Uphold Orphans and Widows
How are we to "Be doers - uphold orphans and widows"? Jesus Christ, starting His ministry, quoted the prophet Isaiah, saying: "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives, recovering of sight to the blind, to deliver those who are crushed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord" (Luke 4:18-19).
Then He showed His disciples how to preach the Gospel and minister to the sick, handicapped and poor (Luke 5:12-15), and He sent them out two by two and they practiced what He taught (Luke 9:1-2): preach the Gospel, care for the needy and heal the sick. Next, He taught His followers to minister to the same audience: "the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind" (Luke 14:12-13 and 21). After that, He put it into practice: "Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people" (Mat. 9:35).
And in the Great Commission, Jesus commanded His disciples to make more disciples and teach their disciples to FULFILL ("observe" but not just spectate!) everything He had taught His disciples to DO (Mat. 28:18-20). What did He teach His disciples to DO? Preach the Gospel and Minister to "the poor, the maimed, the lame and the blind"! P&M - Preach & Minister - that's Practical Ministry! It's not an "either-or" solution: either preach, evangelize, witness for Christ; or do social action things like feeding the poor, sheltering the homeless, helping the jobless find work. It's a "both-and" proposition: Do Both!
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Later, the Apostles selected seven deacons to carry out this diakonia-ministry to the poor, widows, etc. "...and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem exceedingly" (Acts 6:1-7). St. Paul taught that the bishops, pastors and deacons should "equip the saints to do the work of diakonia-ministry to the building up of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:12). This is not just dry theory or theology: it is practical, hands-on ministry that helps the church grow. Enroll in our free courses to see how YOU can do diakonia-ministry. And Join "The ARC" Chat/Video Forum to Build the ARC!
Yours sincerely,
"Dr. Bob"
Robert D. Hosken, M.Min., M.Th.S., D.Min.
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11 个月Hello there thanks for the good job,am requesting you extend the hand to Kenya Africa,confess that I live out a religion that is clean and acceptable before God. I give attention to the fatherless and motherless and to those people who have been abandoned in life. When I encounter the fatherless who have been abandoned, neglected, and left bereft of any support, I do not simply wish them well. I inquire of the Lord how I can personally give aid and provide help for them.
Pastor at christian ministry
1 年IN JESUS---Hello Robert, I pray you are well. Do you have any connections in London UK or anywhere in the UK? God bless, James.
Christian Social Reformer
1 年Hello, my LI friends! Thanks for all the Likes and Looks! Did you click on the link & read the whole article? Don't miss our articles as they roll down your Social Media stream: SUBSCRIBE for your own *free* copy of ARC-News! – https://Agape-Restoration-Society.org/ARC-News. Also, please join us for our "Morning Prayers and Readings" - https://Agape-Biblia.org/Morning-Prayers.htm – *live* daily at 8 a.m. (U.S. Eastern Time) or watch the recordings & chat with us *anytime* – thanks again! "Dr. Bob" Robert D. Hosken, M.Min., M.Th.S., D.Min.
Executive Director at A CUP OF COLD WATER CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION INTERNATIONAL
1 年Thank you so so much brother Robert for this post on orphan care! Christians are owning a lot but yet not willing to care an orphan! I steped forward to care for orphans under A cup of cold water children's foundation International.Where help will come from i do not know But God is God.
Founder: Last Harvest - The Outreach & Heavenly Fellowship
1 年And today I walk as His disciple praying for and encouraging every Uber rider my online trading is helping 2000 right now to become a disciple Heavenlyfellowship.com