★ MY SERMON NOTES
@ Church of Christ in Nations (COCIN)
Area 1, Garki - Abuja, Nigeria
24th May, 2015
★ WIDOWS, ORPHANS &
VULNERABLE CHILDREN WEEK
 |
| Rev. David Kwamkur |
★ SERMON
* Speaker: Rev. David Kwamkur
* Topic: Help us to Help them
* Theme: Growing up in Christ
* Sub-Theme: Add to your Faith
* Service Leader: Mrs. Jessica Adams
* Text: Matthew 9:35-38
★ Psalm 10:17-18 → "LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress."
* God does not want anyone to be alone (Genesis 2:18)
* The major problem that widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children face in life is the issue of loneliness
* The loss of the breadwinner puts a lot of pressure on the surviving members of the family
* Jesus Saw 3 things (in Matthew 9:36):
(a) He saw the crowd
(b) He saw their condition
(c) He saw the reason for the suffering (there was no shepherd to take care of them)
* NOTE: Jesus did not only stop at pity, he had compassion on the crowd (by meeting their needs)
→(see: Matthew 9:35)
* Every genuine Church should meet the needs of people as much as it can
→ Many Church organise evangelism programmes & embark on expensive projects but they do not care for people's welfare
* NOTE: people don't care About how much you know, unless the know how much you care!
* There is no way to engage in genuine evangelism and not 'see' the needs of the people you are ministering to
* Any time God sees anyone in need, His heart is moved
* God desires that His people should be concerned about the condition of widows, orphans and vulnerable children in the Church and society
* Many people do not even want to imagine what being a widow, orphan or widower entaiIs
* The major problem is not death, but the unforeseen circumstances that death throws people into when it suddenly occurs
* Imagine going through life without the presence of loved ones around you . . .
→ Things are not usually the same after their untimely exit
* Sometimes widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children wish that someone will understand what they are going through
* Widows usually suffer rejection and are stripped of their husband's assets and put under a lot of pressure and unpleasant circumstances
→ Unfortunately, even their so called Christian relatives and friends are involved in this evil, instead of protecting them
* Most widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children are:
→ Physically abused
→ Financially defrauded
→ Spiritually neglected
→ Nutritionally malnourished
→ Emotionally harrassed
* Many people (including some Christians) maltreat these set of people
★ Why do we have widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children in our midst?
1. Widows:
* The sudden untimely death of a husband is the loss of the breadwinner and it is a serious thing
2. Vulnerable Children:
* In our society today, children are being raised by other children because parents are too busy to invest in quality parenting
* Busy parents procure the services of other children (househelps) to raise and take care of their children while they pursue material things
* If parents do not take care of their own children, there will be more vulnerable children in the society
★ What is the Way out?
→ God is the answer and the Church is the channel!
* The Church is the primary means of support for widows, orphans and vulnerable children
★ James 1:27 → ''A religion that is pure and stainless according to God the Father is this: to take care of orphans and widows who are suffering, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
* NOTE: The care & help you render to widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children determines whether or not you are truly a godly person (this is the ultimate test).
* Do you care whether widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children:
→ eat decent meals everyday?
→ have clothes to wear?
→ are protected from oppression?
→ are able to acquire basic education?
→ are reached with the Gospel of Christ?
→ have access to basic medical care?
* Caring for widows, widowers, orphans and vulnerable children is a command from God
→ It is not an option
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
★ PASTOR'S CORNER
God's heart is greatly moved by the plight of widows, orphans and vulnerable children. Most of us cannot imagine going though a day without food, clean water, shelter, education or the presence of loved ones.
Most often, the widows, orphans and vulnerable children experience loneliness, hunger, insecurity, rejection, discrimination, anxiety, depression, suppression, distress, discouragement, injustice etc.
God is the answer and the Church is the means by which He will change The lives of widows, orphans and vulnerable children. Because God cares for those in need. He wants His children to care for them as well.
★ MISSION CHARGE
"We are all in life potential widows and widowers. Be mindful of what you do and the way you treat those with that status today. You might as well receive the same treatment soonest."
→ Pastor Victor T. Amos
★ QUOTE
"What most people need to learn in life is how to lone people and use things instead of using people and loving things."
→ Annonymous
