Amen.
Habits are hard things to break, and after preaching for 35 years and taking my watch off, which
! seldom means much of anything, and putting it on the pulpit kind of to remind myself
! of where I am now that I wear a Fitbit that keeps track of my heart rate never
anything else. It's like, I just take it off out of habit, and I put it in my pocket,
and I hope that this is accurate. Let me ask you to pray for me this coming Thursday at
3 o'clock. I will be preaching the funeral service for my son's father-in-law. In case
you wonder, Tim Knoyer loves weddings and loves funerals. Here's why. God in His providence
gives me a captive audience to which I may freely and joyfully proclaim the gospel. And in some cases,
that venue is the only time people ever hear the truth.
God in His providence to the Lord. And in some cases, I may be praying for you to pray for me at 3,
and that's Jesus. So pray for me at 3, Thursday. Pray for me this morning because I need the enabling of the Holy Spirit.
But there's much in the text. Let's pray together.
Father, the prophet Zechariah rightly said under the prompting of the Spirit of God that apart from you,
it can't be done in the sense that not by might nor by power, but my spirit saith the Lord.
And I ask that you would work this morning that the Lord Jesus Christ, who came into the world to be the Savior
of sinners, would be the one that is supremely adored, that the ambition and affection of our souls would be Jesus,
and that as a result of our attending to the Scriptures, as we are reminded in 2 Corinthians chapter 3,
that our hearts and lives the way we think would be affected,
and that we through your Spirit would grow to be more like Christ,
that our behavior, our attitudes, our relationships, our conduct at work,
the things that we think would all be marked by the sensitivity we have to the character and Word of Christ.
We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
I want you to think with me just for a moment at the start, and it has tremendous bearing on the passage.
I want you to think with me just clearly, quietly. Here's what I want you to do.
I want you to think of some of the thoughts you've had already this morning that you would prefer no one else knows about.
I want you to think about some of the attitudes you've had towards other people.
I want you to think about where your eyes have been that nobody else knows.
I want you to think about where your eyes have been.
I want you to think of your discontentment you've had with some of the circumstances that God has allowed.
I want you to think of the things you've thought about saying that age and discretion have kept you from saying.
Practically speaking,
I think one of the things that I will first enjoy a great deal about heaven
is that I will not deal with sin anymore.
I don't know about you.
But Tim Knoyer is fully persuaded that the biggest problem he has in life is himself.
And that the biggest battle I have is with sin.
So I want you to think just with me about this for a moment.
And that's what we're going to be looking at today is Christ's tragic, not triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
I just want you to imagine this morning that we are in a completely different political season than we actually are.
And you are stunned to hear that Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton both came to the platform
and made an absolutely stunning statement that the greatest problem in our nation today is sin.
Is sin.
I bring that up because
If that were to happen,
I want you to recognize that the media would be as apoplectic about that statement today
as the entire nation of Israel was when Jesus came into Jerusalem
on the week of his death
on the donkey
in complete contradiction
to what those people thought they needed.
Let me read the passage.
John chapter 12
verse 12
The next day
the large crowd that had come to the feast
heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem.
So they took branches of palm trees
and went out to meet him crying out
Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
even the King of Israel!
Jesus found a young donkey
and sat on it just as it is written
Fear not
daughter of Zion
Behold your King is coming
sitting on a donkey's
colt.
Most of us have Bibles
that probably
break down the paragraphs
etc.
and give us little headers
to kind of let us know
what that passage is about.
Am I right?
Most of you have that there?
And I'm going to venture to guess
that every one of you
that have a header over that
speaks of this as the triumphal entry.
Am I right?
Triumphal.
I
not original with me
but I have to tell you
that over the years
as I have
as I've read this passage repeatedly
and as I've thought about this passage
I've always wondered
at the triumph piece.
I've got to tell you honestly
where's the triumph piece?
I mean it's a little off-putting
to ride a donkey.
How many of you have ever ridden a donkey?
The donkey crowd out here.
Bill for real?
It had to be a profoundly exhilarating experience
right?
Not really.
I
you know just imagine that.
And I've got to tell you
as I think about the triumphal entry
I'm kind of struck by the fact
that it was just days
after this
that the entire crowd
is screaming crucify him.
and
I have to tell you
I think honestly
that little statement
triumphal entry
is a little off-putting
to the truth.
I don't want you to go
take your magic marker
or pen
and
line it out
and write in tragic
because you know
it'll bleed through the other side
and confuse you terribly
so just kind of stay with it
whatever you have.
