Palm Sunday 2021

Mark 11:1-11 English Standard Version

The Triumphal Entry

11 Now when they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus^[a] sent two of his disciples ² and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. ³ If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” ⁴ And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. ⁵ And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” ⁶ And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. ⁷ And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. ⁸ And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. ⁹ And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! ¹⁰ Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!”

¹¹ And he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple. And when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

John 12:12-19 English Standard Version

The Triumphal Entry

¹² The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. ¹³ So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” ¹⁴ And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,

¹⁵ “Fear not, daughter of Zion;
behold, your king is coming,
    sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

¹⁶ His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. ¹⁷ The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. ¹⁸ The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. ¹⁹ So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

Links:
More On Palm Sunday:
https://www.openbible.info/topics/palm_sunday

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+11%3A1-11&version=ESV

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+12%3A12-19&version=ESV

Let Go

As Christians we can let go of doubt, fear, anxiety. We can let go of pain, anguish, hatred. We can let go of unforgiveness and unbelief.

But how about we let go of more?

Let go of anything that keeps you from the narrow path, the path to God, anything that leads to sin and even temptation.

Let go of your ideals, turn away from your political opinions, your nationalism and person feelings and go to God’s word to see His ideals.

Don’t ignore what God’s word says just because it makes you uncomfortable or goes against what you have been taught or thought.

Let go of your comfort and preset ideas.

Let go of anything that keeps you from a Christ centered life. Be a Christian first, your characteristics should be based on your Christianity, your Christianity shouldn’t be one of your characteristics.

Let go and follow God and His Word.

You will become a good father or mother, a good husband or wife, a good brother, sister, friend or neighbor. Not because you’re good but because God is good.

So let go of everything that’s holding you back from God and grip tight to the Lord.

You may be thinking how difficult that is and you’re right it is hard and we all fall short but remember when we do God still loves us.

Romans 8:35-39:
“³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
    we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

So do you receive anything when you let go of all these things?

Yes!

You receive joy, forgiveness, peace, love and in truth you receive everything!

Because without God you have nothing with Him you have everything!

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

Links:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%208%3A35-39&version=ESV

True Story of St. Patrick

Re-Posting this from a couple years ago. True Story of St. Patrick’s Day. Hope those who read this have a good and blessed week.

The Good Word

Hello everyone.

I am having a bit of a hectic day today. Hoping you all are doing well. I read this article about St. Patrick’s Day from CBN. I know I am a day late but for this week’s post I am going to pass the story on. I’ll be back next week.

http://www1.cbn.com/patricius-the-true-story-of-st-patrick

Have a blessed week,
Chris

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God Asks For So Little

The world will attempt to put God in a bad light and act like God asks us for so much but when you think about it God asks so little of us.

Think about it.

 How much money does the government tax you? Not just your wages but in everything? Sales, bills, housing, here where I live there even is a “rain tax”. It’s crazy.

How much did God ask the Israelites for? 10%.

How many are called to dedicate their entire lives to ministry? Sure we are called to further God’s kingdom but how many are called to be a Pastor or a ministry leader? To wake up every and devote their work each day to the Lord? Not many.

However what God does call us to do entirely is rely on Him and listen to His word.

In the end it is not to benefit Him, He doesn’t need us but instead to benefit ourselves to know joy and to know Him, to spend eternity in His love.

All He asks for is our faith and faith alone.

The world wants you to dedicate your lives to them not for your benefit but for selfish reasons, they want your money, body and your mind. They don’t care for you, the world wants to use you.

The world is always changing yet always telling you to follow it.

But God He never changes, His path is the same and He just asks that you follow that path. While it is narrow, He will guide you on the path, steady you, pick you up and bring you back if you drifted away. All He asks is if for you to let Him guide you.

God knows you to be a sinner who isn’t worthy of His grace but He loves you and offers it you to anyway.

There is no cost just acceptance.

The world can’t wait to tear you down as soon as you make a mistake. There is no grace or mercy.

God gave us so much, in His creation, Jesus even died for us and we will share in His inheritance and rule and reign with Him by His choice.

He asks of us so little.

Yet just because God asks so little doesn’t mean you can’t give more.

You can give generously in your time, money, in your work.
 
You can represent Him in everything you do, at work, in school, any and everywhere you go.

Be the example, let the world know you’re a Christian by your love.

The truth is you can never love God like He loves you but you can put Him first in your life. Follow Him, listen to Him, honor Him even if it feels hard because deep down you know you owe everything to God, because He gave you everything.

But do remember this even though He may ask little of most of us, you are not little to Him.

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

Heritage Baptist Church Online Service: Third Sunday of Lent

What Does It Mean To Fear God?

It is very commonly discussed in the Bible and in churches that you should fear God.

This often sometimes scares or confuses Christians and more often is used by atheists to criticize God and the Bible.

The truth is you should “Fear God”.

But you may ask, “What does that mean?”

Fearing God is about respect and reverence. Knowing what God is capable of while being joyous in His grace and deep devotion to us.

But how should we fear God?

Fear Him not just like a father but the best Father.  

Remember God is our Father look at a common opener to a prayer. How often do you hear, “Heavenly Father” start a prayer? Jesus opened the Lord’s Prayer by saying, “Our Father…”

So that obviously means we can look to God as our Father.

Because of this we can look at ourselves as His children.

A good father is loving, kind and cares for His children. He teaches and instructs. He also disciplines. This causes a child to fear a good father in certain ways but not just by his presence but because of the consequences of our bad behavior.

Since God is not just a good father but The Best Father, He loves us, is more kind and cares for us more than any other human father, which means we should love Him more than any human father or anyone else in general.

This also means we should fear him more than any human father or anyone else in general.

His presence should cause joy while His anger trembling.

However know this God is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. For that we can remain joyful because He is good in all things. Greater in mercy, in compassion, in kindness and love.

Have a Blessed Week,
Chris

Heritage Baptist Church Online Service: