1 Thirty years teaching the glory of the “New Covenant”Focus: Not only on what God did “FOR” us But what God did “TO” us Like most Christians: I was led to understand and embrace what God did “FOR” me. Jesus built a bridge between me and God (sins had separated me from God) Jesus died “for” your sins  I have a relationship with God I could go to heaven someday GLORIOUS GOOD NEWS FOR ME!

2 NOTE: I really understood “the sin” issue I become very adept at sinning Learned to live with sin’s cousins: Guilt / Shame Sought to hide from them… Sought to run from them… Could not escape them! THEN: Jesus died for ALL my sins! Jesus “DECLARED” me righteous!

3 God had a “Jesus” filter when He looked at me!For me, THAT WAS REALLY GOOD NEWS! “I was a “sinner” SAVED by grace!” Cf. Jer 17:9 “My heart was desperately wicked and deceitful beyond all things”  That was why I was sinning -----(Guilt/Shame) BUT I WAS FORGIVEN! I WAS GOING TO HEAVEN SOMEDAY! THIS IS WHAT GOD HAD DONE “FOR” ME! I WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO THANKFUL---

4 Almost 30 years ago: God opened my eyes to what He did “TO” me… Cf. Rom 6:3 (Gal. 2:20) “Do you not know?”  You ought to know  YOU DON’T! New Covenant 101 (Basics) 2 + 2 = 4 / A B C’s DO YOU NOT KNOW? That you were immersed into Jesus death cf. Gal 2:20 – You were crucified with Christ cf. Col. 3:3-4 – You are dead and your life is hidden with Jesus

5 God took what was “wrong” about me…United the “wrong me” to Jesus and took me to the cross EXECUTED ME with Jesus! BURIED ME with Jesus! RESURRECTED ME with Jesus! The “OLD ME” is gone! (Dead and buried) My desperately wicked heart has been made brand new! I have been given a new spirit! (Ezek 36) I HAVE BEEN MADE RIGHTEOUS (not just declared righteous!) A Pre-requisite for the “Righteous One” to live inside me… Guilt and Shame have been banished!

6 30 years such a privilege to be a part of “Grace Revolution”WONDER: Just as the church had put focus on what Jesus did “FOR” us, to the neglect of what He had done “TO” us… I wonder if we are now putting focus on what Jesus did “TO” us, to the neglect of what He wants to do “THROUGH” us… Hudson Taylor: “Exchanged Life” cf. Isaiah 40 = Those who “braid” with the Lord shall exchange their strength (mount up with wings like eagles)

7 We should anticipate an observable change in our lives,because it is no longer we who live… but Christ lives in (through) us… NOT A LEGALISM  EXPECTED REALITY! NORMALITY! LIFE = LIVED! Jesus is in us, HE WANTS OUT! God designed not just that we “experience” the life of Jesus but that we EXPRESS the life of Jesus! Cf. Phil. 2 – ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT CHAPTERS IN THE N.T. v. 1-2 – “IF” there is , and there is… The Christ Life v. 3-4 – “THEN” let there be… The Christ Life

8 NOTE: If you understand Christianity at all… v Have the same “mind” that Jesus had Do not cling to your glory Humble yourself Lay your life down for others The LIFE of Jesus is an “other-centered life” Steve Pettit “Jesus did not come to make us successful at anything, but to make us sacrificial in everything!”

9 This is what He wants to do THROUGH us…He wants to reproduce His “other-centered” life that gives itself away to others and to God! Mk. 12:41-44 “The Giving Heart” v. 41 “He sat down opposite the treasury…” (Nothing out of the ordinary - People sit down all the time) Cf. Luke 6 – “He LOOKED UP”  (had been looking down)

10 Add the immediate context…(gain some important insight into what was happening) Mk. 12 “The Abbreviated Gospel  Hits highlights Cf. Mt 22 Jesus cleansed the temple (second time) “The next day…”  THE BATTLE INTENSIFIED! Theological Discussions (debates/arguments  TRAPS)  UGLY!

11 Pharisees Question Jesus authority 2. Herodians Trap Jesus in His words; False compliments 3. Sadduccees Theological nitpickings about heaven…. 4. Pharisees “testing” Jesus with the law Jesus has had enough! “Unleashes a barrage of “woe” to religionists

12 “Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing…” (He wept) When Jesus sitting with His head down… HE WAS SPENT! (Weary!) His heart was broken! NOTE: Have you ever had one of those knock down, drag out overly heated arguments with one that you desperately love? “Guts in a blender”  JESUS!

13 “He had just had an intense discussion”v. 1 “He looked up”  Hard to do when heart weighed down “He saw MANY rich men putting LARGE SUMS into treasury” NOTE: Court of Women 13 trumpet shaped collection bowls Free will worship  corn, oil, incense, wine

14 v. 1 “He saw MANY rich men putting LARGE SUMS into treasure” NORMALITY! There is NOTHING wrong with what He sees here! Commendable! Right! As it should be! Their hearts were so far from God  NO! Where do you read that? Eisegesis (not exegesis)  It is NOT a sin to be rich! THIS WAS WORSHIP on the part of these rich men! Free Will from the heart! This was NOT tithing!

