Mary Magdalene: An Example Of A Thankful Heart (Part 2)

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Mary Magdalene:

Part 2

an example of a thankful heart

(Part 2)

Pastor Nkechi Ene (Mrs.) We began the season of thanksgiving in the

Mary called Magdalene, out of whom

you can just remember what God has done

Kirst part of this article by looking at one of

had come seven demons,

for you like Mary, then you would have a

the most passionate women in the Bible, Mary Magdalene and how she displayed her love for Jesus. We learnt that she had a

3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.

thankful heart for all Jesus had done for her.

Luke 8:2-3

thankful heart and you would let go of your substance for His ministry. Nobody would have to coerce you. This is how you know you have a thankful heart.

We began to examine the characteristics of a thankful heart. The Kirst character of a

These women followed Jesus to take care of

Some of us have sensational testimonies,

thankful heart we saw was that a thankful

His needs. Jesus had needs. He needed

maybe we were armed robbers before, may

heart is addicted to Jesus. Let’s now move

money and other things and it was not

be we were prostitutes before. Every

on to examining other traits of a thankful

carnality. That word “substance” means

testimony is great but some are more

heart in this article.

possessions, wealth, goods and property, the

sensational than others. It was not the

thing which one has. That tells me you’ve

sensational part of her testimony that

got something to give.

drove Mary; it was her addiction, her

A Thankful Heart Makes Sacri4ices For Jesus.

thankful heart to the Jesus. These women Maybe all you have are hands to wash the

supported the ministry of Jesus from their

40 There were also women looking on

Master’s clothes. Maybe all you have is

own resources.

from afar, among whom were Mary

transport for Him to move around. Maybe

Magdalene, Mary the mother of James

what you’ve got is the ability to cook well

This verse also shows us that Jesus had no

and make sure that His lunch is taken care

problem receiving their substance from

ministered to Him when He was in

of while He ministers. Maybe all you have is

them. He received it from them because the

Galilee, and many other women who

a lot of money and you just keep giving it so

money they brought was seed to assist Him

came up with Him to Jerusalem.

the Master can use it for His ministry.

to get more souls saved. When those souls

Maybe what you have may not look big in

get saved, they were going to have more

your eyes but if it is driven by your thankful

thankful souls and more people who would

heart, you will let it go.

have the drive to bring their own

the Less and of Joses, and Salome, 41 who also followed Him and

Mark 15:40-41 55 And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar

possessions too. They could tangibly say,

56 among whom were Mary Magdalene,

What drives your substance? What drives

Mary the mother of James and Joses

your possessions? What drives your

and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

wealth? What drives your prosperity? Who

Matthew 27:55-56

is behind the steering wheel of those cars

2 and certain women who had been

you drive? Who is under the clothes you

healed of evil spirits and inKirmities—

wear? Who is behind your bank account? If

this is what God has done for me. If you cannot tangibly say what God has done for you, you will sew up your pocket thinking you are a one-man riot squad and since God has done nothing for you, He should keep away from your pocket.

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GOG - 17 - 219 - Mary Magdalene: An Example Of A Thankful Heart (Part 2) www.thecarpenterschurch.org

May times it is after God has solved your

thankful heart was transparent for all to see.

disciples were not told. Jesus appeared to

problem that you remember how much

When you have a thankful heart, you become

Mary Kirst and she became a preacher. Those

needs you have. Do you think that Mary

relevant in God’s scheme of things. Man looks

who had eaten, slept near, walked with and

Magdalene and the others gave to Jesus

from the outside but God looks at the heart.

were counted as disciples were bypassed but

because Jesus was lacking? No! This is an

If a president were to pick a cabinet of

Mary was told things. That was a testimony

interesting balance. On one hand Jesus had

ministers, he would go for those who are

of her commitment. When she told them she

no problem receiving from them while on the

sold out to him, who pursue his own agenda

had seen Jesus, they did not believe her

other, He did not have a need such that if

and not their own. When they are under

because it seemed like idle tales. A thankful

they did not give to Him, His ministry would

addiction, if he tells them to kill their wives,

heart will create relevance in God’s scheme

have folded. Listen: If you do not bring your

they would. If you are under the inKluence of

of things.

money to support the ministry, the ministry

something, whatever that thing tells you to

will go on because God will readily import

do is what you do.

stones, give them life and a body to go and

A Thankful Heart Is Unending A thankful heart never ends because as you

bring the money for His work. Jesus received

So, Jesus looked around all He had come in

are thanking Him, He does another and yet

from them because He knew that what was

contact with and the only person He could

another reason for thanksgiving and the

driving them to give was their thanksgiving.

appear to was the woman from whom He

cycle keeps on going. Bring all you have to

What have you planned to thank God with?

drove out seven demons. Wherever this story

the feet of Jesus. Each time I think about

is told, it is always noted that Mary

w h a t G o d h a s d o n e f o r m e , I g e t

Thanksgiving serves two purposes. First it

Magdalene was the Kirst person to see Jesus

overwhelmed. When I was writing this

serves as an avenue to give thanks to God

after His resurrection. When you follow Jesus

message, I began to cry and it was like God

and secondly it is a way of kicking open the

around, people may criticize you, but Jesus

gave me a peep into the heart of this woman.

doors for the years ahead, which is an act of

will notice you and when He notices you, He

Remember, thanksgiving is a dual lane. We

faith. Has it ever crossed your mind that God

lifts you up and you become relevant in His

thank Him for what He has done for us and

could ask you to build a house, furnish it and

scheme of things.

what we have faith for that He will do for us.

hand it over to the ministry?

In some churches,

Give Him thanks because

There are certain limits we put up when

leaders are appointed

others serve gods that don’t

giving to God but notice that these people

on the basis of wealth,

hear and don’t reach out to

gave from their property. Is it possible that

w h i c h i s w r o n g .

save them when they have

God may have asked you to give up that

However, note that

needs, but we have a God

property you have been keeping to build

your Kinancial attitude

that reaches out to us in our

your family house? Yes! Whenever you are

is also directly related

needs. We serve a God that

tempted to put a limit to what you can give to

t o h o w G o d w i l l

has no limits to what He can

God, ask yourself if God puts a limit to what

promote you. If you

do for us, so we should have

kind of diseases He can heal you of or what

are addicted to Jesus and

kind of blessing He can bless you with?

are faithful with your giving, your tithes and

no limits to what we can give to Him.

offerings, God singles you out. You may look like the least person to be honoured but God

Let’s make up our minds that there is

will honour you. In the same vein, if you

nothing we cannot give. Some live in

9 Now when He rose early on the Kirst day

become so stingy with your giving after God

countries where they cannot talk about

of the week, He appeared Kirst to Mary

has lifted you, you will come down.

Christ. Some have given their lives for Him

A Thankful Heart Makes You Relevant

Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven

too, what will you give Him? Learn to be When Jesus resurrected and Mary wanted to

overwhelmed with gratitude to God. Make

touch Him, He refused because He had not

loving and serving God a habit that is

yet shown Himself to the Father. The Bible Jesus the Saviour of the world, appeared Kirst

impossible to break. There is nothing that

records in John 20, that she had seen the

to Mary. He did not appear to Peter or any

should be too much for you to give because

Lord and that He had spoken these things to

other disciple. He went to the one whose

when you do that, He will lift you up and

her. Jesus gave her a revelation that the other

honour you.

demons.

Mark 16:9

The Carpenter’s Ministry: All rights reserved. No portion of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or any other, without the prior permission of the above.