But I want to break the passage
into two parts.
One
dealing with Christ's
intentional entrance
into Jerusalem.
As we take up verse 12
one of the things
I want you to mark there
is it says
that a large crowd
had come to the feast
the large crowd
that had come to the feast
heard that Jesus was coming
to Jerusalem.
Christ's coming
was not merely a rumor
and it was not
just an anticipation
of the throng
that gathered
hoping that
there may be a chance
that they might see Jesus.
The fact of the matter is
is that in
the perfect choreography
of God's sovereign control
of all details
Lazarus falling sick
and ultimately dying
and then Jesus
coming to Bethany
and healing
or raising him
and then subsequently
coming back again
and engaging
in a dinner party
together
was bringing Jesus
within a two mile
distance
from the city
in which he was going
to die.
The fact that the crowd
knew that he was coming
into Jerusalem
tells me that
Jesus let his disciples
know the fact
and he let them know
that it was appropriate
to let other people know.
Now in case you're wondering
what went through
the disciples' minds
when Jesus said to them
hey
we are going
up to Jerusalem
all you have to do
is remember
that the disciples
had the attitude
that when Jesus came
this last time
what was he going to do?
he had told them
over and over again
I'm going to Jerusalem
I'm going to die
and three days later
I'm going to rise again.
Did any of them
understand
or believe him?
The answer is
not in your life.
The last recorded
little intramural dispute
!
You know what I mean
by intramural disputes
it's when people
who are believers
have little
snitty attitudes
and argue about
stupid things
and here are
the disciples
what were they arguing
with about
the night of
Jesus' betrayal?
Does anybody remember?
With your eyes closed
I can tell you
they were arguing
about who was going
to be number one
when Jesus pulled it off
and came stomping
into Jerusalem
and put the smack down
on the low life Romans
and took over.
Now I can hear Peter.
I'll be there.
And you know what?
The rest of you
are going to be
kind of my sidekicks
as I run the show
for Jesus.
James and John
the sons of thunder
you know what
they were thinking?
It's time.
He held me back
from frying them
in the past
but this is going
to be the day
when I bring fire
from heaven
and we're going
to settle score.
I mean in their
dramatic little pea brains
you know
they had it all worked out.
Jesus let them know
he was coming into town.
And I want you
to understand that
Jesus really had
no intention
of people missing
his great purpose.
He planned
his final journey
into Jerusalem
and set the stage
perfectly.
The grand plan
of heaven
for our salvation
through the death
of Christ
on the cross
for our sins
and his resurrection
had been structured
and put together
by God
in eternity past
with perfect
placement
and time
and thought.
And it was not
an accident
that when Jesus
arrived in Jerusalem
that he arrived
at the time
of the celebration
of the Passover.
He had done
an incredible miracle
in raising Lazarus
from the dead
just so close
to Jerusalem
that the entire city
was buzzing
with the undeniable
evidence
of his power.
And you can understand
how the entire
city
would have been
enthusiastically
expecting
Jesus
to finally
come into town
and clean
house.
We do see
something else
in the text here
that I want you
to recognize
and it's this.
Jesus let people
know exactly
why he came.
In eternity
I want you
to recognize
that no one
will ever
be able
to claim
ignorance
for the reason
of their rebellion
and rejection
of Christ.
There are some
of you sitting
here today
the truth
of the matter
is who do
not know
the Lord Jesus.
