“PREACHING TO THE POOR” Part 2
By
Jerry Falwell
A. INTRODUCTION
1. Review from last sermon.
Preaching to the poor has always been important to the church. Listen to how important it was to Jesus to preach to the poor. When John the Baptist was put in prison, he became discouraged and believed that Jesus was not the Messiah. He sent a messenger to ask Jesus, “Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3). John the Baptist expected a Messiah who was a political deliverer, one who would drive the Romans into the sea. No wonder John the Baptist doubted, he was imprisoned by the Romans, the very ones he expected Jesus to drive into the sea.
Notice Jesus’ answer . . . “The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them” (Matthew 11:5).
Surely, the miracles of Jesus were signs enough to demonstrate that He was Messiah, but Jesus added the phrase, “The poor had the Gospel preached to them.” Why is preaching the Gospel to the poor important?
There’s a little known fact about John Wesley I want to share with you. Wesley claimed a church was not a New Testament until it carried out the admonition of Jesus, “The poor have the Gospel preached to them.” Jesus said more than once, “Preach the gospel to the poor.” Why? Because we are supposed to preach the Gospel to them.
The great revivals of John Wesley and the beginning of the Methodist church were primarily among the poor. When Wesley began preaching in the field to coal miners, he could see the “streams of mercy” which were the tears flowing from their eyes down coal-blackened faces. When the rich would not respond to Wesley, the poor heard him gladly.
2. OBSERVATIONS ABOUT MONEY FROM THE CENSUS
The U. S. census was officially released this month. I read the following observations:
a. We live in a money culture. The distribution of wealth, like population, is unevenly distributed.
b. Money—or the lack of it—determines where people live.
c. You are where you live. Listen to what I jut said. You reflect the neighborhood where you live and you choose your neighborhood by money, either what money you have or what money you don’t have.
d. "Follow the Money." That was the advice given to Woodward and Bernstein in their Watergate investigation. That advice is very helpful in understanding people and spirituality. First, people live where their money allows. Second, you can find those who are spiritual in a church by checking the tithing record. (Of course these are private records, but true spirituality is revealed in obedience to God in all things, including money.)
B. WHAT MUST WE DO?
1. Give to those in need.
Some people are poor because they don’t have enough money to buy the basic needs of life, i.e., food, clothing, and shelter. Notice what Isaiah said we are to do for them:
“I want you to share your food with the hungry and welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those that need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help” (Isaiah 58:7, LB).
Dr. Daniel Kim said he estimated over 3 million in North Korea who have starved to death during the famine in the past 10 years. I’m against Communism because it’s atheistic, but also it doesn’t work. It can’t take care of its poor people. I hear about the poor in Russia and the poor in Cuba.
2. Help those who can’t help themselves.
Some poor people are not educated enough to help themselves, not trained enough to help themselves, and cannot take care of their needs. Hence, they end up being poor.
Also, people who cannot help themselves because they are addicted to drugs, addicted to alcohol or have some other habits so they can’t take control of their life; they can’t be a productive citizen. Hence, they are poor.
3. God is concerned for the poor.
Why is God so concerned about the poor? Because in both illustrations just mentioned, God looks after those in need, and God looks after those who can’t look after themselves. Because the poor cannot look after themselves financially, who is going to look after them? And if you look after the poor, you are a friend of God’s.
The poor shall never cease from the land” (Deut. 15:11). Even God understood in the best of economies, where the Jews lived by the Word of God; there would always be poor people. Even Jesus knew those facts when He said, “For ye have the poor always with you” (Matthew 26:11).
4. But even the poor must give to God.
a. God didn’t ask for money like the world asks. Notice:
· If you purchased a ticket to the Super Bowl--over $300—the poor couldn’t get in.
· If you had to put up a bond like joining a country club, the poor couldn’t get in.
· If you had to give a "lump sum," the poor couldn’t get in.
b. God’s plan is proportional giving, and he promises to bless those who give 10% to Him. I heard Dr. Towns say in His Sunday school class this spring, "God doesn’t do windows for less than 10%." Why did he say that?
"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that [there shall] not [be room] enough [to receive it]" (Malachi 3:10).
c. Remember the widow who quietly put her mite into the offering about the time rich people were making a great show of giving to God? Jesus commended the woman not for giving a small offering, but because she gave everything to God. “And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her poverty hath cast in all the living that she had” (Luke 21:3-4).
