“Palm Sunday” - Pastor Steve Tuck

Good morning church family

Pastor Scottie is in Costa Rica

With there's 11 folks from better from our church that are down there right now

Ministering to young kids building classrooms. There should be a picture up there. Can you see them?

Huh? Just in case you missed them. Yay. It's okay to clap in church. It's alright

Who would have thought three years ago when the Lord planted this church that we would be

Traveling to another country to minister to children. We love children, especially children that have been rescued

From the slave market and they're working really hard down there. They're finishing the classrooms and stuff and

They're eating very well. I found out

In case you didn't know your pastor and mine Scotty the first night they were down there

He well in the restaurant there was a mechanical both

No

Okay, yeah

Yes, he did get on the bull

That's our pastor Scotty. So today of Scotty asked me to fill into a forum today while he is gone

Today is a very special day for ask Christians. It's a season that we celebrate

During these this season

Christians we like to celebrate the birth of Christ. We celebrate the death of Christ

Why because he went to the cross he defended defeated sin he defeated defeated death and then next weekend

We'll celebrate the resurrection of Christ

But today we celebrate Palm Sunday when Christ is presented as the Passover sacrifice

We celebrate the his triumphal end entry and today marks the start of Holy Week of

Passion Week a

Very special week for us as Christians

Before we get started. I want to pray for our Costa Rica team and

I want I'm gonna ask the congregation to pray for a member a member of our church by the name of

Dan Fronsack, he's gonna be having surgery here in a couple of weeks

I'm gonna ask the congregation to lift him in prayer. We'd love Dan if you don't know who he is

He usually comes in the front row right here. He's got a walking stick

That's about this tall and the kids just love him

So let's pray for our Costa Rica team today services that lift up our brother Dan father God

We we do thank you for this day. We pray for

These messages today your message is God we pray for the team in Costa Rica. We pray that you would bring them home safely

this Friday

lifting up Lord and

praying for our brother Dan Lord that you would be with the physicians as they

Operate on him. We pray that you would keep Dan

Full of energy keep them encouraged and bring them back among among them amongst us Lord

As we love this man like you do in Jesus name. Amen

So today being Palm Sunday, we are going to to end up talking about Palm Sunday

But that's not where I want to begin today

What I would like to do is introduce you to some people that were in

Jesus's life

During this time of him entering into the city of Jerusalem

We're going to learn about a little town a little village called Bethany a lot of history in Bethany

Bethany was a little town two miles to the east of Jerusalem and it's where

Jesus when he was teaching in in

Jerusalem and he needed a place to of

Quiet peace refuge he would leave Jerusalem and hike the two miles up the Mount of Olives

It just barely cross over the top of the Mount of Olives is Bethany and that's where he would stay

When he needed rest when he needed to get away and he would stay with his friends Mary Martha

Lazarus and

So I'm gonna ask you to begin by turning to John chapter 11

John 11 · chapter mention

First one we're gonna do a survey of John 11. That's where we're gonna start today

but but first of all, I want to I want to introduce you to a

couple of gals sisters Mary and Martha and I will read out of

1030 Luke 10 38 now and now it happened as they went that he entered a certain village and a certain woman

Named Martha welcomed him into her house and she had a sister called Mary

who also sat at Jesus's feet and

Heard his word, but Martha was tracked was distracted with much serving

and

She approached Jesus and said Lord. Do you not care that my sister has left me alone?

To serve therefore tell her to help me

And Jesus answered and said to her Martha, Martha

You are worried and troubled about many things

But one thing is needed and Mary has chosen the good part

Which will not be taken away from her take note

during this

Introduction that Martha is serving and Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus

We'll come back to that later next we meet

Lazarus of Bethany

The brother of Mary and Martha John chapter 11 verse 1

John 11:1

I don't have time to go through all 57 verses

Scotty said no on the two-hour sermon. So I'm just gonna do a survey of this as we go through it

And a survey is we're just gonna pull way back and look at Scripture and pick the story out as we move on

