(CLICK THE TITLE) Good morning everyone. I’m going to ask all of you a question that I have already dealt with this morning. What kind of fool are you and who or what are you a fool for? I know that that seems like a kind of bizarre question and the message today will help you make sense out of it so let it bless you.
Today’s Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, help us to see that virtue, like bread, is necessary for our nation’s meaningful existence. We need to learn to get along with our fellow man. We need to develop sensitivity to each others needs and misfortunes. Jesus taught His disciples to be sensitive, to pray for those who are suffering, to speak words of healing and forgiveness. This was learned caring, not left up to government-managed welfare, but to neighborly concern – most often, to Christian concern. This is the basis of virtue! Help us Lord, to learn this for ourselves and to teach it to our children, for fear that we lose our lives on streets that are rampant with crime because of our refusal to heed Your commandment to love our neighbor as we love ourselves, and to want for others what we desire for ourselves – the same opportunities, the same encouragement, the same helping hand. We give you all honor and glory in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Let’s eat.
Two Kinds of Fools
Fools for the Devil and the World
Luke 12:13-21
Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” Then he said, “Beware! Guard against every kind of greed. Life is not measured by how much you own.” Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”
Fools for Christ’s Sake
1 Corinthians 4:6-12
Dear brothers and sisters, I have used Apollos and myself to illustrate what I’ve been saying. If you pay attention to what I have quoted from the Scriptures, you won’t be proud of one of your leaders at the expense of another. For what gives you the right to make such a judgment? What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift? You think you already have everything you need. You think you are already rich. You have begun to reign in God’s kingdom without us! I wish you really were reigning already, for then we would be reigning with you. Instead, I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike. Our dedication to Christ makes us look like fools, but you claim to be so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are so powerful! You are honored, but we are ridiculed. Even now we go hungry and thirsty, and we don’t have enough clothes to keep warm. We are often beaten and have no home. We work wearily with our own hands to earn our living. We bless those who curse us. We are patient with those who abuse us. We appeal gently when evil things are said about us. Yet we are treated like the world’s garbage, like everybody’s trash—right up to the present moment.
Quote of the Day
Jesus is moved to happiness every time He sees that you appreciate what He has done for you. Grip His pierced hand and say to Him, “I thank Thee, Saviour, because Thou has died for me.” Thank Him likewise for all the other blessings He has showered upon you from day to day. It brings joy to Jesus.
Ole Kristian O. Hallesby
WITH HOPE AND FAITH
REV. ELDER G E STERRETT
FOUNDER
GCKRS HELPING HAND FOUNDATION – THE RELATIONSHIP FACTORY