don't know me, my name is Nathan Reeves. 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:45.280 My wife and family, we've all been coming here for almost a couple of years now. 00:00:45.359 --> 00:00:52.799 And I'll just tell y'all if you are a guest, you are coming out at a time where God is just making so many moves in this church. 00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:53.200 Amen. 00:00:53.359 --> 00:00:55.359 Let's just give God a little bit of praise on that one. 00:00:55.520 --> 00:00:56.159 Amen. 00:00:58.880 --> 00:01:05.439 I could speak on and on personally in my own life, just some of the miraculous things that God is doing. 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:12.959 And to some extent it can also be a little nervous because when God is moving you, you don't know the 100% end game, but that's okay. 00:01:13.120 --> 00:01:20.079 You know He gives you these milestones periodically that even if you don't know 100% where you're going, you at least feel it in your heart. 00:01:20.159 --> 00:01:21.760 You know you're going somewhere good. 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:27.680 And that's what I believe what's happening in this church, that something good is happening and it's boiling up. 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:32.319 Which is why I'm going to talk about expectations. 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:38.959 You see, we can expect a lot of things, especially with the revival. 00:01:39.040 --> 00:01:41.840 I know David has preached extensively on revival. 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:45.120 How many of y'all believe that revival is happening in the world right now? 00:01:46.480 --> 00:01:48.400 I know it, I feel it, I see it. 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:59.920 I'm a history teacher by profession, and just being in public education, I can tell you with this generation, this new young generation, that revival has been stirred up. 00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:01.040 You've got a young generation. 00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:16.800 If anybody's Gen Z in here, I know I see some of y'all that there's a there's a stirring up within that that's happening, and God's doing it on purpose, because let's be honest, there's much in the world that has been going on that it is far from God's ways. 00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:24.159 It's it's it's a lot of ideology that seeks to go beyond God, and we see the end result of that. 00:02:24.319 --> 00:02:25.680 It's it's destructive. 00:02:26.000 --> 00:02:30.719 And so with all the things going on in the world, it seems like it's crumbling. 00:02:30.800 --> 00:02:35.280 That's actually the moment God is saying, Aha, now I got my chance, and I'm gonna use it with the new generation. 00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:36.719 He's done it before, right? 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:44.400 Interestingly enough, that's exactly what happened on Palm Sunday. 00:02:44.639 --> 00:02:53.759 Okay, as Jesus, as Jesus told his mother as he was going, as he was about to go up to the cross, he said, Behold, I do a new thing. 00:02:54.240 --> 00:02:57.439 How many of y'all know God is a God about new things? 00:02:58.960 --> 00:03:13.360 And while we can expect that from God, sometimes because we don't know the full picture, our expectations might actually distort what God is really doing. 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:17.120 Expectations distorting reality. 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:20.080 And so I start things off with that question, okay? 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:22.080 I'm gonna let my teacher mode kick in. 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:25.599 I always like to start a lesson off with a question, okay? 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:27.599 And so this is my question to you, Church. 00:03:27.680 --> 00:03:33.199 If you want to take a minute just to chew on this for a minute, what do you expect revival to look like? 00:03:34.479 --> 00:03:37.199 What do you expect revival will be like? 00:03:38.879 --> 00:03:41.759 Hopefully, you're you're having a whole bunch of ideas, right? 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:52.240 Maybe, maybe for those who have been in ministry or have been in the church for years and decades, you've seen revival perhaps one way, and so you're thinking maybe along the lines of that. 00:03:52.479 --> 00:04:00.159 But then maybe you're younger, and your perception of revival will be based on an older perception. 00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:06.879 Or you might also be thinking, no, God, when He He's gonna do something new, He's gonna do it a different way. 00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:22.560 See, and I'm here to tell you, it's important that you start asking yourself that question because here's the thing we can sometimes be so deeply rooted in our own expectations that we miss out on what God's actually doing. 00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:31.920 Because it turns out what we are expecting is actually something that satisfies ourselves instead of actually fulfilling God's mission. 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:33.120 Right? 00:04:33.680 --> 00:04:48.240 And on Palm Sunday, when Jesus made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, you know, there's all the celebration, and then there's there's the palm leaves being thrown down to the ground, and everybody's getting all excited. 