GOOD INTENTIONS AND MERE TALK AVAIL NOTHING

Rev. Michael Benson Ajayi
James2:15" If a brother or sister be naked, and  destitute of daily food,  And one of you say unto them, Depart in  peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not  those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."
       The church of Christ is an extension of God's loving  hands towards humanity.  The scriptures describes the church as the body of Christ.  We make God visible to humanity and are instrumental to the answers to the prayers of many.
         The purpose of God’s blessings upon us can't be realized in the absence of others. The scriptures describes the believer in Jesus Christ as a tree. In Isaiah 61:3 we are called trees of righteousness. A tree serves as shade and a source if food .It's branches produce fire needed to keep warm. A tree lives for others.   This is a true picture of what the church is, therefore, it shouldn't be a strange thing to have so many persons seeking for our help. The scriptures says in 1John 3:16 -17"Hereby perceive we the love  of God, because  he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for  the brethren.  But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his  brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from  him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" this scripture teaches that whatever we have isn't just for us but those around us. It isnt God’s will for anybody to suffer lack in his church. Poverty is a creation of man ,it is the byproduct of human selfishness and the church has a mandate to eliminate poverty wherever it is found.
       God daily places people in need of help along our paths and expects us to be the good Samaritan .(Luke10:25-37) neglecting people in need brings about sin consciousness, God has put in our hearts the consciousness to identify persons who need help, the scriptures says in James 1:17 " Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it  is sin." the neglecting of those who need help when the lord prompts us to help them gives satan the advantage in our lives. It leads to guilt and bondage .
       True freedom comes when we serve one another in the love of Christ (Gal.5:13-15) As members of the body of Christ , we need each other and whatever we have as gifts have been given to us for the benefit of all. 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NLT says "There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us. A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other." Your full potentials can't be attained until you come to the realization that whatsoever the lord has given to you is for the body of Christ and should be so treated.  The scriptures says in 1 Peter 4:10-11 NLT "God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen." When we withhold our gifts from the church for whatever reason, it leads to poverty (Prov.11:24)
     The excuse that a member of the church of Christ is an enemy is no good reason not to lend a hand when needed  (Matthew 5:43-48).It is in doing good to those who don't deserve it that our true Christian nature is revealed and developed (Matthew 10:39)Therefore, we should devote ourselves to doing good (Titus 3:14) We should be imitators of Jesus Christ who didn't seek to please himself, the scriptures says in Romans 15:3 NLT "For even Christ didn’t live to please himself. As the Scriptures say, “The insults of those who insult you, O God, have fallen on me.”
         Attending to the needs of the helpless is an act done to the glory of Christ (Matthew 25:34-40) therefore we should not be weary in doing good especially to God's family (Gal.6:9-10) remember whatever you do to someone today, someone else  will do to you tomorrow (Matthew 7:12). We are admonished to love one another in response to God's love for us (1John 4:9-21) our love for each other should be deep-rooted (1Pet.4:9-10) and this is demonstrated through our service for others (1Pet.4:9-10) .Christian love requires our being devoted to each other (Rom.12:9-10) do not crave  honour and prestige but a readiness to serve others (Matthew 20:20-28) Jesus demonstrated this by washing the disciples feet( John13:2-17) this is what leads to promotion in God's kingdom.
    As you read this now receive grace for service and elevation in Jesus name.
Prayer / counseling + 2348098536911 ,+ 2348035536911 Email : Michaelbensonajayi@gmail.com