August 23, 2020
Luke 7:37-50
One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to have dinner with him, so Jesus went to his home and sat down to eat. When a certain immoral woman from that city heard he was eating there, she brought a beautiful alabaster jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She’s a sinner!” Then Jesus answered his thoughts. “Simon,” he said to the Pharisee, “I have something to say to you.”
“Go ahead, Teacher,” Simon replied. Then Jesus told him this story: “A man loaned money to two people—500 pieces of silver to one and 50 pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.” “That’s right,” Jesus said. Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume.
“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.” Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”The men at the table said among themselves, “Who is this man, that he goes around forgiving sins?”
And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”’ -
Luke 8:2
He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
The sacrifice Jesus made for us should be a moment of realization followed by a lifetime of revelation.
If Jesus never did another thing for you, His work on the cross should forever be enough.
How to avoid treating Jesus as common
1. Remember what you’ve been forgiven of
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
2. Remember what Jesus did on the cross
When we allow the cross to become common we are allowing Jesus to become common.
He is worthy of every ounce of our praise for all our days.
August 16, 2020
The supernatural power of friendship.
Psalm 133:1–3 (NIV) 1 How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.
You need to have 3 relationships in your life always:
1. Someone who is investing in you.
2. Someone to run with.
3. Someone you are investing in.
David: Samuel, Jonathan, Mighty men
1 Samuel 18:1–5 (NLT) After David had finished talking with Saul, he met Jonathan, the king’s son. There was an immediate bond between them, for Jonathan loved David. 2 From that day on Saul kept David with him and wouldn’t let him return home. 3 And Jonathan made a solemn pact with David, because he loved him as he loved himself. 4 Jonathan sealed the pact by taking off his robe and giving it to David, together with his tunic, sword, bow, and belt. 5 Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander over the men of war, an appointment that was welcomed by the people and Saul’s officers alike.
Supernatural gifts of friendship:
1. Loyalty
1 Samuel 20:17 (NLT) And Jonathan made David reaffirm his vow of friendship again, for Jonathan loved David as he loved himself.
Being loyal to God means being a loyal friend.
John 13:35 (NIV) "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
2. Royalty
Valuable relationships don’t wrinkle easy.
If you are sinned against. Mathew 18
3. Weaponry
Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) As iron sharpens iron, So a friend sharpens a friend.
Weapons that covenant relationships provide:
1. Support
2. Availability
3. Enjoyment
4. Accountability
“Friendship without honesty is treachery.”
Proverbs 27:6 (ESV) Faithful are the wounds of a friend…
“Calling out your sin is not toxic its antidotal!”
5. Faith
Luke 5:20 (NIV) When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
Proverbs 18:24 (NIV) One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
