Rivers of Grace – Our Vision: Mercy
Intro: Every church need to be able to answer: “Why do we exist?” What is our prophetic destiny? School? Colony of artists? Hospital? Evangelistic crusade? Prophetic voice? Renewal Center?
Our Vision since we began on July 4, 2000: M.O.R.E. Mercy, Outreach, Renewal, Education
Rivers of Mercy flowing through us to the sick, orphans, prisoners, poor, and the institutionalized
Anointing
Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Relationship
Jeremiah 22:16 (King Josiah) He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me? Declares the Lord. Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he who has regard for the weak (Amplified- weak and poor); the Lord delivers him in times of trouble.
Harvest James 2:5-7 God has chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith? 90’s in Albania: So poor they were fighting for bread, but very hungry for God. Greeks had money but were not interested in spiritual things. They were satisfied with occasional religious ceremonies. Poor Asian nations vs. Japan
Who are the Poor?
Homeless? Third need help, third mentally ill, third hardcore. Ken B.’s kitchen: took several years for Shelton to believe they had a homeless problem. Teens on the run, people in cars, not homeless but lonely, people looking for a better place than a bar Unemployed poor; working poor; fixed income poor; addicted poor (money wasted)
Unexpected Disasters
Acts 24:17 Paul before Felix: “I came to bring gifts to the poor.” The poor were the people who had suffered from famine. How do we respond to unexpected calamity? Fires, earthquake, floods 2 Cor. 9:9 (Ps. 112:9) The cheerful giver sows generously. In the process he scatters gifts to the poor. This is a sign of righteousness.
Pure Religion
James 1:26-27 1. Watch your mouth; 2. Orphan and widows in distress; 3. Keep yourself unspotted from the world.
Foreigners
Statue of Liberty Emma Lazarus’ Poem
Send us “your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free”
Deut. 24:19 Leave a bundle of grain you dropped in the field for the foreigner, fatherless, the widow.
Heb. 13:1-3 Love one another and
Mercy Ministries
1. Gethsemane: not a homeless shelter, not a detox center. It is a 6 months discipleship and recovery program. Director is Brian Hellenthal, his wife, Karen, my Diane, Sandy Coultas, Pauline, Ken Benjamin, Larry Mitchell, and others including graduated staff.
2. Community Kitchen: Ken Benjamin feeds homeless, the hungry, and the lonely. Diane and I have helped them for over 10 yrs. Gethsemane supplies food and people to cook.
3. ‘Events’ Coming up:
Nov. 22 Thanksgiving Day: Ready-made Thanksgiving dinners served in the parking lot at 1PM.
Dec. 22 (Saturday) Christmas Dinner served here courtesy of Popeye’s Chicken and Pauline’s team.
Shoe Box Christmas gifts filled for children around the world. Collection on or before Nov. 11.
Gal. 2:9-10 They defined destinies – the target of their efforts and encouraged to remember the poor. Apostle Peter ministered to poor Jews; Apostle Paul ministered to poor Gentiles (non Jews)
David’s Mighty Warriors
1 Samuel 22:1-2 Distressed, discontented, in debt MB losers, vagrants, misfits - 400! Family? (1 Sam. 11:28 Eliab’s bad attitude) 2 Samuel 23:8-23 describes what they became under David’s shepherding.
Sheep or Goats?
Mat. 25:31-46 Sheep:
King Jesus said, “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did it for me.”
The way of the Goats
Psalm 37:14 The wicked have 2 targets… they prepare to bring down the poor and needy, to slay the upright.
James 5:1-6 Judgment will come to the wealthy who hoard their wealth and cheat their employees.
Lev. 19:13-15 Do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
The Way of Sheep
1. Advocacy
Definition – The act of speaking out in support of another. An advocate pleads another’s cause, a defender, one who takes care of issues for another. Prov. 29:7 The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. Prov. 31:8-9 Speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves… defend the rights of the poor and needy. Ps. 82:3-4 MB You’re here to defend the defenseless, to make sure the underdogs get a break; your job is to stand up for the powerless and prosecute all those who exploit them.
2. Generosity
Deu. 15:7 Do not be hardhearted or tight fisted toward your brother. Prov. 19:17 He who is kind (KJV gives) to the poor lends to the Lord and He will pay him back again. Prov. 22:9 The generous man will be blessed for he shares his food with the poor. Proverbs 28:27 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing – he who closes his eyes to the poor will have many curses.
