When the encouragement stops

David encouraged himself 2 Samuel 3:6
Mark 11:1-11; Mark 15:12-13
Intro
“When The Cheering Stopped.” It was the story of President Woodrow Wilson. When
that war was over Wilson was an international hero, There was a great spirit of optimism
abroad, and people actually believed that the last war had been fought and the world
had been made safe for democracy.
The cheering lasted about a year. Then it gradually began to stop.
It’s a sad story, but one that is not altogether unfamiliar. The ultimate reward for
someone who tries to translate ideals into reality is apt to be frustration and defeat.
There are some exceptions, of course, but not too many.
*Jesus. When he emerged on the public scene he was an overnight sensation.
• He would try to go off to be alone and the people would still follow him.
• The masses lined the streets as he came into town.
“Hosanna“ Mark 11:9
• Palm Sunday leafy palm branches were spread before him and there were shouts of
Hosanna.
• In shouting Hosanna they were in effect saying “Save us now” Jesus. Great crowds
came to hear him preach. A wave of religious expectation swept the country.
# the scenes change: crowds were not as large as they had been.
His critics now began to publicly attack him.
3 Questions :
Why did Hosanna on Sunday transform into the shouts of crucify him on Friday?
Why did the cheering stop?
What happen to all the encouragement?
“Crucify him!” they shouted. Mark 15:12-13
This is how cheer leading began. When the fans get quite the cheerleaders get louder!
To Keep Your Encouragement Alive:
1.Accept the challenge to greater commitment
(Matthew 19:16-33)
Commitment Bro Ross quoting bro. Watson song “going to stay”
One reason why the cheering stopped is that Jesus began to talk more and more about
commitment.
A rich young ruler came enthusiastically running to Jesus. The masses were stunned.
They had been raised to believe that God had especially blessed rich men. Yet, here is
Jesus turning the big money away. I wonder how many churches would do that today.
We think that people who are wealthy and prominent are individuals who need to be
recruited and cultivated. We think their success in the world will lead to our success in
the church. It bothered them first of all to see Jesus turn away a rich man.
• When the 5,000 were hungry he feed them.
• When they brought their sick to him, he healed them.
• When a woman is caught in adultery and is about to be stoned, it is Jesus who comes
to her rescue and saves her. The message of his ministry is one of grace upon grace.
But now he seems to be saying, “The time for miracles is over. The time for commitment
is now.”
Nearly 1/2 of the Gospels is devoted to the last seven days of Jesus life, you then
understand significance of this. Open your bibles and see if that is not true. But listen to
this: While there are no miracles recorded in these chapters what you will find is a
persistent call to commitment.
Matthew 21:18 Jesus stops by a fig tree and finds no figs. He withers the tree because
it is producing no fruit. Jesus demands fruitful committed lives.
Matthew 21:28 A Parable is told: Who is more committed? The son who says, “I will
work” and then does not or the son who says, “I will not work,” repents, and gets the
work done? It is the son who does the work.
The greatest commandment is given: Love God and Love your neighbor; again, a call to
commitment.
His teachings, “be watchful for we do not the day or hour of his return,” is also here.
After the triumphal entry everywhere Jesus asks for commitment and devotion from the
people and what he heard in response he did not like.
Illust: One preacher tells that He was on the campus of Nebraska Wesleyan talking to a
group of students who had expressed an interest in the ministry. When asked how many
of them were definitely committed to going into the ministry, only one raised their hand.
One young lady spoke up and said: “I have a problem with your use of the word
commitment. That sounds very binding and restricting.”
The cheering began to stop when Jesus began to speak of commitment.
• APP.- When, as a parent, teacher, mentor, or coach, I challenge someone to greater
commitment, sometimes it is because I am frustrated at my perceived lack of, but
other times its because I see something in them and want them to rise to the
challenge, to draw out what I believe is within.
Romans 15:1 bear infirmities of weak