Flip-Flopping Christians 1 - Part 3

As long as he appears triumphant. Is that the conclusion of the matter? I will follow the Lord when everything is fine. And I can just think of his great works. I have never tried. No trials. No temptations. I'm fine. And you know, we have got it in our heads so strongly today that success is everything. And now when I was examined again this week, my doctor asked me or I told my doctor, doctor I've been in difficult places in several countries. One of those countries I could have been put in prison for preaching Christ but, you know, I have been working hard under all kinds of circumstances and all weathers. Oh, he said was your trip a success? I don't know what he really meant. To me, success is not in money. Success is not in personal comfort. Success is not in recognition. Everybody applauding. Everybody is saying, oh, you made it. No, to me, that's not success. Is every eye on Jesus? Have they made Jesus Lord over their lives? That's all the success I want. These people have looked only at the donkey. Oh, total failure. Total failure. They have looked only at the donkey. Failure. My dear friends, so we would say Now, what is this? This seems like a real anomaly, contradiction, paradox. What happened to all this crowd? They put their clothes before the donkey. The colt. They praised the Lord. They shouted Hosanna. You know, there is a scripture. They all forsook him and fled. They all forsook him and fled. So when the tough times came, when Jesus was being spat at, when the Lord Jesus was being betrayed and denied, I don't know the man. Were there not a few of these people who had shouted Hosanna there to say, no, this is an unjust thing that is taking place. You cannot reject my Lord. He is guiltless. Now, you see, few voices, if any, were raised at all when Pilate passed his judicial sentence, which amounted to a judicial murder. Go and crucify him, for I see no fault in him. There was nobody to say, hey, how can you say that standing in the place of justice? How can you say that? There was not one voice raised. All right, my dear friends, I wonder if we were in that crowd, if our voice would have been the lone voice raised in the defense of our Savior. You know, after all, we have one chance to please him. And the record that was given from heaven, this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased. Now, let us also receive that commendation. Let us pray. Let us tell God, Lord God, forgive all my flip-flopping, all my unfaithfulness. I can't shout Hosanna today and crucify him tomorrow. Never, never. Lord, here is my heart. It's a blood-bought covenant. I won't break this covenant. Cleanse me. Wash me in the blood. Establish me in righteousness. And in your covenant. And save me from this wavered, wavering heart that I may be steadfast before you. Precious Lord, all our deviations and detours, all our digressions and foolishness, all our Sunday lip services which we performed and Monday denials, forgive us. Forgive us. And let us be established in our love, in our obedience. I have decided to follow Jesus. The world behind me, the cross before me. Please, Lord, help us. We beg you in Jesus' holy name. Amen. Please write, and if you have a problem or concern you would like to share, please do let us know. You can email us at post at lefi.org or visit our website at www.lefi.org Our mailing address is LEFI PO Box 14 South Lyon, Michigan 48178. You can also call us at 248-486-6326 Until we meet again next week, may God bless you.