Transformative Worship: Encountering Jesus in New Ways
Summary
Experiencing new life in the Lord is a profound gift, one that transforms us deeply. Today, we continue our series, "When You See Him," exploring how encounters with Jesus change lives. We focus on Mary of Bethany, a devoted follower of Jesus, who despite her closeness to Him, experiences a transformative moment that leads her to an extraordinary act of worship. This story reminds us that no matter how long we've walked with Jesus, He can still reveal Himself in new ways that change us forever.
Mary's encounter with Jesus is rooted in a powerful moment from John 11, where her brother Lazarus is raised from the dead. This miraculous event leaves an indelible mark on her, leading to an act of worship in John 12, where she anoints Jesus' feet with expensive ointment. This act is not just a display of devotion but a response to the life-changing power she witnessed. True worship, as demonstrated by Mary, is costly and extravagant, reflecting the immeasurable worth of what Jesus has done for us.
Worship is the natural response to seeing Jesus for who He truly is. It flows from those "I can't unsee it" moments, where His glory and power are so evident that they leave a lasting impact. However, a critical spirit, as seen in Judas, can hinder our worship. This spirit is rooted in bitterness and control, contrasting with the gratitude and trust that fuel genuine worship. To overcome this, we must focus on Jesus, allowing gratitude to fill our hearts and lead us into true worship.
As we reflect on our own "Lazarus moments," where Jesus brought life to what was once dead, we are called to respond with worship that is wholehearted and unreserved. Worship that costs us something—our pride, our time, our resources—is worship that truly honors God. Let us lay aside our critical spirits and embrace a heart of gratitude, allowing our worship to rise like a fragrant offering, filling the space around us and drawing others into the presence of God.
Key Takeaways:
- True Worship is Transformative: Worship flows from encounters with Jesus that leave a lasting impact. These moments, where we see His power and glory, stir us to respond with heartfelt worship. Reflect on your own "Lazarus moments" and let them fuel your praise. [01:03:23]
- Worship is Costly: Genuine worship requires sacrifice. Like Mary, who poured out her most valuable possession, we are called to give our best to Jesus. This may cost us our pride, time, or resources, but it is a worthy offering to the One who has given us everything. [01:05:56]
- Overcoming a Critical Spirit: A critical spirit can hinder our worship, rooted in bitterness and control. To overcome this, we must cultivate a heart of gratitude, focusing on Jesus and His goodness. Worship is the antidote to criticism, drawing us closer to God. [01:09:09]
- The Contagious Nature of Worship: True worship is contagious, like a fragrance that fills the room. When we worship with abandon, it inspires others to join in, creating an atmosphere where God's presence is tangible. Let your worship be a testimony to those around you. [01:14:18]
- Remembering Our Lazarus Moments: Reflecting on the times when Jesus brought life to what was dead in us reminds us of His power and love. These memories fuel our worship, reminding us of His faithfulness and prompting us to respond with gratitude and praise. [01:32:43]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Introduction to the Series
- [02:30] - Encountering Jesus Changes Us
- [04:15] - The Story of Mary of Bethany
- [06:00] - Reading from John 12
- [08:45] - The Power of Worship
- [11:30] - I Can't Unsee It Moments
- [15:00] - The Story of Lazarus
- [20:00] - True Worship Flows from Encounter
- [25:00] - Worship is Costly
- [30:00] - Overcoming a Critical Spirit
- [35:00] - The Contagious Nature of Worship
- [40:00] - Remembering Our Lazarus Moments
- [45:00] - Responding in Worship
- [50:00] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Experiencing New Life in the Lord
Bible Reading:
- John 12:1-8
- John 11:38-44
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Observation Questions:
1. What significant event in John 11 led to Mary's act of worship in John 12? How did this event impact her view of Jesus? [01:03:23]
2. In John 12:3, Mary anoints Jesus' feet with expensive ointment. What does this act signify about her understanding of Jesus' worth?
