JOHN 12:1- 11 DEVOTION TO THE LORD – IN THE HOUSE.
ARE YOU DEVOTED TO THE LORD IN THE HOUSE TONIGHT? I CAN’T HEAR YOU, ARE YOU DEVOTED TO THE LORD IN THE HOUSE TONIGHT? I STILL CANT HEAR YOU..........
TONIGHT WE WILL BE EXAMINING THREE CHARACTERISTICS OF OUR DEVOTION TO GOD - WHICH WE FIND IN THE HOUSE OF GOD. OF COURSE THE HOUSE OF GOD IS NOT ONLY THIS PLACE WE ARE TONIGHT BUT ITS RIGHT IN HERE ISN’T IT! (POINTING TO THE HEART)
BACKGROUND: WE ARE SITUATED IN BETHANY, OUTSIDE JERUSALEM, ON THE EASTERN SLOPE OF THE MOUNT OF OLIVES, JERUSALEM IS ON THE WEST. JERUSALEM IS FILLING UP WITH PILGRIMS FOR THE PASSOVER; THE RELIGIOUS ELITE ARE PLOTTING TO ARREST AND KILL JESUS AND LAZARUS AS WE SPEAK JOHN 12:10.
THIS ACCOUNT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE MATTHEW AND MARK PLACE IT, JUST BEFORE THE LAST SUPPER AND JOHN PLACES IT A HERE A WEEK BEFORE THE PASSOVER JUST BEFORE THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY 12:1. AND LUKE MENTIONS ANOTHER ACCOUNT OF A MEAL, WHICH MAY HAVE TOOK PLACE AT A DIFFERENT TIME. BUT WE MUST REMEMBER THAT THE GOSPEL WRITERS HAVE NOT WRITTEN TO GIVE US AN EXACT CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT OF EVENTS, BUT TO GIVE US AN ACCURATE RECORD OF HIS MESSAGE.
WE FIND JESUS BACK AT BETHANY AT THE HOME OF MARTHA, MARY AND LAZARUS WHO HE HAD RAISED FROM THE DEAD SOME TIME EARLIER. THE BIBLE TELLS US IT WAS THEY HAD A MEAL PREPARED FOR JESUS IN HIS HONOUR V2. I IMAGINE A WAY OF SAYING THANK YOU, FOR ALL THAT JESUS HAD DONE FOR THEM AS A FAMILY. TONIGHT WE WILL SEE TRUE DEVOTION BEING MANIFESTED TOWARDS JESUS IN THIS HOME AND I HOPE WILL STIR OUR HEARTS TO GREATER HEIGHTS OF DEVOTION.
APPLICATION: AS THEY RECLINE WITH THE LORD FOR A MEAL ALL THOSE YEARS AGO – AS THE LORDS APPROACHING THE HOUR OF HIS DEATH – WE TOO TONIGHT RECLINE WITH OUR LORD TOO SHARE A MEAL TOO. AT THIS MEAL WE ARE THE INVITED GUESTS AS WE COME TOGETHER TO HONOUR, TO REMEMBER - TO SHOW OUR DEVOTION FOR WHAT JESUS HAS DONE FOR US THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION - LIKE LAZARUS – HE TOO HAS BROUGHT YOU AND I BACK FROM THE DEAD TO ETERNAL LIFE! AND THIS SUPPER REMINDS US OF THAT FACT.
SO TONIGHT AS WE GATHER IN GODS HOUSE, MAY WE HAVE A SPIRIT OF REFLECTION , AS WE GATHER AROUND HIS WORD, THIS TABLE, IT IS A PERFECT OPPORTUNITY TO PUT THINGS RIGHT WITH GOD, WITH A TIME OF REPENTANCE, AS INDIVIDUALS AND CORPORATELY AS A CHURCH, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THOSE SINS WHICH MAY BE PREVENTING US FROM THE BLESSINGS OF GOD.
AS PAUL SAYS TO THE CHURCH IN CORINTH, “BEFORE WE PARTAKE IN THE LORDS SUPPER LET US EXAMINE OURSELVES.”
TONIGHT WE WILL BE EXAMINING OUR OWN DEVOTION TO THE LORD - IN THE LIGHT OF THE BIBLE – AND BE ASKING THE LORD BY HIS SPIRIT TO OPERATE - OPEN HEART SURGERY SO THAT WE MIGHT SEE TONIGHT – THE CONDITION OF OUR OWN HEARTS AS CHRISTIANS AND AS A CHURCH IN REGARD TO OUR OWN DEVOTION.
