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Dear brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus, part of the growing repentance remnant:
Matthew 26:6-13 AMP
Now when Jesus was [back] in Bethany, at the home of Simon the leper, a woman came to Him with an alabaster vial of very expensive perfume and she poured it on Jesus’ head as He reclined at the table. But when the disciples saw it they were indignant and angry, saying, “Why all this waste [of money]? For this perfume might have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”
But Jesus, aware [of the malice] of this [remark], said to them, “Why are you bothering the woman? She has done a good thing to Me. For you always have the poor with you; but you will not always have Me. [Deut 15:11; Mark 14:7, John 12:8]
When she poured this perfume on My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, wherever this gospel [of salvation] is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her [for her act of love and devotion].”
One of my favorite stories about Jesus can be found in all 4 the Gospels - where Jesus rebuked His disciples when they were getting upset about "Wasting Money"... Each Gospel tells the story a bit differently - and Luke 7, gives the most detail.
Even today, we often will argue the same - not to waste money, and we will often hold back not giving to others for whatever reason, but instead keeping things moderate - and not go all out giving extravagantly to others, not even our own children and family, for the fear of wasting our goods or our hard earned finances on others. We will rather try and live a moderate life, watching our every cent, and use words like "I'm keeping it for a rainy day".
But here comes Jesus, and He appreciates a sinful woman's offering, who poured out her most expensive perfume over His feet. Luk 7:36-50 and John 12:1-8 tell us that it was Mary Magdalene, and that she actually came crying over the feet of Jesus, and drying His feet with her hair, before pouring out the perfume over His feet. And in Luke 7, Jesus actually added a Parable with this event, and explaining in verse 47 "Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
Meaning, Jesus directly linked the event of her extravagantly pouring out all that expensive Nard Perfume over His feet, to her "loving Him much", because she understood and realized that she had many sins and that they were all forgiven.
But, then the 2nd part of Jesus' reference to His parable about this very story in Luke 7 becomes a warning for every person reading this story: Jesus said that those that don't love much, and who are holding back their giving, are those that were only "forgiven of little".
Now, why do I say this is warning ? We might argue that maybe a person doesn't have a lot of sins, and that it is a good thing, as we might not have lived a sinful life like Mary Magdalene did...
But the Lord has showed me, because of Religious Pride, we can not "see" what are all the sins we are actually being forgiven of. Religious Pride can blind a person so much, that we think we are living a Holy Life, where in fact we are actually living far from Jesus altogether. That our "worship" to Him, is only "lip service", but our hearts are not in it at all. (eg Jesus quoting a Prophecy from Isaiah 29:13 in Matt 15:8) - For Jesus knows the difference very well. He knows how far we are from Him really, or how close our lives and hearts are towards Him.
A few signs we can look out for, of where our hearts really are towards the Lord, are our level of Thankfulness towards His Sacrifice, our level of Obedience towards His Commandments, even our Offerings, and lastly how much are we willing to Forgive others.
We might be singing Praise and Worship songs all day to the Lord, and fasting and praying and reading our bible every day, but deep in our hearts, if we resent someone else for what they did to us, or we are living with a critical eye towards another person, pointing out their faults, and never have a good word to say about our brothers and sisters, or even walk in Envy and Jealousy, you and I can be totally blind to any of it - thinking we are in good standing with our Lord... (Matt 7:1-6, Matt 18:21-35)
Like Jesus explained in Matt 15:6 & Mark 7:1-7 that our "Religious Traditions" can easily "make the Word of God Powerless" in our lives. He comes in John 14 and says it three times between Verses 15-24 - that "only those that Truly Love Him, will keep His commandments, and give an ear to His sayings".
And that is what Mary did. She understood that Jesus loved her so much, and that He forgave her of many sins, not just prostitution and adultery - and thus she sought to be with Jesus every day, thanking Him for His Grace He showed her, and was following Him like a true disciple. She was even the one whom Jesus appeared to first after His resurrection - not even to any of His other 11 disciples (John 20:11-18). They only saw the Angel at the Grave, and had to go back and wait for Him to only see Him later. But He spoke every so gently with Mary Magdalene, encouraging her that He hasn't forgotten about her. That gaveher hope again after everything that played off that weekend...
Thus, this story about the alabaster vial isn't just special to me, because of Jesus' words, saying that "we don't always have Him near" or that "wherever the Gospel is preached, mention will also be made of her" - but the deep lessons we can learn from this whole incident.
It is worth reading this same story in all 4 the gospels. Each person's recount adds more detail to it. And we can learn from her what it means to be forgiven, and how to live a life of thankfulness towards Jesus. For Mary Magdalene understood forgiveness and true worship even before the cross happened. She had no idea what was about to happen just a few days later. Jesus knew, and He told everyone straight - that it was for His burial, and also warned them - "you won't always have Me with you" - which no one understood at the time. They only realized it all much later - even sometime after the Resurrection - and after Jesus started explaining everything to them during those 40 days after His resurrection, before His ascension.
