Psalms 41:1 (KJV)
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
CP Walker Multicultural Gospel Service
Taegu, South Korea
BIG IDEA: Caring for the sick, hungry, and the less fortunate in this life - determines where we spend eternity hereafter.
REFERENCES:
Lazarus and The Rich Man: Luke 16:19-31 (KJV); Genesis 15:2: Eliezer was a SERVANT OF ABRAHAM; 1 Tim 6:17-19 (KJV): Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life; Deut 15:10-11 (KJV) The Seventh Year Release of the Poor - Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. 11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.; Luke 12:48 (KJV) For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more; Proverbs 19:17 -KJV ( He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again); Psalms 41:1 – KJV (Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble); Quote: The tragedy of life and the world is not that man don’t know God; The tragedy is after knowing God, they still insist on going their own way. – Christianity Today.
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Psalms 41:1 (KJV) & Luke 16:19-21 (KJV)
II. READ THE PERICOPE: Psalms 41:1(KJV) & Luke 16:19-21 (KJV)
III. READ THE TEXT: Psalms 41:1 (Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble). &
Luke 16:19-21 (KJV) - There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 2And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to care for the POOR Lazaruses (the sick, hungry, and less fortunate) within their church, and community by being OBEDIENT to GOD’s WORD..
V. SERMONIC THEME: “GOD is My HELPER!”
INTRODUCTION:
Rick Labate, an author, once said
“When Bishop Philip Brooks, author of “O, Little Town of Bethlehem,” was seriously ill, he requested no friends come to see him.
But when an acquaintance of his named ROBERT INGERSOLL, a famous anti-Christian propagandist, came to see him he allowed him to come in right away.
INGERSOLL said, “ I appreciate this very chuch. Especially when you aren’t letting any of your close friends see you.”
Bishop Brooks responded, “OH, I’M CONDIENT OF SEEING THEM IN THE NEXT WORLD, BUT THIS MAY BE MY LAST CHANCE TO SEE YOU”…
The Bible says in Luke 12:48 (KJV) - For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more …
It has been said …”The tragedy of life and the world is not that man don’t know God; The tragedy is after knowing God, they still insist on going their own way” … And doing their own thing – Christianity Today.
Some one else said: “charity is a human obligation.
Man owes CHARITY to his fellow-man as a brother”.
*******************TAKE 5 BEATS **********************
Move 1: David said in Psalms 41: 1 - Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.
c. Then, after seeing WHAT his father (DAVID) did for the POOR and less fortunate – King SOLOMON said in Proverbs 19:17 …
d. He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.
e. In other words, my brothers and sisters, WHEN WE HAVE COMPASSION on the less fortunate – we’re DOING TWO THINGS:
f. First, … WE’RE DEMONSTRATING OUR OBEDIENCE TO GOD’S WORD (in Deut. 15:10-11)
g. Second, … because GOD identifies with the POOR … He gives an added bonus to OUR OBEDIENCE … by seeing … OUR ACTIONS (of obedience) as A FAVOR to HIM …
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Move 2: Therefore, I submit to you this afternoon that Jesus has a special place in his heart for those …
a. … that are among the less fortunate in our church community, our city, our country, AND OUR WORLD.
b. For don’t you remember, Our SAVIOR had a special sense of mission to poor and oppressed people.
c. … Jesus STOOD UP IN THE SYNAGOGUE AT NAZARETH AND READ FROM THE PROPHET Isaiah:
d. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor…
e. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, …
f. … and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,…Luke 4:18 (KJV)
g. In other words, OUR SAVIOR (like GOD THE FATHER) IS ALSO AN ADVOCATE of the poor and less fortunate.
********************TAKE 5 BEATS**********************
MOVE 3: The WORD of GOD commands BELIEVERS - in the Book of Deuteronomy 15:10-11 (MSG) - TO BE GENEROUS TO THE poor.
a. In fact, God said … that we should give FREELY AND SPONTANEOUSLY.
b. And HE warned us NOT TO have a Stingy heart. Because the way we handle matters like this MOVES HIM one direction or the OTHER.
c. Now, my brothers and sisters … there are always going to be POOR and NEEDY people among us.
d. So it behooves us to always be GENEROUS.
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MOVE 4: We should Open our wallets … give to OUR POOR & HUNGRY neighbors.
a. Because the LAST THING we need , as believers, is for the POOR people within our churches and community to COMPLAIN to GOD that we have intentionally MISTREATED them.
b. If that should ever HAPPEN; and we don’t repent – GOD WILL JUDGE US – and we will be SENT one way or THE OTHER!
c. Because … how we use our personal finances to care for the sick, hungry, and less fortunate in our churches and communities DETERMINES WHERE we will spend eternity HEREAFTER.
d. We have a phrase around here (in our Multicultural Gospel Service); and I hope you embrace it: “LOVE AIN’T LOVE, UNTIL YOU GIVE IT AWAY” …!
