Three Christian Virtues - 90

Well, we are moving, as you know, into the 13th chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews. The final chapter.

Some have called the 13th chapter an epilogue. I've given that some thought. I'm not sure that I would want to call it that, but I do understand why.

Some might give it that designation. An epilogue is a little bit extra that somebody writes when they write a book, and the book is finished. And then after that they they had something else that isn't necessary for the contents of the book, but Does add something more to it. The 21st chapter of the Gospel of John is usually called an epilogue and I can see that more clearly. Because if you stopped at the end of chapter 20, You would have virtually all the Information about Christ and His life and His teaching and His death on the cross and His resurrection.

But then there's this extra account found in John's Gospel that's. not found in any of the other gospels. about the Peter primarily and how He who had so shamefully denied the Lord was restored. to fellowship with Christ and restored to Christian service again. It's a wonderful chapter and I I don't mind calling that an epilogue.

But at any rate, this is a different section, and that I think is what.

some have in mind. because it's not like the twelve chapters, the main contents of the book. But now it gets into a whole list of practical exhortations.

something that was largely missing from the first twelve chapters. The first child twelve chapters were primarily doctrinal. Teaching. Great teaching, wonderful teaching. Many things found in those 12 chapters that are found nowhere else in the Bible.

and how poor we would be if we didn't have those. And there are some general, broad exhortations in those 12 chapters, but not the specific kind of exhortations we find here. But one reason why I'm not eager to call it an epilogue. Is because that really is the same pattern that we find in a lot of the New Testament epistles. Paul in the book of Romans writes 11 chapters on the detailed doctrine about.

The gospel. And then when he said, I guess virtually everything that He can, certainly everything that he... That he wanted to, and more than he said anyplace else about the gospel. Then, in chapter 12, he starts the exhortations. I beseech you therefore, on the basis of the eleven chapters, I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God.

that you present yourselves a living sacrifice. Holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service, and be not conformed to this world. But be transformed by the renewing of your mind. And on he goes. Basically, through chapter 15, with exhortation, exhortation, exhortation, built upon the doctrinal part of his epistle.

Ephesians is similar, different Different balance, but the first three chapters are doctrinal, the last three chapters. are practical or exhortational. Colossians, two chapters, doctrinal, two chapters. exhortational And so, since Hebrews follows a pattern that we find in other epistles. Here it is twelve.

chapters doctrinal, one chapter exhortational. I believe that we ought to consider that 13th chapter just as much a part of the body of the book. as the rest of it. But at any rate Here it is, practical exhortations, and there is actually a connection back. To the last part of chapter 12, where What did 1228 say?

Therefore, Since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may Serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. Got it. But what does that mean? How do we serve God? acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Answer. Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers. Remember the prisoners as chained with them, and so forth. There is this obvious connection.

to the previous chapter.

Well, at any rate, we're going to take up the first three verses today. and we shall see three Christian virtues. Brotherly love. Verse 1. Hospitality.

Verse 2. Practical aid, verse 3. Verse 1. Let Brotherly love continue. One, two, three, four.

words in the English Bible. Since brotherly love is one word in the Greek, I didn't actually look at my Greek Testament to count the words, but it may very well be three words. in the Greek Testament. Let Brotherly love. Continue.

It could even be two words. I'll have to go back and look at my Greek Testament, but at any rate. It's a very short statement, but oh, what a statement. Let brotherly love. Continue.

Let's examine, first of all, what is the nature of this love that the writer of Hebrews is talking about? that he calls brotherly love. Many of you will know that it is the Greek word Philadelphia. That sounds familiar. We've got a city.

in Pennsylvania called Philadelphia. The city of brotherly love it was named in the beginning. I doubt that it deserves that title today, but at any rate, that was the title at the beginning. It was Quakers, William Penn and the Quakers that founded Philadelphia and the state of Pennsylvania. And so they named it Philadelphia.

Brotherly love, that's exactly the word that you find here. in the Greek Testament. It's a compound word made up of two other Greek words. The Greek word phileo One of the words for love and the Greek word adelphos, the word for brother. Philetto.

