John Chapter 12:1-6

Worship is an important part of the believer's life. That's why on Sunday morning.

We spend time in worship we want to linger in worship we want to take some time 20 minutes 25 minutes of them start to linger in worship.

You know why because that isn't worth that is important and win some money when an unbeliever, or maybe some of it straight from the Lord comes into a group of people that are really worshiping and pray nothing like that the whole world welcome to cross the bridge with David McGee.

David is the senior pastor of the bridge in Kernersville, North Carolina. Today we have with this one of David McGee's associate pastors DA Brown book about Bob's going to be here. One of the things that they do McGee talks about during this next program is the Christian life started. What about fellowship with other believers to give us an insight in our life with Jesus. Worship is an expression of things we don't worship because we feel like God is worthy of our worship today pastor Dave explains worship continues in the Gospel of John chapter 12 that's going to great hearing how worship ties in with other aspects of the Christian life. So here's David McGee with his teaching and giving God. John chapter 12 and were now were coming into the last days of the life of Jesus. John does something interesting and and I actually all the Gospels do something interesting the Gospels contain 89 chapters together with all four of Matthew Mark Luke and John. And there's only four of them. There's no lost Gospels or anything like that so there's 89 chapters do you realize that four of the chapters deal with the first 30 years of the life of Jesus and 85 of them deal with the last three years. They may have thought about that before, but you use okay will best remove support.

The point is, it was the last three years of his life that Jesus was really going forth in ministry and changing lives.

So follow with me this week and see what happens is often we go you know I have gotten older, place a lot of time. A lot of stuff was a lot of water flowing under the bridge but you know I don't know that I can really make a difference man man can you make a difference. Look what Jesus did in three short years now know were not Jesus, but we have been empowered by Jesus, and you can change lives.

It doesn't matter how much time you've wasted before now. Doesn't matter. God will redeem those things. He'll even teach you things about that time that now you can use in ministry is an amazing thing. So never think well I'm I'm I'm too old or wasted too much time or of done this not done that God wants to use you.

He wants to use you in verse one of chapter 12 is then, six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus who had been dead, whom he had raised from the dead. There's an important detail in here will probably not going to get to it this week but I want you to mentally make a note that were Gavin H will not, the date, but were told that six days before the Passover. Let me tell you, you're never given something in Scripture that doesn't mean something every detail mean something yes young believer. I remember reading the genealogies I'm like okay whatever.

You know all is begotten stuff I doesn't really yet, but as I've grown in the Lord as I've matured as I studied the Scriptures, you realize that in every one of those genealogies.

There's something that's really really cool when you dig and you bring it out and everyone soaked this detail. Discount all the way because of how I get it to it this week but will get to it next week and let me promise you it will blow your mind.

The implications really come back to. So now is your Lazarus, who was was dead just got a go to say Lazarus is that now is sit there and you know what what an amazing thing. Let me ask you question. If you are writing up book to deceive people, and you were just coming up with stuff would you include this part. I mean, seriously, this is this is a God, he was dead and now he's alive.

You know if I was trying to create this big hoax own people. I think I would leave that part out why because it takes faith to believe that so and in here we have an awesome book.

This is 40 different authors 66 different books written over 1500 years by people who were moved by the inspiration of God and there is not one mistake in here there is not one contradiction in here. I want. I studied the book I read it through several times. There's not one contradiction yeah I know people say that you hear people say that culture is filled with contradictions. Next time somebody says that you can't have a bottle with you. And when they say all you know you can't just about Bob's food contradictions. Hand them your problems. They will show me one. Show me one because you know I've seen others there's a few spaces in their where if you were just skimming through it. You could think there's an apparent contradiction, but there's there's real easy answers for those and generally people aren't aware of others for their just saying that while because I don't want to deal with the condition of their heart, and the lack of the relationship with the Lord. So when here's my glasses filled with contradictions. Anomie about going to show me what you want.

Well there and there and if they do ever point out supplements numbers you sent us an email.

