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When Jesus finally bent down to wash the feet of his disciples, he was definitely extreme in expressing his love, his hospitality to his guests-his disciples. Lets look in our own hearts if we are imitating our saviour in the area of being hospitable in our ministries, our homes today.
Romans 12:13
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Acts 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Acts 2:46
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,
What does hospitality mean? Simply sharing your hearts and your home to others – to be willing and eager to spend time, energy and money to meet the needs of the needy. Think about all the times people have been hospitable to you: What impact did it have on you? Are you having an impact on people’s lives today because of your hospitality?
GOD BLESSES HOSPITALITY
The home, our ministries is a means through which God could bless his people. After Abraham’s hospitality towards his three visitors he was promised a son. He became FRUITFUL!
Genesis 18:3-8
3 He said, "If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by.
4 Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.
5 Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way--now that you have come to your servant." "Very well," they answered, "do as you say."
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread."
7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it.
8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.
Rebekah invited Abraham’s servant into her home and got a HUSBAND!
Genesis 24:46
"She quickly lowered her jar from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too.' So I drank, and she watered the camels also.
The widow of Zarephath provided housing for Elijah and survived a famine. No financial struggle!
1 Kings 17:7-24
7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.
8 Then the word of the LORD came to him:
9 "Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food."
10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?"
11 As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."
12 "As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread--only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it--and die."
13 Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son.
14 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.'"
15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.
16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.
17 Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing.
18 She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?"
19 "Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed.
20 Then he cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?"
21 Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this boy's life return to him!"
22 The LORD heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived.
23 Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, "Look, your son is alive!"
24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth."
Today are we imitating the lives of these MEN and WOMEN of God? Are you inviting blessings in disguise – let’s decided to invite people over?
ATTITUDES TOWARDS HOSPITALITY
a. Unconditional
Luke 14:13
But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,
Do you open your homes only to your types? Do you give warm hugs and stand up to greet only those like you or above you or you feel naturally comfortable with? Jesus condemns this action.
b. Unselfish
Luke 14:14
and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
Jesus idea of hospitality is not simply entertain, or impress but to give. Do you give in the area they are weak in? If the need is
encouragement give it all, if its family spirit show them your family your kids. If it’s teaching, give them the Word of God. Be compassionate.
c. Joyful
1 Peter 4:9
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.
Will our guest (visitors) sense our joy and thankfulness that they have come to visit us or do they sense tension anxiety and muttering in the back?
d. Prepared
John 14:2
In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
Jesus say here he would go and prepare a place for us in his Father’s house. What are the plans and efforts involved in being hospitable? Do you wait till the last moment to prepare for your guests? We need to be caring.
God’s kingdom must advance and we as 20th century disciples will have a great hand in that advancement as we obey the command to be hospitable.
Let’s decide to be hospitable and make our ministries like a big happy family.
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