Shout to the Lord Zechariah 9: 9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem; behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foul of an ass. (KJV.) THIS IS THE POINT OF TODAY'S MESSAGE; STOP LIVING LIKE SOMEDAY JESUS IS COMING AND START LIVING BECAUSE HE IS HERE. THE KING IS HERE. SOMETIMES WE SIT BACK AND THINK "OH SOMEDAY JESUS WILL BE KING…" WELL, HE IS KING! ALL POWER AND AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND EARTH HAS BEEN GIVEN UNTO HIM AND HE REIGNS ON HIGH. SOMETIMES WE ACT LIKE WE BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS TRUE. well, ITS TIME TO STOP ACTING BECAUSE IT IS IT IS THE TRUTH! JESUS IS KING. THE KING REIGNS ON HIGH! SO JUST IN CASE I GET OFF THE SUBJECT TODAY AND FORGET THE MAIN POINT OF TODAY'S MESSAGE IT IS "JESUS IS KING, RIGHT NOW AND FOREVER! HOSANNA! HOSANNA IN THE HIGHEST. THE KING IS HERE.  IF YOU HAVEN'T GUESSED I AM EXCITED ABOUT TODAY'S SCRIPTURES. THERE IS SO MUCH TRUTH IN THE BIBLE VERSE THAT WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT TODAY. IT IS THE TRUTH THAT BRINGS ABOUT LIFE CHANGING REVELATION OF GOD'S GLORY. TODAY IS KNOWN AS PALM SUNDAY. IT STARTS THE MOST HOLY OF ALL WEEKS CELEBRATED IN THE YEAR. AS WE APPROACH RESURRECTION SUNDAY GOD IS GOING TO SHAKE THE VERY FOUNDATIONS OF OUR LIVES BRINGING ABOUT A GLORIOUS TRANSFORMATION OF OUR SOULS THAT WILL SHINE FORTH THE GOODNESS OF GOD. AS WE LOOK AT THE DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST WE GO THROUGH A PLETHORA OF EMOTIONS. IT IS A TIME OF DEEP REVERENCE AND QUIET PRAYER. THE ENTIRE WEEK IN GERMAN IS CALLED "STEELA WHOKE" (FORGIVE THE SPELLING) IT MEANS SILENT WEEK. AS NEXT SUNDAY APPROACHES I DO HOPE THAT YOU TAKE TIME TO DEEPLY MEDITATE ON THE INTENSE PASSION THAT OUR LORD TOOK UPON HIMSELF ON YOUR BEHALF. NOT ONLY WAS THE PAIN AND SUFFERING BEYOND OUR COMPREHENSION BUT EVEN THE THOUGHT OF ALL THE SINS OF THE WORLD, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE WERE ALL PLACED UPON HIM AS HE HUNG UPON THAT CROSS. I THINK ABOUT THE SINS THAT I HAVE COMMITTED AND FEEL REMORSE FOR HE WHO KNEW NO SIN TO TAKE IT UPON HIM FOR ME. THEN I THINK ABOUT ALL THE SINS OF THE WORLD AND MY MIND cannot BEGIN TO COMPREHEND THE HORROR JESUS FACED BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR YOU. AS YOU THINK ABOUT THAT THIS WEEK THINK ABOUT IT WITH THE REVELATION OF TODAY'S POINT. THE VICTORY IS HIS. SO IF TODAY'S ENCOURAGING WORD IS A LITTLE LONGER THAN MOST THEN PLEASE JUST READ A LITTLE AT A TIME AS YOU GO THROUGH THE WEEK AND KNOW THAT JESUS IS RIGHT NOW ON THE THRONE.  TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRANCE OF JESUS INTO JERUSALEM. TODAY WE ARE GOING TO ALSO LOOK AT THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRANCE OF JESUS INTO OUR HEARTS AND LIVES. ALL FOUR GOSPELS GIVE THE ACCOUNT OF JESUS RIDING INTO JERUSALEM UPON THAT DONKEY. ALL FOUR GOSPELS TELL OF HOW THE PEOPLE SHOUTED "HOSANNA." ALL FOUR GOSPELS GIVE US A CLEAR PICTURE OF THE TRUTH WHICH IS THAT JESUS IS THE KING OF KINGS AND THE LORD OF LORDS. IT WOULD NOT BE FAIR TO YOU TO JUST READ ONE ACCOUNT SO LETS BEGIN IN MATTHEW AND MAY GOD REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU IN THE READING OF HIS WORD: Matthew 21:7-14 (NIV.) They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the son of David!" "blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee." Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "it is written," he said to them, "'my house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'" the blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. ONE SIDE POINT THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT FOR US ALL TO REMEMBER IS THAT THE WORD HOSANNA MEANS "SAVE US." THE MULTITUDES KNEW, AS WE SHOULD WHERE ALL SALVATION COMES FROM. "WHOSOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." AND AGAIN "IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT JESUS IS LORD, AND BELIEVE WITH YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD YOU WILL BE SAVED. LET US ONCE AGAIN TURN TO OUR SAVIOR AND SHOUT HOSANNA. YOU ARE OUR SALVATION DEAR LORD. THE NEXT TEXT IS FOUND IN THE BOOK OF MARK; Mark 11:7-10 (NIV) when they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted, "Hosanna! " "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!" NOW WE MOVE ON TO THE GOSPEL OF LUKE. Luke 19:37-40 (NIV) when he came near the place where the road goes down the mount of olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples!" "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." SOMETIMES I WONDER WHAT PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT. I cannot BELIEVE THAT SO MANY PEOPLE GO THROUGH LIFE SO LAID BACK THAT THEY NEVER GET EXCITED ABOUT ANYTHING. BUSINESS PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT GROWTH, SPORTS ENTHUSIASTS ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR HOME TEAM. YOUNG COUPLES ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT THEIR MATE. YET IF WE GET PASSIONATE ABOUT THE ONE WHO CREATED PASSION WE ARE CALLED FANATICS. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU GOT PASSIONATE ABOUT ANYTHING? EVEN IF IT WAS JUST A LITTLE BIT OF ROAD RAGE. PASSION MAKES YOU FEEL ALIVE. well, I TELL YOU THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST HAS BEEN DEAD FOR FAR TOO LONG. WE HAVE SET BACK AND BEEN SO SATISFIED WITH OURSELVES THAT WE cannot EVEN CELEBRATE WHEN THE KING RIDES INTO TOWN. THE PHARISEES DID NOT LIKE ALL THE EXCITEMENT AND NOISE. BUT JESUS TOLD THEM THAT IF THEY KEPT QUIET THAT THE STONES WOULD CRY OUT. I TELL IF WE DO NOT START RECOGNIZING THE LIFE CHANGING POWER OF GOD IN OUR MIDST THEN GOD WILL FIND OTHERS WHO WILL. JESUS WAS TELLING THE PHARISEES THAT BECAUSE OF THEIR CONTENTMENT WITH THEIR RELIGION HE WOULD DEVELOP A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS. LETS NOT MISS THIS MY FRIENDS GOD WANTS TO REVEAL HIMSELF TO YOU IN A MIGHTY WAY. GOD WANTS TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOR ALL ETERNITY. JOHN GIVES US A LITTLE DEEPER REVELATION INTO THIS MOMENT OF VICTORY; John 12:12,13 (KJV) on the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: blessed is the king of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord. PALM BRANCHES WAS THE SYMBOL OF VICTORY. AS A VICTORIOUS KING WOULD RETURN FROM BATTLE HE WOULD BE DRAPED IN PALM LEAVES. THE ULTIMATE VICTORY HAS BEEN WON. AS WE READ ON IN THIS CHAPTER OF JOHN WE WILL SEE HOW IT IS TIME THAT WE STOP THINKING THAT someday WE WILL WIN THE VICTORY AND KNOW THAT THE VICTORY HAS ALREADY BEEN WON. NOW IT IS TIME TO CELEBRATE THAT VICTORY. NOW IS THE TIME TO SHOUT TO THE LORD.  