The palm branch represents “victory, triumph and peace.” The crowds who were present at the Palm Sunday procession, missed a distinct kind of victory and the peace that Jesus desired to demonstrate. They shouted “Hosanna!” which means “save us now”. It was a picture of victory and joy - a procession fit for a King. Yet, just five days later, the same multitude that shouted “Hosanna!” would now shout “crucify him!”
What are you shouting?
John 12:13
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, “Hosanna!” Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!”
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Wives and husbands often declare to each other “you are my everything.” Parents also echo the sentiment, “my children are my everything.” And children even declare, “my mom/dad is my everything.” Or, perhaps you claim that your job/finances is your everything. What happens when all of these relationships or things seem to fail? When Christ is your everything, He is your life, hope, peace and strength!
Psalm 23:1-3
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
3 He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths
for His name’s sake.
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Feeling rejected, unwanted, and in despair? Know that there is one true, living God, that you can turn to. YOU are the kind of person God wants to use, even when the world overlooks you.
Romans 8:18
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
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There is a magnetic power in Jesus that draws us to Himself, into His loving nature. With Christ’s love flowing through us, we should be magnetic too. And as we are drawn to Him, “God’s desire is not to make us comfortable, but to be obedient.”
John 12:32
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.
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What Christ said to his disciples in Acts 1:8, He is still saying to believers today. The importance, the power, the relevancy of God’s plan was established before the foundations of this world. God equips us so that we are without excuse – to do as Christ has commanded us – to seek and save the lost and destroy the work of the enemy. We are ALL called to do so, as professed and true ministers of Christ.
A powerful message delivered by Dr. Cedrick E. Brown, Senior/Founding Pastor, Commitment Community Church in Lindenwold, NJ.
Acts 1:8
“But ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you; and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
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There are times in our lives when we experience difficulties and circumstances where it’s nearly impossible to see that light at the end of the tunnel. In order to have the right perspective in life, we must allow God to open our eyes! Only then, and through prayer and scripture, can we follow the path He has carved for each of us - through every season .
2 Kings 6:15-17
15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17 And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
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Love always rejoices in the truth. To love God with all our hearts requires us to love His word. Be confident that God’s immutable promises – His vows to us – will never change.
1 Corinthians 13:7
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
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Being lost is all too familiar to us. We watch and depend on signs to help us get to where we need to go. Let God be your forever Pilot.
Isaiah 55:6
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.
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It’s a new season – it’s not over! We must understand that battles and struggles that we experience in the world, have to do with 2 powers fighting for our souls – Satan is the ruler of dark forces, and God is the ruler of all forces in heaven. Everything ultimately is about WORSHIP, with the battle over the hearts of men. Who will you worship? Who will you serve? God’s worship must be done intentionally by honoring Him as the Supreme King that He is, and by serving Him wholeheartedly out of love, and not obligation!
John 11:1-3
1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”
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Pitfalls are hidden or unsuspected dangers and difficulties; a covered pit used as a trap or a snare. As new Christians, we often vow to serve Christ all the days of our lives and possess a great desire to live solely for Him. But once faced with the daily challenges in our Christian journey, our voices often begin to sway and we lose the passion and desire to serve, that we once had. Beware of pitfalls and continue to give Christ all that you are and all that you are called to be in the Lord!
Matthew 26: 33-35
33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” 34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
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What are the desires of your heart for 2023? What do you want from God this year? When we have a true relationship with Christ, He will grant us the desires of our heart according to His will.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose.
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God sees your heartaches and pains - and He cares. You are not lost in the crowd! God’s eyes are upon you! Trust in Him to cast your net and reap heavenly rewards.
Luke 5:4-5
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”
5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
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“Have you ever had thoughts of uselessness and often feel discouraged and bogged down with despair - a despair that steers you away from your God-given dreams - a despair that leads you to give in to living a life that’s unfulfilled? You have a voice! You can rise up! Go tell that “fox” - not today!
Luke 13:31-32
31 At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”
32 He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’
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“Jesus said it’s one or the other. He said if you’re not on the narrow road that leads to eternal life, then you must be on the broad road that leads to destruction.” Which road will you choose?
Matthew 7:13-14
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
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Jesus was rejected, abandoned, disowned, betrayed, yet He was always in the will of God. Perhaps some of these things are all too familiar to you, and you’ve been broken and hurt - this does not mean that you’re not in the will of God. It could very well be that you’re in the exact position that God wants you to be…stay faithful and in His will. He will come through. Jesus never fails!
Matthew 26:10
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
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Often times we don’t have a spirit of gratitude and thankfulness. We feel weary, fearful, anxious, concerned, lonely and distressed. Be encouraged! Learn to have a cheerful spirit, laying your burdens at the foot of the cross, and living with a thankful and grateful heart for God.
1 Chronicles 16:34
O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy endureth forever.
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Do you listen when the Spirit of God speaks, or do you tune Him out? Listen to this sermon and learn to avoid distractions and become focused on what God wants from us. Listen and obey the Spirit.
Revelation 2:7
Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
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Mountains symbolize challenging obstacles in life - obstacles that keep us from experiencing God’s true love, His kindess, His peace, His joy in life. When we face mountains, we must understand that every test, every challenge, every problem, can not be conquered without the mighty power and Spirit of the Lord!
Genesis 22:1-2
1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
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We are often faced with obstructions that prevent us from what we need in life and what we need from Christ. At times, rare steps must be taken in order to break through those obstructions. We challenge you to find your way through Christ, through His truth and word, to overcome life’s obstructions!
Luke 5:18-19
18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
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Words are powerful! Words have meaning that shape our beliefs and drives our behavior. Words arise from our emotional responses. When we read, when we speak - words have energy and power to hurt, to harm, to humiliate. But words also have the power to create clarity, truth, transformation, positivity. What words are you speaking? Listen to this impactful sermon on the power of words.
Matthew 8:8
The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
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God’s love extends second chances, even when we fall short; even when we fail; even when we run away from Him. God’s faithfulness, mercy and grace remain.
Jonah 1:17
17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
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The things of this world will keep you captive. Learn to live in freedom from captivity, and know that God is not just merciful…but He is mercy.
Lamentations 3:22-23
22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
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What does God’s word say about the origin of sin? Listen to this powerful sermon on “weeding God’s garden!”
ISAIAH 14:13-14
13 You said in your heart,
“I will ascend to the heavens;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of Mount Zaphon.[b]
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.”
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Jesus is not moved by our desperation, nor manipulated by our praise and worship, but rather responds to our great faith!
MATTHEW 15:22
A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
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Chapter 40 of Isaiah is a letter to us of the great comfort that God provides to His people. He promises comfort, along with strength, power and so much more.
ISAIAH 40:29
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
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What does worthiness have to do with grace? Grace is an act of kindness that God bestows on us, when we are so unworthy. Thank God for His grace!
2 THESSALONIANS 1:11-12
11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. 12 We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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The fact that we’re still standing is only by the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of our unfailing and unwavering God.
ACTS 27:42-44
42 The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. 43 But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. 44 The rest were to get there on planks or on other pieces of the ship. In this way everyone reached land safely.
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There are great benefits to focusing on Jesus, our Savior.
Shift your focus!
HEWBREWS 3:1
1 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.
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The enemy has one mission: To steal and destroy your life. The Bible is God’s prescription to being victorious.
PSALM 42:3
3 My tears have been my food day and night, while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
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We often fail to pursue the very person who can provide all of our needs.
Who or what are you in pursuit of?
2 KINGS 18:5-6
5 Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. 6 He held fast to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses.
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