So you can follow along in John chapter 11 if you like as we do this survey

John 11 · chapter mention

verse 1

Lazarus of Bethany was sick

Verse 3 Mary and Martha send word to Jesus Lord behold he whom you love is sick

Verse 4 Jesus says this sickness is not not unto death but for the glory of God

Verse 7 Jesus says to his disciples

Let's go to Judea again

To Bethany to raise Lazarus from the dead and at this time

Jesus is ministering down along the Jordan River, which is about 18 miles from Jerusalem

gets wind that

Lazarus is dead and

He's going to go raise him from the dead and why is Lazarus dead for the glory of God

So the glory of God will be revealed in him

So at this time, this is just a couple of weeks before what we call Palm Sunday

That's why why I wanted to bring this to your attention so you could be in the story so you can see what's going on

In Jesus's life during this time. So at this time, we're just a few weeks before his triumphal entry

entry Palm Sunday

Jesus and his disciples were in the region of the Jordan River and from there

He makes a special trip back up to Bethany

specifically to raise

Lazarus from the dead all for the glory of God of God

Jesus made it clear to his disciples in verse 14 John 11 14 that Lazarus is dead

Let us go to him. So they made the journey back to Bethany

Then Martha were in verse 20 go down to verse 20 then Martha as

Soon as she heard that Jesus was coming went and met him but Mary was sitting in the house

Now Martha said to Jesus Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died

But even now I know that whatever you ask of God God will give to you

And Jesus said to her here brother will rise again

I want you to take note of words like death rise of Rick rise again and life

You're gonna hear that repeated through the story

Your brother will rise again Martha said to him. I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day

Jesus said to her this is his fifth I am statement in the Gospel of John

Jesus says I am the resurrection and the life he who believes in me though. He may die

He shall live did you notice die live?

resurrection

There's a reason why John puts all this in here just before he goes in

To Jerusalem verse 26 and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die says Jesus

Do you believe this and she said to him listen? Yes, Lord

I believe that you are the Christ the Son of God who is to come into the world

The church family. Do you believe this?

Death

resurrection life

continuing in John 11 our survey then when Mary verse 32

Then when Mary came where Jesus was she saw him she fell down at his feet

Saying to him Lord if you had been here my brother would not have died

Therefore when Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who came

Saw her weeping he groaned in the spirit and was troubled

Then he said where have you laid him they said to him Lord come and see

John 35 John 11 35 the shortest verse in the Bible Jesus wept I

Want you to take note of that word wept we're gonna be talking about it later

And if you're like me and you have a really hard time memorizing verses, this is a good one to start with

In fact, most of you have it memorized just by me saying it right Jesus wept

Not to make light of this we're gonna come back to that word wept

Towards the middle of this message. So verse 38 they went to the tomb and Jesus says to her

Take away the stone verse 39

Martha

Let's Jesus know that

Lazarus has been dead for four days and there is a stench he sneaketh

King James version

He's not mostly dead he's very dead

Look at verse 40 John 11 40

Jesus reminds her said did I not say?

Jesus said to her did I not say that if you would believe you would see the glory of God

Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying and Jesus lifted up his eyes and said father

I thank you that you have heard me

and

I know that you always hear me

But because of the people who are standing by I said this that they may believe that you sent me

Now when he had said these things he cried out with a loud voice

Lazarus come forth and

He who had died came out bound

Hand and foot with grave cloths and his face

Was wrapped with the cloth cloth Jesus said to them loose him

and let him go

Now the chief priests and the Pharisees

Were not happy with Jesus raising Lazarus from the grave

You understand it's taking attention away from them

and

They wanted to put Jesus to death verse 53

Therefore verse 54 Jesus no longer walked openly among the Jews but went from there into

the country near the wilderness to a city called Ephraim and

there he remained with

His disciples so Jesus leaves the region of the Jordan goes 18 miles up to Bethany

Raises Lazarus from the dead the scribes and Pharisees want to kill him

But his time has not yet come so he heads to the north goes back down to the east

Drops down near the wilderness

Along the Jordan River and stays there with his disciples until the right tongue time comes

so Jesus and his disciples journey and

verse 55

the Passover of the Jews was near

John chapter 12 verse 1

John 12:1

We're gonna read the first 11 verses of John 12 verse 1 now remember

John 12:1

This is all happening before his triumphal entry before what we call Palm Sunday when he victorious

notoriously rides in to Jerusalem to defeat sin and death at the cross

John chapter 12 verse 1 then six days before

John 12:1

Passover Jesus came to Bethany

Where Lazarus was who had been dead whom he had raised from the dead verse 2

There they made Jesus a supper

Martha served but Lazarus who's one of those who sat at the table with him with Jesus

Can you imagine

The conversation this is the last meal of the day it's the biggest meal of the day

There's guests at the table. Jesus is the guest of honor

Lazarus another guest who by the way used to be dead

But I've I try to put myself

At this table and I'm just like I would be staring at Lazarus the whole time. It'd be like

What talk to me?