There will be
none of you
that will ever
be able to say
I really
didn't understand
the clarity
and truthfulness
of the gospel
which announces
this
all men
stand justly
condemned
before a holy
God
their sin
bringing
eternal
condemnation
in hell
Christ Jesus
being the only
remedy for
their sins
and here was
Jesus coming
into town
and he made
it very very
clear that he
was coming
into town
to be the
sin bearer
and he was
coming into
town
with abject
humility
and tenderness
and meekness
I have been
around donkeys
growing up
in India
and I can tell
you I have
never
I would rather
walk
than ride
a donkey
bony
back
so low
slung to the
ground
that it's
almost offensive
to imagine
straddling one
insufferably
stinky
just a vile
animal
and yet
an animal
of burden
and while
John doesn't
give us much
background
we find it
in all the
other gospels
that when
Jesus prepared
to enter into
Jerusalem
he gave
instructions to
his disciples
to go find
a donkey
the foal
of a donkey
actually it was
a younger
donkey
that had
never been
broken to
a saddle
yet
now
any of you
that have
ever dealt
with animals
know that
the process
of moving
from being
saddle free
to being
saddled
is a process
that animals
don't take
too normally
and enjoyably
you don't just
walk up to a
donkey and say
so what
you know
I've been
thinking about
the fact
that I'm
going to
sling about
a couple
hundred pounds
on your back
and you're
going to spend
the rest
of your low
life
just kind
of walking
around
making me
happy
carrying what
I don't
want to
carry
and donkeys
don't say
good idea
put it up
there man
I'm ready
this donkey
had never
had the
privilege
of being
saddled
Jesus said
to his
disciples
you walk
into town
and you
find a
donkey
on the
little
foal
and you
bring the
donkey
to me
and I'm
going to
ride it
well they
did what
Jesus said
can you
imagine what
they were
thinking
triumphal
entry
right
it's in
your
bibles
and hey
we're
going to
go get
something
for Jesus
to ride
had he
ever ridden
a donkey
before this
no indication
that he
did
so he
says to
his
disciples
we're
going
into
Jerusalem
today
go find
me a
ride
in
southern
Ohio
vernacular
he asked
for a
pickup truck
that was
about 30
years old
and it
doesn't even
have a bed
in the back
it just
has pieces
of board
stuck back
there
how many
have you
ever seen
those
okay
that's
a real
ride
find me
a donkey
oh yeah
okay
we'll do
it
and here
comes
Jesus
I gotta
tell you
I have to
respect
the fact
that the
crowd
looked beyond
the clear
physical evidence
of how
Jesus was
coming into
town
and they
still got
pretty
enthused
at the
prospect
of what
they thought
he was
going to
do
you know
if you were
to read a
little bit of
ancient history
you would
understand that
the rich and
powerful rode
in chariots
or on
horses
or on
camels
donkeys
were not
their chosen
means
of
travel
now
there's
no doubt
picking up
there in
verse 13
that as
the people
saw Jesus
coming into
sight
they were
so enthusiastic
and expectant
in what he
was coming
to do
for them
that they
grabbed
palm fronds
and they
laid their
coats down
in front of
him and they
were just
enthused
beyond
imagination
listen to
what they
said
Hosanna
blessed is
he who
comes in
the name
of the
Lord
even the
king of
Israel
now
what they
expected
Jesus to
do
was be
the remedy
for their
political
economic
cultural
circumstances
they had
suffered
under
first
Greek
rule
and now
under
Roman
rule
and I
want to
tell you
the Roman
rule that
they had
endured
was
incredibly
brutal
it was
taxation
without
representation
it was
abuse at
every hand
the Roman
legion
was
absolutely
disrespectful
of the
nation
in every
way
conceivable
and there
was a
visceral
hatred
for the
Romans
who were
in Jerusalem
an entire
nation
hated them
and so
here comes
Jesus
into the
city
and the
expectation
of the
throng
was that
Jesus
was coming
to be
their
political
savior
the word
Hosanna
means
save
now
question
do you
think
they were
thinking
about their
physical
spiritual
salvation
or they
were thinking
about their
political
salvation
which do you
think they
were concerned
about
if you
were to
ask most
people
and I
actually
made a
note to
myself
and changed
my mind
I wondered
if I were
to ask
you so
what's the
biggest problem
you would
like help
with
or if I
could grant
you one
wish
now that's
a question
I often
use in
counseling
I will
say to
a person
so if
I could
and I
can't
get that
off your
mind
but if I
could answer
one request
you have
what would
you like
I really
wish you'd
do something
for my
wife
I've had
them say
that
Pastor Saul
you've had
similar
experiences
right
and Pastor
Andrew
you've had
that
Pastor
Shear
and Sarah
are two
weeks from
finishing their
counseling
training
and I
can promise
you
Pastor
if you
ask that
question
people are
going to
come up
with pretty
simplistic
problems
that are
you know
solutions
it's like
well you
know if