John 12:20-23 (KJV) and there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: the same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, sir, we would see Jesus. Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. And Jesus answered them, saying, the hour is come, that the Son of Man should be glorified. THE HOUR IS COME MY FRIENDS. IT IS TIME FOR US TO KNOW THAT THE LIFE CHANGING POWER OF JESUS CHRIST IS AVAILABLE TO US ALL RIGHT NOW AND IT CAN STAY WITH US EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY SINGLE DAY UNTO ETERNITY. JESUS SAID THAT IT WAS EXPEDIENT THAT HE WENT TO THE FATHER SO THAT HE WE COULD HAVE HIS HOLY SPIRIT ALL OVER US ALL THE TIME. IT IS TIME TO SHOUT TO THE LORD. THANK YOU JESUS YOU ARE OUR SALVATION.  THE DOCTORS MIGHT TELL US THAT WE ONLY HAVE SO LONG TO LIVE BUT WE KNOW WE HAVE ALL ETERNITY. SO EVEN DEATH HAS NO POWER OVER US. THE NEWSCASTERS MIGHT TELL US THAT THERE IS NO PEACE ON THE PLANET BUT WE HAVE A PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING. NOTHING CAN TAKE IT FROM US JESUS SAID MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU NOT AS THE WORLD GIVES IT BUT THE PEACE THAT JESUS GIVES US CAN NEVER BE SHAKEN. THE PESSIMISTIC UNBELIEVER MIGHT TRY TO TELL US THAT THERE IS NO HOPE, NO JOY, NO GOD. BUT I AM HERE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT GOD IS ALIVE AND WELL AND ON THE JOB TODAY IN THE LIVES OF THOSE WHO ACCEPT JESUS AS THEIR KING. JESUS CHRIST IS OUR HOPE. HIS JOY GOES BEYOND WORDS. IT IS UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY. JESUS CHRIST IS GOD INCARNATE AND HIS HOLY SPIRIT IS IN THE MIDST OF US RIGHT NOW. THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD IS WITH YOU RIGHT NOW. I WANT TO GIVE YOU THREE THINGS, THREE THINGS THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO USE TO HAVE THE POWER OF GOD MANIFESTED IN YOUR LIVES TODAY. 1. KNOW THAT THERE IS AN ULTIMATE TRUTH. THE SECULAR PHILOSOPHERS WOULD HAVE YOU BELIEVE THAT TRUTH IS RELATIVE. I REMEMBER THE QUESTION THAT WAS POISED IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE YOUNG COLLEGE STUDENTS BELIEVE SOMETHING BESIDES THE TRUTH. THE QUESTION WAS THIS; "IS THIS STATEMENT TRUE OF FALSE; EVERY STATEMENT IS EITHER TRUE OR FALSE?" AT FIRST GLANCE YOU WOULD SAY YES THEN THINKING ABOUT SUBJECTIVE MATTERS YOUR IDEOLOGY WOULD TURN TO THE THOUGHT THAT ALL TRUTH IS RELATIVE. NOW MY QUESTION IS; IS THAT THE ULTIMATE TRUTH? STOP!!!! BE STILL AND KNOW THAT GOD IS. THERE IS A RIGHT AND A WRONG. THERE IS GOOD AND EVIL. THERE IS TRUTH AND IT IS JESUS. YOUR FIRST STEP TO EXPERIENCING THE COMPLETE VICTORY IS TO KNOW THAT THERE IS TRUTH AND IT IS REVELED IN THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST THROUGH THE HOLY BIBLE, WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD. 2. KNOW THAT YOU ARE SAVED. ONE OF THE BEST WEAPONS THAT SATAN HAS AGAINST BELIEVERS IS THAT OF INSECURITY. YOU NEED TO KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THAT GOD HAS SAVED YOU AND IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING. LISTEN. THERE IS THEREFORE NO CONDEMNATION TO THOSE IN CHRIST JESUS. TO THOSE THAT HAVE RECEIVED HIM HE GAVE THEM POWER TO BECOME THE CHILDREN OF GOD.  3. KNOW THAT GOD IS ABLE. GOD IS OMNIPOTENT (ALL-POWERFUL), OMNISCIENT (ALL KNOWING), AND OMNIPRESENT (ALL PRESENT). HIS HOLY SPIRIT DELIVERS HIS POWER TO YOU AS