Call to Worship: Malachi 3:1 “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.” Psalm 47:1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. For the Lord Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth.”
Song:Revival - Robin Mark
Scripture: Isaiah 12, 35; Psalm 126:1-3
Songs: Sing Your Praise to the Lord - Rich Mullins
Our God Reigns - Israel & New Breed
All Things Are Possible- Shout To The Lord
All Things Are Possible- Shout To The Lord
Scripture: Psalm 71:14-24
Songs: Hosanna (Praise Is Rising) - Jadon Lavik
Awake My Soul - Hillsong
Sermon: Hosanna, Crucify Him or Both?
Songs: Psalm 34 - The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
The last slide of this song says Psalm 46:10 “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” During the worship time at the end of the song know that God will be exalted in the land.
The last slide of this song says Psalm 46:10 “He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” During the worship time at the end of the song know that God will be exalted in the land.
Benediction: 1 Kings 8:56 “Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. 57 May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. 58 May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. 59 And may these words of mine, which I have prayed before the Lord, be near to the Lord our God day and night, that he may uphold the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel according to each day’s need, 60 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God and that there is no other. 61 And may your hearts be fully committed to the Lord our God, to live by his decrees and obey his commands, as at this time.”
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Sermon: Hosanna or Crucify Him?
Today on the calendar is Palm Sunday, normally celebrated around the world except today Palm Sunday will be celebrated in a different way, with the churches empty? When this virus hit our part of the world, I really struggled with just being online only. I was very upset about this and I wanted to stay open and meet but as I worked through it and about three days later, I realized this is what needed to happen. We should be open not to just assemble but to bring healing to our nation. It is not just about being open like a grocery store where people get the necessities of life, it is about doing as Jesus did and giving people the living water they unknowingly so desperately need. The church is supposed to be place where people go to be healed but the harsh reality is that just isn’t the case as this virus has pointed out. It doesn’t mean the bible is wrong or God is weak; it means the Gentiles have become like Israel and turned away and we now have our eyes open to God’s wrath against the church. satan was brilliant to get people to forget about the old testament and say it doesn’t apply but it does. It shows us what happens to a stubborn and obstinate church. The virus is just to get our attention as to what the real killer has been doing to the church for generations. This isn’t the first time this has happen. During the Spanish Flu in 1918, churches closed also but the church did not turn from their wicked ways then either. I did find this interesting. In Milwaukee, “Clergy weren't pleased that in October 1918 the churches were closed, while saloons were not.” 2020 churches closed - LCBO open.
The good news is even though the churches will be empty, the tomb is still empty and Jesus is still king but is Jesus your king or are you just part of the crowd shouting Hosanna and then shouting crucify Him or do you really believe He will save us. John 12:13 “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” Psalm 118:22 “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 23 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad. 25 Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success! 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). In order to truly believe, we must believe the gospel. Mark 16:20 “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.”
This last month has seen this COVID-19 virus shut down the world and put fear and uncertainty into the hearts of millions. The title of one article was called “From Apathy to Panic.” They said, “The COVID-19 crises hit the world hard in late January 2020, plunging both federal and provincial politicians into a new world war, this time against a never seen before enemy.” This actually describes the church as it faces our unseen enemy, satan but poses the question is; does this virus put the fear of God in anyone or just in the virus itself? Will the world bow to Him but the more important question is will the church bow and return to God by turning from their wicked ways. These past months should have had the church on their knees but they keep going in the same direction, which is a direction of apathy concerning God’s word. They continue to say what have we done wrong. Malachi 3:8 “how are we robbing you?’ “In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.” Some in the United States are fighting for their right to assemble but God has disassembled the church and the lack of power in the church has been exposed to all, except maybe the church itself.
