http://www.praize.com/forums/ en-us no-reply@praize.com Thu, 23 May 2013 20:16:20 GMT Gossamer Forum by Gossamer Threads, Inc. http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification http://www.praize.com/forum/icons/gforum-logo.png http://www.praize.com/forums/ 50 50 http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/Nation_with_God%2C_God_in_Nation_is_a_Blessed_Nation__P117403/?page=unread#117403 I heard a sermon from Rodney Howard Browne about nation. Nation with God is the most blessed nation. And now It's time for us to be in charge to guide in the nation! In order for us to have a healthy nation. fa60da0767cc5545b023e70033fc4df6 Jul 15, 2012, 8:31 PM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/Unity_P84650/?page=unread#84650 Pastors In seeking the Lord all the more I see the need for true unity. Letting naysayers have the benifit of the doubt where they say it is impossible. Praise God all things are possible to God, in His agenda for it is holy and holds a purpose. The Lord wants us to be soul winners in these exciting times. It is time for pastors to bring to the lost the word of hope that is able to go into the hearts of man and do awesome things.Yes were to do this by showing our parishners that they can truly be equipped to help in area's we need help in. There is a reality to 5 fold ministry and preaching it to fruition with unity will I believer explode over the body enabling each of us to walk in spirit with each other. Then they will know we are christians by our love. Pastors i know you all know this, but why are we still not seeing unity take over yet? Prayer anfd faith in Christ the anointed one shall move us to victory. let us stand together quickly like never before. Praise God the Lord shall pour out His spirit on all flesh. Getting ready in positional Kingdom living has marching orders for the church, are we able yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God Bless you all Paul 0 Mar 8, 2011, 5:55 PM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/No_watering_down_the_gospel__P84313/?page=unread#84313 Pastors please hear my heart, were in times where folks do not want atuority, and they want to allow for a feel good structure. If this is a problem where you are at then it is time to say what the Lord would say. Choose this day whom you will serve. Love in unconditional terms is vital but the truth is that there are times tough love is needed.In Pastoral leadership we are to equip the saints for service. At times truth in love might seem too rough but if it is in love it is just truth and that is a good thing. If were not getting a salary which I am not getting one, then no one can say were hirelings. So do not worry about the reactions of others if you happen to be stepping on their toes. There are tons & tons of folks who do not think that too much money should pass through the hands of greedy pastors. If they are being greedy then absolutely, then do not put anything in the offering plate. Give with a cheerful heart. Sharing the word in how God wants to move in His Spirit is got to be the only agenda involved. Acts 17:28. In Him we live and have our being. How many pastors and evangelists, & teachers also lead with the capacity of lording authority that are out there. I do not care to know. But we have to speak the truth at all times. If one refuses to listen to truth after a couple of times all one can do after that is pray. Thank you in advance for any time you have ventured into in reading this. Redeeming the time is so important for all of God's people. Pastor Paul 0 Nov 22, 2010, 4:03 PM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/Biblical_Men_and_Women_P83788/?page=unread#83788 In observing the interactions of those that claim Christ on this site and several others as well as real life interactions me and my fellow bishops have been studying what in means to be a man and woman of God. This post will be dedicated to godly women. Men seeking a godly wife need look no farther the Proverbs 31. Indeed there is an entire ministry dedcated to this very ideal. I speak of course of Proverbs 31 Woman. For women this chapter will prepare them to become godly wives for their future or current husbands. Also for those that choose to remain single, that is, not to seek a husband, this chapter will prepare a woman to live a godly life bringing glory to God through the management of her house. As the spiritual leaders of the home it falls to men to help their wives become this godly woman. It falls to both husband and wife to teach these biblical principles to their daughters. As to the sons, these principles need to be taught to them so that they can recognize a godly woman. As so many Christians find themselves unequally yoked and end up fighting a 2 front war, 1. against the unbelieving and antagonistic