Not agapa'o, that's another word for love that is found frequently. But here it is fullo, And that carries the idea of tender affection. Four Adelphas, the brothers. Tender affection for the brothers, in other words, brotherly. Love.

A special love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. To the Jews, and these Hebrews are Jewish Christians and they come from the Jewish background. And to the Jews, there was a an understood national love a love that they were to have for all other Jewish people. But it didn't go beyond that. In their minds.

But here Christians are told to have love for all the brethren. In other words, Jewish love was Largely national, but Christian love of this kind is. Universal in the sense that it encompasses people in every tongue and tribe and nation, every race, every color. In other words, believers all over the world. It is a special love for brothers and sisters in Christ, but it is a special love for all brothers and sisters in Christ.

extends to the ends of the world, indeed. and to all kinds of people who have been saved by the grace of God. It is a universal love for people everywhere who have been brought to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, it's a way of saying If God has brought these people whoever they are, red, yellow, black, or white. If God has brought these people into his family, if he has made them his sons and daughters, then they are our brothers and sisters.

And God had a special love for them. And he expects us. to have a special love. for them as well. Let brotherly love continue.

Now secondly, we should explore the origin of brotherly love. Where does this come from? And the Bible tells us in 1 Thessalonians 4:9. that this love comes to God's people from God himself. But concerning brotherly love, writes Paul, You have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God.

to love one another. What's the origin of this love? It's the Spirit of God who implants it in the heart of every believer at the new birth. It comes from God. And it comes to all.

of God's children. That's reinforced in 1 John 2, 11. He who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. He who does not love his brother obviously has not been. Saved has not been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and placed into the kingdom of God's dear Son.

Or we read in 1 John 4. 7. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God. And everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God. And he who does not love does not know God.

For God is love. And we could even move on to verse 21 of 1 John chapter 4. And this commandment we have from him. That he who loves God Must love his brother Also. Where does it come from?

It comes from God. who possesses this love, every true child of God. If anyone does not possess this love, what is the conclusion? Stated, not one that we derive by logic, but stated in the Bible. What's the conclusion?

That one does not know God. He has not been born again. Interestingly, we are told in Scripture that this commandment. to love one another. is both old and new.

Have you ever puzzled over that particular statement in 1 John 2? Seven and eight. No. It says Here we go to 1 John 2. I've got a lot of scripture today, more than usual.

Hope you'll listen carefully and forgive me if I've... Mm-hmm. stumbling a bit as I'm moving my pages around. But let's see, what are we looking at now? 1 John 2, 7 and 8.

Brethren, I write no new commandment to you. But an old commandment which you have had from the beginning, The old commandment is the word which you heard from the beginning. Again, A new commandment I write to you. which thing is true in him and in you. Because the darkness is passing away and the true light.

is already shining. He who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him.

So the old commandment is to love your brother. The new commandment is to love your brother.

So, why is it called an old commandment and a new? Commandment.

Well, let me try to help you at least a little bit with that. In the Old Testament, in Leviticus 19, 18. God said, You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people. But you shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

That sounds familiar, doesn't it? You shall love your neighbor as yourself. That sounds like a New Testament command, and it is. But here it's found in the Old Testament. But notice how it is particularly attached.

Two. Jewish people. You shall not bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor. assumedly the same people that you'll not bear a grudge against. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

So it's no wonder that many of the Jews considered the command to love their neighbor to mean to love their fellow Jew. And I'm not sure that they were wrong in that understanding. It's just that Jesus enlarged that, didn't he? Remember the um Uh lawyer that came to Jesus. and asked him about which is the greatest commandment.

And Jesus said, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul, and mind, and strength. This is the first and greatest commandment. And. Jesus didn't stop at the greatest, he went on to the second. He said, The second is like unto it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Right out of Leviticus. And the lawy lawyer Thinking that maybe Jesus had something more in mind than Moses did, and of course, God was speaking through Moses. But thinking that Jesus had something more in mind when he talked about loving your neighbor. than Moses did when he talked about loving your fellow Jew. The lawyer asked, Who then is my neighbor?