you'd
change
my
wife
it'd
be
okay
or you
know
hey
I know
Pastor
you probably
couldn't
do that
but if
you'd
write me
a check
for a
million
dollars
that would
really
that help
you see
when they
said
save now
that's what
Hosanna means
save now
and they
were shouting
this
that they
were
do it
now
do it
now
do it
you get
that
and they
were fired
here comes
Jesus
I mean
this is a
guy
who brings
people back
from the
dead
right
I mean
dealing
with Rome
is no
big thing
save now
then they
kind of
added on
to it
blessed is
he who
comes in
the name
of the
Lord
even
the
king
of Israel
they were
all caught
up in
believing
that
Jesus
was going
to be
their
political
savior
and
if you
are
going
to
do
something
for
us
go ahead
and
take
care
of
the
food
stamp
problem
I mean
after all
he'd shown
he could
feed
people
right
on a
moment's
notice
and
what
about
health
care
Christo
care
instead
of
Obamacare
or
whatever
else
the
plan
is
it's
like
you
know
hey
there
will
be
healing
stations
and
I'm
going
to
do
a
little
bit
of
training
and
put
a
little
bit
of
power
into
all
my
disciples
and
they're
going
to
scatter
around
a little
clinics
all
over
the
place
and
whatever
the
problem
is
I'll
take
care
of
it
I
mean
the
people
were
enthused
at the
prospect
of
Jesus
taking
care
of
their
problems
look at
verse 14
and
Jesus
found a
young
donkey
and sat
on it
just
as
it
is
written
fear
not
daughter
of
Zion
behold
your
king
is
coming
sitting
on
a
donkey's
colt
you
know
the thing
I want
you to
understand
here
is
as
you
look
at
this
passage
Jesus
fulfilled
the
prophecy
of
Zechariah
9
verse
9
and
came
in
peace
and
humility
it's
interesting
that
as
we
read
in
John
12
verse
16
that
after
Christ's
death
and
resurrection
that
the
disciples
understood
this
a
little
better
look
at
verse
16
his
disciples
did
not
understand
these
things
at
first
but
when
Jesus
was
glorified
then
they
remembered
that
these
things
had
been
written
about
him
and
it
had
been
done
to
him
there's
another
little
interesting
historical
question
here
how
many
of
you
know
when
we
celebrate
Christ's
death
what
day
is
it
normally
we
call
it
good
Friday
I'm
not
here
to
raise
the
dispute
or
cause
any
angst
in
any
of
your
hearts
but
there
are
some
Bible
scholars
that
suggest
actually
Jesus
came
into
Jerusalem
on
Thursday
and
he
died
on
Thursday
I'm
not
going to
get
into
all
the
details
of
the
argument
but
if
that
is
true
then
it
is
in
keeping
with
that
frame
that
Jesus
came
in
to
Jerusalem
at
the
same
day
that
the
Old
Testament
passage
in
which
the
process
of
choosing
a
Passover
lamb
and
bringing
it
into
your
own
home
was
to
play
out
the
Passover
lamb
by the
way
what was
the
significance
of the
Passover
lamb
you'll
remember
the
story
of
the
Passover
God
said
to
the
nation
of
Israel
you
are
to
choose
a
lamb
and
you
are
to
bring
it
into
your
home
and
you
are
to
keep
it
there
with
you
and
then
on
the
fourth
day
you
are
to
slaughter
that
lamb
and
you
are
to
put
the
blood
of
the
lamb
on
the
doorpost
and
on
the
lentil
so
that
when
I
see
the
blood
I'll
pass
over
and
bringing
that
little
lamb
into
the
home
of
every
Jewish
believer
was
an
expression
of
hope
but
of
sorrow
do
you
follow
that
during
those
days
in
which
that
lamb
was
so
close
to
the
family
there
was
a
bonding
of
sorts
and
then
that
lamb
was
going
to
die
for
that
family
and
here
is
Jesus
actually
coming
in
to
the
city
in
the
same
context
and
on
the
same
day
perhaps
in
which
the
lambs
came
in
to
the
city
in
preparation
for
the
Passover
and
remember
Jesus
was
going
to
die
on
the
day
proportionate
to
that
actual
sacrifice
I
want
you
to
mark
this
as
certainly
true
Christ's
first
coming
and
his
present
appeal
is
as
our
Savior
and
as
the
Lamb
of
God
let
me
point
out
a
couple
different
passages
have
fixed
in
your
mind
for
one
in
John
chapter
1
verse
29
remember
when
John
the
Baptist
saw
Jesus
he
said
this
behold
the
Lamb
of
God
what
that
takes
away
the
sins
of
the
world
here
was
John
the
Baptist
that
had
grown
up
with
a
singular
desire
to
see
the
Messiah
it
had
been
his
responsibility
to
preach
repentance
make
straight
the
way
of
the
Lord
prepare
the
way
of
the
Lord
repent
for
the
kingdom
of
God
is
at
hand
and
when
he
sees
Jesus
do
you
know
what
he
says
behold
the
Lamb
of
God
that
comes
to
take
away
the
sins
of
the
world
and
Jesus
when he
spoke
about
himself
over
in
John
chapter
or
Luke
chapter
19
verse
10
he
said
this
For
the
Son
of
man
came
to
seek
and to
save
that
which
is
lost
why
did
he
come
he
came
because
I
was
lost
because
I
was
destroyed
and
broken
by
my
sin
and
he
came
to be
my
savior
and
I
have
to
tell
you
the
way
and
the
day
in
which
Jesus
chose
to
enter
Jerusalem
announced
that
the
greatest
problem
we
have
is
our
sin
oh
that
our
hearts
would
be
gripped
by
that
truth
and
our
longing
for
his
grace
to
save
us
and
also
help
us
to
grow
to
be
more
like
him
and
less
like
our
old
selves
!
