Hope Sabbath school Lesson 7 Jesus and those in need

welcome to Hope Sabbath school an in-depth interactive study of the Word of God we are in the middle of a very practical series of studies the least of these ministering to those in need if you remember the teaching of Jesus he said if you've done it to the least of these you've done it to me today we're talking about Jesus and those in need and I'm particularly excited to welcome you and the team today because one of our team Lisa is going to be leading us in our study I know it's a powerful topic whenever we study about Jesus and we're just glad that you can all be with us but before we begin our study just a few emails from hope Sabbath school members around the world AIA ballet writes from Uganda and says I greet everyone in the name of Jesus I was seven years old when I started watching hooks have a school and now I'm a daily viewer I thank the Lord Almighty who is using this class to reach his people all over the planet oh I don't know he may be 11 though I don't know how old he is many are revived and understanding deeply God through Hope service school may his name be glorified forever man well we should ask you are you ballet to write to us and tell us how old you are now we would be happy to see how God has been leading in your life here's a note from a donor in California and again I want to thank each one who's helping to support this donor based ministry and it says thank God for your beautiful study group god bless all of you stay smart and well informed well that's our prayer don't give up all of you my wife is 90 she loves hopes that Sabbath school - may God's Spirit always abide in your hearts love you all keep up the great work you're doing and a gift of $500 to help so two husband and wife in California thanks for being part of the miracle and they may have a combined age of a hundred and eighty and we're glad that we had one who started watching when he was how old seven and now we got a 90 year-old writing Gilbert writes from Malawi in the heart of Africa I greet you all in the mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ I really appreciate the great service that you are doing saving souls throughout all the world well I know Jesus is saving but he uses us right I'm one of those who benefits from your study every week continued blessing and changing as many lives as you can may God bless you exceedingly well Gilbert thanks for writing from Malawi in the heart of Africa here is a note from someone Berta in Arizona in the United States of America and Berta writes and says I am deeply grateful for hope Sabbath school that has taught me and teaches me God's Word please pray for me I am not presently a local church member well Berta we're just glad you're part of our study community and may God continue to lead you and bless you in your life one last note from Franco in South Sudan Franco writes I love the way you sing the scripture songs well Franco that was perfect timing because we're gonna sing our theme song in just a moment I can't wait to sing with the hope Sabbath school family when our soon coming King returns we'll have angels singing with us then too every week I see the light of Jesus shining brighter on your faces and I love the enthusiasm when singing I just want to say praised be the name of the Lord forever well it is our prayer Franco that when we sing and when we read scripture and when we pray that the light of Jesus shines through right now we've got our theme song taken from second Thessalonians chapter three verse five and six straight out of the Bible let's sing it together may the Lord direct your you do Oh God and they're the lloyd direct your hearts into the patience of life the Lord gives love give you peace always Oh into the patience of Christ with you Elysa I'm excited about the study today why don't you lead us in prayer as we begin let's pray Heavenly Father you are the God who meets all our needs I just pray that today we may feel that that we may experience your presence in our lives and all the needs that we have and that we will have the courage Lord to help meet the needs of others this is my prayer in Jesus name Amen amen well we continue a very exciting lesson on Jesus meeting the needs of other people I don't know if you've heard this song if you've ever needed the Lord before you're sure to meet him now I've been thinking about that song well who needs Jesus I mean really we do need him because he meets our needs and he's the only one who can meet us at our points of need so I want to begin our study by thinking of the word need how would we define a need or how do we define needs in general Thomas well I just talked about needs when I talk about psychology because I teach about this and all of us have needs we have common needs for relationships we have needs for a sense of Independence and autonomy we need and we need a sense of competence that we have a purpose in life and these are things that God has created us with that we naturally gravitate to you know I was just thinking Lisa that I feel something's missing mm-hmm you see what's a need it's like something's missing we may not even know exactly what it is yet Heidi I was thinking it's something you cannot live without yeah that's powerful Thank You Heidi for sharing so our lives are not complete unless our needs are met and that is the mission of Jesus Jesus came into the world to fill in that gap that missing link that was missing when our parents sinned and made the decision not to follow God and so we are incomplete without Christ I love what Thomas said it's not just physical needs like food shelter and water but also psychological needs emotional needs and social needs as well so this is what we're gonna be looking at today let's look at the life and Ministry of Jesus beginning with the Bible prophecies and John I would like you to read Luke chapter 1 verses 26 to 33 Luke chapter 1 verses 26 to 33 all right reading from the New King