He was dead he's quiet he's just sitting there very quiet that's another message right there

They made him a supper verse 2 Martha served Lazarus is one of those who sat at the table with him

Then Mary

Then Mary verse 3

Took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair and

The house was filled with the fragrance

Take note

Martha is serving Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus

Remember when we first met them Martha is serving Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus

Which is the better place?

Verse 4

but

One of his disciples Judas Iscariot

Simon's son who would betray him said

Why was this fragrant oil not sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor?

This he said not that he cared for the poor

But because he was a thief

There's nothing woke about the Bible. It tells it just like it is you still you're a thief

and he had the money box they trusted him and

He used to take what was put in it

He

Was a thief he had in the money box now a great many of the Jews verse 9

Knew that he was there that Jesus was there in Bethany and

They came not for Jesus's sake only but they that they might also see

Lazarus whom he raised from the dead by the way Bible students notice

Forever Lazarus is going to have a comma next to his name

It's gonna be Lazarus whom he raised from the dead. It's like it's his middle name

and

Words that repeat to whom he raised from the dead whom he raised from the dead over and over in John 11 and John 12

There's a reason for that

But they they came the Jews came from

Jerusalem they want to see Jesus, but they also want to see Lazarus

Whom he raised from the dead

So it's the Passover is near there's thousands and tens of thousands of people coming into Jerusalem

They're going into to Jerusalem for their ceremonial

cleansing and

to talk to the money changers and to pick up their

offerings their sacrifices while they're there and

So that but the Jews are leaving Jerusalem they're going against the crowd they're walking the two miles up to

Bethany over the top up to Bethany because they want to see Jesus and they want to see

Lazarus whom he raised from the dead

Verse 10, but

the chief priests and

Plotted to put Lazarus to death also

um a

I'm not the smartest person on the block but common sense would tell me that if Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead

He's alive

Your first thought would be to kill him

That doesn't make sense to me

because on the hat on account of him verse

11 many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus

They're very jealous

Judas Iscariot

Before we move on we're going to be going to

Luke chapter 19 next but before we

Luke 19 · chapter mention

While you guys are finding your way there

I want to I want to cover a little bit of what we've already talked about and in John chapters

John 11 · chapter mention

11 and 12

As I read that to you

There were words that repeat anytime Bible students when you see words that repeat phrases that repeat while you're reading the Bible

They're in there for a reason pay attention in

The 67 verses that we just surveyed listen death is mentioned 13 times

resurrection is mentioned eight times and

Life eternal life is mentioned five times

Jesus has not even got on that cult yet and

entered into Jerusalem

When when we were reading that?

Just weeks before his triumphal entry

We have death resurrection and life

repeated over and over and over again and just a few hours before the triumphal entry

a supper was held in Jesus honor and

Sitting at the table is Lazarus whom he raised from the dead

Resurrection life no more death a

Couple of key takeaways from John's gospel

When we first met Mary she was sitting at the feet of Jesus

Remember Jesus said Mary has chosen that good part

Which is listening to my word the words of Christ

Mary has chosen that good part and then listen to this. He says it will not be taken away from her

What does that mean?

God's Word

Is eternal it's always existed it always will exist in the beginning was the

Word

God's Word

You guys on the front row, yeah

But listen to this is what what it will not be taken away from her listen to Psalm

119 89 forever Oh Oh Lord

Your word is settled in heaven Isaiah 40 the grass withers the flower fades

But the word of our God stands forever

Matthew chapter 24 heaven and earth will pass away

Matthew 24 · chapter mention

but my words Jesus will by no means pass away and

in John chapter 12 verse 3

John 12:3

We see Mary again

Worshipping at the feet of Jesus the eternal word

Mary chose a path that leads to life life everlasting

Eternal life

What path are you choosing

Are you sitting at the feet of Jesus are you listening to his word are you distracted with many things?

