CHANGE (5)

We now come to the letter N in our CHANGE acrostic   serving the NEEDY. I think we must firstly define what we mean by needy.  Does serving the needy mean  we meet the practical needs of those on or under the “poverty line”? Until a few years ago the general attitude of the Church was we leave that to The Salvation Army or St. Vincent de Paul Society. Then in the last decade or two there has been a change and many churches in a local area with have a “care ministry”. This would not be my primary interpretation of needy. Jesus said we will always have the poor with us, and sadly many have a “welfare” mindset and have no desire to change their world.   What is that saying, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day,  teach him to fish and you assist him for life”. That position has real merit.
My interpretation is I guess much more spiritual.  I believe that:

THE GOSPEL IS TO BRING WHOLENESS BODY, SOUL AND SPIRIT TO A PERSON

I believe the anointing that rested upon Jesus Isaiah 61 & Luke 4: 18-19 is meant to rest upon the Church too. THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE HAS ANOINTED ME (THE ANOINTED ONE) THE MESSIAH TO PREACH THE GOOD NEWS OF THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO ANNOUNCE RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT OT THE BLIND TO SEND FORTH DELIVERED THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED WHO ARE DOWNTRODDEN, BRUISED, CRUSHED AND BROKEN DOWN BY THE CALAMITIES OF LIFE AMP.
These are the NEEDY we have been called to minister too.  We can literally hide behind  our “care ministry” and think we are meeting the needs of the needy !!!!
I think in almost every local church there are people sitting in the pew who have been HURT, REJECTED, DISSAPOINTED, HAVE BROKEN DREAMS, PLUS, BRUISED AND CRUSHED AND DOWNTRODDEN, and I believe Pastors and Leaders we should be PROACTIVE in seeking to see our people whole, body, soul and spirit.
Because we are silent and inactive our people think they have no choice but to “put up” with their hurts and this cripples them and they know very little of the Joy of the Lord.
This is an important area  that requires an ATTITUDE CHANGE, I pray we will be channels of wholeness to bless God’s people, and lovingly see them whole and rejoicing the blessing of the Lord.

LET US SEE THE NEEDY AS JESUS SEES THEM AMEN