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Preaching To The Poor PREACHING TO THE POOR

TEXT: Psalm 41:1-3, "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble". (41:2) The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. (41:3) The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness."

INTRODUCTION: Sometimes, we need to go back and re-learn the fundamentals. Every sports coach knows what I am talking about. Every pastor knows how easily we leave our first love and our first works. After 45 years as your pastor, I must constantly remind myself and the church why TRBC is here. In this regard, nostalgia is often a good thing.

This causes me to recall the conversation a young lad had one evening, talking to his grandfather about current events. He asked him what he thought about the shootings in the schools, the computer age and just modern things in general.

His granddad replied, "Well, let me think a minute. I was born before television, penicillin, polio shots, frozen foods, Xerox, contact lenses, frisbees and the pill. There weren't things like radar, credit cards, laser beams or ball-point pens.

Man had not invented pantyhose, dishwashers, clothes dryers, electric blankets, air conditioners and he hadn't walked on the moon. Your grandma and I got married first -- then lived together. Every family had a father and a mother, and every boy over 14 had a rifle that his dad taught him how to use and respect. Until I was 25, I called every man older than I, 'Sir' -- and after I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, 'Sir.' In our time, closets were for clothes -- not for 'coming out of.' Sundays were set aside for going to church as a family, helping those in need and just visiting with family or neighbors. We were before gay-rights, computer-dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy. Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense. We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions.

Serving our country was a privilege; living here in America was a bigger privilege We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent. Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins. Draft dodgers were people who closed their front doors when the evening breeze started. Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends -- not condominiums. We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, computers, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings. We listened to the Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President's speeches on radio.

I don't ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey. If you saw anything with 'Made in Japan' on it, it was junk. The term 'making out' referred to how you did on your school exams. We could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents. Ice cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar and a Pepsi were all a nickel. And if you didn't want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards. You could buy a new Chevy coupe for $600, but who could afford one? Too bad, because gas was 11 cents a gallon.

In my day, 'grass' was mowed, 'coke' was a cold drink, 'pot' was something your mother cooked in and 'rock music' was grandma's lullaby. 'Aids' were helpers in the principal's office, 'chip' meant a piece of wood, 'hardware' was found in a hardware store and 'software' wasn't even a word.

And we were the last generation that was so dumb as to think a lady needed a husband to have a baby. No wonder people call us old and confused and say there is such a generation gap. And I'm only 65.

What do I think about these modern times?" Grandad concluded, "Not Much!!!"

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WE ARE ISOLATED FROM THE POOR.

Most of us who are middle class in America don’t actually see many poor people in an average day, except on television. Most American church members are middle-class, well-dressed, well-fed and have adequate homes. But what about the poor? What does Jesus tell us to do for the poor?

THE POOR ARE A PRIORITY TO JESUS.

Preaching to the poor was important to Jesus. Listen to how important it was to Jesus to preach to the poor. When John the Baptist was put in prison, he became discouraged and believed that Jesus might not be the Messiah. He sent a messenger to ask Jesus in Matthew 11:3, "Art thou He that should come, or do we look for another?" John the Baptist expected a Messiah who was a political deliverer, one who would drive the Romans into the sea. No wonder John the Baptist doubted. He was imprisoned by the Romans, the very ones he expected Jesus to drive into the sea.

Notice Jesus’ answer in Matthew 11:5, "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them"

Surely, the miracles of Jesus were signs enough to demonstrate that He was Messiah, but Jesus added the phrase, "The poor have the Gospel preached to them."

Why is preaching the Gospel to the poor so important?

There’s a little known fact about John Wesley I want to share with you. Wesley claimed a church was not a New Testament church until it carried out the admonition of Jesus, "The poor have the Gospel preached to them."

Jesus said more than once, "Preach the gospel to the poor." Why? Because we are supposed to preach the Gospel to them.

The great revivals of John Wesley and the beginning of the Methodist church were primarily among the poor. When Wesley began preaching in the field to coal miners, he could see what he referred to as the "streams of mercy" which were the tears flowing from their eyes down coal-blackened faces. When the rich would not respond to Wesley, the poor heard him gladly.

SEVEN THINGS THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT THE POOR:

(1) Don’t despise the poor. This command occurs early in Scripture, "Thou shalt not respect the person of the poor" (Leviticus 19:15). The Living Bible paraphrases this verse, "Not noticing whether a person is poor or rich." This verse continues, "Nor honor the person of the mighty." This means three things about the poor:

(2) There will always be poor people. We have tried hard in America to eliminate poverty. President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society program was designed to rid America of poverty and raise the living standard of the poor. Over 50% of the American people receive some kind of financial entitlement... and both major parties are scrambling to see who can give away the most.

