Feel Weak? Then You Are Useful to God!

Feel Weak?  You Are Useful to God!                                               By Kelly Durant   5-19-13

1 Corinthians 1:26-28

²⁶ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:²⁷ But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;²⁸ And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

2. How many of you have known of disabled people serving in The Salvation Army? I have! All people in life need in to be used by God, we are inherently born this way! You have seen this video of the man with no arms and legs, Nick Vujicic, right? Imagine, with his condition, he does great things and is an inspirational speaker! Most people imagine that someone in his condition would never leave home! But he is full of life and inspired, happy and used by God, talking in public places and travelling. What an amazing man of God used by God despite no arms and legs!

3. One of the first things I noticed and liked about The Salvation Army when I first got involved was that they had a variety of strange characters (even bearded ones) serving in disasters. Then, after visiting their churches, I saw many characters out of rehab. No matter the age or health problems, people were serving others and each one was happy to help. I love seeing others get a second chance, how about you?

For example with Hurricane Rita while in Lake Charles, right after serving in Katrina, I met a man that had metal rods in his entire back because all of the cartilage of his spine had degenerated. He walked rather straight like this (rigid). He had been through a rehab for heavily using cocaine and he said to not be depressed he would find ways to volunteer his time. In disaster service you can find people with all kinds of personal problems, but they are made happy while serving others, making new friends, and hearing about the gospel. God will use anyone who is willing, no impediments!

4. The way to be happy is to make someone else happy! You have heard that simple formula, right? But do you know what makes people happiest? It is to find out that no matter how ugly they may look, no matter how bad their physical problems, weaknesses, or handicaps, there is a God of love that loves them and can still use them despite their conditions and faults! No one wants to feel like life is over, that brings mortal depression!

I have always believed that God is a God who cares for the weakest of the weak, and in the world there are a lot of hurting and weak people! We are here as representatives of Jesus to help heal and give meaning and purpose to the lives of everyone we meet. That is what the kingdom of God is about! In the Salvation Army we, and it should be this way with any Christian, carry out activities in which everyone is valued and included with no discrimination of any kind. We must fight to maintain this standard!

5. But for work in society, you are discriminated against considering you past training, capacity, and education amongst other factors. We are an Army but of volunteers and we are made up of wounded healers; But the military Armies of the world, only accept young fit men and women to serve. These requirements exclude about 70 % of the population! God’s word makes it clear He rejects noone, rather he specializes in the rejects!

When you look at the population at large in the U.S., the majority of the people are either weak, older, or disabled. Even worse they are often depressed and spiritually incapable, or unwilling to do anything for anyone else due to embarrassment, or impediments, from allergies or whatever, not to mention laziness or selfishness. In this country currently about 45% of the people get government support for being either retired or incapacitated somehow. That is a lot when you think about it!

So when we read… 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;… what can we conclude?

6. That God needs on this earth a people group, an organization, a movement, (or a kingdom of God as Jesus phrases it) that is made up of anyone who (whosoever will theology) will serve! And if you are not in such good shape mentally or physically, be happy and encouraged! God specifically wants you to serve and be of value! God loves misfits!

When we consider the foolish things, not many people here are scholars that can discuss the pious platitudes of philosophy or theology, so it is a comfort that God is not concerned about our education level, or even our physical condition, he just loves us and wants us to be useful and active for Him. In the end we are taking in breath from day to day to serve in the mission to win souls to Jesus, otherwise our lives are just wasted not preparing for eternity.

7. How can we not be proud of the Salvation Army for being willing to work with the lowest of the low, the homeless, the addicts, and the ones with HIV? In other countries our line of service includes taking into refuge homes orphans and prostitutes. Your upper class suburban churches do not make these types of people their specialty! But Christians should focus on the despised and the weak, which is where God’s blessings are at!

