Serving the Needy, by Greg Byman

By Pastor Greg Byman
October 21, 2018
St Joe Community Church

How does serving the needy serve the needy, and serve you? Jesus taught his followers to both be generous to the needy and, in that generosity, focus on a reward from God, not recognition from men. Otherwise, a man might someday discover that God found his “good works” to be not all that good after all. Pastor Greg Byman today dives into Matthew 25:31-46 as he preaches “Serving the Needy: The True Test of Real Faith.”

Pastor's notes

Click to download pastor's notes in MS Word format.

---

Click to download a sermon transcript MS Word format.

That experience called one die without a home. And a few of them are here today I think they're all here I'm not sure but those of you that are in the house that came to that I'd just like for you to come forward right now because I'd like to kind of pick your brains about what that experience was like and how did it how did we get involved in this we had a guy one of the pastors from the mission come to our men's group on Monday night and talk to us and shortly after that we started signing up and so that kind of got the wheels rolling for us and John kind of kicked it off from there but the night of the of being out it was colder than a lot like it was more uncomfortable than I care to be in but the the the ha like for me was the guy who came and spoke to our group was an arm worker and a big burly massive guy and he had come to Fort Wayne for to do a job. And he got into this situation where he was going to drink him selfe to death. So he was admitted to one of the facilities here and through the process he was admitted he was taken into the rescue mission where they didn't just help him have a bad enemy. They helped him with this life and get it back under control and to make right decisions and from what I know about the rescue mission interests crisis this is not just a hodgepodge of feel good stuff it's crisis in. One that spoke the other night it just it just left an impression of me that I wouldn't want to be in that situation but if I wore I would want somebody to care. And to wrap up for me this morning and mother both. Read a little section or it said King David in the time of transition between when he was annoyed and when he became king he was homeless. And it never occurred to me that David prototype. Was homeless I think about that. I was told to be there so that. That's why I showed up. Here thinking. It was it was an experience like Bill said it was cold and windy. Most of them slept in boxes I did have a tim but it was still cold. I didn't have a sleeping bag or things. But it was a humbling. Experience and just realizing you know it was just one May that we were out there and it wasn't even that cold really compared to what it could be but it just humbling and just makes you appreciate. It we should realize how blessed we are I mean with whatever we have a lot of people want to bigger house or a bigger car or staff to collect dust on their shelves or so that we just have to realize how blessed we are with what we have and just pray for these people knew what we can to help them and give to the rescue mission and help fallen teardown there and they've got lots of opportunities for people to serve and I know several people who are down there and help different things and they go down there and pray and that's a big thing praying for these people and is praying that they can find Christ if they don't know him and if they can just get their lives back on track. Thank you. Of course I didn't go because I was part of the men's group. That's good. I learned about. This event I guess and I was kind of interested because on Sunday evenings I served with a ministry group called the misfits and we go and see you know real homeless people that are living off the streets and I was kind of praying how I can get you know what they need and so I was interested in what it was that the rescue mission exactly did I've been there a couple times. We did a study there and so it was a really good experience I learned that you know it's an awesome resource for these people and I also learned that you know when they tell us oh they don't have room or they turn to so way that's really not the truth but that's just their excuse to stay on the street so it gave me more truth they got us to respond to them. But there's a huge need to how they are and they need prayer and they need just hope and somebody that will love them and you know show on that there is somewhere where they can go. I mean. I want to preface this by saying I'm not asking for sympathy about what I'm about what I'm going to say here most most of you know at least a lot of you know that I have serious back problems and arthritis and disk disease and I struggle every day or Friday night. I slept on the cold ground in a sleeping bag in a cardboard box and I felt pains that I had never felt before. I'm saying this because I know there are homeless people that are that are in similar situations as mine I got to go home and take my arthritis medicine and sleep in my warm bed to catch up over a roof with a furnace and I drove my car there they have none of that they don't have meds one of the things the rescue mission does is provide for them not just spiritual which is the most important but physical needs and and health needs and vocational needs so that they can be productive citizens again and the one night that I spent was nothing compared to what thousands of people do every night without that help. That one of the things the rescue mission is doing is they're going to build a bigger facility because they just don't have enough room. On that subject what we learned. Friday night was to Kara's house turns away thirty