C. WHAT CAN YOU DO?
1. Give to the church ministry that cares for the poor.
One of the reasons I believe God has blessed Thomas Road Baptist Church, Liberty University and the Old Time Gospel Hour over the years is our commitment to the poor. We have given without thought of a return. Because we have given to the poor of this world, I believe God has blessed us. Let’s quickly review some of the things that He has done.
a. Liberty University had exponential growth because originally tuition was only $100 a semester. But then came accreditation, the necessity for a library, qualified instructors, and facilities. Today we charge more.
b. In 1977, the Old Time Gospel Hour sent $100,000 to the relief of the famine in Haiti. We gave to the poor starving of that impoverished nation.
c. In 1978-79, the Old Time Gospel Hour sent $100,000 to the refugees in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. Our Liberty young people and church leaders preached in every refugee camp in Thailand, distributing meat, blankets, Bibles, and a Christmas toy to children. Why give Christmas toys? It cost us a penny a child to bring some hope and joy to a child. Don’t criticize, I’d buy hope for a child coming out of a war zone for a penny every chance I’d get.
d. The Old Time Gospel Hour purchased a destroyer from the Australian Navy, paid for a crew, then sailed up and down the South China Sea, our young people caring for the poor boat people from Vietnam in 1978. Dr. Towns was one of those who wrote the story and took the pictures. We took care of those who could not take care of themselves. And we didn’t get a penny in return. All we did was give in the name of Jesus.
e. Thomas Road Baptist Church has sent out hundreds of Sunday school buses in Central Virginia to pick up poor children and bring them to Sunday school to tell them about Jesus.
f. Elim Home has been in the ministry for 33 years, helping alcoholics find freedom in Jesus Christ. We are helping those who can’t help themselves.
g. Thomas Road Baptist Church has provided a home, schooling, professional guidance, and hospital facilities for young, pregnant girls to have their babies, and then should they choose; through Family Life Services, we have provided an adoption service to place the baby into loving hands.
h. In 1982-83, Thomas Road Baptist Church provided a hot meal, clothing and canned food for the poor of Central Virginia. It’s a ministry that is carried on today by the Salvation Army.
i. Gifts for our ministry. When I ask for gifts for the poor of this world, this money does not go to Thomas Road Baptist Church, but you simply help us minister to the poor.
2. Open your heart to the poor.
Proverbs mentions that “we should have mercy on the poor, he who has mercy on the poor, happy [is] he” (Proverbs 14:21). Again Proverbs says, “Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard” (Proverbs 21:13).
I don’t think Thomas Road Baptist Church is a perfect church, but I think we try hard to be everything Christ would have us to be. We have many poor in this church and I think they are just as comfortable as the rich. When people come to me to talk with me after the morning service, I try to spend as much time talking with the poor as with the millionaire. Thomas Road includes the upper class and the lower class, but there are always, i.e., Anglo-Saxon, Korean, African-American and a number of Asian and other minorities. We are a melting pot of races, and we have “integrated” because it is biblically correct. As we attempt to carry out the Great Commission by carrying the Gospel to every nation, we automatically integrate all ethnic groups, all classes, everyone.
3. Give personally to poor people.
We think as America as a rich nation, but there are poor people in this town, just like every town in America. I haven’t seen beggars in Lynchburg, but I have seen them in other towns. What should you do when a beggar approaches you? Let me suggest you do what one of my staff members does.
a. Immediately pray silently for that person.
b. Gives them some money in the name of Christ. (I know that some beggars spend this money on drugs and alcohol, but not all). My staff member says, “If I give money in the name of Christ, I am no longer responsible for how they spend it. It is between God and them.”
c. He then asks the person, “Will you receive this money in the name of Christ?” If the poor will receive it in the name of Christ, and then spend it on alcohol or drugs, the issue is then between the beggar and God. It is no longer an issue of you giving them money that they will spend wrongly.
4. Take care of poor family and relatives.
A number of us have someone in our family that is needy. We should especially give to needy members of our family, rather than letting them suffer.
5. Share the Gospel with the poor.
Because the poor are open, they are especially responsive when you share the Gospel with them. So, let them know about Jesus Christ who can bless their life.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Contact us and ask for a copy of The How To Book or use The How To Book Online (Falwell.com). It is a booklet that will answer many of the questions you are sure to have about living the Christian life. And when you contact us, tell us about your salvation experience so that we can rejoice with you.