What path are you choosing oh

Oh my

Another guest sitting at the supper table

with Jesus

Lazarus Mary and Martha

Is also mentioned by name?

Judas Iscariot another guest at the table

Mr.. Narcissistic personality disorder himself sitting at the table

He is the president and CEO at of the bank of me myself and I it's all about me

So

Judas Iscariot sees Mary pouring this very costly oil of spark spike nard on Jesus

Anointing his feet and says hey, what are you doing?

We could have sold that we could we could have clothed the poor we could have put that money to a good use

Who invited her? What are you doing?

But he was a thief remember and who's whose his focus on is that on the poor it's on him me me me

gee Judas Iscariot followed Jesus for three years and

he was making a pile of money because he was in child in charge of the money box and

He could care less about Jesus could care less just used him to make money

Judas was focused on things that are passing things that are temporary. He was self-focused and it all ended in death

and

A big way he worshipped money

He worshiped and his God small letter G was money

What are you worshipping today do you have any idols in your life today? What are you worshipping?

Judas chose a path that leads to death

Separated from God for ever church family. What path are you choosing on this day?

Luke chapter 19 verses 28 and 29

Luke 19:28

Then when he had said this he went on ahead going up to Jerusalem this is the day before

His triumphal entry this is when the supper happened when he was a guest of honor at supper

This is the day before and it came to that pass verse 29

When he drew near to Beth phage and Bethany at the mountain called Olivet that he sent two of his disciples

Then now it's the day of his entry into Jerusalem he sent two of his disciples

Let's read verses 30 through 36

Saying go to the village opposite you whereas when you enter you will find a

cult-tide on which no one has ever set lose it and bring it here and if anyone asks you

Why are you losing it thus you shall say to him because the Lord has need of it fulfillment of Zechariah 9 9

So those who were sent went their way and found it just as he had said to them

But as they were losing the cult the owners of it said to them. Why are you losing the cult?

and

They said the Lord has need of him

They then they brought him to Jesus they threw their own clothes on the colt and they set

Jesus on him and as he went many spread their clothes on the road

Matthew mentions both the donkey and the colt the donkey the mayor

Mark Matthew and John

Mention the branches that are being cut and laid on the road the palm branches

that's where we get the tradition of palm Sunday and

There was plenty of palm branches on the Mount of Olives during that time and the palm branches

symbolized joy and

Salvation the king is coming

But listen to this

And it even pictures a future

royal tribute to Christ in

Revelation chapter 7 verses 9 and 10 in the future

Revelation 7:9

Listen to this revelation 7 9

After these things I looked and behold a great multitude which no one could number of all nations tribes peoples and

Tongues standing before the throne and before the lamb clothed with white robes

With palm branches in their hands and crying out with a loud voice

Saying salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the lamb

Amen in the future

And Bible students take note when

When God instituted

the Passover in

Exodus chapter 12

Exodus 12 · chapter mention

The Passover lamb was to be selected or presented on the 10th of Nisan

Jesus our Passover lamb was selected or

Resented on the 10th of Nisan when he rode in to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday

As the people cried out

Hosanna blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord the 10th of Nisan as foretold in Nehemiah

I love it when these stories of the Bible

come to life and when the Bible interprets the Bible and when we see things like this and

Isaiah written 700 years before his birth

Talks about him steadfastly setting his face towards Jerusalem

in

Luke

951

I'm going to Jerusalem. Nothing is gonna stop me. I'm not gonna be distracted

Move out of the way. I'm going to Jerusalem

700 years before was foretold by the prophet Isaiah

Continuing in in Luke 1937 are we down there already?