But, as much as America has done for the poor, we are beginning to learn that there will always be poor people. The Scriptures remind us, "The poor shall never cease from the land" (Deut. 15:11). God carefully reminded us that, in the best of economies, there would always be poor people. Jesus emphasized that fact when He said, "For ye have the poor always with you" (Matthew 26:11).

(3) God blesses those who look after the poor. The Bible teaches, "Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble" (Psalm 41:1).

One of the conditions to having your prayers answered is that, "He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will He pay him again." (Proverbs. 19:17). This is a fantastic promise. Identify those who have less than you do as the poor. No matter where you are in life, anyone who has less than you and you help them, God promises to bless you. He that giveth, he that lends to the poor, is really making a loan to the Lord, and God is a good credit risk. Not only will he pay back the principal, that which you hath given, will the Lord re-pay. By the way, God pays the highest interest in town. When you give into the hands of a hurting family or person, you actually give to God Himself.

LOOK FOR THE UNDERDOG.

Since the fatherless and widows were usually considered among the poor, James said, "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).

Since there will always be the poor in the land, and there will always be great needs, God opens up His heart to the needy. In Psalm 112:9, the Psalmist says "He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth forever; his horn shall be exalted with honor".

The Living Bible says "they that give generously to those who need; their good deeds will never be forgotten" (Psalm 112:9 LB).

GOD BLESSES CHURCHES WHO MAKE THE POOR A PRIORITY.

Elmer Towns writes in his book, The Ten Greatest Revivals Ever that during the early 70s, there was a revival among Independent Baptist churches in America, particularly among the 4,000 Baptist Bible Fellowship churches. Dr. Towns describes the revivals in our churches that focused on the bus ministry. Dr. Towns goes on to define revival as, "God pouring His Spirit out on His people."

I agree with Dr. Towns. In the early 70s, the BBF churches had the Shekinah-Glory cloud upon them, and God poured his blessing out on Independent Baptists because they carried out the Great Commission through, among other ministries, bus ministry and youth camps.

A REASON GOD BLESSED THIS CHURCH.

I believe that is one of the reasons God put His hand upon Thomas Road Baptist Church in our early days of existence. We had over 100 buses and faithful laymen who got up on cold, windy, snowy days to crank up old buses and drive all over Central Virginia to pick up children and bring them to this church. Most of these children were poor—some very poor—and they came from needy homes where parents were poor. They came from shacks, trailers, or inner city homes. Today, many of these children are serving Christ faithfully. I meet them all over America.

Now there’s no disgrace in being poor, but in many of these homes of what we often refer to as "bus children", their fathers spent much of their time and money on drinking and their children were neglected.

Many of our bus workers had to go in the homes, dress the children, feed them and bring them to church. Here children were taught the Word of God and led to Jesus Christ.

God looked down from Heaven and saw the faithful bus workers, giving up their Saturdays to visit in the homes of these children, getting up early Sunday morning to round up these children, sacrificing their time with their family and their money and their energies to reach poor children.

ILLUSTRATION: I think of Mark Grooms, who used to be one of our bus workers. Today Mark pastors the Thomas Terrace Baptist Church a few miles from here, a church that is now running 500. As a high school student, he drove a bus over the Blue Ridge Mountains into Buena Vista, Virginia, every Sunday morning. He left every Sunday morning at 6:00 AM, taking him almost an hour and a half to drive our old bus over the mountains. He spent an hour picking up children, and driving back over the Blue Ridge Mountains and got back here at 10 AM. After the children had Sunday school and church, Mark Grooms rounded up his children into the bus and drove them back over the Blue Ridge Mountains to their homes. By the time he got back to the church, it was 4 or 5:00 on Sunday afternoon.

When a high school boy spends all day Sunday rounding up poor children, it shows his heart is in the right place. That’s why God is blessing Pastor Mark Grooms today. And because of the dedication of Mark Grooms and hundreds of others like him, God sent revival to Thomas Road Baptist Church and many other churches like us. Why? Because God has a heart for the poor. God looked down from Heaven and saw the neglected little children getting saved. God knew we were not doing it for money, respect or to be accepted by the established Church. We did it to obey the Great Commission.

The Lord is burdening my heart to do it again. Perhaps we will need different meeting hours. But, let’s all pray about this Divine opportunity.

FREE CAMPING BROUGHT GOD DOWN.

