Scripture Luke
19:29-31, Matthew 21:4-5, Luke 19:32-34, Mark 11:7-10
INTRODUCTION
It is Palm Sunday and Jesus is coming
into Jerusalem riding a white stallion…
Here
is how it really happened:
Luke 19:29-31 As he approached
Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of
his disciples, saying to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a
colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If
anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs
it.'"
Matthew 21:4-5 This took place to fulfill what was spoken
through the prophet: "Say to the Daughter of Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle
and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"
Luke 19:32-34 32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it
just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them,
"Why are you
untying the colt?"
They replied, "The
Lord needs it."
Mark 11:7-10 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and
threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on
the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who
went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!"
WHY ARE YOU
UNTYING "IT"?
"It" is
anything you have that the Lord needs
IT COSTS EVERYTHING
A man sees a pearl
of amazing size and beauty in a jewelry shop.
He says to the
merchant, “I want this pearl. How much is it?”
The seller says, “It’s very expensive.” “How much?” “A lot!”
“Well, do you think I could buy it?” the man
asks. “Oh, yes,” says the merchant, “everyone can buy it.” “But
I thought you said it was very expensive.” “I
did.” “Well, how much?” “Everything you have,” says the seller. “All right, I’ll buy it.” “Okay,
what do you have?” “Well, I have $10,000 in
the bank.” “Good, $10,000. What else?”
“That’s all I have.” “Nothing more?” “Well,
I have a few dollars more in my pocket.” “How
much?” “Let’s see … $100.” “That’s mine, too,” says the seller. “What else do you have?” “That’s
all, nothing else.” “Where do you live?”
the seller asks. “In my house. Yes, I own a home.”
The seller writes down, 'house.' “It’s mine.”
“Where do you expect me to sleep—in my camper?”
“Oh, you have a camper, do you? That, too. What
else?” “Am I supposed to sleep in my car?”
“Oh, you have a car?” “Yes, I own two of them.” “They’re
mine now.” “Look, you’ve taken my money, my
house, my camper, and my cars. Where is my family going to live?” “So, you have a family?” “Yes,
I have a wife and three kids.” “They’re mine
now.” Suddenly the seller exclaims, “Oh, I
almost forgot! You yourself, too! Everything becomes mine—wife, children,
house, money, cars, and you, too.” Then he goes on, “Now, listen, I will allow you to use all these things for
the time being. But don’t forget that they’re all mine, just as you are. And
whenever I need any of them, you must give them up, because I am now the owner.”
WHY ARE YOU
UNTYING "IT"?
"It" is
any sin that so easily entangles you
1 John 1:8-9
If we claim to be
without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from
all unrighteousness.
Adultery
Anger
Arrogance
Bitterness
Blasphemy
Boasting
Brutality
Brother going to Law against
brother
Carousing
Complaining
Conceit
Coveting
Cowardice
Deceit
Defrauding
Denying Christ
Desiring praise of men
Disobedience to parents
Divisions
Divorce
Drunkenness
Eating Bread/drinking the Cup unworthily
Enmities
Envy
Evil thoughts
False witnessing
Fathers, provoking children to wrath
Fearfulness
Filthiness
Fleshliness
Foolishness
Foolish talking
Fornication
Greed
Haters of God
Hypocrisy
Idolatry
Idolatry
Immorality
Impurity
Jealousy
Jesting
Judging
Knowing to do good but not doing it
Laying up treasures on earth
Living for pleasure
Lovers of self
Loving another person more than Jesus
Lusting
Lying
Malice
Murder
Murmuring
Pride
Prostitution
Quarrels
Reviling
Sensuality
Slander
Sorcery
Speaking against the Holy Spirit
Stealing
Strife
Swearing
Swindling
Thievery
Treachery
Unbelief
Unforgiveness
Ungodliness
Ungratefulness
Unholiness
Unrighteousness
Wickedness
Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since
we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off
everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us
run with perseverance the race marked out for us.
WHY ARE YOU
UNTYING "IT"?
"It" is
any thought or emotion that has you bound
Dr. Maxwell
Maltz is a plastic surgeon. Listen as he describes how physical deformities can
be mild compared to our inner emotional and thought deformities:
"One day many years ago a woman in her
mid-twenties came to my offices. She had a deep indented scar on her left
cheek, a constant reminder of an automobile accident she'd been in. She looked
unhappy, with herself and her life."
"'Who wouldn't be, in her situation,' I
asked myself. As a kid, looking in the mirror when she brushed her teeth or
combed her hair, she saw a perfectly normal face and began to take it for
granted. Now, when she looks in the mirror, she must think, `Oh no, I look
awful! I used to have a normal face, now I have two entirely different cheeks.'"
"I told her that I'd remove the scar and,
after surgery, she'd look fine once again. `Don't worry,' I said, `We'll take
good care of you.'"
She asked how
she would look, and I reassured her and tried to soothe her fears. Later, I
operated on her.
After a week's
time, she came back. I took the bandages off and handed her a mirror. Her
scarred cheek was a thing of the past.
Then I waited
for her reaction. Many patients are overjoyed when they first see their new,
improved image. But her reaction was uncertain; she expressed no real
positive emotion. I waited a few seconds, then said, "What do you think? Do you like it?"
She responded, `I really don't see any improvement.'
I was stunned.
My surgery had been totally successful. `Would you like to see the pictures of your face before the
operation?'
She looked at
the "before" pictures, then surveyed her new face in the hand mirror.
"`It looks better,' she admitted, `but I don't feel better!'"
Cases such as
this one (and there have been many!) help us understand that all scars
cannot be seen, that some are deeply embedded, worse than physical scars, they
are inside us and infinitely painful.
Dr. Maltz concluded,
"here is where our
greatest needs lie, not on the outside of us, but on the inside. That, of
course, is the meaning of the Gospel."
John 1:1-5
In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was
with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him
nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the
light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not
understood it.
Our
inner darkness can cloud our understanding of our sins that need forgiveness
and can hide things in our life that can be used by God. We need to untie those
things in the darkness and give them to Jesus so our darkness will be turned to
light, our sins will be forgiven and our lives will be used in greater measure
for the will and purpose of Jesus Christ!
"Why are you untying it? Because
Jesus needs it - Jesus needs you!"
CONCLUSION
Do you have
trouble believing that a humble messiah riding into town on a donkey 2000+
years ago can help you untie your thoughts, emotions, sin, possessions and
abilities. That same Jesus will come riding into town again much closer to the
way I described at the beginning.
Revelation
19:11-16
I saw heaven
standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called
Faithful and True. With justice, he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his
head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of
God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and
dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword
with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron
scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God
Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS
AND LORD OF LORDS.
