Greetings saints ...
i've been very busy toward the publication of "The Called" ...
https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2289&forum=41#14466
... which by God's grace should be out by October/November ... To Him be all the glory! ...
Anyhow ... i was channel surfing (as usual) last night, and came across a Christian station just in time to tune in to the husband/wife team that heads a non-profit Christian philanthropic orginization called:
FRIENDSHIPS UNLIMITED
http://www.friendships.org/
... i could hear Holy Spirit speaking thru them (via Matt. 25) as to what our response is to be regarding the hurricane Katrina survivors ... How that this is such a golden opportunity for the Church of Christ to rise up from our own selfish slumber to being the salt and light of the world that is our reasonable service ... i also watched a few ministers of God (i won't mention names so that some of you will not be stumbled from this message) who stated that while many of us may see God's judgment upon our land, we may not see in this also His answer to our prayers concerning Revival and it's subsequent harvesting of souls ... It was said that God's judgment is in fact and act of love, and even further extended grace to the heathen survivors in an opportunity to accept Christ in repentance to salvation, and to the already saved toward a renewed repentance toward our first love love of Him and a return to the first works ...
i know that many of you don't believe in NT judgment on folk (let alone nations), and many don't believe that Revival is coming ... You of course are entitled to such dis-belief, but all i hear from Holy Spirit is that Revival's coming, and in fact with this latest disaster it's already here (it just hasn't reached our level yet) ... Our Lord spoke in my spirit a short while ago that the window of pro-active repentance had closed and that we now face re-active repentance ... My own walk with our Lord has been altered from a 24/7 proclaimer of repentance, to that of His getting me ready to being an exhorter (spiritual help) and wise steward (physical help) to His saints/Church in our coming time of the Refiner's fire ... You may not believe it now, but with each passing day will you become even more aware that "judgment has already began in the house of the Lord".
The husband/wife leaders of FRIENSHIPS, and the ministers last night said that this is our golden opportunity to shine the love of Jesus before this darkend and ugly world, by: GIVING TILL IT HURTS ... WHICH BASICALLY MEANS SACRIFICING FROM OUR SELF, TO THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS LESS FORTUNATE ... The FRIENDSHIP folks need (as they said) Christ like, humble, joyous volunteers, with a servants attitude, to help them ... They also said that they could use money, but anything else that we can send (as our Lord leads us) ... In other words if we want to send parcels of (new) underwear, clothes, etc., then send it ... In fact what they said was whatever we do, we should do it as giving actually to Christ Himself - meaning that we would only give Christ our best, so should we to "the least of these" ...
i for one have been somewhat appaled at the saints in my circle who've told me that they've prayed for the Katrina survivors, but when i've asked them what physical/financial support they've sent they either give me a blank stare, or tell me that they're pretty tight on cash themselves ... Yeah ok ... That's when i have to surrender to Holy Spirit so as not to come across in the flesh when i remind them of their waist line and the widows mite and ...
Luke.16:10:
He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
... Saints how selfish can we be to not even allow Holy Spirit to prompt us to send even a dollar out of what the Lord has blessed us with? ... How can anyone claiming to be a child of Christ not be moved to help anyone in such utter devestation as what we've seen in both the Sunami and now Katrina? ... How can any of us noy fully understand that if not for the grace of God we could one day find ourselves in a similar situation, with our hands out? ... Our Lord in the last few years has totally re-defined my outlook on money/wealth/finances ... IT'S ALL HIS! ... And as wise stewards we need to be open to hearing Him say how He wants our allotment (from Him) of wealth to be used ... i've come to the place (thank you Jesus!) of when i hear Him say give, and how much, and to whom, i do as He says ... WE ALL NEED TO COME TO THIS PLACE!
If any child of God who comes across this thread have not been moved to seek God as to what He wants you to give, that thru you His love might be shed abroad not only spiritually, but physically, then shame on you, and may i humbly suggest you repent and reach out and help "the least of these" ... Most of us have far to busy lives to be missionaries, volunteers or folk who physically takes someone in, but God has raised up those who can and do, just as He has those of us who can and do send these other good souls financial support ... SAINTS-PLEASE-FOR THE LOVE OF JESUS- FIND A GOOD CHRISTIAN ORGINIZATION YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WITH-AND SEND $$$ ... AMEN ...
And in the meanwhile if this post is not convincing enough, let me post our Master's own words ...
Matt. 25:
13] Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
[14] For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
[15] And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
[16] Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
[17] And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
[18] But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
[19] After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
[20] And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
[21] His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
[22] He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
[23] His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
[24] Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
[25] And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
[26] His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
[27] Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
[28] Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
[29] For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
[30] And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
[31] When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
[32] And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
[33] And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
[34] Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
[35] For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
[36] Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
[37] Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
[38] When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
[39] Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
[40] And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
[41] Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
[42] For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
[43] I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
[44] Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
[45] Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
[46] And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
:beard:
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