"Ministering to the Least of them!"
Ministering to the Least of these • Sermon • Submitted
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Intro:
Intro:
Now
Now
Then
Then
Jesus tells two parables;
The parables of the ten virgins(Explain)
The parables of the ten talents(Explain
Application:
The parables of the Ten Virgins-This parables overarching point is that we are to be ready spiritual for the return of Christ. It stresses the importance of being prepared for something in the future that is imminent.
The parable of the Talents-This parable stresses the importance practically living out your faith while you wait for return of the Master of the house.
Point of both: (v.13) “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour”
Jesus is stressing to the hearers of this parable to live each day as if the next one is not promised.
The parable of the Virgins stresses personal salvation, while the Parable of the Talents stresses working out your salvation
Then in (v.31) Jesus describes a judgement that is going to take place in the future. Most believe this judgement is going to take place after the 7-year of tribulation. Clearly folks will be getting saved during the Tribulation based on this passage in (v.31-46) and these people left over are those who made it through the Tribulation. These are the living people who made it through the Tribulation.
I want to look over the scriptures with this text being our base to determine if there are any principles related to our responsibility to our brother’s in Christ.
What does a true faith look like when it’s practice towards our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Always
Always
One of the tangible signs of conversion in the life of a believer is a thirst to minister to the needs of God’s people and to those who may be saved through his love extended to them from the hands and feet of believers.
What are some of the key principle to those who seek to be answer to someone else's prayer?
I. Believers are Availability
I. Believers are Availability
1 The boy Samuel served the Lord in Eli’s presence. In those days the word of the Lord was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread. 2 One day Eli, whose eyesight was failing, was lying in his usual place. 3 Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was located. 4 Then the Lord called Samuel, and he answered, “Here I am.” 5 He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “I didn’t call,” Eli replied. “Go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down. 6 Once again the Lord called, “Samuel!” Samuel got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.” “I didn’t call, my son,” he replied. “Go back and lie down.” 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, because the word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 8 Once again, for the third time, the Lord called Samuel. He got up, went to Eli, and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 He told Samuel, “Go and lie down. If he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 The Lord came, stood there, and called as before, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel responded, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
Young Samuel at this point has been studying and learning at the feet of Eli. In those due to the disobedience of Israel; God rarely spoke. This gives the idea that Eli was the priest but God was not regularly speaking with Eli due to the disobedience of Eli concerning his sons.
God is about transfer leadership of the priesthood to Samuel, so he calls to Samuel. Samuel thinks it’s Eli calling him. Eli sends him back to sleep saying I did not call you.
On the third time finally Eli understood what was happening. He knew it was God calling Samuel. So he told Samuel to go back into your sleeping quarters and wait for God to call again. When he calls you, your are to say “Speak Lord, your Servant is listening!”
When the Lord called the third time Samuel did exactly what Eli told him to do “Speak Lord, your Servant is listening!”
Yall this is one of the most powerful phrases in all of scripture: “Speak Lord, your servant is listening!’ this statement is loaded with meat:
Speak Lord-There was recognition of the authority of God in his response. “Speak Lord” says the only one right now that needs to be talking is you Lord. Let me sit at your feet and just listen
“Your Servant is listening”-Samuel calls himself “God’s Servant” This tells us there was a recognition on behalf of Samuel as a servant my rights, decision, directions, and dreams must submit to the call, plan and purposes of God. I don’t have any rights, I don’t have time, I don’t have resources all of my stuff is the Master’s which he lets me manage.
In (v.11-14) God prophecies to Samuel that he was taking over and Eli was being replaced for his unwillingness to discipline his son who were blaspheming the Temple Regulations.
Apply
Apply
One of the Biggest problem of the American Church. Folks are unable to sense the move of God in their life, nor do they see the power of God in their life and I think it is primarily because they never have said to God “Speak Lord, your servant is listening” I meant it.
Let me give you a principle saints:
6 Don’t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them under their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces.
(v.6) Jesus is using “Pearls” in this text figuratively.
Have you ever heard of the idiom “Pearls of Wisdom?”
Pearls are precious jewel, essentially God is saying do not give what is precious to pigs(fools, lazy, unmotivated, stubborn)
In this text I believe Jesus is talking about teaching/wisdom but the principle applies to your Time, Treasure, your Body.
Principle: If God tells us to not continue to give our pearls of wisdom to hard-headed people then what do you think God’s response is to people who when he talks to them they close the door, or always have excuses why they can’t complete a task he asked them to do.
When you submit to listen to God’s direction and then obey him, he will begin to reveal more to you on a daily basis. You will see his power manifested in your life in ways you could not imagine.
Are you truly available or is your door always shut?