In spite of this virus that is ravaging country after country, the last few days have been amazing weather-wise. But you ask, who cares about the weather when we are not supposed to go anywhere. Yesterday if you looked outside at least on our street, you would find it hard to believe there was a global pandemic taking place. Yes you are not supposed to go anywhere and are being told to stay home but you can still look up and see hope in the chaos if you will turn from your own ways even on a cloudy day or darkness of the night. The good news for us is that the sun came up today and night turned to day and then the moon comes out and day turns to night. Because of this happening everyday, we have such great hope because God made a promise to a man named David. David said, 2 Samuel 7:18 “Who am I, Sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? 19 And as if this were not enough in your sight, Sovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant—and this decree, Sovereign Lord, is for a mere human!” This was the promise. Jeremiah 33:17 “For this is what the Lord says: ‘David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel, 18 nor will the Levitical priests ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices. 19 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 20 “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, 21 then my covenant with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne. 22 I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless as the stars in the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.” Day and night are still happening so there is still hope for the remnant left in the church.
For the last 40 days we have been on a journey. Our theme for this Lenten Journey has been the “Joy of the Redeemed”. Yes people are asking where is God? Why would God allow this to happen but are they repenting and turning from their wicked ways. Repentance from our wicked ways will lead to the joy we read earlier. The effects of this virus really are amazing as it not only shut the church down but sports, theaters, travel, restaurants, gyms, bars, possibly summer as we know it and on and on and yes people are not very joyful because of it. But that is not where our joy comes from. As we read earlier Psalm 126:2 “Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them. 3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.” To see this kind of joy we must repent and return to God. I see churches trying to keep their congregations uplifted but what should be happening is that every church around the world should be repenting for going their own way. Look at the pandemics as I mentioned earlier, that have happened throughout history and the church continues to go their own way. Churches have agreed to disagree amongst themselves so each can continue to go their own ways and say they still believe in the same Jesus. Meanwhile no group believes the other is right! There are not many ways to God, there is only one way; follow the words of Jesus Christ wholeheartedly. Because of disobedience, God has turned his face from us so there is no power in the church and we sit in desolation.
The deception is so great in the church it is almost incomprehensible how bad it really is. We have seen so called revivals like the Toronto Blessing, Brownsville and their effects still carrying on, doctrines of demons like ceasationism and other isms spreading around the world, groups who call themselves holy who have no idea what holiness even means. We have churches say they are filled with the Spirit of God yet they babble like a resounding gong or clanging symbol. We have christian concerts filled with emotion, talent and much enthusiasm with light shows and fog machines but no gifts of the Spirit. We have churches set up for entertainment. The church has turned into a market and modeled the fortune 500 business plan and everything is for sale. The words of men have become more important than God’s word and they are for sale so you too can be like them and do what they did? Jesus said John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” The church has sold everything it can and turned the building into a temple for the gods and now churches are desperately reminding you to give so that their “ministries” can stay afloat. Most budgets are made up of salary and building expenses. Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.” They then came up with programs to feed the sheep who don’t know the voice of the true shepherd. Many churches became socially responsible but forgot to adhere to the gospel while doing so. The bible is present but does not carry authority. They stand Sunday after Sunday and say, “This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. (that is true but not how they think) I can do what it says I can do. Today, I will be taught the Word of God. (nobody checks to see if this is true) I boldly confess: My mind is alert, My heart is receptive. I will never be the same. I am about to receive the incorruptible, indestructible, ever-living seed of the Word of God. I will never be the same . Never, never, never. I will never be the same. In Jesus name. Amen.” Yes the bible describes you perfectly and no you are not being taught the word of God because you have set it aside to say your own words. The word that you hold in the air will condemn you because it is not in your heart. Isaiah 29:13 “The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” The bible interferes with beliefs so it is changed to make the bread of life taste better. The church disagrees with the bible and says the opposite of what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:9 “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.” According to the church they will inherit the kingdom of God! The church has idolized man even to the point of erecting shrines and monuments to them yet we are told not worship idols. Leviticus 26:1 “‘Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the Lord your God.” I could go on!
