Remember the Poor and Lonely

Text:

Galatians 2:10 NKJV

10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.

Introduction

The smallest act of love... can save a life... or change someone’s world.

A simple, honest expression of love from a pure heart— it can have a tremendous impact for good, especially for those who need it most.

(Pause and lower tone) But too often, we get so busy... so distracted... that we forget to pause and be present in our own lives. And if we’re not present in our own lives, we cannot truly consider the lives of others.

(Shift tone—encouraging, hopeful) This holiday season, as we take time to reflect on ourselves— and then reach out to others— we might just find that our small act of kindness becomes part of a great miracle.

A miracle that pushes back the voices of doom and despair, for those who need hope the most... and at the perfect time.

(Brief pause, soft finish) Because sometimes— the smallest act of love is the loudest sermon they’ll ever hear.

Matthew 25:31–40 NKJV

31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

1. We are called to remember those who are not doing as well as we are.

3421 μνημονεύω [mnemoneuo /mnay·mon·yoo·o/] v. From a derivative of 3420; TDNT 4:682; TDNTA 596; GK 3648; 21 occurrences; AV translates as “remember” 19 times, “be mindful” once, and “make mention” once. 1 to be mindful of, to remember, to call to mind. 1A to think of and feel for a person or thing. 1B to hold in memory, keep in mind. 2 to make mention of.

2:the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another of either the past or present without having the feelings, thoughts, and experience fully communicated in an objectively explicit manner also: the capacity for this

We live in a busy world.

We are reactive far two often. Most of us don’t think of ourselves as important enough. to slow down and consider our days, (hours, minutes.)

If we can’t remember who we are, how can we remember someone else?

Everyone is getting busy now. Our schedules are ramping up— be careful about what you put on the schedule— be mindful of who you are—

You are a child of God—

A Christian should spend time with the Lord.

Time with the Lord means time in the Word of God, We should spend time in prayer—

I desperately want to encourage you to have a personal worship time.

My concern is that people who don’t feel like they are good singers will not take the time to do it. I am concerned because it is what I have seen years. I am so glad to report that in recent weeks that has started to change. I hope the trend keeps going.

Singing is the vehicle that we use to worship. especially in this church, it doesn’t mater whether you sing well or not. what matters is that you worship.

You are a uniquely created Individual.

Isaiah 44:24 NKJV

24 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: “I am the Lord, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;

Of course the part I am referring to is, “He who formed you in the womb.” We will call that the B clause.

You are part of a natural family and a Church family.

You are part of a work community

My point is if we are going to stop and consider the poor, we need to consider ourselves. We need to spend time with our people.

2. We are doing this too Jesus.

Matthew 25:35–36 NKJV

35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

He was:

Hungry and we fed Him.

Thirsty and we gave Him drink.

A stranger and we took Him in.

Naked and we clothed Him.

I was sick and you visited me.

In prison and you came to me.

In verse 37 the sheep will ask when did we do these things?

He responds in verse 40.

Matthew 25:40 NKJV

40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

We are not Simply helping the poor we are doing all these to Jesus.

How do I have a sandwich and not give it to Jesus?

Matthew 25:43 NKJV

43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

What is the glaring difference between the sheep & goats?

The sheep, transformed from the inside out, fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, took in the stranger, clothed the naked, visited the sick, and went to those in prison. They did all these things out of genuine love — the love of the Lord flowing through them.

The goats seemed content to do only the minimum — actions performed out of duty, not devotion.

The difference is love — love that comes from a changed heart and leads to action.

That kind of action becomes a genuine expression of the Gospel, not for social media, but for Jesus.

Now that we know why we serve, let’s talk about how we can serve

3. Applying these truths.

Pray for people you know to be struggling.

I am not about to take an offering. I am about to ask you to give one. This all started with considering those less prosperous then ourselves.

What kind of offering I am I asking? go through your closets and cupboards and donate things that you cant wear, don’t use, or wont eat.

Set an extra place at the table and invite someone to spend time with you.

Take your kids through the things that they have stopped playing with and won’t use. let them be a part of giving. — Teach them, don’t force them.

We are open to the public on Thanksgiving and Christmas day. You can come up here and help, you can do some of the things miss Kim is asking for.

If you have decorations or trees you are not using you can donate them so that we can give them to people who have nothing.

Maybe there is something that I didn’t think of the Holy Spirit is talking to you about I did not think of, if it is the Holy Spirit— do that!

Conclusion:

The Lord has given us His Spirit. But many of us are still holding someone else’s blessing in our closets.

All we need to do is ask Him, “Lord, what do I have that could be a blessing to someone else?” Then listen— and give what He tells us to give.

The very thing you’ve forgotten about might be the very thing that breaks the back of despair in someone’s life.

The only difference between the sheep and the goats was action born from a pure heart.

So, my brothers and sisters, there’s nothing left for us to debate... nothing left for us to delay... there’s only one thing left— to do it.

Play The blessing by Kari Jobe.