A believers must be available but they must serve with the right motive
II. Believers serve with the Right Motives
II. Believers serve with the Right Motives
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 “ ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger and you didn’t take me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of me.’ 44 “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help you?’ 45 “Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
(EXE-v.31-34) In these verses Jesus is describing a judgement that will take place after the his Second Coming. This is up for some debate among scholar’s but I take the position these are the folks who are still alive after the tribulation period. This is the period when God rains judgement on the world. Clearly there will be some christian who make it through the tribulations and some folks who are unbelievers will make it as well. Based on the numbers from the Book of Revelation 5/6 of the population will die during the Tribulation. If you based that 5/6 on our current population that means roughly 1.25B will make it through the tribulation. This judgement is a time for those 1.25B left over to be judge. Notice what Jesus says “The Sheep over to the right” and the “Goats to the left” This why they call this judgement “The Sheep and Goats Judgement” this is different judgement than “The Great White Throne Judgement” Found in Revelation 20
I want to focus on (v.35)
35 “ ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’ 40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
35 “ ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
(v.35) Jesus named five descriptors of position people fall into in life:
All the basic necessities for human survival
Need for food-
Need for Water-basic necessities of life
Sheltering those who are different than you-The word for Stranger in this text is “xenos” which means foreigner. Someone with a different culture, from a different background, unlike yourself. Most us would be willing to allow family to stay with us or friends, because he share similarities. The Lord says when you take folks in who you have little in common with you are doing it for me.
Need for Clothing-another basic necessity
Need for “Fellowship”-Jesus says its not just tangible things that cost money like; clothing, water, and food. But also ministering to someone relationally. Sometimes folks don’t need things they need “human interaction” Notice Jesus said “you visited me”
This last one leaves everyone without excuse, because it eliminates the “I don’t have any extra money” When you can’t give, give your time developing a relationship with the lonely. Learning to encourage the discouraged.
Our Sister Helena did this. She did not have a lot of money, but I got a birthday card, anniversary card, and Fathers’ Day card every year since she came to this church. Not only me but also my wife.....
(v.37) “Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?”
In this text you will notice that the Righteous were mystified. We didn’t help you Lord we were helping people. Now understand the people saying this at this judgement are alive now, or they haven’t been born yet if the Lord tarry’s for another 50 years.
The Righteous were so consumed with meeting needs that they didn’t see faces. They saw needs. The True Believers are driven by the right Motives. They were in it for the pure motive of obeying the Lord. I think the Lord surprised them with this revelation in (v.40)
(v.40) “And the King will answer them, Truly I tell you whatever you did for one of the lest of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”
(EXE-v.40) Jesus tells the available servants I know when you were helping people those were real people with social security numbers and birth certificates but you actually doing it for me. As my ambassador or vassal I was able to extend my love in a practical way to future believers and current believers. We are Jesus human body parts.
Jesus is in heaven so he uses human vessels to communicate his love, compassion, and grace to the people of this world. Think about how you got saved because someone gave you the gospel, Every door thats’ opened in your life most likely came through a person God used. Your marriage is the result of two people extending the Lord of God to one another. Jesus speaks in tangible, practical ways through the love that extends from his body which is every blood bought believer. You are the tangible answer to other peoples prayers.
You see why it’s important for you to be a conduit of his love to a broken world. When you shut the door on opportunities to serve, or meet a need you are essentially blocking the Love of God of getting where it needs to go. Thank God “one monkey don’t stop the show” God always has back up plans and the people who God seeks to extend his love too will get ministered to might as well be you.
This is sinful and wicked mentality When you say “I know God will take of them through someone else, so I am good” When a person has this type of attitude consistently they are behaving like an “Unbeliever” That is the same thing in James 2 when folks come to the door for a coat and folks said “Go away and be warmed”
Notice this phrase Jesus uses in Matthew 25:40:
40 “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
(Exe-v.40) “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”
(v.40) In this text Jesus talks about a category of people to which our ministry should be pointed towards.
Who are “the least of these brothers and sisters of mine”?
Is Jesus talking about his biological Family?
Is Jesus talking about his Jewish Family?
Is Jesus talking about a different category all together?
-Let’s take a into the book of Matthew to see if Jesus uses similar phraseology in other situations:
46 While he was still speaking with the crowds, his mother and brothers were standing outside wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” 48 He replied to the one who was speaking to him, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” 49 Stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
(v.46-47) Someone approached Jesus and told him “Your people want to talk to you” Jesus then looked out at the crowd and said:
48 He replied to the one who was speaking to him, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” 49 Stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!
(v.48) “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” Jesus ask a rhetorical question. These are question that should not solicit an response but reflection.
(v.49) “Stretching out his hand towards his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!”
Jesus tells the people you are my family, not my biological family, not my Jewish family but my spiritual family.
How does one get into his family?
50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
(v.50) “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother”
They way you become a member of Jesus family is Spiritual Rebirth First.
9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
Summary:
Summary:
One of the primary signs of true conversion is that the new servant is available to the Lord, they no longer view their possession, time and treasure as their own but God’s and they use them accordingly.
When we minister to Jesus family, we are ministering to Jesus himself.
A consistent lack of desire to commit yourself to the ministry of the saints gives good evidence you are not believer.
