This past Sunday I shared a message called My Values, My Future! I shared 7 thoughts about Values based on John 12... so I thought I would share some of my thoughts here. If you didn't get a chance to listen you can CLICK HERE.
My Favourite Christmas Verse:
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave[a] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3.16 NLT
God loved us He sent the world the ultimate gift!
He announced the arrival of that gift in spectacular fashion:
Luke 2.8-15 NLT That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
But God showed his values… the value of the greatest gift he could give, when for the first time in human history, man encountered the Angels worshipping God - singing … the glory of God surrounded them… the only other time this was experienced was in a vision in Isaiah 6.3 …
VALUES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FUTURE
Speaking of Gifts: John 12.1-8 NLT Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate[a] with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar[b] of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.
4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages.[c] It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.
7 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
John Chapter 12 is all about values:
Values of Jesus
Values of the Woman
Values of Critics
Values of Judas
What are your values?
WHEN YOU DETERMINE YOUR VALUES YOU WILL LEARN THAT CIRCUMSTANCES MAY CHANGE, METHODS MAY CHANGE… BUT YOUR MESSAGE… AND THE RESULT WILL NEVER BE AFFECTED
In fact,
1. YOUR VALUES WILL SET YOU APART
RELEVANCE is the distance between the life your living and what you stand for … - Brian Houston
- This Woman’s actions, the gift she gave, reflected her values… and her values set her apart
- As you establish clear and Godly values there will become a clear and evident point of difference in your life
2. YOUR VALUES WILL BE ATTACKED
John 12.4-5 NLT But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages.[c] It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.”
3 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CRITICS:
- CRITICS MOTIVES AREN’T ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR
They weren't concerned about the poor at all - Judas lead the critics - and he was a thief - skim the profits - v.6 - Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.
- CRITICS CAN GATHER A CROWD
Matthew 26.8-9 NLT The disciples were indignant when they saw this. “What a waste!” they said. 9 “It could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.”
If you don't stand for anything. you will fall for everything
- CRITICS DON’T UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF AN OPPORTUNITY
John 12.7-8 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
3. YOUR VALUES HAVE TO BE STRONGER THAN WHAT ANYONE ELSE MIGHT SAY
Their are VALUE ADD and VALUE DEFICIT Relationships - these will either propel you towards or pull you away from your future
HERE’S A TEST:
- What kind of voices do I attract: positive or negative
- What is it about me that attracts these kind of voices?
- Why do they think they can talk to me about this?
Matthew 12.34 - From the abundance of the hear the mouth speaks…
VALUES ARE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FUTURE
Before we go any further… WHAT ARE VALUES? Values are anything that determine are valuable in your life …
They speak to priority and purpose
Here is a good measure…
Values can be determined by 3 things:
- Convictions - things I know that I know that I know (Beliefs)
- Conscience - confirmed by the Holy Spirit
- Calling - does this align with/propel me into my future - the plan God has for me
4. GOOD VALUES LEAD TO SOMETHING SIGNIFICANT
Mark 14.6 MSG But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why are you giving her a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me.
- Anyone who has done anything great has built their life on values
- you just don't know what's ahead of you! That's the exciting part of serving Jesus
5. GOOD VALUES ARE PROVEN IN THE MOMENT
Mark 14.8 MSG She did what she could when she could
You can live with good intentions but your values are proved in the moment
When the opportunity is there the value is proven
When God blesses my business/When I make lots of money I will do something for the church -it never happens - if you aren't doing it now you won't do it then!
6. GOOD VALUES DETERMINE YOUR BOUNDARIES
I say BOUNDARIES… you say: DON’T BOX ME IN!
Mark 14.9 MSG And you can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she just did is going to be talked about admiringly.”
- Good values determine your boundaries v.9 - this will be talked about into the future - her values amplified her reach - bigger and further than you can even imagine
Proverbs 11.24 - The world of the generous gets larger & larger...
If it costs you something - it's a good indicator it's a value - perfume
If it costs you - you are going to look after it
Eg. It’s why we call our skills & talents GIFTS - because it has value
It’s why we have to practice guitar - cultivate it - if we don’t develop it… our GIFT becomes untapped potential
7. LEGACY IS BUILT ON VALUES
Legacy - either Positive or Negative - is built on either positive or negative values
Psalm 112.6 NIV Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered forever.
Good values are the foundation on your legacy - this ladies story outlasted her ...
Mark 14.9 MSG And you can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she just did is going to be talked about admiringly.”
FOR MONDAY:
- WRITE DOWN YOUR VALUES
- HOLD ONTO THEM
- LESS IS MORE