James Version it says now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David the Virgin's name was Mary and having come in the angel said to her rejoice highly favored one the Lord is with you blessed are you among women but when she saw him she was troubled at his same and considered what manner of greeting this was then the angel said to her do not be afraid Mary for you have found favor with God and behold you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a son and shall call his name Jesus he will be great and will be called the son of the highest and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom there will be no end amen isn't this great news so I'm thinking why was Mary's response to hear what an angel of God told her so Evelyn do you mind reading Luke chapter 1 verses 46 so we can find out what Mary's response was to this message yes I will be reading from the New King James Version Luke chapter 1 verse 46 and Mary said my soul magnifies the Lord and so she was happy she's like I can't believe that my son the son born of the Holy Spirit will will be a great man on upon the earth well let's get the father side to this so and Andre I'm wondering what did Joseph receive from God and what prophesy did he hear from God and that's in Matthew chapter 1 verses 18 one absolutely I'll be reading from the New King James Version Matthew chapter 1 verse 18 through 21 and it reads now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows after his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph before they came together she was found with child of the Holy Spirit then Joseph her husband being a just man and not wanting to make her a public example was minded to put her away but while he thought about these things behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in the dream saying Joseph son of David do not be afraid to take your you Mary for a wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit and she will bring forth a son and you shall call his name Jesus for he will save his people so we have both of Jesus's earthly parents receiving good news about the kind of life that Jesus would live now I want us to turn all the way to the Old Testament to the Book of Isaiah an ancient prophet who also received this good news about the life and the ministry of Jesus so Addison would you mind reading Isaiah 53 verse 4 to 6 and I'm reading from the King James Version surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows yet we did esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted but he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with His stripes we are healed all we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every one to his own way and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all amen he probably remembered this from you know the nativity celebrations where we celebrate the birth of Christ the prophecies that were told about the life that he lived and so let's look at another verse in the Book of Isaiah Patricia would you read Isaiah chapter 61 verses 1 and - this is another prophecy that the prophet Isaiah received about the life and Ministry of Jesus now I'll be reading from the New King James Version it reads the Spirit of the Lord God is upon me because the Lord has anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted to proclaim Liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to those who are bound to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God to comfort all who mourn right so let's think about these verses that we've read both in the New Testament and the Old Testament why is this good news when we think about the prophecies that foretold about the life of Jesus do you feel any reason to rejoice or to be happy I see you spying Nicole what do you think Jesus is gonna make us free you know there's a lot of bondage there's a lot of angst in the world but I think that the good news is that you will find freedom in Christ he is the good news that we've been waiting for and he is going to take care of all of the mess that goes on in this world when he returns again to get us and so that's to me is just something to live for and it's an authentic freedom it's not one that comes with these strings that are attached because a lot of times when the world is talking about peace and and and the 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations that everyone should have clean water and education and in health care there's some strings attached to that some controls attached to that when Christ gives us this freedom this Liberty it is authentic and total I was just hearing those prophecies again though in thinking that really challenged what they were expecting mmm and they were looking for someone to throw off the Romans and he's not delivering them from an occupying force he's delivering them from sin plus the fact that he's going to be wounded so so these prophecies we read them ago I was wonderful but I think it really challenged their thinking huh at the time you know do we really believe what God has revealed through the prophets absolutely and I don't know if you've heard this term mission statement many organizations I know you mentioned one very major international organization they have what is called a mission statement that they will sometimes put in their logos or in their brochures or literature if you've heard this term mission statement what does that mean what does mission statement means Stephanie it guides the direction of that whole company so everything they do is based around that mission statement okay I was thinking of excuse me of the hospital system that I have great respect for and and their mission statement is extending the healing ministry of Christ it's like very clear that's what we do yeah that is that the singular purpose of an organization so I don't know if you know this but individuals can also have a mission statement and I don't know if you do but Jesus definitely had in the mission