41 “Then he will also say to those on the left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels! 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink; 43 I was a stranger and you didn’t take me in; I was naked and you didn’t clothe me, sick and in prison and you didn’t take care of me.’ 44 “Then they too will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or without clothes, or sick, or in prison, and not help you?’ 45 “Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Testimony of Pastor Antonio Wimberly
Part II
Part II
4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer. 5 Also, if anyone competes as an athlete, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer ought to be the first to get a share of the crops.
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Intro:
Intro:
William Booth
William Booth began The Salvation Army in 1865 as a means to help the suffering souls throughout London who were not willing to attend – or even welcomed into – a traditional church.
Thieves, prostitutes, gamblers, and drunkards were among his first converts to Christianity, and as his ministry grew, the gospel of Jesus Christ was spread far and wide to the poor, the vulnerable, and the destitute.
Though General Booth died in 1912, he laid a firm foundation for the lifesaving work that The Salvation Army continues to perform today in over 100 countries.
Catherine Booth
Catherine Booth was known as the “Army Mother.” In her world, women had few rights, no place in the professional sphere, and a minimal presence in church leadership.
Yet in her marriage to William Booth, she became an evangelist, preacher, theologian, and co-founder of The Salvation Army.
A truly passionate Christian, Catherine believed that loving God meant loving people through action. Her legacy of love, sacrifice, and service continues to shape The Salvation Army today.
Mission Statement of Salvation Army
Mission Statement of Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
Ministries of the Salvation Army
Ministries of the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army operates summer camps for children, Silver crest Residences, and adult day care centres. It has headquarter offices internationally, nationally and for each territory and division. Some of the other facilities include:[3]
Homeless hostels
Residential addiction dependency programs
Children's homes
Homes for elderly persons
Mother and baby homes
Women's and men's refuge centres
General hospitals
Schools
Maternity hospitals
After School Programs
Food Pantries
Overnight Warming Stations
Cooling Stations
Always:
Always:
One of the tangible signs of conversion in the life of a believer is a thirst to minister to the needs of God’s people and to those who will be saved through his love extended to them from the hands and feet of believers.
III. Believers learn how to prioritize eternal matters
III. Believers learn how to prioritize eternal matters
4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer.
In these particular set of verses Paul uses these vivid metaphor’s to helps us understand our christian journey.
He speaks of three different occupations to help us better understand our marathon on Earth.
He calls us Soldiers-Soldiers are single mindedly focus. Soldiers do not have the luxury of being double-minded. The have objectives on the battlefield and that’s all that matters. They do not have the time nor the energy to worry about food, clothing, or shelter. That is why the US military provides this for them and their families.
He call us Athletes-Athletes understand the value of personal discipline and daily training: Eating, sleeping and working out.
He call us Farmers: Farmers understand the value of delayed gratification. They understand the reaping and sowing process. They understand the importance of patiently waiting for the rains to come. They know what it means to walk by faith as they can only plant, but they cannot control the weather which is control by God.
These occupation point us towards some powerful principles as it pertains what the Christian life is like.
4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer.
4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.
(Exe-v.4) “No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life; he seeks to please the commanding officer”
(v.4) “No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life”
Paul tells us soldiers(Christian) do not get entangled in the concerns of civilian life. We need to define entangled:
Entangled: intertwine, to weave together---present(ongoing), passive(verb is acting on the subject), indicative
This entanglement is when your life priorities get mix in, and woven together into one whole. In this scenario all things in your life take on the same importance. You lose perspective on what the greater objective is.
(v.4) “No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in the concerns of civilian life”
What does Paul mean when he says “the concerns of civilian life?”
Once a Soldier is done with his military responsibility he must then resume the natural duties that any person must take care of: Food, clothing & shelter for them and their family
Christian never leave the battlefield. Jesus Christ expects us to engage in warfare for the whole of our life until he calls us home.
Notice the command “not to get entangled” does not mean we don’t pray, or think about. Paul is communicating that a believer in Jesus Christ views their present struggles in light of their eternal reality.
Part of our present struggle is to care for those who cannot care for themselves. Part of our present commission is to help be father’s and mother’s to the motherless, brothers and sisters to the brother less, and friends to the friendless. We are to be the physical extension of the love of God in this world.
Folks who constantly have other things going, the supersede this part of the great commandment leave good evidence they may never have truly converted. When you can look on human needs and not feel a sense of “What can I do?” you need to check yourself. Let me show you from the text how Jesus describes this distracted person:
18 “So listen to the parable of the sower: 19 When anyone hears the word about the kingdom and doesn’t understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the one sown along the path. 20 And the one sown on rocky ground—this is one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy. 21 But he has no root and is short-lived. When distress or persecution comes because of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 Now the one sown among the thorns—this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. 23 But the one sown on the good ground—this is one who hears and understands the word, who does produce fruit and yields: some a hundred, some sixty, some thirty times what was sown.”
(v.22) “now the one sown among the thorns, this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful”
Jesus tells us some folks are so focused on the affairs of this world either:
Always concerned about how they will make it
Always concerned with the accumulation of wealth, never being satisfied
Jesus says these two dilemmas cause the word to be choked, which invariable keeps this person from embracing the Gospel because they are too concerned with Civilian Realities.
