Focus Scripture: Luke 19:28-40

²⁸After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. ²⁹As they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. ³⁰“Go into that village over there,” he told them, “and as you enter it, you will see a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘the Lord needs it.’”³²So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. ³³And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying our colt?”³⁴And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” ³⁵So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.³⁶Then the crowds spread out their coats on the road ahead of Jesus. ³⁷As they reached the place where the road started down from the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.³⁸ “Bless the King who comes in the name of the Lord!  Peace in heaven and glory in highest heaven!” ³⁹But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!” ⁴⁰He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”  Luke 19:28-40

FOLLOWING JESUS OFTEN INVOLVES ____________________ OBEDIENCE!

²⁸After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. ²⁹As they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. ³⁰“Go into that village over there,” he told them, “and as you enter it, you will see a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. ³¹If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘the Lord needs it.’”  ³²So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said.              Luke 19:28-32

WHEN FOLLOWING JESUS, ____________________ OTHERS TO PARTICIPATE IN NON-THREATENING WAYS!

³³And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying our colt?”³⁴And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” ³⁵So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.  Luke 19:33-35

PEACE ON EARTH STARTS WITH A RECOGNITION THAT JESUS IS  ____________________!

³⁶Then the crowds spread out their coats on the road ahead of Jesus. ³⁷As they reached the place where the road started down from the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.³⁸“Bless the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in highest heaven!”  Luke 19:36-38

SOME PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS ____________________ THE TRUTH, AND DENY JESUS POWER TO BRING PEACE!

³⁹But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”⁴⁰He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”  Luke 19:39-40

Answers:   Simple, Invite, King, Criticize

Peace floods the soul when Jesus rules the heart.

At the end of a concert in 1970, rock star Jimi Hendrix smashed his guitar. According to Robert McGee and Donald Sapaugh in “Search for Peace,” the audience screamed and applauded, but suddenly the frenzied applause stopped. Jimi had fallen on his knees and was staying in that position motionless. He broke the stillness by asking, "If you know real peace, I want to visit with you backstage." But apparently nobody responded to his startling invitation. Several days later he died from an overdose of drugs. Peace, real peace, eluded Jimi Hendrix.

Do you know real peace? Have you discovered, as that rock star did, that fame, money, and self-indulgence don't bring inner serenity? Prayerfully, then, you need to make another discovery. Only through a trustful commitment to Jesus Christ can you experience peace with God (Romans 5:1). Open your heart in faith to the Prince of Peace, inviting Him to come into your life and take control of it. Then, underneath all of life's agitation, you can know the peace of God – the very tranquility of heaven in the depths of your soul (Philippians 4:6-7).