Pastor Rob Bray | 3-29-2026
In just five days, the same crowds that shouted “Hosanna!” on Palm Sunday were crying “Crucify him!” on Good Friday. How could such a dramatic shift happen so quickly? The answer reveals a sobering truth about the nature of faith and the reality of spiritual warfare in our lives.
What Happened Between Palm Sunday and Good Friday?
The setting was identical – same city of Jerusalem, same people, same Jesus. Yet something fundamental changed in the hearts of the crowd. They had unmet expectations.
When the crowds shouted “Hosanna,” they meant “save us now” – but on their terms. They wanted political deliverance from Roman oppression, not spiritual deliverance from sin. When Jesus cleansed the temple and challenged their religious leaders instead of overthrowing Rome, their hearts turned against Him.
This reveals a critical truth: without a rooted and strengthened heart in His love, we are vulnerable to spiritual warfare and shifting allegiance.
Are You Rowdy But Not Rooted?
The Palm Sunday crowd had passion but lacked substance. They were emotional but not committed. They were influenced by stories but not anchored by truth.
Many Christians today fall into this same pattern. We get excited during worship services, youth camps, or revival meetings, but when the hype fades and daily life resumes, our commitment wavers. We can have moments of praise without a life of surrender.
The Problem with Shallow Faith
Emotional faith alone won’t last. When pressure comes – job loss, health issues, relationship problems – shallow faith crumbles. We begin to question God’s goodness and gradually drift away from Him.
This is why Paul prayed for the Ephesians to be “strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being” (Ephesians 3:16). He understood that external circumstances will test our faith, but inner strength keeps us anchored.
The Inner Being: Your Spiritual Battleground
Spiritual warfare isn’t just about external attacks – it’s primarily about the battle for your inner life. Paul emphasizes being strengthened “in your inner being” because that’s where the real war is fought.
We’re often aware of external spiritual attacks but miss the internal ones. We recognize when circumstances seem to be against us, but we don’t always notice when doubt, discouragement, or spiritual apathy creeps into our hearts.
How Satan Attacks Your Inner Life
The enemy uses the same tactics today that he used with the Palm Sunday crowd:
- Twisting expectations of what God should do
- Amplifying disappointment when things don’t go as planned
- Stirring up confusion about God’s character and purposes
- Spreading misinformation about biblical truth
When your inner life is weak, your external allegiance will waver. This is why developing inner strength is crucial for lasting faith.
What Does It Mean to Have a Rooted Heart?
Paul prays that Christ would “dwell in your hearts through faith” and that you would be “rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17). Notice the word “dwell” – not visit, but dwell.
When someone dwells with you, they’re not just an occasional guest. They’re family. They’re present in the mundane moments, not just the special occasions.
The Difference Love Makes
At the crucifixion, all the disciples fled except one – John, who was known as the disciple “whom Jesus loved.” Love compelled John to stay when fear drove the others away.
The only difference between a disciple who runs and a disciple who remains is whether they’re rooted in love. Love covers a multitude of fears, doubts, and disappointments.
God Can Do Immeasurably More – In You
We often interpret Ephesians 3:20 (“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine”) as God doing bigger things for us. But the context suggests something different – God doing more in us than we thought possible.
Immeasurably more means:
- More endurance than you thought possible
- More love than your wounds should allow
- More stability when circumstances don’t justify it
- More faith when everything fails
- More discipline than you believe you’re capable of
This is the miracle of transformation – God taking flaky people and making them reliable, taking scared disciples and giving them courage to stand at the cross.
How to Develop Inner Strength
Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21 gives us a roadmap for developing the kind of inner strength that withstands spiritual warfare:
1. Ask for Supernatural Strength
Paul prays for believers to be “strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being.” This isn’t something you can manufacture through willpower – it requires divine intervention.
2. Let Christ Dwell in Your Heart
Move beyond occasional visits with God to daily dwelling. Make room for Jesus in your ordinary moments, not just your crisis moments.
3. Seek to Comprehend God’s Love
Paul prays for strength “to comprehend…the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.” This is a supernatural understanding that only God can give. You need Holy Spirit power to truly grasp how much God loves you.
4. Pursue Fullness, Not Half-Measures
Paul wants believers to be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Some Christians seem to be operating at half-capacity. True spiritual maturity means being filled to overflowing with God’s presence and love.
Where Are You Prone to Shift?
Everyone has vulnerabilities where they might shift from “Hosanna” to “Crucify him.” For some, it’s unanswered prayers. For others, it’s unmet expectations or cultural pressure.
Today, instead of Pharisees spreading misinformation, we have deconstructionist podcasters and cultural voices trying to convince us that Jesus isn’t who He claims to be. The tactics are the same, but the messengers have changed.
Identify your weak spots. Where are you most likely to drift from discipline to distance, from praise to passivity, from faith to frustration? These are the areas where you need to ask God for supernatural strengthening.
Life Application
This week, commit to moving beyond surface-level Christianity to deep-rooted faith. Choose one of these four prayers to focus on daily:
- “Lord, strengthen my inner being” – Ask God to work on your character and spiritual resilience
- “Make my faith deeper than my feelings” – Choose to trust God regardless of how you feel
- “Help Christ dwell with me, not just visit me” – Invite Jesus into your ordinary moments
- “Root me in love” – Ask God to give you a supernatural understanding of His love for you
Ask yourself these questions:
- Where am I most vulnerable to shifting allegiance away from Jesus?
- Am I seeking God’s presence only in exciting moments, or am I cultivating daily intimacy with Him?
- What would it look like for me to be “rooted and grounded in love” rather than just emotionally excited about faith?
- How can I develop the kind of inner strength that would keep me faithful even when circumstances are difficult?
Remember, God wants to do immeasurably more in your inner life than you can imagine. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to strengthen your inner being and root you so deeply in His love that no amount of spiritual warfare can shake your allegiance to Him.