Criticism-inspiring, Jesus-exalting, sacrificial giving

Criticism-Inspiring, Jesus-Exalting Sacrificial Giving

Text:

Introduction:

5178 A Chinese Sells Himself

Lough Fook, a Chinese Christian, moved with compassion for the coolies in the South African mines, sold himself for a term of five years as a coolie slave, and was transported to Demerara, to carry the Gospel to his countrymen working there. He toiled in the mines with them and preached Jesus while he toiled, till he had scores of whom he could speak as Paul of Onesimus, “whom I have begotten in my bonds.”

Lough Fook died; but not until he had won to the Saviour nearly 200 disciples who joined the Christian church. Where in the centuries has that lowliest feature in the condescension of the Man of Sorrows—“He took upon Him the form of a slave”—been so literally reproduced as here?

—Selected

5180 Bininger Chooses Slavery

Abraham Bininger, a Swiss boy from Zurich, came with his parents to this country on the same ship that brought John Wesley. The father and mother of the lad both died on the voyage and were buried at sea, and he stepped alone from the gangway on to a strange continent, where there was not a single familiar face. When he had grown to manhood, he asked to be sent to tell the story of the cross to the negroes of the island of St. Thomas, having heard of their great misery and degradation.

When he arrived at the island, he learned that it was against the law for any person but a slave to preach to the slaves. It was the policy of the planters to keep the blacks in ignorance and superstition. Shortly after this the governor of St. Thomas received a letter signed Abraham Bininger, in which the writer begged urgently to become a slave for the rest of his life, promising to serve as a slave faithfully, provided he could give his leisure time to preaching to his fellow-slaves.

The governor sent the letter to the King of Denmark, who was so touched by it that he sent an edict empowering Abraham Bininger to tell the story of the Messiah when and where he chose—to black or white, bond or free.

—Youth’s Companion

Throughout the gospel of Mark, there have been criticism-inspiring moments in Jesus ministry. , ,

There is a difference between the heart of a true worshipper of God and those who are fake followers of God.

By telling the disciples that the Temple would be destroyed and Jesus would return, Jesus wants his disciples to believe Who He is, and offer true devotion to Him and not devote themselves to just a physical place. , , , ,

For the Son of God to return, he has to go away; and the plot towards this end is now under way by the false followers of God who don’t value Jesus. - ()

It is becoming increasingly clear that there are those who believe that the worth and work of Jesus Christ to be of ultimate value.

Who is Jesus in your life, and how valuable is he to you?

Aim (persuade):

If Jesus is indeed the Son of God, then He is worthy of sacrificial, irreversible, whole-hearted, criticism-inspiring, “no-take-backs” kind of giving.

Is Jesus really worthy of this?

Points:

Another woman who manifests the worth of the Lord ()

- Jesus is in Bethany eating with the Diseased

Bethany was the place of Mary/Martha/Lazarus

Leprosy is a disease of death - the body is rotting away

Spike-”nard” - precious ointment from root of plan from Himalayas.

“Brake” - irreversably crushed

Summary: Jesus is on mission to his own death (leprosy, anointing…etc)

Why would you not come to Jesus today?

(Application:) Because Jesus has come as supreme “good news” to dying people, do not allow anything to keep you from believing in Him.

Jesus is considered as a less worthy cause for this anointing

“Indignation: - angry, displeased, quiver

“waste”: destruction, ruin; Peter uses as perdition (); damnation (, ).

“murmured” - warn sternly, admonish urgently

Summary: Jesus is less worthy than a religious work, in the minds of the witnesses.

Are you resting in good deeds or do you have a relationship where you truly love Jesus for Who He is?

(Application:) Because Jesus is of supreme worth/value, do NOT be confused into thinking that doing good deeds is somehow the same as loving Christ supremely.

Philippians 3:8 KJV 1900

Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Jesus confirms that the anointing is a good work.

Jesus clarifies what makes this to be a good work.

The temporary opportunity she had gave her an urgency to do this good work that pointed to the burial of Jesus Christ.

To what is your devotion pointing to?

Jesus clarifies the connection between the “good news” and THIS good work.

If and when you proclaim the gospel, is it accompanied with this kind of evident sacrifice?

(Application:) Because Jesus is of supreme worth/value, give irreversably, sacrificially as a testimony of His burial.

This kind of giving is what Jesus has given in the “good news”

This kind of giving is evidence of the “gospel” change.

The burial signifies a dying to the mastery of sin for the believer

Jesus-centered sacrificial giving is contrasted by Judas-like betrayal.

What is controlling your heart even now as you hear of the worth of Jesus?

(Application:) Because Jesus is of supreme worth/value, take time to examine the highest desires of your heart.

Applications:

(3) Because Jesus is of supreme worth/value, give irreversably, sacrificially as a testimony of His burial.

The burial signifies a dying to the mastery of sin for the believer

This kind of giving is what Jesus has given in the “good news”

This kind of giving is evidence of the “gospel” change.

The burial signifies a dying to the mastery of sin for the believer

(Application:) Because Jesus is of supreme worth/value, give in a practical manner.

Some of you are struggling with this because you don’t trust the workers in the church or you have been hurt by other Christians. The question is not are they worthy of your sacrifice!?

Is Jesus worthy of your sacrifice?

It is jaw-dropping, criticism-inspiring, Jesus-exalting when you yield your soul to the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is jaw-dropping, criticism-inspiring, Jesus-exalting when you give your undivided attention to the LORD in spite of distracted people.

It is jaw-dropping, criticism-inspiring, Jesus-exalting when you give without putting a dollar value on the gift. (i.e. tithe is the baseline, missions is budgeted…but what about giving to the depriving of yourself?)

It is jaw-dropping, criticism-inspiring, Jesus exalting when you give irreversibly for gospel mission.

It is jaw-dropping, criticism-inspiring, Jesus exalting when singles give their singleness to the Lord.

It is priceless, awe-inspiring, Jesus-exalting when you give your

It is jaw-dropping, criticism-inspiring, Jesus exalting when retirees are truly memorialized with the gospel.

It is priceless, awe-inspiring, Jesus-exalting when parents give their children to the Lord.

It is priceless, awe-inspiring, Jesus-exalting when saved people give themselves to the edification of the church.

Conclusion:

What would happen if the kind of Christians in circulation were the kind who showed the worthiness of Christ through irreversible, sacrificial giving?

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 1831 Putting Saints into Circulation

1831 Putting Saints Into Circulation

During the reign of Oliver Cromwell the government ran out of silver with which to make the coinage of the realm. Cromwell therefore sent his men everywhere to see if they could find more of the precious metal. They returned to report that the only silver they could find was in the statues of the saints which were on display in various cathedrals of the land. “Good!” replied Cromwell, “we will melt down the saints and put them into circulation!”

—H. G. Bosh

If Jesus is indeed the Son of God, then He is worthy of criticism-inspiring, “no-take-backs” kind of giving.

Do you want to