older
I
am
more
persuaded
of
the
doctrine
of
depravity
than
I
used
to
be
I
know
more
about
the
darkness
of
my
own
soul
than
I
used
to
and
as
a
result
of
my
growing
to
understand
the
darkness
of
my
own
soul
I
am
growing
in
my
affection
for
Christ
there's
only
one
person
who
can
take
care
of
the
darkness
of
this
soul
and
Jesus
I
want
you
to
notice
something
else
you
look
here
at
this
passage
and
get
this
truth
in
your
mind
the
Jews
didn't
get
it
but
they're
not
the
only
one
so
we
put
it
this
way
I
guess
as
you
go
back
again
to
look
there
in
verse
13
the
world's
rejection
of
their
greatest
need
it
must
have
been
fairly
frustrating
to all
the people
who were
waving palm
fronds
and saying
save now
be the
king
we need
you to
do
something
with those
skunks
who are
giving us
a hard
time
we'd like
better
health care
and we need
something about
the food
they're waving
the palm
fronds
I
want
you to
understand
that
the use
of palm
branches
was not
something
that was
a part
of Jewish
history
for most
of their
record
actually
it had
only happened
in the last
couple
centuries
and what
had happened
actually
is this
is Judas
and Simon
Maccabeus
had driven
out Syrian
invaders
from
Israel
and when
they had
driven
them out
and they
came
how many
of you
understand
that
victorious
generals
had the
victory march
into the
city
where they
had
they had
rescued
the nation
right
and so
it was
I wasn't
there
don't care
that much
but
I understand
that after
the
Cavaliers
won the
game in
Cleveland
I mean
they were
the national
champions
for one
whole year
blah blah
blah
they had
a victory
party
I mean
do you
follow what
I'm saying
and I
understand
there was
just a
riotous
good time
ahead
and that
was the
way
ancient
general
got to
kind of
come into
town
and when
the
Maccabees
their revolt
against the
Syrians
actually was
successful
the nation
celebrated
that victory
with palm
branches
waving them
as expressions
of their
enthusiasm
at their
victory
it became
a symbol
of Jewish
nationalism
and their
victory over
their enemies
and so when
you would see
coins
and this is
one of the
things that
characterized
making of
coins in
the ancient
day
you stamped
the coin
with a
signal
or a
symbol
of your
significant
victory
and the
palm branch
was one of
the things
that was
stamped on
a coin
and so when
you looked
at the
coins
hey
we beat
them
you know
and so
palm branches
were oh
yeah
and here
comes Jesus
riding on
a donkey
they stuck
with it
though
waving their
branches
and you
know
their
ambitions
were for
a political
solution
not a
spiritual
one
hey
look at
me
do you
know how
edgy it
makes people
when you
tell them
that their
real problem
is their
sin
do you
follow that
I've learned
the hard way
that you
don't start
there
you got me
best thing
you do
is you
just listen
to them
talk
what's
going on
oh
my life
is filled
with jerks
my boss
he's the
dumbest person
ever
I mean
the only smart
thing is he
writes me a
check
you know
my neighbors
oh
I need
better
neighbors
my family
you can't
believe
my family
and
everybody
has a
tendency
of
thinking
that
the
solution
to the
problem
would be
somebody
else
making
significant
changes
I want
you to
understand
that the
crowd
really
had
no
idea
that their
deepest
need
was for
salvation
from their
sins
it is
difficult
for us
to grasp
how the
crowd
could go
from
praising
to
screaming
for his
crucifixion
apart from
this
pay attention
what they
wanted
is not
what they
got
does that
make sense
there are
some of you
sitting here
this morning
that what
you want
is not
what you
need
and there
are some
of you
who are
believers
who've
forgotten
that what
he did
in your
life
is what
you really
needed
done
it is
incredibly
offensive
to an
unbeliever
to actually
let them
know that
what they
need the
most
is
forgiveness
for their
sins
and the
power of
God
to help
them
change
being
different
than
they've
been
you know
we're so
