Don't Count Me Out
Notes
Transcript
1 It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; 2 for they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.”
3 While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. 4 But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”
From this text I’d like to use the topic
Don’t Count Me Out......
Some of us here today may have been overlooked……overlooked for an opportunit, overlooked for a position or overlooked for an accomplishment…and the credit was given to another……
Some of us in here today may have been considered an out cast…..or maybe unpopular in school …..
Some of us may have been counted out……considered to be failure…..one that would not go far in life…….
and if you have been categorized……or labeled that way…….I’m here to let you know…..that is not how God looks at you….. in fact……
- GOD USES EVERYDAY PEOPLE FOR EXTRA-ORDINARY PURPOSE
- GOD USES COMMON FOLKS, POOR FOLKS, THE PLAIN JANE(S) OF THE WORLD, AVERAGE FOLK
- THE PEOPLE THAT EVERYBODY SAID WASN’T GONNA AMOUNT TO ANYTHING ...
- YES ... GOD USES THEM TO DO SOME STUFF, THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND.
YES ... GOD USES REGULAR, RUN OF THE MILL KIND OF PEOPLE TO DO THE UNEXPECTED, THE ASTONISHING ... AND WHAT SOME PEOPLE THINK IS BIZARRE, BUT YET, THESE ARE THE PEOPLE THAT GOD USES, AND I WANT TO LET SOMEBODY KNOW THAT THERE IS NO TASK TOO SMALL OR TOO GREAT FOR GOD TO USE YOU.
OFTEN TIMES IT IS THE PEOPLE WHO WERE COUNTED OUT.....CONSIDERED AN OUTCAST.....OR WAS OVERLOOKED....THAT THE LORD WILL USE...
WELL LET’S PAINT THE PICTURE, IN OUR TEXT; JESUS IS ON HIS WAY TO DIE FOR OUR SINS (REPEAT)
WALK WITH ME...
(V.1) NOTICE THE TIMING ... ONLY GOD COULD HAVE ORDAINED THIS.
OUR TEXT TELLS US THAT PASSOVER AND THE FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD WERE ONLY TWO DAYS AWAY.
WELL ... WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH ANYTHING?
YOU SEE, BOTH OF THESE FESTIVALS HAD THEIR ORIGINS IN THE EXODUS OF THE ISRAELITES FROM EGYPT. (CF. EXODUS 12)
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS…… THE PASSOVER TOLD THE STORY OF GOD’S GRACE.
YOU SEE ... ON THEIR LAST NIGHT OF CAPTIVITY THE ISRAELITES IN EGYPT WERE SPARED THE DEATH OF THEIR FIRST BORN BECAUSE GOD WAS GRACIOUS.
ON THAT NIGHT ... A LAMB HAD TO DIED, AND ITS BLOOD WAS SPRINKLED ON DOOR POST, AND THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB OVER THEIR DOOR POST CAUSED GOD’S JUDGMENT TO “PASSOVER” THEM.
THE PURPOSE FOR THESE FESTIVALS WAS TO REINFORCE GRATITUDE, HUMILITY AND THANKFULNESS FOR GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY.
LET’S PAINT THE PICTURE, IN OUR TEXT; JESUS IS ON HIS WAY TO DIE FOR OUR SINS (THE LAMB OF GOD WAS ABOUT TO BE SACRIFICE ON PASSOVER) ... WHICH SIMPLY MEANS THAT GOD’S GRACE WAS ON THE WAY
BUT IN (VV. 1-2) TELLS US THAT JESUS IS A WANTED MAN ... BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME CHURCH FOLK IN THE CROWD ……LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN…….THERE WERE SOME CHURCH FOLK….WHO COULD CARE LESS ABOUT GRATITUDE, HUMILITY, AND THANKFULNESS.
YOU SEE ... THEY LOVED THE LAW BUT THEY DID NOT LOVE THE LORD.
WALK WITH ME (V.3)
While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head.
IN OUR TEXT; JESUS (THE LAMB OF GOD) IS ON HIS WAY TO DIE ON PASSOVER FOR OUR SINS...
YET HE DECIDES TO STOP BY A HOUSE THAT HAD BEEN AT ONE TIME DECLARED DEFILED.
Some scholars believe that Simon was a leper whom Jesus had healed (Brooks, Mark, 221). These scholars argue that Simon could not have had leprosy at the time of Jesus’ visit since lepers were considered unclean and could not live in houses.
According to Lev 13:46, the leper “shall remain unclean as long as he has the disease. He is unclean. He shall live alone. His dwelling shall be outside the camp” (Lev 13:46 ESV).
