United Christian Fellowship
Palm Sunday 2026

  • “A Lot Can Happen In 3 Days: From Praise to Power”

    Luke 19:37–40 NKJV
    37 Then, as He was now drawing near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, 38 saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” 40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
    May God Bless the reading, hearing and understanding of His precious Word.

    3. Prayer

    Let’s Have A Word Of Prayer: Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank You for Your Word that is alive and powerful. Speak to every heart today. Lift the discouraged, strengthen the weak, and remind us that no matter what we face—You are working behind the scenes. Let this Word transform us from the inside out. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

    4. Confession Of Faith

    I am not moved by what I see or by what I feel. I am moved by what I believe. I believe the WORD of God! The victory is mine! I have it now! I can see it through the eyes of my faith! In Jesus Name!

    5. Sermon Introduction

    Church, Palm Sunday looks like a celebration—but it’s really the beginning of a process.
    They were shouting: “Hosanna!” But in just a few days, some of those same voices would cry: “Crucify Him!”
    And that teaches us something powerful:
    👉 You cannot build your faith on people’s praise—because praise can turn into pressure.
    But here’s the good news… Even when people change, God’s plan does not change.
    Tell somebody in the chat: “A lot can happen in 3 days!”
    Because between Friday and Sunday…
    Pain turns into purpose
    Loss turns into victory
    Death turns into life
    Church… today we celebrate Palm Sunday—a day of praise, a day of celebration, a day where Jesus rides into Jerusalem and the people are waving palm branches and shouting:
    “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
    This is a high moment.
    This is a shouting moment.
    This is a praise break moment.
    But can I tell you something that we don’t always talk about?
    👉 Palm Sunday is not just about celebration—it’s about contrast.
    Because in just a few days… Those same streets that were filled with praise… Would be filled with pain.
    Those same voices shouting “Hosanna”… Would shift to shouting “Crucify Him!”
    And that tension right there—that shift—that change— 👉 That’s where many of us are living right now.
    Some of you watching today know exactly what that feels like:
    Those same voices that were shouting “Hosanna”… Would soon be crying “Crucify Him!”
    That same crowd that lifted Him up… Would turn on Him.
    And isn’t that just like life?
    One moment you’re on the mountaintop singing:
    🎵 “Victory is mine, victory is mine, victory today is mine…”
    And the next moment… you’re in the valley trying to hold on, whispering:
    🎵 “I don’t feel no ways tired… I’ve come too far from where I started from…”
    One moment everything is going well… The next moment everything shifts One moment you’re celebrating… The next moment you’re struggling One moment people are clapping for you… The next moment they’re criticizing you And if we’re honest…
    👉 Life can change quickly.

    “A Lot Can Happen In 3 Days.”

    That’s why this message matters today:
    Because between Palm Sunday and Resurrection Sunday:
    Praise turns into persecution Celebration turns into crucifixion But crucifixion turns into resurrection
    And I came to remind somebody watching
    👉 Don’t get stuck in what it looks like right now—because God is not finished yet.

    Emotional & Spiritual Hook

    Somebody is in a “Friday season” right now:
    You’re dealing with pressure You’re carrying pain You’re facing uncertainty
    And it feels like things are falling apart…
    But can I preach to you for just a moment?
    👉 Just because it looks like Friday… doesn’t mean Sunday isn’t coming!

    Build Faith & Expectation

    Because what makes this story powerful is not just what happened…
    👉 It’s how fast it happened.
    In just three days:
    The enemy thought he had won Darkness thought it had prevailed The grave thought it had control But God said: “I can change everything in a moment!”
    I need somebody in the chat, somebody in your living room, somebody watching on replay to declare:
    👉 “God is still working on my situation!”
    Say it again: 👉 “It’s not over yet!”
    👉 A lot can happen in 3 days.

    Point 1: Don’t Get Distracted by the Praise or the Pressure

    Luke 19:38 NKJV
    38 saying: “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
    Jesus is being celebrated—but He knows the cross is coming.
    Jesus understood something you and I must learn: Public opinion is unstable—but God’s purpose is unshakable.
    Church, can we be honest?
    👉 People will change on you.
    People will celebrate you one day… and question you the next People will support you in public… and criticize you in private People will say “Hosanna!” on Sunday… and “Crucify Him!” by Friday That’s not new—that’s Bible!

    1. Luke 19:38 – The Praise (Palm Sunday)

    “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

    ✍🏽 Explanation:

    This is the moment of celebration. The crowd recognizes Jesus as King and publicly praises Him.

    💡 Key Insight:

    👉 They honored Him for what they thought He would do.

    🙌🏽 Application:

    People will celebrate you when you meet their expectations.