WHERE THERE IS DEVOTION TO THE LORD - GOD WILL BE IN THE HOUSE - THIS HOME IN BETHANY WAS FULL OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF DEVOTION AND JESUS WAS IN THE HOUSE.
1. A DEVOTION MANIFESTED BY CHRIST CENTERED SERVICE.
2. A DEVOTION MANIFESTED BY CHRIST CENTERED SACRIFICE
3. A DEVOTION MANIFESTED BY SELF CENTERED HYPOCRISY
1. A DEVOTION MANIFESTED BY CHRIST CENTERED SERVICE V2 .
THEY KEY TO MARY’S DEVOTION OF SERVICE HERE IS THAT IT IS NO LONGER DISTRACTED BY SELF FOCUSED SERVICE, BUT HER SERVICE IS COMPLETELY FOCUSED UPON CHRIST.
BEWARE OF SELF FOCUSED SERVICE.
AT ANOTHER MEETING WHEN JESUS CAME TO THEIR HOME IT WAS A DIFFERENT STORY.
LUKE 10:38 – 42 READ. HERE MARTHA THINKS THAT MARY’S SERVICE OF JUST SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS AND LISTENING IS INFERIOR, AFTER ALL SHE’S DOING ALL THE WORK! - BUT IN HER DESIRE TO SERVE SHE WAS ACTUALLY NEGLECTING JESUS , SHE HAD BECOME DISTRACTED BY THE PREPARATIONS V40.
APPLICATION.
A) WE CAN BE SO BUSY SERVING, DOING OTHER THINGS, WE CAN ACTUALLY BE NEGLECTING JESUS, AND OUR SERVICE BECOMES SELF FOCUSED AND JUDGMENTAL OF OTHERS.
B) ALSO IT IS POSSIBLE THAT OUR SERVICE CAN BECOME MERE WORK EMPTIED OF ALL TRUE DEVOTION TO GOD. YES ITS SERVICE FOR GOD BUT WE ARE SO BUSY IN IT -WE ACTUALLY FORGET WHY WERE DOING IT –
C) ALSO OUR EVERYDAY SERVICE, MANY THINGS LEGITIMATE, PREVENT US FROM SERVING JESUS AND OUR SERVICE BECOMES AGAIN SELF FOCUSED. JESUS WASN’T ANGRY AT MARTHA FOR DOING THE CHORES, THEY NEED TO BE DONE, JUST THAT SHE NEEDS TO SET HER PRIORITIES RIGHT, JESUS MUST COME FIRST.
CHRIST FOCUSED SERVICE
IN JOHNS ACCOUNT WE MEET A VERY DIFFERENT MARTHA HERE WE HAVE A WOMAN WHO NOW KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS TO SERVE. JOHN12:2 SIMPLY STATES, MARTHA SERVED V2 HERE WE NOTICE THAT HER SERVICE WAS CHRIST FOCUSED. SHE WASN’T PICKING FAULT AT OTHERS, SHE DIDN’T HAVE A CHIP ON HER SHOULDERS, SHE WAS NO LONGER DISTRACTED BY HER SERVICE, AND BY WHAT OTHERS WERE DOING, HER SERVICE WAS CHRIST FOCUSED.
APPLICATION
SO WHAT’S OUR POSITION? BELOW IS A SELF HELP GUIDE, IS OUR DEVOTION TO SERVE MOTIVATED BY OURSELVES OR UPON CHRIST.
1. SELF-FOCUSED SERVICE IS CONCERNED WITH IMPRESSIVE GAINS. IT ENJOYS SERVING WHEN THE SERVICE IS TITANIC OR GROWING IN THAT DIRECTION.
2. CHRIST-FOCUSED SERVICE DOESN’T DISTINGUISH BETWEEN SMALL AND LARGE. IT INDISCRIMINATELY WELCOMES ALL OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE.
3. SELF-FOCUSED SERVICE REQUIRES EXTERNAL REWARD, APPRECIATION, AND APPLAUSE.
4. CHRIST-FOCUSED SERVICE RESTS CONTENT IN HIDDENNESS. THE DIVINE NOD OF APPROVAL IS SUFFICIENT.
5. SELF-FOCUSED SERVICE IS HIGHLY CONCERNED ABOUT RESULTS. IT BECOMES DISILLUSIONED WHEN RESULTS FALL BELOW EXPECTATIONS.