00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:53.600 But when things start moving forward, it turns out their expectations were not reality. 00:04:54.160 --> 00:05:02.959 Which is why the very people who are crying out, Hosanna, Hosanna, as Jesus is coming through, they're gonna be the same people that will want him dead exactly a week later. 00:05:04.240 --> 00:05:06.399 And so we have to keep in mind of that. 00:05:06.560 --> 00:05:10.800 So on this Palm Sunday, I want to just dissect this moment, if you don't mind. 00:05:10.959 --> 00:05:11.279 Okay? 00:05:11.920 --> 00:05:16.560 And to start it off, let me just, if you don't know what Palm Sunday is, let me just give you a brief summary. 00:05:16.639 --> 00:05:20.800 So this is the beginning of the end of Jesus' ministry. 00:05:20.879 --> 00:05:24.480 It's the Sunday before the death and resurrection. 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:24.879 Okay? 00:05:25.279 --> 00:05:27.600 Jesus is entering into Jerusalem. 00:05:27.839 --> 00:05:29.839 There's praise, there's shouting. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:34.959 All of this you can find in the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. 00:05:35.040 --> 00:05:37.199 I've got their verses there respectively. 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:41.040 They all tell it just slightly different, but the story is pretty much straightforward. 00:05:41.199 --> 00:05:49.839 Jesus and the disciples, they're getting ready to go to Jerusalem, and on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus is wanting an animal to ride in on. 00:05:49.920 --> 00:05:52.800 And he does specifically specify a donkey. 00:05:52.959 --> 00:06:04.879 So the disciples say, okay, fine, we'll go out, we'll get a donkey, and they go and they find a man, and he's happy to give them one, and he hops on his stallion, and now he's going in, he's going into Jerusalem. 00:06:05.439 --> 00:06:17.279 According to the Gospels, it was a spectacular entry, crowds upon crowds of people, each of them coming out and grabbing palm leaves, which from the culture of that time, that was a that was a symbol of honor. 00:06:17.439 --> 00:06:17.680 Okay? 00:06:18.079 --> 00:06:21.439 It was reminiscent to that of a king coming in. 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:22.000 Okay. 00:06:22.480 --> 00:06:28.000 Now, there's a good reason why they did this, because this is at the end of Jesus' ministry. 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:34.480 Everybody has already heard or maybe have witnessed his miraculous acts. 00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:45.199 They've been to his sermons, they went to see to hear his teachings, they've seen sight given to the blind, water turned into wine, even the dead being raised, like Lazarus. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:48.000 So Jesus' reputation is already well known. 00:06:48.079 --> 00:06:54.000 He's done all these things, and you've got thousands of people flocking to him as he's entering into Jerusalem. 00:06:54.160 --> 00:06:57.199 Indeed, it looked like a triumphal entry. 00:06:59.519 --> 00:07:03.040 But that's what makes this so odd. 00:07:03.759 --> 00:07:13.439 Because the thing is, when Jesus enters into Jerusalem, I can only imagine I could think these that these ancient Jews are believing he's about to do something heavy. 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:15.439 Let me give you some historical context. 00:07:15.519 --> 00:07:20.319 At this time, Jew Israel was under control of the Romans. 00:07:20.800 --> 00:07:21.120 Okay? 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:27.920 Now the Roman Empire, you could just open up any history book, you'll learn out real quick, the Romans were really good at one thing, and that was occupying. 00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:31.040 They had one of the largest empires in the world at that time. 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:35.839 And for the ancient Hebrews, that was a big inconvenience. 00:07:36.079 --> 00:07:38.800 Because you see, it disrupted the way that they did things. 00:07:38.959 --> 00:07:46.480 Being under charge of the Romans, they always had to get their permission even to do their own sacrificial rituals. 00:07:46.639 --> 00:07:52.720 Now, for the Romans, they wanted to be in charge, so they were willing to give and take a little bit, but it was no secret. 00:07:52.879 --> 00:07:54.639 Roman occupation was rough. 00:07:54.800 --> 00:08:03.759 They would are, you know, you know, you can read through the gospel through the Gospels and look at characters like Matthew, one of Jesus' disciples, he was a tax collector. 00:08:03.920 --> 00:08:09.279 And tax collectors, they, especially if they were Jewish, they were considered traitors. 00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:11.360 So this was a tough time for Israel. 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:14.480 They were being overtaxed, they were being told what to do, when to do it. 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:16.639 I mean, the Romans were just authoritarian. 00:08:16.720 --> 00:08:25.680 So when Jesus is walking in, the Jews, when they're crying, Hosanna, Hosanna, you need to understand that was them crying for help. 00:08:25.839 --> 00:08:28.480 And they're seeing Jesus as that help. 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:35.519 But what they don't realize is the kind of help Jesus is going to give is going to be contrary to what they think. 