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&
Brooksyne Weber
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Friday, March
31, 2023
This barn is near the Lancaster Junction rail trail, one of the closest trails to our home, where we often ride our bikes.
"Christ
Has
Triumphed!"
Message
summary:
"Thanks
be to God! He
gives us the
victory
through our
Lord Jesus
Christ!"
Listen
to our message
on your audio
player.
"Rejoice
greatly,
Daughter Zion!
Shout,
Daughter
Jerusalem!
See, your king
comes to you,
righteous and
victorious,
lowly and
riding on a
donkey, on a
colt, the foal
of a donkey"
(Zechariah
9:9). "Thanks
be to God! He
gives us the
victory
through our
Lord Jesus
Christ" (1
Corinthians
15:57).
This
coming Sunday
is Palm
Sunday, a day
when we
commemorate
our Lord's
Triumphal
entry into
Jerusalem. I
have the
opportunity to
teach our
Sunday School
class, known
as an Adult
Bible
Fellowship
(ABF) in our
church, and
will be using
selections
from the Minor
Prophets in
relation to
Christ's
triumph.
Certainly
today's first
text fits as
it pictorially
describes what
we commemorate
on Palm
Sunday.
The
name "Palm
Sunday" comes
from the palm
branches that
were laid
before Him.
His entry was
indeed
triumphant due
to His
forthcoming
ultimate
victory!
Today we seem
to be in
permanent
campaign mode
as a country
and someone is
always running
for something.
Years ago I
attended a
banquet where
evangelist
Voddie Baucham
spoke.
He made a
brief allusion
to the
presidential
campaign at
the time with
this simple
reminder, "God
is not running
for God".
Now
the iron bars
are broken,
Christ from
death to life
is born;
Glorious life, and life immortal, on this resurrection morn.
Christ has triumphed, and we conquer
By His mighty enterprise; we with Him to life eternal
By His resurrection rise.
Glorious life, and life immortal, on this resurrection morn.
Christ has triumphed, and we conquer
By His mighty enterprise; we with Him to life eternal
By His resurrection rise.
Today we seem
to be in
permanent
campaign mode
as a country
and someone is
always running
for something.
Years ago I
attended a
banquet where
evangelist
Voddie Baucham
spoke.
He made a
brief allusion
to the
presidential
campaign at
the time with
this simple
reminder, "God
is not running
for God".
Indeed
He is not! Our
God has spoken
in finality, "I
am God, and
there is no
other".
Our proper
response is to
turn to Him
and be saved.
That's the
timeless
appeal from
God Himself
recorded in
Isaiah some
2,700 years
ago and
applicable to
the ends of
the earth and
to all
generations. “Turn
to me and be
saved, all you
ends of the
earth; for I
am God, and
there is no
other" (Isaiah
45:22).So
many in the
crowd on Palm
Sunday
had the
mistaken
notion about
Christ being a
political
savior. In our
own time many
seem to be
looking for a
similar
political
savior. They
express a
practically
worshipful
attitude
toward their
favored
candidate. But
no politician
can truly save
us.
Today
let us focus
on this simple
straightforward
truth: "Thanks
be to God! He
gives us the
victory
through our
Lord Jesus
Christ."
We enjoy a song with a familiar tune but different words written to Beethoven's tune, "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee", so the melody is familiar. This song, "Alleluia! Alleluia!" was written by Christopher Wordsworth and has a line that especially blesses me. "Christ has triumphed, and we conquer by His mighty enterprise."
Whenever we read of our Lord's suffering for our sin, we know the rest of the story - Christ has triumphed. But try to imagine what it would be like if we did not know the outcome. Although Messianic prophecy and our Lord Himself had promised His resurrection and victory we know the despondency and deep despair that overcame His followers at the time of the crucifixion and before Christ's resurrection.
He spent His final hours with the disciples teaching, sharing His love and instituting the Lord's Supper. Later that evening Jesus prayed in the garden and then the definitive betrayal would follow. Knowing just this and the horrible events that follow is a heart-wrenching story where we would all cry out, "foul"! But we know the rest of Story - Christ has triumphed!