statement to give him focus to be able to help him identify where he was going to put all his energy in and we're gonna read his mission statement and Heidi if you would mind please read Luke chapter 7 verses 19 to 22 Luke chapter 7 verses 19 to 22 and I'll be reading from the New King James Version and it says and John calling two of his disciples to him sent them to Jesus saying are you the coming one or do we look for another when the men had come to him they said John the Baptist has sent us to you saying are you the coming one or do we look for another and that very hour he cured many of infirmities afflictions and evil spirits and too many blind he gave sight jesus answered and said to them go and tell John the things you have seen and heard that the blind see the lame walk the lepers are cleansed the Deaf hear the dead are raised the poor have the gospel preached to them Thank You Heidi let's read another portion or another version of Jesus mission statement would you mind reading Luke chapter 4 verses 16 to 21 Luke chapter 4 verses 16 to 21 I'm reading from the New King James Version so he came to Nazareth where he had been brought up and as his custom was he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read and he was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah and when he had opened the book he found the place where it was written the Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted to proclaim Liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind to set at liberty those who are oppressed to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord then he closed the book and gave it back to the attendant and sat down and all the I's who were in the synagogue were fixed on him and he began to say to them today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing Thank You Nancy do you recognize this passage and we definitely read this in Isaiah chapter 61 I want us to pause for a minute and think about the four types of people that are described in this prophecy not so much types of people but different kinds of needs that Jesus was sent to fulfill so let's start with the first the poor how would we identify the need of poverty is it just physical poverty or could there be something more when we talk about poor Addyson well something that we all have struggled with is spiritual poverty we are all impoverished and we all need Jesus and that's why Jesus said blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven absolutely so spiritual poverty for sure let's move to the second type of need which is brokenhearted can you give an example of what broken heartedness may look like or that type of need have any of you been brokenhearted at some point Thomas well I mean if you've been rejected or are you lose a loved one I mean that that's where the breaks your heart yeah well I think a lot about the Samaritan woman at the well when Jesus spoke to her she was definitely a very broken hearted woman she had had five husbands the man she was with wasn't her husband and she had been through so much heartbreak and the moment when she met Jesus that's when she recognized this is my Savior who's gonna heal me of my heartbreak all the heartbreak that I've been through in my life Thank You Evelyn Gary were you thinking of a different kind of brokenhearted no I think police say all right Thomas they just say that this is really it's paradoxical if you think about it he's not saying blessed are there's a rich or blessed are those who have it all together if you really think about it's like wow he's saying blessed are this brokenhearted those are a poor that means there's really good news for all of us especially when we're down and out thank god he's got something to give us when we think we have it all together we don't really need we don't think we need Jesus but when we realize we're down and out that's when we we can turn to James Ennis you amen thank you so much Thomas so let's go to our 30 which is captives mmm-hmm think about that for a moment what kind of captivity or have you experienced any kind of captivity and what does that look like practically Carrie so when I think of captivity I think of sin in that it holds us all captive in some way shape or form and and the scary part is we sometimes don't have that recognition that we need to be extricated from that situation and Jesus was it has come to free us from sin and this ties in with the next one which is oppression sometimes when we are captive to something may feel oppressive like we can't get out as you said or we're bound by physical or even spiritual emotional chains and then our last group which is the blind and we talked about you know what that looks like what is it physical blindness and yes we know that there are some who are visually impaired but could there be a blindness that Jesus is referring to that is much broader Heidi in the book of Revelation and when when John talks about the seven churches the last Church Laodicea it's described as being blind naked but that specifically it's a spiritual blindness it's that you think you can see the world for what it is but we actually are not seeing spiritually you know what is really in front of us you know mm-hmm Thomas I'm sorry I don't mean to talk a lot but I was just thinking about the blind man when jesus healed the blind man and the it was a good illustration of how the spiritual blindness that was around him in dentistry the the Pharisees and the religious establishment they could see this healing right in front of them but they they were blinded to it so there's an interesting contrast of how we can be totally blind to the work of God around us Wow so this is the mission statement of Jesus and if you want a summarized version because maybe that's too detailed and too deep and profound it would be John 10:10 and if anyone could read John 10:10 that would be the summarized boilerplate logo version of Jesus's mission statement Edison would you like to read it sure reading