world and 2. against their spouse who is supposed to stand shoulder to shoulder with them taking on all comers. In addition to Proverbs 31 there is another very useful passage for women. It is found in Titus 2. I firmly believe that the intense study and implementation by the women that have chosen Christ will result in stronger Christian women, stronger Christian families and untimately, a stronger church. This belief is held by every single member the The Way Global from the layperson to the bishops. With every Church, regardless of denomination, the clergy of those churches agree with this assessment. Of course we leave the discussion and instruction of God's Word to the clergy of those churches. As we are one body, working together to fulfill the commands of God can only yield a greater crop. Now for the fun part. Proverbs 31 and Titus 2: Proverbs 31:9-31 9 Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character 10 A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. 16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Titus 2:3-5 3 Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. 0 Aug 19, 2010, 11:04 PM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/Ordained_at_52_Oct_29-09._Now_53_P83645/?page=unread#83645 Bloom where you are planted, this is a spiritual place too! Any ways after many yrs of not coming to terms with the ministry God ordained me for, I am pastoring a small fellowship. We have grown somewhat in numbers, but more so in spirit. Please lift our ministry up. We are not utilizing a name were just meeting in His name (JESUS)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sarah do you remember (praiseop2)? Hey yall love to get to know folks who pastor. Be touched in your hearts deeply by the nail scarred hands. <>< Paul 0 Jul 10, 2010, 10:09 PM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/New_but_not_new_P82677/?page=unread#82677 Recently I have been ordained in ministry. Now I must state from the getgo that I shall not take this responsability lightly. I was called but it took many years before I realized I should be legaly ordained as a minister. I was already called in fact we all are in some attribute. At any rate the reason I am going forward with what I am about to share, is concerns with how we are appointed and annointed but are we all really walking in what were called for? I need to stay humble because I know truth and integrity will be in many here. Yet some how I wonder what is hindering us as ministers to unite the body of Christ. Why do we allow so much prejudice within our own ranks? Were one body, isn't there some annointed enough within the church to esculate truth with catylistic movement? There is and I know for a fact we can pursue a way together to spur one another on to good works. Horray for the church amen? Listen please Pastors , minister men and woman of God I am only trying to share my burdens for this glorious body of Christ. In truth my attempt to exhort all of our selves to start truly spending more time thinking about the things of God and less on the neccessities of daily living. After all we all do know what Matthew 6:33 says probaly by heart. Much ado and hardly anything seems to realy be happening , In all honesty is it because we still need to get people including ourselves to get out side of our heads like people do in third world countries and truly believe with faith that says no to reality. Umm~!!!!!!!! Something to ponder on, I am new but like I said not new, so going forward with this may I share it is my hope that this was not offensive in any way. But let it be a spurring on of a powerful release in all of our ministries. They all in fact belong to Jesus if were truly born again, I do believe for the most part that no one will disagree with any thing I shared. It seems to be comman knowledge. GBU all Keeping within Love. Paul 0 Nov 19, 2009, 11:23 AM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/Question_for_Pastors/_teachers_P80955/?page=unread#80955 What information would be the most helpful to you as a Pastor or teacher in your weekly preparation? 0 Jan 18, 2009, 2:00 PM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/Preaching....._but_not_Practicing_P15991/?page=unread#15991 My Pastor preached to the congregation that it was wrong to buy lotto tickets and that it's wrong to but raffle tickets because these things were considered gambling. A little later, the Pastor and his wife held a raffle ticket event to raise money for their personal day-care center. On the tickets, they included the name of the church and also a grand winning prize of $200. In addition, they called it a fundraiser. In short, the Lord's spirit led me to point out to him, the gambling message that he preached prior to the congregation - and also, the definition for the word "fundraiser". He denied that he had done anything wrong because... as he put it "It was not intentional from the heart". He was annoyed that I (by the spirit) pointed this out to him, but as I have learned, he is not only my Pastor, but also my brethren. Out of Love, we must correct one another as believers in Christ. Is raffle tickets the same as gambling? 