Hope Sabbath School Lesson 8 Least of these

[Music] [Applause] [Applause] 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 you recognize those words perhaps from Jesus ministering to those in need our topic today right on target caring for those in need particularly as we look at the teaching and example of Jesus it's going to be a great study I'm glad you joined us what a great series this is you know I'm feeling even even the theme song about directing our hearts into the love of God that this series is changing my heart and I pray that it's changing yours too wherever you are around the world world was happy to hear from you you can write to us at SS hope at hope TV org we sent it to the team it encourages us to hear how God is blessing your heart melody writes from Nigeria and she says greetings to the great family of God I've learned so much from hope Sava school every week in fact I download every study when I'm less busy and it's made me a good teacher on Sabbath god bless this home of peace and joy where Jesus is at the center that's our prayer isn't it I hope to join this class physically one day but if Christ comes today or tomorrow we'll see you in the kingdom of heaven Oh we'll be looking for you melody and she concludes god bless you all thanks for writing to us and hope Sabbath school Victoria writes from Colorado in the United States of America Travis I think you lived in Colorado for a little while in Wyoming but I was well here's from Victoria she says dear hope Sabbath school members I'm always blessed by listening every week when I have difficulty understanding the Bible I always turn to Hope channel Mary's God I pray the Spirit will continue to give you understanding we shall all make it to the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus in his name amen hey well Victoria we'd love to meet you in person but thanks for writing to us from the beautiful state of Colorado in the United States here's a note from a donor couple in Georgia in the United States of America my family and I have been watching Hope channel and Hope Sabbath school for over five years now on a weekly basis and we continue to enjoy the teaching we wanted to express our gratitude to you and the rest of the team for the ministry that you've shared with us your your team is truly caring and generous and we are certain you will continue to change the spiritual walk with Jesus of many more viewers and we would say Amen please accept this small donation as a token of our support for the Ministry of spreading the gospel to the world and a gift of $500 Wow we just want to say thank you for partnering with us in that ministry from the beautiful state of Georgia you know all together right yes all doing some of you paid your airline ticket and flew here some of you drove here some of you walked here we're all here together world Volunteers right part of this great ministry and we're thankful for those who partner with us Howard writes from Zambia and says you've always helped me to make the Bible easier to understand I've been watching this program on my laptop and it helps me a lot and many more brothers and sisters around the world it has also helped me to teach at my church in Lusaka Zambia may God continue blessing you well Howard we're glad you a hope Sabbath school teacher you can download the same outline I've got mine in my Bible that I'll be using to teach today but you can download this same outline from our website hope TV org slash hope SS and you can use that you can give a copy to each of your class students and I know you'll be blessed as you share the Word of God together one last note from Brian in Zimbabwe we have a lot of hopes have a school members in Zimbabwe don't we hey that's your home territory to me so all right let's get a close-up to me Brian and all of our hopes and school members there in in Zimbabwe there you are time for a wave there we go to Mesa is not only one of our team but one of our teachers and I know there are a lot of Hope service cool members in your home country I live in mas Wingo a small city in the southern part of Zimbabwe I started following hopes Sabbath school many years ago and I'm still enjoying the lessons I also sing the songs with you we are a good choir well we need your help right now Brian he says I wish I could be part of the panel well you know you are part of the panel I hear people watch on their laptop on their smartphone or on television and when when the teacher has the question you raise your hand we're part of an in-depth interactive Bible study and we need you to sing with us - it's a beautiful theme song for this year is a scripture song taken from second Thessalonians 3 verse 5 and 16 now may the Lord direct your hearts we're into the love of God let's sing it together [Music] may the Lord direct your heart into the love of God ravenoid direct your heart into the pages of keys away the Lord be with you all oh boy direct your the love of God no I wrecked your [Music] always and everywhere [Music] you know I just realized what we were singing we've got some great vocalists in this group but whether we sing a little or a lot whether we're here in the United States of America or where you are around the world we can all hide God's Word in our hearts amen we do that by singing scripture songs that's part of what we do on Hope Sabbath school we believe that God's Word is the lamp to our feet and a light to our path so as we study today let's pray the Holy Spirit's guidance Father in Heaven thank you for this beautiful promise that Paul wrote to Christians in Thessalonica to direct our hearts into the love of God what a beautiful preparation for this study on caring for those in need and the teaching an example of Jesus may we not only be inspired in our hopes a mystical study today may we be motivated to go out and live differently for the honor of your