from the King James Version the thief cometh not but for to steal and to kill and to destroy I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly now I want us to share for a moment have any of you experienced the mission of Jesus now that we read his mission statement have you experienced it in your personal life or have you been there for someone who's witnessed this personally either being poor brokenhearted captive oppressed or blind have any of you experienced the mission of Jesus in your personal life Andre well in ministry I see it all the time and it's not just when sermons are being preached but just when lives are being impacted and when people's when their eyes open up and they see that there's a there's a savior that loves them and has died for them then that we talk about that need you know it they realize it can be filled by him and so we used the word you asked what the word poor meant and I was really thinking about it and I thought the word lack came to mind whatever you're lacking I'm lacking it I'm lacking the ability to live for all eternity they're building to overcome many of the things that I face in life but Christ comes in and through his mission statement he's like I will rectify that our realign your human nature with my divine nature and it just becomes something that you want so you see even to your life I had an experience once were when I was still living in Florida I got locked I'll type my apartment and I was just standing there and just trying to call my husband and my neighbor comes back from work she invites me into her home and we started to talk and I realized that she was going through some problems in her marriage and she really was brokenhearted and she was needing to talk to someone so that was really a divine appointment I had the chance to pray with her and open the Bible over her at that moment yeah thank you for doing that for your friend we all need to be there and that's the point of this we're not just wanting God to meet us our needs we want to also meet other people at their points of need and so one of the hallmarks of Jesus ministry I think one of what he was known for specifically was his healings his miraculous power and really quickly if we could share two or three miracles that stand out we don't have you know all the time to go through all the miracles it would take all day in fact I think in the Bible it said a library full of books would not be enough that contain all the miraculous power that he had but what miracle stands out to you in Jesus ministry Heidi the the resurrection of Lazarus that to me is so powerful every time I read it I like get goosebumps I have it like the same you know the same effect on me every time that I read it you know it doesn't get old it's like God is amazing anyone else have a favorite Gary the the man at the Pool of Bethesda mm yeah had get up and walk I it just shows that even though you know Jesus was the one empowering him the man had a response to that to that power and we all have a part to play absolutely tickets the lady was bleeding for 12 years and then just her faith and she just said I don't even have to speak to him I don't have to let him see me I just want to touch to the tip of his garment and her faith and healed her and that was that's just amazing right now that is amazing talk about the power of God that even the hem of His garment was enough to release this woman from her suffering that's pretty powerful I think and as I think about the Ministry of Jesus I think he was a real hard worker I mean he went really far places to meet people he was working day and night and I'm you know as as a person I think well how what motivated Jesus to spend all this time just healing people and touching them and ministering them and there's an answer for this so Stephanie would you read Matthew 14 verse 14 to understand what motivated Jesus to spend so much time and energy healing people and delivering them from their suffering and I'll be reading from the King James Version and Jesus went forth and saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion toward them and He healed their sick compassion if we had compassion pastor Derek wouldn't we work that hard to meet people's needs and go out of our way to help them that's a real challenge Stephanie and I hope that we can pray about our hearts being soft enough to be moved enough by people's suffering as I'm thinking it was not only they had compassion it was that there was so much need you know why did he spend so much time caring for those in need because he was surrounded by people in need and so a we so it's not like I want to be compassionate is there anyone who needs help we're surrounded by people who have all different kinds of needs absolutely now another aspect of Jesus ministry was to confront injustice no justice is a very heavy word so I want us to unpack that for a minute what does injustice mean how would we define injustice or what do you think about when I say the word injustice Andre well I would say you know the most direct version would be to withhold justice from individuals and so therefore they're not getting their fair do they're you know what to do them okay withholding Gary do you think of anything um when I think of injustice I just think of something that isn't right yeah it doesn't feel right something's missing there's a sense of loss that I need to have taken care of biggest abuse oppression unfairness yeah yeah absolutely mistreatment I think of vulnerable populations and we'll see that in the next story that I want us to read in John chapter 2 verses 13 to 17 this is how Jesus confronted injustice at the time well would you read that for us John chapter 2 verses 13 to 17 John two verses 13 through 17 and the New King James Version says now the Passover of the Jews was at hand and Jesus went up to Jerusalem and he found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves and the money changers doing business when he had made a