He
not only
triumphed over
the grave at
His
resurrection
but the Holy
Scriptures
also promise
His ultimate
triumph and
that we will
conquer as
well (see
Romans 8:37
for one of
many such
promises). But
today some of
you are going
through a
deep,
discouraging
night season
of life and
may find
yourselves in
despair,
similar to the
disciples
during the
time of our
Lord's
suffering,
prior to His
resurrection.
Like them
you've heard
the promises
of triumph but
that's sure
not what you
feeling right
now nor are
you seeing
evidence
pointing you
in that
direction.
Yet we indeed conquer by His mighty enterprise. In life there is an overarching story, a meta-narrative, which supersedes all the confusion in the world that we presently observe with our physical eyes and may very well be personally experiencing.
We conquer! "Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"
Today
let us focus
on this simple
straightforward
truth: "Thanks
be to God! He
gives us the
victory
through our
Lord Jesus
Christ."We enjoy a song with a familiar tune but different words written to Beethoven's tune, "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee", so the melody is familiar. This song, "Alleluia! Alleluia!" was written by Christopher Wordsworth and has a line that especially blesses me. "Christ has triumphed, and we conquer by His mighty enterprise."
Whenever we read of our Lord's suffering for our sin, we know the rest of the story - Christ has triumphed. But try to imagine what it would be like if we did not know the outcome. Although Messianic prophecy and our Lord Himself had promised His resurrection and victory we know the despondency and deep despair that overcame His followers at the time of the crucifixion and before Christ's resurrection.
He spent His final hours with the disciples teaching, sharing His love and instituting the Lord's Supper. Later that evening Jesus prayed in the garden and then the definitive betrayal would follow. Knowing just this and the horrible events that follow is a heart-wrenching story where we would all cry out, "foul"! But we know the rest of Story - Christ has triumphed!
He
not only
triumphed over
the grave at
His
resurrection
but the Holy
Scriptures
also promise
His ultimate
triumph and
that we will
conquer as
well (see
Romans 8:37
for one of
many such
promises). But
today some of
you are going
through a
deep,
discouraging
night season
of life and
may find
yourselves in
despair,
similar to the
disciples
during the
time of our
Lord's
suffering,
prior to His
resurrection.
Like them
you've heard
the promises
of triumph but
that's sure
not what you
feeling right
now nor are
you seeing
evidence
pointing you
in that
direction.Yet we indeed conquer by His mighty enterprise. In life there is an overarching story, a meta-narrative, which supersedes all the confusion in the world that we presently observe with our physical eyes and may very well be personally experiencing.
We conquer! "Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!"
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Hearts to
heav'n and
voices raise;
Sing to God a hymn of gladness, sing to God a hymn of praise.
He who on the cross as Savior, for the world's salvation bled,
Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, now is risen from the dead.
Sing to God a hymn of gladness, sing to God a hymn of praise.
He who on the cross as Savior, for the world's salvation bled,
Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, now is risen from the dead.
Stephen
and Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Jesus,
help me to
trust You even
when
circumstances
would lead me
to feel that
You are
distant and
unaware of my
circumstances.
When I am
focused on the
difficulties
in life I can
easily become
overwhelmed,
fearful and
confused. But
when I look to
You, my
victorious
risen Savior,
who endured
affliction,
rejection and
times of
testing by
spending
extensive time
in passionate
prayer,
whether it was
the 40 days in
the wilderness
when You stood
strong against
Satan's
frequent
temptations or
when You
prayed in the
Garden of
Gethsemane, I
am
strengthened
and encouraged
by Your
example. When
You were
overwhelmed
with sorrow
even to the
point of death
You fell with
Your face to
the ground and
surrendered
Your human
will to the
Father's plan
which included
unjust
suffering and
even death.
And, whether
we like it or
not, Scripture
tells us if we
are to share
in Your glory
we must also
share in Your
suffering.
Help me,
Jesus, to
watch and pray
so that I will
not fall into
temptation
during those
experiences
that involve
suffering, but
rather that my
spirit and
flesh will be
strengthened
so that I am
strong in You,
Jesus Christ
my Lord and
Savior and
conquering
King, for it
is in Your
name that I
pray. Amen.Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"King
of
Kings"
Click
to listen on
YouTube
Praise
and Harmony
Singers
The
4 gospels
cover the life
of Christ, a
period of
about 33
years. Most of
this material
deals with the
3˝ year period
of His
ministry.
