SUPPORT FOR THE WORK OF GOD

How was Jesus’ ministry funded?

Who funded Jesus and His disciples to preach the gospel, teach, and heal the sick?

The Apostle Luke, one of Jesus’ disciples, gives a first hand account of the way Jesus and the disciples were supported.

Luke 8:1-3

“…Jesus traveled about from one town and village to the other, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.” (NIV)

Luke chapter 8 gives us an account of Jesus and His disciples doing the work of the kingdom- teaching, preaching (8:5-18), calming the storm (8:22-25), healing the sick and curing those with demon possession (8:26-39), and raising the dead (8:54-55). The account did not leave women out, because they were with Jesus and His disciples, and “These women were helping to support them out of their own means.”

Who and what were they supporting?

According to this text, these women supported:

Jesus

Jesus the King of Kings left His glory above for the work of the Kingdom thus becoming a missionary. He left His comfort zone and riches in heaven and was full-time into ministry, just like many who got called and left their jobs for their ministry. Jesus needed support and these women saw this need and they stood by Him by supporting Him out of their means. They believed in Him and His ministry and they wanted to be part of this ministry. They got involved by giving out of their means. They were blessed by His life and ministry.

His disciples

The woman supported the disciples. The disciples like Peter, and the two sons of Zebedee, James and John, were professional fisherman who left their source of livelihood to follow Jesus. Matthew, a public or civil servant, left tax collection and went into ministry. Luke the physician, who gave us this account, also became one of Jesus’ disciples and the rest of the disciples left everything to follow Jesus. These women saw their needs and met these needs through their own means, because they believed in their ministry.

The expansion of the gospel

These women supported Jesus and His disciples because they were expanding the gospel and the Kingdom of God to other people and regions. As they themselves may not reach those places, they gave their support in order for Jesus and His disciples to do it.

Who were these women?

These women were ‘ordinary’ housewives in the time of Jesus. Joanna was the wife of a political office holder working under Herod. Some were probably petty traders, small scale farmers, or they sold handcrafts or sewed clothes. These women were not bankers, business tycoons/moguls, doctors, lawyers, engineers, accountants, etc., but these women gave out of their little means. Do we expect less today?

A Challenge to the Christian

We have seen that these godly, kingdom-minded women did what they did for Jesus and His disciples, because they were in support of what they were living and would eventually die for.

What do you spend your resources on? Do you support the work of God? Do you use what God gives you for His glory?

Christians should be wise in their spending and even in the support that they give. Caution must be taken here because not every “Christian” project is worth your effort or support (I stand being corrected). Some projects are undertaken for the mere fulfillment of ego or denominational pride, a misplaced priority. As believers, we need to support the mission for which Jesus came, proclaimed, lived and died for – the gospel!

Anyone who has been called and is a herald of the gospel- missionaries, preachers, teachers, pastors, evangelists, Christian workers etc., are worthy of your support. Some have left their jobs and comfort zones to serve God. Some work in different countries of the world. The Third World countries are especially challenging. Missionaries need our prayer, material and financial support for safety, good health, upkeep and for the ministries they are involved in.

Out of your own means – even if you earn little like these women, you can squeeze out a dollar and be a blessing to a missionary.

You may wonder where to begin. Below are some suggestions you could consider. See if you can sacrifice something in order to invest in the work of God and the salvation of souls. YOU CAN DO IT!

Luxury Food: lattes, cookies/cake, candy, chocolate, chewing gum, potato chips, pretzels

Cosmetics: hair supplies perfume nail color lipstick creams lotions

Trendy Fashions: jeans, new tops, sweaters, jackets, shoes, bags and purses, earrings, jewelry

Entertainment DVDs, CDs, video games, computer accessories

Sports new sneakers, sports equipment, sports clothes, tickets to sporting events

Extras: candles, knick-knacks, toys, games, QVC shopping

These things are not bad in themselves, but do you purchase them because you really need them?

Let us be faithful stewards of God’s resources in our possession for “It is required that a steward be found faithful” (1 Cor. 4:2).

“What do you have that God hasn’t given you? And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?”(1 Cor. 4:7, NLT)

Jesus ordered His disciples after feeding the five thousand people, to “Gather the pieces that are left-over. Let nothing be wasted” (John 6:12, NIV). If we are following Jesus’ example, then we must not be wasteful and extravagant.

As you have seen, Jesus, the King of Kings, welcomed women with little means to participate in the ministry, and accepted their support.

Missionaries, evangelists, pastors and Christian workers doing ministry full-time or part-time humble themselves to share their needs and to receive support from their Christian brothers and sisters. When you support Christian workers you are not only supporting them, but the advancement of God’s kingdom through them!

“What I want is for you to receive a well-earned reward because of your kindness.” (Phil 4:17, NLT) Invest your resources in what outlasts this life, and that which has eternal reward.

“Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, whoever sows generously, will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6, NIV).

Also take to heart what Jesus said “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” ( Matt.25:40, NIV).

Keep sowing! Harvest time is coming - in this life or in the life to come!

GOD BLESS YOU ALL, AMEN!!!

In the Lord’s Service,

Pastor Wakfwen Gosele Danpome

Jos, Nigeria

E-mail: godstimedanpome@yahoo.com

Hello world!

We want to tell you all that we got married on the 28^th July 2007. Beth and Wakfwen (Godstime) exchanged marital vows amidst tears of joy by the bride! It was a solemn moment for this couple taking vows to share their lives together till death do they part.

The marriage ceremony was well attended by friends, relations and well wishers from both near and far. The church programme lasted about two hours. The church band ushered the bride in with a heart-warming song while the groom was waiting keenly in anticipation of his beautiful bride!

The officiating ministers led the service, the marital vows were taken, and the preacher, Rev. Dr. Obed Dashan, gave a sermon on the relationship of Ruth and Naomi, emphasizing the bride’s determination in uprooting herself from the West and planting herself here in Africa for the cause of the gospel. The choir and Women’s Fellowship choir sang beautifully. The service came to an end and the bride and groom marched out with a dance as the band sang wonderful choruses!

The bride and groom took pictures with different people who attended the wedding and then proceeded to the reception hall where The Proclaimers Band and Dantalla Cultural Band were already entertaining the guests before the arrival of the new couple.

The reception was a beautiful sight to behold! The two music bands thrilled the crowd as the bride and groom displayed their best dancing steps in uttermost expression of their joy! The guests showered the bride and the groom with naira notes in appreciation of the beautiful dance steps displayed by the couple.

Food and drinks were served to the guests amidst dancing and great merriment! There came a time when the guests presented gifts to the bride and groom. After all was done, Rev. Felix Yakdughur, a very good friend of the couple, brought the programme to a close with a word of prayer. The bride and groom were driven to their new home where the space shuttle was waiting to lift them up to the MOON!!!

MAZAL TOV! GLOIRE A DIEU!!