    2. Luke 19:41–42 – The Weeping (Jesus Sees the Truth)

    Luke 19:41–42 NKJV
    41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

    ✍🏽 Explanation:

    While the crowd is shouting, Jesus is weeping. Why? Because He knows their praise is shallow and their hearts are not fully surrendered.
    👉 You can be surrounded by praise and still be misunderstood.
    Don’t mistake noise for true commitment.
    Luke 22:3–4 NKJV
    3 Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. 4 So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them.

    3. This is when the Betrayal Begins

    “Then Satan entered Judas… So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests…”
    The shift begins quietly. Betrayal doesn’t start publicly—it starts privately.
    👉 Not everyone close to you is committed to you.
    Be discerning—not everyone in your circle is in your
    corner.
    Luke 22:61–62 NKJV
    61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

    The Denial (Peter)

    Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, denies Him under pressure.
    👉 Pressure reveals what praise conceals.
    Even strong believers can fall—but failure is not final.
    Luke 23:21 NKJV
    21 But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

    The Rejection (The Crowd Turns)

    “But they shouted, saying, ‘Crucify Him, crucify Him!’”
    The same environment that once praised Him now demands His death.
    👉 Public opinion can flip quickly.
    Never anchor your identity in people’s approval.
    Let me walk this for you -
    Luke 19 → They praised Him
    Luke 19 → He wept for them
    Luke 22 → One betrayed Him
    Luke 22 → One denied Him
    Luke 23 → The crowd rejected Him
    👉 And yet… He still went to the cross
    The same crowd that praised Him didn’t stay consistent.

    Supporting Scripture:

    John 12:13 NLT
    13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, “Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hail to the King of Israel!”
    Luke 23:21 NKJV
    21 But they shouted, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

    Practical Application: Don’t let compliments define you Don’t let criticism destroy you Stay focused on your assignment

    You can be celebrated at work one day—and questioned the next. You can be loved in a relationship one moment—and misunderstood the next.
    But your identity is not in people— 👉 Your identity is in Christ!
    There is a song that says,“I’m so glad trouble don’t last always…”
    People are inconsistent—but God is faithful. Stay focused!
    A Lot Can Happen in 3 Days

    Point 2: God Is Working Even When It Looks Like You’re Losing

    Church… let’s be real for a moment:
    👉 There are seasons in life where it looks like you’re losing.
    Prayers feel unanswered Doors keep closing Relationships fall apart Your health, finances, or peace feels under attack
    And if we’re honest… 👉 It doesn’t feel like God is working.
    It feels like God is silent.
    You think you going through something, let show you the beginning of what Jesus experienced between Palm Sunday and the cross:
    He was Betrayed by Judas He was Denied by Peter He was Abandoned by the disciples He was Beaten, mocked, and crucified
    So from a human perspective…
    👉 Everything looked like a loss.
    Luke 24:21 NKJV
    21 But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.
    But here’s what they didn’t understand:
    👉 While it looked like Jesus was losing… God was actually winning.
    The cross was not a setback— 👉 It was a setup.
    Colossians 2:15 NKJV
    15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
    1 Corinthians 2:8 NLT
    8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord.
    The enemy thought: “I’ve got Him.”
    But God said: 👉 “This is exactly how I redeem them.”
    👉 God often works behind the scenes in ways we cannot see.
    Just because you don’t see movement… Doesn’t mean God isn’t moving.
    Remember
    Isaiah 55:8–9 NKJV
    8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. 9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
    Even Today - the word is reelevant
    John 13:7 NKJV
    7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”

    Lean In

    Somebody right now is in that space: You’re doing your best—but things aren’t improving
    You’re praying—but answers seem delayed You’re believing—but circumstances look worse And the question in your heart is:
    👉 “God… where are You?”
    Let Me Tell You
    👉 God is working—even when you can’t trace Him.
    He’s working in conversations you’re not in He’s working in hearts you can’t see He’s working in timing you don’t control
    And sometimes…
    👉 God is doing His best work in your life when it looks like nothing is happening.

    Hear Me Now

    It’s like planting a seed:
    You put it in the ground, You don’t see anything immediately, It looks like nothing is happening But under the surface…
    👉 Roots are forming. Growth is happening. Life is developing.
    Just because it’s hidden… 👉 Doesn’t mean it’s inactive.
    Somebody needs this right here:
    👉 Your situation is not a dead end—it’s a divine delay.
    That closed door? God is redirecting That delay? God is preparing That struggle? God is strengthening you
    This is why we can still sing—even in the struggle:
    🎵 “Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come…”
    🎵 “’Its grace that brought me safe thus far… and grace will lead me home…”
    And when it gets really heavy… You can lean into this:
    🎵 “God is working it out for your good… God is turning it around for you…”
    A Lot Can Happen In 3 Days

    Point 3. “Your Situation Can Change the Moment Jesus Enters”