Give us a phone call will walk you through it and better equip you to witness to those folks now remember that six days before the Passover verse two there they made him a supper and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with him. Now notice what they were doing. And again, i.e. the Bible is a supernatural book and yet you know it's filled with natural occurrences in here they were, fellowship, and how they were fellowship and over food. Eating food if unison it's a blessing from God. You know, I thought before you know God could set it up where when we breathe. We got the necessary nutrients that we needed or perhaps from drinking the water. But that's not what he did. He sat up where we eat and we can actually enjoy food. To me that's an awesome think and so there enjoy in the fellowship with one another. I encourage you to do this, I encourage you to fellowship with one another. I encourage you to and it sent blesses my heart when I'm and might seem like a small thing, but when somebody I'm talking this money goes well you know we were. I would soon serve for dinner last night.

Cool lawyer. We went to lunch with so-and-so that's in the because you know what happens is people are coming together in their fellowship and to me that's a beautiful beautiful think perhaps you're sitting there this morning. It was good meeting. Well, may I encourage you to invite someone else to lunch invite somebody else to dinner. Don't sit back go no buys invited me to not you go start inviting people and you know the wonderful thing about food as you you won't be no special either invite them into your house to cook for you will get a lot of those. Praise the Lord and see that's what's supposed to be happening in the body of Christ first Corinthians chapter 10 verse 31 says. Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God that all something so that you can eat and fellowship will honor and be bringing God glory I how cool is that verse three. Then Mary took a pound of very costly role of spikenard anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair in the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil now spikenard is as its point out here is very expensive. It was actually usually produced in India and then shipped to Israel in small containers. Sometimes people would that would be their investment they would invest in these ointments and salves install often and to other reasons why she may have had this kind of intriguing. One of them is, it may have been her dowry for her husband in a moment of sacrifice, she ported out on the Lord Jesus Christ. The other possibility is is intriguing, it may have been for her burial and she decided instead of using it for her burial. She would pour it out on the Lord Jesus Christ. Anyway, you came up with it.

It's an incredible sacrifice is an incredible statement that Mary made in her worship of Jesus. It's an awesome thing and you know what's interesting here is you see a picture and and here's a family man. These people have got a hold of Jesus at me because look at Mary Martha and Lazarus and what's going on in the in the picture here will you first of all you got Lazarus to me and said it before, but I'll say again he was. I mean you know as testimonies go, that's a really good one yeah I was dead. I was in the tomb. They had to call me out and so he was given what he was given new life.

He was given new life.

That's where the Christian life starts. That's where it really begins. See your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ doesn't begin when you walk into a church, I'm sorry but that's not yet.

There's many people this morning that are all over churches that don't know Jesus but no have new life. It begins when you say to Jesus.

Jesus in the center so I have sent.

Please forgive me and he does it in your given new life and it doesn't matter given the church one time you've been to church 200 times. This is where we start with the new life and so you have Lazarus there that has the new life and then you have Mary there whose worshiping she got new life and then you have worshiping and Mary is worshiping.

She's at the feet of Jesus. She, sacrificially, you know, poorness, ointment out on that's worship that is worship. Worship is an important part of the believer's life.

That's why on Sunday morning. We spend time in worship we want to linger in worship we want to take some time 20 minutes 25 minutes, sometimes 30 minutes to linger in worship.

You know why because that is important.

That is important, and when somebody when an unbeliever. Maybe some of it straight from the Lord comes into a group of people that are really worshiping bad there ain't nothing like that in the whole world. People come in and learn how these people are serious. They're not somber they're not seeing in funeral dirt desert dirt actually happy about worshiping God. This is awesome and so there we have Mary worshiping and then we have Martha we got new life we got worship and what's Martha doing Martha served Martha serve that such a beautiful little picture of what were supposed to be known as believers we are given new life so that we worship and so now we can serve some people get these inverted some people getting twisted. Some people begin to serve before they're given a new life. I'm I'm sorry that that's not really a good thing because here's what can happen. You can start to get confused. You can think God is interested in what I might do for him on the Internet. God is much more interested in what he is Artie done for you.

And as we understand what God has done for us, the natural reaction is to worship him and to begin to serve in, and I think when when you begin to understand what God has done for your life. That's just a natural natural thing will be right back with more from David McGee on cross the bridge right now. Here's a word from associate pastor DA Brown about want take a minute to pray for some listeners in the state of Idaho.