00:08:36.320 --> 00:08:41.759 In other words, their expectations don't fit what's really happening. 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:46.000 As that last note says, that's why he's going to be put up to die. 00:08:46.320 --> 00:08:48.000 He did not fit their mold. 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:49.120 Well, what happened? 00:08:49.200 --> 00:08:50.159 What gives? 00:08:51.120 --> 00:08:53.360 Did they just ignore what was going on? 00:08:53.519 --> 00:08:55.840 Did they just not realize who Jesus was? 00:08:56.240 --> 00:08:58.000 He was speaking about it his whole life. 00:08:58.240 --> 00:08:59.840 Where did the message go wrong? 00:09:00.799 --> 00:09:01.919 It was real quick. 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:13.360 For the Jews, the idea that the Messiah would be this military conqueror was deeply ingrained in their mind. 00:09:13.519 --> 00:09:15.360 And you don't have to look very far to see it. 00:09:15.519 --> 00:09:19.039 Throughout all of Scripture, that's what they were reading. 00:09:19.360 --> 00:09:25.840 All of the major books of the prophets spoke of this Messiah coming in, taking charge, and then restoring order. 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:30.720 I could go through this exhaustively, but obviously for time, I'm going to give you just a few samples. 00:09:30.879 --> 00:09:34.080 We'll start with this, okay, in the book of Isaiah, chapter 9. 00:09:34.320 --> 00:09:40.000 This Messiah that's going to come will be from the line of Jesse, that's the father of David. 00:09:40.240 --> 00:09:42.320 Okay, the first anointed king of Israel. 00:09:42.399 --> 00:09:45.679 So whoever this individual is, it would come from him. 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:53.600 And when he does arrive, Micah chapter 5, he would conquer or slay Israel's enemies. 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:06.720 The Jews always anticipated a savior because time after time again they were under bondage. 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:14.399 By Jesus' day, it was the Romans, but before then it was the Assyrians, the Babylonians, a little bit later the Persians. 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:19.360 So throughout all of Israel's history, one group after another, they were subjugated. 00:10:19.600 --> 00:10:23.600 In fact, it was under the Babylonian captivity that a lot of these prophecies come up. 00:10:23.759 --> 00:10:29.600 One day you're going to be saved, but as I'll show you later, there's a deeper message to some of these prophecies. 00:10:29.919 --> 00:10:33.279 But whoever this Messiah is, they're going to eventually restore order. 00:10:33.440 --> 00:10:36.960 They're going to bring things as they should be, as God intended. 00:10:37.440 --> 00:10:46.720 And most importantly, that last note in Isaiah the wickedness of man would also be judged and punished. 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:51.519 So back to Palm Sunday, Jesus is coming in. 00:10:51.759 --> 00:10:54.080 These Jews know about him. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:11:05.279 Most of them are they believe that he's the Messiah, but in their belief, they're expecting him to do a hostile takeover. 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:09.200 In other words, this is what they're seeing. 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:15.679 The image is kind of blurry, but uh by the way, this is one of those fun AI-generated images that I popped up. 00:11:16.080 --> 00:11:20.159 Give me a depiction of a messianic king according to the Old Testament. 00:11:20.320 --> 00:11:22.320 That's the kind of stuff you're gonna get. 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:26.159 Looks epic, doesn't it? 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:33.759 Coming down from heaven, angels on high, got the sword and uh the bloodstained clothes really, really make it epic. 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:34.320 Okay. 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:38.000 But that's what the Jews were considering. 00:11:38.159 --> 00:11:39.120 That's what they were thinking. 00:11:39.279 --> 00:11:41.840 This had this is this is a time of bondage. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:48.639 Surely the one God sends to relieve us, it's going to be someone who's going to bring the house down. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:55.279 But as I keep but as I as I'm telling you, that's not what was really gonna be the case. 00:11:55.360 --> 00:11:59.600 It will be one day, as I'll speak on here in a little bit. 00:12:00.000 --> 00:12:06.000 But the truth is, that's actually what the Messiah's homecoming is going to be like. 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:16.480 Another one of those AI generation generated images, the coming of the Messiah, as described in the New Testament, Jesus riding it on a donkey. 00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:22.159 A lot more meek than what the Jews were anticipating. 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:23.200 Right? 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:24.799 Much more meek. 00:12:24.960 --> 00:12:25.279 Okay? 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:49.120 This is why we need to be careful with our expectations, because even if we're looking at the right stuff, even if if we're in our prayer time, we're reading through scripture, or we're listening to the most prominent theologians and and sermons, we have to keep in mind God has his agenda, he has his schedule, and some of the things that he's going to be doing are going to be contrary to the way we perceive them to be. 