Bishop Alexis A. Thomas preached, "Pour It On!" He used John 12:1-8.
Stevie Wonder wrote, "You know it doesn't make much sense. There ought to be a law against, anyone who takes offense at a day in your celebration." Of course, he was speaking about those who did not want Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to be remembered with a national holiday. Even in the bible days there were those that thought it just "didn't take all that".
In this scripture passage, Mary has broken a costly box of ointment and anointed Jesus with the oil, washed his feet with her tears, and dried his feet with her hair. Judas the disciple who would later betray Jesus comments that this is a waste. He pretends to care about the poor, but the scripture says, "He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it." John 12:6 (NIV)
I'm going to let you in on a secret. There is only one entity in the world that does not want God to be praised! That individual is Satan. He was the original "Praise Team". The Bible says, “You had everything going for you. You were in Eden, God’s garden. You were dressed in splendor, your robe studded with jewels: Carnelian, peridot, and moonstone,beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald, all in settings of engraved gold. A robe was prepared for you the same day you were created. You were the anointed cherub. I placed you on the mountain of God. You strolled in magnificence among the stones of fire. From the day of your creation you were sheer perfection . . .and then imperfection—evil!—was detected in you." Ezekiel 28:12-15 (Message) and "How you’ve fallen from heaven, morning star, son of dawn! You are cut down to earth, helpless on your back! You said to yourself, I will climb up to heaven; above God’s stars, I will raise my throne. I’ll sit on the mount of assembly, on the heights of Zaphon. I’ll go up to the cloud tops; I’ll be like the Most High! But down to the underworld you are brought, to the depths of the pit." Isaiah 14:12-15 (Common English Bible)
Satan's praise was perverted by pride and arrogance. So now he wants to keep you from praising God. He's subtle. He shows you some over the top extreme person who praises loudly, and lives loosely. You don't realize it but a seed has been planted in your mind. You don't want to be like that person! So you hold back on the praise. He causes someone to sit next to you in church. That person begins to praise and almost knocks your lights out and your wig off. You think to yourself, "that ain't God!" You are right! God does everything decently and in order..."For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the meetings of God’s holy people." 1 Corinthians 14:33 (New Living Translation) But don't let those kinds of people stop you from praising, dancing, singing, and shouting! Remember King David? He was a true worshipper and he danced before the Lord. 1 Chronicles 15:29 says, "But as the Ark arrived in Jerusalem, David’s wife Michal, the daughter of King Saul, felt a deep disgust for David as she watched from the window and saw him dancing like a madman." (The Living Bible)
Pour it On! Praise God! Give him the glory and honor he is so worthy of! Praise him daily in the way you live! Praise him on the job by the way you work! Praise him in your finances. Praise him! "Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord." Psalm 150 (King James Version)
I can't tell you how to praise Him, but I will say, "Pour it On!"
Love and prayers, Cynthia
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