The Word Made Plain

Guest (Male): Welcome to the Word Made Playing with senior pastor Tony Clark of Calvary Chapel Newport News in Virginia. Currently, Pastor Tony is teaching in the book of John. Please open your Bible to John chapter 12 verses 1 through 11.

Tony Clark: The third component is a worshiping church. I love this one. And we see this in the life of Mary. She is a beautiful illustration of worship. And I say this because true worship is costly. It may cost you a relationship or even your reputation, even as it cost Mary. See in verse 3, we see that Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard and anointed the feet of Jesus. See spikenard was a very expensive oil of perfume imported from the mountains of Northern India. It was so expensive that it will cost you about a year's salary.

Also, it is believed that this was Mary's diary, meaning that all women had a diary as insurance that if a man wanted to be a jerk and walk out on his wife, she would use her diary to live on. So, what Mary was doing by taking this perfume and pouring it on the feet of Jesus was very costly to her. She was saying, Lord, I I don't need this perfume to live on. All I need is you. I don't need this as insurance. I'm going to trust you. And this is why we say that worship is costly because not only did it cost Mary her diary, but it caused Judas to criticize her in verses 4 through 6.

Look what it says there. But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, who would betray him, said, Why was this fragrant oil not sold for 300 denarii and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and he had the money box and he used to take what was put in it. Now, the conjunction but in verse 4 is contrasting the worship of Mary with the criticism of Judas. See, when we become true worshipers like Mary, we will always have those to criticize us like Judas.

Now, notice notice that the criticism doesn't come from the world. It comes like verse 4 says, one of the disciples. See, there will be those in the church saying, look at you lifting up those hands, singing those songs with tears in your eyes. Aren't you being a little fanatical? Aren't you going overboard? It reminds me of 2 Samuel 6 in verses 20 to 23 when David danced before the Lord. And let me pause right here. David danced before the Lord, but it is it it's not that Kundalini spirit that we see in many churches today.

You say, what is the Kundalini spirit? Look it up. It's not that mess that you see people call himself dancing in the church today. So, don't think this is what David did because they like to point to David and say, well, David danced. He wasn't under a Kundalini spirit like folks are today. Kundalini, you look it up. You you you'll see. So, when David danced before the Lord and he his wife, Michal, she looked through the window and saw him and mocked him by saying, didn't the king look a little foolish doing all that dancing in front of the young girls so the girls can look at you?

David said, what? He said, I didn't do that for them. I did it for the Lord. He he went on to say, I will be even more dignified for the Lord. And he continued to worship God the rest of his life. But David never again went in to Michal. And she had no children. She remained barren for the rest of her life. See, those of you who are like Michal, who mock, criticize, and ridicule those who are worshipers will experience a barrenness, a an emptiness, and a lack of productivity in your life. If you don't believe me, just ask Michal.

Ask Judas who was really hung up, pun intended. He was hung up with criticism as we see here in verse 5. Then ask Mary and David about the fragrance of worship. See, the perfume that Mary poured on the feet of Jesus in verse 3 is significant when it comes to worship because we see that she wipes his feet with her hair. So, her hair took on the fragrance of Christ. Oh, this is critical here because see her hair would symbolize her beauty. We we know from 1 Corinthians 11 verse 15, it's not on the screen for you note takers, it said that women, your your hair is your glory.

And her hair that she used to use to attract men to herself, to attract men to her outward appearance, now she's saying, no longer do I want to be known for my outward beauty. Now, I want to be known for my inward beauty, my worship to God. And I'm not going to that which I used to use, my hair to attract men. I no longer want to be known for my outward appearance, but now I want to be known for my inward worship. And she took that which was used to attract men to herself and she put that and to wipe the feet of Jesus and her hair took on the fragrance of Christ.

Oh, let me ask you this. Are you known more for your outward beauty than your inward worship? What do people are they constantly commenting you about your outward beauty? And they say nothing and know nothing about your inward worship. Oh, now let that's not get it twisted. Now, I I'm not saying that you got to go around looking a hot mess. I'm not saying that at all. And if you got a husband, you need to fix up and look nice for that husband. And if you don't have a husband, you need to fix up and look nice so you can get one.