whip of cords he drove them out of the temple with the sheep and the oxen and poured out the changers money and over turn the tables and he said to those who sold doves take these things away do not make my father's house a house of merchandise then his disciples remembered that it was written zeal for your house has eaten me up okay thank you so much Nicole so let's discuss this story just in case someone is hearing this for the first time why were they or why was these things happening in the temple or why did the religious leaders permit this to happen John often people from outside of Jerusalem would come for the great festivals and so they would have to change their money over to the V that which was minted there in Jerusalem and so it looks like the money changers were taking advantage of the people and then apparently we're putting an exorbitant price on these animals for sacrifice and a key thing that you said there was these animals were needed as part of the worship ceremony so if they couldn't afford it they couldn't participate and what was happening in the temple do you wonder why the religious leaders permitted this to happen I mean I don't want to insinuate anything but do you think that maybe they had a hand in this as well than they were Borja fitting from this business or so Jesus's expression his actions were pretty bold you know in this instance let's think of another story maybe you've heard a different story in your Bible or a story that you've heard in Jesus's ministry where Jesus spoke out or was active against injustice you think of anything in particular Nancy I'm thinking about where in matthew 18:6 he talks about if anyone causes one of these little ones his children to be harmed it is better for them if they have a millstone tied around their neck and they be plunged to the bottom of the ocean that's those are strong words you know Gary I was gonna say the woman caught in adultery and adultery requires two people but only the woman was brought it was a setup absolutely after Matthew Mark and Luke record a second cleansing of the temple three years later mm-hm and they're doing the same thing so you've got John in the early ministry of Jesus records the first cleansing Matthew Mark and Luke record the second cleansing and and they still are doing the same thing which tells me that their heart has not and in fact I think they probably did the same thing until the temple was destroyed forty years later mm-hmm in other words they've got their set idea of what to do and clearly I think as you suggested it's driven not by godly motives yeah but by selfish motives absolutely so now let's make this practical because we are followers of Jesus you know we're his representatives here on earth how do we go about confronting the issues of injustice and society and things that we see every day when is it appropriate for us to either to use very harsh words and Nancy's story of Jesus protecting the children or even in action or maybe you've done it some times in your lives if you have a story to share when you confronted injustice how did you go about that if you would like to share Thomas well I just want to say the first thing I noticed about this is that Jesus got upset and he was moved by his compassion I think too many times we Christians think we're supposed to just be nice and smile about everything but the reality is that there are hard there are in justices in this world there as humans human trafficking there are people getting killed there are lots of things that the church needs to stand up and say something about and we have a responsibility to be moved and coming back to a pastor Derek was saying earlier about you know he was surrounded by so many needs and yet so many of us are not really attuned to what is going on around us and he at least was attuned to that and and it moved him to say something and now an inspired writer of that I respect on white writes that he had tears in his eyes so obviously you know we have to balance this with you know with this humility and compassion and tenderness but he still spoke and said something yeah taste us Thomas said we don't want to be seen like the bad people when we speak and be seen as harsh people because of a Christian where you know humility and all this but which is not it shouldn't be so because if it's not right you should call what is wrong wrong and what is right right and the whole justice thing this is how we should stand and Christ stood for this he stood for the oppressed he stood and we shouldn't see anything happening and keep quiet and so that our Christianity is not out of just mere humility but applying what is in God's word meaning caring being compassionate it's not just love compassionate but also standing for people who are oppressed Stephanie yeah I was going to say that it's true that some Christian it's it appears that Christians should just it should just be a certain kind of love but I think that's a single definition of love part of loving is confronting difficult circumstances so you're still doing it in the spirit of love yeah thinking of John the Baptist Lisa that he confronted injustice but he walked so close with God they wondered if he was the Messiah - I think there are a lot of people who want to go around and confront everybody but they don't have that humility that Thomas was talking about and they haven't really can I use the word earned the right to do that yes but I think you see men and women of God who walk closely with God in a spirit of humility and when they confront something they do it with tears in their eyes and love in their hearts that's totally different from kind of an enforcer type person going around and pointing out everybody I don't think that points anyone to the love of God yeah absolutely Andre and I guess when you look at justice injustice just the what is just may actually be different in certain situations justice and one situation made me someone may have to be put to death death