Specifically, the city Cascade, Clarkston, Gainesville, kitchen Martha Singh in Boise call in Moscow, we thank you for everyone listening today will we pray that you would encourage them. Remind them how much you love them. Lord, if there is some listening today have them put their trust in you. We pray that today will be the day they would say yes to allowing you to forgive them of their sins, and that they would say yes. The following you on all their heart, all your soul and all their strength and we pray that you get them plugged into a Bible teaching Bible believing church. Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you brother and now get back to David McGee as he continues teaching verse by verse this morning.

Maybe want to think okay where I am on the scale, sure that I have new life. I mean do I know that I know that I know that up and save that of been born again. There were many people even ate at the shirt on the video testimonies that would've said yes they were when they first came in, but in the more they heard the more they listen. They said I don't have what he's talking about.

Wonder how I get it.

That's why at the end of every service and will do it again today we give people the opportunity to respond to the good news. The good news is that Jesus Christ God for you so that you can be forgiven and when you accept that forgiveness. You are cleansed from all unrighteousness. You're forgiven I want an amazing thing because from that moment on, God looks at you and sees a new person. God looks at you and I know once you pray that prayer you don't quit messing up. And if your plan is to get to the place where you don't mess up anymore and then you'll pray that prayer there's a flaw in your plan man. The flaw in your plan is. You always mess up.

You always make some mistakes. What you need to do is respond to that talking on your heart respond and pray the prayer asked the Lord to forgive you and ask him to give you the power to follow up and watch them change your life, because from that moment on understand when God looks at you and see center anymore. He sees the same one yeah I know it's almost too good to be true, he sees us saying he see somebody it's been washed. Why, that's an amazing amazing thing. Do you deserve it.

Now I don't deserve it either but God is willing to make the transaction with each and every person here. The question is have you done this. Have you done this and as you received a life of worship in the Lord, and serving in and again the new life. This is what the Bible says the born-again thing is not something man came up with something. Jesus said in John three said, except a man be born again he can't see the kingdom of heaven.

That's the reality of the Scripture. That's what Romans 10, nine and 10 says that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be safe for the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made under salvation and then Romans 1013, just a few forced verses later says whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be say, whosoever was at me, means anybody. Anybody who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How awesome is that how awesome is that. So the new life and this is really important. This is your Christianity, 101201 stuff.

So I wanted since Donna's new life. That's how were born again.

That's what we all have to do. That's where we all started our life with the Lord is in this new life and because of that we worship now. Worship isn't necessarily music that may shock some I mean is not music. We use music as a vehicle of worship. It certainly helps to worship. Worship is the first lifeless worship is an expression of thanks. Worship is an expression of thanks this is really important for us to understand how it's interesting you know it seems like a lot of people are doing contemporary worship and in the course were doing contemporary worship. But you know it it's because to me that's that's a real expression to the Lord. We didn't do a demographic study and think, well, you know some people like and debris worship and and you know and and that's not why we do it. It's a real expression of our thinking and so when you come in.

You know and maybe sit out there. I don't know what goes through head.

Maybe you know you said that there to go heat electric guitars, I don't. Maybe this morning as I hate the banjo I that doesn't really doesn't matter, and sometimes worship will be more upbeat sometimes it will be slow wheat we do try to combine the things we try to give you no slower songs and faster song to give everybody an opportunity to worship, but you know what is not really about the music. It's an expression of thanks is an expression of thanks and we don't worship God because we feel like that's not worship see their mornings there mornings where her other members of the team they may not feel like worship, but they worship you know why because God is worthy to be worshiped. Whether I feel like it. They feel like it or you feel like it and let me let us go and be real one another. There will be mornings when you come in here. You will feel like worship there were I not see some your faith is maybe been beat up. Maybe you're tired and and so you come in here and you will remove them than worship or not and and and you know your you can't hold back, but we worship again. Not because we feel like it, but because these words he and some mornings.

I understand you may have.

Things are going on their break in your heart and your life is filled with pain. There is no better time to worship and and because you come in here and you worship God, and at those times understand.