Let's pin this down. What exactly is the definition of neighbor that you, Jesus, have in mind when you say that? And how did Jesus answer that question? He told the parable of the Good Samaritan. A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves.

and was lying wounded by the side of the road and along came a priest and he ignored him went by on the other side along came a Levite He he he ignored and went by on the other side. Along came what next? A Samaritan, a hated Samaritan, a Gentile. half breed, really Samaritan. And he saw the man.

And he went over. And he helped him. He Patched him up the best he could by the side of the road. He. took him to the next town to Jericho, I suppose he had a beast of burden.

He committed him there to an innkeeper, And paid for his lodging for two nights and said, take care of him. I'm going away. And when I come back, if. You've spent any more, I'll pay that too. Wow, that's a lot of generosity for a Gentile to a Jew.

And then Jesus asked this question: which of those three? was Neighbor. To the man. that fell by the wayside. And the lawyer said, Well, he who who gave him help, who gave him aid?

And Jesus said, in essence, right. You won't find that word in the text, but you're right. Go you and do likewise.

So Jesus expanded the idea of neighbor beyond that of. a fellow Jew. And said, the neighbor is somebody that God puts in your life. particularly one who needs help. But the old command was to love your Jewish Neighbor.

as yourself.

Well, what's the new command?

Well, the new command In John 13, 34. says A new commandment I give to you. that you love one another As I have loved you, that you also love one another. Again, the commandment pertains to God's people, the disciples, those who know the Lord, that you love one another. But wow, here is an even higher standard.

It's difficult enough to love your neighbor as yourself. Are you loving your neighbor as much as Christ loved you? Whoa. That puts the standard way up there, doesn't it? That'll bring conviction.

to the hearts of all honest people before the Lord. It's like the command for husbands to love your wives how? As Christ Love the church. And gave himself for it. That much?

Yep. Have you done it yet? No. I haven't. And either of you.

But that's the standard. Very high. And that's what makes it a new commandment. It does pertaining to a different group of people, now to believers in Christ rather than than ethnic Jews. And it has a higher standard, not even to love your neighbor as much as you love yourself, which is a high enough standard, but to love your neighbor as much as Christ.

Loved you. Whoa. Help me, Lord. But anyway, We also consider the significance of brotherly love. For the Bible tells us that it shows the world that we belong to Christ, John 14.

1335. By this will all know that you are my disciples if you have love one for another. Christians have badly messed up with that. Manifestation of Christian love, Christian identity. The Bible doesn't say everybody, everyone will know you're my disciple.

If you know theology from A to Z, everyone will you, but that's a good thing to do, but that's not what he says. That if you will earnestly contend for the faith, and again, that's something that we are to do, but that's not what he says, by this shall all the world know. that you are my disciples. that you have loved one for another. When they see the Manifestation of your love, the expressions of your love, the sacrifices of your love to fellow believers in Christ, that's going to convince them that you are my disciples.

I think we've got a little bit to work on, don't you? We've got a ways to go. It shows the world that we belong to Christ, John 13:35. And it also gives evidence to ourselves that we belong to Christ, as we've already seen. In 1 John, where have I gone here?

1 John 3, 14. Here it is. We know that we have passed from death to life because we beloved the brethren. That's a test. of conversion.

This is a test of how to have assurance of salvation. We know that we have passed from death to life. How do we know that? Because we walked an aisle, prayed a prayer, raised a hand, We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

But this love apparently, though it cannot be. banished for It is a work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of every true believer. It can be diminished, can't it? Because our text in verse 1 says, Let brotherly love Continue. You didn't start it.

And you can't completely stop it, but you can. tap the brakes on it and Let it flow less. powerfully, less effusively. than it was. Let brotherly love continue.

it is evidently in danger of diminishing. And the implication is that the Hebrews, who were wrestling with this issue of whether they were going to continue clinging to Christ or go back to the old covenant, their weakening faith apparently endangered their brotherly love. There's a connection here between. robust faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and our Robust love for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. And when our faith weakens, our love weakens, which may be an explanation why some of us know we don't have the love for our brothers that we ought to have.

It is likely that we don't have the strength of faith that we ought to have either. We'll get to. that later.

Well, let's get to it now. The cultivation of brotherly love. How do we cultivate this love? with a growing robust faith. A close fellowship with the saints of God.

You've got to know your brothers and sisters in Christ.