Going to Bible School and the Concerns of this world
IV. Believers are truly motivated by their future reward from God rather than men
IV. Believers are truly motivated by their future reward from God rather than men
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
(Exe-v.58) “Therefore”
(v.58) This is the resurrection chapter of 1 Cor. Paul is making the case the if there is no Resurrection our faith is in vain. The Resurrection is the finale of the Cross. Without the Resurrection we will die and be separated from God, but with the Resurrection we have victory. This should give you a brief understanding of why “therefore” is precedes that truths Paul talks about in this final verse in the 15th Chapter of Corinthians .
(v.58) “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
My dear brothers and sisters-This is a principle that applies to all the saints in God’s church
Be steadfast(body)-sedentary, sitting fast, steady. Rider sitting on a horse straddled in
This Steadfastness is related to your assurance of the resurrection. Fully confident the Lord is coming back to get you one day to bring you home.
Be immovable(Head)-this carries the idea of having a mind fix to do something! this word is the opposite of wishy-washy. This is a mind made up and fix to complete a task.
Be always excelling- “always abounding” NASB, NKJV this word abounding means: be outstanding, be prominent, excel.
“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
Romans–Galatians Comment
Believers must always excel in their “labor,” which translates a word meaning “that which one does as regular activity, work, occupation, task.”368 Every task God calls a believer to do should be “in the Lord.” Of course, this includes evangelizing unbelievers and building up the church (cf. “the work of the Lord” in 16:10). It also includes fulfilling the vocational responsibilities of a spouse, parent, child, sibling, church member, employee, volunteer, citizen, neighbor, etc.369
Dear Saints a part of our Christian Testimony is how we work, lead our families, serve at our churches. God calls us to excel in all that we do.
Our attitude and service to God is our gift to God. Somewhat like the OT doctrine of animal sacrifice. Notice what Israel did as it pertains to Animal Sacrifice to God.
17 The Lord spoke to Moses: 18 “Speak to Aaron, his sons, and all the Israelites and tell them: Any man of the house of Israel or of the resident aliens in Israel who presents his offering—whether they present payment of vows or freewill gifts to the Lord as burnt offerings—19 must offer an unblemished male from the cattle, sheep, or goats in order for you to be accepted. 20 You are not to present anything that has a defect, because it will not be accepted on your behalf. 21 “When a man presents a fellowship sacrifice to the Lord to fulfill a vow or as a freewill offering from the herd or flock, it has to be unblemished to be acceptable; there must be no defect in it. 22 You are not to present any animal to the Lord that is blind, injured, maimed, or has a running sore, festering rash, or scabs; you may not put any of them on the altar as a food offering to the Lord. 23 You may sacrifice as a freewill offering any animal from the herd or flock that has an elongated or stunted limb, but it is not acceptable as a vow offering. 24 You are not to present to the Lord anything that has bruised, crushed, torn, or severed testicles; you must not sacrifice them in your land.
This right here in Lev is what we call policy & procedure.
Both Israelite and Alien are to follow the same procedure
Sin, Vow, freewill or burnt must be an unblemished male sheep, cow or goat for an acceptable sacrifice.
no sores, rashes, scabs, blindness, injuries or defects.
(v.24) “You are not to present to the Lord anything that has bruised, crushed, torn, or severed testicles; you must not sacrifice them in your land”
God in his foreknowledge understanding the human tendency of man said. Don’t not bring to me sheep how cannot procreate. Why?
Sheep who cannot procreate are of no value to the owner.
Notice what became of Israel several centuries after these protocols were put into place:
6 “A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of me? says the Lord of Armies to you priests, who despise my name.” Yet you ask, “How have we despised your name?” 7 “By presenting defiled food on my altar.” “How have we defiled you?” you ask. When you say, “The Lord’s table is contemptible.” 8 “When you present a blind animal for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick animal, is it not wrong? Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the Lord of Armies.
Summary:
Summary:
Malachi the prophet reports that Israel had become so lack in its worship of God that they begin to treat God like a common house dog. Back in the day those who I knew that had dogs used to take the leftover food and mix it with the dogfood and feed the dog. Now that is understandable for dogs but when we start giving God the left overs.
Saints will readily admit to being guilty of giving God leftover at times. In my studies, in my prayers, in my service to him. What we want to strive for is that God should get our best. There should be a standard of excellence bar none! Even in your exhaustion you can still give God your best. When Jesus said “I thirst” in his exhaustion he was giving God his best.
Dear Saints lets us give sacrifices to God as if we truly believe “He is coming back again!” If that wasn’t enough let me put another layer on this one from a passage in Hebrews:
1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.
I want you to sit on this text for second. Don’t rush into. I want you to truly think about the truths found in this text:
Angels are among us
Angels are an intricate part of our sanctification. God uses them to help shape our faith. From this text clearly sends them to test the maturity and willingness of our faith.
Angels are able to take on the form of human bodies with bodily functions(like eating)
Angels identities are kept private from the Christian as a test of their true hearts motive.
