GRAVEYARD WORSHIP

MARK 14:3-9   AND BEING IN BEHTANY IN THE HOUSE OF SIMON THE LEPER, AS HE SAT AT MEAT, THERE CAME A WOMAN HAVING AN ALABASTER BOX OF OINTMENT OF SPIKENARD VERY PRECIOUS: AND SHE BRAKE THE BOX, AND POURED IT ON HIS HEAD.

AND THER WERE SOME THAT HAD INDIGNATION WITHIN THEMSELVES, AND SAID, WHY WAS THIS WASTE OF THE OINTMENT MADE.

FOR IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOLD FOR MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED PENCE, AND HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO THE POOR, AND THEY MURMURED AGAINEST HER.

AND JESUS SAID, LET HER ALONE, WHY TROUBLE YE HER? SHE HATH WROUGHT A GOOD WORK ON ME.

FOR YE HAVE THE POOR WITH YOU ALWAYS, AND WHENSOEVER YE WILL YE MAY DO THEM GOOD: BUT ME YOU HAVE NOT ALWAYS.

SHE HATH DONE A WHAT SHE COULD: SHE IS COME AFOREHAND TO ANIOINT MY BODY TO THE BURYING.

VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, WHERESOEVER THIS GOSPEL SHALL BE PREACHED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD, THIS ALSO THAT SHE HATH DONE SHALL BE SPOKEN OF FOR A MEMORIAL OF HER.

MAN HAS ALWAYS WANTED TO CONTROL HOW PEOPLE WORSHIP AND WHERE THEY WORSHIP.

NO ONE IS THIS HOUSE WAS OFFERING WORSHIP TO JESUS, BUT THIS WOMAN.

THIS ACT OF WORSHIP COST HER SOMETHING. WHEN SHE OPENED THE BOX AND BROKE THE SEAL AND POURED THE OIL ON JESUS’ HEAD.

TRUE WORSHIP DOESN’T ORGINATE FROM A RELIGIOUS SELF RIGHTEOUS SPIRIT, A PRIDEFUL SPIRIT CAN NEVER WORSHIP GOD.

THE FRAGRANCE WAS RELEASED WHEN THE WOMAN OPENED THE BOX AND BROKE THE SEAL.

THE HEART OF A PERSON HAS TO BE HUMBLED AND BROKEN BEFORE IT CAN WORSHIP GOD.

THIS SPIKENARD WAS A VERY FRAGRANT COSTLY OIL. IT WILL COST YOU SOMETHING TO TRULY WORSHIP GOD. CHEAPE OIL DOESN’T HAVE A GOOD FRAGRANCE.

WE HAVE TO BRAKE THE SEAL AND POUR OUR LOVE ON JESUS. WORSHIP IS NOT JUST WORDS BUT  A SURRENDERED LIFE.

TRUE WORSHIP IS ATTACHED TO THE NEW BIRTH, BUT IT IS ALSO ATTACHED TO DEATH. JESUS SAID THE ACT OF WORSHIP WAS DONE TO ANOINT BY BODY FOR BURYING.

TRUE WORSHIP IS ONLY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, TRUE WORSHIP IS WHEN OUR OLD MAN IS BURIED AND WE HAVE RESURRECTED TO A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST.

WORSHIP IS FROM A CHANGED HEART THAT PUTS MORE VALUE ON JESUS DEATH ON THE CROSS THAN ON MAN’S SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND MAN’S OPINION OF HOW TO WORSHIP.

WE MUST TAKE CARE OF THE POOR BUT IT CAN NOT TAKE THE PLACE OF THE CROSS. A PERSON CAN GO TO HELL WITH A FULL STOMACH OR AN EMPTY STOMACH, BUT HE CAN’T GO TO HEAVEN WITHOUT JESUS AND HIS CROSS.

TODAY WE HAVE A SOCIAL GOSPEL TRYING TO WORSHIP GOD THROUGH MANY WAYS.

