Stretch Out!
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Introduction
Introduction
The church is a vital part of the community. Beginning on Friday we had a few people that volunteered their time to pack relief bags for homeless people right here in our city. As a church many people took money from their grocery budget and bought items that could go in that bag. Then on Saturday the young adults here at this church took those bags and handed them out to people who needed those items the most. We prayed with people, we talked to people, we heard horror stories, we saw people who were discouraged, terminally ill, addicted to drugs and alcohol, and some that were content with being homeless. Women and Men who lived on the street while parents raised their children. All in all they are still God’s children who deserve grace, mercy, prayer and assistance. One wonderful thing about the ministry of Jesus he spent a lot of time with people who were disenfranchised, poor, blind, sick, paralyzed, and downtrodden. Outreach is not gender specific, the virtuous woman is a beacon of outreach. states “she extends her hand to the poor, and she stretches out her hands to the needy. It is imperative and a duty of mankind to help those who are less fortunate.
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 invited Me in;
Extending A Hand
Extending A Hand
The virtuous woman extends her hand to the poor. The word extend in this text means to spread forth, or to reach out or spread out. She has the ability to make things stretch so a little becomes a lot!
It is not about having a lot but doing the best you can with what you have. Even to the point that even when her family messes up she has the ability to intercede and make provisions to help her family maintain.
In the story of Nabal and Abigail, Abigail intercedes for her family and ensures that her resources stretch to protect the well being of her most foolish family who happens to be her husband.
She was able to extend a hand to David at the expense of her husband’s foolishness.
Be mindful that as frustrating as it may become that you have to be the intercessor for other people’s mistakes remember Jesus has interceded for us despite our sins, our mistakes he spreads his love and mercy on our behalf to make sure we are okay.
She extends her hand to the poor, she does not wait for the poor to ask her for a handout. She does not wait until someone ask for help, she extends her hand to the poor.
Helping people takes some extending, it takes some stretching, it takes some sacrifice. Who are you willing to stretch out for?
The goal of the church should be to help the community see Jesus and sometimes that takes some stretching. It takes some early mornings and some long days! Nonetheless know that God has a blessed reward for those who continue to help those who are less fortunate.
Church we Have to Stretch
Church we Have to Stretch
If you are not willing to stretch out and help those who need you the most, what are you expecting from God.
The crazy part about this entire idea of outreach is God is just wants up to help our neighbor! The poor, the homeless are our neighbors!
The word despise in this text means to hold as insignificant. Typically we hold people to be insignificant because we cannot seem to look past what they have to offer at the current moment.
God has a way of using people we deem as insignificant. God has a way of showing us he has the ability to add refuge and deliver the most afflicted.
Understand what God is asking in is expressed throughout the bible. With that said it is imperative that we understand what the mission of the church is. According to we have a duty to stretch out to those who need us the most.
Pure religion in the sight of God is to help the needy such as orphans and widows. Not just help them but helping them in their distress. God expects us to help each other, but it takes some stretching to help someone when they are in dire distress.
When it comes to stretching, it is uncomfortable, it can be painful sometimes but as you become more flexible the stretching becomes easier.
God is asking you to do this meanwhile remaining pure, purity is a measurement of strength. God expects purity, and the purification process is best implemented when we understand that we are just one check away, that we are one mistake away, that we are one choice away from being in those same places as the same people we are oppressing.
Conclusion
Conclusion
As a church we have to serve the community and extend a hand to those who need it. Jesus extended himself physically and spiritually for you so we could have the ability to extend ourselves for those who are less fortunate!
This is a job of the kingdom woman and the kingdom man. Stretching out to help others takes empowerment and encouragement. If you are remotely thankful for what God has done in your life, then it is time to help those who have not had such favor. She spreads out her palm to help those in need and those who are not at arms reach she stretches out to ensure that God shows favor on all mankind.
The church has to empower each other to do good works, and those good works can only be ignited when love exist, not oppression.