name and the blessing of those around us especially the least of these we pray it in the name of Jesus amen we're going to the great sermon on the mount of Jesus it's recorded in two Gospels does anybody know where the longest account is so the Gospel of Matthew isn't it after five six and seven Matthew who really likes to capture the teaching of Jesus says I'm gonna write as much of this down as I can guide it by the Holy Spirit and we're gonna start in Matthew chapter five with a collection of short sayings puia and then they called the Beatitudes if the Beatitudes blessed are blessed are and I wonder if you would start our study today by reading verses 2 through 10 of Matthew chapter 5 sure and I'll be reading from the New King James Version Matthew 5 verse 2 to 10 then he opened his mouth and taught them saying blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be filled blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven and then Jared II if you'd keep reading it's almost as if Jesus expands the last of the Beatitudes with a little more about when we're persecuted for righteousness sake verses 11 and 12 of Matthew 5 verses 11 and 12 and I'll be reading from the New King James Version blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in heaven for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you now that relates to a lot of things but even when you care for those in need people may persecute you well hold on to why they would possibly do that but where do you see in this teaching of Jesus his emphasis on caring for those in need anywhere in the Beatitudes yes Jason I look at a couple of the first ones poor in spirit those who mourn these are both situation's of someone who has a lock who has a need there's something divine or something that makes a person hold that they are missing out on okay some have said that the mourn is mourning over our condition well that's missing something or even mourning over the loss of a loved one that's that some need to isn't it so you see them there all right charity those who hunger in yeah okay and they were speaking about spiritually hungry right we read about a famine of the word in the land people I still remember a lady who wrote to me just a few weeks ago she said I went to church for 60 years as something was missing and then I watched hope Sabbath school and I realize what it was the Bible the Bible was missing so that longing for the word okay where else do you see it in the Beatitudes yes Trevor I see it here where it talks about mercy and the peacemakers yes you know those that are suffering so a person in who needs mercy is certainly in need right and showing mercy meets that need or where this conflict being a peacemaker all right let's keep reading here as we go on to the next portion Travis if you could read verses 13 through 16 but keep in mind how did how do the Beatitudes relate to what he's going to say next in verses 13 through 16 of Matthew 5 and I'll be reading from the New King James Version you are the salt of the earth but if the salt loses its flavor how shall it be seasoned and if it's then good for nothing but to be thrown and trampled underfoot by men you were the light of the world a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand and give its light to all who are in the house let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven so what are the needs that some people have that we might meet if we're faithful to this teaching of Jesus yes it can be anything when I go back and look at the Beatitudes yes blessed are the poor in spirit those who recognize their need of God I meet people and they say I just I don't know what to do I feel like life is falling in on me there's a blessing for people like when you recognize your need for Jesus there's a blessing for that he can work with that especially if I am allowing Jesus to do what through me shine his light right yeah because who's the light of the world he said we are like Jesus I understand what you mean because in John 8 verse 12 he says I am the light of the world and he who follows me will not walk in darkness but have the light of Life so the light that shines through me to that poor in spirit person is the the letting go it's the light of God the light of Jesus right so there's this sense of making a difference as his light shines through us well let's get very practical and I'd like to ask you about is your church or small group making a difference in your community is it salt we have there's lots of things salt does we think of flavor healing right it melts ice gold place and certainly light dispels darkness any one part of a community where you see that really happening that it makes a difference it's definite yeah the I'm currently going to a church where their ministry is with the the children in the community okay and so they have individuals from the church go and pick up each child and bring them to church and so they learn they're learning about God so parents are not bringing them no members of the fellowship are going and helping them come to church to learn about Jesus yes it's an amazing ministry that they have and of course there are challenges right because these children are not used to going to church so it's a great ministry where everyone really needs to get their hands involved all right I thought you were going to say hands dirty people who aren't used to church it's not always that easy that's that's right that's right someone else where you're seeing that happen Trevor being light salt making a difference so I'm a part of a small church and we have teamed up with the local food bank okay and we go out on Mondays and we have a little table set up where we have clothes for people we also pray for people we have literature that talks about Jesus and it's just a beautiful experience that people are excited you know if we miss someone