So, I 'm not saying I'm not saying you got to look a hot mess. But what I am saying is what are you focusing more on your outward beauty or your inward beauty of worship? Mary saying, that which I used to use to attract men to myself physically. Now, I 'm going to lay that at the feet of Jesus. And now I want to be known for the worship of Jesus. That which used to attract men, now I'm laying it at the feet of Jesus. I'm going to wipe his his feet with my hair and her hair took on the fragrance of Christ.

And then it says that the whole house, in the end of that verse, the whole house was filled at the end of verse 3 was filled with the fragrance of Christ. See, when we become worshipers of Jesus Christ, it affects us personally. Our hair would take on the fragrance of Christ. So, do you have a stinky attitude? The question is when was the last time you've been at the feet of Jesus in worship? In 2 Corinthians 2 verse 15 it says, for we are to God the fragrance of Christ. What does God smell when he sniffs into our lives?

A stinky attitude, a smelly temper then start worshiping him once again. Somebody else may say, you know, my house stinks. Man, everybody got a stinky attitude up in there. Boy, we just soon as we open the door, we just smell it. Stinks. Everybody stinks. Nobody likes each other. And I would ask, when was the last time you invited the presence of God in your home through worship? Worship music playing throughout will have a way of bringing the fragrance of Christ and peace in your home. So, yes, worship is costly. And yes, you may be criticized by the people at home, by your children in the car.

As you try to play worship music in the car, they why you got why we listening to that? And what what what? And then then when you got to go and pick them up and take them some they got a friend with them. Make sure you don't play that music. And do you make it criticized? Because it it as long as I'm paying the car note I tell them you shut your mouth and when you get your car, you play whatever you want in your car. This is what we pay in this car as long as I'm paying the note.

But you know how some of you are. Okay, honey, what station you want me to turn to? Y'all are hot mess as a parent because they ain't paying nobody's paying it not insurance, not a note on that car. I'm paying that. And I'm going to listen what I want to listen to. They want to hear it not so what? Walk. That's how I see it. You don't want to listen to it, okay, that's cool. All right, okay, it's going to be played regardless. If you don't want me to pick you up, that's fine. I ain't want to come out and get you anyway.

Hey. So, worship is costly, but the benefits the benefits are eternal. It's funny because uh now that my children are grown and uh it's funny, you know, you know, pull out some old, you know, gospel praise music from way back, I say in the '80s or so. And those of my kids were like, I like this kind of music. I said, I bet you do because when you were a little bitty little thing still in the car seat, this is what we were playing back in the '80s, back in the early '90s. This is what we no wonder you like it because that's what you heard.

And we conditioned them for worship music. Now, they can they grown. They can do what they want to do. But they wonder why they like certain kind of music. Oh, I bet you do because we were pumping that in your ears when you were still in the car seat, when you were still a little bitty thing in the booster seat. That's what we were playing. And they wonder why they have a a bit toward that style in the '80s or the '90s. They wonder why. It's because that's what we were playing. I wasn't playing all that up and stuff.

Hey, that wasn't happening in my home. And let me tell you something let me tell you this. I wouldn't allow it in my home because see my home the Bible says, the name of the Lord is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and are safe. See, I wanted my home to be a safe place for my kids to run to. I wanted my home to be a place where the Lord was is a is a is a strong tower. The righteous run into it and are safe. I know out there they going to get everything under the sun, all the music, all the this, the movies, the cussing, the nudity.

They going to get all that out there. But when they come home I wanted my home to be a a a safe place that they can run to. That's what we did what we did in our home. Now, did my kids know all the latest songs and all the late Sure they did because they got it from out there going to a friend's house or some They didn't get it from my home. They can't say, well, yeah, you know, you yeah, you you talked that talk, but you know, at home we used to watch and see They can never say that, not my home.

Mm-mm. Mm-mm. They got that mess coming to other people's home. They ain't get it from ours. Worship is costly. Cost It may cost you a little friendship with your kids that you want to have with them. Instead of being a parent child, you want to be their friend. And it may cost you your friendship. Worship is costly. It's costly. And we see it here in the life of Mary. But you know, so often there are many people who are just like Judas. People who criticize you, they really don't care about worship. They're like Judas, a thief.