to thirty five women and children every week because they don't have room and they have to go to a place that you may not even want your dog or cat to go. For the night because they have nothing else. That's why this fundraiser and the fund raising for the future of the rescue mission in the carriage house is so important. Because we have thousands of people in our area that have nothing when we have everything and more. So my prayer to you and my hope to you is that you think about. Doing something whether it be financial or whether it be volunteer in for the rescue mission which you any want to any one of us can do. Consider that please they've extended the fund raising for five more days so you have a chance to go online at the rescue missions website and make a donation and I would greatly appreciate it if you would thank you. What they said. You. Know this is my second year last year was really really cold so I doubt it was. It was balmy compared. But I do know that I've thought a lot about my experience last year in this year. And when you're laying there her you're going to doing this I have a great bed and home. But it's not unlike what Jesus did in that he left Heaven it tells us and. He gave up the Ultimate to come down here and did himself of his rights and privileges. And glory that he had and he lowered himself and came here. In he was. Tested every way and suffered and died went to death for us and now he is an incredible advocate because he knows what we went through we didn't go through everything that a homeless person does but I can tell you it gave us an appreciation for that and an understanding of what's really needed and I thought. What they said was We don't need to enable them to stay on the street we need to get to the core of what's wrong and what needs to be done to get them back in restore them. And that's something that's the goal of the mission it's not to enable them to just survive but to actually be restored and that's what Jesus did for us and in this experience and thinking through it is given me a great appreciation for what Jesus. Let's have it be about forgotten that. Thank you. All right God bless you all for what you did as you heard that you can google one night without a home you can go to the rescue mission one night without a home any of those combinations you're going to find our Fort Wayne rescue mission website here their website and you can go online if you want to help donate towards the goal was to raise some extra funds and this is their fifth year they've done it and so I'm excited for what God is continuing to do through that ministry and how we get to be a part of that god bless you all. And I think kids are going to your class now thanks for hanging out with us yeah let's give it up for our kids you just did a great job down here this morning yeah. I'm challenging my sound people by going for those speakers like this sorry. We're back to Matthew. We were talking about Matthew chapter twenty five let me continue reading verse thirty three and he will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left and then the king will say to those on His right come you who are blessed by my Father inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world for I was hungry and you gave me something to eat I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink I was a stranger and you took me and I was naked in you clothes me I was sick and you took care of me I was in prison and you visited me. Verse thirty seven and then the righteous will answer him Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you something to drink and when did we see you a stranger and take you in or without clothes and clothe you and when we see you sick or in prison and visit you. And the king will answer them I assure you whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine you did for me and then he will also say to those on his left Depart from Me you who are cursed into the eternal fire prepared for the devil insane jewels for I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink and I was a stranger and you didn't take me and I was naked and you didn't clothe me sick and in prison and you didn't take care of me. And then they too will answer Lord when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger without clothes or sick or in prison and not help you. And then he will answer them I assure you whatever you did not do for one of the least of these you did not do for me either and they will go away into eternal punishment but the righteous into eternal life this should shake us to the core. As we read this passage. Now this passage is being said this this these words are being spoken by a man who by all earthly standards was losing and unsuccessful in life. Jesus was down to only a handful of followers the rest had deserted him a plot was already unfolding that would take his life unjustly he saw all in front of him the shadow of the Cross that was slowly hiding the light of life and the father's will was that he would go to the cross as Chris mentioned and die for us that we might not die in our sins. And he's telling this little band of brothers huddled together in the Mount of Olives outside the city where the great evil and Satan was having a heyday controlling and manipulative in the Jewish community in the Jewish leaders to to unjustly put Jesus to death by the hands of the Roman soldiers who would use one of the most excruciating forms of execution known to man the cross crucifixion. And he's talking to these little band of brothers and he says when the Son of Man comes in His glory and all the angels with him and then he was set on the throne is lower and he's going to gather the nations and he's going to separate sheep from the goats and you would