0 Aug 5, 2008, 7:12 PM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/Jesus_Will_Rapture_The_Church_In_2033._P78148/?page=unread#78148 Jesus Christ (Yashua) Will Come Back In The Clouds To Rapture The Church In The Year 2033 AD. The Bible Say's No Man Knows The "Hour" Of Christ Return Except The Father. However, He Did Say We Would Know The Season, Even At The Doors, (Matthew 24:33). "Doors" Plural In Matthew 24:33 Refers To Christ 2nd And 3rd Coming. Most Christians Have Been Taught In Sunday School Or Church That No One Knows When Christ Is Coming Again And They Use The Verse Matthew 24:36; But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only. Matthew 24:42; Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. The Key Words Here In Both Verses Are The Words “Hour” And "Day”. Jesus Also In That Same Passage Of Scripture Said We Would Know The Season And He Gave An Example With The Parable Of The Fig Tree Saying, So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors, (Matthew 24:33). Using The Bible Prophecy Timeline, I Am Going To Show You Through Scripture And Prophecy How We Know Christ Will Come To Rapture The Church In The Year 2033. Anyone Taking The Time To Read The Bible Can Easily Follow The Timeline From Creation To The "End Of Time, No More", Which Begins With The First Day Of Christ Thousand Year Reign On Earth In The Year 2040. Christ Raptures The Church In 2033, Then Comes To Defeat The Anti-Christ In 2039. Go To www.bibleprophecytimeline.com To Get The Complete Last Days Timeline According To Revelation. 0 Mar 15, 2008, 2:16 AM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/Pastor_in_Louisville_KY_P75996/?page=unread#75996 I am looking for a Pastor from Louisville KY to help me out. I live in Massachusetts, but I have a young man, 22 y/o, who lives in Louisville, KY and I am trying to find him a church. If you can help me, please let me know, I'd like to ask questions and learn about a church before I send him. Once I feel a little comfortable with whoever writes me I'll explain the circumstances in greater detail. I'm not quite sure which denomination I will choose. I'm not really looking for a specific denomination. What I want is a church that believes in One God, Jesus our Savior, the Holy Spirit, {the Trinity}, the Bible is Inerrant, Preaches & Teaches from the Bible and I think I'd like something with some upbeat, or up to date music/worship. I also would like the Pastor or an Elder of the church to mentor this young man. I can only do so much for him over the internet and he needs more than I can give him. If anyone can help me or point me in a direction, please do. I will appreciate any help that you can offer. Thank You & God Bless. 0 Oct 25, 2007, 8:32 AM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/ON_THE_LIGHTER_SIDE!_P74469/?page=unread#74469 Good News and Bad News for Pastors Good News: You baptized four people today. Bad News: You lost two others in the swift river current. Good News: The Women's Association voted to send you a get-well card. Bad News: It passed 31 to 30. Good News: The church board accepted your job description the way you wrote it. Bad News: They also formed a search committee to find someone capable of filling the position. Good News: Your stand on nuclear disarmament has won the respect and admiration of many people. Bad News: None of them are remotely connected to your church. Good News: You finally found a choir director who approaches things your way. Bad News: The choir mutinied. Good News: Mrs. Jones is wild about your sermons. Bad News: Mrs. Jones is also wild about The Gong Show and Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Good News: Seventy junior high students showed up last Thursday. Bad News: The meeting was on Wednesday. Good News: Your women's softball team won their first game. Bad News: They beat your men's softball team. Good News: The trustees finally voted to add more church parking. Bad News: They want to blacktop the front lawn of the manse. Good News: Church attendance rose dramatically the last three weeks. Bad News: You were on vacation. Good News: Your biggest critic just left the church. Bad News: He's been appointed bishop. Good News: You finally got a key to the church kitchen. Bad News: Somebody re-keyed the lock. Good News: Your deacons want to send you to the Holy Land. Bad News: They are stalling until the next war. Good News: It's Sunday! Bad News: It's Sunday … —James D. Berkley, Leadership, Vol. 3, no. 