Rescue: Rescue a Nation

RESCUE! Easter Series – Sermon Notes Pastor Brad Myers

Rescue A Nation! April 13, 2025

Background:

• Start of “Passion or Holy Week,” Final 7 days of Jesus’ earthly ministry.
• Passion Jesus had to willingly go to the cross knowing the outcome.
• Week begins with the triumphal entry on the back of a donkey.

Prophesied 500 years earlier

Zechariah 9:9 (NLT) (520-470 B.C.)

Matthew 21:1-11 (NIV) Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King

Symbol & Shout

John 12:13 (NIV)

• Symbol: Palm Branches symbol of victory, (military) religious celebrations. 
• Shout: Hosanna – Hope!!
• Culmination of a long rescue story
• Began in the Garden of Eden, landed in Egypt, now in Jerusalem!

Exodus 3:7-8 (NIV)

• Garden of Eden: Rescue Plan triggered
• Egypt: Ongoing display of God’s Rescue Plan!
• Verse shows God is not distant.
• He sees our pain, hears our cries, and is concerned about our suffering.
• The Israelites probably felt abandoned, wondering if God even cared anymore. But He did care, and He was ready to act.
• He knows the burdens you’re carrying, and He’s already preparing a way to bring you through them.

The Israelites’ cries reached God’s ears, and He was moved to rescue them.

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A cry for rescue Is really a cry for revival!

A rescued nation first cries out before deliverance shows up! Just like a real revival never starts with comfort—but with a cry? A shout!!

Crowd Matthew 21 shouted “Hosanna!”

• They weren’t just having a parade. They were pleading for freedom.
• Hosanna isn’t a pretty word—it’s a desperate one.
  • Means: “Save us now!” not later, not eventually, now!
• Roman rule, unfair taxes, soldiers in the streets. Tired & frustrated. Hope was running out. When Jesus came riding in on a donkey, fulfilling Zechariah’s prophecy, their hearts exploded with anticipation.
• Finally—our Deliverer!

But here’s the problem.

• Wanted rescue from Rome, but Jesus came to rescue from sin.
• They wanted national breakthrough, but Jesus brought kingdom transformation.
• Their cry was sincere, but their expectation was shallow.

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Q) Isn’t that just like us sometimes?

• Just like us! We want justice, peace, healing, revival.

We need to be careful we’re not asking God to change systems—while avoiding His invitation to change us!

Psalm 107:19 (NIV)

• Not just loud—but humble.
• “Lord, not just fix my situation—fix my heart.”

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When the King Enters, Everything Shifts

• Moment Jesus entered Jerusalem; things began to shift.
• First, a celebration, cheering, excitement, photo op & public affirmation.
• Jesus there for two reasons: Confront and Clean house.
• Right after the Hosanna moment in Matthew 21, Jesus heads straight for the temple—and what does He do? He flips tables. Drives out selling & exploiting.
• He doesn’t just “bless” the city—He shakes it up.

Many people want Jesus to enter their nation. But few ever want Him to turn over tables. We want Him to fix the government, the schools, the economy—but Jesus starts with His house!

1 Peter 4:17 (NIV)

1 Corinthians 6:19 (NLT)

God’s rescue begins within, not just around us.

Do we want Jesus, or just what He can do for us? When Jesus truly comes in, He comes with authority. He doesn’t take sides—He takes over!

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Look what happens after He clears the temple,

Matthew 21:14 (NIV)

That’s no accident. Cleansing comes before the healing. The atmosphere had to shift before the miracles flowed.

God’s Fire Follows a Nations Hunger

• Every revival in history has one thing in common: Hunger!!

Asbury University – Wilmore, KY

• February 2023 “Asbury Outpouring”
• 16 days of nonstop worship, prayer, repentance
• Inspired prayer meetings globally
• Still hosting regular prayer nights and student-led gatherings
• Started: “God, we need You.”
• Campuses throughout our nation – OSU!!
• Palm Sunday: “Hosanna” It wasn’t just a chant. It was desperation.
• Save Us Now! We Need You!
• Tired of Rome’s oppression. Tired of religious games. Tired of waiting. They didn’t need another sermon. They needed a Savior.

And today, our nation is crying again. The cry is rising: “God, save us now!” The question is… will we cry out from emotion—or from surrender?

When heaven hears a true Hosanna cry… it answers with holy fire!

God’s fire doesn’t fall where there’s polish—it falls where there’s hunger. Desperate people. Broken people. People willing to cry out from the depths of their soul, “God, we need You!”

Palm Sunday is always about being on the verge of a visitation.

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Fast forward 50 days

Acts 2:2-3 (NIV)

What starts with hunger ends in Holy Ghost fire!

God responds to hunger

• That’s what happened in revivals across history.
• It always started with a few hungry people crying out—not for hype, but for holiness.
• Not for a political rescue, but for a personal revival.
• That’s the kind of cry God can use to rescue a nation.
• Church, America doesn’t just need better leaders. We need burning altars. We need crying hearts. We need churches that don’t just fill pews—but fall on their faces.

Q) What are you truly crying out for?

The crowd shouted “Hosanna” because they were desperate. Some meant it. Some didn’t. But Jesus still showed up!

If you’re tired of empty religion like your pastor is… if you’re weary of the headlines… if you’re longing for something deeper—God is not far. He’s just waiting for a Hosanna cry that’s real.

This is your season to rise from survival into significance. God’s work in you isn’t just for recovery – it’s for revival. He’s shifting you from pain to purpose, from setback to setup. – Pastor Brad

Symbol & Shout: A symbol always precedes the shouting!

• Symbol: Stepping out!
• Shouting! We Need You Now!!