day or so they like where are you guys we miss you guys so we definitely can see the blessing in that or most of the people or some of the people in that group Christians some are somewhere not so for people who are not followers of Jesus to be caring for the least of these and Christians not caring for the least of these that would seem rather odd right Mike doesn't make sense praise God for those who have not yet recognized who Jesus is who are reflecting the character of Jesus in the way they care Travis you're part of a very vibrant community there in Tennessee yeah our church is just there on fire for the community they just want to be in the community and helping and I'm really proud to be a part of that team and I remember I had went out in the community just trying to reach people with their needs and so I had multiple people to reach and I was talking with some of the ladies at the church about maybe getting some help but the following day I'm out visiting some of the homes and here comes the car with two ladies and it were they were searching for one of the homes that I had been talking today later just a day later and I thought God it's so good to be a part where of the church where people want to get involved and care about the needs of others in our community I was a blessed to see those two and that reflects the character of Jesus right can I remind ourselves who got your hands here that we're not trying to earn our way to heaven Yeah right we love Jesus want to reflect the beauty of his character to others Samiha and them for you my church recently and it's been ongoing they they partnered with another group within the community where they deliver back-to-school supplies for all those students okay and we found that as we just delivered these supplies and just let them know who we are it came in a time of need and it makes it much more easier to have that connection and interaction to share the love of Christ since we've already shared it in a tangible way so this is primarily for young children going back to school occasionally they still use pens and pencils yes all right yeah very practical for you recently I went back to my country Burma and also visited Mizoram India and there I saw church members involved in reaching out to the communities and one of the things that on top of my head that came up right now was not a church community but the hospital through the Adventist Hospital in I saw a lot of people are helped especially people who are addicted to drugs the Adventist Hospital in that city was known to be the caring Hospital more than any other Hospital they seem to be the ones where the people who are addicted to drugs want to go to because the resep the response that we have heard from people is that when they go to other hospitals I don't know where but they seem to be treated in such a way that they are not really respected because of their addictions but when they come to this Christian Hospital they are cared for with dignity and respect so I thought that speak of volume you know being a salt and light for Christ into the communities even to those people who are struggling with addictions so what do we do what do we do if our small group or a community is not impacting the community at all if it's like someone said if you close down what anybody notice right especially with anybody who is you need notice right now because we're talking about caring for those in need so what do we do if we say you know I'm part of a community but I don't know that it's impacting the people in need in my area at all Edison well I think of that campfire song you know that I grew up with and it says it only takes a spark to get a fire going sometimes just being that one little light that one little spark in your community can set and you can get a fire going so rather than say there's no sparks here in our community be the spark also going to say that be the answer be the answer you can start and then the rest will follow you example I've heard either sermon you know but be the answer to that person's prayer yeah even if they don't know how to pray yet well Jesus goes on he's Jesus is actually quite challenging he wants us not just to love God with all of our hearts and accept the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus he also wants us to do what love people around us right including the least of these so let's look at what Jesus says in Matthew still in the great Sermon on the Mount Trevor could you read for us verses 38 through 42 of Matthew chapter 5 and I'll be reading from the New King James you have heard that it was said an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth but I tell you not to resist an evil person but whosoever slaps you on your right cheek turn the other to him also if anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic let him have your cloak also and whoever compels you to go one mile go with him to give to him who asked you and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away hmm is that figurative language or is that real Haiti what do you think it sounds you know if they slap you on one side go hey you want to try the other side that sounds a little extreme I hope that it's not literal because of that but I think some of it might be literal and some of it might be figurative depending on the situation in the circumstance like obviously if perhaps you're in an abusive situation or something you definitely should not turn the other cheek correct because you're you're enabling the abuser right yeah so there you need to find a safe place thank you for pointing that out so I have to pray do I apply this literally or or is it what would be the principle if it's not literal for example turn the other cheek would what could that look like Trisha Lee I think for that example he's telling you would actually stop a cycle of escalation someone's angry