Episode 225, 1 hr 39 min
Wish, Desire or Passion: The Woman Who Broke the Alabaster Box
Open in SpotifyWish, Desire or Passion: The Woman Who Broke the Alabaster Box
Dr RJ Sing, 1 hr 39 min
Originally recorded as “Passionate Believers Who Are Purpose-Driven”
Sermon outline
God moves for people of passion, so move beyond wishing and desire to a passion for God and for souls that shapes the way you worship, live and witness.
Main text
- Luke 7:36-50
- John 2:13-17
Opening
After a time of worship in which he ministers healing, calls people to the altar for freedom and leads an old hymn, he asks the church to pray for the country and its government, saying the Lord woke him at quarter past three to pray that sanity would prevail. He says he does not want to preach but to speak soberly, and reads how Jesus cleansed the temple.
Zeal for God's house
When believers gather, the place becomes the Lord's sanctuary, not a place of merchandising, networking or business. Jesus was angry enough to make a whip and drive out the money changers, and His disciples remembered that zeal for God's house had eaten Him up. Jesus was passionate, and there must be a spirit of holiness in the church.
“We must not make God's house a house of merchandise.”
- John 2:13-17
- Hebrews 12:14
1. She pursued Jesus earnestly until she found Him
The sinful woman in the Pharisee's house received her breakthrough because of her passion. Faith and passion are what move God, and these same steps are what you can use to get God to move for you. You must be an earnest seeker after God.
Illustration: Simon the Pharisee despised the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears, and Jesus answered with the parable of two debtors: the one forgiven much loves much.
“This woman received her breakthrough because of her passion.”
- Luke 7:36-50
2. She paid the price for her devotion by bringing her best
There are times God will ask you to prove your devotion by bringing your best gift to the altar, something you treasure and hold dear.
Illustration: God asked Abraham to offer Isaac, the miracle son he had waited for with tears, faith and patience.
- Genesis 22:2
3. She positioned herself at Jesus' feet with humility and honour
Humility and honour are two basic ingredients for functioning well in the kingdom of God, and they lead to a spirit of reverence. God wants you to position yourself before Him in the same way.
“Honor and humility invariably will lead you to a spirit of reverence.”
4. She prophetically anointed Him for burial: do what the Spirit tells you
In a meeting God deals with each person differently: one to kneel at the altar, another to hug someone, another to bring a sacrificial gift. Don't copy others and don't confer with flesh and blood; one act of obedience can release what you have been fasting and praying for.
Illustration: At the wedding in Cana, Mary told the servants, 'Whatever he tells you to do, do it.'
“Don't do what others are doing, do what God's spirit is leading you to do.”
- John 2:5
5. She was criticised for her public display of affection for Jesus
People said the expensive perfume was a waste, and Judas spoke up, though he was thinking of stealing. She did not care about criticism. Worship unashamedly: lift your hands, kneel, weep or laugh as the Spirit moves you, because if you are worried about your neighbour the Spirit will pass you by for a more open heart.
“If you are concerned about your neighbor, God's spirit will pass you by and go look for a heart that is more open.”
- John 12:4-6
6. She was purpose-driven to fulfil her destiny
One act of obedience can usher you into your destiny or lift you to a higher anointing, but not if you are worried about your image or what people will say. God warns against being lukewarm; the world's ways are low living, but you are called to high, kingdom living with the mind of Christ.
“In that one moment of time, God can change your destiny.”
- Revelation 3:15-16
The difference between wish, desire and passion
A wish is a passive mental thought expecting fulfilment some time in the future, with no time frame and so little effort that someone can talk you out of it. A desire is an active, strong-willed effort that sets a time frame and makes a demand on God's ability, like the woman with the issue of blood. Passion is a driving force of spiritual energy that shapes your lifestyle, thinking and action until you see total fulfilment; lust is the same force gone wrong in its motive.
Illustration: The woman with the issue of blood said 'if I may touch the hem of his garment', and Jesus felt virtue leave Him when someone made an intense demand on His ability, though the crowd was pressing on Him.
“A passion is a driving force of spiritual energy that shapes a person's lifestyle, thinking and action until he sees a total fulfillment of what he passionately is pursuing.”
- Mark 5:25-34
- 1 Corinthians 6:19
Passion for souls
Church is not only about having a good time; it is a spiritual hospital, and it is the sheep that give birth to lambs. God so loved the world, so bring your family, friends, neighbours, the addicted and the hopeless to church, and pray for them before you preach to them. Every person near where you live has been given to you to steward, rich or poor.
Illustration: The world is a shopping ground full of apples, oranges, pears and grapes: beautiful people who don't know it yet, waiting to be brought into the warehouse and shone for the glory of God.
“Church is a spiritual hospital for those that are wounded and maimed on the outside.”
- John 3:16
- 1 Corinthians 1:18
- 1 Corinthians 1:27
- Proverbs 11:30
- Luke 15:7
Stand up and be different: live holy
When you are on fire for Christ, everyone comes to watch you burn. Young people should not be ashamed of Christ at school or university; there are born-again doctors, lawyers, accountants and judges. Sin is still sin: flee idolatry and fornication, let your yes be yes, and remember that the only Christ people will see is you.
“The only Christ people will see is you.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:18
- 1 Corinthians 10:14
- Matthew 5:13-14
- Matthew 5:37
Putting it into practice
- Treat church as a sanctuary for worship, not a place of business.
- Seek God earnestly and do exactly what the Spirit tells you, whatever others do.
- Worship unashamedly, without worrying about what people think.
- Set a time frame and make a demand on God's ability instead of merely wishing.
- Pray for the people around your home, then invite them to church.
Closing
He acknowledges the message was sobering rather than inspirational, and calls the church to the same zeal Christ had to cleanse the temple. He gives a salvation and recommitment call, welcomes visitors and new members, announces the Wednesday teaching on the seed principle and the new Faith Chronicles price, and blesses the church with a prayer that fear will not enter them and that the country will not be destabilised. He then prays for students writing exams, for a member travelling abroad, for a man applying for a contract, and for the workers and leaders, and invites people to bring written financial requests on Wednesday.
Declarations he led
- I have the victory.
- Jesus was angry.
In his words
- “Believers are not perfect people, believers are just forgiven people.”
- “A wish doesn't have a time frame.”
- “Church is a spiritual hospital for those that are wounded and maimed on the outside.”
- “When you are on fire for Christ, everybody will come watch you burn.”
- “Let go of wishing. Forget about desire. Let's embrace passion.”
Every scripture in this message
- John 2:13-17
- Hebrews 12:14
- Luke 7:36-50
- Genesis 22:2
- John 2:5
- John 12:4-6
- Revelation 3:15-16
- Mark 5:25-34
- 1 Corinthians 6:19
- John 3:16
- 1 Corinthians 1:18
- 1 Corinthians 1:27
- Proverbs 11:30
- Luke 15:7
- 1 Corinthians 6:18
- 1 Corinthians 10:14
- Matthew 5:13-14
- Matthew 5:37
- 2 Timothy 1:7
- Proverbs 28:1