penalty or otherwise if justice and another situation means doing what's fair providing someone with with with a reparation that they deserve or whatever it may be so you know in our world recent in the recent years we had all of these this live matters and that life matters and all this stuff but when I look at Christ's mission statement which we point out today in you know he wants to provide justice for individuals and I think that that's what we're missing justice matters and if we take that on then it doesn't matter what ethnic group cultural difference or otherwise we will focus in on doing it his way I think and that that's a good way to deliver and the the topic about justice we have to realize also that Jesus appealed to the people not to a system or a hierarchy it we have to realize that this is a personal calling and a lot of the times are our ideas of looking for justice is to appeal to those who are in power to do what we want now Jesus's call was you do what you can do where you are and it's gonna go and trickle up a little grow but you have to do something not apply for powers to do something for you absolutely and I want us to talk more about Jesus appealing to other people because there's some people who read the Bible or even think about the Ministry of Jesus and think well there's no way he can know what I go through like he can't relate to my situation he can't identify with my needs and there's some people who think that you know being male or being Jewish I don't see myself in Jesus's struggle so I wants to read two different verses in the book of Hebrews that specifically address the issue of Jesus being able to identify whether you're male or female whatever ethnic group whatever social class whatever educational level that jesus knows what you're going personally and so Tigges could you read for us hebrews chapter 2 verses 17 to 18 and i'll be reading from the New International Version for this reason he had to be May made like them fully human in every way in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest and service to God and that he might make an atonement for the sins of people because he himself suffered when he was tempted he is able to help those who are being tempted okay thank you tickets and our next verse is in chapter 4 Evelyn could you read Hebrews chapter 4 verses 14 to 16 yes I'll be reading Hebrews chapter 4 verses 14 to 16 it says I'll be reading from the New King James Version seeing then that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast our confession for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but was in all points tempted as we are yet without sin let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need now what do you gather from these verses are you hearing anything that Paul is trying to make the point of Jesus can identify with you whether whatever situation and John this tells us that he I cry sty denta Faiz with our needs at the very core as humanity and and he knows them and he knows him because he's experienced them right firsthand so it doesn't matter what background we were from it doesn't matter what our story is Christ has been poor Christ has been brokenhearted he's been oppressed he suffered from you know how people treated him he has experienced all the human emotions that we go through but yet without sin so they he can be the perfect lamp for our sins and so where do you seek when we think of sympathy when we think of understanding that's the basis of love and mercy we can't love people unless we can be able to experience what they experience we're able to sympathize and understand where they come from we can't show mercy unless we understand well what is it like to walk in your shoes what is it like to feel what you feel and so understanding is at the heart of God's love and mercy because Christ experienced it firsthand where else in the Bible juicy God's love and mercy can you think of a verse that describes that love and mercy that God has for us personally Stephanie I see you smiling John 3:16 okay and what does it say I'll be reading from the King James Version for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life amen amen amen so now let's think about Jesus as not just our Savior and our Redeemer but really our comforter because that's the next step after we understand what other people go through and we walked in their shoes or try to understand what they're going through then we can love we can show mercy and we're able to comfort like Patricia did when she saw her friend who was brokenhearted and she was able to comfort have any of you received the comforting presence of Jesus in your life and can you share a testimony that Jesus was there for you and he comforted you and you felt Jesus really gets me right now he understands what I feel and he's able to help me does anyone have a testimony that you'd like to share an experience I guess I'm gonna rest but when I was working in IT a long time ago I was laid off and I had a house that I had to pay and I just remember praying I remember thinking I don't I don't need to depend on God but then when this situation hit me I realized man I really do defend my god and so I remember praying and I had a mortgage payment had to pay about $1,300 and I remember Lord a praying lord please help me help me make this this payment and as soon as I got up I went downstairs and I checked the mail and I had a disbursement with a cheque for the exact amount Wow God had sent it to me right before I even prayed for it he knew my needs before I even asked and I just think that's just amazing I've always clung to that experience remembering that God takes care of Jesus looks after us and he looks after all of us whenever we're in our down times thank you for sharing Thomas that's a great story does anyone else have a testimony of when Jesus comforted you or he met a specific need that you thought what I can't believe that you met that need and you understood exactly what I needed does