As you have seen from the blogs this week there is very little truth in the church and Daniel tells us why. Daniel 8:12 “Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground. 23 “In the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a fierce-looking king, a master of intrigue, will arise. 24 He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy those who are mighty, the holy people. 25 He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes. Yet he will be destroyed, but not by human power. 27 I, Daniel, was worn out. I lay exhausted for several days. Then I got up and went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.” We too should be appalled at the condition of the church. Have you ever wonder why some of these churches prosper so much or why a false revival like the Toronto Blessing seemed that God was moving powerfully. The answer is as I just read. The power was not God as work but people never tested the spirits and if they had they would say this looked nothing like what Jesus did. The saw power and assumed it must be God and never asked who else it could be. Remember this arrogant enemy will be thrown down. Jeremiah 50:6 “My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray and caused them to roam on the mountains. They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place. 17 “Israel is a scattered flock that lions have chased away. The first to devour them was the king of Assyria; the last to crush their bones was Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.” 18 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “I will punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king of Assyria. 19 But I will bring Israel back to their own pasture. 31 “See, I am against you, you arrogant one,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty, “for your day has come, the time for you to be punished. 32 The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help her up. Yet their Redeemer is strong; the Lord Almighty is his name. He will vigorously defend their cause so that he may bring rest to their land, but unrest to those who live in Babylon.” Psalm 5:5 “The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong.” Psalm 31:18 “Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.” Proverbs 26:24 “Enemies disguise themselves with their lips, but in their hearts they harbor deceit. 25 Though their speech is charming, do not believe them, for seven abominations fill their hearts. 26 Their malice may be concealed by deception, but their wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.”
Daniel then prayed the prayer of repentance and God came to him. Daniel 9:21 “While I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. 22 He instructed me and said to me, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding. 23 As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed. Therefore, consider the word and understand the vision: 27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” As our eyes are opened, we are seeing what Jesus warned would happen. Matthew 24:4 “Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 15 “So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel—let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let no one on the housetop go down to take anything out of the house. 18 Let no one in the field go back to get their cloak. 19 How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in winter or on the Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again.” Picture a tsunami about to hit or a country at war. This virus is like war but even now expectant mothers are delivering on their own as well as people dying on their own. This isn’t even as bad as it could be!
Those times are here and the church has been decimated beyond recognition because of a stubborn refusal to follow God’s word. Mark 16:14 “Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.” The church looks nothing like the New Testament church 2 Chronicles 7:21 “This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and say, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple? 22 People will answer, ‘Because they have forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who brought them out of Egypt, and have embraced other gods, worshiping and serving them—that is why he brought all this disaster on them.’” False prophets are everywhere. I am going to give you one more example. Kenneth Copeland recently March 29 on video said, “In the Name of Jesus, standing in the office of the prophet of God, I execute judgment on you, COVID-19! I execute judgment on you, Satan,” “You destroyer! You killer! … You get off this nation! I demand judgment on you! … I demand a vaccination to come immediately! It is finished! It is over!” he continued. “And the United States of America is healed and well again.” By the way if you are healed by the touch of God you won’t need a vaccination. Later in the segment, Copeland confirmed that the virus had ceased to exist at 12:00 pm on Sunday, March 29, 2020” Saturday April 4, 2020, I looked at some numbers posted. Most were reporting, “The number of coronavirus cases in the United States has exceeded 300,000, while the death toll passed 8,100. New York state's coronavirus toll has risen at a devastating pace to 3,565 deaths, up from 2,935 the previous day, the largest 24-hour jump recorded there.” Today it was reported that, “US reports most coronavirus deaths in one day as 1,344 die on Saturday April 4, 2020.” And people still buy these men their own private planes and continue to support their ministries while they lead the