And all they want to do is rob you from the experience in the presence of God and rob you and steal from you the joy that you get from being in the presence of God. They really don't care about worship. Judas didn't care about the fragrant oil. He didn't care anything about that. The Bible says he was a thief. And he knew that if they sold it and got 300 denarii, which is almost a year's salary when they got that, he was a thief and he used to take what was in the money box and 300 denarii, almost a year's salary in the money box he could pilfer and put in his pocket.

He didn't care about the fragrant oil. And there are many people who could care less about worship, but they would criticize you because they are thief and they want to rob you of your joy, of you experiencing the presence of God. And we see that in Judas' life. So, the third component of the church that Jesus would attend is a worshiping church. Look at verses 7 and 8. It says, but Jesus said, let her alone. She has kept this from the day of my burial. For the poor you have with you always, but me you do not have always.

Now, I I love it how Jesus told Judas in verse 7 to leave her alone. He says, she is really doing this for my burial. See, you remember um when when they would die, they were wrapped the bodies up in strips of linen. And they would tuck uh spices in inside the linens to counteract the smell of the decomposing body. So, Jesus was saying, look, her pouring this oil on me she's she's doing this for my burial. She don't even realize it, but she's doing it for my burial. And then Jesus said in verse 8, I love this, the poor you have with you always.

Or the poor will always be around for you to help or to do for them. But notice what he says, but I will not. I want you to notice that. In other words, Jesus was saying, you will always have opportunities for social activities, but don't miss those times, those precious moments of worshiping me, drawing close to me. Oh, please don't miss this point. This is a doozy here. There are always going to be activities in our lives, games to go to, recitals to attend, cheerleading competitions to go to, grass to cut, dinner to cook, people to help.

But but but don't miss those times of sitting at his feet and worship at church or early in the morning or late at night in your personal time. Don't miss those times. You will always always have time for activities. But don't miss those times of intimacy with the Lord is what Jesus is saying here. Jesus is saying the poor you have with you always. There's always going to be opportunities to help the poor. There's always going to be another game to go to, another activity, another recital, another parent-teacher conference, another It's always going to be another another You said, no it won't when when my kids grow up.

Then they grow up and get married and have kids. Then you got to go to the grandkids this, the grandkids that. It There will always be activities. He said the poor you have with you always. But I want you to notice what he said. But me you will not have always. In other words, you can be so caught up in going to this thing, that thing, this game, this activity, this recital, this thing, cut this grass, go to this meeting. You can be so caught up that you miss me and you miss the opportunity to worship me.

And there's a such thing as missing the Lord and people don't realize it. Oh, how about just ask ask Thomas. In John chapter 20 when the disciples say, hey Thomas, who you know, the Lord was here, you missed it. Man, you I don't know where you were. You don't know what you were doing, but you missed the Lord. You were not here and you missed the Lord. See, many people say, well, I can worship God at home. Jesus did not go to Thomas's house. He went to where the believers were gathered together and Thomas missed it.

He said, unless I can see the nail prints in his hands and put my nail finger in the nail prints in his side, I will not believe. So, because people miss opportunities to sit at the feet of Jesus, to worship him, draw close to him, you become a doubting Thomas. You doubt that he can do this in your life or do that in their life and you're doubting and questioning whether God can do the miraculous in your life, it's because you missed those precious opportunities to draw closer to him. And I just wonder if you right now are doubting in your heart that God can do a certain thing for you and I can guarantee you you have missed those moments of sitting at his feet because you too busy running around here to this thing, that thing, this over there and and see and I know you're not doing anything important.

You know how I know? Because you tell it on Facebook. You ain't doing nothing. Taking a picture here, a selfie there. You ain't doing a thing but a bunch of mess. And you wonder why you're doubting. And you wonder why that you don't have the faith to believe certain things that God would do certain things in your life, it's because you've missed those opportunities. Jesus said, the poor you have with you always. He said, but me you're not going to have always. You're not going to always think that you you you're going to be able to just I can just sit at the Lord's feet at any time.