3. _________________________________________________________________ Your brother in Christ, Doc 0 Jun 27, 2007, 6:14 PM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/Exorcism_Today_%3F_P68221/?page=unread#68221 Many forms of exorcism have been practiced by the Church from her beginning. In preparation for baptism, catechumens receive minor exorcisms whereby the Church prays that they be freed from sin and the influence of the evil one. Likewise, the Liturgy of Baptism itself includes a renunciation of Satan and all his works and the Rite for the Baptism of Children includes a prayer of exorcism which asks God to set the children free from original sin and makes them temples of God's glory, sending the Holy Spirit to dwell within them. These rites recall that through the waters of Baptism all may participate in the victory of Christ over sin, the devil and his darkness. Even those reborn in Christ, however, experience temptation and must be vigilant in prayer and sobriety of life. At Holycentral.com, we strive to be your total Christian resource center. With topics which range from lives of the saints yesterday and today, to modern day miracles and prophecy in todays news, you will find it here! Please feel free to post in our Exciting Forums!! Prayer requests will be answered daily. Also with a special emphasis on deliverance, exorcisim, and spiritual attacks, you will find us a valuable site for todays hectic Christian believers http://www.holycentral.com/ 0 Jun 9, 2006, 6:02 PM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/Should_we_preach_God's_Vengence%3F_P67964/?page=unread#67964 This is my sermon based on the OT and NT 'lessons' Isaiah 61 and Luke 4:14-30 Please read the lessons first :- Sermon May 28th Evensong St. Albans There is a buzz of expectant excitement in the building. Rumours are rife, everyone seems to have heard something about today’s preacher from somewhere or someone. Healings some said, He’s a healer, a new leader against the Romans said others, but they said that in a hushed whisper. Local boy made good, said others, Son of Mary you know. Would have been Son of Joseph but there was some trouble in the family they say. Such a shame for such a nice boy too. Still here he is, quite famous for a little place like this, lets hope what he says is as good as they say he is. Shhhh. The shammash has handed him the scroll, this ought to be good, it’s the scroll of the prophet Yesha’yahu. “ The spirit of Adonai is upon me; therefore he has anointed me to announce Good News to the poor; He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the imprisoned and renewed sight for the blind, To release those who have been crushed, To proclaim a year of the favour of Adonai ”. What’s he doing now. Go on then. There’s more, Isaiah said more! No. No. He can’t just give the scroll back to the shammash, he hasn’t finished reading the text! To proclaim a year of the favour of Adonai, and THE DAY OF VENGENCE OF OUR GOD !!!!! He’s chopped off the most important bit of the prophesy! I don’t believe this. He’s sitting down to teach having edited out the prophets most important words! Shhhhh. Yourself! Don’t you shsssh me, It’s my synagogue too. No! He can’t just do that. What kind of ‘Good News’ is it without vengeance on the Roman oppressors. Oh all right then I’ll shut up and listen. “ Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing ”. What! Are you telling me that Mary’s Son has just fulfilled the prophesy. He’s the anointed one of Adonai. Ha Ha Ha. Come on Joshua, his mum used to take in our washing. Remember when his dad died, they were so poor the whole family was a charity case. And Now he’s saying ‘The spirit of the Lord is upon him. I think he needs a lesson in humility and we are just the lads to teach him. :- Our second lesson tonight comes from St Luke’s Gospel and is a little different in content and purpose than its parallels in Matthew and Mark. For some reason St Luke expands upon Mark’s and Matthews version of events to give a more complete narrative of a potentially fatal incident early on in Jesus’ ministry. Mark 6:1-6 says Jesus went to his hometown, followed by his disciples. On Shabbat he started to teach in the synagogue to the astonishment of many. They asked ‘where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom he has been given. What are these miracles worked through him? Isn’t he just the carpenter? The son of Miryam? The brother of Ya’akov and Yosi and Y’hudah and Shimon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him. . . . He was amazed at their lack of trust. Matthew 15:53-58 says much the same thing word for word. So it is most likely that Matthew had Marks Gospel in front of him as he wrote his own. Neither of them mention what Luke goes on to relate namely such hostility in the crowd who hear Jesus in