Helping Others like Jesus Did in Tropical Colors
Today's Sermon was all about service, which fits right into what I have been learning and studying in the Book of Nehemiah. (More on Nehemiah later on in the week).
Today's Scripture comes from Luke 4:18-19. Here Jesus is quoting Isaiah 61:1-2. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted. To proclaim freedom for the prisoners. To recover the sight of the blind. To release the oppressed and proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
In this scripture we see the five types of people that Jesus came to help.
1. The Poor- The Have Nots
We can break down this group into three sections.
Material Poverty- When you are out of money. There are over 1 billion people in the world today who live off of one dollar a day.
Moral Poverty- When you lack integrity, the knowledge of right and wrong. When you have lost your moral conscience and you don't care.
Spiritual Poverty- When you don't know that Jesus died for your sins and that God has a plan and a purpose for your life.
2. The Brokenhearted- The Let Down
At one time or another we have all felt let down and brokenhearted. It is a part of life, but sometimes it can feel so overwhelming and difficult to get through. Jesus came to minister to those who have felt:
Disappointment-When life and things do not turn out the way you had planned.
Rejection-When you feel rejected by someone who loved you or you thought loved you.
Resentment-When you hold on the way people have hurt you. Resentment will eat at you more than any of the other forms and it will destroy you if it remains unhealed and untreated.
3. The Imprisoned-The Locked Up
There are over 3 million people behind bars in the United States alone. That's like putting the total population of New York City behind bars. Jail isn't the only place where people are imprisoned. Around the world there are millions of people who are living in prisons that they have built for themselves.
Addictions- There are things, circumstances, people, relationships, and activities you can be addicted to. These are things you'd like to get rid of, but you can't because you are addicted.
Secrets-You weren't meant to hold inside. It can't be healed until it's revealed. Secret sins must be confessed and held accountable to a spiritual mentor and to the Lord.
Ignorance-When a person doesn't have the education they need. Many of the first schools and hospitals in the world were built by Christian Missionaries, because the gospel is one of teaching and healing.
Fear-Fears keep us from becoming all that God wants us to be.
4.The Blind- The Shut Out
There are millions of people who are visually impaired. However, we can be impaired in other ways.
Relational Blindness- When you don't see how, or want to see how, you're messing up your relationships.
Spiritual Blindness- When you're not willing to admit how much you need a savior or Christ in your heart and life.
5. The Oppressed-The knocked Around
Political Oppression- The number one cause of slavery is the Sex Trade. Human Trafficking. The Sex Trade nearly doubles in the United States during the Super Bowl. What are we doing about it? Nothing. There are more slave in the world right now than there were during the American Civil War.
Cultural Oppression- This centers on our environments, where we live. This is Domestic violence, rape, and sexual violence. In the Middle East there are "honor killings." Where a man can kill his wife or daughter if he believes she has acted in a way that has dishonored him.
Spiritual Oppression- When you get depressed, feel pressured and stressed out, when you feel like you are at the end of your rope, like you're ready to toss in the towel and desire nothing more than to give it all up.
So what do we do? John 13:15 says "I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you."
Here are five things we must do. For each section think of and write down a name of one person you know or are related to that you can pray for, and have those hard, but loving talks with.
1. Preach the Good News. Here I want you to think of and commit to prayer the name of a family member who needs to know the Lord. Pray for them. Pray for God's guidance in witnessing to them. Then, when the Lord directs you, share the Gospel with this lost family member.
2. Heal the Brokenhearted. Here think of and write down the name of some you know who is brokenhearted. Someone who needs prayer for them.
3.Freedom for Prisoners. Here think of and commit to prayer one person who is trapped in their own prisons. If need be, pray for God's guidance if you need to have a very serious conversation with them about their destructive lifestyles. Sometimes love means having those tough conversations.
Remember John 8:32 " The truth will set you free." and 1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love. Perfect love casts out all fear."
4. Recovery of Sight. Here think of and commit to prayer one person you know or are related to who is either spiritually blind or relationally blind. As with number three, you may need to commit to prayer the notion of having that tough but loving conversation with them.
5. Release the Oppressed. Here think of and commit to prayer a person you know who is being beaten down by life or others. Someone who is not in a place to defend themselves. If you don't know a person, who are a group a people who have been disenfranchised, that God could use you to reach out to? Pray about how God can use you to reach out and love on these individuals.
Matthew 25:35-36, 40. "For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into you home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison and you visited me. I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me."
What I Wore:
This weekend was hot, hot, hot. So, I busted out the bright colors and light weight shirts in some very bright and tropical colors.
