April 4, 2004am   Are Palms for Today?    Psalm 118:19-29

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

  During a recent Sunday worship service, our congregation sang the chorus, "I exalt thee, oh Lord ..." As I sang, I glanced down at my 5-year-old daughter standing beside me. Her little arms were up in the air and she was singing, "I'm exhausted, oh Lord ..."  Sandy Anthony, Canton, OH. Today's Christian Woman, "Heart to Heart."

The burden that I want to bring to you this morning is this: God is an important person, and he does not like being taken for granted.

   Suppose you ask a man, a president of a company, "Who, under God, is the most important person in your life?"

   He says, "I guess it would be my vice-president for marketing."

   You say, "What about your wife?"

   He says, "Oh, of course, I just assumed that. I just take that for granted. It goes without saying."

   A few people would assume that his abounding love and respect for his wife caused him to forget her. Most of us probably would assume that the reason she didn't come to mind is because she's not uppermost in his affections.

   The wife wouldn't say, "I am so honored that I'm like the air he breathes. He never gives me a thought."

   There is in most people's minds no direct correlation between taking something for granted and showing its value as a treasure. We can be certain the wife would say, "If I don't come to your mind when you're asked about your life's priorities, then it's because I'm not important to you. And if you think that I am honored by being taken for granted, you're wrong!"

   It's possible to take important things like oxygen for granted. If you're taken for granted, you might feel indispensable. But not treasured or honored.

   God is an important person; he does not like being taken for granted .

   -- John Piper, "God Is an Important Person," Preaching Today, Tape No. 125.

Are palms for today?  Is Praise for today?  Why should you wave your palm?  Palms are for today if we don’t take Him for granted and give our praise to Him! 

Psalm 118:19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. 20 This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; 23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. 25 O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. 27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.  29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Palms are for waving today if you remember:

If you remember who opened up the gates.  Enter his gates and gives thanks.

If you will remember who is your salvation?  Have you taken Him?  Have you taken Him for granted?

If you remember why the gates were opened and how important it is to come in. 

If you remember how important it is that you enter the gates.  Have you ever been locked out?  God says to come in.

If you remember that this is the day the Lord has made.  Rejoice and be glad in it. 

If you remember that this is the stone that was rejected and is now the corner stone. 

If you will remember that the Lord has saved us. 

If you remember who it is that gives us success?  Who has given us victory? 

If you remember the one who comes in the name of the Lord.  Would you praise Him?

If you remember who is your God.  Will you take Him as your Savior?

If you will remember that He is good.

If you will remember that His loves endures forever. 

Will you remember Him?  Will you remember Him and honor Him with your life? 

Then Palms are for today?

One Sunday in church, members were praising the Lord for what he had done in their lives that week. Mr. Segault had said that the roof of his house had caught on fire, but fortunately, a neighbor had seen it, and the possible disaster was averted with only minor damage.

   A minute later, a woman stood up. "I have a praise, too," she said. "I'm Mr. Segualt's insurance agent."  -- Ariana Macksey, Olga, Wash. Christian Reader, "Lite Fare."