My wife and I visited several of the rich mega churches in Atlanta and some boldly proclaim they are called to reach the rich middle upper class baby boomers. Hispanics, blacks, and poor (sinners) seemed to not even be in their radar! What a poor and ignorant vision! Ultra-rich churches intimidate the weak and poor. When something is so big you lose the sense of family, I think it is time to break it down into more manageable groups as Moses did in Joshua 14:4-6. Delegation and division allows more attention to each one.

So when we read in 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: Can we not conclude that some Christians do not have the right focus since they are targeting the opposite people of the verses we are studying today? Is the exclusivity to one group the non-discriminatory attitude a Christian should have?  Obviously not! Too many people live in a comfort zone that has them stagnant and being ineffective!

8. There is a serious problem within Christianity, too few Christians are actually reading the Bible and obeying what it says, to seek out the low base things of the world and then empowering them to serve in God’s Kingdom.

See Barna Research Group (http://www.barna.org/culture-articles/101-americans-are-misinformed-about-poverty-but-widely-involved-in-helping-the-poor?q=poor) Three out of every four Americans see poverty as a big issue. Christians interviewed only showed 1 out of 2 believing it concerned them, yet about 83% of evangelical Christians claimed to be involved in helping the poor. What is wrong is that 2 in 3 Christians believe the government should take care of the poor, not them! But God called us to care for the widows & poor, and even give them place to serve: The low are the despised, the rejected, the weak, these are the ones God can use!

For the most part we can be proud of the Hialeah Corps as everyone who comes here regularly does what they are capable of doing, here or in the community, teaching, cooking, and sorting donated food for the poor, visiting the rest homes as well. But we have a long way to go yet to get the Hialeah community to do that as well! This community is a challenge, what can we do to get them more involved? Volunteers are so few!

I have often wondered; what do disabled or retired people do all day? Wal-Mart’s are full night and day, but in the daytime most beaches are only full of tourists, so what is going on these people? Where are they all day?

You may know a few people who have government support, so tell me what do they do all day? God wants to use them for something good but I have a feeling many people are just deaf to this calling. They have ears to hear but they do not hear how God loves them and wants them busy with things that make the world better. Those indifferent are wasting their time giving them a meaningless life. We must invite them to serve since God uses the weak.

9. Like it or not, we should confront those who waste their time. Our society and Christian heritage was built with an attitude and spirit of great sacrifice but more and more people are failing to maintain the volunteer spirit of sacrifice and pureness and of love for their neighbor and community as they should. Being unproductive in the work of God is a sin, especially when you know you should be doing good and you are not doing it.

Consider these verses that are basic warnings to the people (even Christians) that are excusing their selves for not giving their time in something for God because they think they are too busy or too old, too sick or too handicapped, or living in denial that they are just plain rebellious, selfish, and lazy.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.               I Tim 5: 12 Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith. 13. And withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not.                                    Ephesians 5:16  Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

10. Never think there is nothing to do for God! Invite your friends! Do you realize how many people have started coming to church because they first volunteered? I think I told you I came to know the Salvation Army by volunteering for disaster service.

But people in these past few decades have become self-complacent, people with nothing to do are not giving their time for something noble. This is a sad new cultural trend! It is up to us to be salt and light and to teach others to serve God, and God wants those who are weak. Here is a truth: you cannot make yourself better without first investing in someone else.   

In the end, everyone you know that is weak, everyone that seems not-so-pretty, to be of the nature most people would think they are nobodies, these are the very people God wants and uses! God specializes in using the low, the base, the ugly, the despised, and the not-so-bright. So if you think you are not worth much, cheer up, you are wrong, you are one of God’s chosen! 

How To Help Others: Expose Their Sin, And Your Own As Well

How To Help Others: Expose Their Sin, And Your Own As Well

by Capt. Kelly Durant  May 5,2013

1-2 Timothy 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2-Today is May 5^th! We could discuss freedom from oppressors in relation to Mexico’s Puebla victory but here with us today there are no Mexicans (here in Hialeah), so instead let’s learn about freedom from yourself and your own faults.  Have you watched any soccer lately?

