Are You Being Drawn? by Brother Duke Hansen

         This morning we are going to be reading from a few different books from the gospels. If you can, go ahead and turn to Matthew chapter 21. These scriptures are accounts of one event which we are observing this morning and that is Palm Sunday. In the gospels, Jesus was revealing himself to the public starting when he was 12 years old. You should recall the time Joseph and Mary had left after passover but Jesus lingered in the temple, speaking to the elders and listening to them. The account of this is in the book of Luke 2:41-52. Jesus was revealing himself through his words and actions. We also reveal ourself through the same ways, but are we Christ like in doing so? It is a sad reality that God's people are worse than the world when it comes to loving one another. We have no understanding about things such as reverence. We know all about the scripture that involves "me" or "I" or "mine" and so on. Let's begin reading at verse 1 from Matthew 21.

        And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

        2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

        3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

        4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

        5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy king cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

        6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

        7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon.

        So, where is the event taking place? The same place where Jesus would pray in the garden of Gethsemane, be betrayed by Judas Iscariot, and arrested by Roman guards. This was not a short journey when Jesus entered into Jerusalem from the east. This wasn't on the outskirts of the city. Let's continue with verse 8.

        8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

        9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

       10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this?

       11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

       12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves.

        13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

        Some pretty harsh words and actions if you see this from the carnal perspective. Turn over to the book of Mark chapter 11. Mark was written for primarily the gentile readers, the Roman believer. We will begin reading at verse 15.

        15 And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves.

        16 And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

        17 And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.

        A very important thing occurred in this account which is often overlooked. After the action of overthrowing the tables and seats Mark states that Jesus taught. He taught the people. Let's go to the book of John and read from chapter 1. We will start in verse 40.

        40 One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

        41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him,  We have found the Messiah, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

        42 And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

        If you step back and review the whole life and journey of Jesus, you often will read the complete surprise of his disciples. There are a lot of people who in their flesh want to regard themselves as Peter or John but there are a lot more like Judas. They focus on the things on what they have or don't have and miss out on the spiritual things which Jesus spoke about. Sometimes we want to find unity in the wrong place. God is still unifying his people and his church. Explain how in one family where everyone is raised the same by their parents, taught the same, they're often different outcomes in the individual lives? This morning consider what it was that drew Paul into mission work that he had been born and raised as well as taught to push back, jail, and kill for the law. In the event of the triumphant entry, multitudes were drawn by the spirit to greet Jesus. It is so important to remember how it feels to be drawn by God. How significant and precious it is to be drawn by him.

        Every event we read in these chapters, every action by Jesus was done with the multitudes who assembled and had hosannas on their lips. Being drawn creates opportunity but it's not enough. The whole city was moved by the entry of Jesus. God is not confined or limited to the gentile or jew or the synagogue or even the holiest of holies. There is an either hot or cold reaction from man to the drawing by the Holy Ghost. Either you are all for the Holy Ghost drawing you, or you run from it.

        Think about all the pieces of the puzzle. The people who were drawn in the moment were part of the bloodlines which you read about in lineage chapters throughout the Bible. We are operating on 2% straight knowledge of what's in this book but we are beating the pavement for more because we are drawn to it by the Holy Ghost. There are many scriptures which say unless the holy ghost draws you, you're not entering in. Things are hidden from you because you were looking in the wrong places.

        Knowledge is what's missing. It isn't the problem to those who are drawn. When is it when you were drawn? It's when you are at a place in your life where everything is a mess and chaotic and you are desperate for a sign or direction in where to go. Please turn to James chapter 5. We will be reading at verse 14.

        14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

        15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he had committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

        16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

        There are different types of healings beyond that of just the physical. In being made whole, we tend to focus too much on the physical aspects. If God has forgiven you when he made toy whole, how important is it to forgive others who are around you? Most people who hurt you or inflicted trauma in your past are not today who they were then. Forgiveness plays as much of a significance in your life as salvation. It is one thing to forgive others and another to forgive yourself.

        This week think on that spirit which draws you. Yes you have been working on your life and yes you'e in a different place than you were when you started, but you're drawn to something even greater than where you are right now this morning. Isn't it good to be drawn? I love it that God doesn't quit and keeps drawing me despite my flesh, my ego, struggles and fights, stumbles and falls.