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:56.639 It's like in it's like it said in Isaiah chapter 55, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. 00:12:56.879 --> 00:13:04.240 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:08.000 There's always another angle to something. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:18.559 So we gotta be careful that we're that we're not expecting something that goes against the way God does. 00:13:18.720 --> 00:13:24.240 And so I want to just kind of go off script for a second to speak on revival, okay? 00:13:24.480 --> 00:13:26.720 There's a lot of us that have an idea on revival. 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:35.759 Maybe it's gonna be grandiose, it's gonna be spectacular, maybe it's whole cities with hundreds of thousands of people going out in the streets. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:38.320 I'm not gonna lie, that would be pretty cool to see. 00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:40.480 And in some cases that is. 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:44.240 But what if it's actually quieter than that? 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:47.919 What if we're seeing a quiet revival? 00:13:48.240 --> 00:13:51.200 Would you be any less disappointed? 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:52.799 And get this. 00:13:53.039 --> 00:14:02.240 What if some of the people that are leading the way in this revival don't necessarily fit the mold of what you think a revival should be? 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:04.799 Let me hark on that a little bit, okay? 00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:06.720 Studying history, you learn about revivals. 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:10.879 Two of the biggest ones in America were the first and great and second great awakenings. 00:14:10.960 --> 00:14:13.600 You want to know the funny thing about both of those events in history? 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:18.960 The big name theologians out the day thought it was all in error. 00:14:19.120 --> 00:14:28.159 They didn't like the ministers running those revivals because they're getting out there, they're getting fiery, they're shouting and dancing. 00:14:28.320 --> 00:14:30.799 That doesn't look like what should be going on. 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:36.559 It's not looking calm enough, it's not looking, it's not looking professional enough. 00:14:36.720 --> 00:14:38.639 Oh, they didn't quote enough scriptures. 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:42.720 The thing is, whatever revival is, it's speaking from the heart. 00:14:42.879 --> 00:14:46.159 It's not necessarily a script that you draft in the head. 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:58.480 In fact, God has a history of ripping the script over and over, as he just did with Jesus, because scripts was not going to, we're not going to save mankind of its sins. 00:14:59.120 --> 00:15:03.679 If it follows the routine, if it follows the script or the structure, guess what? 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:11.360 That actually gives the opportunity for the enemy to work because, as the Bible says, had they had known what had happened, what would happen to Jesus, they would have never crucified him. 00:15:13.919 --> 00:15:17.600 So let's get comfortable with the fact that God is always one step ahead. 00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:21.679 That means his ways are going to look and sound a little bit different. 00:15:21.759 --> 00:15:31.360 And I know this for a fact revival that's happening right now with Gen Z is by divine design different than what it looked like decades ago. 00:15:33.200 --> 00:15:34.799 Let's be comfortable with that. 00:15:34.960 --> 00:15:43.440 They're gonna say things different, they're gonna do things different, they're gonna throw in some phrases and slogans that might seem odd to us, but guess what? 00:15:43.600 --> 00:15:46.000 That's a generation that's on fire, and you know what? 00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:47.440 It's captivating audiences. 00:15:47.519 --> 00:15:51.200 Just go online real quick and you're gonna find there's this, there's a movement here. 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:53.360 I've seen it. 00:15:53.519 --> 00:16:01.919 Okay, I'm a millennial, I've grown, I've grown up in this digital age, and I can tell you, for the first time in my life, I feel there's more Christian-based content now than ever. 00:16:02.480 --> 00:16:04.080 And it's a beautiful thing. 00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:13.120 But while some ministers and theologians are looking at this and going, well, that's just not exactly the proper way to do it. 00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:16.559 God's like, I'm not in the business of proper right now. 00:16:16.639 --> 00:16:18.080 I got a message to give. 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:24.879 My thoughts are not your thoughts, says the Lord. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:30.240 It's okay if it looks different than what we think it will be. 00:16:30.960 --> 00:16:43.759 Because I'm gonna tell you, not only is it okay to think that way, it's a necessity because as you're seeing right now with Israel, because Jesus isn't meeting their expectations, they're gonna turn on him. 00:16:44.080 --> 00:16:51.120 If you don't see the way things are moving as God is intending, you might actually be counter-revival. 