sure it wants to fight you and you turn your faith like well that's I'm not expecting that much but I just switched your fists up to try to hit me right okay in a way it's kind of exercising humility and so if you're humble enough to offer okay you want to hit me hit me some more in the example in essence you're doing something as shocking and jarring the person likely won't want to hit you again there'd be confused and saying well what's going on so I think he's trying to say humble yourself and if you humble yourself you might stop that cycle or the anger from escalating so I think in that situation it is a figurative term that would help them realize maybe I don't put my fists up to and try to fight you back and what I might do is be humble but step back a little oh yeah I think it is important to understand the context in which Jesus is speaking these words back in the time when Jesus was speaking this most people were common people who were under the Imperial rule of Roman Empire and life was difficult with heavy taxation and religious you know laws and regulations and most often time people were assaulted physically so in that context the radical teaching of Jesus here is that he is asking his disciples and followers to respond with integrity by resisting non-violently and by generously sharing they expose the evil that is acted on them so when a Roman soldier asks you to carry a burden for a mile say well I can take it another mile if that would be helpful for you and hopefully the Roman soldier would say who are you why are you like that most people spit on my shadow right it can be a witness well there is a story that Jesus told that really illustrates going the Second Mile we have that expression in English officially would you read for us math in Luke chapter 10 verse 30 and then move over to 33 to 35 verse 30 and verses 33 to 35 don't worry we'll come back to verses 31 and 32 in a moment I'll be reading from the New King James Version verse 30 then jesus answered and said a certain man went down from Jericho Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves who stripped him of his clothing wounded him and departed leaving him half dead verse 33 but a certain Samaritan as he journeyed came where he was and when he saw him he had compassion so he went to him and bandaged his wounds pouring on oil and wine and he sent him on his own animal brought him to an inn and took care of him on the next day when he departed he took out two denarii gave them to the innkeeper and said to him take care of him and whatever more you spend when I come again I will repay you so what is startling some of you heard this called the parable of the right what is startling I mean go to the story for the first time again Evelyn what's startling about this story yes what I believe is startling is that this is a Samaritan who has stopped to help this man and at this time the Samaritans were bitter enemies to the Jews and so the fact that it's a Samaritan that's helping this man that's bandaging his wounds paying for him to stay in him in the Samaritan is almost an oppressed person in the day so it's an oppressed person helping another oppressed person someone else who is in need okay anybody else I think that's an important point we would not expect the Samaritan to help this Jewish traveler even though he's obviously in great need right almost beaten to death what else can it do you see this to be a part of the stories the risk of him being attacked because the same area that this man was found is a senior he's also stopping to hope so right in that road that goes from Jerusalem down to Jericho bandits around there so he could easily have said the bandits are probably still here not a good place to stop right maybe I'll help someone in a safer location what else starters you about the story though is there any indication that this Samaritan knows this man no no what's the only thing he knows about this man Stephanie well he noticed that he needs help that's it yeah it's a messy situation yes and there's no way for him that man to really pay him back and he's not looking for it it appears here take care of him and okay let's talk about the payback so you read that it would he gave to Danelle all right now a Denarius was worth how much days were days a day's wage so I don't know I'm not gonna ask you what you make in a day but let's let's say you make X amount you worked hard for that for how many hours do you work in a day normally 8 hours 10 hours right now and he's giving how many days wages to hold day's wages that is a significant sacrifice right he sacrificed his own safety time and resources for someone he doesn't even know doesn't even know Travis there was when I was studying this something amazing popped out at me and it's when I was sitting there reading this and I and he said what if it costs more I'll come back and I'll repay I thought this guy wouldn't trust him unless he had a good reputation yeah oh you mean the innkeeper yeah I was thinking this was not just that he led a life of he had to live a life of good reputation or that end keeper be like how do I know you're coming back right but so two things good reputation but also willing to sacrifice all the more right you know if it's for three more days work whatever quite a remarkable story isn't it for someone he doesn't know who's also an oppressed or disadvantaged person it's a powerful teaching from Jesus because again we're talking about context there was great debate about who was my neighbor mm-hmm and Jesus says everyone is your neighbor those you don't know those that may despise you everyone is your neighbor and especially those in need ya know Travis Trisha Lee I'm gonna take you back you said Derrick why did you skip over 31 or 32 well there are some other characters in this story that we might expect to stop for the least of these let's see how