Assume already that you have missed some angelic opportunities and you may have hit a home run with some of God’s messengers’ but either way it ought to blow your mind that you came face to face with a Supernatural Being and God gave you an opportunity to serve them before they return home to heaven.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Be avaible to the Master
Be Motivate to serve his people for the right reason
Keep your priorities straight as a servant of the Lord. Don’t let eternal priorities become intertwine with temporal priorities
Don’t forget about the Awards ceremony. Labor on Earth as it you believe the Lord will reward you openly in heaven for your service to his bride.
Illustration of Cori and Mama Page
Open the Doors of the Church
Open the Doors of the Church
Ministering to the Least of Them
Ministering to the Least of Them
Part 3
Part 3
Review
Review
Believers are Available
Believers serve with pure motives
Believers learn how to prioritize eternal matters
Believers are motivated by their future reward from God rather than men
Intro:
Intro:
The Torah
The Torah
7 “If there is a poor person among you, one of your brothers within any of your city gates in the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother.
11 For there will never cease to be poor people in the land; that is why I am commanding you, ‘Open your hand willingly to your poor and needy brother in your land.’
Historical Books
8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the trash heap. He seats them with noblemen and gives them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the Lord’s; he has set the world on them.
Poetry Books
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him from all his troubles.
17 I am oppressed and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my helper and my deliverer; my God, do not delay.
1 Happy is one who is considerate of the poor; the Lord will save him in a day of adversity.
31 The one who oppresses the poor person insults his Maker, but one who is kind to the needy honors him.
17 Kindness to the poor is a loan to the Lord, and he will give a reward to the lender.
Prophetic Books
1 Listen to this message, you cows of Bashan who are on the hill of Samaria, women who oppress the poor and crush the needy, who say to their husbands, “Bring us something to drink.”
NT Books
5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Didn’t God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?
When one looks at these text it is safe to say that God has a special place in his heart for the those in need
and it seems from these scriptures alone that individually and corporately we should help the poor in all circumstances without qualification, but is that really true?
What would this look like at the local church?
Should we help those who are members and saved the same way we help those who are not believers?
Should we help folks financially who we believe to be in active addiction to drugs or alcohol?
Should we help folks who are living in sinful situation who are experiencing consequences of their behavior?
In a church of believers there will be a broad spectrum of beliefs related to benevolence in the church
One Extreme(The Giver): These are the people that believe the church should be prepared to give without regard to the circumstances of the need. “They say things like I just give it what they do with it is between them and God” they rarely say no. They believe a large portion of the church resources should go to the poor.
Second Extreme(The Miser) These are the people who make people fill out a 20 page application , run their credit report and then make them wait 10 business days to give them just enough to meet only a small portion of their need. These are the folks who say “People need to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps”
Third Group: These are the folks who exist between these extremes. They usually lean to either of these sides.
Eccl 7:18 can help us with this
18 It is good that you grasp the one and do not let the other slip from your hand. For the one who fears God will end up with both of them.
18 It is good to grasp the one and not let go of the other. Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes.
18 It’s best to stay in touch with both sides of an issue. A person who fears God deals responsibly with all of reality, not just a piece of it.
Solomon seems to be sayin that it is wise to have a balanced view of life’s issue. And that the right answer is usually a mixture of two positions. Not all or nothing.
It is important that you realize when you interpret scripture you have an interpretive grid whereby which you interpret through your Social, and Political lens which leads you to magnify the things you agree with and reinterpret the things you don’t agree with.
After reading all those scriptures on giving to the poor and helping the needy are there any other principles that we can glean related to:
Should there be boundaries around giving Personally or Corporately? What would the Lord have us do in each situation that the church is faced with on a daily basis?
Saints the Bible is not a step by step protocol on how to make wise decision. The bible is a Supernatural Narrative that tells the story of God sending his Son to rescue a mankind from the grips of a death sentence impose by God as a just punishment for rebellion, this story is culminated by the restoration of all things that have been polluted by man’s rebellion.
As students of the bible we learn to make decision by looking at the character of God in the narrative of scripture to determine the right path we should take in our journey.
I want to give you some principles from scriptures that should guide our decision as it pertains to private and corporate benevolence
I. As a rule Benevolence should be conditional
I. As a rule Benevolence should be conditional
1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side. He was a prominent man of noble character from Elimelech’s family. His name was Boaz. 2 Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone with whom I find favor?” Naomi answered her, “Go ahead, my daughter.” 3 So Ruth left and entered the field to gather grain behind the harvesters. She happened to be in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family. 4 Later, when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he said to the harvesters, “The Lord be with you.” “The Lord bless you,” they replied. 5 Boaz asked his servant who was in charge of the harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 The servant answered, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the territory of Moab. 7 She asked, ‘Will you let me gather fallen grain among the bundles behind the harvesters?’ She came and has been on her feet since early morning, except that she rested a little in the shelter.” 8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Listen, my daughter. Don’t go and gather grain in another field, and don’t leave this one, but stay here close to my female servants.
Explain Ruth:
Naomi left Israel and went to Moab with her Husband Elimilech due to a famine in the land of Israel.