********************TAKE 5 BEATS*********************
Move 5: Who can ever forget the STORY of the Dishonest Steward WHERE Jesus pointed out IF YOU INTENTIONALLY PLAN to HELP THE POOR and LESS FORTUNATE …
a. … In the big scope of things … THEY COULD – in essence - HELP YOU OUT LATER?
b. In other words, Jesus said … man must love God and
c. … use MONEY, instead of USING GOD and loving Money.
********************TAKE 5 BEATS**********************
MOVE 6: And it was this perspective in the Dishonest Steward STORY that VISIBLY angered THE PHARISEEs.
a. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, seeing the Pharisees angrily standing next to his disciples, Jesus said to them (in Luke 16: 15a - GW) You try to justify your actions in front of people.
b. YOU’RE GOOD AT COVERING UP.
c. But, God knows what’s in your hearts.
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Move 7: For instance, … There was a rich RELIGIOUS man who wore expensive clothes.
a. His suits were tailored made in South Korea.
b. And his feet were beautifully covered with GATOR SKIN SHOES.
c. Everyday was NOTHING MORE THAN a party to him.
d. Now, there was also a beggar named Lazarus who was regularly brought to the gate of the rich man’s house.
e. He couldn’t afford the hospital care on the economy in South Korea.
***********************TAKE 5 BEATS*******************
MOVE 8: 121st Hospital wouldn’t see him because he wasn’t a soldier, a family member or a retiree.
a. He was a POOR and PHYSICALLY ILL beggar, whose body was covered with pus-filled sores
b. He received pain relief medication, AND PUS treatment from the THICK saliva of the stray dogs … in the community …
c. … who by LICKING HIS SORES … soothe his skin and eased his pain.
d. Napkins didn’t exist in that day & time.
e. So, Lazarus imagined HOW the RICH Religious MAN wiped his hand and mouth with SLICES OF BREAD.
e. Lazarus was POOR and sick … He would have GLADLY nourished his body by eating any scraps that fell from the RICH MAN’S table.
e. All he DESIRED was the scraps. But he was offered NOTHING.
*********************TAKE 5 BEATS********************
MOVE 9: Then ONE DAY DEATH came: “the beggar died, and the angels carried him TO HEAVEN to be with Abraham.
a. Shortly thereafter, the rich man also died, and although his funeral was NATIONALLY BROADCAST on televisions around the world …
b. While man was remembering the RICH RELIGIOUS Man EXTERNAL Actions …
c. GOD WAS INSURING THAT THE RICH MAN” SOUL was being tortured because he didn’t used his personal finances to CARE for The POOR LAZARUSES within HIS CHURCH and community.
d. So, the RICH RELIGIOUS MAN, lifted his eyes in HELL … And, as he looked up, in the distance he saw Abraham and Lazarus.
e. When he saw them, He screamed …
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MOVE 10: ‘Father Abraham! Have mercy on me!
a. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool off my tongue.
b. All I want is SOME WATER …
c. (like Lazarus wanted crumbs in his earthly life)…
d. Now, my brothers and sisters, two facts JUMP out at us: First, is the mere fact that the RICH MAN was able to immediately identify ABRAHAM, tells us that he was a RELIGIOUS MAN …
e. In other words, like some of us today, The RICH MAN had religion but religion didn’t have him.
**********************TAKE 5 BEATS*******************
MOVE 11: Second, the RICH MAN knew Lazarus both by name and recognition.
a. Likewise, many of US know the LESS FORTUNATE in our communities by both NAME AND RECOGNITION.
b. Still, WE DO NOTHING by way of helping them.
c. Therefore, Abraham’s response to the RICH RELIGIOUS MAN Scream for HELP was simply: “REMEMBER” … my child, that you had a life filled with good times, …
d. while Lazarus’ life was filled with misery.
e. Now, there has been a reversal … he has peace here, while you suffer.
**********************TAKE 5 BEATS********************
CELEBRATION: Now … MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS … I’M NOT SURE …WHY GOD NAMED THE POOR MAN IN THIS PARABLE … LAZARUS.
BUT … BEFORE I TAKE MY SEAT … I WILL TELL YOU …
THAT THERE WAS ANOTHER NEW TESTATMENT BROTHER … THAT SHARED ….THAT SAME … NAME …
… AND THE BROTHER THAT SHARED THAT NAME HAD SISTERS … CALLED MARY AND MARTHA …
AGAIN … I’M NOT SURE WHY JESUS NAME THIS POOR MAN … LAZARUS …
BUT I WILL TELL YOU … THAT LAZARUS … WAS SOMEONE THAT JESUS LOVED …
FOR YOU SEE … THE GREEK NAME LAZARUS IS A CONTRACTION OF THE HEBREW … NAME … ELIEZER … (who was a SERVANT OF ABRAHAM in Genesis 15:2)
in HEBREW …LAZARUS IS PRONOUNCED ELIEZER
WHILE IN GREEK – ELIEZER IS PRONOUNCED LAZARUS
which means … GOD IS MY HELP …
In other words … EVEN THOUGH … I’m poor and I’m a beggar … GOD IS MY HELP …
Even though … I’m SICK in my body … GOD IS MY HELP ...