If he had leprosy at the time of this meal, then all those in attendance would have been rendered unclean as well.
In other words…..
many believe Simon was healed prior to Jesus’ visit, and suggest that Simon may have been hosting Jesus and the disciples in his home as a way to thank Him for the healing.
...
NOW THAT’S NOTHING BUT HIS GRACE…..
(V.3) FIRST, NOTICE HIS NAME, SIMON THE LEPER. WELL, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS MAN IS NO LONGER A LEPER, THAT HE HAS BEEN HEALED, IF HE HADN’T, ACCORDING TO THE LEVITICUS ACCOUNTS, JEWISH PEOPLE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN HANGING OUT AT HIS HOUSE.
BUT WHAT WAS STRANGE TO ME….. IS THE FACT THAT HE IS STILL CALLED SIMON THE LEPER,
NOT SIMON THE CURED, OR SIMON THE HEALED ...
BUT SIMON THE LEPER.
WHY WAS HE STILL SIMON THE LEPER
THE LORD IS KNOWN FOR CHANGING NAMES….
... ABRAM’S NAME CHANGED TO ABRAHAM, SARAI TO SARAH……JACOB TO ISRAEL…..SAUL’S NAME CHANGED TO PAUL – IS THAT RIGHT?
BUT WHY IS THIS MAN STILL CALLED SIMON THE LEPER.
THIS TELLS ME, WATCH OUT BECAUSE ONCE YOU GET A NAME FOR YOURSELF, IT IS HARD TO GET RID OF IT.
HOWEVER, I’M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT GOD SPECIALIZES IN DOING THE EXTRAORDINARY.
I’M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT GOD SPECIALIZES IN MIRACULOUS HEALING…..
YOU SEE I BELIEVE THAT HIS NAME WAS A TESTIMONY OF GOD’S GLORY….
PEOPLE WOULD SEE SIMON AND SAY…..
... IS THAT SIMON THE LEPER ... THE ONE WHO HAD SORES ALL OVER HIS BODY
OH, DON’T CHANGE HIS NAME ... BECAUSE SOMEBODY NEEDS TO KNOW THAT, YES -- THAT IS SIMON THE LEPER WHO HAIR WAS WHITE AS SNOW
I’M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT GOD SPECIALIZES IN THE BEGINNING AND THE END ... WHICH SIMPLY MEANS THAT JUST BECAUSE YOU STARTED OUT ONE WAY, DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU HAVE TO STAY THAT WAY...
OH, DON’T CHANGE HIS NAME ... CUS SOMEBODY NEEDS TO KNOW THAT, YES --- THAT IS SIMON THE LEPER WHO WAS ONCE DEFILE
OH, DON’T CHANGE HIS NAME ... CUS SOMEBODY NEEDS TO KNOW THAT, YES --- THAT IS SIMON THE LEPER -- WHO USE TO WALK AROUND TOWN CRYING, UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN
YET, ONE DAY JESUS WAS PASSING BY ON HIS WAY TO DIE FOR OUR SINS, AND DECIDED TO STOP BY HIS HOUSE, AND PRONOUNCED CLEAN ...
SO, DON’T CHANGE HIS NAME.
YES, THAT IS SIMON THE LEPER, SOME SINNER NEEDS TO KNOW THAT GOD CAN DO EXTRA-ORDINARY THINGS.
YOU SEE THAT IS THE GRACE OF THE TEXT.
SOME OF YOU MAY FEEL UNCLEAN LIKE SIMON THE LEPER ONCE DID ...
BUT I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN THE RIGHT PLACE FOR GOD TO STOP-BY YOUR PEW AND HEAL AND CLEANSE YOU.
SOMEBODY SAY…..DON’T COUNT ME OUT….
LET US LOOK BACK AT THE C CLAUSE OF VERSE THREE….IT SAYS….
Mark 14:3 (NRSV)
a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head.
WE SEE AN EXAMPLE OF WORSHIP IN VERSE ... (V.3)
#1. NOTICE THAT THIS UN-NAMED WOMAN….BROKE THE ALABASTER BOX. THIS ACTION IS SYMBOLIC OF THE BROKENNESS THAT IS REQUIRED FOR TRUE WORSHIP.
YOU SEE ... TRUE WORSHIP ALWAYS INCLUDES A BROKEN VESSEL.
PSALM 51:17. “THE SACRIFICES OF GOD ARE A BROKEN SPIRIT: A BROKEN AND A CONTRITE HEART, O GOD, THOU WILT NOT DESPISE.