00:16:55.200 --> 00:17:04.960 I don't want anybody to get stung too much, but I I am kind of a victim of this because you know I grew up I grew up in a in a very conservative church tradition. 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:07.119 Now I got a lot of good things from that. 00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:12.799 But as I'm seeing events unfold now, I have to learn I can't rely on that 100%. 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:15.359 Okay, that framework. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:15.839 Okay. 00:17:16.319 --> 00:17:22.559 I learned to dive into scripture from it, I learned to interpret scripture from it, I've learned that the basis of my thought life and prayer. 00:17:22.720 --> 00:17:26.240 It's a it's a grace to God that I was born into that. 00:17:26.960 --> 00:17:36.480 But if I just rely on that single mindset, okay, then I'm gonna miss out on everything God is trying to do now. 00:17:36.640 --> 00:17:39.759 So just so you know, I'm very much a part of this as well. 00:17:42.880 --> 00:17:45.519 Now back to the Jews. 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:46.640 Okay. 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:51.519 Were there clues that they could have looked at so they wouldn't make the mistake? 00:17:51.759 --> 00:17:57.279 The good news about revival is yes, God always gives the clues. 00:17:57.599 --> 00:18:04.880 And it was in the very same books where Israel was looking to justify their military conqueror. 00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:09.119 Okay, Isaiah, Daniel, Zachariah, all of them. 00:18:09.519 --> 00:18:12.400 You just go down the chapters a little bit and you'll see them. 00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:20.160 When revival's happening, yeah, God was gonna give you helpful hints, but the thing is, it takes a humble heart to realize that. 00:18:20.400 --> 00:18:24.960 This is why, as you read, when you read through the Bible, you have to look at it holistically, not individually. 00:18:25.039 --> 00:18:28.079 And unfortunately, that's that seems to be what the Jews did. 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:29.839 Case in point, take a look at this. 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:36.559 Not only did the prophecies about that Messiah who's gonna come in and sweep in and take over, these were also the prophecies involved. 00:18:36.799 --> 00:18:40.720 Born of a virgin named Emmanuel, also from the book of Isaiah. 00:18:40.960 --> 00:18:43.759 Born from Bethlehem, Micah 5, 2. 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:50.799 Jesus was born in Bethlehem, in the manger, which suffered for man's sins, Isaiah. 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:59.039 I find it interesting that one in particular was missed because, well, that just doesn't sound like the military conqueror. 00:18:59.440 --> 00:19:02.559 Conquerors don't suffer, they get glory. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:11.440 Look at any historical individual, Alexander the Great, Caesar, Napoleon, all of them, they went into conquest to obtain glory. 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:15.440 That's the kind of individual that the Jews thought would be. 00:19:15.599 --> 00:19:21.359 They thought the Messiah would come in and to them be the glory because they restore God's order. 00:19:21.839 --> 00:19:25.599 But the Messiah was actually going to be someone who was going to lay themselves up. 00:19:25.839 --> 00:19:35.599 Like it says in Isaiah 53, he was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, and by his stripes we are healed. 00:19:35.920 --> 00:19:40.000 This was not going to be a hostile takeover, this was going to be a spiritual one. 00:19:40.319 --> 00:19:41.759 And the Jews missed that. 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:48.079 But then there's the obvious would appear on a donkey, Zechariah 9 9. 00:19:49.039 --> 00:19:53.839 Symbolically representing Jesus' humility when he comes in. 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:58.480 There's a reason why I went with those images because one shows them on the white stallion, right? 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:02.160 Looks epic, but then in reality, Jesus came in on the donkey. 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:08.000 It seems the Jews had someone coming in on a white horse as opposed to the donkey, so clearly they missed it. 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:11.839 The issue then was not were the Jews expecting a Messiah. 00:20:12.000 --> 00:20:16.319 They certainly were, but they were expecting the Messiah as they saw fit. 00:20:17.279 --> 00:20:22.960 This was supposed to be their Messiah, and Jesus just did not fit the mold. 00:20:24.559 --> 00:20:25.839 Emphasize it one more time. 00:20:26.000 --> 00:20:29.519 Your expectation can skew your perception. 00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:33.839 We can't go based on simply what we know. 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:41.359 Because if we're going based on what we know, then are we will then are we really yielding to God's judgment? 00:20:42.799 --> 00:20:51.200 God gave us a mind to work rationally, yes, and he wants us to use it, but he also gave it to us so we could discern his spirit. 