Red Letters: Move The Needle - Pastor Josiah Elias

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pV21hIPmqYk

In Joshua 4, the Lord instructed the Israelites to pick twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests were standing, carry them out and stack them at the site where they camped. It was to be a memorial. He wanted them to remember what the Lord did for them. Josh Munoz reminded us to remember what the Lord has done in each of our lives and to thank Him wholeheartedly. He is worthy of all of our praise.

Then Pastor Josiah called Greg Hendricks and his wife up to the platform, and he announced that Greg Hendricks was moved from being director to being pastor. Pastor Greg encouraged us to lead people to Jesus, for that is what he wants to do.

After that important announcement, Pastor Josiah prayed that FC culture like Christ and that our vision is Jesus. Last week he preached on stewarding well and not sitting on our hands. This week we are in John 12 where Jesus had “raised Lazarus from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him.” John 12:1a-2 (NLT)  Relationship with God does far more than can even be explained. 

Would Jesus feel comfortable and welcomed in your home? Would your home be a resting place for the Lord? What spirits reside in your home? When you belong to Jesus, you 

“shall no longer be termed Forsaken, 

Nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; 

But you shall be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; 

For the Lord delights in you.” Isaiah 62:4 (NKJV) 

“Hephzibah” means “My delight is in her.” “Beulah-to marry, possess” What a blessing it is to learn that the Almighty Father delights in you. When you think of someone delighting in you, doesn’t it bring a smile to your heart? It means that someone is pleased, joy-filled with you. The Lord “will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT) He delights in us even in challenging times. In both the wonderful and the hard times, we need to keep coming to the Lord because He is rejoicing over us. 

When Mary took the twelve ounce jar of expensive perfume (nard), “she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.” John 12:3 (NLT) Her brother Lazarus had just been resurrected, and she thanked Jesus Christ through anointing Him with expensive nard that was valued at a year’s worth of wages. Sin cannot breathe in the room filled with the fragrance of pure worship. From Mary we learned to celebrate and breakthrough together not just independently. 

But where did Mary learn that the anointing pleased the Lord? In Luke 7:36-50 while John the Baptist was alive, Jesus visited the Pharisee Simon (probably in Capernaum.)  A woman, a sinner, came up behind Jesus, broke a flask, cried, wiped His feet with her hair, and anointed His feet with oil. The Lord spoke to her and forgave her sins. This anointing was earlier in Jesus’ ministry while Mary’s anointing happened six days before Passover. The first anointing moved the needle for Mary to anoint Jesus’ feet the second time.

Another powerful example of being in the presence of Jesus Christ was with the official who pleaded with the Lord about his little boy dying. “So Jesus told him, ’Go back home. Your son will live!’ And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.” John 4:50 (NLT) On his way home, the man encountered his servants who told him that his son was well. The man asked the time of his son’s improvement at which they said around one. “Then the father realized that that was the very time Jesus had told him, ‘Your son will live.’ And he and his entire household believed in Jesus.” John 4:53 (NLT) The official had such faith that he immediately obeyed Jesus to return home. He believed, and the Lord honored his belief. This breakthrough was a corporate one. The result was the entire household believed. Hallelujah!

Additionally, in Matthew 9, a woman who had been hemorrhaging for twelve years had the faith to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment as He was traveling to Jairus’ home to heal his sick daughter. Just from touching Jesus’ hem, the woman’s bleeding stopped. That was a public display of her faith, her expectation, and her healing. Then in Matthew 14, we learn the people of Gennesaret recognized Jesus, “and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed. They begged to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.”  Matthew 14:35b-36 (NLT) The possibility of healing occurred through even touching the hem of His garment or the fringe of his robe. The healed woman’s faith breakthrough moved the needle.

Her breakthrough becomes our breakthrough. “My goal is to be obedient to God,” declared Pastor Josiah. Chains break and dominoes fall as we follow Him; believe in Him; and obey Him. In our Legacy Builders meetings, we often have people share God’s impact on their lives. Their testimonies move the needle.

The Paramount Point is When you move the needle, it moves for everybody.

However, one disciple did not appreciate Mary’s sacrifice, and he opposed her “wasting” the expensive perfume instead of donating it to feed the poor. Sorrowfully Judas never let the revelation of who Jesus was truly change his own life. Did Judas believe Jesus’ words or actions? The Lord stated, “If any of you want to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.”  Mark 8:34 (NLT) Did Judas turn from his wicked ways of stealing and take up his cross to follow Jesus? Discernment will see the motive of the heart often aiming to rob God what’s due His name. 

Jesus disagreed with Judas and told him to “leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” John 12:7-8 (NLT) Her twelve ounce jar of precious nard was preparation for the nine inch nails.

May we be willing to stand up for Christ and help the needle move so that others can honor Him and love Him. That is being salt and light in this troubled world.

Calendar:

3/7 FC’s 70th anniversary celebration at 5:00

3/20 LBs potluck and Meet to Swap in the Youth Center at 6:00 with proceeds go the FC Youth.

3/20 Midnight Hour 8:00-12:00am 

Blessings,

Larry and Annette