6. CHRIST-FOCUSED SERVICE IS FREE OF THE NEED TO CALCULATE RESULTS; IT DELIGHTS ONLY IN SERVICE. (FAITHFUL NOT NECESSARY SUCCESFUL)
7. SELF-FOCUSED SERVICE IS AFFECTED BY FEELINGS.
8. CHRIST-FOCUSED SERVICE MINISTERS SIMPLY AND FAITHFULLY BECAUSE THERE IS A NEED. THE SERVICE DISCIPLINES THE FEELINGS.
9. SELF-FOCUSED SERVICE INSISTS ON MEETING THE NEED; IT DEMANDS THE OPPORTUNITY TO HELP.
10. CHRIST-FOCUSED SERVICE LISTENS WITH TENDERNESS AND PATIENCE. IT CAN SERVE BY WAITING IN SILENCE.
THIS LIST OFFERS US ALL A WAY TO EXAMINE OUR HEARTS AND OUR SERVICE BEFORE THE LORD IS IT SELF FOCUSED WE CAN BEGIN TO REFOCUS MAYBE OUR BLURRED IMAGE OF CHRIST IN THE MIDST OF OUR SERVICE TO HIM AND BECOME CHRIST FOCUSED IN OUR SERVICE, THIS IS DEMONSTRATING TRUE DEVOTION. SOURCED FROM PAUL D. ROBBINS, LEADERSHIP, 1988, P. 146.
2. A DEVOTION MANIFESTED BY CHRIST CENTERED SACRIFICE. V3
LETS MOVE TO THE NEXT CHARACTER IN THE HOUSE MARY - HERE WE SEE A WOMAN WHO SIMPLY WORSHIPS JESUS SHE IS COMPLETELY DEVOTED TO HIM - WE SEE A DEVOTION WHICH IS CHRIST CENTRED AND SACRIFICIAL.
SHE IS ABOUT TO POUR A PINT OF NARD OVER THE HEAD AND FEET OF JESUS, WITH WHAT CAN ONLY CAN BE SEEN AS A FAMILY HEIRLOOM, PASSED ON FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION, HER LITTLE NEST EGG TO SEE HER INTO RETIREMENT (ISA ACCOUNT) AN ALABASTER JAR FULL OF EXPENSIVE PERFUME (NARD) FROM THE MOUNTAINS OF INDIA V3. IN FACT IN MARKS GOSPEL WE LEARN FROM THE DISCIPLES (MARK 14:5 SOLD FOR MORE THAN A YEARS WAGES) IN THIS EXTRAVAGANT ACT OF ANOINTING JESUS WITH EXPENSIVE PERFUME - WE SEE THAT CHRIST CENTERED DEVOTION IS TRULY SACRIFICIAL.
ARE WE DEVOTED TO CHRIST IN A SACRIFICIAL WAY – IT WILL BE SEEN IN THE LENGTHS WE ARE PREPARED TO SACRIFICE FOR THE LORD - WHETHER THAT’S YOUR TIME, YOUR ENERGIES AND ESPECIALLY YOUR MONEY. ARE WE PREPARED TO SACRIFICE OUR FINANCES FOR JESUS.
• FOR INSTANCE WHAT IS THE CURRENT % OF GIVING COMPARED TO YOUR INCOME AT THE MOMENT? DID YOU KNOW THAT THE AVERAGE CHURCH MEMBER CONTRIBUTES BETWEEN 1.5% AND 2.5% OF HIS TOTAL INCOME SPECIFICALLY TO THE LORD’S WORK. GETTING THE CHURCH ON TARGET, LLOYD PERRY, MOODY, 1977.....
I WONDER WOULD YOU CONSIDER THAT TO BE DEVOTION TO CHRIST WHICH IS CHRIST CENTRED SACRIFICE? IN THIS ONE ACT MARY GAVE A YEAR OF HER WAGES, TO ANOINT JESUS, HOW MUCH WOULD YOU SACRIFICE.....
V3 SHE POURED IT ALL ON JESUS’ FEET AND WIPED HIS FEET WITH HER HAIR AND THE HOUSE WAS FILLED WITH THE FRAGRANCE OF THE PERFUME......
THIS WOMAN’S ACT WAS SO EXTRAVAGANT THAT IT EFFECTED OTHERS NOTICE THE PERFUME FILLED THE WHOLE ROOM JUDAS AND THE DISCIPLES OBJECTED V4 -5 BUT JESUS DEFENDED HER V7 MARK 14:6 SHE HAS DONE A BEAUTIFUL THING...... THIS ACT OF MARY CHALLENGES US ALL STILL TODAY. JESUS SAID, MARK 14:9 WHAT SHE HAD DONE WILL BE TOLD IN MEMORY OF HER.
