Preached at the Fountain of Life Church, Nairobi, Kenya
There is a time and place for everything. There is an appointed time for the things of God. Eleven years ago the Lord brought Jodi into my life. A year later we were blessed with our first son Max.
Five years ago the Lord moved our family to Texas. To a small community. To a neighborhood on Sawgrass Lane. The Lord blessed us with incredible friendships, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Most of them are here this morning, here in Nairobi with me.
At the appointed time the Lord led Pastor Mbai to this place and here the Fountain of Life deliverance Ministry was established. Pastor Mbai obeyed the call and now you boys who had no home are blessed.
At the appointed time, Pastor Mbai left Kenya and came to Texas. And at the right time, God brought Pastor Mbai and us together on Sawgrass Lane. We ate together, laughed together, prayed together, and blessed each other.
The Lord placed him in our lives and at the appointed time we Texans were called to come to Nairobi- to fulfill the plan God purposed in our lives, to receive the joy and blessing of being here in your presence. Friends, here is the first truth: what God purposes, God will accomplish. And in all things God works for good. And in God's work his children are blessed.
And in Jesus' life on earth, there was a greater purpose; God's purpose. And there was an appointed time and place for the fulfillment of God's purpose. It is recorded in Luke chapter 4 after preaching in the synagogue in his home town the people turned against Him. They took him to the top of a mountain to cast him off but he escapes them. It was not yet 'his time'. Again in the gospel of John, chapter 8, while conversing with the Pharisees, verse 20 tells us that they wanted to seize him but, "...No one seized him because his time had not yet come". Jesus knew the exact day and hour which would mark the beginning of his time. The triumphal entry into Jerusalem: the coming of the King.
Today, Palm Sunday, as recorded in the Gospels marks the beginning of His anointed time. His day. The hour of the Lord. Today, Palm Sunday, is a day which begins a series of events over Holy Week ending with the Easter celebration next Sunday. These events were spoken of by the Prophets, pointed to in old testament scripture and even spoken of by Jesus himself. His betrayal, arrest, being sentenced to death, mocked, beaten, spat upon, being hung on a cross only to rise again and enter into his Kingship. This morning I would like to focus on Luke's account of Christ's Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem found in chapter 19. The start of 'his anointed time', the Passion of the Christ. Let us reflect on how Jesus enters into his rightful Kingship, into Jerusalem. The king comes on a donkey. Why a donkey? A lesser beast? A gentle, meek animal? Shouldn't the king of kings be storming in on a white horse? He comes on a donkey to fulfill what the prophet Zechariah foretold, so that the Jews would know that this is their long awaited king:
'Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.' (Zechariah 9:9 NIV)
So here is the second truth: God's word stands. God shows the Jews then and us today that His word stands and that He always fulfills His promises. But again, why a donkey? This is the king of kings. The Lord of Lords. And in this moment in time, to the Jews standing at the entry, this is the King of Israel, from the house of David. The King has come to reestablish the rule of Israel, to overthrow their Roman rulers and occupiers. This is what the crowds are cheering and shouting about, what they are desperately desiring, and praying for as Jesus enters on a donkey. The people cry out "Hosanna, Hossana! Salvation, salvation! Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord"! Salvation: the release from their Roman rulers and the establishment of the rightful Kings rule in Jerusalem. But the desires of men are not always the desire of God. Man's purposes are not always God's purposes. This is not the kingdom which Christ has been speaking about, teaching about; the kingdom which He has come to establish. As men and women we are so quick to hold on to our earthly desires and plans, to praise God in anticipation of what we want; what we feel we need. O' how we want to take Jesus and establish our kingdom on earth. But, God's purposes are greater than man's; are perfect and not our ways. We want to take Jesus to His earthly throne but God in his abundant wisdom and love takes Jesus to the cross for the true and everlasting salvation of His people. So this King rides in gently on a donkey because this king brings salvation. He comes to save His people. To lay down His life on the cross. He brings peace. He brings salvation and everlasting life.
So friends the King has come. The good news this morning is this: The day of the Lord is here. The hour of the Lord is now. Salvation is now. Right here. Right now. Here in Nairobi. This is the good news. The King has come. And we know that the King will come again. He will come again. Not to save, but to judge. Not gently on a donkey but as John records in Revelation chapter 19:
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 he 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 ironscepter". 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 KING AND LORD OF LORDS. (Revelation 19:11-16)
If you do not know the Lord, today is a day of salvation; come to him this day. If you know the Lord than love others as He loved you. Here is the third and final truth: Whether you know Him or not make no mistake; He will come again. Not on a donkey, but on a charging white horse.
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