The Man That Gave

Livingstone on Commitment:

   When Dr. David Livingstone was working in Africa, a group of friends wrote him:  "We would like to send other men to you. Have you found a good road into your area yet?"  According to a member of his family, Dr. Livingstone sent this message in reply: "If you have men who will only come if they know there is a good road, I don't want them. I want men who will come if there is no road at all."

Today’s message is about Commitment. Friends we see that it takes a special breed of folks to make a difference in our world. Our world has been hardened. Our road is not been made easy. I know that many people decide to tell others about Christ whenever or wherever it is easy and decline to take this task when it seems to be hard.

I was reading this morning a portion of meditation from Charles Spurgeon’s archives. Charles Spurgeon wrote about how we must sharpen our tools and ready them for battle, noting that we can learn from our enemy’s warfare and he challenged us to “go about like good Samaritans, seeking whom we may bless today.” Friends to take this road may not be easy; in fact this road may be one that you have to build first before you can get to them. This is what Dr. Livingston was saying. Before we can reach someone we might have to build the road!

What examples do we have of this? Let us turn to Luke chapter 10:30-37.

“And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed leaving him half dead.”

Here we see a man that was walking a road, a road that was already laid, a road that made it easy for another to serve God. Here ministry to another was easy. Lets see what happens.

“By chance their came down a certain Priest that way: and when he saw the man, passed by on the other side.”

Friends the road was already laid, the Priest had every opportunity to minister to a hurting soul. He didn’t have to open a door, and then walk through. He didn’t have to pray first to see if it was God’s will, and he didn’t have to get his Seminary degree first before he could become a minister! What he had to do we will see in a moment, what he did though was passed on by the other side. It was easy for him to go around this soul and to ignore him.

Next we see another, a Levite.

“And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.”

He did the same thing only worse; he actually took the time to look at the situation and decided to pass by. Again he didn’t have to lay the road, he didn’t have to pray to see if it was God’s will, and he didn’t have to get a Seminary degree before he could have the opportunity to minister.

The road was laid, the door was open, and the opportunity was there just as it is now!

Finally a third person comes down this road and he isn’t a Priest or a Levite, he is not a person of greatness, and he decides that he doesn’t need a degree, or even to pray if it was God’s will first. Instead he takes action, lets read it:

“But a certain Samaritan as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he the man he had compassion on him, and went to him and bound his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him.”

Beloved this was an easy task because the door was open and the road was laid already. The opportunity presented itself for ministry. How many opportunities do we have to minister to others? Do we need a degree? Do we need permission from God first as to if it is his will? Do we need for God to make a road for us? And what about the road we are on?

I tell you folks the opportunity is here, right here and right now. Will we, do we pass on by the other side?

Dr. Livingston wanted people that wouldn’t wait for a good road, that wouldn’t wait for the easy opportunity, but rather the ones that were willing to take the hard road, to make a way, to see the opportunity that is around them to minister and to make opportunities where none are found!

Today beloved is a tough marketplace, not every opportunity will be easily had. Charles Spurgeon said,

“We are engaged in a great war with the Philistines of Evil. Every weapon within our reach must be used. Preaching, Teaching, Praying, Giving, all must be brought into action and talents which have been thought to be to mean for service, must now be employed!”

1Samuel 13:20 reads: “But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his ax, and his mattock.”

Listen,  we are in a war for souls today, our families and friends are perishing while we walk by the other side seeking this feel good church experience. Ministry opportunities are all around us.

Have all our hearts grown hard? Are all our tools become dull? Is it too mean to tell the truth?

The Bible tells us in Luke 6:38; “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure pressed down and shaken together and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you give, it shall be given unto you again.”

If there is no road, make the road and it shall be made for you. If the road is there take the road and it shall be taken for you!

If an opportunity presents itself to minister to another and you pass by the other side what then should be done to you in your time of need? If there is no opportunities in front of you then seek them, make them, take them and you will be blessed!

Let us take a look at the greatest teacher of all Jesus! What did he do?

