A special message from Apostle Cliff Flor as we appraoch PALM SUNDAY...............................
Some thoughts to help with the message for this coming Sunday, known in the Christian World as “Palm Sunday”.
Firstly we must remember that Jesus came to fulfil the law and everything had to be fulfilled as well as the word of God given previously. The triumphal entry is recorded in Matthew 21; Mark 11; Luke 19; John 2:15, but was foretold hundreds of years before, by the prophets. Isaiah 62:10-12; Zechariah 9:9.
Why did the Lord have to ride on as Ass?
Under the law of God when He appointed a King, one of the rules was that he had to travel on an Ass to remain humble before the people. The kings soon changed this to elevate themselves by riding horses and chariots. Our Lord, if He was to become King of Kings, had to fulfil the law 100%.
The people were moved by the spirit to recognize His position and honoured Him by putting their garments and branches in the way and crying out Hosana (which means save now). Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosana in the highest and other praises.
We must always remember that in less than one week, these same people were the ones who cried out “crucify him”. It is a lesson to us in life, we too praise the Lord, but very soon can be led away and turn our actions into abandoning Christ in our life.
We see He had to fulfil the law and that is why He entered into the temple to cleanse it. He cast out the money changers, those that bought and sold and the seats of those that sold doves and declared “My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” He even made a scourge (whip) to scourge or cleanse the temple. The temple now had to be cleansed for the great event to come.
We must remember that God’s house today, is the spiritual temple, the Church – Ephesians 2:20-22 and at this time especially, also each Sunday we must invite Christ into our hearts to cast out the cares and ways of the world and cleanse us through the forgiveness of sins, to allow the Church to be a true house of prayer.
We read after the Lord cleansed the temple that He healed the blind and the lame. He too, must heal us when we are blind to His teaching and ways, and lame so that we do not walk in His footsteps. This healing is only available through Holy Communion and at this time we remember during the period after “Palm Sunday” was when this was gifted to the Church and the ultimate sacrifice made on the cross.
We also read how the chief priests and scribes tried to have Him stop the children from crying and saying “Hosana to the Son of David” and our Lord’s response – “Yea: have ye never read,Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise.”
We can see we must not neglect the children and more importantly, we must all become as little children – Mark 10:15.
Wishing all a blessed time as we move into the Holy week, where so many blessings were won for us by Christ.
Greetings to all,
Your brother and Apostle for Christ,
Apostle Cliff Flor.
For any further information Email The Apostolic Church of Queensland.