Mission

Mission: To connect every burdened soul to the Lord by the power of the Word and anointed prayers for self transformation and actualisation of divine blessings.

Vision

Vision: A transformed society of believers, basking continually in the glory of Christ Jesus.

Thursday 22 May 2014

DO NOT BE WEARY OF DOING GOOD

Text: Gal 6:6-10, 2 Thess 3:13
To be weary is to be tired, or to be bored. 'Good' means to be satisfactory in quality, honourable, acceptable or pleasing. Not to be weary of doing good is not to be tired or bored of doing things that are acceptable, honourable, pleasing or satisfactory. Doing good entails soul winning, helping the needy and the poor, loving, caring, visiting, showing kindness, sharing, offering Godly counsel, being hospitable, showing the love of Christ with others, speaking or saying the truth, having concern and burden for the lost soul, having compassion for others, encouraging others positively and being merciful.
 
The Bible says in Gal 6:9-10, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Therefore as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers." You are being encouraged to do good as long as you are opportuned for there will surely be a reward. The Bible says in Romans 2:7, 10-11, "To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life. But glory, honour and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favouritism."
In other words, as long as you are doing good, God will always reward you.
 
Also in 2 Thess 3:13, "And as for you, brothers, never get tired of doing what is right." Ephesians 2:10 states, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." In other words doing good works is not out of place or extraordinary, it is one of the reasons why God created you. Not doing good is a sin and the Bible says in James 4:17, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins." Psalm 84:11 says, "The Lord bestows favour and honour, no good thing does He withhold from those whose walk is blameless." The Lord does not withhold the good things he aims to bestow you; likewise you should not withhold any good you can do for people.
 
Jesus is noted for going about doing good, healing the sick, feeding the hungry and helping the helpless. Emulate Him. Your doing good should not be limited to those you know or to those who do good to you. Luke 6:33 says, "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? In Matt 5:45, "That you may be sons of your father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Whatever good that is in your capacity to do, do it without discrimination! You are also enjoined in Pro 3:27-28, "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act. Do not say to your neighbour, "come back later, I'll give it tomorrow "when you have it with you."
 
Brethren, there may be a tendency to grow weary in giving, serving or helping in any form. Weariness can come in the secular or in the spiritual especially when you think there is no positive outcome or when you are not encouraged or when you do not get appreciable reward. But the scripture enjoins you not to be weary and more so the reward will come as stated in Rev 22:12. "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to every one according to what he has done." Have you been serving or labouring in the household of God and nobody seems to notice you? Don't worry. Don't be discouraged, you will surely get your reward.
 
Our Father in heaven and Jesus Christ our saviour gave examples of what doing good is. After the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, God had compassion on humans for He did not want us to lose the privilege He gave us. So He sent His only begotten son to reconcile us with Him. The Bible says in John 3:16-17, "For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him."
 
Jesus Christ did not just dismiss the crowds who had been following Him on foot. He made sure they were fed as well as healing the sick among them. When His disciples enjoined Him to send the crowds away as evening approached so that they could go and get food themselves. Jesus replied in Matt 14:16, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat." Jesus fed them all by multiplying the two fish and five loaves of bread released by a little boy among the crowds. Emulate this by having compassion on people and feeding the hungry.
 
Let us consider the good deeds of some people in the Scriptures.
1. Doing good by showing mercy. The parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 as told by our Lord Jesus Christ.
A man that was going from Jerusalem to Jericho fell into the hands of robbers. He was stripped of his clothes, beaten and left half dead. A priest and a Levite passed by and did not help the man but a Samaritan, as he travelled, saw the man and took pity on him. He bandaged his wounds, poured oil and wine, put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn and took care of him. He paid the innkeeper to look after him and promised to reimburse for any extra expense incurred on him on his way back from his journey. Jesus wants you to emulate the Samaritan, thus He said in Luke 6:37 "Go and do likewise."

2. Doing good by supporting the needy and widows. Dorcas was noted for her good deeds. The Bible says in Acts 9:36, "In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha translated as Dorcas, who was always doing good and helping the poor." When she died, Peter's help was sought to come and revive her and the Bible says in Acts 9:39, "All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them." Dorcas was revived and handed over to the believers and widows whom she had being good to. Her good deeds to the needy and widows granted her the grace to be seen and revived by Peter.

3. Doing good by helping the needy. Cornelius the Centurion–Acts 10:1-35.  The Bible says in verse 2, "Cornelius and all his family were devout and God -fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly." He had a vision where an angel appeared to him and said in verse 4, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God." Verse 22 says, "we have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man. "And because Cornelius was giving to the needy, a day of remembrance came and God remembered him. Verses 30-31, "Cornelius answered: Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shinning clothes stood before me and said Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor."
 
Brethren, part of doing good is giving to the needy and the poor. And you shall be remembered and be rewarded.

4. Doing good through supporting and assisting the Ministry.
Apostle Paul commended Priscilla and Aquila for supporting his ministry. They were tentmakers like him and they sometimes travel with him for the purpose of the gospel. Paul wrote in Romans 16:3, "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the Churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them". They also taught others and brought them up in the way of The Lord. They made their house available for a church to be meeting there. The Bible says in Acts 18:26, "When Priscilla and Aquila heard Apollo; they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately." Both of them were caring, hospitable and supportive.
 
Brethren, these people have encouraged you in their own way. The scriptures below also emphasise the importance of doing good.
Matt 16:27, "For the son of man is going to come in His Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done”. So keep doing good and do not be weary for your reward will come.
 
1 Corin 15:58, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm, let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of The Lord because you know that your labour in The Lord is not in vain."
 
Romans 2:6, "God will give to each person according to what he has done."
 
What good deeds are going to be credited to you? Start to do good now and do not be weary of doing so till the Kingdom comes. Finally be reminded that the Bible says in Rev 22:12, "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to every one according to what he has done."

Prayer.
Dear Lord, you have admonished and encouraged me to do good, I thank you so much Father. Please grant me the grace to do good and not to be tired or weary of doing good until your Kingdom comes in Jesus name I pray. Amen