Luke 7:36-50
Introduction
- In last Sunday's message we talked about the spiritual weapons of
our warfare.
- We mentioned at least three-WORSHIP, INTERCESSORY PRAYER (SMART
BOMBS) AND OVERCOMING EVIL WITH GOOD.
- Today we want to look a little more closely at the subject of worship-extravagant
worship.
- The story that we have just read is one of the most vivid examples
of extravagant worship in the entire Bible.
I. EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP IS BORN OUT OF OUR BROKENNESS AND OUR DESIRE
TO BE MADE WHOLE.
Luke 7:37
And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned
that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought
an alabaster vial of perfume,
A. This woman was a sinner and she knew it...a prostitute or immoral
woman well known in the village where she lived...she was an extremely
broken person.
B. Some choose to continue to live in their brokenness because that
is where their identity is-there are some who don't want to come into
wholeness.
C. All of us are broken in some area(s) of life...the question is, do
we want to admit it or not.
D. It is often easy for us to see the brokenness in others, but remain
blind to the brokenness in our own lives.
E. It is difficult to worship if we are "full" of ourselves
or have a sense of our own self-righteousness.
F. Ultimate healing and worship comes when we, recognizing our brokenness,
place ourselves at the feet of Jesus.
G. This woman had a desire to be made whole.
H. True worship always begins with our recognition of our need to be
at the feet of Jesus.
I. Worship deals with our pride.
II. EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP REQUIRES ACTION ON OUR PART.
A. The woman had to come to where Jesus was.
B. The last place that an immoral woman would want to go is to the house
of a Pharisee.
C. Extravagant worship often requires us to do something we don't want
to do.
D. We are often "put off" by the freedom we see in others
because deep down inside we too have a desire to be free.
E. Obeying the Holy Spirit will bring us to a place of humility and
we will find ourselves doing something that we would not naturally do.
III. EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP HAS A PRICE ATTACHED TO IT.
"...she brought an alabaster vial of perfume..."
A. God isn't interested in our pocket change.
B. The Lord is looking for something that comes from our heart-"her
tears."
C. Whatever we hold more valuable that our relationship with the Lord
has to be broken and poured on His feet.
1. Ministry
2. Job
3. Family
4. Reputation
5. Rights
IV. EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP IS A MATTER OF THE HEART.
A. Certainly "this woman" was misunderstood by those looking
because they could only see the external.
Luke 7:39
Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself,
"If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of
person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner."
A. They were seeing the external, but Jesus was seeing the internal.
B. We need to be careful that we do not judge others who may worship
differently.
V. EXTRAVAGANT WORSHIP ENABLES US TO HEAR THE LORD'S WORD OF HEALING,
FORGIVENESS AND PEACE.
A. True worship will open the heavens
©2003
Covenant Church East
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