A PATIENT GOD
When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ” Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words. (Luke 19:45-48 NIV)
What is Lent?
•it signifies our act of sacrifice of whatever is important to us for God for 40 days leading up to resurrection Easter Sunday
•it is time to recognize God's counsel •To pray
•to bear the cross
Meaning of Jesus entering Jerusalem
•it looked as though he was being glorified but it was also the road towards His death up on the cross
•by entering Jerusalem knowing his fate, Jesus was showing his humility and obedience according to God's will •Those who are prideful were chased out of heaven (Lucifer, Adam)
•those who are humble were blessed (Paul, John the Baptist)
•Jesus entered Jerusalem for our sake Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! (Philippians 2:6-8 NIV)
How do we keep lent?
•remember the important event and sacrifice of the past and memorialize them
•Discover the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ through events that occur around us
•sacrifice our desires for the glorification of God
Our God is a patient God
•He was patient towards those who do evil and harm… There were many who were jealous and threatened by Jesus and plotted against Him, being wrongfully self-righteous •High Priests
•Scribes
•Elders
•The reasons that there were so many plotting against Jesus •Envy and jealousy •It is not from heavens but from satan, the enemy who wants to pull us away from God
•leads to desstruction
•makes one blind, ignorant, and fall into sin
•Wrong perception of Messiah •Didn't recognize Jesus as God's Son
•didn't think messiah would be in such humble form
•even some of the disciples didn't fully believe in Jesus as Messiah
Through all this, we should recognize the patience of God. Even amongst the evil and jealousy driven plots, God saved us all by sending his only begotten son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. Even though Jesus knew what was ahead of Him, he stayed faithful to God and fulfilled God's will for us. He allowed us to taste true life and save us from eternal fire. God is patient with us now to come to Him. He is waiting for us to accept and repent, and confess Jesus is lord and that through Him is salvation. All glory be to God!
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