Again, it is a sacrifice of praise literally but how honoring to God who is so deserving of our worship in her thanks on encouraging that so you have new life, worshiping and serving an end only you can assess where you are.

Make sure number ones.

There, make sure number two is there and make sure the number three is there that see we give you opportunities to serve here were not you can get involved in semi-different ways are so many different opportunities to serve here and it's not like we give you some theological exam or even some IQ test or anything like that. We just give you an opportunity to to to serve so one other thing that you see is that they were doing this in the house they were doing this in the house. See, here's what's happened to the average American. They've kind of separated what happens on Sunday morning and the rest of their life.

I go to church on Sunday. Act like this a look like this are just like this and the rest of week. I do whatever I want to. That's not real Christianity is not following Jesus see in this place.

It was in the home as he that's that's yet another reason why were encouraging people to get involved with fellow shippers. We want to encourage people to go in one another's times get to know one another and have these things start to occur in your daily life. One of things I always encourage people to use have communion now if you were raised in a real strictly religious background you goad all that's that's that's wrong you can have communion at home. You mean you don't have a priest or pastor father Bishop or nothing.

You guys are deputizing authorized to go have communion okay because let's remember the first communion took place in the home so will we have it in a church that's a little different when you haven't home that's worse was to happen. So me encourage you to you get the mop so you get the grape juice and go have communion, that's awesome.

Thomas had beautiful times of communion with my family want to encourage and so verse four. One of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon son, who would betray him, said, why was this fragrant oil not sold for 300 and Mary and given to the poor.

That sounds good, sounds noble. That sounds right. 300 generic. The average wage at the time was you know that up for labor is you got one to Neri for a whole day's work. So 300 and Mary is basically a year's salary for labor.

It was a lot done this sound good and noble and religious and and you'll look at Judas dude is actually getting some writer standing up. You want to take care of the poor is a well John makes an know that's not made in the other Gospels lease is not brought out this way. He says in verse six this he said that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief and had the money box and used to take what was put in it but I can't put soap different metal molding seat. Sometimes you can hear somebody say something Rolex out.

Watch out for literature such sounds noble but what's the motivation willing to what's behind the scenes of you will hear you looking behind the scenes and and you you find something that's not not good at all. When you look at these two people who are interacting with Jesus you look at Judas and you'll get Mary what you see Mary to give her tears again.

Ever Mary doesn't care much about cost to school poured on Jesus what to love on Jesus, Judas is a taker. Judas is going well, you know I could've. I could rip some of that money off.

Had we sold that the life lesson here is God is a giver. When we give we are more like him. Now you think I'm just on my finances. I will not let you off that easy. I'm talking about.

Given your life away, serving and loving others given yourself away in ministry certainly includes finances because it were grateful.

We should become more like God and that we give John 316 says what God so loved that he gave God together when we give were acting like God. We just worry about taking friend were acting like Jews.

Let me ask a question would you rather look like Jesus or Judas. Jesus was a giver. Judas was a taker friend you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven.

You can know right now only Jenna short, simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you. Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus, I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life not done wrong things I have sent and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things.

Please give me the power to live for you. All of my days in Jesus name, amen it friend of you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again.

Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness. Those who were sick, not the righteous is a congratulations for you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you, if you pray that prayer with David for the first time we'd love to hear from you.

You can visit cross the bridge.com to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ.

Or you can write to cross the bridge at PO Box 12, 515 Winston-Salem, NC 27117 and share how God is working in your life you're the Bible tells us that the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. But it does cost for us to come and bring that message to you and to others in your neighborhood through radio through the Internet and through the mobile technologies that God has gifted us to be able to use so if you like to support this ministry.

Please go to cross the bridge.com. Click on the donate button and ask God how much you would have you give either on a one-time basis or continuing basis each month to help ensure that the teaching of God's word continues to go out also. Thank you so much DA before we go. What are some ways bless our listeners days you can wake up with her is Casa David with his email devotional life lessons to consider a daily reading plan and the thought to meditate on throughout your day in the heart of David McGee. Thanks again for listening and join us next time. As David McGee continues teaching verse by verse in the gospel of God