So that you can Love them in a practical way. With a willing action whenever you see a brother in need. This is the way that we cultivate and strengthen. Brotherly love. Let Brotherly love continue.

But now we move on secondly to hospitality, a second Christian virtue. And Hebrews 13, 2 says, Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing, some have unwittingly entertained angels. Hospitality. We need to understand a bit of historical background, namely. That hospitality was very much needed in ancient days because.

of the scarcity of traveling provisions and because of the danger of available accommodations. When people traveled in that day they couldn't stop At the Sheet station or whatever, and get some food, get what they needed. They just worked things like that along the way. It wasn't easy for them to... buy food and keep on going.

Like it is for us today. And furthermore, the Hotels, the inns that were available in that day. were notoriously dangerous and wicked. They were places, even when they were available, and a lot of times they weren't. How many times do we read in the Old Testament of those who were traveling from?

from one tribe in Israel to another, one one location to another. The term in isn't even mentioned. They aren't available along the way. They depended upon hospitality. And when hospitality was not extended, they were left out Outside in the open all night long without food, without.

Um food for their animals, their their riding animals, their donkey or their their camels or whatever they were traveling with. And so In those ancient days, hospitality was very much needed. And therefore, hospitality was expected. They grew up a strong cultural norm that people offer hospitality to tra to to travelers. who are going through their area.

And to refuse to do so or to pretend you didn't see when you did see. A traveler. We're shameful. That's the historical background.

Now there's a Christian equivalent to this. And the Christian background of this responsibility to Not forget to entertain strangers. I think can best be understood by considering The words in the third epistle of John verses five through eight Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers. Here's that same term, strangers. for the brethren and for strangers.

Who have borne witness of your love before the Church. Who has borne witness? brethren and strangers.

So these strangers must be Christians if they have borne witness. Before the church, yes. who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey, in a manner worthy of God, you will do well. because they went forth for his name's sake taking nothing from the Gentiles.

We therefore ought to receive such. that we may become fellow workers for the truth.

So the Christian background is to understand This term strangers. Do not forget to entertain strangers as meaning Traveling ministers of the gospel. Traveling evangelists. Traveling preachers. And even traveling believers who May not be preachers, but may be involved in the work of the Lord in some other ways.

Who are unknown to you personally, that's why they're called strangers. But they are known officially to others in the church, because John again says, Who have borne witness of your love before the church. What church? The church where John was when he was writing this epistle.

So evidently, Travelers went out from probably the church at Ephesus. out into Asia Minor. and received hospitality. as they traveled, as they came to other churches. And John says they've come back and they have testified of your love.

that you showed them.

So There were Christians in churches around Asia Minor. That took these traveling ministers into their homes and provided hospitality. to people that personally they did not know, they were strangers. And yet people who had some kind of known relationship To other Christians, such as the Apostle John and to the church at Ephesus. That I think Phil's in the blanks and questions about this term.

People unknown to you personally but known officially, Strangers to you, but known to other Christians. And what's the command? Do not Forget. to entertain. Strangers.

Do not forget to extend needed provision to strangers of this category. Lodging and food to help them. as they travel. In the interests of Christ's kingdom. Don't forget to do this.

Now it's interesting, and I meant to bring this to the pulpit, and I forgot. It was in one of my commentaries. And as I was At the church early this morning, I said I need to call Marty and tell her to bring that book, and I forgot to do that too.

So I am forgetting what commentary it was in. It might have been FF Bruce. But he quoted, an old Christian source. That said, now here's how you tell. Um Bona fide Ministers who deserve hospitality from false teachers, because with this kind of arrangement, it's It's certainly open to To misuse, isn't it?

People can come along and claim to fit this category and draw on your resources endlessly. And so he basically said: if they stay more than a night or two, it's a false teacher, not a real. Not a real True teacher. And it went on to say some other things. God's true people aren't going to Go ahead and say, I think I'll just stay here for the next month or two, no?

They're travelling. You recognize them? Help them, send them on their way. What if I help somebody who's not a true brother?

Well, God knows your heart, and He knows that you did what you thought was right. What if I get taken advantage of? Who hasn't at one time or another?