comfortable
with our
own sins
are we
not
now we're
pretty good
at seeing
sin in
other people's
lives
and being a
little irritated
with it
am I
right
huh
you can
be an
inveterate
you can
be a
specialized
highly tuned
gossip
now Christians
are better
at it
than
non-believers
do you
follow that
non-believers
are just
right up
front in
your face
and let
you know
their bad
attitudes
but Christians
are so much
more subtle
I need you
to pray for
my brother
he's really
struggling with
an attitude
you know
and I'm here
to help him
I'm so full
of righteous
indignation
that you know
it's like I can
hardly stand
but you pray
for me
you know
we get so
comfortable
with our sin
we miss it
and so here's
Jesus walks
onto the scene
and says
hey guys
the real
problem you
have is not
political
it's not
economic
it's not
health care
the real
problem you
have is a
nasty
wicked
heart
and nobody
can change
it except
me
you know
the Bible
makes it
clear that
sin blinds
and wounds
the human
heart
and there's
no remedy
apart from
the cross
of Christ
and so
here's Jesus
coming in
to Jerusalem
for the last
time
he comes
in on the
day
when the
sacrificial lamb
was brought
into the city
and then
into the
homes
and it
was just
four days
when the
nation of
Israel was
killing the
Passover lamb
that the
nation of
Israel would
kill their
Passover lamb
and I want
you to
understand that
Jesus came
to die in
our place
does it get
any better
than that
no
does it get
any better
than that
no
it's
interesting
that the
last thing
that Jesus
said
when he died
on the cross
was
it is
finished
do you know
what he was
referring to
he wasn't
talking about
his death
he was
declaring that
his death
satisfied
the debt
your sin
and my
sin
created
in the
presence of
a holy
God for
all
eternity
next
Sunday
we're going
to celebrate
the Lord's
table
and a
month ago
I preached
on Romans
chapter 8
verse 1
where it
says
there is
therefore
no
condemnation
right
we concentrated
on the
blessing
of no
condemnation
next week
we're going
to take
the second
part of it
and it
says
to them
who are
was it
in Christ
Jesus
we're going
to ponder
how sweet
that statement
is
in Christ
Jesus
can I tell
you that
all humanity
is really
divided into
only two
camps
and you're
sitting here
this morning
either in
Christ Jesus
or not
in Christ
Jesus
and my
closing appeal
would be
this
if you're
here today
and you do
not know
the Lord
Jesus
Christ
as your
Savior
I would
be
remiss
not to
tell you
this
there is
no remedy
for your
sin
there's
no solution
for the
darkness
of your
heart
there is
no possible
hope that
you will
ultimately
change
and be
a better
person
and stand
just
and holy
and deserving
before the
presence of
the God
of this
universe
apart from
coming
in brokenness
and saying
I need
Jesus
as my
Savior
I think
about the
words of
a song
what can
wash away
my sin
nothing
but the
blood of
Jesus
what can
make me
whole again
nothing
but the
blood of
Jesus
and so
if you're
here today
and you
do not
know
Christ
I would
let you
know
this
that the
scriptures
make it
undeniably
clear
that the
day will
come
when you
will give
an account
to God
and you
will say
I heard
it
that I
am a
sinner
justly
condemned
before God
but I
didn't
like
the
news
I've
never
met
anyone
who's
ever
said
to me
Tim
I just
need a
little
more
information
about how
nasty
my
heart
is
I've
met many
people
who said
but I
don't
want to
deal
with it
now
I would
plead
with you
now is
the hour
now is
the time
let's
close in
prayer
Father
we are
here
this
morning
either
in
Christ
Jesus
or
in
desperate
need
of
salvation
and I
would
pray
that you
would
strip
away
the
pride
of
the
unrepentant
heart
and draw
sinners
to the
glory
of the
cross
that you
might be
exalted
and adored
that the
wisdom
of your
plan of
salvation
might be
observed
that we
who are
saints
would
rejoice
together
at the
power
of the
cross
we
ask this
in Jesus
name
amen
holy