anyone else have a story Nancy yeah well I had a similar situation where I was just so sad about something that happened to me and then the way jesus answered me was so specific and so beautiful I've shared here before that I woke up one morning thinking of this song that my grandmother used to sing which says God will take care of you right and I had it in my head in Spanish and then I went to cook that morning and it actually it was around noon and I turned on Hope channel and it was Dwight Nelson preaching and he was preaching about the widow of Zarephath and he started singing that same song God will take care of you and I couldn't believe it and just to do this whole time things keep happening where I just think you know he he has ways of fixing things that we have no idea of he crowns us with loving-kindness and tender mercies when we depend on him Amen thank you for sharing Nancy Jesus is there he's real amen he is real and he understands us because he has walked in our shoes he experienced everything that we have gone through and I'm so glad that we can share and we are all in agreement but there's some people watching this show and they're thinking well how how can i how can I access that how can I experience that too maybe they're going through a hard time maybe they're brokenhearted or they're poor or they're oppressed or they're blind maybe they're stuck in a situation well what would you tell them how can we express to people how can we communicate that yes Jesus Israel he did these things for me how can we do that can you think of ways that we can communicate that okay so I would say use Jesus as our example I mean he he ministered to their need right whether it's physical social whatever but then he also shared with them the good news of why he was there and that's for us to do we we go we help and then we say or our lives show that we have a living connection and you can have it too John one of the things that impresses me most about Jesus ministry and his healing is that he came close to the people I mean he was even willing to go to the Centurions home and the Centurion had said I'm not worthy for you to come under my roof but Jesus would always be in proximity and so I think that's one thing is to come close to people and to see their needs listen now and then be proactive Teddy Roosevelt stated that people don't care about how much you know until they know how much you care and just doing the little things every day connecting with people showing how much you care about them that you're not just always trying to feed them a bunch of head knowledge because it's not all about that that's that will come in due time but to show that you genuinely care about someone I mean that is that is priceless a medicine Andrae also giving your personal testimony when somebody when people share with you what they're going through if they happen to open up and you can share and get tell them tell them explain to them how you made it through maybe a similar situation or your own situation and that you believe it was God that helped you Christ that helped you and like first us today I was sharing something I was going through with Stephanie Stephanie gave me a testimony and she doesn't know it really impacted me and he gave me hope to move forward so that's a realistic way in which we can share Christ with others amen Heidi you were thinking of something to worry I was gonna say the exact same thing as Andre I think when we hear stories like when Thomas shared here next to me of how God works in our lives there is nothing more powerful than that and you say wow he's real he hears us he cares about us and that you know overflows stuff to everyone around us mm-hmm absolutely Evelyn something simple but I think can be very impactful for us is looking at every situation at our life in our lives as something that isn't a coincidence so we should look at our lives like okay this small incident just happened to me it's not a coincidence this is how God is working through me so when we realize that coincidences don't exist as we realize God is actively working in my life and these things are intentional amen amen tegus do you have she took the words out of my mouth I was gonna say that whatever we're going through it's very hard in this fast-paced world right now if you tell people to just keep praying God will answer it's not gonna be instant so it's very hard to tell them and say wait upon God God will you know hear your your prayer and answer but also we can teach them that God is building something in us whatever we go through is for a reason it's not to crush us or to destroy us because that's the work of the devil but if it happens if Christ is building this beautiful thing you could imagine of a butterfly going through all the stages and it comes out beautiful so God is building our character and so we could take it and from that angle also another thing too that you know I was thinking the the testimony is great as well but then being peculiar and that word is so is you so often but the old version of the word what it used to mean was to be different and to bring value to the lives of others and so one way that we can show people around us how much Jesus loves them and to comfort them is to actually take on that responsibility through the spirit ourselves and and you know there's many examples that I could give of how God allowed me to do that but I could see the reaction in them was that this is not this is peculiar this is not normal behavior of human beings how did you become this way and let it let let and then let it be at your testimony that Christ because I'm thinking of his story lissa with Jesus he could have just told mothers God cares about your children but instead he took them on his lap he laid his hands on them he blessed them and and you remember when when the temple is cleanse the children are the ones that run in there they're saying hallelujah praise God so what I'm hearing you which I think so