world astray? You can hear non-charismatics across the country say I told you, those charismatics are way off yet they also follows their own ways which is the same. Most ministers or priest stand and teach what they have been taught unaware they have been led astray and therefore lead those listening astray. As I wrote this I was overwhelmed with our ignorance. Nehemiah 9:17 “They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them.” Wake up church! satan is standing in the pulpits of the church everywhere! We are not worthy of God’s presence but he will be faithful to those who turn from their own ways and seek Him. We cry out Isaiah 33:2 “Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.” Isaiah 30:18 “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” It is not just these television preachers but even in your local church, men and woman will speak for God, even if God has not spoken. No wonder people are atheists and the church looks like fools. Isaiah 30:1 “Woe to the obstinate children,” declares the Lord, “to those who carry out plans that are not mine, forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin.” Jeremiah 23:13 “Among the prophets of Samaria I saw this repulsive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led my people Israel astray.” False teachings are everywhere. Doctrines of demons are everywhere. We were warned, but satan who is the master of deception has deceived the church into believing this would happen in the future. This just isn’t about the charismatic movement leading the world astray but the whole church. John MacArthur is vehemently opposed to strange fire yet he also leads the church astray just like Kenneth Copeland. You can be deceived by a non-charismatic too! Revelation 18:21 “By your magic spell all the nations were led astray. 24 In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s holy people, of all who have been slaughtered on the earth.” Revelation 12:9 “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
The church has refused to listen to God’s words of warning and 2 Timothy 3:13 “evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” The future is already here and satan’s servants continue to deceive the church and lead her astray. Paul warned us in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? 6 And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” The rebellion did occur as Nehemiah describes the church. Nehemiah 9:17 “They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery.” Stephen said, Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
Later we will read from Luke, which talked about the narrow door. Right below that passage Jesus said Luke 13:34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. 35 Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Unfortunately for us the house is still desolate. Many prophets were killed throughout the bible and are still hated. Jesus said, Matthew 10:22 “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” Not every prophet had their own book of the bible. Jeremiah 26:20 Now Uriah was another man who prophesied in the name of the Lord; he prophesied the same things against this city and this land as Jeremiah did.” Then they killed him. In Matthew Jesus says the same thing as Luke about Jerusalem but in this passage Jesus blasts the Pharisees by giving them seven woes and Jesus said, Matthew 23:29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, then, and complete what your ancestors started! 33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.” Peter said, Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do? Peter responded 38 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” There is no difference between Israel and the church today.
Here is a wild story. Athaliah had killed off the royal family but she missed one. Jehoiada saved Joash and said 2 Chronicles 23:3 “The king’s son shall reign, as the Lord promised concerning the descendants of David.” Athaliah is then killed, there is peace in the land, Joash rules but then Jehoiada dies and Joash “abandoned the temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God’s anger came on Judah and Jerusalem. 19 Although the Lord sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen. 20 Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’” 21 But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple. 22 King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, “May the Lord see this and call you to account.” Jeremiah 25:4 “And though the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.” Jesus shared this parable and said a man planted a vineyard and when the time came to collect, Mark 12:2 “he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed. 6 “He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 7 “But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; 11 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” Jesus told the Pharisees they would be responsible for all the blood of the prophets. James 3:1 “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” What will you be held accountable for?
Today the church has gone nowhere. God has let church go in their own direction but the end of that is coming. The enemy that has infiltrated the church will be defeated and the church will rise again. The delusion that has been placed on the church will be lifted and all will see his glory coming down but will all bow to their king and turn from their wickedness. Revival is coming. Choose life and prosperity not death and destruction but remember your choice is eternal. Take a moment to ponder that.
