Matthew 21:10 (NKJV)
10 "And when He had
come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is this?"
In America, we have social order and quiet, peace and safety, freedom abounds in business, social life, religion, family, and justice.
May everyone in America practice the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do to you.
There are good things which stir a city. Some things stir for the better, and some stir evil consequences throughout our nation.
1. What caused this stir in Jerusalem?
The proclamation was uttered by children and common people, not the officers of the state.
The point: where Jesus Christ is proclaimed as King and Lord, there is sure to be a stir.
Even when the stir is in opposition to Christ, there must be some movement.
Jesus is never savior-less. He is always either a savior of life unto life or death unto death.
It means very little who is doing the proclaiming that Jesus is King, for the power is not in their voice that utters the proclamation, but in the truth which is uttered.
If God is pleased to call men of humble birth and little education to preach Jesus Christ, he will get all the more glory because of the feebleness of the instruments God uses.
Whenever Jesus is lifted up like Moses did the serpent, a city, town, or village will be moved.
Jesus Christ himself was present
If the proclamation of the gospel is of power, then much more is the presence of Jesus Christ, who is the sum and substance of the gospel.
· When Jesus goes where demons haunt, they flee before him.
· When Jesus stands among the raging seas, and says “peace, be still” immediately there is calm
· When Jesus speaks all nature and all created beings feel the majesty of the presence of Jesus.
· When Jesus speaks to a soul, the wicked perceive him, the saints of God grow strong in His presence.
WHERE JESUS IS PROCLAIMED AND WHERE JESUS HIMSELF IS, THERE MUST BE A STIR!
Think of the Christians in the early church - Acts 2
They were not:
· Sleepy
· Sluggish
· Idle
IF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IS NOT THOROUGHLY AWAKE, IT CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO AROUSE THE WORLD!
Christ’s disciples were full of joy, and praise to God for all the mighty works they had seen.
Christ’s disciples were generous, taking off their garments and laid them on the colt.
Matthew 21:7 (NKJV)
7 "They brought the
donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set
Him
on them."
Christ’s disciples were all ready to give what they could to grace his triumph.
CHRIST’S DISCIPLES WERE ALL OBEDIENT TO HIS ORDERS.
Matthew 21:6 (NKJV)
6 "So the
disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them."
Matthew 21:7 (NKJV)
7 "They brought the
donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set
Him
on them."
Do you ever wonder why the Gospel does not spread more rapidly on the earth? Are disobedient disciples likely to do their Master’s work well?
If there are commands of Jesus you persistently ignore
IF there are precepts of the Savior, year after year, you forget
If there are doctrines and teachings of Jesus you turn a deaf ear to, can you expect God to bless you?
OBEDIENCE WITHIN THE CHURCH WILL BE SURE TO BRING POWER OUTSIDE THE CHURCH. God will send a stir when His people are in a right heart and life with Christ.
Matthew 21:9 (NKJV)
9 "Then the
multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
"Hosanna to the Son of David!
'Blessed is He who comes in the
name of the Lord!' Hosanna in
the highest!"
When people gather in large crowds to hear from Jesus, there is an excitement of the multitudes, the power of the Spirit of God working on the hearts and consciences of those listening.
In Jerusalem, multitudes surrounded Jesus and many miracles were seen.
· the lame were leaping
· the blind were seeing
· the deaf were hearing
· the dumb were speaking
· a man dead for four days was raised to life
If the Lord will go on saving souls in Hurricane, you do not need to wonder if Hurricane will be stirred! Yes, It will!
· Soul-saving work
· Life to the dead in sin
· Sight to the spiritually blind
· Leaping to the spiritually lame, will stir Hurricane more than anything else.
Pray for a stirring of God’s people.
2. What was the inquiry in Jerusalem, “who is this?”
They could all see that this movement was around a person.
They did not ask “what is this?” but, “Who is this?”
· Some people ask in a scoffing, contemptuous way
· Some people ask in a doubting way
· Some people ask in a downgrading way
· The blind man in Jerusalem – tell me where I can find him so I can have my eyes opened
· The lame man lying at home – Take me to him so I may stand again
Matthew 21:10 (NKJV)
10 "And when
He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, "Who is
this?"
How do you answer this question?
Who is this Jesus, whom you have accepted?
A. To everyone
· He is Jesus, descended to earth and took upon himself the form of man.
· He is God and man in one person with two natures
· He suffered and died upon the cross in the place of all who believe in him
· He is able to cleanse you from sin
· He is able to pardon, forgive and give you a new nature
· He is able to lift you depth of your sins from which you have sunk
· He alone can save
Who so ever will accept him, trusting in him, shall have eternal life.
Who so ever rejects him, shall be beyond all hope and mercy, will perish forever.
In the name of God, we command you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, or it will be your own suffering in eternal torment for soon He will come to be your judge.
BE AT PEACE WITH HIM OR IRREVOCABLY SEAL YOUR OWN DESTRUCTION
B. To sleeping saints
· Unless your acceptance of Christ is false, It is Jesus that has stirred up this excitement.
· His power is being displayed by your sluggish excitement
· His power should be used to save sinners, where you are pleading with sinners and praying for them, not sleeping while you wait for his return.
· His power is not slow moving, but full of stir, causing enthusiasm and excitement
What do you hear on the streets of Hurricane?
Is Christ causing such a stir where people are talking about Christ, sinners are repenting of sins, is excitement spreading throughout from the news - Jesus is in town!
C. To the backslider
· You used to be in fellowship with a church of believers
· You have disgraced your profession
· You have dishonored your Lord and Master
· You have made the whole church sorrowful
· You have filled the mouths of unbelievers with scoffing because of your backsliding.
· You have crucified Christ again and put him to open shame
· Do you feel you must run away from him?
· Yield your soul to him, kiss the feet which were pierced for you.
· Give yourself again to Jesus your Lord and Master
· You have wandered from the good pasture and from the rest of the sheep.
· Jesus is the Good Shepherd, return to him.
EXAMPLES
A mother’s heart desire – she asked you to read the Scriptures every day, but you have not done so.
- She asked you to live your life for God, but you have not
Parents in heaven – you are not following in their footsteps.
3. What became of this stir?
Matthew 21:9 (NKJV)
9 "Then the
multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
"Hosanna to the Son of David!
'Blessed is He who comes in the
name of the Lord!' Hosanna in
the highest!"
A. Some entered the stirring with excitement and enthusiasm.
B. Some, Pharisees, said the world has gone after him! [John 12:19]
There is a stirring in Hurricane.
I urge all you to get involved in this stir.
The congregation of Lighthouse Baptist Church
worships the Lord every Sunday morning.
Traditional worship service is at 9:00.
Contemporary worship service starts at 10:30.
Sunday School meets at: 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday night worship service is at 7:00.
AWANA meets at 6:45 Wednesday nights from
September through May.
Lighthouse Christian Academy is a Bible-based
Christian School, pre-school through 6th grade.
Day Care is 1-5 years old. There is also an
after-school program.
Lighthouse Baptist Church and Christian
Academy are located at 2440 US Route 60, in
Hurricane.
The church phone number is: 304-562-3900.
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