They left with the two sons Mahlon and Chilion
While in Moab her Husband died. Then here sons took for themselves two Moabite women. Orpah and Ruth.
After a decade her Sons died leaving; Naomi, Orpah and Ruth without Men to support them. The oldest son was responsible for caring for his wife and mother as she got older.
This dilemma made it necessary for Naomi to go back home where maybe a relative could help her in her old age.
She told both of her Daughters in Law to go and find husband because she cannot care for them, and they were still young enough to remarry. Orpah left but Ruth refuse to leave her side, so Naomi relented and let her come back to Judah with her.
1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side. He was a prominent man of noble character from Elimelech’s family. His name was Boaz. 2 Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone with whom I find favor?” Naomi answered her, “Go ahead, my daughter.”
(v.1-2) This text gives us a snapshot into the ancient worlds way of taking care of the poor. This is not an apples to apples comparison with contemporary systems of caring for the poor so we need to dig a little bit to understand their world.
Ruth has asked permission of her Mother-in-Law to go and gather wheat & produce from other peoples fields. When no one from Naomi house stepped up to help them Ruth takes it upon herself to care for the two of them.
Ruth planned to go into other people fields and pick up fallen produce, was she stealing?
Lets see if we can get some more data from scripture to see what’s going on:
lev 19:9-10
9 “When you reap the harvest of your land, you are not to reap to the very edge of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. 10 Do not strip your vineyard bare or gather its fallen grapes. Leave them for the poor and the resident alien; I am the Lord your God.
(v.9-10) Notice the text. This spells of the relief welfare system of ancient Israel. After giving the first 10% to the Lord the landowner was then able to harvest his produce for his family and to sell, but he was not commanded to also not glean all the way to the edges of this land. As an example say you had 100 rows of corn on a farm. The Lord would get the first 10 rows. Then you would get row 11-89 and then the poor would get 90-100. This is command of God so that essentially the poor could eat and sustain themselves during times of struggle.
1 Now Naomi had a relative on her husband’s side. He was a prominent man of noble character from Elimelech’s family. His name was Boaz. 2 Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone with whom I find favor?” Naomi answered her, “Go ahead, my daughter.”
(v.2) “Ruth the Moabitess asked Naomi, “Will you let me go into the fields and gather fallen grain behind someone with whom I find favor?” Naomi answered her, Go ahead, my daughter”
Ruth asked her Mother-in-Law cannot I go and find some sustenance for us. Naomi gave her “The OK” then Ruth left>
(v.2) “Gather fallen grain” Ruth had been in Israel long enough to be taught according to the OT law while in the midst of Harvesting and Produce fall on the ground leave it there so that the poor could later gather it up so Ruth so I am going to look for “fallen produce” this lets you know the desperation that she and Naomi were experiencing but it also tells you some more truth.
3 So Ruth left and entered the field to gather grain behind the harvesters. She happened to be in the portion of the field belonging to Boaz, who was from Elimelech’s family. 4 Later, when Boaz arrived from Bethlehem, he said to the harvesters, “The Lord be with you.” “The Lord bless you,” they replied. 5 Boaz asked his servant who was in charge of the harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 The servant answered, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the territory of Moab. 7 She asked, ‘Will you let me gather fallen grain among the bundles behind the harvesters?’ She came and has been on her feet since early morning, except that she rested a little in the shelter.”
(v.3-4) Ruth humbly went into the fields and patiently walked behind harvesters and collected what had fallen out the baskets of the harvester.
You will notice from this text Ruth a foreigner realized that feeding her family would require some amount of effort from her. She had to wake up early when harvesters start at 6am bring her basket and she had to be willing to humbly herself while working the same hours as the harvesters.
In the midst of gleaning she found herself in the field of Boaz who was a relative of her Father-in-Law Elimilech.
5 Boaz asked his servant who was in charge of the harvesters, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 The servant answered, “She is the young Moabite woman who returned with Naomi from the territory of Moab.
(v.5) Clearly this was Boaz first time seeing Ruth because he asks his servants who she was.
(v.6) The servants tell Boaz she is the young Moabite who came with Naomi....notice what they said about her:
“She came and has been on her feet since early morning, except she rested a little in the shelter” they way they described her put a lot of emphasis on her work ethic. Although she is gleaning from someone else’s field there was a desire to work hard.
What conclusion can we draw from this text?
Point of Application:
The whole of Israel Benevolence to the poor was conditional in the sense they could not just receive the blessing without humbling going out and working in the same manner as the Harvester who Harvested the grain. This was tedious work and time consuming.
When I say “As a rule Benevolence must be conditional” Generally speaking the church should not be helping folks without some measure of requirement on behalf of the receiver of the gift.
People who have a mind to work but fall on hard times will generally never complain about conditions they need to meet before getting help
Exception: There are times when the church steps up to help without any conditions being meet based on the circumstance
Emergency: Fire, immediate lost of job, Death, or prolong sickness
Evangelistic Tool: Cook-out for the community, Back Pack drive for parents, Supporting local school districts with school supplies and bodies to create and inroad for the Gospel.