YOU SEE, OUR FLESH NEEDS TO BE SUBDUED, OUR HEARTS NEED TO BROKEN, OUR ATTITUDES HUMBLED BEFORE GOD BEFORE WE CAN WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT ... BECAUSE IT IS IN OUR BROKENNESS, THAT WE ARE EXPOSED FOR WHO WE REALLY ARE.
IT IS IN OUR BROKENNESS, THAT WE ARE HUMBLED TO THE POINT OF SUBMISSION.
A GOOD EXAMPLE OF A BROKEN AND CONTRITE HEART IS DAVID ... REMEMBER WHAT DAVID SAID IN PSALM 51
(V.1) HAVE MERCY UPON ME, O GOD, ACCORDING TO THY LOVING-KINDNESS: ACCORDING UNTO THE MULTITUDE OF THY TENDER MERCIES BLOT OUT MY TRANSGRESSIONS.
(V.12) RESTORE UNTO ME THE JOY OF THY SALVATION; AND UPHOLD ME WITH THY FREE SPIRIT.
BUT NOTICE THAT THIS UN-NAMED WOMAN NOT ONLY BROKE THE BOX ….BUT SHE ALSO POURED OUT THE CONTENTS.
YOU SEE ... TRUE WORSHIP ALSO INCLUDES A POURING OUT.
AFTER BREAKING THE BOX, SHE POURED IT OUT UPON JESUS HEAD AND FEET.
YOU SEE TRUE WORSHIP ALWAYS INCLINES A POURING OUT.
DAVID SAID IN PSALM 62:8
TRUST IN HIM AT ALL TIMES; YE PEOPLE, POUR OUT YOUR HEART BEFORE HIM: GOD IS A REFUGE FOR US.
YOU SEE ... FOR THIS UN-NAMED WOMAN TO HAVE JUST OPEN THE BOX WOULD NOT HAVE SUFFICED FOR WHAT GOD INTENDED;
THE CONTENTS HAD TO ALSO BE POURED OUT.
YOU SEE ...
THERE IS AN EMPTYING OF OURSELVES, A POURING OUT, THAT TAKES PLACE IN WORSHIP.
WE POUR OURSELVES OUT, AND THEN HE POURS OUT HIS HOLY SPIRIT UPON US AND FILLS US.
LET’S LOOK AT Mk 14:4-5
But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her.
NOW ... WHILE THIS UN-NAMED WOMAN IS WORSHIPING, OTHERS AROUND HER WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE COST OF HER WORSHIP.
IN ESSENCE, THEY WERE PROBABLY SAYING WHY, WOULD THIS WOMAN, TAKE A YEAR’S WORTH OF SALARY AND ... WASTE IT.
SIMPLY PUT ... WE HAVE IN OUR TEXT IN (VV. 4-5) WE SEE SOME HATERS OR MAYBE EVEN CHURCH FOLK.
NOW, I KNOW THE TEXT DOES NOT SAY IT,
BUT THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I COME TO REALIZE THAT IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT YOU DO.
IT COULD BE GOOD OR BAD, RIGHT OR WRONG. FOLK ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY ...
HERE THIS WOMAN IS WORSHIPPING ... AND INSTEAD OF PRAISING THE LORD AND WORSHIPPING WITH HER…..WE SEE CHURCH FOLK COMPLAINING.
NOW, LET’S FACE IT ... SOME FOLK ARE JUST FLAT OUT JEALOUS. AND YES ... THAT INCLUDES SOME CHURCH FOLK.
HERE YOU ARE GIVING YOUR TIME TO THE LORD... AND CHURCH FOLK SIT AROUND AND COMPLAINING ABOUT YOUR MINISTRY…..
THEY DON’T WANT TO GIVE THEIR TIME TO THE LORD FOR …..
THEY JUST COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR MINISTRY….
HOWEVER, NOTICE ... IN THE TEXT……THE WOMAN CONTINUED HER WORSHIP AND DID NOT RESPOND TO HER CRITICS... BUT JESUS DID!
WATCH THIS ... IN VV 6 AND 8
But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me.
She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial.
YOU SEE ...THIS WOMAN’S DEED WERE NOT JUST AN ACT OF DEVOTION AND WORSHIP, BUT A CONSCIOUS INTENTION TO ANOINT CHRIST IN ANTICIPATION OF HIS APPROACHING DEATH AND BURIAL.
BECAUSE THIS WOMAN HAD SAT AT THE FEET OF JESUS AND LISTENED INTENTLY TO HIS TEACHING, SHE HAD COME TO UNDERSTAND, EVEN BETTER THAN THE DISCIPLES, THE TRUTH OF HIS COMING DEATH.