When Jesus walked this earth he did amazing things. John 21:25 “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” The people thought he was the king that would defeat the Romans so they celebrated and shouted Matthew 21:9 “Hosanna, Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” They knew the son of David would be on the throne and they were finally free. But then he was arrested and since he started preaching, they tried to kill him. This can’t be the Messiah as so many Jews today still say. Jesus said Luke 4:24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.” They were furious enough to kill Him. People today still get furious when the word of the Lord is spoken. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, they plotted to kill Him. After his arrest he stood before Pilate. Mark 15:9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. 12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. 13 “Crucify him!” they shouted. 14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” The Jews are still shouting crucify him, crucify him. Hebrews 10:29 “How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? Hebrews 6:4 “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. 7 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. 8 But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned. 9 Even though we speak like this, dear friends, we are convinced of better things in your case—the things that have to do with salvation. 10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.” As Peter said “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”
Here is the question you need to ponder. Are you shouting Hosanna or crucify Him or are you shouting both Hosanna and Crucify Him like the crowds were. You do not want to be part of the crowds that crowded around Jesus but had no idea who he was as with most of the church today. Luke 9:18 [ Peter Declares That Jesus Is the Messiah ] Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am? 19 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” Matthew 16:15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.” This was supposed to be the power of the church. Matthew 11:4 “Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Luke 9:1 “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Mark 16:15 “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” 1 Corinthians 12:4 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” Joshua 1:2 “Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” This is the New Testament church and it looks nothing like the church we see today with abomination that causes desolation. Matthew 28:18 “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
So where is this church? The answer is found in this last verse; “teaching then to obey everything I commanded you.” Paul said to the Thessalonians, Thessalonians 2:13 “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus.” The church has not imitated God’s word like the Thessalonians did instead Paul said to the Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” This has been going on ever since.
Just as Israel was destroyed by Babylon because of their disobedience, God has allowed the church to be destroyed by satan. This week I talked about just a few false teachers but they are everywhere as I just scratched the surface. Every teaching that is as they say a denominational distinctive is wrong. Everyone is pushing a theology or doctrine to those they teach with a blatant disregard for the word of God. God’s word is then modified to line up with their beliefs. They have added and taken away God’s own words as if the bible was a book to be sliced and diced. The have brought the word of God into disrepute by their teaching. 2 Peter 2:2 “Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity—for “people are slaves to whatever has mastered them.” 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.” Antichrists are everywhere in the church just as we were told. 1 John 2:18 “Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.” There are those in pulpits who teach doctrines of demons but they themselves are the antichrists we were warned about but God’s people love it this way but as God said what will you do in the end. Luke 13:22 “Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.” Jesus asked if when he returned would he find faith. Yes people say they are faithful but don’t even know they have given their lives to a false gospel yet they give it everything they have.
Satan infiltrated God’s temple and the walls are broken down and our gates have been burned with fire.” God has allowed this to happen. Just as he used Babylon against the Israelites, he has let satan have his way but he will keep his promise to David and the remnant will rise up once again, Isaiah 27:1 “In that day, the Lord will punish with his sword— his fierce, great and powerful sword— Leviathan the gliding serpent, Leviathan the coiling serpent; he will slay the monster of the sea. 2 In that day— “Sing about a fruitful vineyard: 3 I, the Lord, watch over it; I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it. 6 In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit. 13 And in that day a great trumpet will sound. Those who were perishing in Assyria and those who were exiled in Egypt will come and worship the Lord on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.” After Sennacherib attacked Jerusalem, Isaiah said, 2 Kings 19:21 “Virgin Daughter Zion despises and mocks you. Daughter Jerusalem tosses her head as you flee. 23 Who is it you have ridiculed and blasphemed? Against whom have you raised your voice and lifted your eyes in pride? Against the Holy One of Israel! 24 By your messengers you have ridiculed the Lord. 30 “This will be the sign for you, Hezekiah: This year you will eat what grows by itself, and the second year what springs from that. But in the third year sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat their fruit. 31 Once more a remnant of the kingdom of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above. 32 For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. “I will defend this city and save it, for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!” 36 Then the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp.” Isaiah 26:21 “See, the Lord is coming out of his dwelling to punish the people of the earth for their sins.”
This is the last moments of the last hour. Turn and repent and the kingdom will still come near! In these last days there is still hope. Repent and the kingdom of God will come near and like Israel we will finally be freed. Jeremiah said Jeremiah 29:10 “This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” God then used King Cyrus to free His people. 2 Chronicles 36:22 “In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and also to put it in writing: 23 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: “‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and he has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any of his people among you may go up, and may the Lord their God be with them.’” Isaiah 44:24 “This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, who spreads out the earth by myself, 25 who foils the signs of false prophets and makes fools of diviners (we saw that earlier), who overthrows the learning of the wise and turns it into nonsense, 26 who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of his messengers, who says of Jerusalem, ‘It shall be inhabited,’ of the towns of Judah, ‘They shall be rebuilt,’ and of their ruins, ‘I will restore them,’ 27 who says to the watery deep, ‘Be dry, and I will dry up your streams,’ 28 who says of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, “Let it be rebuilt,” and of the temple, “Let its foundations be laid.”