think if they were sitting there and they really didn't really believe what can you say. I'd like to know when this plan unfolds Jesus because right now it doesn't look like it's unfolding the way you're saying it's going to unfold and they even are more shocked when he is arrested and put to death and they all flee him all but one disciple at least. This just seems to be like Are you kidding me we're just trying to like not get killed right now Jesus. But Jesus was very firm. In his assessment of world events. That God would have the final say not mankind or the devil. Jesus talking about sheeps and sheep and goats now in some passages we hear people talk about the sheep and wolves. Wolves are known deceivers unbelievers who come in and pretend they are but they know they're not and they're maliciously devouring the body of Christ with false teachings with false lifestyles with pretend things and they're destroying churches all over our city there are destroying churches all over our nation and they're destroying churches all over the world. Uses and talking about the Wolves in the sheep it is clear who is in a believer in Jesus Christ he's talking about the unclear he's talking about the fact that there are people that are gathered that call themselves Christians and from among those Christians there is a group in the room that does not really follow Jesus and there's a group in the room that truly does authentic faith and an authentic faith believers. And true hypocrites Now we always say around here were hypocrites in recovery that we're trying to get over not doing what we're say we're going to do so Hi I'm Greg I'm a hypocrite. I go yes we're in group session now so I'm trying to get over being a hypocrite but there are other people who they come in to impose their version of what they believe God says on the body of Christ and on their life and on the lives around them and they think they've got it all figured out and it's all together and they're fine there's nothing wrong with them there's some people even think there's Senlis that's one major major major telltale sign that someone may be really in danger I'm telling you this idea that that there are people in the midst that actually think they're believers and yet someday Jesus will say Depart from Me I never knew you shakes me to the core I know that Billy Graham who is a great evangelist some of you who are many of you some of you in this really know who that is but many of us that grew up in the church and are probably plus forty We've heard that name that Billy Graham used to say that he thought that sixty percent of the Body of Christ were not truly believe yours that's just in the church we're not talking about the unbelieving world it's about half the people maybe more than half the people that come on any given Sunday morning and all the churches throughout the nation of the United States probably are not believers and I'm like whoa that just blew me away camp how can someone sit under the teaching of God's word how can someone sit in the warm fellowship of God's people and truly never give their heart to Jesus Christ but it's possible. And only God knows and I'm not here in fact there's one passage by the way they go backwards to say they said you know what there's some people that are in here that aren't believers and Jesus said don't be pulling out and having this big powwow this out I don't think you're a believer now don't be doing that Sarah is a believer by the way and I believe that but only God knows OK I don't know but seriously that you're going to destroy the rest of the of the field of people so we're not about legalism just started trying to go all the sheep said on this side tomorrow in the goats over here and we're going to tell you who's who only Jesus is the one that finally does that. Today's the warning cry for you to make sure you're a sheep and not a goat you see all throughout the scripture God has told us that he expects us to serve the helpless. In Isaiah fifty eight we just read in. Pastor Dave read for us but it says is not true fasting to share your bread with the hungry to bring poor to bring the poor and the homeless into your house and house and to clothe the naked when you see him and not ignore your own flesh and blood is not really religious experience not about fasting say I'm a fasting I'm fasting Oh look at me I stayed outside all night in a home without a home I feel so good about myself now I know it's about doing the work of serving people who have needs taking care of them. When God puts people in front of you you just naturally are drawn to helping those people not about some religious service say look at me look what I've done look how much I've given financially I get my name on a plaque is equal Chapter eighteen burst seven it says to us in that passage he doesn't oppress anyone but were turns this collateral he does not commit robbery gives his bread to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing This is the kind of person that God wants us to be he wants us to be someone that takes care of people who have needs and in James Chapter one Verse twenty seven. James starter one verse twenty seven pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world to take care of orphans and widows in their distress. And in that time there was no welfare system there was no WIC There was no outreach from the government that would actually be a safety net of sorts for those people they were destitute when their husband died they were destitute when their parents died they had nothing. And pure and undefiled religion is to take care of the people who have nothing and need our care and support and then he goes on and James James goes on and inspired by the Holy Spirit to say to describe to us if