1937 Luke 19

Then as he was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives

Mark's account mentions the crowds that are going before Jesus and after Jesus

So Jesus is on the cold. There's thousands of people ahead of him

There's thousands of people behind him

Palm bad branches are waving

What a visual that is crying out Hosanna blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord

Oh those pesky Pharisees they always got to come into the scene here we go verse 39 and some of the Pharisees

Called to him from the crowd

Saying teacher rebuke your disciples. They can't stand that all these people are singing hallelujah to Jesus

Tell them to be quiet

And they will be able to sing Hallelujah to Jesus

Tell them to be quiet

In

First 40

First 40 Jesus says

He's answered and said to him after they told him tell your rebuke your disciples

Jesus says I tell you that if these should keep silent the stones would immediately cry out

There's a better probability of these stones singing and dancing than there is of these multitudes keeping silent

Although scripture often speaks of inanimate objects

Praising God Habakkuk chapter 2 verse 11 for the stone will cry out from the wall and the beam from the timbers will answer it

Habakkuk 2:11

In other words, they're telling Jesus tell your disciples to be quiet and Jesus is saying that ain't gonna happen

Finally we're getting to the end

This is the part I don't want you to miss pay attention

Finally all that the set up the next four verses

verse 41

Now as he drew near like I mentioned Luke 9 51

When he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem like a flint

No distraction the journey is over

He saw the city

From his vantage point up on the Mount of Olives as they left Bethany Beth phage

They're coming up over the top of the Mount of Olives

Finally he could see Jerusalem he could see in to the city of Jerusalem

The gates are a hundred feet high but he's up on the Mount of Olives and he can see in there

He can see the city he can see all the people the temple with all the gold all of its glory the rocks the stones

The carvings the wood beams gold everything's covered with gold thousands and thousands of people

The road in front of him and the road behind him filled with people

That journey from 9 51 and Luke has come to fruition

Okay I'm going to slow down for one second

Because I don't want you to miss this

This is when you want to wake up the person next to you and tell them you don't want to miss this

Okay here we go is it hot in here is it just me?

Okay the way we adjust the heat here is by opening the doors outside

That's another story

Listen very close

At the funeral of Lazarus remember in John 11 35 when Jesus wept

Do you remember that Jesus wept?

That is the Greek word dakruo dakruo d-a-k-r-u-o

In the Greek the meaning is to shed a tear

It's under control your eyes are filling up with tears to cry silently

Jesus wept

If I can get through this I have an illustration for you guys

Perfect illustration of this on Tuesday of this week

I got a phone call from my sweet daughter-in-law Marissa

Papa are you home? Yeah I'm home

You need to come watch Dawson Cooper needs to go to emergency

Okay I'm on my way I fly down the road I get there

What happened is Cooper's fine by the way I want to get that out right now

What happened was it was bath time Marissa's raising two boys ladies

Can you relate to that?

She's raising two boys that's three and a year and a half

My job is to watch Dawson while Cooper gets put in the ambulance and taken to the hospital

So during that time I have dakruo

I'm weeping but it's under control my eyes are filled with tears

I'm holding Dawson and I'm praying

The fire truck is coming down the road with the lights going like that

That's partly what woke Cooper up because he was disoriented

When he saw the fire engine he was like wow

But I wanted to give you that illustration of the different kinds of weeping that we have

Okay?

You know ladies you know this when you get your boys out of the tub

And they're dancing on top on the back of the toilet

Just like get down you're gonna fall you get it then he falls

Raising boys and special gift in heaven for the ladies that have raised boys

The problem is we never grow out of it do we?

No, no we don't

Okay here we go

But here in Luke chapter 19 verse 41 when Jesus wept over the city

Luke 19:41

Now as he drew near he saw the city and wept over it

This is a different word than the other word for weep

This is the word klaio k-l-a-i-o klaio

And it is there is no stronger word in the Greek language than this one for wailing and crying out loud

It's the top there's there's none stronger

If this means to sob to to wail aloud you're inconsolable and you're not able to be comforted

That's our Lord

That's Jesus

When he sees the city of Jerusalem riding on that colt on Sunday

So Jesus sees Jerusalem and starts weeping uncontrollably

Why?

Why is he weeping?

Is it the cross?