YOU GO AFTER HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART. WHERE IS YOUR PASSION? DO YOU WANT WHAT IS REAL? THEN GO AFTER IT. SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND. KNOCK AND THE DOOR WILL BE OPENED. KNOW THAT GOD IS EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABLE TO DO MORE THAN YOU COULD EVEN IMAGINE. THAT POWER IS AVAILABLE TO YOU RIGHT NOW BECAUSE JESUS IS THE KING OF KINGS. IT IS TIME TO SHOUT TO THE LORD. IT IS TIME TO RAISE OUR HANDS TO THE HEAVENS AND GIVE PRAISES TO THE KING. I'LL TELL YOU THIS IF YOU DO NOT GO AFTER GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART THAN YOU ARE MISSING OUT ON THE BEST OF THE BEST. GOD HAS GOT IT ALL IN STORE FOR YOU. RIGHT NOW IF YOU HAVE NEVER SAID YES TO ALL OF GOD THEN IT IS TIME. THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT WANT TO ABIDE IN YOU. I HAVE TO END WITH THIS REVELATION. FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS I HAVE BEEN WALKING MY DOG DOWN TO A VACANT LOT ON THE CORNER. IN THAT LOT THERE IS AN OLD, I MEAN OLD ALMOST DEAD OAK TREE. IT LOOKED TO ME LIKE ALL IT WAS GOOD FOR WOULD BE FIREWOOD. AROUND THE TREE WERE SOME WILD FLOWERS AND A SMALL BLACK BERRY BUSH. EVERY YEAR IT WOULD SEEM THAT THAT OLD TREE WOULD GET MORE AND MORE BARREN OF LEAVES. well, IT WAS JUST A WEEK OR SO AGO THAT I NOTICED THAT THE TREE WAS IN FULL FOLIAGE. THEN AS I LOOKED CLOSER THAT TREE WAS FULL OF BLACK BERRIES. THE LITTLE BLACK BERRY BUSH somehow HAS GRAFTED ITSELF INTO THE OLD OAK TREE AND I WILL TELL YOU I NEVER IN MY LIFE SAW SO MANY BLACK BERRIES. IT IS NOW A BLACK BERRY TREE. ABUNDANCE IN COOPERATION. MY POINT IS WE NEED TO GET INTO THE LIFE SOURCE OF CHRIST. THERE IS ABUNDANCE THERE IS ETERNAL JOY. I DARE YOU TODAY. no, I DOUBLE DARE YOU. NOW I DOUBLE DOG DARE YOU TO SHOUT TO THE LORD. SHOUT TO THE LORD ALL THE EARTH LET US SING. POWER AND MAJESTY PRAISE TO the KING MOUNTAINS BOW DOWN AND THE SEAS WILL ROAR AT THE SOUND OF YOUR NAME.  Pray with me now; Heavenly Father; I praise you. Thank you Lord Jesus for being My personal savior. Thank you Holy Spirit for giving me the strength to do God's will. Lord I want all of you. Pour out your Holy Spirit upon me. Baptize me in your love. Jesus I praise you. I know that you are the way, the truth and the life. I celebrate your kingship. I shout my praises to you Thank you Lord. Now Father you know every need that each of us has. You are our provider. You are our healer. You are our strength. Fill us up with more of you. Give us more of you Lord. I love you. In King Jesus' name  Amen Please write me this week and let me know how this ministry has blessed you. I want to welcome any new people reading. God loves you. Lets all do our part to let others know about God's love for them. Forward these messages on and if you get this message by someone forwarding it to you e-mail me back at: Revboo@aol.com If you would like to send a gift of encouragement to us it would be greatly appreciated. You can mail me at the follow address: Pastor Bob Richardson Calvary Open Bible Church 11 Mcmullen Booth Rd. Clearwater, Fl.33759 Or if you would like to talk to me in person feel free to call me 24-7 at the following number: (727) 365-6290 I would like to hear back from some of you. Thank you for your prayerful support and I know that God is going to richly bless you.