Today's Passage - Luke 19:37-40

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Luke 19:37-40   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.'   The Lord is the savior who is worthy to be praised, and He also welcome the praise and worship by people.  As recorded in the four gospels, people at the time used different ways to praise and worship Jesus Christ.  Some laid their clothes on the ground, some chopped down branches and laid on the ground, some cried out "Hosanna to the Son of David!"  Gospel of Luke also recorded that the disciples yelled joyfully: "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!"  Even children were creaming in the temple, "Hosanna!  Hosanna!"   Lord is a majestic Lord, not only does He deserves to receive glory, He also resurrected from death and is now sitting on the great throne in the heaven, and deserves our worship.  It is supposed to be solemn in the temple, everything should follow some order or protocol, so when the Pharisees heard all the sound of yelling, they felt uncomfortable.  Also, people were calling Jesus the Lord, and that agitated the Pharisees, and they hoped Jesus would quell the sound of the people.  But the Lord taught us here that He was pleased with such joyful worship.  If you have been to Jerusalem, you'd see that the whole city is filled with rocks; streets are cobblestone streets, houses are built with stones, and mountains are stone mountains.  Jesus said that even "the stones will cry out," so you can imagine what happens who a mountain full of stones rise up to worship God.   When you really know the Lord's almightiness, love and truthfulness, you cannot help but to open your heart and praise Him.  Just like a child, no matter how others see you, you will simply come to praise and worship, because it pleases the Lord.  When you raise your arms, clap, open your mouth and praise, these outward forms can help you to open yourselves to God, and thus your eyes won't just look at the people and environment around you, and you will focus on praising God.  Although the outward form doesn't represent anything, when you are willing to open yourself to God, Holy Spirit will be able to move in your life more freely, and bring on more blessings.   All of God's grace flows down from His throne, and we can only receive the grace promised by God through opening ourselves to praise and worship Him.  Worship is the root of the blessings on the disciples, so we must practice crying out praises before God, because our Lord deserves it!     Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, please help us to open your heart and praise you, just like the disciples back in your time, to joyfully cry out and sing, because you deserve it.  When we praise and worship you, your throne will be established in our midst.  We wish for your authority as the king will manifest in our life, and make us vehicle in your hands, and to be used by you.  I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!