The trip to Atlanta last weekend was spiritually educational. We fed 103 women and children plus about 20 men at The Garden. They really enjoyed the food. I was able to spend a little time with Pastor 7 and was able to tour the facilities.
On Saturday in a cold, wet drizzle we went to feed the homeless under and around the bridges of Atlanta. I must admit it was not what I expected. Those that I saw were not as dissolute as I expected. Many lived in tents that looked almost new. They had an ample supply of blankets and food. It seemed we were only adding to their bounty. It seemed as if they were not needy at all.
I must admit I came home Saturday wondering if I really needed to make this trip. However, as I was pondering my sermon for this week God led me to the passage we will study today. Then He smacked me upside the head. I had completely missed it. These people were abundantly cared for because of the mercies of the Christians around them. I had missed the compassion and glory of God. I had missed the fact that I was looking at the results of the teachings of Jesus toward the poor.
We who have plenty often overlook those who have little. We approach them with judgment. We forget Jesus was homeless. Jesus said of himself, “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place even to lay his head.” (Matthew 8:20) He was homeless by choice as many are today. His brothers would have gladly taken him home. However, we also know that Jesus was not poor. The group had a treasurer, Judas. They had money provided to them from “others who were contributing from their own resources.” (Luke 8:3) Therefore, while the disciples were with Jesus they felt they would be taken care of. Jesus, however, wanted to stretch them.
Mark 6:7-10 “And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits. He told them to take nothing for their journey except a walking stick—no food, no traveler’s bag, no money. He allowed them to wear sandals but not to take a change of clothes.
“ ‘Wherever you go,’ he said, ‘stay in the same house until you leave town.’ ”
Imagine if the Holy Spirit came to you in a vision and said these things to you. What if He said, “I want you and your best friend to leave your home tomorrow. Don’t pack a lunch. Don’t pack your suitcase. Don’t get money out of the bank. Leave your ATM card behind. Grab a walking stick and put on your shoes. And hope you will find someone compassionate enough to take you in and let you stay for a while. Now go!” What would your reaction be? I believe this is his call on you this year of 2014.
Before you head for the door, I do not mean we are to leave our family, homes, and jobs to go live on the street. However, I believe that Jesus wants to challenge each of us this year to rise to a new level of faith. This was the challenge that lay before the disciples.
There are six things He wants to challenge us with doing in 2014.
First, He wants us to be partners. He sent them out two by two. No one does well alone. The roads were dangerous and filled with robbers. Ecclesiastes 4:12 reads, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
We need to have each other’s back. I need to be able to depend on you and you on me. You standing alone will wear you down but with someone else supporting you with a listening ear and prayer, your problems can be conquered. Add the Holy Spirit to the mix and you have a triple-braided cord that can withstand anything.
Secondly, He wants you to lean on him. He desires to be your walking stick this year. A walking stick had many purposes. It helped to maintain balance while walking along the rocky, mountainous trails. It was something to lean when injured. It could be used as a defensive or offensive weapon.
As you walk some rocky trails this coming year He wants to help you maintain your balance. It is easy for us to get off balanced and fall into sinful behavior. He wants to support us so we will not tumble.
He wants you to lean on him when you are hurting. After a fall, there are usually some cuts and bruises. He wants to lift you up, treat your wounds, and give you support to keep moving.
He wants to be your weapon. He wants you to allow him to defend you when you are attacked and to go on the offensive against the enemy. With Jesus fighting your battles this year how can you lose?
Genesis 32:10 is Abraham’s response to God for his faithfulness. “I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps!” God wants you to be prosperous. And you will by allowing him to be your walking stick.
Thirdly, He wants to be your source of nourishment. He wants you totally dependent on him.
We know the story of Job. He has lost all of his possessions, his family, and his health. He has four friends that are better at berating and accusing him than comforting him. But in the midst of this, his friend Elihu actually speaks a prophetic word to him.
Job 36:16 “God is leading you away from danger, Job,
to a place free from distress. He is setting your table with the best food.”