3. How does Judas Iscariot's reaction to Mary's act of worship in John 12:4-6 contrast with Mary's response to Jesus? What does this reveal about his character? [01:05:56]
4. What does the phrase "the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume" in John 12:3 suggest about the nature of true worship? [01:14:18]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Mary's act of anointing Jesus' feet with costly ointment illustrate the concept of worship being costly? What might this teach us about the nature of true worship? [01:03:23]
2. In what ways does a critical spirit, as demonstrated by Judas, hinder genuine worship? How can this be a warning for us today? [01:09:09]
3. Reflecting on the "Lazarus moments" in our lives, how can these experiences fuel our worship and deepen our relationship with Jesus? [01:32:43]
4. How does the contagious nature of worship, as seen in Mary's story, inspire others to join in and experience God's presence? [01:14:18]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a "Lazarus moment" in your life where Jesus brought life to something that was dead. How can you use this memory to fuel your worship this week? [01:32:43]
2. Consider an area in your life where you might be holding back in worship due to pride or fear of judgment. What steps can you take to worship more freely and wholeheartedly? [01:03:23]
3. Identify a critical spirit within yourself that might be hindering your worship. What practical steps can you take to cultivate a heart of gratitude and overcome this critical spirit? [01:09:09]
4. Think of a time when you witnessed someone else's genuine worship. How did it impact you, and how can you let your worship be a testimony to those around you? [01:14:18]
5. What is one specific way you can make your worship more costly this week, whether through time, resources, or personal sacrifice? How can this act of worship honor God? [01:03:23]
6. Reflect on the story of Mary and Judas. How can you ensure that your motives in worship are pure and not driven by selfish ambition or comparison? [01:11:23]
7. How can you create an environment in your home or community that encourages contagious worship, drawing others into the presence of God? [01:14:18]
Devotional
Day 1: Worship as a Response to Divine Encounters
True worship is born from transformative encounters with Jesus, where His power and glory become undeniably evident. These moments, often referred to as "Lazarus moments," are when we witness Jesus bringing life to what was once dead in us. Such experiences leave a lasting impact, stirring our hearts to respond with genuine and heartfelt worship. Reflecting on these moments can fuel our praise and deepen our relationship with God. [01:03:23]
Isaiah 6:1-3 (ESV): "In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!'"
Reflection: Think of a moment when you felt God's presence powerfully. How can you let that experience shape your worship today?
Day 2: The Sacrificial Nature of True Worship
Genuine worship requires sacrifice, as demonstrated by Mary of Bethany, who poured out her most valuable possession to honor Jesus. This act of worship was costly, reflecting the immeasurable worth of what Jesus has done for us. True worship may require us to give up our pride, time, or resources, but it is a worthy offering to the One who has given us everything. [01:05:56]
2 Samuel 24:24 (ESV): "But the king said to Araunah, 'No, but I will buy it from you for a price. I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.' So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver."
Reflection: What is one thing you hold dear that you can offer to God as an act of worship today?
Day 3: Cultivating Gratitude to Overcome a Critical Spirit
A critical spirit, rooted in bitterness and control, can hinder our worship. Judas exemplified this attitude, contrasting with the gratitude and trust that fuel genuine worship. To overcome a critical spirit, we must focus on Jesus and His goodness, allowing gratitude to fill our hearts. Worship becomes the antidote to criticism, drawing us closer to God. [01:09:09]
Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV): "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you tend to be critical. How can you replace that criticism with gratitude today?
Day 4: The Contagious Nature of Worship
True worship is contagious, like a fragrance that fills the room. When we worship with abandon, it inspires others to join in, creating an atmosphere where God's presence is tangible. Our worship can serve as a testimony to those around us, drawing them into the presence of God and encouraging them to experience His love and grace. [01:14:18]
Acts 16:25-26 (ESV): "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened."
Reflection: How can your worship today serve as a testimony to those around you, inviting them to experience God's presence?
Day 5: Remembering and Responding to Our Lazarus Moments
Reflecting on the times when Jesus brought life to what was dead in us reminds us of His power and love. These "Lazarus moments" fuel our worship, reminding us of His faithfulness and prompting us to respond with gratitude and praise. By remembering these moments, we can continually renew our commitment to worship God wholeheartedly and unreservedly. [01:32:43]
Psalm 77:11-12 (ESV): "I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your wonders of old. I will ponder all your work, and meditate on your mighty deeds."
Reflection: Recall a specific "Lazarus moment" in your life. How can you let this memory inspire your worship and gratitude today?