Now you you use wisdom. But you have to realize that that's part of the risk of obeying the command. You may get taken advantage of occasionally. Be wise. Don't just.

Lie on the floor like a doormat and let everybody walk over you. Be wise, but Be aware that you might You might help somebody that doesn't deserve to be helped. But if you'll follow the biblical precepts carefully, you probably will be right most of the time. And so there's an encouragement here for this kind of hospitality because it goes on to say: for by so doing, that is, entertaining strangers, By so doing, some have entertained angels. I like the King James wording, have entertained angels.

Unawares. Didn't know it.

Some had thereby entertained angels. Abraham did, didn't he? When two angels and the angel of the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ pre-incarnate, came to him at his tent and then went on down. to the city of Sodom. Gideon entertained angels unawares.

Manoah, the father of Samson, entertained an angel. Unawares. You might have done that. I might have done that. Because we don't know.

When these angels came, They were so, they were, they were. Robed in humanity so carefully, so perfectly. that nobody could tell. that they were angels. And so here's an encouragement.

offering hospitality to God's people as they are on God's mission. They may the ones you entertain may be angels. Their true nature is not always known by their appearance. But even if they aren't angels in the Um Heavenly angel sense of that term. The word angel means messenger.

They very well may be special messengers of God. who are particularly Um Used by God, and they may bless you by their conversation. They may touch your family in ways that you can scarcely imagine. In other words, when it's all said and done, you extended hospitality at some expense to you, but you may have received from them.

Something more important than whatever you extended. I couldn't help but think. Of a particular missionary that my parents extended hospitality to back when I was a boy of about 10. And what a profound impact that missionary in our home had upon my life. In some ways, I've never gotten away from that impact.

I went into My s uh Last years of high school and my early years of college, believing that God had called me to be a missionary. And I won't go through the whole story as to how he redirected my mind on that. But that missionary had a powerful impact upon me. that I'm sure far exceeded whatever expense my parents put out, to feed him. and lodge him for a night or two.

as he was travelling through our town. And there's one other consideration along these lines. That's the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter 25. Again, if I can find them in all of these Papers. Here it is.

Well, here's part of it. I need the rest of it. Covers two pages. Might just be easier to open my Bible, but anyway, here we go. Matthew 25.

Then the king will say to those on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty, and you gave me drink. I was a stranger.

And you took me in. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me. Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you and thirsty and give you drink?

When did we see you a stranger and take you in. or naked and clothe you. Or when did we see you sick? or in prison. and came to you.

And the king will answer. and say to them, assuredly I say to you, Inasmuch as you did it. to one of the least of these my brethren. You did it to me. In a Other sense.

When we do this, we may not only entertain angels unawares. We are, in a sense, entertaining Jesus Christ unawares. Who would be unwilling to do that?

So keep that in mind. Keep that in mind. Do not forget. to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels and then we move on to number three. Which is practical aid, a broader term.

This starts out talking about prisoners, but the verse itself expands beyond that. But verse 3 says, Remember the prisoners as if chained with them. And then this. Those who are mistreated In many translations Include The word and. It's not that the prisoners are those who are mistreated.

but remember the prisoners as chained with them, and in addition others who are mistreated. Since you yourselves are in the body. Also. Practical aid, the command is to remember the prisoners. That is, those imprisoned for the sake of Christ.

Uncommon in America, how grateful we are for that, but very common in the first century, as you know, just reading the book of Acts. and common in other countries to day. as you will know if you take the time to find out. And this command says, remember the prisoners, that is, don't neglect them. But Be aware of them and seek them out because They, unlike the strangers, are not coming to you.

And saying Are you willing to help me? They can't go anywhere. You're going to have to seek them out. in order to help them. Paul commended A Christian his day for doing exactly that.

2 Timothy 1. And the Lord grant mercy to the household of Anesaphorus. for he often refreshed me. and was not ashamed of my train. But this, when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me.

He knew Paul was there somewhere. He didn't know where. He knew he was a prisoner. He didn't know where. So.

First of all, he took the initiative to seek him out, to find him, and then he ministered to him in practical ways. Remember. the prisoners. To what degree? as if trained with them.

What would you desire if you were the prisoner?

