preached @ Metro 5th November 2006

We have been invited to particpate in a great adventure. There is a huge cloud of witnesses watching, but the sad fact is many people have turned from being a particpant to being a spectator.  

The Message version  1-3 Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

This tells us that we are the participants in the adventure of faith, and that we are being observed from heaven. At times God’s church seems to have turned this around and become the spectators!!!

Matthew 25:34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'  37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'  40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Verse 40 Key Text To the  least of these brothers of mine 

The Least- the overlooked-the ignored It’s not really about seeing people,but the ability to connect with people at their point of need,and seeing Jesus in them.

The goats didn’t set out to ignore he King – they were just blinded. Mother Teresa one of the greatest examples of serving others!!    Said it was about - “seeing individual as the image of God and minister to them”.

The Promise Hebrews 6:10 God is not unjust, He will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them”.

What is Jesus teaching us about giving to others – being a participant instead of a spectator

1.Give without the thought of reward Matthew 6:1-4"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

2.Give what is needed  In the parable of the sheep and the goats To the hungry person gave food Thirsty a drink Naked clothing Sick cared for them In prison – visted

3. Give in Simple things They gave in the simple things, little things, food, clothes, time for a visit in prison

Have we lost sight of our true mission?? May we be about our Father's business, particpants and not spectators!!