God is about to free us from our enemies. Isaiah 14:1 “The Lord will have compassion on Jacob; once again he will choose Israel and will settle them in their own land. Foreigners will join them and unite with the descendants of Jacob. 2 Nations will take them and bring them to their own place. And Israel will take possession of the nations and make them male and female servants in the Lord’s land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors. 3 On the day the Lord gives you relief from your suffering and turmoil and from the harsh labor forced on you, 4 you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon: How the oppressor has come to an end! How his fury has ended!” Isaiah 21:9 “Look, here comes a man in a chariot with a team of horses. And he gives back the answer: ‘Babylon has fallen, has fallen! All the images of its gods lie shattered on the ground!’” Revelation 18:21 “With such violence the great city of Babylon will be thrown down, never to be found again.” Revelation 14:8 “A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.” 9 A third angel followed them and said in a loud voice: “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives its mark on their forehead or on their hand, 10 they, too, will drink the wine of God’s fury, which has been poured full strength into the cup of his wrath.” By the way people have already worshipped the beast and received their mark. Isaiah 13:19 Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the pride and glory of the Babylonians, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. Isaiah 14:12 “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! 13 You said in your heart, “I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon. 14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” 15 But you are brought down to the realm of the dead, to the depths of the pit.”
The lawless one is being revealed and the Glory of God will be poured out upon His remnant. Ezekiel said, Ezekiel 43:2 “I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of rushing waters, and the land was radiant with his glory. 3 The vision I saw was like the vision I had seen when he came to destroy the city and like the visions I had seen by the Kebar River, and I fell facedown. 4 The glory of the Lord entered the temple through the gate facing east. 5 Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court, and the glory of the Lord filled the temple.” Keep praying, the Glory is coming. 1 Kings 18:44 “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea. 45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling.” Isaiah 44:21 “Remember these things, Jacob, for you, Israel, are my servant. I have made you, you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you. 22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you.” 23 Sing for joy, you heavens, for the Lord has done this; shout aloud, you earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel.” Jeremiah 33:6 “I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security. 7 I will bring Judah and Israel back from captivity and will rebuild them as they were before. 8 I will cleanse them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive all their sins of rebellion against me. 9 Then this city will bring me renown, joy, praise and honor before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it. Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good; his love endures forever. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were before,’ says the Lord.”
So today we stand firm on God’s word knowing he will keep His promise to David and the remnant will rise in the power and authority of Jesus name. We are part of his kingdom. David said, 1 Chronicles 29:10 “David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. 11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. 12 Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all. 13 Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.” Jesus has already risen and reigns on high. 16 “‘After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, 17 that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord.” Jesus is not the problem here. Josiah said 2 Kings 22:13 “Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.” We have paid a costly price for this. Those who went before us and we ourselves did not adhere to God’s word just as Hezekiah said. 2 Chronicles 30:6 “People of Israel, return to the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, that he may return to you who are left, who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria. 7 Do not be like your parents and your fellow Israelites, who were unfaithful to the Lord, the God of their ancestors, so that he made them an object of horror, as you see. 8 Do not be stiff-necked, as your ancestors were; submit to the Lord. Come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever. Serve the Lord your God, so that his fierce anger will turn away from you. 9 If you return to the Lord, then your fellow Israelites and your children will be shown compassion by their captors and will return to this land, for the Lord your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.”
So the remnant will rise up and the church will do as we were supposed to do in the beginning; do as Jesus did. Ezra 5:11 “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, one that a great king of Israel built and finished.” We will go out in the power of the Holy Spirit and the authority given to us by Jesus himself and our enemies will be defeated before us. David said to Goliath 1 Samuel 17:45 “David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