00:20:51.920 --> 00:20:54.799 And unfortunately, Israel just was not doing that. 00:20:55.200 --> 00:21:00.480 They were thinking about their way, their identity, their national heritage. 00:21:01.680 --> 00:21:03.759 Just a quick reminder, okay? 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:11.759 God kept his promises with Israel, not because they were anything special, but because it was a promise he made generations before. 00:21:11.920 --> 00:21:14.160 He makes this very clear in Deuteronomy. 00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:17.519 So, what exactly are the Jews hoping to save? 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:22.240 Their eternity or just their national identity on earth? 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.839 It seemed to have been the latter. 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:26.480 Because that's what military conquest does. 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:28.960 Not spiritual conquest. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:30.880 It could eventually lead to that. 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:35.759 But Jesus was going to make a spiritual takeover, and the Jews just simply missed it. 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:37.440 Their expectation got them. 00:21:39.680 --> 00:21:43.200 This brings us to a Latin term, okay? 00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:45.440 So here in just a second, I'm gonna make y'all experts in Latin. 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.160 Y'all ready? 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:49.279 All right, you get all right, get y'all engaged a little bit. 00:21:49.519 --> 00:21:49.920 All right. 00:21:50.079 --> 00:21:54.559 This is a Latin term, it's pronounced sensus plenior. 00:21:54.799 --> 00:21:58.880 Everybody repeat it after me sensus plenior. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:00.559 Any or. 00:22:00.880 --> 00:22:01.359 Okay, great. 00:22:01.440 --> 00:22:02.000 What does that mean? 00:22:02.160 --> 00:22:02.480 All right. 00:22:02.799 --> 00:22:03.279 Fuller sense. 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:03.759 Yeah. 00:22:04.000 --> 00:22:05.119 Fuller sense. 00:22:08.720 --> 00:22:10.960 She's a she that's a great student right there. 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:14.720 Anyways, Latin for fuller sense, okay? 00:22:14.799 --> 00:22:16.880 And in other words, it's a deeper meaning. 00:22:17.039 --> 00:22:19.839 This is something that is implied in hermeneutics. 00:22:20.079 --> 00:22:25.279 This is the uh this is the art of interpreting scripture and pulling the message and meaning out. 00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:28.559 How many of y'all know that you can't just read through the Bible like it's a textbook? 00:22:29.200 --> 00:22:29.440 Okay? 00:22:29.839 --> 00:22:31.039 The Bible doesn't work like that. 00:22:31.200 --> 00:22:37.599 And I can tell you firsthand, especially as someone in grad school right now, that's that's exactly how you approach things. 00:22:37.680 --> 00:22:48.240 Okay, you look at it from an academic perspective, you look at it from a critical perspective, you're looking at it, and you're really nitpicking the details of it rather than seeking what's behind it. 00:22:48.319 --> 00:22:49.279 You know what I mean? 00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:53.759 And theologians understood this really since the days of the early church. 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:59.599 We were actually, we actually had a lesson this morning about that, so I'll kind of pull off of that real quick. 00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:06.480 When it comes to, when it comes to Jesus and who he is and what he is, there was no doubt a lot of controversy about him, okay? 00:23:06.880 --> 00:23:13.279 And all the decent ministers would go to scripture to try to learn about him and and see who he was. 00:23:13.359 --> 00:23:16.079 And that also includes includes the prophecies behind him. 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:16.640 Okay? 00:23:16.880 --> 00:23:27.359 Now, if you go into the Old Testament prophecies and you read them, those scriptures that I that I gave you as references, I'll admit, they do kind of seem off and out there. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:32.000 But you see, that's actually how God works. 00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:36.319 Let's we've got to remind ourselves, God has a hindsight when he speaks to his people. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:36.880 Okay? 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:46.880 And while he may be giving a message specific for that day and time, as Paul says, that also can be a type and a shadow for things to come. 00:23:47.039 --> 00:23:49.440 You see, the early church understood that. 00:23:49.759 --> 00:24:07.599 And when the gospels were being written, those authors understood that what was written in the Old Testament, yeah, was partly about Israel in its bondage, but also about the everlasting covenant that would emerge during Jesus' ministry. 00:24:07.759 --> 00:24:13.039 In fact, that word everlasting meaning forever, that lets you know this is something enduring. 00:24:13.759 --> 00:24:23.039 So it may look like in a in a specific moment in Israel's history, whether it's in bondage by Assyria or Babylon, but it actually alludes to future events as well. 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:26.160 And that's the deeper meaning of these passages. 00:24:26.319 --> 00:24:28.160 I'll give you an example right here, okay? 00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:30.559 Isaiah 7.14, okay? 00:24:30.720 --> 00:24:32.960 This is a passage that speaks of the virgin birth. 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:37.440 Now, as you're reading through Isaiah, you'll notice it's talking a little bit about Assyria. 00:24:37.680 --> 00:24:46.319 Well, when when Israel was under bondage in Jesus' day, it wasn't Rome, but Rome did historically conquer the lands that belonged to Assyria. 00:24:46.880 --> 00:24:58.240 Therefore, Assyria wasn't necessarily about Assyria, it was actually about the power operating under the same spirit of Assyria, under control and under bondage. 00:24:58.319 --> 00:25:02.799 And this time it was the Romans, and we know this because it is recorded. 00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:06.160 Jesus is born of a virgin in Matthew. 00:25:07.839 --> 00:25:19.759 That's sensus plenty or the scriptures are indicating something farther ahead than what you initially perceive. 00:25:21.359 --> 00:25:23.680 And so the Jews missed out on that. 00:25:24.079 --> 00:25:30.240 That's why they misunderstood Jesus when he went into Israel on a donkey. 00:25:30.400 --> 00:25:41.920 It's also why they didn't understand that when he entered into Jerusalem, the first order of business wasn't to go after the Romans, it was actually to clean house. 00:25:43.519 --> 00:25:55.920 Because when Jesus stepped in, he went right after the temple grounds, which should have been a place for worship and prayer, but instead it turned into a place of business. 00:25:57.519 --> 00:26:03.200 During this time, you had to have you had to have all kinds of animals to conduct sacrifices to atone for one's sins. 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:09.279 But you had all these people that were there, and they were turning it into a gimmicky business. 00:26:09.359 --> 00:26:17.519 You had money exchangers there to convert currency, you had all these dance people throwing up advertisement, the finest lamb, the spotless lamb. 00:26:17.599 --> 00:26:23.920 I can only imagine what it would look like on a modern Facebook page with all the ads on them, because that's exactly what's happening during this time. 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:29.920 And then Jesus shows up and he's like, My house is supposed to be a house of prayer. 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:32.799 So no wonder he flipped the tables. 00:26:34.160 --> 00:26:40.960 And it was that moment that the Jews revealed their true hearts, their true intentions. 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:43.680 They wanted business as usual. 00:26:44.720 --> 00:26:48.640 Yeah, the Romans were an inconvenience, but gosh, this is awful. 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:52.160 You have to understand what Jesus did disrupted an entire system. 00:26:52.400 --> 00:26:55.839 The Romans relied on that in part to keep the Jews in check. 00:26:56.319 --> 00:27:05.200 But because of pressure to keep up with Roman tributes and taxes, they turned a holy institution into one that further bound the Israelites. 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:12.319 How ironic! Because sacrificing for their sins was supposed to was supposed to atone for them. 00:27:12.799 --> 00:27:14.640 It was supposed to be an atonement. 00:27:14.880 --> 00:27:19.200 But instead, what they're doing is they're rebounding themselves over and over again. 00:27:19.519 --> 00:27:25.920 So Jesus had to fix the system, but it's in that moment where the Jewish high priest realize, okay, this this guy's got to go. 00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:31.759 He's not the Messiah we expected him to be. 00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:33.920 It's time to get rid of him. 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:41.200 And so they will conspire with one of his own disciples, which let me speak on Judas real quick. 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:42.640 He's in the same boat here. 00:27:43.119 --> 00:27:46.559 In some sense, I read Judas's story and I go, How did you miss it, man? 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:50.960 But when you consider the spiritual implications here, it makes more sense. 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:55.599 Judas was thinking the Messiah was going to overthrow Rome. 00:27:57.599 --> 00:27:59.599 He'll feel guilty about it later. 00:28:00.400 --> 00:28:02.400 He'll hang himself because of it. 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:09.759 But his heart was set on military conquest, not spiritual revival. 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:12.880 And so he participated in it. 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:25.440 Jesus is then taken up, he's put on trial, handed over to the Romans, and then about a week later, from that triumphal entry that he made, he is going to be dying on the cross. 00:28:25.920 --> 00:28:29.039 But glory to God, how that was a part of the entire plan. 00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:32.400 That's what you call revival. 00:28:33.039 --> 00:28:45.279 Because the the neat thing about all of this is despite all that happened, God made his ways known and possible. 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:51.359 There was no disrupting God's plan to bring everlasting life to all of humanity. 