that little piece in Luke 10 31 and 32 reads reading for the New King James Version verse 31 now by chance a certain priest came down that road and when he saw him he passed by on the other side likewise a Levite when he arrived at the place came and looked and passed by on the other side now we don't want to judge these people with motives that they didn't have we don't know Addison do you have any idea why the priest and the temple worker called the Levite why they would pass by and not care for this man what do you think well they could have been trying to protect their own life okay could be back to this is a dangerous location also the just the fact that they didn't want to get their hands dirty it reached out and could be dead by the way then you'd become ceremonially unclean right I don't know if they're going up to the temple to serve I'm too busy serving God to care for someone in need and Jesus is thinking no no that is serving God right anybody else what do you think white why might they have not stops their own safety what else Travis I think it's quite possible that they were unconverted Christians of course you weren't Christians at that time but you take right unconverted religious religious leaders yes is it possible to be a religious leader puia and Bianca yes is that really possible very well you say York you just need to read the Bible dude there's some really converted people their heart is totally surrendered to God right and there's some that that aren't so it's possible that they were really not surrendered to God and therefore like our scripture song their heart was not directed into the any other reason Trisha lee i think the point you made about them being so busy that could have been their motivation like i'm a temple priest i'm of temple worker there's so much going on i have to get to my assignment and more people need me than particularly this fellow who probably may be dead we heard an interesting story and in church this week and the person who was delivering the message told the story of a city that had a bus depot or a bus system that was known and famous for being always on time never missed our schedule and they asked well why oh and they never missed a schedule because they had a policy that if they were running behind time they would pass passengers so they would skip people to keep the schedule going and they put out a statement ask them why are you doing this and they said it's impossible for us to maintain a schedule if we have to stop and pick up every passenger along the way maybe the priest and Levite had read that report I have a great reason for ignoring this person and and really really really a great reason pass by I think was mentioned earlier but they risk having contact with someone who was potentially dead right and then there was a time consuming ritual to cleanse themselves from that and so they missed the focus of these rituals vessels what's more important in caring for people who need charity and then I want to go to Jesus takes it one step further and ministering to those in need he says I want you to go out and find people and treat them the way you'd like to be treated a man that's even more radical radical right dirty I think they may have just passed him by because of verse 33 where they lacked compassion that this American saw him and had compassion and compassion sometimes we pass people by when we lack compassion so here's a question Travis based on your earlier comment I don't Jesus help us here right is it possible to be truly converted and lack compassion the least of these well you might say we're on a journey let's be generous right but the more fully truly converted we are the more we'll have is that right well let's see what Jesus said to me so could you read in Matthew 7 and verse 12 some people have called this the golden rule now there were other rules you know different teachers had a rule for living they call this gold and I suppose because it came from Jesus but this is a rule for life what does Jesus say still in this great Sermon on the Mount Matthew 7 and verse 12 reading from the New King James Version therefore whatever you want man to do to you do also to them for this is the law and the prophets so let's go back to the Samaritan and the beaten traveler if you were the beaten traveler how would you like to be treated you like Derek really how would you like to be treated Haiti if you were there on the side of the road my mom would treat me what would your mom do he would baby me for me and take care of me and bandaged my wounds changed my clothes clean me she wouldn't say and here's two days and if it's more than to kick her out how she say if there's more I'll pay right not caring so when we're passing by someone in need what wouldn't what do we need to think this is so challenging isn't it very Edison I think we just need to put ourselves into their shoes yeah and for a moment just think about if I was in their position like you said you know how would I want to be treated and just to kind of see them through the lenses of not through our own lenses but through the lenses of Jesus and that would bring us to that what would Jesus do WWJD what would Jesus do because Jesus would treat them the way he would like to be treated that's right right to the least of these Kenneth and also sometimes some people will not even put themselves in the shoes but if you see them as how Jesus see them then if you're flowe of Christ it will compel you to do what Jesus would do sure have you ever been in a situation where someone has showed this kind of radical demonstration of care when you were in need when you were in need we'll talk about when you cared for someone else when you were in need or caring for someone else Evelyn yes well I've recently been a little sick and I study at Universal Adventist University in Tennessee and my roommate she