Infinite Fellowship Ministries

Releasing Concealed Redolence Of The Alabaster: Sermon By Apostle Gobanga

Now when Jesus came back to Bethany and was in the house of Simon the leper, A woman came up to Him with an alabaster flask of very precious perfume, and she poured it on His head as He reclined at table. And when the disciples saw it, they were indignant, saying, For what purpose is all this waste? For this perfume might have been sold for a large sum and the money given to the poor. But Jesus, fully aware of this, said to them, Why do you bother the woman? She has done a noble (praiseworthy and beautiful) thing to Me. For you always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me. In pouring this perfume on My body she has done something to prepare Me for My burial. Truly I tell you, wherever this good news (the Gospel) is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will be told also, in memory of her. 

Matthew 26:6-13 (AMP)

So six days before the Passover Feast, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, who had died and whom He had raised from the dead.So they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those at the table with Him.Mary took a pound of ointment of pure liquid nard [a rare perfume] that was very expensive, and she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, the one of His disciples who was about to betray Him, said, Why was this perfume not sold for 300 denarii [a year’s wages for an ordinary workman] and that [money] given to the poor (the destitute)? Now he did not say this because he cared for the poor but because he was a thief; and having the bag (the money box, the purse of the Twelve), he took for himself what was put into it [pilfering the collections].But Jesus said, Let her alone. It was [intended] that she should keep it for the time of My preparation for burial. [She has kept it that she might have it for the time of My [embalming.]You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me. 

John 12:1-8 (AMP)

Worship is a spiritual act. God is Spirit and He is worshipped in spirit and in truth.

The carnal man is the major hindrance to access the presence of God.

As a saint, you must transcend beyond the constraints of the outer man into the realm of the spirit.

Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day. 

2 Corinthians 4:16 (AMP)

May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. 

Ephesians 3:16 (AMP)

May the outer man be broken to the extent that the inner man breaks forth to commune with the Divine.

For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do. 

Galatians 5:17 (AMP)

The carnal man cannot serve God. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned.

Like a seed, the outer exoskeleton needs to be shed off for the seed to sprout forth.

An emotional capacity that functions devoid of truth is manipulative and deceptive.

Your essence is not external – it is captured in the inner man that was dispatched with purpose from eternity.

The divine call and ordinations from eternity in your life are what are the pure nard that is in the alabaster box that brings glory to God.

The Apostle Paul referred to us as earthen vessels with treasure. Let not the outer vessel hinder the inner treasure.

The breaking of the alabaster box was a sign of acceptance of the Lordship of a man that had asked for a ladies’ hand in marriage.

The breaking of the alabaster box was a sign of honour by the sinful lady as she had discerned Jesus’ Lordship for humanity. She not only anointed Him for burial; but she also poured out everything she had for her heavenly groom.

God is interested in you wholly. Everything. Nothing withheld.

You will never attain to your aspirations without the One Who put those desires there. You need to pour everything for the glory of God.

Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men. 

Colossians 3:23 (AMP)

God is not interested in your reputation – good or bad. He is interested in the purpose He vested in you from eternity. #SELAH

However, you do not approach God on your own terms but based on the counsel of His will. You cannot be perfect based on your own effort. You are only perfected based on the finished work of Jesus on the Cross.

Yet, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our Potter, and we all are the work of Your hand. 

Isaiah 64:8 (AMP)

When God wants to perfect you He brings people into your life.

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend [to show rage or worthy purpose]. 

Proverbs 27:17 (AMP)

If you want to know that your alabaster box has been broken, you worship God with reckless abandonment with everything you have.

Be not wise in your own eyes; reverently fear and worship the Lord and turn [entirely] away from evil.It shall be health to your nerves and sinews, and marrow and moistening to your bones. Honor the Lord with your capital and sufficiency [from righteous labors] and with the firstfruits of all your income. 

Proverbs 3:7-9 (AMP)

If you want to know that your alabaster box has been broken, look at how you respond to complicated divine assignments such that you cannot do without Him.

God will make use of complication and enigma to break the outer man to rid you of what hinders you from interacting with Him.

Unless you allow for a breaking, whatever is hidden in you will not benefit humanity and yourself. #SELAH

Whatever you have is not meant for you. 

Mary took a pound of ointment of pure liquid nard [a rare perfume] that was very expensive, and she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. And the whole house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 

John 12:3 (AMP)

The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

Your calling is not in the title but in function to benefit the people that God is sending you to.

But you have been anointed by [you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from] the Holy One, and you all know [the Truth]or you know all things. 

1 John 2:20 (AMP)

Don’t allow circumstances to micromanage that which God has put in the inside of you. No excuses!

My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise. 

Psalm 51:17 (AMP)

Question: Are you broken? Forgiveness and releasing they that have wronged you is a sign that you have a broken and contrite heart.

When you worship God with reckless abandon and with everything that you have, you get an impartation from God.

Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One). 

Philippians 3:8 (AMP)

God is interested in the condition of your heart not your activities in the name of God. #SELAH

The heart position versus performance: the case of the woman with the alabaster box and Judas. #SELAH

She was a dishonoured woman. She gave her best from the bottom of her heart. She will be remembered as long as the Gospel is preached.

There are vessels of honour and dishonour.

However, we possess this precious treasure [the divine Light of the Gospel] in [frail, human] vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. 

2 Corinthians 4:7 (AMP)

But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also [utensils] of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable and noble [use] and some for menial and ignoble [use]. 

2 Timothy 2:20 (AMP)

You must separate the portions.