LOOK AT VERSE 9
Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”
YOU SEE ... WHEN THIS WOMAN ANOINTED JESUS, SHE WASN’T LOOKING FOR A PLACE IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
SHE WASN’T TRYING TO GET HER NAMED CALLED, OR WIN THE APPLAUSE OF THE CROWD.
WE DON’T EVEN KNOW HER NAME….BUT THE LORD USED HER …..JUST LIKE HE CAN USE US.
WHAT SHE DID WAS DONE BECAUSE OF HER OVERWHELMING LOVE FOR THE LORD.
DON’T COUNT HER OUT........
IN FACT, …LET ME SUGGEST……HAD SHE PERFORMED THIS DEED IN ORDER TO BE REMEMBERED…..
SHE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN, BECAUSE THE BIBLE IS NOT GIVEN TO PRESERVE THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO SEEK SELF GLORIFICATION.
BUT HERE IS THIS UN-NAMED…..ORDINARY…..CHILD OF GOD…..
THAT WAS ASSURED BY JESUS OF A PERMANENT PLACE IN HISTORY BECAUSE SHE PERFORMED A DEED OF SUCH SELFLESS LOVE.
IN FACT, JESUS SAID THIS WOMAN’S DEEDS WOULD BE TOLD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD….
BUT ONLY IF WE CAN BE MORE LIKE THIS UN-NAMED WOMAN
- LESS LOGICAL AND MORE GENEROUS WITH OUR TREASURES
- LESS ANALYTICAL AND MORE COMPASSIONATE
- LESS SELF-CENTERED AND MORE CHRIST-CENTERED
- LESS CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT SOMEBODY MIGHT THINK OR SAY AND MORE ZEAL TO HONOR THE ONE WHO FIRST LOVED YOU.
AND THAT IS WHAT I WANT TO LET SOMEBODY KNOW TODAY.
DON’T EVER ALLOW ANYBODY TO GET YOU TO THE POINT WHERE YOU STOP WORSHIPPING GOD AND ... START WORRYING ABOUT YOUR CRITICS.
YOU SEE ... YOU CAN’T DO BOTH.
EITHER YOU GONNA DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS FOR THE LORD OR YOU GONNA RESPOND TO WHAT YOUR CRITICS ARE SAYING ABOUT YOU...
SOMEBODY SAY.....DON’T COUNT ME OUT...
I STOPPED BY 201 WAYNE STREET…..
TO TELL YOU THAT YOU GOT TO SHAKE OFF THE HATERS ...
CHURCH FOLK ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO DECIDE WHO CAN BE USED.
CHURCH FOLK ALWAYS TRYING TO DECIDE WHO GOD WILL USE ...
BUT I WANT TO LET SOMEBODY KNOW THAT IF A DONKEY CAN TALK, AND ROCKS CAN CRY OUT
THEN FBC, GOD CAN DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS WITH YOU.
6God won’t count you out!!
The song writer Marvin Sapp says it well in his song Don’t Count Me Out
Left alone, but never forgotten
Misunderstood, but my future is just starting
God is molding me and making me
He's building me and shaping me
A king is being formed right in front of your eyes
So don't count me out
So don't count me out
When you don't see what He sees
You can't tell, but his glory is resting on me
I'm his choice
I'm after his heart
The unveiling is starting now
So don't count me out
Yes my Brothers and Sisters….
I’M A FIRM BELIEVER THAT GOD DOES NOT CALL THE EQUIPPED, BUT THAT HE EQUIPS THE CALLED –
- WHY, SO THAT NO MAN SHALL BOAST.
THIS SIMPLY MEANS YOU DON’T NEED A BIG FANCY TITLE FOR GOD TO USE YOU.
NO MATTER HOW GREAT OR HOW SMALL THE TASK ... GOD CAN USE YOU.
OH YES, GOD SPECIALIZES IN USING ORDINARY FOLK LIKE YOU AND I TO DO EXTRA-ORDINARY THINGS.
THIS SIMPLY MEANS THAT WITH GOD THERE IS NO ONE:
- TO LOW TO BE LIFTED
- TO DIRTY TO BE CLEANED
- TO CRACKED TO BE CURED
- TO LOST TO BE FOUND
- TO BROKEN TO BE FIXED
- TO HURT TO BE HEALED
- TO FRACTURED TO MENDED
- TO OPPRESSED TO BE RENEWED
- TO WOUNDED TO BE REDEEMED
- TO BRUISED TO BE ANOINTED
- TO SINFUL TO BE SAVED
I WANT TO LET SOMEBODY KNOW THAT IT DOES NOT MATTER, IF YOU
- STEPPED OUT
- CRACKED OUT
- DROPPED OUT
- FLUNKED OUT
- DRANKED OUT
- WALKED OUT
- IT DOES NOT MATTER ... GOD CAN STILL USE YOU
SO THE NEXT TIME YOU FEEL LIKE SOMEONE HAS COUNTED YOU OUT... JUST REMEMBER THAT YOU’RE IN GOOD COMPANY AND IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO BE USED BY GOD.