GOOD WORKS IS NOT WORSHIP UNLESS IT COMES FROM FAITH IN THE DEATH OF JESUS AND THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS.

NO RELIGION WORSHIPS GOD, ONLY THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH. JESUS IS THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE NO ONE COMES UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY HIM.

WHO GIVE MAN THE AUTHORITY TO DETERMINE HOW TO WORHSIP GOD, THE MURMURERS ARE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL. I SAY THIS WITH GREAT SADNESS. MANY GOOD PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HELL BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE FAITH IN THE WORK OF THE CROSS.

THIS WOMAN HAD FAITH IN JESUS AS THE JEWISH MESSIAH, SHE KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING, SHE WAS ANIONTING HIM FOR BURYING.

GOD BORROWED A WOMB AND BORROWED A GRAVE.

JESUS DIDN’T LIMIT THIS GREAT ACT OF GOD TO JUST ISRAEL, BUT HE SAID IT WAS DONE, THAT THE GOSPEL OR GOOD NEW’S WOULD BE PREACHED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD.

THE HEAD IS JESUS, THE HEAD IS THE ANOINTING AND THE ANOINTER.

IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE HEAD (JESUS) YOU ARE DEAD.

ALL OF THESE PEOPLE WHO SCOFFED AT THIS ACT OF ANOINTING THE HEAD FOR BURIAL, WHO GAVE YOU THE AUTHORITY TO DECIDE WHO YOU WORSHIP.

GOD IS THE CREATOR AND THE SUPREME AUTHORITY, MANS RELIGION AND LEADERS CANNOT GET YOU TO GOD. ALL THE RELIGIONS OF THE WORLD THAT DENY THAT JESUS IS NOT ONLY THE SON OF GOD BUT IS GOD COME IN THE FLESH, THEIR TEACHING  IS A DECEPTION OF SATAN TO CARRY YOU TO HELL.

I SAY THIS WITH GREAT LOVE AND HUMILITY, IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE MERCY OF GOD I WOULD BE INVOLVED IN RELIGION. BUT GLORY BE TO JESUS I RECEIVED REVELATION OF THE CROSS AND RESURRECTION OF MY SAVIOUR, THE JEWISH MESSIAH JESUS.

IF YOU DON’T HAVE HIM IN YOUR HEART BY FAITH, YOU ARE LOST, AND ON YOUR WAY TO HELL.

COME TO HIM AS YOU ARE AND HE LOVES YOU SO MUCH HE WON’T LEAVE YOU THAT WAY. HIS GRACE WILL SAVE YOU AND GIVE YOU HIS CHARACTER AND CHANGE YOUR DESIRES.

CALL ON HIS NAME AND ASK JESUS TO COME INTO YOUR HEART.

 

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WAIT

THERE IS MUCH ABOUT “WAITING” IN THE SCRIPTURES.—-MOSTLY ABOUT WAITING ON GOD. OUR MANNER OR METHOD OF WAITING IS AS IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW AS THE BLESSINGS ATTACHED. TOGETHER WE WILL STUDY SOME OF THESE. THE TITLE OF TODAY’S MESSAGE IS “WAIT”.

OUR SCRIPTURE READING IS FOUND IN ISAIAH 40:29-31, AND VARIOUS VERSES OF THE PSALMS.

WHEN WE THINK OF WAITING, IN THE NATURAL, IT “GOES-AGAINST-THE-GRAIN”. NONE OF US LIKE THAT WORD. WE ARE SO USED TO FAST FOODS AND QUICK SERVICES. —-WE MOVE QUICKER AND FASTER THAN EVER BEFORE, BUT WE STILL DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME! SO, SOMETHING IS WRONG. WHAT IS IT?

IS IT JUST THE WAY IT IS? OR IS IT OUR FAULT?

