The Cost of the Anointing

ME:

There is a great cost to activating the anointing God places on one’s life.

As I survey the scriptures I see many examples of this.

The cost for Abraham was leaving his home to a place that would be revealed to him later.

The cost for Noah was that he had to be mocked and ridiculed for building the ark and obeying God’s voice.

The cost for Moses was that he had to give up a lavish lifestyle in Egypt and become one that was slow to speak to being one who would be the voice of God.

The cost for the Apostle Paul was his pride, position and power as a devout Jew

The cost for the disciples of Jesus, Peter, Andrew, James, and John was leaving their vocation of fishing and also leaving their families.

Peter, Andrew, James, and John left their vocation of fishing and their families

WE:

Today, many of us refuse to pay the cost of the anointing.

Unlike Abraham, we’d rather enjoy the comfort of our own homes then leave it for a destination unknown that God would lead us to.

Unlike Noah, we’d rather listen to the voices around us instead of the voice that is within us.

Unlike Moses, we’d rather enjoy the pleasures of sin rather than the treasures of heaven.

Unlike Paul, we value our our reputation above true repentance.

Unlike the Disciples, we put our work and families above our relationship with God.

There is another great examples in scripture that compares two people. One was willing to pay the price for the anointing and the other one wasn’t.

GOD:

(NLT)

3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. 4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

The cost of the Anointing is Pure devotion and humility

We see Mary here take a very expensive jar of perfume(equal to a year’s wages) which in America is about 45,000 per household and she anointed the feet of Jesus with it. This shows her pure devotion and humilty to Christ.

The anointing is costly. It is no cheap grace. It is of high value therefore, it comes with a high cost. describes the cost of following Christ. Jesus says that if you don’t hate your your own family then cannot be my disciple. What he means when he says that is this…You should have such a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus that all relationships pale in comparison and don’t even come close to the love you have for Him. In our culture and times this is a hard pill to swallow. American Christianity has a tendency to worship family over Jesus instead of worshipping Jesus with the family.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a protestant theologian said this “Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has.

It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods.

It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.”

To Worship is to attribute worth to someone or something. When we worship God we are declaring that He is worthy of our attention and devotion. It said that after Mary anointed the feet of Jesus that the house was filled with fragrance of that perfume. Every word, thought, and deed should be a sweet aroma to Christ. A fragrance rising up to heaven. It should be a pleasant smell in the nostrails of God.

When you get around certain people there is a certain glow to them that gives you an extra pep in your step and the light and glory of God just radiates from them. You enjoy being around them because are just so full of God’s joy and you can tell that they have been with Jesus. Then there are others. That you kind of avoid. Their hearts and spirit just don’t spell right. They have stench of death to them that suck the life and joy right out of you when you are around them. They are always negative and critical. You can tell that they haven’t been with Jesus.

There were two reasons why Jesus was anointing by Mary.

In preparation for his burial

It was Jewish custom to wash and anoint the feet of a guest because most of the time they came in from the dusty streets wearing sandals.

Our anointing symbolizes a death to ourself and a life unto God. The cost of that anointing was the very death of Christ that purchased eternal life for us.

Sometimes what we think as a preparation for our burial is a preparation for battle

Sometimes what we think as a preparation for our burial is a preparation for battle. A crisis comes into our lives and we think, this is it we are finished. But, scripture tells us time and time again that hard times come not to defeat us but to prepare us. Their purpose is to strengthen our character and resolve so we can become experienced soldiers in the army of God equipped for battle. We have an enemy who is like a roaring lion seeking out those to steal, kill, and destroy. We are all on different parts of our journey with God. But, no matter where you are at, God has you still living and breathing so He must still have a purpose for you to fulfill and cross to bear. God says to pick up your daily and die daily to ourselves. This involves walking in Gods strength and not our own. This involves continuely filling ourselves with the Holy Spirit and having our eyes on the prize of Jesus Christ who is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him

The Cost of the Anointing is making enemies

Counting the cost

Judas didn’t want Mary to use the perfume to anoint Jesus. He thought it was all a waste. The cost of the anointing is that we will make enemies in the process. Activating our anointing and responding to the call of God on our means that our lives are about to change in a big way. We are met with a crisis moment in our lives. It is said that there are about two or three decisions that we make that will shape our lives. Don’t let anybody but God make those decisions for you!