And thus, today, when we now add Matt 25:31-46 to this story - and hear the Words of our Lord echoing when we read this passage saying "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto Me. " (Matt 25:40b).
Therefore I want to encourage everyone reading this message today, when an opportunity arises in your life to help one of our brothers or sisters in need - whether it be our own church family in our home town, or be it someone on the other side of the globe - take the time to do something for them - to first of all let them know that God sees them, and cares about their suffering and what they endure... But then also, know that you are blessing our Lord and Savior ,just like Mary Magdalene did - and that He sees every good deed. Make sure it comes from a thankful heart towards Him - for His Forgiveness and Grace He showed towards us all !!
For we are all filled with sins - too numerous to mention - we all fall short of His Glory!!!
BUT He forgave us of everything we ever did or will ever do. And His Forgiveness is Immediately available for anyone who comes to Him !!
He did not hold anything back. He poured out all His Blood for our salvation - ensuring that we all will have a place in His Kingdom, and can receive God as our Father the minute we submit ourselves to Him. And No one is excluded. Our salvation is for free - all we have to do is receive it by Faith - we don't have to work for it.
But our works today after our salvation, must flow from a thankful heart towards His Loving Forgiveness for each and everyone of us - regardless who we are, where we live, or what our circumstances are!!
And now - speaking of opportunity - Here is an opportunity for you to help our brothers and sisters in Christ who are taking great strain in the DRC (Congo). Below is a short letter received from Ps Armstrong from Bukavu - in the DRC, on the Western Border towards Rwanda - not just asking for help - but also telling us what they are doing in the midst of the crises they have to deal with every day:
Greetings Pastor Susan
I would like to thank you for always standing with us in prayer. Your tireless support and prayers are changing the lives of many people in Congo.
Now we are living in place that looks like a prison no bank, borders are closed, war is destroying the economy and brought a lot of anxiety and depression, Ebola is killing and families are desperate,
We are working the work of God with a lot of sour in our hearts as famine is continuing to raise in many families. Pastors are giving up the work of God due to lack of supplies of food on the table and many are looking for other ways to help their families first. It is really painful as the population continues to be very poor and the government is unable because the territories are controlled by rebels.
Despite the current situation, I want to inform you that the Gospel is preached and many souls are coming to Jesus. This last time we organized many activities in our local church and among them we had called them Come back to Jesus is not yet late. Many people come to repent, adults and children join us to ask forgiveness to God.
Many people were delivered from oppression of demons and Jesus has set them free. Some have joined the church and become members of our local church. We were able to plant a new church for those who are coming very far from our place and we have appointed an elder to be a castomedian for the new people who have accepted Jesus as their savior and Lord.
As for us ministers in the towns we have decided to have 40 days of prayer to beg for repentance and ask God to rescue our city and our people, we are asking God his kingdom to come on earth so that the rules of God stay in our heart and honor him no matter how life is hard in our city. This week, we are going to start from 01 July to 09 August.
We are expecting to finish this program with a crusade in a big field outside. If the rebel government grants us the authorization to do it outside we will do and send you the report for what God has done. We are expecting to win many souls for Christ. It is a big task, we still need your prayer so that we can make it.
God bless you
So, Please will you consider praying for Ps Armstrong, his family, church and his team during this crises in the DRC - as they are trying very hard to stand firm amidst having to face lockdowns because of the Ebola outbreak, and all the rebels still patrolling the streets, and making life very difficult for everyone in the cities of Goma & Bukavu. Like Ps Armstrong writes, No Banks are open to draw money, they now can't travel to Rwanda either to draw money there, and thus they have no access to cash - and somehow they need to buy food for their families. Only funds passed to him electronically is what is carrying them through this time of need.
This is what NDR has been doing for Pastor Armstong when there are donations.
Thus, If you feel led in any way by our Lord to sow into and support Ps Armstrong's life and ministry - for him to stay standing, and to help out and reach others in his churches and community - please will you consider making a donation, and mark your donation for "Ps Armstrong". No amount is too small. When we all stand together, showing them God's love towards them, it will become a blessing for them, greater than any of them will ever realize.
Just for them knowing that their Brothers and Sisters in Christ across the globe are praying for them, gives them great hope of a better future tomorrow, helping them to face another hard day today, not giving up when things are tough, or when the cold rises, and the hunger nags, when the nights are long, and the dangers lie and wait for them around every corner... Instead, they push through, and stand with each other, encouraging each other, and seeking God in times of Prayer, Worship and Repentance!
AND: To help us, not to end up having to scramble for funds in these desperate situations anymore, will you consider BECOMING A MONTHLY PARTNER with this EVER GROWING VISION of spreading Repentance and Revival Fire across the nations - like the USA, Africa, Australia and Asia!!
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