showed me care like nobody ever has before she told me Evelyn she would leave me little notes Evelyn here's a vitamin C booster please take it and a knight should say Evelyn do you want me to rub your back with some Vicks VapoRub you know that'll help you feel better sounds like your mother Hagar absolutely and she did all those things for me and it made me want to do the same for anyone else who feels is your roommate or follower of Jesus yes hardcores okay now there are people who are not followers of Jesus who help with the food bank but they're still reflecting the beautiful characters yes aren't they yeah caring for the least of these someone else to me so think an important prayer we should have is Lord please give me compassion ah but what would happen to us if we asked for the compassion that Jesus has for people what would happen to us amazing we could transform yes yes amazing yeah it would revolutionize our lives but what would be left of us everything everything yeah everything would be left everything that's important yeah would be laughing well we need to continue on in our study because I do want to I want to learn and I believe you do learn to be sensitive to those in need yes I want to be sensitive so let's look at a couple of stories that are recorded by dr. Luke will start in Luke 16 and Haiti if you could read verses 19 through 21 of Luke 16 and my question for you we could spend a lot of time on this story what's wrong with this picture do you understand what I'm asking something looks wrong here if we really have asked our hearts to be directed into the love of God let's hear the story and I'll be reading from the New King James Version and it says there was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day but there was a certain beggar named Lazarus full of sorts who was laid at his gate desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table moreover the dogs came and licked his sores what's wrong with this picture even the dogs had compassion oh I didn't even think about that was compassionate to lick him but I suppose it could be they didn't see they did not say even the dogs came and bit him okay so you're saying that the dogs had more compassion than the rich man yeah Asumi so the need was right at his gate it was right there by the way there's a lot of need in the world but how about starting with the need that's closest to you let's look at another story Jason in Luke 12 you know some of these stories we could take a whole hour away the good very deep but we're talking here Jesus talking about caring for those in need in Luke 12 verses 16 to 21 why it was this rich man so insensitive to the needs of others is a question I'd like you to think about as Jason rate I'll be reading from the New King James Version Luke chapter 12 verses 16 through 21 then he spoke a parable to them saying the ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully and he thought within himself saying what shall I do since I have no room to store my crops so he said I will do this I will pull down my barns and build greater and there I will store all my crops and my goods and I will say to my soul soul you have many goods laid up for many years take your ease eat drink and be merry but God said to him fool this night your soul will be required of you then whose will those things be which you have provided so is he who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God so what's the problem Stephanie with this rich man there's nothing wrong we're going to talk about the fact that there are some wealthy people who are extremely generous and caring for those in need what's the problem with this man in the story of Jesus tells it sounds like he's all absorbed in his own self yeah he's even praying to himself he's talking to himself so he's self-absorbed yes yes greed greed yes if he has more he just once more okay someone else Trevor sometimes we just get so caught up in the cares of this world as we mentioned before that we can't see beyond our front door and what's the care that this man is right what is his care so it's never these key remember now has too much died and a simple solution would be are there some people in me yes that I could Karen show care to mmm-hmm Travis you know what when I read this story I had compassion on this man because I thought how lonely can a person be when you can't even talk to anybody else you have to talk to you so so really that's not the way to find true happiness self-absorbed self-serving hmm officially he is concerned with now that he has all these goods what does he want to do he wants to eat drink and be merry he wants to spend them on himself if anything but when it says that he wasn't rich toward God God doesn't need what he has in his barn it means that he should find those who are in need and when we serve the least of these it's as though we're taking care of our master so he's always doing it unto God because God walked this earth and didn't have much and there were people of wise men and those folks who came and visited and gave gifts to his parents when he was in need and so it's not that God wants our money he owns everything already it's that his children needs to be taken care of and he wants us to partner with him in that so when it says being rich toward God it's because we're sharing our blessings with others not just hoarding it so we can keep eating drinking and being merry mm-hmm so Kenneth mentioned about greed there are poor people who can be greedy - right yeah that true absolutely so how do we void how do we avoid the mistake that both the rich man in the story with Lazarus and this wealthy man who's just thinking about I have a problem I my barn is too small how can we avoid that same self-serving view of life Jason there has to be I think in our mindset in our attitude and we need they have a mindset which is what we saw of