God knew when he inspired the OT writers to author scripture Benevolence without conditions could lead to Laziness let’s hear from Solomon on Laziness:
5 The son who gathers during summer is prudent; the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.
11 The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense.
One pastor never prepared during the week, and on Sunday morning he'd sit on the platform while the church was singing the hymns desperately praying, "Lord, give your message, Lord give me your message." One Sunday, while desperately praying for God's message, he heard the Lord say, "Ralph, here's my message. You're lazy
Ministering to the Least of These Part IV
Ministering to the Least of These Part IV
II. Benevolence should not encourage sinful lifestyles
II. Benevolence should not encourage sinful lifestyles
6 Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister who is idle and does not live according to the tradition received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you should imitate us: We were not idle among you; 8 we did not eat anyone’s food free of charge; instead, we labored and toiled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us. 10 In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.” 11 For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. They are not busy but busybodies. 12 Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves. 13 But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good.
Intro:
Intro:
Why Employers Can’t Find Enough Workers —and 4 Things They Can Do
Help-wanted signs are visible across the economy at a variety of businesses — especially in hospitality, manufacturing, and construction — as trying to hire enough workers amid an economic rebound can be a difficult task. The pace of hiring cannot keep up with demand, even though the current unemployment rate of just over 6% remains well above the historically low pre-pandemic levels of 2019.....Forbes Magazine
Illustration from Cracker Barrel
Review
Believers are Available
Believers serve with pure motives
Believers learn how to prioritize eternal matters
Believers are motivated by their future reward from God rather than men
As rule Benevolence should be conditional
6 Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister who is idle and does not live according to the tradition received from us.
(EXE)(v.6) “Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”
(v.6) Saints this an imperatival statement by Paul. Paul is not looking for consensus he is looking for submission. He is calling the body to a universal command. He then puts “in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ” Paul says I am giving this command with the full agreement and delegated authority from the Groom/Head of the Church Jesus the Christ.
(EXE)(v.6) “Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother and sister who is idle and does not live according to the tradition recieved from us”
(v.6) Paul command us to “stay away” from every brother and sister who is: idle
We need to do some work on that word: Ataktos: The translators don’t have consensus on this word:
CSB-idle, NASB-unruly, NKJV-disorderly, NIV-idle and disruptive, KJV-disorderly, ESV-in idleness
Outside of the NT:
Josephus uses the word Ataktos synonymously with lawlessness and disorder
In the Second Century B.C book The Testament of Naphtali it says “do nothing in a disorderly(akapton) manner
The CSB, ESV are basing their translation of this word on the context of this passage and the tone of the book. Idle make sense but it is a poor translation of this word.
The NASB, KJV, NKJV, and the NIV took the middle position(I am going to just put both)
The Text should read like this:
6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition which you received from us.
Why does this matter?
Using this word gives us the root cause of folks idleness. The folks idleness was simply a symptom of a bigger lie that some of the folk had accepted, which lead to unruly and disruptive behavior.
Lets walk backward to Chapter 2:1-3
1 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him: We ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to be easily upset or troubled, either by a prophecy or by a message or by a letter supposedly from us, alleging that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the apostasy comes first and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.
What is the subject?
(v.1) The coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. The issue is related to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ
What is the problem?
(v.1a-2) The whole congregation had began to worry that they missed the coming of the Lord. This had been told them by some False Teacher and False Letters written under the pseudo name of the Apostle Paul. This was done often in the ancient world. People would write letters under a Pseudo name of a famous philosopher, or speaker then pawn them off as original. Some preacher had upset the body of believers saying the Lord had come back already.
What was the solution?
(v.3) “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way” Discernment is the way to keep yourself from being deceived. Jesus tells the church certain criteria has to be meet for the Eschaton. Essentially calm down and get back to work.
It is clear that not all of the body of believers in Thessalonica got back to work for the gospel and the kingdom. Some fully embraced the message of the false teachers believing that the Second Coming of Christ was spiritual not physical and had already taken place, so therefore they would behave as if paradise was a present reality…Refusing to work, Living off the resources of other believers work, and Because they were not working guess what they started doing:
5 For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. 6 So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation.
(v.7) Folks who quit their job believing the Second Coming of Christ happened spent more time out at night drinking
14 We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
(v.14) Paul calls the brethren to “admonish/check” the unruly/disruptive. When folks stop working they had more time for foolishness now let’s go to our passage in 2 Thess 3:6-13:
6 Now we command you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister who is idle and does not live according to the tradition received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you should imitate us: We were not idle among you; 8 we did not eat anyone’s food free of charge; instead, we labored and toiled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us. 10 In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.” 11 For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. They are not busy but busybodies. 12 Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves. 13 But as for you, brothers and sisters, do not grow weary in doing good.
Now we are truly ready to dive in this text:
(EXE)(v.6) “Now we command you brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from every brother or sister who is idle(unruly) and does not live according to the tradition recieved from us”
Paul tells us the primary problem right here. The primary problem is not idleness but a departure from the Apostle teaching concerning the End of all things, which lead to idleness among other things.