IF YOU’RE LIKE ME (AND I ASSUME MOST ARE), IF YOU HAVE ANY  EXTRA TIME AT ALL, YOU FEEL GUILTY NOT TO USE IT FOR SOMETHING WORTHWHILE, SO YOU FIND SOMETHING TO DO. BUT  IT’S NOT JUST THE NATURAL MAN THAT SUFFERS IN THIS BUSY LIFE. IT’S OUR RELATIONSHIPS: WITH GOD; WITH FAMILY; AND WITH FRIENDS.

WHEN WE GROW OLDER AND WEAR-OUT OUR BODIES IN THIS FAST “GET-IT-DONE” SOCIETY, WE WILL HAVE TO SIT A LOT, AND DO SOMETHING WITH OUR HANDS: BECAUSE WE HAVE ABUSED OUR BODIES WITH “GET IT DONE! GET IT DONE! GET IT DONE NOW! ALL OF IT!”

DON’T GET ME WRONG, I KNOW SOME ARE SLOTHFUL AND NEVER GET ANYTHING FINISHED. I KNOW THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE. BUT MY MESSAGE TODAY IN NOT JUST CONCERNING TAKING SOME TIME TO REST OUR BODIES AND MINDS, BUT WAITING ON GOD: RESTING IN HIM.

ISAIAH 40:31 – THOSE THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH; THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES, THEY SHALL RUN AND NOT BE WEARY; AND THEY SHALL WALK AND NOT FAINT.

IF THERE’S A WAY TO RUN AND NOT BE WEARY,WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT. WELL LOOK AT THE PRECEEDING VERSES (29,30) – HE (GOD) GIVES POWER TO THE FAINT; AND THEM THAT HAVE NO MIGHT HE INCREASETH STRENGTH. EVEN THE YOUTHS SHALL FAINT AND BE WEARY, AND THE YOUNG MEN SHALL UTTERLY FALL.

SO IT IS, THAT GOD IS WHERE WE GET OUR STRENGTH.

LIFTING WEIGHTS AND EXERCISING IS GOOD TO STRENGTHEN OUR MUSCLES, BOT ONLY GOD CAN GIVE US STRENGTH IN OUR BODIES, AND PEACE OF MIND, AT THE SAME TIME. THE LACK OF PEACE AND HOPE, CAN MAKE THE STRONGEST WEARY.

MANY HAVE GREAT PLANS, IMPORTANT PLANS, BUT IF THEY DON’T WAIT ON GOD TO LEAD, THAY JUST RUN IN CIRCLES AND NEVER GET ANYTHING ACCOMPLISHED.

ISAIAH 40:31 (AMPLIFIED) –  BUT THOSE WHO WAIT FOR THE LORD (WHO EXPECT, LOOK FOR, AND HOPE IN HIM)  SHALL CHANGE AND RENEW THEIR STRENGTH AND POWER; THEY SHALL LIFT THEIR WINGS AND MOUNT UP (CLOSE TO GOD)  AS EAGLES  (MOUNT UP TO THE SUN); WALK AND NOT FAINT OR BECOME TIRED.

THIS IS A VERY FAMILIAR VERSE WITH MOST PEOPLE, BUT DO WE REALLY COMPREHEND IT’S CONTENT, –IT’S MEANING?

THE LORD’S STRENGTH IS A STRENGTH UNFAILING. HE GIVES POWER TO THE FAINT—-HE INCREASES STRENGTH.  HE WHO IS NEVER WEARY STRENGTHENS THOSE WHO ARE TIRED, AND UPON HIM, THAT IS OF NO MIGHT, HE LAVISHES POWER.

THOUGH AGE AND VIGOR BE AT THEIR PRIME, EVEN YOUTHS AND YOUNG MEN FALL (V.30). NATURAL STRENGTH AT IT’S BEST CAN BE EXAUSTED, BUT NOT THE SUPERNATURAL. THEREFORE, THOSE THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD IN THE EXPECTANCY OF FAITH, RISE ABOVE THE MUNDANE; THE EARTHLY; AND FIND GRACE FOR DOGGED PERSISTENCE.