the Synagogue that they rush him out and try to push him off a cliff to his death. Somehow the meeting went from ‘Bringing Good News to the poor and sight to the blind’ to them ‘getting up driving him out of town, leading him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. What had caused them such offence? And Why did this incident, in at least some measure, become the focus of attention of all three of our synoptic Gospel Authors? I wonder if Jesus’ ‘omission’ of Gods vengeance, from the Book of Isaiah might have set the ball rolling for that congregation and subsequent things Jesus said in his sermon put the cap on it for them. First Jesus makes it clear that the fulfilment of the prophesy will not significantly benefit many of them. You see, unless you are poor, you don’t hear the Good News. Unless you are in captivity, you will not derive any benefit from a proclamation of release. Unless you are blind, (and it was generally believed that blindness was inflicted on those who had sinned or in some way offended God, so it would be unlikely, if you were blind, that you would be in synagogue that day), unless you are blind you don’t gain much from this message. Unless you are oppressed you will not get set free. Now hold on a minute you might say, (If you were a first century Galilean peasant), WE are oppressed and we all know who it is that is oppressing us. It’s the Romans. They oppress everybody. But what are you promising us as fulfilment of this prophesy? ‘ You proclaim the year of the Lord’s Favor’. But then you miss out the bit we really want fulfilled. ‘The day of vengeance of our God.’ Vengence is mine saith the Lord, I will repay. That is what we are looking forward to . :- But Jesus refuses to read the whole sentence and stops at ‘The year of the Lord’s favour, (comma)(finish) Not what they wanted to hear at all. Jesus’ message even today is not what many people want to hear at all. I debate quite often with American fundamentalist Christians who are very strong on ‘hell fire and God’s vengeance, end time prophesy and the destruction of the wicked’. They see the true Gospel only being presented in terms of threat and promise, stick and carrot. Miss out the 'vengence' and you no longer have a 'Gospel', they say. True, perhaps but have we got the proportions right? Jesus seems not to want to be part of all that 'judgement', at least during his ministry on earth. To cap it off for his hearers in the synagogue that day, Jesus tells them plainly that they do not have privilege with God. They were expecting great things of Jesus because of who they were. He belongs to us . He is from our town. ‘ Truly I tell you , says Jesus, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s home town. But the truth is there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heavens didn’t rain for three years and six months, and famine was everywhere, but Elijah was sent to none of them, except to a Gentile widow at Zarapheth in Sidon. And of all the lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha. Only Naaman a Syrian was healed. When they heard this all the synagogue were filled with rage. So I can understand now how someone who said ‘Blessed are the peacemakers’ would really irritate those who are looking forward to ‘The day of vengeance of our God.’ It is our vocation then, at times, if we are to be like Jesus, to really irritate some people sometimes, perhaps. Particularly when they are itching to see 'The day of the vengence of our God' when they should be proclaiming 'The day of the Lord's favour'. Love Chris. Discuss . . . . . . 0 May 28, 2006, 12:32 PM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/two_weeks_and_no_reply_P67839/?page=unread#67839 i placed my forum two weeks ago and have had no replys on it this is not a good place for support. 0 May 23, 2006, 11:01 PM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/as_a_full_time_prayer_minister_!!!_P67471/?page=unread#67471 after 2 years of being a youth leader then becoming a prayer minister for 5 years. I am in GODs presents all the time and i listin to the problems of others and i try with the love of GOD to help people. i'v had one person tell me the devil is looking for me - i said the devil knows right where i am. so many different things and nothing has ever botherd me - but i have been doing prayer groop meatings at my house and one of the men "christian" got upset last saterday night. do to me corecting him on a yes and no anser - on is the kingdom of GOD in us ! when the holy spirit comes into us yes the spiritual relm comes into us but the kingdom of GOD is close to us but will not come untill the return of JESUS. this he did not want to hear !!! now i also do world wide prayer ministery on the internet. and one man i talk to i mentioned that we will inherit and or are heirs of the kingdom of GOD. then he got mad disagreed and said that i was looking to get some thing out of dieing and going to heaven. am i rong in trying to show people the full word of GOD ? 