No very good

No

Let's look at scripture and back that up

Hebrews 12 2 looking on to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith

Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross

Despising the shame and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God for the joy that was set before him

Mark records Mark records that when at the Last Supper when Jesus and the disciples are leaving that upper room

And they're walking down the steps they're going to go down to the Kidron Valley

They're going to go across the book Brooke Kidron up into the Mount of Olives

Jesus is going to be arrested he's going to be crucified and they're singing hymns

For the joy set before him

Jesus was not weeping for himself

He was weeping for his unending desire for the peace of Jerusalem

He was weeping with Jeremiah and all the prophets who loved the city of Jerusalem the city of peace

He was weeping because he had full knowledge of the destruction coming 37 years later

AD 70

When not one stone remains that won't be thrown down on that beautiful temple

And those stones are there today Susan and I saw them a year ago you can actually walk up to these stones

You can walk up to them and touch them you can stand back and you can see the temple mount

You can see the platform a hundred feet in the air where they pushed these huge stones off of there the size of a Volkswagen

And they bashed into the ground and put a divot a foot and a half deep into the pavement

They're there right now what I just read to you the stones are there

He saw that coming he knew that was coming

Not one stone will remain that won't be thrown down but most of all

Are you still with me?

It's a lot of stuff

Most of all he wept for the people of Jerusalem

The very people who willfully rejected him would all be destroyed

These same people that are singing

Baruch haba b'shem Adonai blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord within a week are going to be yelling crucify him

He sees that he knows he knows their hearts their hearts not in the right place crucify him

There is no greater sin than rejecting Jesus

Oh my I would ask that you get that visual back in your minds as we finish these verses

The Lord Jesus Christ is wailing aloud not able to be comforted

Verse 42 if you had known even you especially in this your day the things that make for your peace but now they are hidden from your eyes

For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an abatement around you surround you and close you in on every side

And level you and your children within you to the ground they will not leave in you one stone upon another

Because you did not know the time of your visitation

You should have known Jesus is saying you should have known as this he's drenched with tears you should have known

That all things this is Luke 24 Jesus talking you should have known that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms concerning me the Old Testament is all about Christ you should have known that

John 5 46 for if you believe this is Jesus if you believe Moses you would believe me for he wrote about me if you do not believe his writings how are you going to believe my words

And listen to Jesus and John chapter 8 43 Why do you not understand my speech you should have known

John 8 · chapter mention

I sent prophets to you you tortured them you stone them you killed them you saw them into

How does that relate to us today. The Bible it's in your lap I hope it is

The preachers like like Scotty Rick teaching you the word I sent all these spokes to you listen listen to the word of God

Back to verse 42 you did not know the things that make for your peace

But now they are hidden from your eyes. I don't want to ever hear those words from my Lord. Oh my goodness

But now they are hidden from your eyes you are spiritually blind you have eyes you to see you can see people around you you can read you can see everything but spiritually in your heart you are blind you cannot see

2 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 15 talks about a veil that lies on your heart

2 Corinthians 3:15

Well I don't want a veil on my heart I want to be able to know what's going on. Well read the next verse

2 Corinthians 3 16 nevertheless when one turns to the Lord the veil is taken away and now you have spiritual eyes to see

Is it really that easy yes it is

And verses 43 and 44 talk about total destruction we didn't read it tonight

Well this morning well it's gonna be night when I'm done but we didn't read it today and then Luke 19

chapter 19 verse 27 the parable of the minas says something just absolutely terrifying in that story it is a parable but Jesus is saying bring those enemies of mine who did not want me to reign over them and slay them right here before me

You don't want to reject Jesus Christ why because they rejected him they did not know the time of their of their visitation

And church family do you understand the time of your visitation do you understand the times we are in today

I don't need to go into detail do you remember 4 years ago where did you go celebrate Easter 4 years ago this next weekend

Nowhere all the churches were closed across the world most of them you could still go to the liquor store but the churches were all closed

Those are the times we live in Pastor Scottie and our crew from out west Bible church as we speak right now by the way we're on the same time zone so they're eating lunch down there

But as we speak they are down there ministering oh my

To young kids who have been rescued out of the sex slave market it's worldwide these things are happening worldwide you understand the times we are in today kids in this country are being mutilated

They could get a sex change operation but you don't have to tell mom and dad are you kidding me 2024 need to know the times that we live in pay attention

Jews are being hated all around the world right now and Scottie says it all the time and I'll repeat it if you hate the Jewish people you are not a Christian

God is and Scottie says this too I love the way he says this God is not going to save the Jews because they are good he's going to save them because he is good amen

Son I could go on and on but I can't the Bible says that it will be like this in the last days and you know what encourages me is even the unbelievers the people that don't go to church people that don't read their Bibles they don't know any of this stuff we're talking about

