Running with Giants: week 4, The Woman in Luke 7

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us… Hebrews 12:1 (NIV)  Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. Luke 7:36-37 (NIV)  1. Only Jesus can satisfy the longing in our hearts.  What are you looking to for satisfaction that is leaving you empty and longing?   As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. Luke 7:38 (NIV)  2. Worship is both our rightful response AND our only responsibility in God's presence.  Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Psalm 100 (NIV)  Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100 (NIV)  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Psalm 100 (NIV)  For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. Psalm 100 (NIV)  Our faith will increase when we learn to give God everything BEFORE we feel anything.  What does your worship look like?  When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner." Luke 7:39-43 (NIV)  Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." Luke 7:39-43 (NIV)  "Tell me, teacher," he said. Luke 7:39-43 (NIV)  "Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Luke 7:39-43 (NIV)  Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven." Luke 7:39-43 (NIV)  "You have judged correctly," Jesus said. Luke 7:39-43 (NIV)  3. The enemy will bring opposition to your worship.  Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? Luke 7:44-50 (NIV)  I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Luke 7:44-50 (NIV)  Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little." Luke 7:44-50 (NIV)  Then Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." The other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?" Luke 7:44-50 (NIV)   Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Luke 7:44-50 (NIV)  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. Hebrews 4:16 (NLT)  Does my faith inspire my worship or do I wait for "worship songs" to inspire my faith?  Will you give him everything… before you feel anything?