a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them Go in peace keep warm in the well but you don't give them what the body needs what good is that in the same way faith if it does not have works is dead by itself there is something about if I believe in Christ I'm going to do what he's asked me to do to take care of people. I'm going to do that. If I'm a follower of Christ I'm going to do what Christ to do in that circumstance to take care of the needs of the person around me God has always expected that this is nothing new this is not a Christian thing this is a worldwide God's in charge God created the world and God wants us to take care of people. God took care of us. And we're to extend that same hand of mercy and love and practical help to people around you. I go back to the past as of chapter twenty five in Matthew on that day when Jesus rises up and sits on his throne and gathers the nations before him everyone's going to be shocked. We're all going to be shocked. And there's two kinds of people that are shocked when Jesus begins to judge the first people who are shocked are the believers. Because he's saying to those people who are following him the sheep he's like you know what you did some things for me that that. That you you did for me and you didn't know it you you you actually helped me when you and he'll start maybe an scrolling. An image in their minds of all the people they served and never even thought about what they were doing when they serve them because of true believer isn't trying to keep track of everything they've done for the Lord. Now they go backwards some people say I'll never want the church to ever know what I give and so I'm never going to tell the church what I give and Alan my right hand know what the left hands doing I get that. We're talk about that in a moment. And there's other people to say I want to be a steward of everything God has given me and by the way currently if you itemize your taxes I actually get more money to do for the Lord what he wants me to do and so I do keep track so that in the end of the year I actually get money back financially I don't pay as much taxes so it's not about trying to keep a record so when I don't look at all I gave to the church it's so that I can be a better steward of all the things God give me so I'm not talking about someone who in a practical way is trying to stretch What's God's given them as a good steward of the resources. The art is I think do I think it's wrong to say hey these guys actually brave the the weather and it's inspiring to hear testimony of how people have given to help people the Book of Acts is full of talking about one guy he actually sold his land. And he took the money gave it to the apostles and they distributed it so that they could take care of the needs of the body of people that was now the first church in Jerusalem and it was recorded that this man did this over and against and a niacin Safira hoop sold a piece a land line about how much they sold it for so they sold it for this much they actually sold it for this much they only gave this much to the church that's why didn't tell about the profit sharing moment and God struck them dead. So don't do that by the way. They lied to the Holy Spirit they lied to the church and God called him on it right then and there they were hypocrites so we're not talking about never knowing anybody's what people are doing. But it's the fact that these people were doing things they never understood and they were blessed by the father come you who are blessed by my father can you imagine hearing that from Jesus let me let me go backwards on the father part do you know that one of the most influential people in the person's life is is a father good or bad you know what strikes to the core of someone when someone says your father loves you and you are blessed by your father. Whoa how warm that's going to feel. As you stand before the throne and just bar your highs out realizing God loves you this much and you get to inherit his kingdom you know just be a servant in the kingdom or hold the door one one saunas said if I could just be the door keeper in God's house I'll be happy for eternity and you get to inherit it you're part of the posse you're part of the group. You get everything God has is yours for eternity the righteous into eternal life at the verse forty six. But then he looks at the goats. The false followers of Christ and they're shocked that they didn't serve the helpless why would they be shocked. Well they didn't serve the people that God sent them to serve they served who they wanted to send serve based they just served and they kept records imagine in this person's mind their thinking but Jesus I went to church every Sunday I gave my offering every Sunday what Jesus whenever I saw someone in need I took care of them I made sure I did this I did all these things look at all the things I did Jesus don't you realize I've been a good Christian and you're calling me a goat. And what he's saying is there's something about what you did that was all about you trying to impress me with your life instead of just walking with me and abiding with me and letting me flow through you and serve whoever it is that was in front of you without discrimination without even understanding or knowing that you were doing it my name and for me and you were doing it to me when you served I took your stony heart and I made it soft and you wept over people that you would never have wept over if you had not come to know me as your personal Lord and Savior I changed your life so that you would have a heart like my heart for the sick and the needy and the poor and those that were going through great difficulty. You did it in a way. That was to be seen by people you did it in a way even