Even they I'm hearing them say they are saying this isn't right this is different something's wrong it's not about getting the right person in the White House okay let's don't go there it's not about that you're looking at the wrong kingdom if you're looking at that

But they're saying this is different folks can you tell something is very different two months from now we're going to have the pride whatever for a month our veterans get one day okay I need to repent and settle down a little bit I love I love I love this by I love the stories of the Bible it is dark it's spiritual or warfare

But God is sovereign

I had about five more minutes in this message. The notes that I shared with you today they were by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures they were my own notes

But right now I want to borrow from another pastor another pastor Steve you can't have too many Steves in your life. Scotty says we're a dime a dozen but he he doesn't know

But a pastor Steve Lawson whom I really trust I heard him present this gospel message one time and it he nails it and I wanted to make darn sure that I shared the gospel message with you today there are people in this room who who are not yet saved I want to focus on you guys I want you to hear very clearly the gospel message

And as I read this if you can if you feel compelled to stand at any time during during this during this five minute presentation. You're in church don't feel awkward about it

But it's very powerful. It's the gospel message.

And my question is do you want hope.

I need a drink.

Excuse me. The gospel message is Jesus Christ. He is the son of God sent into this world to be born of a virgin that he might be sinless that he might be born under the law that he would obey the very law that you and I break every day.

He is the perfect sinless son of God.

He is met perfectly all the requirements of a perfect holy God and is ready to give his righteousness to us that we have a perfect standing before God that he went to the cross there he was lifted up to die and there upon that cross the sins of everyone who would believe in him were transferred to him who knew no sin.

God put our sins on him that we might be righteous through him. That's the great exchange of the cross.

The worse about me laid upon him the best about him laid upon me.

As he shed his blood upon that cross he reconciled sinful man to a holy God.

There is no other way for us to have a relationship with an infinitely holy God except through the blood of the cross of Jesus Christ.

It was as if he took sinful man in one hand and a holy God in the other hand and he brought the two of them together through his death his death on the cross.

And by that death he satisfied the righteous anger of God and appease his wrath toward all who would believe in him.

Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

It was by that death that Jesus has now provided salvation free to all who would call upon his name.

After saying it is finished he was taken down from the cross buried in a rich man's tomb and on the third day by all accounts by all the power that was inherent in him.

As the Son of God he raised himself from the dead came walking out of that tomb a living risen victorious Savior.

As he ascended back to heaven and is now as we speak seated at the right hand of God the Father and whoever will call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

To call upon the Lord Jesus Christ is to look away from yourself look away from your religion look away from your denomination your church membership and all of your so-called good works and look exclusively upon the face of the Lord Jesus Christ and his work.

Jesus said he who comes to me I will by no means cast out.

He loves to save sinners he is a friend of sinners.

He came to seek and save the lost he came not for the righteous but for the unrighteous.

Will you tell him this moment what a sinner you are will you tell him how sick you are by sin and that you are not able to save yourself.

Would you call upon him Lord Jesus I am a wretched hell-bound sinner but your grace is up being offered freely to me today.

If you would call upon his name this very moment he will save you he will save you today he will wash away your sins.

You will be clean and pure from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet.

His righteousness is a free gift there's nothing you can do to earn it there's nothing you can do to merit it he will clothe you with his righteousness and when God looks at you he will see the righteousness of his son Jesus Christ.

And one day when you die and you will die he will take you into the very presence of God the Father and present you faultless before the throne of God.

Today the gates of paradise have been swung wide open to you.

Jesus says come the Spirit and the bride say come.

Your friends and family who invited you here today say come.

Come.

Today is the day of salvation.

Don't put it off another day you may never have an opportunity like this again.

I beg you I urge you if you are not saved commit your life to Jesus Christ before you leave this room.

He will receive you he will save you he will wash you clean and one day he will take you into heaven where you would spend eternity with him.

This is the gospel message this is the good news of salvation found only in Jesus Christ.

I urge you at this moment as an act of your will to commit to following Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Father God Lord we do thank you so much for this day and I thank you for all those in attendance Lord lifting up and praying especially for those who do not know you yet today Lord we pray for the salvation of their souls.

We pray for fruit unto eternal life Father God that through the power of the holy spirit Lord that you would raise up people Father God that would come to know you Jesus Christ as their Lord and as their Savior.

Amen.