“FOR THE FAITHFUL, THERE IS NO FAILURE; AND FAITH KNOWS NO WEARINESS.”

IN VERSES 28-29, WE HAVE THE PROMISE OF “STRENGTH FOR HOLY LIVING”. GOD PROVIDES STRENGTH; STRENGTH IS RENEWED BY WAITING ON THE LORD; AND GOD ADJUSTS THE SUPPLY OF STRENGTH TO THE PRESENT NEED.

ISAIAH 64:4 –  FOR SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD MEN HAVE NOT HEARD, NOR PERCEIVED BY THE EAR, NEITHER HATH THE EYE SEEN, O GOD, BESIDE THEE, WHAT HE HATH PREPARED FOR HIM THAT WAITETH FOR HIM.

 HE HAS TO BE WAITED FOR. IT IS QUITE TRUE OF HIM THAT HE IS ALWAYS WORKING FOR US; BUT IT IS ALSO TRUE THAT HE IS OFTEN A LONG TIME IN THE WORKING OUT OF HIS PURPOSES.—-BUT HARDLY NEVER HAPPENS OVER-NIGHT.

THEN, BECAUSE MAN CANNOT GET WHAT THEY WANT DONE QUICKLY, THEY FOOLISHLY BEGIN TO THINK GOD CANNOT OR WILL NOT DO IT FOR THEM, THEY FAIL TO SEE GOD’S GOODNESS. SO THE POINT OF IMPRESSION MAY BE: THAT IN ALL THE REVIEWS WE CAN TAKE OF THE PAST: —-GOD HAS SURELY BROUGHT TO PASS GOOD THINGS; EVEN IF IT HAS BEEN LONG IN THE WORKING, IT IS A MATTER OF TRUSTING HIM,  TO DO WHAT HE SAID HE WOULD DO.

THAT IS HARD FOR US TO COMPREHEND, BECAUSE PEOPLE AROUND US, HAVE PROMISED US THINGS THAT NEVER COME TO PASS, EVEN THOUGH WE WAITED AND WAITED FOR THEM.

ONE SAD EXAMPLE IS, AND ORPHAN WHOSE PARENTS PROMISED TO COME SEE THEM AND TAKE THEM OFF FOR THE DAY. – I KNOW A LITTLE GIRL WHO SAT ALL DAY ON THE ORPHANAGE STEPS, WITH HER LITTLE PURSE, WAITING FOR THAT PARENT WHO NEVER CAME.

IT IS SO EASY FOR US TO THINK ON A REALM LIKE THIS, THAT WAS A NEGATIVE REALITY—-BUT WE HAVE PROMISES FROM OUR GOD THAT HAVE ALREADY COME TO PASS FOR US; BU WE HAD TO WAIT FOR THE MANIFESTATION.

WHAT A LONG TIME OF WAITING AND PREPARATION BEFORE GOD MANIFESTED HIS SON; BUT …IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME…JESUS CAME, TO SAVE THE WORLD.

WE ARE NOW, WAITNG FOR HIS RETURN. WHILE WE ARE WAITING, LET US ALL REMEMBER, THAT WHEN WE SEE JESUS EARTH’S TRIALS WILL SEEM SO SMALL. ONE GLIMPSE OF HIS DEAR FACE, ALL GLORY WILL ERASE. IT WILL BE WORTH IT ALL, WHEN WE SEE CHRIST.  

LUKE 12:36,37 – AND YE YOURSELVES LIKE UNTO MEN THAT WAIT FOR THEIR LORD, WHEN HE WILL RETURN FROM THE WEDDING; THAT WHEN HE COMETH AND KNOCKETH, THEY MAY OPEN UNTO HIM IMMEDIATELY.

      BLESSED ARE THOSE SERVANTS, WHOM THE LORD WHEN HE COMETH SHALL FIND WATCHING: VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT HE WILL GIRD HIMSELF, AND MAKE THEM TO SIT DOWN TO MEAT, AND WILL COME FORTH AND SERVE THEM.

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