important we we probably don't need to talk to people in need about how much God cares who before we show them that God cares now like someone said once I've showed them they're like why are you so kind to me then we tell them about the God who not only loves us but loves them I think I think people in need need people in need need the word require action yeah action Oh yours action yeah and another story with Jesus a woman blinded by her tears she's already a widow and her son just died you know he does say don't cry but he also stops the funeral and raises the son oh yes so I guess back to what Evelyn was saying Laura how would it do something huh it would make a difference you show me what it is amen thank you so much pastor Derek what I'm hearing is we cannot love from a distance yeah as John said we have to get really really really close and that takes courage it takes courage to be vulnerable it takes courage to take the time to hear people out but also to be involved in their life out of a spirit of concern of compassion and not just say well I've done my part let me go away but to be invested in their life and to want them to live a better life well why would we do this that's what you're thinking well what's this for me think about it we've all been in need we've all wanted someone to take the time for us we've always wanted someone to hear us out to listen to us to provide for whatever needs that we have and so I think part of this also is remembering that we too could be in need if we haven't already been in need and that compassion that humility knowing that well maybe today it's them tomorrow it might be me and I might be the one who might be brokenhearted oppressed captives sake or whatever the situation and I would definitely want someone to do this for me and I think this is beautiful because this is the Ministry of Jesus he came not for those who were well-off and well-educated and perfectly healthy and perfect lives no he came for us people with real needs people with real longings and sufferings and not only did he come to know what we're going through but he lived it he experienced it he got to know the people he lived among them he made friends with people that people didn't want to make friends with he reached out his hand and he touched those who people wouldn't want to touch and he saw through their suffering because he knew he was a suffering servant he experienced it firsthand and so Jesus's life is the fulfillment of prophecy He fulfilled it perfectly by being that spotless innocent Lamb of God but also full of power to perform mirror calls and touch and heal and he was bold enough to stand for the vulnerable people in confronting social injustice or any kind of injustice sometimes we have to be bold sometimes we have to put ourselves out there because if we don't who will maybe God has put us in the lives of other people so that we would touch them and heal them but also to rescue them from all these things and finally Jesus is that suffering servant he knows what it's like to live this life we don't have a high priest who has no idea what it's like to live in this world he's experienced it firsthand so now this is our challenge now that we've learned this now that we understand it the challenges go do it you have to go out there and show the love and mercy of Jesus because when you do that you fulfill the mission of Jesus amen thank you so much that's a powerful lesson you know we've studied about Jesus many of us for years maybe even most of our lives but as we think about Jesus and those in need today what is the most important lesson that just comes to your mind anybody give me one sentence Nicole you have to get to know the person that you're going to be helping to be able to address there okay you have to come close to them like who are saying to be able to address their need yes Thomas and love and value people just as Jesus loved and value people just as Jesus did yes several hands agree it should be unconditional unconditionally tis all right I'm ready hey we need to know love himself first of all we need to know God who is love himself first of all and say God let your love fell face sometimes in the morning I ask God helped me to be a blessing it doesn't usually one more comment yes something I shouldn't be compassionate Evelyn had the Golden Rule treat others the way you would want to be treated treat others the way you'd want to be treated imagine what the world would be like you say Derek is never going to happen well it could happen right where we live couldn't it we could be part of the miracle as we say God work your love through me the miracle through me as I draw near to people in need and again may I remind you it is not to earn God's favor or to try to convince him to love you or save you he's already saved you by His grace he wants his love and His mercy and his justice to flow through you to bless those around you would you join with me in prayer today that we can be that channel of blessing by His grace to make a difference right where we live Father in heaven we've been challenged today as Lisa has led our study and how Jesus related to those in need we know that Jesus was not always understood sometimes the powerful institutions opposed him sometimes he suffered for doing what was right but I thank you that Jesus fully revealed the immeasurable and unfailing love of God and thank you that Jesus is not only our Savior and soon coming King but he is our example of how to live now may your love flow through us to bless others as we have seen in the life of Jesus in Jesus name we pray amen thanks for joining us for hope Sabbath school don't keep all of this information in your head go out and be a blessing to those around you you

Channel: HopeSabbathSchool

Views: 31,668

Rating: 4.7184749 out of 5

Keywords: hopesabbathschooll, hope sabbath school, seventh-day adventist, derek morris, Jesus

Id: YjH17D0Ehdw

Length: 57min 29sec (3449 seconds)

Published: Sun Aug 11 2019