Pastor Akin Obafemi, senior pastor of the House of Miracles Evangelical Church, delivered a poignant Palm Sunday sermon today titled “The Humble King.” Marking the beginning of Holy Week, the sermon focused on the lessons of humility and sacrifice embodied in Jesus’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem.
Pastor Obafemi began by emphasising the sacredness of the day, which fulfilled the ancient prophecy of Zechariah 9:9.
He used this to assure the congregation of God’s unwavering faithfulness to His promises, stating, “Everything God has said concerning you, every prophecy that he has given you, the Lord will fulfil them.”
The sermon contrasted the people’s expectation of a political saviour to free them from Roman oppression with God’s ultimate plan for a spiritual redeemer. “The people were looking for a political saviour, but God is looking for somebody who will redeem them from their sin,” Pastor Obafemi explained.
Key themes of the sermon included
Humility over Power: Jesus’s choice to ride on a donkey, a symbol of humility, meekness, and service, was highlighted as a deliberate message. It demonstrated that greatness in God’s kingdom is found not in power or prestige, but in humility and service to others.
The Mind of Christ: Drawing from Philippians 2, Pastor Obafemi urged believers to adopt the mind of Christ, which involves selfless sacrifice, valuing others above oneself, and complete surrender to God’s will.
Obedience and Exaltation: The message detailed how Jesus “humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” As a result of this ultimate act of humility, God “highly exalted him,” giving him the name above every other name.
A Call to Service: The core call to action for the congregation was to embrace humility as their strength and to “die to self” in service to God and others, trusting that God will exalt them in due time.
The service concluded with a joyous celebration for members born in the month of March, with Pastor Mr and Mrs Obafemi leading the church in cutting a birthday cake and offering a special prayer for them.
