Situations Can Reveal What’s In The Heart, Evans Olang

Luke 15:11-31, vs. 29-30, “29 So he answered and said to his father, “Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30, But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.’

It’s interesting to know that situations and circumstances bring out something you may have never known was in you. What might have not bothered me before, I now realize it does. These things are like little tools presented to diagnose and reveal the areas in our lives that need work. I am many times surprised by my flesh when something out of the ordinary comes and stirs up an attitude, critical spirit I deemed absent.

Who Is Worthy? Evans Olang

Luke 7:1-9, “And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was WORTHY for whom he should do this:” (KJV)

A story is told of a little girl who looked outside the window of her house and saw a sheep and wondered how that sheep looked so white and clean. While still looking at the sheep, it began snowing. Before long, the sheep that looked white and clean did not appear clean anymore because the white crystal snow overshadowed the whiteness of the sheep and the girl thought how dirty that sheep looked in the light of the snow. Looking at it closely, you can see that she sheep did not change, the girl saw it under a different background, that is what made the difference.

I Reported What Impacted Me, Part 4of4, Evans Olang

Matthew 26:7, “A woman came to Him having a lambasted flask of very costly fragrant oil…”

As I mentioned earlier, John tells us exactly who asked the question. John 12:4-5, “4 But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot….said, 5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” If you know the story of Judas, he was the man who betrayed Jesus. Jesus knew him all along but still allowed him in. He knew that he was a thief yet the money collection bag was entrusted in his hands. Question, did he really care for the poor? John says that he did not and it is also a clear indication that He did not care about Jesus receiving this kind of worship. Something to ponder on, didn’t Jesus know everything that was in the hearts of the people in that room? It was just a matter of time before the hidden would be revealed. True worship will always reveal what is inside and when revealed, either you deal with it or cover it up.

I Reported What Impacted Me, Part 3of4, Evans Olang

Matthew 26:7, “A woman came to Him having a lambasted flask of very costly fragrant oil…”

The act of this woman was not rehearsed, practiced, or scripted worship, this was a decision made, action taken to worship Him holding nothing back.

Let us address a problem that arose while she worshiped. Matthew is very lenient, he brings all the disciples to the same level without pin pointing one person. Read what he says, “8 But His disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, “Why waste? 9, “For this fragrant oil might have been sold for much and given to the poor”, Matthew 26:8-9.

I Reported What Impacted Me, Part 2of4, Evans Olang

Matthew 26:7, “A woman came to Him having alabaster flask of very costly fragrant oil…”

All the four gospels say the woman came in with an alabaster flask of very costly spikenard. Mark adds, “…Then she broke the flask…”, Mark 14:3. This woman who John tells us is Mary teaches us what worship is all about. The fact that she broke the flask has a lot to say about worship. In church it is easy to be cool, calm, and collected, and by that I mean, it’s easy to control how you worship. That is like opening a flask and pouring the amount of oil you want to pour out and closing it back. You have the power to control what comes out. A broken person is like the flask (jar) with no time to control.

I Reported What Impacted Me, Part 1of4, Evans Olang

Mark 14:3, “As He sat at the table, a woman came to him having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard.”

The four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John give as different accounts of events. Matthew and John were with Jesus as His disciples. Mark and Luke were not disciples however many scholars and theologians believe Mark’s account were provided to him by Apostle Peter. The four were impacted in different ways and you will see how they were each impacted by the account of their story. Though they all may have seen the same thing in reality or by narration, they did not report exactly the same way. Yes there are different accounts each of them give of certain incidents but there are some incidents that all of them did not report. Here is a classic case involving a woman who came to Jesus with an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard.

Who Do We Thank? Evans Olang

Luke 17:11-19, “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks”

In January 2009, a miracle was witnessed in New York where an airbus flight 1549 carrying 155 passengers crashed into Hudson river with the plane remaining intact. All the passengers lived making it one of the greatest miracles I have witnessed reported on media.

What Makes You Burn? Pastor Phil Sessa

Luke 24:31-32, “And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?’”

What makes you burn inside and really come alive? What is that sporting event that you shout for your team? I can reference all the Yankee fans here in NYC that screams when the Yankees play and beat their rivals the Boston Red Sox.

Who Is In Control? Evans Olang

Luke 22:30-32, “31 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

A true worshiper of God constantly hungers to walk in His will. We often wrestle to know if we are acting in the flesh or led of the Spirit. We want to know who is standing on our way, God or Satan. We want to know who is in control. Many times we blame Satan, (give him too much credit) when things are not going right we read his mission, John 10:10, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…” His mission is not news to us, but is he the main issue?