THE FRAGRANCE OF THAT PERFUME STILL PERMEATES GODS CHURCH WITH ACTS OF SACRIFICE - AS CHRISTIANS WE ARE CALLED TO OFFER OURSELVES AS LIVING SACRIFICES (EVERYTHING) THE CHURCH IS A PLACE OF TOTAL SURRENDER AND DEVOTION - A PLACE WHERE WE PUT OURSELVES ON THE ALTER OF SACRIFICE - AND SHOW OUR DEVOTION WHEN WE DO THIS IT WILL EFFECT OTHERS.
BAPTIST PREACHER, DR. GEORGE W. TRUETT, WAS HELPING A STRUGGLING CONGREGATION RAISE MONEY FOR THEIR CHURCH BUILDING. THEY STILL NEEDED $6500. TRUETT FOUND THE RESPONSE WEAK. WITH ONLY $3000 PLEDGED HE SAID IN EXASPERATION, “DO YOU EXPECT ME TO GIVE THE OTHER $3500 NEEDED TO REACH YOUR GOAL? I’M JUST A GUEST HERE TODAY.” SUDDENLY, A WOMAN NEAR THE BACK STOOD. LOOKING AT HER HUSBAND SEATED ON THE PLATFORM RECORDING PLEDGES, SHE SAID IN A SHAKING VOICE, “CHARLIE, I WONDER IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING FOR US TO GIVE OUR LITTLE HOME? WE WERE OFFERED EXACTLY $3500 CASH FOR IT YESTERDAY. IF THE SAVIOUR GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US, SHOULDN’T WE MAKE THIS SACRIFICE FOR HIM?”
TRUETT REPORTED THAT THE FINE HUSBAND RESPONDED WITH EQUAL GENEROSITY. “YES, JENNIE, I WAS THINKING THE SAME THING.” TURNING TO TRUETT, HE SAID, “BROTHER TRUETT, IF IT’S NEEDED, WE’LL RAISE OUR PLEDGE BY $3500.” SILENCE REIGNED FOR A FEW MOMENTS. THEN SOME OF THE FOLKS BEGAN TO SOB. THOSE WHO FIFTEEN MINUTES EARLIER HAD REFUSED TO DO MORE NOW EITHER ADDED THEIR NAMES TO THE LIST OR INCREASED THEIR DONATIONS. IN A SHORT TIME, THEIR GOAL HAD BEEN ACHIEVED, AND CHARLIE AND JENNIE DIDN’T HAVE TO FORFEIT THEIR HOME. THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SACRIFICE HAD STIMULATED OTHERS TO SIMILAR GENEROSITY. LESLIE B. FLYNN, IN RESOURCE, JULY/AUGUST, 1990
THE PERFUME OF THEIR SACRIFICE - HAD PERMEATED THE CHURCH AND OTHERS RESPONDED. ARE WE IN THAT POSITION OF SACRIFICE - CAN WE APPLY WHAT THE SONG WRITER JAMES WRIGHT WROTE, ALL THAT I AM, I LAY BEFORE YOU: ALL I POSSESS, LORD I CONFESS IS NOTHING WITHOUT YOU, SAVIOUR AND KING, I NOW ENTHRONE YOU; TAKE MY LIFE, MY LIVING SACRIFICE TO YOU.
3. A DEVOTION MANIFESTED BY SELF CENTRED HYPOCRISY V4 -6.
JUDAS - HAD A PROMINENT ROLE – ONE OF THE 12 DISCIPLES – SPENT HE HAD THREE INTIMATE YEARS WITH JESUS - HE HAD WITNESSED HIS MIRACLES, HIS TEACHING AND HIS PERFECT LIFE. JUDAS HAD IMMENSE PRIVILEGES AND YET HIS DEVOTION WAS A SHAM.
WE SEE IT WITH HIS PIOUS STATEMENT V4 WHICH HIDES HIS TRUE MOTIVES V6 .
JUDAS IS PRETENDING THAT HE IS DEVOTED TO JESUS BUT HE IS REALLY SELF CENTRED, HE IS SOLEY CONCERNED ABOUT HIMSELF AND HIS FINANCES.
• LET US LEARN BY THIS THAT A PERSON CAN MAKE AN OUTWARD PROFESSION, ENJOY GREAT PRIVILEGES AND YET STILL THEIR HEARTS NOT BE RIGHT WITH GOD BECAUSE ITS NOT JUST THE OUTSIDE THAT COUNTS BUT THE INSIDE AS WELL.