7 For you yourselves know how you should imitate us: We were not idle among you; 8 we did not eat anyone’s food free of charge; instead, we labored and toiled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9 It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us.
(EXE)(v.7) “For you yourselves know how you should imitate us: We were not idle among you;”
(v.7) This text let’s us know Paul was in Thessalonica prior to this letter. Paul lived among the folks so that they would have a pattern to follow. Notice what he says “For you yourselves know how you should imitate us” Paul lived, taught and served among the people giving them a pattern to follow. In other words don’t follow anyone who does not live and function based on what you saw from me.
(EXE)(v.8) “We did not eat anyone’s food free of charge; instead, we labored and toiled, working night and day, so that we would not be a burden to any of you”
(v.7a-8) Notice the end of (v.7) “We were not unruly among you” then Paul goes into a diatribe about what unruly looks like. Paul says as leaders we ministered and preach yet we didn’t “freeload” off anyone.
(EXE)(v.9) “It is not that we don’t have the right to support, but we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us”
(v.9) Paul says we have a right to receive remuneration just for our preaching and teaching, but so that we can show you the value of working and not living off the resources of other folks we will Preach and Work at the same time.
Paul did this to address the problems they were having in this church related to their belief God had already return so it was time to relax and enjoy paradise.
Not all of the saints were deceived by this error but it was enough of them that Paul felt the need to address it.
10 In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat.” 11 For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. They are not busy but busybodies. 12 Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves.
(EXE)(v.10) “In fact, when we were with you, this is what we commanded you: “If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat”
(v.10) “In fact” Paul during his argument recollects that during his time being physically there he had to check some folks for some of the behavior they were displaying. Notice what he said “we commanded you” Paul commanded the church body again yall let’s take a look at what he told them on his physical visit with them:
“If anyone isn’t willing to work, he should not eat”
This is an interesting statement by Paul.
How could Paul make a statement about what happens in the home of each individual family?
More Specifically in our contemporary society; If a person refuses to work how could I stop them eating. Need to look at this more deeply.
When the church began to formulate in Acts and in Corinth the body of Believers shared a communal meal after taking communion. It was called a common meal it sounded like a potluck.
Paul seems to be saying “There were some folks coming to this meal who hadn’t work or contributed to the meal at all yet they were coming with empty stomachs ready to eat. And they probably had some aluminum foil as well.
The text says Paul commanded that those who refused to work or show any willingness to be gainfully employed should not eat.
The Ancient world Particularly in the church was far more communal than we are in Western Society. People eat together, did life together, weddings, funerals, and births. Weekly meals together ‘True Fellowship’
11 For we hear that there are some among you who are idle. They are not busy but busybodies.
(EXE)(v.11) Paul says we hear there some unruly folks are not busy just busybodies. Paul showed some rhetorical skills with this line. We could should name him “Lil Paul”
Busybodies:
A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament περι-εργάζομαι
to bustle about uselessly, to busy one’s self about trifling, needless, useless matters, (Sir. 3:23; Hdt. 3, 46; Plat. apol. p. 19 b.; al.): used apparently of a person officiously inquisitive about others’ affairs
officiously-The give advice where it is not solicited or needed
Paul rebukes some of the believers at Thessalonica by saying essentially yall need to stay out of folks business. You see gossip, and meddling are the fruit of idleness. Idleness was the result of False Teaching. Paul correct this philosophy. He commanded that Church resources and personal resources should not be used to facilitate other peoples Sin. To support sin Financially is a poor stewardship of God’s money.
Application:
Application:
Principle #1: In the covenant Community those who refuse to work and continue to solicit the church and church members for resources should be shunned
Principle #2: Your individual resources should not be used to support the sinful lifestyle of folks in your circles
Principle #3: The Churches resources should not be used to support the sinful lifestyles of folks in the congregation or the streets.
Principle #4: There are more ways to help folks besides finances. (Paul exhibits that in the text in v.14)
(v.14-15) “If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take note of that person; don’t associate with him, so that he may be ashamed. (v.15) Yet don’t consider him an enemy, but warn him as a brother”
Paul is saying take a hard stance “so that he may be ashamed” about:
living in your basement
eating all your cereal
hogging all the resources but not personally contributing anything to the pot.
Lazy men get active when it’s time to sleep. ~ German Proverbs
Source: https://proverbicals.com/laziness
The lazier a man is, the more he plans to do tomorrow. ~ Norwegian Proverbs
Source: https://proverbicals.com/laziness
Offer the lazy an egg, and they’ll want you to peel it for them. ~ Lithuanian Proverbs
Source: https://proverbicals.com/laziness
A lazy boy and a warm bed are difficult to part. ~ Danish Proverbs
Source: https://proverbicals.com/laziness
Open the doors of the church
III. Benevolence should promote independence not dependance
III. Benevolence should promote independence not dependance
12 Now we command and exhort such people by the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and provide for themselves.
IV. Benevolence
IV. Benevolence