    Family , we often say “a lot can happen in 3 days”… But can I take it a step further?
    👉 Things started changing the moment Jesus entered Jerusalem.
    Luke 19:41–44 NKJV
    41 Now as He drew near, He saw the city and wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, 44 and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.”
    Luke 19:45–46 NKJV
    45 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”
    Before the cross… Before the resurrection…
    👉 Jesus was already shifting things.
    Palm Sunday is not just a parade… 👉 It is the arrival of divine authority.
    When Jesus enters:
    Systems get challenged Hearts get exposed Environments get disrupted
    The people thought this was a celebration… But Jesus knew:
    👉 “I didn’t just come to be praised—I came to bring change.”
    👉 that’s not a verse—but that’s the message of the text!”
    👉 “Jesus received their praise… but He didn’t stop for their praise… He moved from praise… into purpose!”
    The same Jesus they were praising… 👉 Walks into the temple and starts flipping tables.
    Why?
    Because wherever Jesus shows up…
    👉 He confronts what’s out of order.
    👉 Your situation can start changing the moment Jesus steps in.
    Not just in 3 days… 👉 Right now.
    Because
    His presence brings Correction His presence brings Clarity His presence brings Cleansing His presence brings Change
    Somebody needs to hear this:
    You’ve been waiting for things to change… But have you invited Jesus into that situation?
    Because when Jesus enters:
    when Jesus enters: Your mindset can shift when Jesus enters: Your habits can shift when Jesus enters: Your environment can shift
    👉 Not later… but immediately.
    It’s like when you clean your house:
    Before guests arrive—you tolerate certain things But when someone important is coming—you start removing what doesn’t belong
    👉 Jesus doesn’t adjust to your environment—He transforms it.

    Hear me yall During palm Sunday

    The crowd saw a king coming to take over Rome…
    But Jesus came to take over hearts.
    👉 And that starts with transformation on the inside.
    This is why we can declare:
    🎵 “Jesus is on the mainline… tell Him what you want…”
    Because when you call Him in…
    👉 He shows up—and things begin to shift.
    And somebody who knows what it means to be changed can say:
    🎵 “Something on the inside… working on the outside… oh what a change in my life!”

    Ok We about to close

    👉 Palm Sunday starts the process… Good Friday reveals the cost… Resurrection Sunday completes the victory.
    But don’t miss this:
    👉 Change didn’t wait until Sunday— It started the moment Jesus arrived.
    👉 If Jesus is present… change is possible.
    👉 If Jesus is invited… transformation is inevitable.
    👉 And if Jesus steps in… nothing stays the same.

    Let me say this

    👉 Things started changing the moment Jesus entered Jerusalem.
    Not after the cross… Not after the resurrection…
    👉 The moment He showed up—things began to shift.
    And here’s the question I want to ask you today…
    👉 Has Jesus entered your life?
    Because it’s one thing for Him to enter a city… But it’s another thing for Him to enter your heart.
    The people on Palm Sunday were shouting:
    👉 “Hosanna!” Which means: “Save us now!”
    But many of them were shouting with their mouths… 👉 And not surrendering with their hearts.
    And can give you my heart on this!
    👉 Some people are praising God… But haven’t fully given Him control.

    Palm Sunday is not just about waving branches…
    👉 It’s about opening the door.
    Because Jesus didn’t just ride into Jerusalem…
    👉 He wants to ride into your life.
    He wants to ride into Into your situation He wants to ride into Into your struggles He wants to ride into Into your pain He wants to ride into Into your decisions
    And here’s the good news:
    👉 You don’t have to wait 3 days.
    👉 You don’t have to clean yourself up first.
    👉 You don’t have to figure everything out.
    The moment you invite Him in… Things can start changing immediately.
    Join Me in this prayer
    If you’re watching right now, I want you to say this quietly—even before the prayer:
    👉 “Jesus… come into my life.”
    So if you’re ready to move from:
    Watching… to walking with Him
    if you’re ready to move from Listening… to living for Him
    if you’re ready to move from Knowing about Him… to knowing Him personally
    repeat this after me!
    Heavenly Father, I am a sinner and you are my saviour! I invite you to come into my heart, come into my world, come into my life! I give my all to you! i believe you died for someone just like me! I believe you love me and I believe you want me! Today I give you my life and open my heart for you to reside in! In Jesus Name I Pray
    Amen

      • Luke 19:37–40MESSAGE

      • Luke 19:38MESSAGE

      • Luke 19:41–42MESSAGE

      • Luke 22:3–4MESSAGE

      • Luke 22:61–62MESSAGE

      • Luke 23:21MESSAGE

      • John 12:13MESSAGE

      • Luke 23:21MESSAGE

      • Luke 24:21MESSAGE

      • Colossians 2:15MESSAGE

      • 1 Corinthians 2:8MESSAGE

      • Isaiah 55:8–9MESSAGE

      • John 13:7MESSAGE

      • Luke 19:41–44MESSAGE

      • Luke 19:45–46MESSAGE

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