in the secrecy of not letting someone know what you did you did it because you felt proud to do it. You didn't do it. In a way that was in keeping with being a follower of Jesus Christ that just you just did it because it was just your your second nature to do it and you were cursed by the father and you really eternally punished and fire with the devil in the same age if this passes doesn't shake you a little bit I don't know what I can do to get you shaken let me just extrapolate a little bit. That if that's true for the individual that's true for the family and if that's true for the family that's true for a nation and I believe you can test a nation. As to whether or not they're trying to get at the heart beat of God as to how they take care of the least people in their borders that they're in control of and if you not take care of your people and you're not taking care of justice you're not taking care of people and getting them where they ought to be and move them forward and helping them there's something to be said about your nation. We're not talking about nations I'm not here to throw rocks at something we really can't control completely but it will have M.F. occasions for how you vote this coming November or Right now I guess you could. Fill it out while we're talking to one of them I don't know but it has to do with you and me in this room why do we do what we do why do we do what we do. See there are some good works that aren't good and in Matthew. Jesus was sharing this in the Sermon on the Mount which we went through a portion of a while back and in Matthew chapter six. You can turn there just a few chapters back from where we already are she says be careful. Not to practice your righteousness in front of people to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven so whatever you give to the poor don't sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets to be applauded by people I assure you they've got their reward. But when you give to the poor don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be seen baby in secret. And your Father who sees it in secret will reward you you don't need to be proud as peacock when we give. Financially when we give mentally to just listen to somebody when we give materially when we give time wise our lives it's not about what people see that we give It's just that we know to do the right thing and we do it and we move on and we don't really remember what we did. We just do it. Because it was the right thing to do I was talking with the police officer and again he just was on a personal note and he wasn't doing it to. To be a showboat obesity. Some people just have a knack for. Getting in and doing what other people are just thinking about doing. And right in front of him as he was going to go get a pizza for his family. Somebody was completely T. Boned in front of him. The man was pinned in and he jumped out of the car while everybody else was taking pictures with their phone he went over to the man and started talking to them and the man was just moments away from possibly dying and he's trying to get the man from going into total shock and he's asking him questions he's like can't feel my legs and he starts talking him and he walked away with blood all over his body and thankfully Well I don't know the total result of that but he was able to be in the middle of a circumstance that nobody else thought to be in the middle of heard another story. Of a mayor that was hosting an event and. The governor of the state was there as well and. This woman gets up to sing a few songs during this gathering of people in their little city. And she was dressed a little bit provocatively and. The mayor lost himself in the moment and he started looking at that girl in ways that. You ought not look at a girl. And the government noticed and looked over and gave a stern look. And that mayor got red faced when he saw the governor looking at him and just. And he looked straight ahead and he stopped looking at that woman in the wrong way. He was caught he got caught up in the moment he just did what his flesh was telling him to do but in front of the governor he better do something right was a little combination of both right now this morning. God's watching he's not watching for you to keep track so you can show him how good you are I'm just wondering if it's time for us to get a gut check to say gut check to say do we have real faith do we really have faith in Jesus Christ has he really changed our lives. Or is this just a good self-help model. That really gives us more food on our tables gets or respectable in society and we have more influence and we have a roof over our head Christianity if you just practice the principles of being a Christian without Jesus generally speaking people's lives get better. I think our nation is one indication of that we've never been a nation full of Christians but we've had a lot of Christians almost a third of the colonies got saved during a great awakening that occurred after the Revolutionary War. A third of the Christian of the of the entire thirteen states at this point of their Big got to become states got saved and some people say that's probably why we became the United States of America because of the respect underpinnings that saved us from absolute calamity and Anarky but we've never been fully Christian but it might be also argued that we have practiced our Christianity in such a way that we got it wrong on several scale it's. Those wrongs have started to become righted because we have the underpinnings of Christianity as our Judeo Christian foundation starts to bubble up and change the ethic of our nation. I believe that discrimination and racism and before that slavery and hopefully soon someday soon abortion are all