The job of a Local Officer, or the Captain/pastor is sometimes similar to one like that of a referee. He has to make the call of a foul when someone in the game is in the wrong or not following the rules. People can get that so mad that a fault gets pointed out and the ball gets passed over to the other team, but that is in the rules. A player can try hard to hide from the referee that his foot hit the other player (and coaches often miss fouls!) but when others point this out to the referee, then the last play becomes invalid. No one can change the rules, not the players, the refs, or the team owners. The same as God with his rule book the Bible! (Which apart from rules also contains love letters about His Son’s atonement providing mercy to all). Notice how the people will correct the ref on a wrong call too!

3-The problem between people when there is a clash, a friction, or a problem is when one starts talking, accusing another of having a sin. This could be true, but even though there is proof someone is doing something bad, you need a little time for it to come to light what the accuser is doing.

Sometimes bad behavior or sinful actions are provoked in response to unkind words, frustration, or some negative communication.

I recall when I was in kinder garden, one kid one time pulled the chair out from under me when I was going to sit down and I hit my rear hard on the ground. I got up and hit the kid on the arm. I got the timeout but he didn’t. So I learned early in life things can sometimes not be fair because some people in control may not know all the story of what is happening.  

This is why I (and neither should you) do not move fast to judge, or condemn, someone by someone’s else’s report of them without learning more. And often times you or I never get to gather all the facts! So how do we fix problems amongst ourselves, as we should? Reprove, correct, and apply God’s Word for instruction in righteousness exhorting as in 2Tim.

4-It first begins with you; you are responsible to speak up and be candid, and most of you have no problem with that. But are you talking to the right person?

Most people don’t realize the pastor/captain cannot always resolve things because the scripture makes it clear people have to fix misunderstandings between their selves (but without punching others as I did as a kid, of course!). Telling others about other people does not always help because others do not know all the details and history like you who are involved.

Matt 18:15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. (That’s 3 chances!)

5-So first, when there is a problem it should be handled between the ones with the problem but when there is not a peaceful outcome, then a few others must get involved. And in the end if a person is deaf to everyone’s Godly council, it is at that time that the person will be considered as one who does not respect God’s standards and not be capable of keeping the peace. That person will be on timeout like in a foul in a game. In other words, this person’s faith and behavior is missing the mark.

The problem with actions, words, and behaviors is that a majority of people will always believe that their own behavior is in the right, when actually for others, their actions are offense. We see this situation occur a lot especially between people of different cultures and languages, of people of different income or educational levels, and even of people with different Christian doctrine preparations, right?

We should use the Word of God to correct one another, it is for reproof and instruction, but how you do that could either win the person or offend them. The verses of 2 Tim 3:15-17 point out we must seek their salvation and resultingly good works will happen due to their acceptance of the correction by God’s word.

6-We live in a society where everyone wants to sin and not be responsible for the consequences. From the bottom to the top everyone wants to pass the buck. Responsibility often gets aimed at the wrong person. It is human nature to be cowardly, lazy, or in the wrong over some incident.

People so easily go to someone else wanting him or her to fix an offense and correct someone else. Responsibility, however, actually lies with the ones in the middle who should fix it.  

An example of misguiding correction was on the radio last week when I heard about a policeman that got a DUI. He is suing the City over the ticket because he claims he is protected by a law that says he has a chronic illness, alcoholism. So it is not his fault, but the disease! Really? Seems crazy, right? But actually many people have this same idea about their own sin, they think that someone else is to blame, and when you call them out on it, they accuse others of having the fault.

7-The real problem we get into is that many people have little knowledge of the Bible and little understanding about the application of the precepts and standards of God. People that know more Word get scandalized that the other ones are not doing what they should. Not choosing the right thing, or doing things that are offensive to God show either:

-Ignorance of the word of God and the expected standard of behavior

-Rebellion against the word of God, knowing the standard but refusing to obey it

-Falling into temptation and making a mistake due to one’s personal issues of bitterness, jealousy, lust, or greed which damages relations with God or another.