Jesus where we're looking for others in need and giving rather than just thinking about ourselves so it's kind of purposeful saying okay lord I know you've given me things but how can I use them in a way that will bless others and not just myself and there's a great story that illustrates that isn't there about someone who was we would think at least just self-absorbed with getting more and more and more money but when he meets Jesus it changes everything yeah mm-hmm anybody know who that was there may be several short fellow named Zacchaeus let's take a look at that story maybe Evelyn someone's hearing this for the very first time in Luke chapter 19 beginning with verse 1 and let's let's try to hear the story and how when his heart enters into the love of God it changes the way he cares about other people I will be reading from the New King James Version chapter 19 verse 1 then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho now behold there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector and he was rich and he sought to see who Jesus was but cannot because of the crowd for he was of short nature so he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him for he was going to pass that way and when Jesus came to the place he looked up and saw him and said to him Zacchaeus make haste and come down for today I must stay at your house so he made haste and came down and received him joyfully but when they saw it they all complained saying he he was gone to be a guest with a man who is this he has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord look Lord I give half of my goods to the poor and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation I restore fourfold and Jesus will respond by saying today salvation has come to this house Edison does salvation come because he's willing to give his money away no he he was he looked at Jesus he decided all of a sudden to take his focus off himself and put it on Jesus and he wasn't gonna let anything standing in the way from finding him he was little when he calls Jesus Lord he's saying I've accepted you as my savior and Lord that's how salvation comes so what's all this Travis with giving away half to the poor and four times if I've wronged anybody well first I want to say that if this story is so amazing because Zacchaeus places himself in a position to meet Jesus and when we place ourselves in a position to meet Jesus the things that are plaguing us just fall off and and he had these things and when he met Jesus and he realized how much Jesus was giving to him eternal life a new life what he what he had didn't matter to him anymore he just wanted to be a blessing to everywhere actually if we were listening to Evelyn she read the least of these at that time was up in the tree even though he had everything Yeah right he was in great need and Jesus cared for the least of these right but but hell wouldn't help me with the okay Edison says she connected with Jesus as his Lord Savior salvations come to this house what's the relationship between that and giving half away and four times to having wrong someone charity not only did he want to make amends but he liked the song said he allowed the love of God to direct his heart to those who he had taken away from before hmm I imagine people thinking I mean remember the people who are criticizing the unconverted yeah criticizing they thought he's gone mad or had had he actually found his sanity yes half of what I I wonder if he had anything left maybe he had everything left yeah go see game Jesus he gained his new identity I mean it's just so amazing well another person in the Bible who didn't allow his wealth maybe Zacchaeus did at one point but then is like nope you're not gonna get in the way hmm with my relationship with God entering into the love of God and caring for the least of these mm-hmm think of another person Abraham Jason Nicodemus now Nicodemus had two types of wealth that I would see what what wealth did he have anybody power political oh yes he had a tremendous amount of influence perhaps much more than Zacchaeus who was despised even though it was a chief tax collector Nicodemus was a member of the ruling body mm-hmm you know that's like being a member of parliament or Congress right yeah he was a member of the Sanhedrin so he had political and religious influence what other wealth did he have financial financial wealth yeah he was a wealthy person would you like to read a little piece about about Nicodemus maybe in John 19 verses 39 to 42 where does Nicodemus first appear in the Gospel story oh when he met Jesus that's right by night right John chapter 3 that point he seems like he's just checking yes right maybe we we judge him harshly but maybe he's saying I have a lot of influence yes and I want to make sure I want to do some due diligence right but let's see what's happened by the time we get to John 19 we're reading from the New King James Version John chapter 19 verse 39 through 42 and Nicodemus who at first came to Jesus by night also came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes about a hundred pounds then they took the body of Jesus and bound it in strips of linen with the spices as the custom of the Jews is to bury now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid so there they laid Jesus because of the Jews preparation day for the tomb was nearby so here he is we know he's a member of the ruling body called the Sanhedrin right but a hundred pounds is what you does anyone have any study notes in your Bible how much was that worth I mean I know when you buy a little point mint or perfume it's in small bottles and is expensive right how much anybody have any idea there's a simple answer a lot this is a this is a massive gift to embalm the body of Jesus right so he's caring for the least of these someone has just been crucified right but actually he's