0 May 12, 2006, 3:00 AM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/Why_We_Should_Care_For_The_Poor_P66692/?page=unread#66692 INTRODUCTION 1. The early Christians demonstrated great liberality toward the poor, especially brethren... a. The church at Jerusalem - Ac 2:44-45; 4:34-37 b. The church at Antioch - Ac 11:27-30 c. The churches of Macedonia - 2 Co 8:1-4 2. Paul in particular was engaged in helping poor Christians... a. He was asked to remember the poor - Ga 2:9-10 b. He instructed churches on how to take up a collection - 1 Co 16: 1-4 c. He accompanied such a collection to the needy saints in Jerusalem - Ro 15:25-26 -- It can truly be said that the early church did "remember the poor" 3. Today, some are more likely to revile the poor than remember them... a. If someone is poor asking for help, they are assumed to be lazy b. If inclined to help, the poor are expected to earn what they are given 4. Yet God has chosen to bless the poor... a. In the words of Jesus - Lk 6:20 b. In the words of James - Ja 2:5 [Therefore a Biblical study on the subject of the poor and poverty can be beneficial, lest we fall short in our duty to "remember the poor". Let's start with...] I. UNDERSTANDING THE POOR AND POVERTY A. THOSE WHO ARE POOR... 1. Includes those who may have absolutely nothing, or very little - cf. Mk 12:41-44 2. Also those who have enough to offer meager sacrifices - cf. Lev 14:21-22 -- One does not have to be completely destitute to be considered 'poor' B. CAUSES OF POVERTY... 1. Sometimes it is due to sinful actions on the part of the individual a. Laziness - Pro 6:6-11 b. Refusing to heed correction - Pro 13:18 c. Pleasure seeking - Pro 21:17 d. Drunkenness, gluttony - Pro 23:21 2. Other times it is due to sinful actions of other men a. Usury and extortion - Pro 28:8 b. Greed - Isa 3:14-15 c. Unfair labor practices - Jer 22:13 d. Oppression - Amo 4:1 e. Persecution - 2 Co 8:1-2; He 10:32-34 3. It can also be due to natural disasters a. Plague, economic depression, war b. Hurricane, earthquake, tsunami 4. It may be due to God's chastisement a. As was the case in Haggai's day - Hag 1:5-11 b. Again in the days of Malachi - Mal 3:8-12 5. It can be due to voluntary choice a. As in the case of Jesus - Lk 9:57-58 b. As in the case of His apostles - Mk 10:28; 2 Co 6:10 -- One cannot assume that poverty is due to laziness or wickedness [Poverty has many causes, and both Moses and Jesus taught the poor would be with us (Deu 15:11; Mt 26:11). God hears the cries of the poor (Psa 69:33), and it is interesting to note how He made provision for them in both the Old and New Testament...] II. PROVISION FOR THE POOR IN THE LAW A. AS CHARGED BY MOSES... 1. The poor were not to be charged interest - Exo 22:25; Lev 25: 35-38 2. The fruit of fallow ground during the seventh year was for the poor - Exo 23:10-11 3. They were allowed to glean the fields after the harvest - Lev 19:9-10; Deu 24:19-22 4. They could satisfy their hunger in the vineyards and grain fields- Deu 23:24-25; Lk 6:1 5. The tithe for the third year was reserved for special groups of the poor - Deu 14:28-29 6. Debts were to be canceled every seven years - Deu 15:1-4 7. Hebrew slaves had to be set free after six years - Deu 15:12-15 -- Israel was charged to be careful in their attitude toward the poor - Deu 15:7-11 B. AS COUNSELED BY SOLOMON... 1. Happy is the one who shows mercy to the poor - Pro 14:21 2. He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker - Pro 14:31 3. He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker - Pro 17:5 4. He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord who will pay him back - Pro 19:17 5. Whoever shuts their ears to the cry of the poor, will cry and not be heard - Pro 21:13 6. The person with a generous eye will be blessed, having given to the poor - Pro 22:9 7. He who gives to the poor will not lack, But he who hides his eyes will have many curses - Pro 28:27 8. The virtuous woman extends her hand to the poor, and reaches her hands out to the needy - Pro 31:20 -- Such concern for the poor is a mark of righteousness and wisdom - Pro 29:7 [If the Law of Moses displayed such concern and provision for the poor, we should not be surprised to find a similar concern and provision in the gospel of Christ...] III. PROVISION FOR THE POOR IN THE GOSPEL A. AS COMMANDED BY JESUS... 1. In His sermon on the mount - Mt 5:42 2. In His sermon on the plain - Lk 6:34-36 3. In His words to one who invited Him into his home - Lk 14:12-14 -- Jesus taught we should be willing to help the poor B. AS CHARGED BY HIS APOSTLES AND PROPHETS... 