LOVING THE LEAST, THE LAST, AND THE LOST
James 1:22-27
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. [23] For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: [24] For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. [25] But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. [26] If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. [27] Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
YOU CAN PRESERVE THE WORD, HEAR THE WORD, MEMORIZE THE WORD, REPEAT THE WORD, COMMEND THE WORD, BUT IF YOU REFUSE TO DO THE WORD, THEN YOU ARE A SELF DECEIVER.
TO HAVE TRUTH, AND KNOW TRUTH, BUT DO NO MORE THAN SIT AROUND AND DISCUSS YOUR TRUTH, PHILOSOPHIZE ABOUT TRUTH, ARGUE SOPHISTICATEDLY ABOUT THE TRUTH, AND REMIND YOURSELF THAT YOU POSSES THE TRUTH, IS THE GREATEST LIE ONE HAS EVER TOLD ONESELF.
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PREACHING IS IMPORTANT, DRESS CODE IS NEEDFUL, TEACHING IS NECESSARY, STRUCTURE IS WONDERFUL, BUT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS FOUNDED ON LOVE, FAITH, MERCY, AND GRACE AND THE CHURCH THAT WILL GROW AND STAND THE TEST OF THE AGES WILL BE CENTERED AND FOCUSED ON HELPING THE LEAST, THE LAST, AND THE LOST!
IT WORKS ON A PERSONAL TO A NATIONAL SCALE AND SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT SCALE IS THE LEVEL CALLED “THE CHURCH”
Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY CONSTITUTES A VISION IN THIS VERSE…
DRESS CODE
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSONS
LOUDEST PREACHING
MOST WORDS THAT RHYME IN A SERMON
CLEAN CHURCH
NICE SIGNAGE
OR…
OUTREACH, FELLOWSHIP, HELPING HANDS, VISITING, REACHING, CARING, TRYING, BEGGING, COMPELLING, LOVING…THE LEAST, THE LAST, AND THE LOST.
CONVICTION, EMOTION, TEACHING, DINNERS, ETC. MIGHT DRAW PEOPLE, BUT TO KEEP THEM WE NEED THE VISION OF GOD REACHING INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE TRAILER PARKS, THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS, THE WORKPLACES, THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, THE GROCERY STORES, THE BANKS, THE RESTAURANTS, ON A DAILY BASIS. WITH AS MANY PEOPLE AS GO TO THE AVERAGE BIBLE BELIEVING CHURCH IN AMERICA, THERE IS NO REASON WHY WE SHOULDN’T IMPRESS AT LEAST ONE PERSON A DAY TO THINK ABOUT COMING TO OUR CHURCH.
EVERY CHANCE WE GET TO BE HELPFUL, TO BE NICE, BE RESPECTFUL, SHOW CARE AND CONCERN AND BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST BELIEVING THAT GOD WILL BLESS OUR EFFORTS TO GROW HIS KINGDOM FOR HIS GLORY.
A CULT WILL GROW INTO THE FAMILY, BUT A CHURCH WILL GROW INTO THE COMMUNITY.
A PERFECT CHURCH IS A CHURCH THAT HAS A LOST PERSON IN EVERY SERVICE.
SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT…MORE LATER
YOUR HUMBLE SERVANT
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