DON’T COUNT ME OUT.....
YOU SEE NOAH GOT DRUNK (GEN 9:20-22), BUT THAT STILL DID NOT STOP GOD FROM USING HIM.
- ABRAHAM WAS TOO OLD, GENESIS 17.
- JACOB WAS A LIAR, GENESIS 27:19.
- LEAH WAS CONSIDERED UGLY, GENESIS 29:17
- JOSEPH WAS ABUSED, GENESIS 37:24-36.
- MOSES STUTTERED, EXODUS 4:10.
THAT STILL DID NOT STOP GOD FROM USING THEM
- GIDEON WAS AFRAID, JUDGES 6:21-23.
- SAMSON HAD LONG HAIR AND WAS A WOMANIZER, JUDGES 14.
THAT STILL DID NOT STOP GOD FROM USING THEM
- RAHAB WAS A PROSTITUTE, JOSHUA 2:1.
- JEREMIAH AND TIMOTHY WERE YOUNG, JER. 1:6-7 AND 2 TIMOTHY 1:2.
THAT STILL DID NOT STOP GOD FROM USING THEM
- DAVID HAD AN AFFAIR AND WAS A MURDERER, 2 SAMUEL 11:3-27.
- ELIJAH WAS SUICIDAL, 1 KING 19
THAT STILL DID NOT STOP GOD FROM USING THEM....DON’T COUNT ME OUT
- JONAH RAN FROM GOD…..
- NAOMI WAS A WIDOW, RUTH 1:3.
- JOB WENT BANKRUPT,.
- PETER DENIED CHRIST, MATT 26:69-70.
- THE DISCIPLES FELL ASLEEP WHILE PRAYING, MATTHEW 26:40.
- MARTHA WORRIED ABOUT EVERYTHING, LUKE 10:40.
- MARY MAGDALENE WAS CLEANSED OF SEVEN DEMONS, MARK 16:9.
BUT THAT DID NOT STOP GOD FROM USING THEM… DON’T COUNT ME OUT
- THE SAMARITAN WOMAN AT THE WELL HAD FIVE HUSBANDS, JOHN 4:18.
- ZACCHEUS WAS TOO SMALL, LUKE 19:3.
- PAUL PERSECUTED CHRISTIANS…..
- TIMOTHY HAD AN ULCER, 1 TIMOTHY 5:23.
- LAZARUS WAS ONCE DEAD! JOHN 11.
THAT STILL DID NOT STOP GOD FROM USING THEM.......DON’T COUNT ME OUT.
AND SOMEBODY NEEDS TO KNOW…..
…. THERE’S NO TASK TOO SMALL WHEN IT COMES TO WORKING FOR THE LORD.
IN FACT, THROUGHOUT THE BIBLE, IT IS CONSISTENTLY THE SMALL THINGS THAT HAVE MADE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE TO GOD.
- MOSES USED A ROD TO DEFEAT THE EGYPT ARMY
- DAVID USED A SLING SHOT…TO SLAY A GIANT
- A FEW LOAVES OF BREAD ... FED OVER 5,000
- THE UN-NAMED WOMAN GAVE HIM HER OINTMENT
- BUT ONE FRIDAY JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE
- JOSEPH GAVE HIM, HIS TOMB
- BUT EARLY, ON SUNDAY MORNING JESUS GOT UP OUT THE TOMB….WITH ALL POWER IN HIS HANDS….
- SIMON THE LEPER ... ALLOWED SOME FRIENDS TO HOST A PARTY AT HIS HOUSE
- BUT JESUS ... IS GOING TO GIVE US A MANSION
- SIMONS HOUSE HAD TO BE CLEANSED
- BUT JESUS HAS GONE AWAY TO PREPARE A PLACE ... WHERE THERE WILL BE NO MORE CRYING, NO MORE DYING, NO MORE SICKNESS AND PAIN
- ONE OF THESE DAYS ... ONE OF THESE GREAT GET UP MORNINGS, WE WILL BE OVER THERE WHERE JOB DECLARED…..
THAT WICKED WILL CEASE FROM TROUBLING AND OUR WEARY SOULS WILL BE AT REST.