15 O.T. Tithing = 23 1/3% Old Testament  Tithe (support nation and its government) Old Testament  Free Will giving New Testament Does not teach tithing  Church is NOT a theocracy (Body) Does teach Free Will  II Cor 9 GIVE: Luke 6 = Imperative verb = All should be giving Not under compulsion As God has prospered you Cheerfully, not begrudgingly THESE RICH MEN WERE WORSHIPPING!

16 Proportionately $20,000 – 10% ($2,000) = $18,000 $1,000,000 – 10% ($100,000) = $900,000 The poor man can GIVE a little… The rich man can GIVE more… Should he give less / more? THAT IS NOT OUR CALL! THE CALL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT LEADING IN THE HEART! Mark 12 Jesus sees nothing out of the ordinary… Sees what is good!

17 v. 42 “a widow” “a POOR widow”  two mites (two small copper coins) DID YOU SEE IT? Oh my goodness…  She gave two “lepta” Lepta = Leaf = thin one Two lepta = One quadrant 4 quadrants = One assarian (eight lepta) 16 assarians = One denarius (128 lepta) Average daily wage She gave two lepta = ¼ cent each

18 What do we know? That is a VERY small gift… (Not amount to anything) That gift would not be missed if she had not given it! It will not buy any oil, corn, wine, incense…. The temple bookkeepers will not be excited over this gift! We are talking SMALL! INSIGNIFICANT! PUNY! NOTE: Jesus saw something very different! Caused his heart to leap!

19 What his eyes saw was in such stark contrast to what he had been experiencing…… HE HAD TO SHARE IT WITH OTHERS!!! v. 43 He gathers His disciples! I “SOLEMNLY DECLARE” to you… That POOR widow put more in the treasury than ALL the other worshippers combined! Cf. 41 Men put in “LARGE” sums of money / Widow  “¼ cent”

20 What does Jesus know that we do not know?v. 44 They gave out of their surplus She gave out of her poverty She gave ALL she had! NOTE: How did Jesus know that? He was God!  NO! (Phil. 2; ; John 6:57; John 5:19,30) The Holy Spirit told Jesus that she gave out of her poverty! Holy Spirit wanted Him to know this = Comforter! Encourager!

21 NAYSAYERS “She should not have given anything – FOOLISH” “She could have at least given one coin – kept one for food” What do we say? I agree (practically) If I had seen her, I might have given her gift back! If I had seen her, I might have taken some out and given to her If I had seen her, I hope I would have opened my own wallet We would be robbing her of worshipping God! Worshipping Heart = Reckless Heart Abandoned to God! Released from earthly concerns!

22 She gave no though to today’s meal (Let alone tomorrow’s)THIS WAS WORSHIP! TREASURY = Sacrifices Forgiveness was found as God prescribed Redemption was found as God prescribed God was found! SHE GAVE ALL SHE HAD! The man centered heart… … will NEVER understand the God centered heart! … Too reckless to make sense! … It will ALWAYS be so…

23 1. O.T. example of a reckless (worshipful) heart!Ark of Covenant taken by Philistines When it was recovered, brought back to Jerusalem David danced before the Lord in an ephod(no kingly garments) Michal = David’s wife Humiliated by David’s behavior He was not acting “presidential” (Kingly) David’s heart was so full of worship and praise, there was no room for what people might think there was only room in David’s heart for praise!

24 In Michal’s heart, there was so much concern for what people think there was no room for praise for God! 2. N.T. Example of Reckless (worshipful) Heart Mark 14 = All four Gospels This is one we need “to get” Mary = alabaster box (very expensive) = Dowry Spikenard = 10 months salary Poured oil over Jesus head; anointing Jesus Drying it with her hair

25 The Practical Heart What a waste! (John = Judas) Mt; Mk; Lk: = All Disciples!!! Could have been given to the poor! Could have provided food and clothing! MADE NO SENSE! WORSHIP! Jesus knew and received: “She has anointed Me for my burial” “She did what she could” The person “in touch” with the Spirit, will be led by the Spirit what to do in any given circumstance and will do that which is “other-centered” (misunderstood)

26 Whenever the Gospel is preached…She shall be remembered as a memorial She gave ALL she had! She had a “giving heart” She had the heart of Christ experienced in her, expressed through her! Steve Pettit Jesus did not come to make us successful at anything, but to make us sacrificial in everything! Jesus came to provide us with “giving hearts”

27 Pig and Chicken shipwrecked on islandGrew hungry over time: Chicken had idea: Let’s both contribute something for breakfast Pig: Great idea! Chicken: I will provide some eggs, You can provide some bacon! Pig: Yours is a contribution, Mine is total commitment!

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