Don’t Stop Living series

Part 1 – Your life matters

Synopsis of Sermon April 5, 2020

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III, D.Min.

Matthew 21: 1-9 NIV – “1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’” 6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

1. INTRODUCTION

So many of us go through life without knowing the true essence of our existence. God has something for you to do on this earth. The sooner you realize your purpose, the sooner you will appreciate your value.

In the scripture, this was the period prior to Jesus’ crucifixion. He asked his disciples to go and get the donkey from town that was tied. He was going to use it to ride into town.

1. GOD HAS AN ASSIGNMENT FOR YOU

You were born to accomplish something in the earth. Often, we don’t find our assignments, they find us.

A.      You Are Valuable to The Kingdom

1. Jesus sent the Disciples into town to get a donkey that was tied that had never been ridden. Though the unridden Donkey had not been broken, Jesus saw the donkey for the value it had.
2. Society has its way of attaching value on people. Your value is not determined by people, but instead what God says you are.
3. Its time to discover your value!

B.      Everything Tied Up Is About to Be Loosed Up

1. Jesus said the donkey would be tied to tree. He told the disciples to lose it and bring it to Him.
2. Tied up implies being constricted or controlled. Everything that has been tied has to be released.
3. God will loose things that have been constricting you. Just like the donkey, the Master has need of you. This is why God has loosed the things that have been constricting you.

C.      You’ve Been Entrusted to Carry Christ In Culture

1. Jesus could have of chosen anything, but he chose the donkey. Likewise, Jesus could have chosen anyone to carry out his will, but he chose you.
2. Our assignment is to help carry Christ into this culture.

D.     You Bring Peace and Not Conflict

1. You can’t carry Christ if you don’t take His method and His ministry.

• WHO YOU ARE CONNECTS WITH WHERE THEY ARE

A.      Mutual identification has a lot to do with your assignment.

1. Zechariah 9:9 NIV – “Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, slowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
2. Matthew 21:5 NIV – “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”- You can’t be so high and mighty that you lose common touch. Jesus came humbly by riding in on a donkey.

B.      The corona virus has equaled the playing field.

1. It all comes down to:
   • Story – I have to tell people my story. I have to tell people that I haven’t always been at this place in my life.
   • Status- God has evened the playing field. It doesn’t matter how much you make, how much education you have, or statue you have achieved, we all have had to humble ourselves during this Pandemic.
   • Service- We have had to learn to serve each other.
2. YOUR PURPOSE FUNCTIONS BETTER UNDER HIS CONTROL

When the donkey is chosen, he is under the control of Jesus Christ. The donkey has to allow Jesus to Lord over it, if its value is to come to full fruition.

1. I’m Submissive – No one had every ridden the colt. In order for the donkey to fulfil its purpose, it has to be broken. In other words, the Donkey has to submit.
2. The Donkey’s natural inclination is to buck, because it hadn’t been ridden.
3. I Only Go Where He Leads Me – Jesus had a predetermined purpose in mind.
4. The Steps of a Good Man are Ordered by the Lord.

• The Course – In this season, God is looking for people willing to let him lay down their life for the course.
• You have to understand that God has our life in his hands.
• The Cadence – there is a pace and timing by which God will get you through this.
• The Cause – God never leads you down a path that doesn’t have purpose.

1. It’s Not About Me, It’s All About Him – The text shows how purpose plays out. It is all about HIM.

1. We forget that God can do this without us.
2. God alone must be glorified.
3. I Can Serve Without Attention – The donkey carried Jesus. He brings him though Jerusalem and doesn’t draw attention to himself. It ain’t about the donkey, in this case, it is about who the donkey is carrying.
4. The donkey is moving in purpose silently, without drawing attention to himself. We have to learn to operate in purpose without having to be seen. When God has his hand on me, I deny myself, and want people to see HIM.
5. THE MORE I SHARE HIM THE MORE PEOPLE PRAISE HIM
6. The more the donkey carried Him, the more people praised Jesus
7. John 12:32 NIV – “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” – They threw their clothes in the street. This was signifying that he was a king.
8. The only way this will make sense is you got to pay attention to the fact that the people in the street was celebrating him.
9. Do you know who he is?
10. Revelation – He is the king of glory, of righteousness, and of heaven. He is available for the tempted. He guides, He heals the sick, He delivers the captives, He blesses the young, He rewards the diligent, He is the door way of deliverance, He is the highway of holiness, He is the gateway of glory, His promise is true, His might is matchless, His goodness limitless, He is indescribable, He is incomprehensible, you can’t live without him, and you can’t move without him. Death could not handle him, and the grave could not hold him!
11. Liberation – When He comes through, every struggle is released. It is us believing that God can set us free.
    1. We have seen God bring us out of so many things.
    2. Some of you are anxious about Covid. Know that He is King, and He is the deliberator. He brought you out before and he will do it again!
12. Celebration – There can’t be liberation without celebration.
    1. People are going to wonder who are these people who are still trusting God during this Pandemic.
    2. Who are these people that decided to give God glory through all of this?
    3. When we get to the other side, God is about to shift us into a different dimension with a shout of praise.
    4. Hosanna means save us Lord we pray. Our salvation comes from Him that saved us time and time again. Our salvation comes from God.

I leave you with this scripture:

Psalm 118:24-26 MSG – “Thank you for responding to me; you’ve truly become my salvation!
The stone the masons discarded as flawed is now the capstone!
This is God’s work. We rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!
This is the very day God acted— let’s celebrate and be festive!
Salvation now, God. Salvation now! Oh yes, God—a free and full life!
Blessed are you who enter in God’s name— from God’s house we bless you!”

Your life manners. Everything God promised in your life will come to pass. God will complete what he began in your life!