Maybe 2013 has been a rough year for you. Maybe you have had a lot of problems and anxieties. But perhaps God has been leading you to a place free from distress. Perhaps this year He is setting a table with the best food.
Maybe you have been feeding on the resources of the world. You have been counting on your job more than counting on God. Maybe you have been counting more on your doctor than counting on God. This coming year He desires for you to count on him more than ever.
Fourthly, He wants to be your source of warmth.
Clothes are designed not only to keep us modest but also to keep us warm. David paints a picture of this security in
Psalm 30:11-12 “You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!”
Perhaps 2013 was a time of sadness and loss for you. In 2014, God wants to take away your sadness. He wants to replace it with joy. He wants you to dance in a freedom you have never felt. He wants you to sing praises to him everywhere you go and not be ashamed to tell of his wondrous deeds. He wants to leave all that baggage you carried around with you behind and let him clothe you. He wants your surrender to him.
Fifthly, He wants your money.
Malachi 3:10 “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you will not have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!’”
Most people do not care to hear a sermon on tithing. Some think that the church should not beg for money. Others squirm from guilt in their seat. But when I said I would preach the Gospel I meant I would preach every aspect of it.
Notice it says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. This, for sure, is Jesus. It is Jesus that says bring me ten percent and see how I will bless you. He says, “Try me! Put me to the test! I will prove myself.”
This week I looked over my financial statements from the church. When I became your pastor in 2010, I was making every attempt to give God $50 a week. That averaged about 5% of my take home pay, nothing from Debbie’s income. It was hit and miss. One month I gave nothing. I did not preach on tithing.
In 2011, we were more consistent in our giving. We were faithful to give the $50 a week. When Debbie went to work at Bo Jangles in 2012, we begin to give about 5% of both her checks and mine.
In 2013, I retired from working. I was averaging a salary of $3200 a month and now was going to receive $1550 a month. That is a loss of $1650 monthly. Needless to say, we were concerned.
Then Jesus said, “Test me!” We made a decision to begin tithing 10% of both incomes without hesitation and we are now actually more financially secure then we were before. We tested him and He proved faithful.
In our small body, I fill all positions. That includes treasurer. I know what our income is. If everyone tithed, the average income of our families would be $26, 350. That means seven of you are making this much or less. I believe if I was to ask those making, as a family, this amount less than seven would be standing.
Listen, I am not trying to embarrass anyone or make you uncomfortable. Our church finances are good. We are not struggling. I am not making this plea for that reason.
In 2014, Jesus says to you “Test me!” If you are not giving 10%, it is probably because you cannot afford it. I know. I was there once. Even better God understands it.
But here is the question. In 2014, what will you trust him with? Will you trust him with 1%? Will you commit to giving Jesus $1 for every $100 you get? Just $1. If He does not provide you with $100, do not give him anything. Or 2%, will you give him $2 for every $100 you get?
What are you giving now? If you are giving 10%, you already know about his blessings. You have tested him and found him faithful just like me. If you do not know what percentage you are giving of all your income, figure it out and give him 1% more,
one more dollar for each hundred this year.
And how often does He provide a check for you? For some it is only 12 times a year it seems. Is it weekly? Then give weekly. Every one of us should be giving to the Lord each time we are paid.
He sent the disciples out with no money so He could prove himself faithful. Quit depending on yourself. Put God to the test in 2014.
Finally, He wants you to stay here.
Mark 6:10 “‘Wherever you go,’ he said, ‘stay in the same house until you leave town.’”
I believe God has placed each of us here in 2014. We have our problems. I am not the greatest of speakers. Sometimes we might not see eye to eye. But God wants to do something different with us this year. I am not sure what it is but it is definitely God.
We are not to be “department store” Christians. We are not called to shop around to find a place that fulfills our needs. We are called to a place where we can fulfill his needs. whitestone ministry is that place. I pray that each of you is here for the long haul.
If you take heed to the message this morning and apply it to your lives, 2014 will be the best year yet.