In 1962, TRBC purchased a 40-acre island in the midst of the James River. It had been named YMCA Island early in the 20th Century when it was the recreational center of Lynchburg. We immediately re-named it Treasure Island. A walk-bridge from below Rivermont Avenue was the main access to the island at first. An automobile bridge was built in the 1920s. I have seen many pictures of the YMCA Island in its glory. We bought it from Skin Woody for $49,000. With the help of lumberman G.D. Smith, we built a magnificent youth camp and, for many years, until 1985 when the big flood destroyed the bridge and buildings, led thousands of Central Virginia youth to Christ. They all came to camp FREE. Over 2000 attended each summer. The spiritual results are still being felt worldwide.

(4) We should give to the poor. Paul mentions in Galatians 2:10, "That we should remember the poor." Again, Proverbs mentions that "we should have mercy on the poor, he who has mercy on the poor, happy [is] he" (Proverbs 14:21). Again Proverbs says, "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard" (Proverbs 21:13). Proverbs 22:9 speaks about the man that shall be blessed because "he giveth of his bread to the poor."

(5) People generally look down upon the poor. The Proverbs tell us that, "The poor is hated even of his own" (Proverbs 14:23). This means even poor people often look down on other poor. The Book of Proverbs mentions that often people oppress the poor, hate the poor, "stoppeth up their ears to the cries of the poor," oppress the poor, steal from the poor, and deceive the poor. God loves the poor.

It’s very easy to get into your beautiful car, your clean clothes and with money in the bank, then drive by the poor and look down your nose at them, or look the other way.

Sometimes we think that to be poor is to be lazy. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes the poor don’t have the opportunity like you have to make money, they don’t have family like you have to train them to do right. If it’s true, "it’s not what you know, but whom you know," the poor don’t know the rich, and even then they don’t have an opportunity to get the education that we have gotten. Usually, no one looks out for the poor but God and His people. Those who obey God, "preach the Gospel to the poor."

(6) Never segregate the poor in church. James tells us it is a sin to give preference to the rich. He tells us, "My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, [the Lord] of glory, with respect of persons" (James 2:1). Some preachers have done this. They have reserved the best places for the rich, and they put the poor in the worst seats, or in the balcony where they used to put the slaves. In colonial America, they put the poor in the balcony when the rich used to buy their pews. But that is wrong!

James 2:2-4, "For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?"

(7) The poor can have great faith. Oftentimes, poor people who do not put their trust in money and things, put their trust in God. It is possible for a poor person to have deeper faith in the Lord Jesus than a rich person. James noted, "Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?" (James 2:5). Often, the poor have great faith.

Remember the widow who quietly put her mite into the offering about the time rich people were making a great show of giving to God? Jesus commended the woman not for giving a small offering, but because she gave everything to God.

Luke 21:3-4, "And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her poverty hath cast in all the living that she had"

What did Jesus mean when He said, "Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3)? Perhaps Jesus was describing that the attitude of the poor is the attitude we must have if we are going to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. And what is that attitude?

WHO ARE THE POOR?

1. Money poor. Some people are poor because they don’t have enough money to buy the basic needs of life, i.e., food, clothing, and shelter. Notice what Isaiah said we are to do for them:

"I want you to share your food with the hungry and welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those that need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help" (Isaiah 58:7, LB).

2. Unable to help themselves. Some poor people are not educated enough to help themselves. Other people cannot help themselves because they are afflicted. Others have been addicted to drugs or to alcohol or some other habits which have rendered them physically or mentally limited.

Let me summarize the two things I just said. Some are financially poor. Some are inadequate or unproductive.

4. God looks after the poor.

Why is God so concerned about the poor? God looks after those who can’t look after themselves. Because the poor cannot look after themselves financially, God looks after them. And if you look after the poor, you are a friend of God’s.

None of us measure up to His standards. And God looks on all of us to save us when we quit trying to impress Him with our good works. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:89).

WHAT TO DO WITH THESE TRUTHS.

1. Give to the church that cares for the poor. One of the reasons I believe God has blessed Thomas Road Baptist Church, Liberty University and the Old Time Gospel Hour over the years is our commitment to the poor. We have given without thought of a return. Because we have given to the poor of this world, I believe God has blessed us. Let’s quickly review some of the things that He has done.

2. Open your heart to the poor. I don’t think Thomas Road Baptist Church is a perfect church, but I think we try hard to be everything Christ would have us to be. We have many poor in this church and I think they are just as comfortable as the rich.

As we attempt to carry out the Great Commission by carrying the Gospel to every nation, we automatically integrate all ethnic groups, all classes, everyone.

3. Give personally to poor people. As we encounter the poor on a daily basis, here are suggestions for the believer:

Take care of poor family and relatives. A number of us have someone in our family that is needy. We should especially give to needy members of our family, rather than letting them suffer.

5. Share the Gospel with the poor. Because the poor are open, they are especially responsive when you share the Gospel with them. So, let them know about Jesus Christ who can bless their life.