In , Jesus lays out some guidelines of following Him.There were great crowds of people who followed Him and listened to his teachings. Everyone loved the miracles, healing, and free food. Jesus was cool, the talk of the town, and his popularity grew quickly. But He knew the people’s hearts. He knew they desired the benefits of what He did rather than an understanding of who He was. They loved His gifts, not the life He was calling them to. So He explained what it takes to be one of His followers. It can be summed up as this. Come and die to yourself. It meant of transfer of ownership. That you no longer belong to yourself but, you belong to God.

When we walk in this anointing, we will have people come against us. We might have family disown us, friends betray us, and people we love leave us but we will still have Christ regardless! Jesus was rejected in his hometown, was betrayed by a friend, and another denied him. He also had those in power who were threatened by him. When we walk in the light we will expose the darkness. When we live in love, hate will be driven out.

(NLT) says...

4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear.

“The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.” – Oswald Chambers

There is a Cost to the anointing but, it is something that you cannot buy

In in mentions a sorcerer named Simon who amazed people with his powers doing all kinds of signs and wonders. He was considered by the people someone who had great power. Then Philip came a long and preached the kingdom of God in the name of Jesus. Simon the sorcerer believed and was even baptized and followed Philip and observed the wonders, signs, and miracles he performed. He witnessed how Peter and John laid hands on people to receive the Holy Spirit. Simon the Sorcerer offered the Apostles money for this power and they sharply rebuked him for doing so. For this power had already been purchased by the blood of Christ and Simon was wanting this power for dishonest gain and was desiring it out of selfish ambition.

Also we have the story of Ananias and Sapphira who sold a piece of property but then kept a portion of the funds for themselves. They both feel down dead for lying to the Holy Spirit.

Then we have in our text Judas, who tried to use manipulation for the benefit of his own gain. He said that the money used for the perfume to anoint Jesus should of been sold and the money given to the poor. He really didn’t care about the poor though. He was the treasurer and was embezzling the funds for his profit.

The cost of the anointing is something that we cannot buy or earn. It is a power that we can’t barter or work for. There is a huge difference between the power that the world gives and the power that Christ gives. It’s a sad day when the power of the world infiltrates the life of the church and is mistaken for the power of Christ.

Worldly power criticizes and tears down, Christ’s power shows grace and builds up

Worldly power accumulates positions and titles, Christ’s power made him a suffering servant

Worldly power seeks rewards and recognition, Christ’s power gives all glory to the father

Henry Neuman says this about worldly power....

“Power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God. Easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life”

People throughout church history have choosen hate over love and control over the cross.

Christ purchased you and me by his blood. He freed us from sin and carried the load by being punished instead of us. I love the lyrics found in “Jesus paid it all”

Lord, now indeed I find Thy pow'r and Thine alone, Can change the leper's spots And melt the heart of stone.

YOU:

Many people of faith who have come before you have considered the cost of the anointing and they have found the reward of Christ as valuable. Something worthy of the cost to give their to and their lives for. The bible talks nothing about a retirement or age limit in serving His kingdom.

The cost of the anointing is devotion and intimacy with the father that is always growing in grace as we continue in abide in him.

The cost of the anointing is standing with God, even if we are the only one’s standing. The cost is making enemies who think the cross is foolishness.

The Cost of the anointing is something we cannot buy or earn but, was purchased for us by the blood of the lamb.

WE:

WE

What we became a church that considered the cost worthy of giving our complete lives too. What if we feared nothing but sin and desired nothing but God. If we had a church like that, I believe we would shake the gates of hell and nothing would prevail against us.

Sticky Statement:

Answering God’s Call is worth the Cost of His Anointing

The Cost of the Anointing of God is worth the reward of knowing Christ