However an
astounding 30
of the 89
accumulative
chapters in
the gospels
deal with the
period from
Christ's
triumphal
entry through
His
resurrection
and
post-resurrection
appearances.
Mathematically
this means
that
approximately
33% of the
written
material in
the gospels
deals with a
mere .05%
period of His
life! In the
providence of
God we have a
much greater
proportion of
material
dealing with
God's greatest
act of mercy
in providing
our
redemption.
Here's an interesting chart from the Life Application Study Bible that may be helpful as you study the Bible during this time. It sure helps me to have a sense of when the events took place and is inspiring to read these Scriptures in the daily sequence leading up to Easter.
Sunday
Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19
Monday
Jesus Clears the Temple: Mt. 21:12,13; Mk. 11:15-17; Lk. 19:45,46
Tuesday/Wednesday
Here's an interesting chart from the Life Application Study Bible that may be helpful as you study the Bible during this time. It sure helps me to have a sense of when the events took place and is inspiring to read these Scriptures in the daily sequence leading up to Easter.
Sunday
Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19
Monday
Jesus Clears the Temple: Mt. 21:12,13; Mk. 11:15-17; Lk. 19:45,46
Tuesday/Wednesday
Jesus'
authority
challenged in
the temple:
Mt. 21:23-27;
Mk. 11:27-33;
Lk. 20:1-8
Jesus teaches stories and confronts the Jewish leaders: Mt. 21:28-23:36; Mk. 12:1-40; Lk. 20:9-47
Greeks ask to see Jesus: Jn. 12:20-26
The Olivet Discourse: Mt. 24; Mk. 13; Lk. 21:5-38
Judas agrees to betray Jesus: Mt. 26:14-16; Mk. 14:10,11; Lk. 22:3-6
Thursday
The Last Supper: Mt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:14-20
Jesus speaks to the disciples in the upper room: Jn 13-17
Jesus struggles in Garden of Gethsemane: Mt. 26:36-46; Mk. 14:32-42; Lk. 22:39-46; Jn. 18:1
Jesus is betrayed and arrested: Mt. 26:47-56; Mk. 14:43-52; Lk. 22:47-53; Jn. 18:2-12
Friday
Jesus is tried by Jewish and Roman authorities and disowned by Peter: Mt 26:57-27:2, 11-31; Mk 14:53-15:20; Lk 22:54-23:25; Jn 18:13-19:16
Jesus is crucified and buried: Mt 27:31-56; Mk 15:20-41; Lk 23:26-49; Jn 19:17-30
Sunday
The glorious resurrection: Mt. 28:1-10; Mk 16:1-11; Lk 24:1-12; Jn 20:1-18
Jesus teaches stories and confronts the Jewish leaders: Mt. 21:28-23:36; Mk. 12:1-40; Lk. 20:9-47
Greeks ask to see Jesus: Jn. 12:20-26
The Olivet Discourse: Mt. 24; Mk. 13; Lk. 21:5-38
Judas agrees to betray Jesus: Mt. 26:14-16; Mk. 14:10,11; Lk. 22:3-6
Thursday
The Last Supper: Mt. 26:26-29; Mk. 14:22-25; Lk. 22:14-20
Jesus speaks to the disciples in the upper room: Jn 13-17
Jesus struggles in Garden of Gethsemane: Mt. 26:36-46; Mk. 14:32-42; Lk. 22:39-46; Jn. 18:1
Jesus is betrayed and arrested: Mt. 26:47-56; Mk. 14:43-52; Lk. 22:47-53; Jn. 18:2-12
Friday
Jesus is tried by Jewish and Roman authorities and disowned by Peter: Mt 26:57-27:2, 11-31; Mk 14:53-15:20; Lk 22:54-23:25; Jn 18:13-19:16
Jesus is crucified and buried: Mt 27:31-56; Mk 15:20-41; Lk 23:26-49; Jn 19:17-30
Sunday
The glorious resurrection: Mt. 28:1-10; Mk 16:1-11; Lk 24:1-12; Jn 20:1-18
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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