2COR 13.5EXAMINE YOURSELVES TO SEE WHETHER YOUR IN THE FAITH; TEST YOURSELVES.
OF COURSE WE ALL FAIL GOD AT TIMES, AND OUR ACTIONS AND WORDS ARE NOT ALWAYS CHRIST CENTERED BUT SELF CENTERED AND HYPOCRITICAL. BUT IF WE COME TO A PLACE OF REPENTANCE , CONFESSING OUR HYPOCRISY, WE CAN BEGIN TO MOVE AWAY FROM ALL HYPOCRISY.
JUDAS CONTINUED WITH HIS ACTING GAME, FOR SOME TIME HE WAS TAKING MONEY V6 JUDAS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY HERE TO COME CLEAN, AS THE DEVOTION PERMEATED THE HOUSE BUT HE CONTINUED IN HIS PIOUS HYPOCRISY IN THE HOUSE.
JUDAS WAS DEVOTED TO MONEY NOT THE MESSIAH 2TIM6:10 THE LOVE OF MONEY IS THE ROOT OF ALL EVIL. LATE ON HE WOULD GO TO THE CHIEF PRIESTS V15 WHAT ARE YOU WILLING TO GIVE ME?
JUDAS WAS THE TREASURER ONE IN CHARGE OF THE FINANCES HE HELD THE PURSE STRINGS AND SCRIPTURE TELLS US HE OFTEN HELPED HIMSELF TO IT JHN12.6.
JESUS JUST DIDN’T LIVE UP TO HIS EXPECTATIONS THE REALISATION THAT JESUS KINGDOM WAS NOT TO BE PHYSICAL OR POLITICAL AND HIS DESIRE FOR MONEY AND STATUS WILL NEVER MATERIALISE. HE WAS ABOUT TO TAKE OFF HIS MASK AND HIS TRUE COLOURS BE REVEALLED.
HIS LOVE OF MONEY WAS HIS DOWNFALL BILLY GRAHAM SAID ‘ THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH POSSESSING RICHES. THE WRONG COMES WHEN RICHES POSSESS MEN.’ JESUS SAID MARK.8:36. WHAT SHOULD IT PROFIT A MAN IF HE GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD YET LOSES HIS OWN SOUL?
WHERE IS YOUR DEVOTION? IS IT GENUINELY CHRIST CENTRED OR SELF CENTRED? ARE YOU WEARING A MASK , IS THEIR A LINGERING SIN IN YOUR LIFE, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN PUT TO DEATH?. TONIGHT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEAL WITH IT, BEFORE IT DEALS WITH YOU, DON’T BE LIKE JUDAS, DON’T IGNORE IT ANY LONGER.
JUDAS HAD A OPPORTUNITY OF REPENTANCE OF SETTING THINGS RIGHT, TONIGHT AS WE MEET TOGETHER WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE THE LORDS TABLE, TO COME CLEAN AS INDIVIDUALS AND AS A CHURCH CORPORATELY CONFESSING OUR HIDDEN SINS, TO SEEK HIS FORGIVENESS, PARDON AND BLESSING.
KING SOLOMON WAS THE KING WHO BUILT THE TEMPLE OF GOD IN 2CHR 6: WE HAVE THE DEDICATION OF THE NEW TEMPLE, SOLOMON HAD ASKED GOD TO MAKE PROVISION FOR HIS PEOPLE WHEN THEY SINNED, GOD HEARD HIS PRAYER 2CHR 7:12 GOD GAVE SOLOMON FOUR CONDITIONS:
2CHR7:14 IF MY PEOPLE WHO ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, WILL HUMBLE THEMSELVES, AND PRAY AND SEEK MY FACE AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS, THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN AND WILL FORGIVE THEIR SIN AND WILL HEAL THEIR LAND.
1. HUMBLE YOURSELVES – ADMITTING YOUR SINS: 2. PRAY TO GOD ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS.
3.SEEK GOD CONTINUALLY. 4: TURNING FROM SINFUL LIFESTYLES.
TRUE REPENTANCE IS MORE THAN CONFESSING IT TO GOD IN PRAYER - ITS ACTUALLY A CHANGED BEHAVIOR. WHETHER WE SIN INDIVIDUALLY OR COLLECTIVELY AS A CHURCH FOLLOWING THESE STEPS WILL LEAD US TO FORGIVENESS.
LETS SHOW OUR TRUE DEVOTION IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD TONIGHT AS WE BREAK BREAD TOGETHER GIVING THANKS TO GOD.