Here is the good news, any of these situations of ignorance, rebellion, or mistakes are forgivable and fixable with you or that person asking God to work through you repenting with love, prayer, and humility. When you mess up and make a mistake, don’t you want God and others to keep on accepting you?  2 Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

8-Getting yourself right with God and others is always His will and if God has patience for everyone, how much more we need to have patience to wait on the repentance of others. I often consider how patient God had to be with me before I came to repentance, so I have tried my best to be very generous with my patience with others. I rebelled from age 14 to age 21, and 7 years is a long time in rebellion to obeying God, but God was patient!

When people offend each other, they offend God as well, and this is the part most of us overlook. Not having peace with another person indicates not having peace with God.   Mark 11:25-26

25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.

9-A person might have the attitude, like well, I don’t care if so & so hates me for what I said or do. But the “I don’t care” attitude in itself is not of God’s love. The serious concern is: Is God angry with you for offending or not forgiving another who walks in the faith?  

To God everyone is of value and everyone deserves love, and you had better start loving and forgiving in the same measure that you want it; God even says we are to have love for our enemies! Are you capable of that?! Not many are, but we must try our best! Forget how other people act, focus on how you are responding.

10-No matter what others do to us we are to forgive  Luke 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him. (The key is if they say, I repent)

If someone does hurt you intentionally and unrepentedly though, what is implied in the scripture is that you are not bound to forgive them. If they are not sorry and keep on harming you, it could get to the point that you are letting another destroy you.

You are not responsible for other people’s actions, but you are responsible for how you respond to them! You need to get out of a person’s life when necessary. You need God to heal your pain and He does heal it if you ask Him! But in a perfect world, everyone would say they are sorry and mean it and then they would not repeat their offense to you ever again!

11-Romans 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Bitterness is acid that rusts its own container, and your anger will never hurt anyone but yourself. God avenges, and often in this life, and for certain in the one after this one, so let Him handle it! I have seen evil people reap what they have sewn and be punished terribly in my lifetime. You have seen that too, right?

I have noticed that most of us have a desire to want to help others when we perceive a problem or see they are caught in a sin.  This is a noble thing and we are our brother’s keeper. It is a correct to not want sin in the camp because the damage ends up costing everyone something and we cannot afford it!

12-So the way to help others is to confront with the truth in God’s Word, but doing it with love and compassion, and not with judgment and condemnation. When a crisis is provoked from someone’s sin, exposure is God’s opportunity to bring correction and healing!

Recall the exposure of the prostitute, how everybody wanted to throw stones at her and they wanted Jesus’ approval of it, and what happened?  The reality is Jesus turns the focus from outward sin to inward sin; no one is qualified to throw any stone at anyone when we include the whole picture of the condition of each one of us!

13-We still need to have a way to stop undesirable and destructive or self-destructive behaviors; faults need to be brought to the light and talked about it. Sin tries to hide, people keep secrets, but the Lord lets it all come out so it can be dealt with. If not dealt with, sin brings great devastation to many!

Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil.

Will you, before applying the mirror of truth (as in Don Quixote), use it on yourself as well? When we hear about someone’s sin, it is time for everyone to sober up and let the light of the burning sun purge us all from all impurities. We desire to be pure and holy but it only comes by soberly submitting as the Lord is sovereign and He can take our life from us at any time. Fear Him in a healthy way and you will live in peace with God and others!

Peace comes after the storm of sin exposure, and storms happen from time to time, and that is just how life is in this fallen world. But God wants us to do the cleaning up; the cleaning up of our selves, and of others.  If you have fallen tree limbs that others could trip over in your yard, pick those up and throw them away quick; then you are ready to go to the neighbor’s to offer help to pick up his.

Help others by first helping yourself with repentance and allowing God to work in your life with His Holy Spirit. If you do then you will truly help with love and mercy and not make matters worse. Love, correction, instruction, repentance, forgiveness all are needed, then restoration and peace happens as God works!