Our Vision since we began on July 4, 2000: M.O.R.E. Mercy, Outreach, Renewal, Education
Rivers of Mercy flowing through us to the sick, orphans, prisoners, poor, and the institutionalized
Anointing
Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
Relationship
Jeremiah 22:16 (King Josiah) He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me? Declares the Lord. Psalm 41:1 Blessed is he who has regard for the weak (Amplified- weak and poor); the Lord delivers him in times of trouble.
Harvest James 2:5-7 God has chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith? 90’s in Albania: So poor they were fighting for bread, but very hungry for God. Greeks had money but were not interested in spiritual things. They were satisfied with occasional religious ceremonies. Poor Asian nations vs. Japan
Who are the Poor?
Homeless? Third need help, third mentally ill, third hardcore. Ken B.’s kitchen: took several years for Shelton to believe they had a homeless problem. Teens on the run, people in cars, not homeless but lonely, people looking for a better place than a bar Unemployed poor; working poor; fixed income poor; addicted poor (money wasted)
Unexpected Disasters
Acts 24:17 Paul before Felix: “I came to bring gifts to the poor.” The poor were the people who had suffered from famine. How do we respond to unexpected calamity? Fires, earthquake, floods 2 Cor. 9:9 (Ps. 112:9) The cheerful giver sows generously. In the process he scatters gifts to the poor. This is a sign of righteousness.
Pure Religion
James 1:26-27 1. Watch your mouth; 2. Orphan and widows in distress; 3. Keep yourself unspotted from the world.
Foreigners
Statue of Liberty Emma Lazarus’ Poem
Send us “your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free”
Deut. 24:19 Leave a bundle of grain you dropped in the field for the foreigner, fatherless, the widow.
Heb. 13:1-3 Love one another and
- Do not forget to entertain strangers (might be an angel or someone on a mission)
- Remember prisoners as if you were one of them
- Remember mistreated people as if you were abused like them.
Mercy Ministries
1. Gethsemane: not a homeless shelter, not a detox center. It is a 6 months discipleship and recovery program. Director is Brian Hellenthal, his wife, Karen, my Diane, Sandy Coultas, Pauline, Ken Benjamin, Larry Mitchell, and others including graduated staff.
2. Community Kitchen: Ken Benjamin feeds homeless, the hungry, and the lonely. Diane and I have helped them for over 10 yrs. Gethsemane supplies food and people to cook.
3. ‘Events’ Coming up:
Nov. 22 Thanksgiving Day: Ready-made Thanksgiving dinners served in the parking lot at 1PM.
Dec. 22 (Saturday) Christmas Dinner served here courtesy of Popeye’s Chicken and Pauline’s team.
Shoe Box Christmas gifts filled for children around the world. Collection on or before Nov. 11.
Gal. 2:9-10 They defined destinies – the target of their efforts and encouraged to remember the poor. Apostle Peter ministered to poor Jews; Apostle Paul ministered to poor Gentiles (non Jews)
David’s Mighty Warriors
1 Samuel 22:1-2 Distressed, discontented, in debt MB losers, vagrants, misfits - 400! Family? (1 Sam. 11:28 Eliab’s bad attitude) 2 Samuel 23:8-23 describes what they became under David’s shepherding.
Sheep or Goats?
Mat. 25:31-46 Sheep:
- People hungry? Sheep feed them
- People thirsty? Sheep give them drink
- People who are new to the community (strangers, foreigners)? Invite them in –hospitable People who need clothes? Sheep give them clothing
- People who are sick? Sheep visit and care for them
- People in jail or prison? Sheep visit them
King Jesus said, “Whatever you did for the least of these, you did it for me.”
The way of the Goats
Psalm 37:14 The wicked have 2 targets… they prepare to bring down the poor and needy, to slay the upright.
James 5:1-6 Judgment will come to the wealthy who hoard their wealth and cheat their employees.
Lev. 19:13-15 Do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.
The Way of Sheep
1. Advocacy
Definition – The act of speaking out in support of another. An advocate pleads another’s cause, a defender, one who takes care of issues for another. Prov. 29:7 The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. Prov. 31:8-9 Speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves… defend the rights of the poor and needy. Ps. 82:3-4 MB You’re here to defend the defenseless, to make sure the underdogs get a break; your job is to stand up for the powerless and prosecute all those who exploit them.
2. Generosity
Deu. 15:7 Do not be hardhearted or tight fisted toward your brother. Prov. 19:17 He who is kind (KJV gives) to the poor lends to the Lord and He will pay him back again. Prov. 22:9 The generous man will be blessed for he shares his food with the poor. Proverbs 28:27 He who gives to the poor will lack nothing – he who closes his eyes to the poor will have many curses.
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