being fixed and changed not because we pass a rule or a law but because the heart of the people still kind of know that what the right thing to do but just knowing what to do and doing it right and looking good does not not make one a Christian. What makes you a believer is putting your trust in Jesus Christ and letting him take your life however he wants to take it we sang a song earlier it's called bless it be the name of the Lord and there's that phrase in there that you all shouted out and say you give and you take away but still my heart will say bless and be the name of the Lord. I look around this room and I don't fashion messages for people individual in this room bikes I look around this room and I see people who have experienced loss painful loss of trust. Lost because of violence lost because of financial hardship lost because of physical difficulty and yet you still proclaim blessid be the name of the Lord you inspired me I want you to know that but your testimony is because you have put your life on the line and said wherever you take me I will follow. When Jesus was challenged in the middle of the night by a man then it could be Miss He's like I want to know what this is all about Jesus. And Jesus said to him it's recorded in John you don't have to turn there I just want to read it to us this morning he says what's going on Jesus no one does what you've done this is crazy Rabbi teacher and Jesus replied I assure you unless someone is born again he cannot see the kingdom you know how you stop shaking in your boots to see whether or not you're gonna. Go to Heaven or not is what are you going to do with the cross the small Are you born again have you put your faith in Jesus Christ have you let him change your heart we're not looking for a reformation of our lives and be reformed into compliant living so that we're more functional in society and God is talking about a total transformation that will change your heart to make you want what is his heartbeat. He wants to put his heart in yours. And you must be born again you must be spiritually changed by the power of Jesus and how you do that this morning I'm glad you asked first of all you just say Jesus I admit I'm a sinner. I admit that wherever I'm at I'm done trying to play games with you I'm never going to be perfect like you are and when I Big get perfect in heaven it's going to be because you made me perfect not my own works. And Jesus I'm done playing games with people around me and pretend to be somebody I'm not and I'm tired of going back to the ways I've always gone to try to make myself feel good or do whatever I want to do really it in with a Jesus I'm still in control of my life and I admit that sin against you that's rebellion at its very core and I'm done being rebellious against you and I want to turn my life around and repent of that turn away from that and turn towards you Jesus I admit I'm a center and I believe Jesus you died for my sins and you rose again on the third day I believe you paid for my sins and I don't have to pay I don't have to earn my way into your life. And Jesus I believe is the free gift of eternal life I can't I wasn't I didn't I didn't do anything to get born into this world physically and I can't do anything to get born into your kingdom spiritually and so I just throw myself at you and say I trust you I commit you completely I admit I'm a sinner I believe you died for me and I commit my life to you A.B.C.. And right now you can just pray that prayer something like this is just by our heads and came if you want to start coming this way and and but let's just by our heads right now and just say Jesus I know I'm a sinner and I'm done playing games just in your own way maybe there's something that just glaringly obvious that you're doing that you know is rebellious against him and you know it's wrong and just ask Him to forgive you right now and say Jesus I believe you can and I ask that you come into my life and make me born again. I want to have a spiritual birthday so that I might live forever. I want to be able to take care of the people that you put in front of me even when I don't know what I'm doing just naturally jumping out of the car and holding a hand when someone's in trouble I want to know how to do that but I don't naturally do that so Jesus help me. I want to be what you want me to be in this world for your name sake. And then Jesus as best I know how just tell him as best I know how I give you my life to do with however you please right now if you've prayed that prayer. This isn't a magical potion to this is just claiming truth that God's word says on the authority of God's word it says that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. And your sheep not to go I will. And you are in His Kingdom. So let's stand our feet right now. Maybe it's time for you. To not just pray a prayer privately but to tell the world publicly that you're christian put it on that card that you had me a bulletin card I've put my faith in Jesus Christ maybe it's time for you to come to the protein and say it's time for me to tell somebody I'm a believer and I need to get baptized we're about ready to fill that tank up in a couple weeks and we're going to throw some people in there are going to walk again and you're going to walk in with them because you want to tell the world you're Christian. Not to earn his favor but just tell the world you've got his favor no strings attached you didn't do anything to earn it it's just yours because God gave it to you. And will be excited to celebrate with God's doing in your life if you will openly declare him to be from the world. So you can come to the prayer team back in the front put your car in a box let us know what God is up to when you move forward let God do the rest.