September 20, 2020 - Hope for the Poor - 1 John 3:1-3; 14-20 (Pastor Stephen Puett)
- Doing good is important to the mission God gives us
Deuteronomy 15:7-8 - “If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for this need, whatever it may be.”
Deuteronomy 4:5-8 - “See, I have taught you statutes and rules, as the Lord my God commanded me, that you should do them in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today.”
Exodus 19:3-6 - while Moses went up to God. The Lord called him out of the mountain saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
1 Peter 2:9-12 - But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his now possession, who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.
2. Doing good is a sign we belong to Jesus.
A. The Truth Test
B. The Obedience Test
C. The Love Test
3. Doing good requires God given power
What will not work - Guilt
What will work - Love for God