Saturday:
Melon Tee- Maurice's
Fire Orange Tank- Maurice's
Raw Edges Denim Skirt- Style J
Black Slip Ons- Maurice's
Today's Outfit:
Royal Purple Tee- JCP
Pink Escape Lace Tank- Maurice's
Plain Jean Skirt- Style J
Chambray Cardigan-Maurice's
Black Crochet Slip Ons- Maurice's
Today's Scripture comes from Luke 4:18-19. Here Jesus is quoting Isaiah 61:1-2. "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the broken hearted. To proclaim freedom for the prisoners. To recover the sight of the blind. To release the oppressed and proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
In this scripture we see the five types of people that Jesus came to help.
1. The Poor- The Have Nots
We can break down this group into three sections.
Material Poverty- When you are out of money. There are over 1 billion people in the world today who live off of one dollar a day.
Moral Poverty- When you lack integrity, the knowledge of right and wrong. When you have lost your moral conscience and you don't care.
Spiritual Poverty- When you don't know that Jesus died for your sins and that God has a plan and a purpose for your life.
2. The Brokenhearted- The Let Down
At one time or another we have all felt let down and brokenhearted. It is a part of life, but sometimes it can feel so overwhelming and difficult to get through. Jesus came to minister to those who have felt:
Disappointment-When life and things do not turn out the way you had planned.
Rejection-When you feel rejected by someone who loved you or you thought loved you.
Resentment-When you hold on the way people have hurt you. Resentment will eat at you more than any of the other forms and it will destroy you if it remains unhealed and untreated.
3. The Imprisoned-The Locked Up
There are over 3 million people behind bars in the United States alone. That's like putting the total population of New York City behind bars. Jail isn't the only place where people are imprisoned. Around the world there are millions of people who are living in prisons that they have built for themselves.
Addictions- There are things, circumstances, people, relationships, and activities you can be addicted to. These are things you'd like to get rid of, but you can't because you are addicted.
Secrets-You weren't meant to hold inside. It can't be healed until it's revealed. Secret sins must be confessed and held accountable to a spiritual mentor and to the Lord.
Ignorance-When a person doesn't have the education they need. Many of the first schools and hospitals in the world were built by Christian Missionaries, because the gospel is one of teaching and healing.
Fear-Fears keep us from becoming all that God wants us to be.
4.The Blind- The Shut Out
There are millions of people who are visually impaired. However, we can be impaired in other ways.
Relational Blindness- When you don't see how, or want to see how, you're messing up your relationships.
Spiritual Blindness- When you're not willing to admit how much you need a savior or Christ in your heart and life.
5. The Oppressed-The knocked Around
Political Oppression- The number one cause of slavery is the Sex Trade. Human Trafficking. The Sex Trade nearly doubles in the United States during the Super Bowl. What are we doing about it? Nothing. There are more slave in the world right now than there were during the American Civil War.
Cultural Oppression- This centers on our environments, where we live. This is Domestic violence, rape, and sexual violence. In the Middle East there are "honor killings." Where a man can kill his wife or daughter if he believes she has acted in a way that has dishonored him.
Spiritual Oppression- When you get depressed, feel pressured and stressed out, when you feel like you are at the end of your rope, like you're ready to toss in the towel and desire nothing more than to give it all up.
So what do we do? John 13:15 says "I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you."
Here are five things we must do. For each section think of and write down a name of one person you know or are related to that you can pray for, and have those hard, but loving talks with.
1. Preach the Good News. Here I want you to think of and commit to prayer the name of a family member who needs to know the Lord. Pray for them. Pray for God's guidance in witnessing to them. Then, when the Lord directs you, share the Gospel with this lost family member.
2. Heal the Brokenhearted. Here think of and write down the name of some you know who is brokenhearted. Someone who needs prayer for them.
3.Freedom for Prisoners. Here think of and commit to prayer one person who is trapped in their own prisons. If need be, pray for God's guidance if you need to have a very serious conversation with them about their destructive lifestyles. Sometimes love means having those tough conversations.
Remember John 8:32 " The truth will set you free." and 1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love. Perfect love casts out all fear."
4. Recovery of Sight. Here think of and commit to prayer one person you know or are related to who is either spiritually blind or relationally blind. As with number three, you may need to commit to prayer the notion of having that tough but loving conversation with them.
5. Release the Oppressed. Here think of and commit to prayer a person you know who is being beaten down by life or others. Someone who is not in a place to defend themselves. If you don't know a person, who are a group a people who have been disenfranchised, that God could use you to reach out to? Pray about how God can use you to reach out and love on these individuals.
Matthew 25:35-36, 40. "For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into you home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison and you visited me. I assure you, when you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me."
What I Wore:
This weekend was hot, hot, hot. So, I busted out the bright colors and light weight shirts in some very bright and tropical colors.
Saturday:
Melon Tee- Maurice's
Fire Orange Tank- Maurice's
Raw Edges Denim Skirt- Style J
Black Slip Ons- Maurice's
Today's Outfit:
Royal Purple Tee- JCP
Pink Escape Lace Tank- Maurice's
Plain Jean Skirt- Style J
Chambray Cardigan-Maurice's
Black Crochet Slip Ons- Maurice's
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