not the least of these is he he's the greatest the greatest but what else is he giving when he's coming where the rest of the followers of Jesus did it ever startled you that before Jesus is even risen from the dead that this leader from the Sanhedrin would lay everything down for Jesus mm-hmm Samiha and he came openly the first time he came by night yeah and now he's no longer timid is just open about Jesus and and some of us might have gone through that in our life we had an opportunity to share Jesus but we just kind of decided not to but if an opportunity presents itself again like Nicodemus we should be open about our faith no I'm gonna ask you an obvious question but I do want you to think about it how do you think that Nicodemus felt as he reflected back in later years about that sacrifice about what he gave Stephanie I can't imagine that he felt like it was a sacrifice hmm I can only imagine that he thought I'm so glad that I could do just a small piece of the puzzle for that and provide for his me agree disagree what do you think chapstick he might've even said I wish I would have done more yes ah I mean that's what the Christian heart is I'm like wicked oh yeah not not a sacrifice but a privileged general so now to me so and then I want to ask you a question and that is if Nicodemus could look back and say I was blessed when I cared for Jesus in need I want you to share a time when you led by the spirit cared for someone in need oh no they were blessed but you were blessed when you did that sue me sue I just wanted to say that I think for Nicodemus sacrifice was redefined because Jesus was the true sacrifice yeah what else could I do right what else could I do a time when we talked about caring for the least of these when you cared by the Spirit's guidance because we can't care for everybody in the world when you cared for someone in need and you yourself were blessed in doing that whoo yeah and recently I join a team of missionaries and conducting an evangelistic meeting there I contributed financially and I got involved myself as the speaker for the the event and a part of that we did a free medical clinic and I contributed to provide free medication and distribute you know medicines and all of that in the village that we went to in Burma Myanmar oh you were back yeah back in your home cat went back to my country and we distributed free medication to more than 200 people and that money came from my pocket it was not because I had money but because I felt compelled by the Lord to reach out to these people and the result those people coming closer to God because of our outreach filled my heart with joy it was I got the blessing and returned so much more than I gave and by the way you are a wealthy graduate student right it's not so significant how much we can give yeah finish the sentence look so significant how much we can give but what you give our willingness our willingness to give to give what we can like the widow who gave the two small copper coins right gave what we can I loved it for those of you in the front row couldn't see him smiling while he was talking about that sacrifice and he'd look back and say it was a privilege right someone else's short story trishy lee would visit the nursing home and sometimes we'd go in the afternoons we already had a long day you're tired you're just like oh maybe we'll go another time but just the time you can spend singing or praying and visiting with people who maybe haven't seen someone in a long time we gave the gift of time but to see their faces turn from sullen and sad and down to smiling and joyful you can't help but feel joy when you realize and you can bring that to someone fires that you make an interesting point we all have the gift of time yeah right yeah and the gift of loving people even if we're poor graduate students right and and how did that impact you well it just made me feel joy as well seeing other people smiling and just seeing the change in their demeanor and sitting upright in their chairs it's it makes you feel warm inside as well jesus said when you give it's given back to you one more short story yes Evelyn at the University I attend a friend of ours recently got knee surgery and so a group of students we all got together we're like how can we take care of him some students a missed class to be with him and care for him to make him food give him his medications and I was I was privileged to be able to be there one morning that he was in great pain and it just made me think I can't wait to become a nurse someday know how to care for people even better than I do right now and when we do it with the love of God in our hearts we're changed too yeah that's the message of our study today caring for those in need when the love of God is in our hearts we are changed too when we care for those who need well thanks for being with us for hope Sabbath school let's pray that our hearts can continue to enter into the love of God not only to bless others but we know we too will be blessed father in heaven thank you for this beautiful study from the teaching and the example of Jesus and I thank you for the testimonies we've heard today how when we allow your love to flow through us to care for the least of these that we are also blessed but we know you are blessed to your heart experiences joy when we reflect your love to others thank you may that happen even in this coming week we pray in the name of Jesus amen thanks for joining us for hope service goal not just in her head but in our hearts and in our lives go out and make a difference to the lives of those around [Music] you

Channel: HopeSabbathSchool

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Keywords: hopesabbathschool, Hope Sabbath School, Seventh-Day Adventist, derek morris, lesson 8 least of these

Id: lbOhm7W08zI

Length: 58min 24sec (3504 seconds)

Published: Sun Aug 18 2019