Well, to that degree We should Minister to fellow Christians who are imprisoned for Christ's sake. Whatever is needed. Food. Most of the time in that first century, Prisoners were not fed by the C the a country that Imprisoned them. They either got help from outside or they starved to death.

Food was very much needed. Clothing is sometimes needed. Paul talked about that in his last imprisonment. We think of the Mammartine dungeon in Rome. He was called.

He wrote to Timothy, Bring the books, but especially the cloak. I'm cold. I need some some clothes to warm me up. in this dark, damp, cold prison.

Sometimes money, if it's needed, You say, what will they do with money in a place like that?

Well, they may buy food when you've gone away. But there are also occasions where Money was an effective bribe to get somebody out of prison. If you can do that. Get them out, but it'll cost. And company.

They long for company. They longed for fellowship. And they can't go get it. But you can bring it to them.

So don't forget Remember the prisoners as if chained with them. And, in addition, others who are mistreated in other ways. Since you yourselves are in the body also. Other forms of mistreatment. Other kinds of adversity.

Christian love and aid to all who are in need. Since, this is the reminder, since you yourselves are in the body also. That is A way of saying It could just as well be you as them. As long as you are in the body, you are subject to every kind of affliction and difficulty. Therefore, Because you are in a bodily Existence and circumstance.

Take pity upon those who are in the body who are suffering. in the body in a way that you aren't right now. Because you may be there Next week, or next month, or next year, and desire the help of others. And therefore Don't you fail to extend help. to people like that now.

Let's consider a few. Applications in closing. I've already mentioned one, evidences of regeneration. Love of the brethren, and the next two are actually just examples of love of the brethren. Hospitality to travelling brethren, Practical aid.

to imprisoned brethren. Love of the brethren is an evidence of regeneration. Examine yourselves to see if you be in the faith. Examine yourself to see if you have evidence of this particular Christian virtue implanted by the Spirit of God at the time of the new birth. Because if you're lacking that, you may be harboring.

An empty profession of faith. I think there's a lesson here too. in regard to unnecessary absences from church. And I'm talking about those who Stay out of church month after month after month. And some are shut in, and that's necessary.

And some aren't. And that's concerning. How can you love the brethren if you don't see the brethren? How can you love the brethren if you don't know the brethren? How can you help the brethren if you don't know what their needs are?

How can you love the brethren? How can you say you love the brethren if you don't want to be with them? That's like telling your Wife, honey, I love you, and I'm going to go live someplace else. For the next three years, but I love you. Do you think she'd believe you?

If you love her, you want to be with her. If you love the brethren, the brothers and sisters, you want to be with them if you can. You may be hindered, but you want to be with them if you can. And if you don't have that desire to be with them, that Maybe B. an evidence of an empty profession of faith.

And the final lesson. In trusting God, you say, I don't have the money to provide hospitality. If God tells you to do it, you can do it. Does God command us to do anything that He doesn't provide us What we need if we obey his command. Trust in God to provide.

Well, if I do this, I could put myself in danger. I let some stranger into my house, and maybe he'll he'll um. Stab my wife to death.

Well, not if he's a Christian. That's why it's important that he be known to others. Maybe he has even a letter of recommendation that comes from the Apostle John or something like that. But again Trust God to protect you. Don't be foolish.

This isn't talking about taking homeless people off the street. They may stab your wife to death or you. That isn't very wise, is it? We need to use wisdom here. in how we understand and apply these commands.

But if you are doing it wisely according to the word of God, don't you think you can trust God to protect you? And Don't you think you can trust God to repay you? How many promises in the Word of God that God will repay those who give to Him? And when you are doing these things, you're really giving to Him. If you do it to the least of these my brethren, you do it as unto me.

You think God will let you go broke, obeying Him like this, honoring Him like this? Doing what he says, like this, that's such an honor to him to show this kind of love and gratitude and. and uh special love for the brethren. and special love for the cause of Christ and helping Uh traveling emissaries of Christ in their work. You're gonna go broke?

doing that I Trow not. to borrow another old King James. Translation I think not. Trust God. If we do, Would he commands He will Bless He will protect.

He will Provide. May God help us, shall we pray? Lord. Teach us thy ways. and show us thy paths.

Amen.