Quotes
"Don't you just love new life In the Lord It's nothing like it Nothing like it So cool to see The way that God works And leads us And guides us And the honor That he gives us As a church family To celebrate that work In somebody's life That he calls us To make it public In a way that we get To join in And celebrate And praise him for it It's just such a gift And so good Today we're continuing Our series When you see him And there's this Unbreakable spiritual reality That when we experience The person in the presence Of Jesus Christ When we see him Not just with our eyes But really truly We encounter him It changes us It does something Inside of us" [00:34:55] (49 seconds)
"Such a powerful story Of worship Says this Six days before the Passover Jesus therefore came to Bethany Where Lazarus was Whom Jesus had raised From the dead And they gave a dinner For him there And Martha served And Lazarus was one of those Reclining with him at table And Mary therefore Took a pound of expensive Ointment made from pure nard And anointed the feet of Jesus And wiped his feet With her hair And the house Was filled With the fragrance Of the perfume But Judas Iscariot One of his disciples He who was about To betray him Said this He said Why was this ointment Not sold for 300 denarii And given to the poor John says He said this Not because he cared About the poor But because he was a thief And having charge Of the money bag He used to help himself To what was put into it But Jesus said Leave her alone So that she might keep it For the day of my burial For the poor You always have with you But you do not always Have me Here's our main idea This morning Very simple Seeing Jesus Stirs us To worship" [00:37:36] (79 seconds)
"Lord we don't just want A mental understanding We want an encounter With the living Christ And so I pray Lord That you would show us This morning We're willing We're open We're ready Pray that you'd open Your word to our hearts I pray that it would be Like the road to Emmaus Where the disciples said Did our hearts Not burn within us When we were with him Make our hearts Burn this morning For you Lord Stir our heart With passion For you this morning We invite you Holy Spirit To do that In Jesus name Amen Amen You can be seated This morning How many of you Have ever used The phrase Or you've heard Somebody use The phrase I can't Unsee it Anybody Alright good There's just There's some of us here Have you ever had An I can't unsee it Moment in your life This would be a moment Where you know Something You saw something So startling Something so indelible Maybe something So surprising That it stuck with you You couldn't get it Out of your mind You couldn't shake it You couldn't erase it From your memory You couldn't forget it" [00:38:34] (73 seconds)
"she's willing to give her entire savings poured out on him because what he had given her was far more expensive than that so she enters the room and she breaks open the thin neck of the alabaster jar of oil and she pours it out on jesus's head and feet and we look and we would say to the human eye this is foolish i don't want us to miss this this would be like us taking out our 401k today and we bring it in and jesus we're sitting here on a cold day and we burn it in front of him just to keep him warm on that cold day to the to the human eye this is a complete waste but to mary it was worship to the human eye this was a waste but because of jesus to mary it was worth it and i think this is a word for us this morning that true worship actually looks like a waste" [00:59:10] (55 seconds)
"we want to look around during worship and make sure no one's seeing us you know it's like look left and right and then if no one sees us we might peep out a word you know like i'll sing one word every verse that's what they get right so just as long as my my wife doesn't see or my kids don't see and i'll raise my hands but i'm going to raise them from my pocket so i'm going to put it in there and just praise you lord in my pocket and there's a space where we we worship authentically to who we are but but in reality true worship will cost you your pride and it says that mary let down her hair and she wiped jesus feet listen that was servants work you ever been to the beach and seen someone's feet after they come off the beach the sand on their toes in between their toes this was the work that a servant would do and even more than that if a woman would let down their hair in public in this day and age or in that time the many of the people would look at that and they would say that she was immodest she was loose but look at mary's response does she look around for who's going to see does she wonder what they're going to think mary had no ego she had no pride she she she wasn't worried about what anyone said all she wanted to do was worship the king that she had seen because what she had seen demanded a response there's a really popular story that that you've probably heard along the way in church in second kings six it's king david and king david's in the streets in this story and uh the the presence of god in the ark of the covenant is being brought into the city of jerusalem and he is the king over the entire people and he begins to dance in front of the presence of the lord because he's so excited that the presence of god is coming back into the city and his wife sees it and she looks at him and later she rebukes him and she says why would you do such an embarrassing thing that's something a king doesn't do and i want you to hear his response david david says you thought that was bad you thought what i did there was embarrassing he says i'll become even more indignified than this" [01:00:21] (131 seconds)
"church it's um it's high time that we begin to worship jesus like he's in this room he is in this room it's high time that we begin to worship jesus like he's who he is and if you're going to do that you got to lay your pride low and raise those hands if you're going to do that you got to lay your pride low and bow that knee if you're going to do that you got to lay your proud your pride low and shout in praise if you're going to do that you got to lay your pride low and sing out because true worship will cost you something" [01:02:40] (46 seconds)
"worship will cost me something Worship will cost you something, your pride, your idols, your money, your time, your energy. But you're worthy of it all. You're worthy of it all. Not half the jar. Not a third of the jar. Not 99 % of the jar you're worthy of it broken open. Did you know that when Mary broke open the jar, she couldn't put it back together? She had to use the ointment. That act of breaking was an act of surrender and a moment of consecration to the Lord. She said, you're worthy of every bit of this and I'm giving it all, I'm not saving any of it." [01:32:10] (55 seconds)
"I think this is a picture of true worship, that when a worshiper catches a glimpse of Christ, and they don't care about their pride, and they lay themselves low, and they give him the glory he's due. What happens is, is that act of worship lifts like a perfume, lifts like a fragrance, and it begins to fill the whole space. It's contagious, it's contagious, can't shake it. I see that person bowing, I see that person raising their hand, I see that person worshiping with their heart fully open to the Lord, and all I can do is join in with them in praise." [01:15:02] (31 seconds)
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