Did Jesus need man to give him a road or an open door? No he didn’t, nor do we. The opportunity is all around you wherever you’re at. People are in need of good Samaritans. The bible tells us;

“The harvest is ripe but the laborers are few. Pray ye therefore to the Lord of the harvest that he send laborers to help bring in the crop.”

Here is what God did, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him would receive eternal life.” John 3:16

Listen friends God made the road, he didn’t wait for a good road to be made, and he didn’t wait for a more perfect time. The time is right now!

Mathew 25:34-40 “Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was hungry, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying Lord, when did we see thee hungry and fed thee, or thirsty and gave thee drink? When we saw thee a stranger and took thee in? Or naked and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick or in prison and came unto thee? And the king shall answer unto them, Verily I say unto thee, Inasmuch as you have done these things unto one of the least of my brethren ye have done it unto me.”

My friends all around us is opportunities to minister unto hurting, needful friends. And whatever we do to them we are doing it unto God.

Jesus gave his life, he knew that to love others was always God’s will as he gave us these instructions in John 13:34.

“A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

See Jesus gave his life for us; this is how he loved us. He didn’t pass by on the other side. He took action by giving. The Good Samaritan gives us a great example and Jesus gives us the greatest example ever!

Are you moved with compassion today to come to the aid of a hurting world? Friends you don’t need a piece of paper licensing you to act! You don’t need to wait to find out if it’s God’s will, he has made it very clear already, and you don’t need to wait for the good road or open door to give you the right of passage. Friends all you need to do is look around, Look around you and see the need and refuse to pass by the other side!!!

Friends God is calling us to be that man who gave, to be the Good Samaritan, to do as Jesus did, Love. Love.  Love!!!

Love one another!!!

Out here today there might be one that is hurting, one that is in need of a friend, one that needs a touch from Jesus, or even one that would love to be used of God to help.

If there is any here that would like to know Jesus better, would like to get closer to him, that has never asked Jesus to come into their life, then come forward and pray with us. Come to the Altar today and watch how Jesus takes you into his arms and comes into your heart with love. He loves you beyond what you could ever imagine. Come to Jesus! Father we know that we are sinners, but today we want to receive you in our life. We confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that you died on the cross for our sins and was raised by the power of God from the grave, that only you can change our lives and make it better. Thank you Jesus for coming into my life. Now open my heart and my eyes to help those around me to have better lives. Help me to make a difference and be that Good Samaritan, In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Give a little love today,

Read Mathew 9:35-38 what questions did you have after reading this?  _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Answer the following questions:

What caused this feeling of compassion that Jesus experienced?

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What was Jesus doing at this time?

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When Jesus saw how much work was to be done what did he say?

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What was his instructions concerning prayer?

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Read Mathew 11:1-12 what questions did you have after reading this?

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Answer the following questions:

Why do you think there are so few workers for Christ?

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What emotions do you believe John the Baptist was experiencing and why?

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Have you ever grown weak and began to doubt?

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Why do you think that the workers of God suffer?

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Read Mathew 12:33-37 what questions did you have after reading this?

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Answer the following questions:

If a man is a good worker for Christ what will he bring forth?

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How can you tell?

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Read John 15:1-8 what questions did you have after reading this?

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Answer the following questions:

What happens to every person that does not bring forth fruit?

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And every person that does?

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How can a person bring forth much fruit?

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Does Jesus call us branches?

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What does it take to glorify God?

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Read Mark 16:14-18 what questions did you have after reading this?

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Answer the following questions:

What instructions did Jesus give His disciples to do upon speaking to them?

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To whom were they instructed to go?

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What were they told specifically to do when they got there?

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What signs would follow after they obeyed Jesus’ instructions?

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Read Luke 19:1-10 and examine Zacchaeus's commitment level and remember what Dr. Livingston said earlier.

Memory Verses test#11

Psalm 34:4 “ I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered…”

Psalm 40:1 “ I waited patiently for the Lord; and he…”

Isaiah 61:1 “The spirit of the Lord God is upon me;”

Mathew 6:9-13 “Our father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name…”