00:28:51.599 --> 00:28:53.279 How beautiful is that. 00:29:11.759 --> 00:29:15.759 To this day, in mainstream Judaism, Jesus was not the Messiah. 00:29:15.839 --> 00:29:17.759 He's a blasphemer and a heretic. 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:20.480 How many of us would like to see that turnaround happen? 00:29:22.640 --> 00:29:24.240 And I believe it's starting. 00:29:24.480 --> 00:29:29.440 There's a lot of events going on that's showing us that our Lord is coming back. 00:29:29.680 --> 00:29:31.039 And indeed he will. 00:29:31.920 --> 00:29:36.799 In fact, that's part of the inspiration behind the last book of the Bible, Revelation. 00:29:36.960 --> 00:29:39.519 Okay, because here's the thing the Jews weren't entirely wrong. 00:29:39.680 --> 00:29:43.359 When the Messiah comes, the Messiah's gonna come with military conquest in mind. 00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:44.480 Yeah, it's gonna happen. 00:29:45.359 --> 00:29:47.039 There's no doubt about it. 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:51.119 But we have to understand it in God's timing. 00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:56.480 When Jesus first came, it wasn't about conquest, it was about grace. 00:29:57.359 --> 00:30:03.279 And it was about breathing life into a world that had been dead for centuries since the fall of Adam and Eve. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:07.519 The second time, though, will be the conquest. 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:11.680 And when it happens, everything is going to be set as it should. 00:30:11.920 --> 00:30:12.559 Amen. 00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:14.480 Amen. 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:23.440 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, and in all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your past. 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:25.680 Proverbs 3, 5 through 6. 00:30:26.000 --> 00:30:38.400 As long as we don't get overly fixated with how we think God is going to do things, then I can guarantee you, church, this revival is going to have a profound impact on the world. 00:30:38.559 --> 00:30:45.839 And I can tell you right now, whole nations are just it that they're burgeoning to get their churches going. 00:30:46.319 --> 00:30:49.200 You see it right now, it's partly why all these events are happening. 00:30:57.920 --> 00:31:02.480 Even to a certain extent, Russia, because it's under a rough regime. 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:04.400 It's under an authoritarian regime. 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:12.720 God is wanting to take those down so that way his people can freely worship them and manifest his kingdom in those parts of you. 00:31:13.200 --> 00:31:26.079 Because I tell you this, technically, as Paul says it actually in 1 Thessalonians, you're not going to see that second coming until all the earth bows and surrenders to Jesus. 00:31:27.119 --> 00:31:33.200 So that should encourage us, ladies and gentlemen, that Jesus is coming, but we have to do our part. 00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:35.519 We've got to jump on board in this revival. 00:31:35.680 --> 00:31:36.720 We've got to do our part. 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.920 And you want to know what? 00:31:38.079 --> 00:31:41.440 Who cares if it looks a little different than what other people may say? 00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:42.400 Amen. 00:31:43.680 --> 00:31:49.519 Because as long as the gospel is being preached, the Spirit of God is going to handle the rest. 00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:52.079 Our job is just to get it out there and get it started. 00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:56.720 And I know for a fact that that's happening now in this nation and nations worldwide. 00:31:56.960 --> 00:31:57.519 Amen? 00:31:58.960 --> 00:31:59.599 Amen. 00:32:01.039 --> 00:32:03.119 Let's go ahead and turn the music up. 00:32:05.440 --> 00:32:14.079 So I hope now that you know a little bit about Palm Sunday, you have a better understanding of what the Lord is doing in this day and age. 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:22.880 And hopefully that also encourages you to start walking into this more wholeheartedly. 00:32:24.000 --> 00:32:29.359 Catherine earlier was talking about a hesitancy, okay? 00:32:29.599 --> 00:32:31.279 The world has its way of doing things. 00:32:31.359 --> 00:32:33.279 The world tells you how things should be done. 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:39.359 You know, she brought up specifically financial trouble, but this includes, this can be applied to anything, okay? 00:32:39.519 --> 00:32:48.480 Whatever situation or challenge that you're in right now, you're believing in this revival, but you're just wondering what part, what part do I play in this and how do I do this? 00:32:48.880 --> 00:32:51.279 That's the time to press into the Lord the most. 00:32:51.440 --> 00:32:58.160 Because I can almost guarantee you, what you think you should be doing, God might actually be telling you to do something different. 00:32:58.880 --> 00:33:03.440 It might not make sense at first, but you'll want to do it. 00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:08.400 Let's not move against this move of God that He's trying to do in the world, okay? 00:33:08.559 --> 00:33:12.079 Let's not let our expectations get the better of our judgment. 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:14.319 Put those aside. 00:33:14.480 --> 00:33:16.720