Monday, November 26, 2012

The Ministry Of Refreshment - Meeting The Needs Of The Needy

The ministry of Refreshment is the ministry of taking care of our brethren at the hour of their need.


Apostle James rebukes Christians who think the answer to every need is a sermon, a scripture or a prayer.

James 2:15 – 16
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 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?
No Church can grow beyond its capacity to meet needs.

People have spiritual needs, physical needs, social needs etc.

Meeting people’s needs regardless of what they are is being “A doer of the word”
James 1:22 - But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Proverbs 18:24 - A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Example in Jesus days - John 11:19 - And many of the Jews came to Martha and Mary, to comfort them concerning their brother.

What God Says Concerning The Ministry Of Refreshment?
Isaiah 58:6 – 7
6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen?
7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

Proverbs 19:17 - He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.


What Jesus Said Concerning The Ministry Of Refreshment:
Mathew 25:31, 33 – 36, 40
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

40 - And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.



Example of ONESIPHORUS

2 Timothy 1:16 – 18
16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.


What We Learn From ONESIPHORUS

1. He used his resources to refresh Paul often (many times)
2. He was not ashamed of Paul’s condition or suffering (even in prison)
3. He was diligent in his ministry of refreshment (He travelled long distances)
4. He refreshed Paul again and again, in the city and out of city, in freedom and in prison.

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