You think that's the case. And sure wherever you go, you can worship God. We know that. But there's a such thing as missing the moment. And I guarantee you there are a lot of things that God would have spoken into your life, but you've missed so many many times here at church that that very thing you were going through, nine out of 10 I addressed it through the word of God and you missed those opportunities so you missed getting that instruction. And you wonder why you're doubting, you're questioning, you don't you don't sense the presence of God in your life.

It's because you missed those opportunities. And you See, Jesus said the poor you have with you always, but me you're not going to have always. And I I and I just see this happen in too many people's lives. Look at verses 9 through 11. Now, a great many of the Jews knew that he was there and they came not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus whom he had raised from the dead. But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also because on the account of him, many of the Jews went away and believed in him and Jesus.

Now, according to verse 9, a great many of the Jews knew that Jesus was in Bethany came to see Jesus, but also to see uh uh to to to see um Lazarus here. I mean, I I don't I don't know about you, but uh I I would have I would I would have came. I heard Lazarus was dead and he came back and Jesus brought him back to life. I would have came and just been sitting back watching him. Oh, he still looked the same. He's can he's still moving around the same. I would have been I I don't know about you.

I would have came just to see Lazarus. I I I would have came just to see him. See, if God is at work in a church and in the lives of his people if he is raising people from the dead spiritually like he did many of us, there would not be an empty seat at our church or in the other church. I say this because when people have seen in our lives that we have been raised from the dead like verse 9 says, people will come just to see our changed lives. They will say, you know what?

I remember you and you're different. I've been watching you. You are different. Where you say you go to church again? I'll be there Sunday because I remember what you used to be like. I'll be there Sunday. And they they come sit and looking around. Because they will be amazed at what God has done in your life because they will see the change. There's some of you I can see you wear you wear you wear salvation on your face. And some of you I know you hadn't seen salvation. I can tell you you'll wear it on your face, your countenance.

I'm not saying you got to go around with a cheesy smile on your face. I'm not saying that. But when Jesus comes into your life, you you can tell it begins to affect the your whole being. I can tell. Now, some of you just need to practice smiling. Y'all just you just mean, nasty. Uh I you know who you are. But I'm telling you, Jesus will affect you all the way around and people will come from miles away to see what it is that has changed this Jesus that has changed your life. They will come.

They won't be empty seat because people will be blown away at what God has done in your life. Now, let me bring it a little bit closer home because we understand that the church is not a building, but he dwells with and within his people. So, the question is are you a church Jesus would attend? In other words, are you serving like Martha? Or are you just too busy to get involved? Are you witnessing like Lazarus? Or are you afraid to let them know that you are a believer? Are you worshiping like Mary? Or do you believe that that's too much like being a fanatic?

We know what's short for fanatic is fan. You won't want to be a fan of Jesus, but uh that's too fanatical. And maybe this is the reason why you don't sense the presence of Jesus in your life because you don't see any of these components in yours. But the the thing is there is hope. All you have to do is commit or recommit your life to Jesus Christ and he will empower you to worship, to be a witness, and to serve. And watch and see that you start to sense the presence of Jesus in your life in a powerful way.

In Psalm 16 verse 11 it says, in his presence is fullness of joy and at his right hand are pleasures forevermore. So, joy and pleasure are associated with the presence of the Lord. And may we all experience the presence of God this week in a powerful and fresh way as we seek him in his word and in prayer. Let me just conclude with this. Let us turn our church into a place where Jesus can come and be refreshed like we saw in these verses. Let our church be a place that Jesus will come to. Jesus will attend a serving church, a worshiping church, and a worshiping church.

The question is does this describe our church collectively? And does it describe us individually? I hope and pray that it does because this is the kind of church Jesus would attend. Let's pray. Father, thank you so much for your word that you have spoken to us. We pray, God that you will move in our hearts. Lord, there are many of many of your people struggling with these things. And they're not serving. They're not witnessing. Lord they're not worshiping. And God, I just pray that you would draw them to you. May they commit or recommit their lives to you.

Lord, I pray for those who've never surrendered their lives, never accepted you as their Lord and Savior. I pray that today will be the day of salvation for them. I pray that they will repent of their sin and believe that you died on the cross and was buried and rose again. Your word says if they believe and confess it, they will be saved. Draw people unto you today in Jesus' name. Amen.

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