Apostle Allison Smith Conliff centers on the spiritual significance of Palm Sunday and the necessity of living a life that pleases God. Drawing from the Book of Matthew, the message details Jesus’ humble entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, framing this event as a fulfillment of prophecy and a catalyst for human redemption. The Apostle emphasizes that believers should prioritize quality time with the Lord, maintaining a focused, undistracted relationship that reflects His glory in their daily conduct. Beyond historical commemoration, the message urges the congregation to uphold holiness and discipline, specifically by honoring sacred commitments over secular distractions during the Easter season. Ultimately, it serves as a call to spiritual renewal, encouraging followers to recognize their place in God's divine plan while offering praise for the finished work of Christ.

Key Points:

The Apostle relates biblical instructions to modern obedience by emphasizing that the same faith and readiness shown by Jesus's disciples should characterize the lives of contemporary believers. She bridges the gap between ancient scripture and modern life through the following themes:

Drawing from Matthew 21, Apostle Conliff highlights the "command" Jesus gave his disciples to retrieve a donkey and a colt. She notes that this instruction likely seemed strange or even frightening, as the animals did not belong to the disciples. In a modern context, she asks her congregation if they would have the faith to follow such an instruction, for instance, if God told them to ask someone for their car (a "red ride") simply because "the Lord has need of it". She concludes that modern obedience requires the same faith and lack of delay exhibited by the disciples, who "went and did as Jesus had instructed them".

Apostle Conliff teaches that biblical instructions regarding holiness are not reserved for special occasions like "Holy Week" or "Resurrection Sunday". She argues that:

• Every day must be holy: While the world observes specific religious holidays, the true believer is "set apart" and must live to please God "every day" so they do not miss His coming.
• Consistency over activity: She warns that modern believers are often more interested in "activities", such as baking cakes, vacationing, or "eating bake and shark", than in following instructions and celebrating the "finished work" of Christ.
• Continuous Glorification: Obedience and praise are not limited to the sanctuary; believers are called to glorify God "24/7" with a "praise on the inside".

Apostle Conliff translates biblical concepts of "order" and "proper behavior" into very specific modern scenarios:

• Personal Integrity and Patience: She relates the necessity of being "saved" to one's behavior in public, such as showing patience while driving. She shares a personal anecdote about a traffic delay involving a wrecker, using it to illustrate that Christians must "behave yourself proper at all times" and not be "fast and furious".
• Domestic Order as Worship: Conliff draws a direct parallel between the Old Testament instructions for priests to keep the sanctuary clean and the modern believer's responsibility to keep their home tidy. She asserts that if a believer wants the Holy Spirit to dwell in their home and be "comfortable," they must maintain a clean and orderly environment.

Finally, Apostle Conliff suggests that modern obedience involves minimizing distractions to foster a "quality relationship" with God. She specifically mentions that obedience in the modern age requires turning off or silencing phones during prayer and study to prevent being "distracted" from the things of God. This "quality time" is necessary for God to "carve out" a blessed life for the individual that they could not create for themselves.

Rec. Date: 24th March, 2024