RAISING DISCIPLES FOR WORLD OUTREACH

 The Church as a Business "And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's BUSINESS?" (Luke 2:49) "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this BUSINESS." (Acts 6:3) "Not slothful in BUSINESS; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord." (Romans 12:11) Recently, I was discussing with a brother who has a stationery store in the city. I asked him to expand his business across town because he has enough materials to equip three to four stores at a time. He told me he has been prayerfully working on this proposition and that his major constraint is the personnel to manage the business. The people out there have no mind for business progress but rather ulterior motives for enriching their pockets. So, rather than planning his own untimely death and heartbreak, he would prefer to manage a shop than to have others that would ste...

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; [23] they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. Lamentations was written by Jeremiah after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC to the Babylonians. The fall of this city was a consequence of the sinful life of the people of Israel and, most importantly, the many prophetic warnings from Jeremiah himself. The Babylonians were among the most heartless and ruthless imperial leaders the Israelites had to endure. Once they conquered a city, they deported everyone and brought in foreigners to take over their lands. At one point, the people came to Jeremiah to seek the counsel of the Lord. This is recorded in Jeremiah 42 and 43: - The military and tribal leaders, the priests, and all the people—from the least to the greatest—sought Jeremiah’s guidance. - In verses 5 and 6, they told him they were ready to obey whatever instructions the Lord gave, whether pleasant or not, and that God should hold them accounta...

So Jacob said to him, "Go now and check on the welfare of your brothers and of the flocks, and bring me word." So Jacob sent him from the valley of Hebron. Now Joseph's brothers saw him from a distance, and before he reached them, they plotted to kill him. (Genesis 37:14, 18) How could Joseph have known that his brothers hated him so much? In his heart, he loved them and cared about them. When his father sent him after his brothers, the instruction was, "GO AND CHECK THE WELFARE OF YOUR BROTHERS." Even his father knew that Joseph had an undying love for his brothers. Joseph wandered in the wilderness and was not at peace until someone could direct him to where the brothers were grazing the flock. That was a reflection of his loving heart. Conversely, when his brothers saw him from afar, they did not see a loving, tired, and wandering brother. What they resolved was: "LET'S KILL HIM." Indeed, they carried out their evil intention by selling Joseph i...