1. Paul, in several of his epistles - Ro 12:13; 1 Ti 6:17-19 2. The writer of the epistle to the Hebrews - He 13:16 3. James, in describing pure and undefiled religion before God - Ja 1:27 4. John, in describing the love of God, exemplified by Jesus - 1 Jn 3:16-19 5. For needy Christians, churches were charged how to provide aid a. With a weekly collection, as one prospers - 1 Co 16:1-2 b. With thoughtful purpose, and a cheerful heart - 2 Co 9:1,7 6. Yet the local church most not be burdened (for its mission is spiritual, not social)... a. Individuals are to fulfill their familial duties - 1 Ti 5:16 b. Individuals have their duty to be a 'good Samaritan' - cf. Lk 10:29-37 -- As we have opportunity, we have the duty to do good unto all men - Ga 6:10 CONCLUSION 1. Can we not see why the early Christians were so diligent to help the poor...? a. They were not only obeying the commandments of Jesus and His apostles b. They were also displaying compassion that has always characterized the people of God 2. There are certainly good reasons to "remember the poor"... a. Those who do are blessed by the Lord - Psa 41:1-3 b. God has chosen the poor to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom - Ja 2:5 3. What can we do to remember the poor...? a. Give liberally to the church, for the benefit of needy Christians b. Give liberally to charitable organizations, to help others who may be in need Let's honor God and glorify Christ by remembering the poor... "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." - Gal 6:10 http://www.reddingloavesa[...]hes.com 0 Apr 10, 2006, 4:34 PM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/Give%2C_and_it_shall_be_given_to_you_P64636/?page=unread#64636 More in need , more in despair, more in want, more in need of Christian love...Never has there been such a dramatic increase of those needing food assistance, in such a short time. Those who have been just holding on, just been getting by, are being pushed over the edge into poverty and suffering. Is it not our job as Christians during this "season", to help put back the pieces of torn lifes, build others up, and show the Love of Jesus, as well as feed others with the bread of life as well? At Redding Loaves and Fishes, we by the Grace of God , are determined to do so...But what are the promises of blessings that God gives who help the poor?, I would like to visit one of many. "Blessed is he who considers the poor; The Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, And he will be blessed on the earth; You will not deliver him to the will of his enemys; The Lord will strengthen him on his bed of illness; You will sustain him on his sick bed.".....There is six blessings to those who help the poor alone in one Psalm !!! (41, v1-3). Gods word will not come back void ! So please stop by, see what we stand for, maybe drop a line in our Christian message forum, perhaps visit our supporters. But most of all, please pray for the poor, in Jesus name....... http://www.reddingloavesa[...]hes.com 0 Feb 8, 2006, 4:01 PM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/Leaving_the_Pastor_P5001/?page=unread#5001 How do you deal with a friend who leaves her husband (of 27 yrs) a true man of God because she could not live the lie any longer, and cannot live with the pressures and expectations of ministry? 0 Nov 3, 2005, 2:40 PM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/Joining_hands_across_continents..._P58217/?page=unread#58217 Dear Fellow workers in Christ, Please accept my greetings from Ghana in the blessed name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our risen saviour. My name is Rev. Benjamin Amankwaa, founder and senior pastor/general overseer of The Corner Stone Brotherhood Ministries, committed to reaching the unreached with the gospel of Christ, breathing life into communities less-represented in the christian faith and planting churches in areas that have no church. In furtherance to this, we are committed to fighting poverty and minimizing its impact through free skill training programmes. See www.tcsb.org for more information. I think it's time pastors forgo the consideration of the natural differences for the advancement of our mutual interest. I am looking for pastors ready to forgo their personal preferences to team up with my ministry to form a dynamic team united in common for the cause of Christ, while providing a caring, sharing attitude for our fellowmen. Visit www.tcsb.org and let me know what your thoughts are. Your names will never go unmentioned in my prayers. Remain blessed! In His Service. Rev. Benjamin Amankwaa 0 Oct 7, 2005, 3:39 AM http://www.praize.com/forums/Pastoral_C20/The_Pastor's_Place_F92/Support_and_Encouragement_P58051/?page=unread#58051 Christian's Place! Great new Christian forum, come check it out! Registration is free (that includes everything- all priveledges) 0 Oct 4, 2005, 7:37 PM