SAY SOMETHING NOTES

“Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.” 1 Corinthians 10:24 - KJV

“Let no one seek [only] his own good, but [also] that of the other person.” 1 Corinthians 10:24 – AMP

“We should think about others and not about ourselves.” 1 Corinthians 10:24 - CEV

A few weeks ago, I asked the Lord if we could go back to studying about the women in the Bible.  He did not have me do that. I asked the following week and that is the week we heard about the ten virgins. I asked last week and that is when we heard about the talents and the minas. Did you hear me throw in the “widow’s mite” there at the end? This week I asked again, Lord can we please learn some more about the women in the Bible. He said, “Okay pick one”.  I said, “ME!?” He said, “Yes, just pick one”. I said,  “I don’t know which one to choose. If you pick one you can give me the deeper background. Will You please pick one?” He said, “Okay I’m going to pick one, but no matter who I choose will you talk about her?” I replied with hesitancy, “Yes.”  I was very suspicious.  Guess who he chose. Mother Teresa!!!  I said, “Lord, she is not in the Bible.”  He replied, “Yes she is.  Let me show you.”

Just wait and see what He did. He is so awesome!!!

***Let me introduce Mother Teresa to those who might not know that much about her. Here are just a few facts:

Born August 26, 1910, in Skopje in the Balkans. Albania.

Went to be with the Lord September 5, 1997.

Trained to be a teacher. She had a natural gift for administration and organization that was a great asset to her developing and running her ministry.

Missionary field in Calcutta, India.

Sainted in 2016 by Pope Frances.

The charity she began is “Missionaries of Charity”.

She started her ministry with only 13 people.

Her ministry has grown to more than 600 missions in 120 countries.

One of few women to win the Nobel Peace prize in 1979 and many other “humanitarian awards”.

She contributes her success to knowing her call. She knew what Jesus had asked her to do through hearing his voice and receiving visions from Him.

Barely 5 foot tall.

Stood her ground against a government leader and won!!!

Her mission statement is: “My mission is to care for the hungry, the lame, the homeless, the crippled, the blind, the lepers, all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared for throughout society, people that have become a burden to society and are shunned by everyone.”

After reading about Mother Teresa the Lord took me to Isaiah 58:6-12 CEV

“I’ll tell you what it really means to worship the Lord. Remove the chains of prisoners who are chained unjustly. Free those who are abused! Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don’t turn away your relatives. Then your light will shine like the dawning sun, and you will quickly be healed. Your honesty will protect you as you advance, and the glory of the Lord will defend you from behind. When you beg the Lord for help, he will answer, “Here I am!” Don’t mistreat others or falsely accuse them or say something cruel. Give your food to the hungry and care for the homeless. Then your light will shine in the dark; your darkest hour will be like the noonday sun. The Lord will always guide you and provide good things to eat when you are in the desert. He will make you healthy. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water or like a stream that never runs dry. You will rebuild those houses left in ruins for years; you will be known as a builder and repairer of city walls and streets.

Isaiah 58:6-12 – CEV

He said, “Look, she is in this scripture”.

She did a mission for a lifetime most of us would not last a weekend doing. But when you know your Heavenly Father has called you to do something, nothing can stop you. We receive our calling in our quiet time with Jesus. Listening as He did so that He could do what His father asked Him to do.

“Jesus told the people: I tell you for certain that the Son cannot do anything on his own. He can do only what he sees the Father doing, and he does exactly what he sees the Father do. The Father loves the Son and has shown him everything he does. The Father will show him even greater things, and you will be amazed. Just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants to.” John 5:19-21 – CEV

It is said that she had the tenacity of a pit bull. She was persistent like the persistent neighbor in Luke 11:5-13 and the persistent woman at the judge’s bench in Luke 18:1-8.

In 1972 she negotiated a cease fire between the Israeli’s and the Palestinians so she could rescue 37 orphans that were trapped in the war zone. She began the process while there was still gun fire but eventually it stopped, and she and her team rescued them all.

1985 (she was 75 at the time) she insisted the government leader of Ethiopia give her organization 2 abandoned buildings to use as orphanages. The leader refused. In front of TV cameras, she did not back down. She stood her ground.  She knew God was on her side and they would win.  Don’t forget, you and God are a majority.

She and her workers were often criticized and mocked for their work and their views on spiritual matters, like abortion. But she would urge them to stay in faith and ignore them, just as Jesus did.

Some would even ask her why she did not teach them to fish as the famous quote instructs,

“Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” Exact origin unknown.  Her reply was, “my people can’t even stand up, they’re sick, they’re crippled and demented. When I have given them fish to eat and they can stand, I’ll turn them over to you and you can give them the rod to catch the fish.”

DON’T LET OTHERS TELL YOU HOW TO DO THE CALL GOD HAS GIVEN YOU.  He is faithful to instruct you.

Mother Teresa had her struggles.  Not all was rosy as some think.  Some discount her accomplishments as having a “special” call or anointing that no one else can have.  I encourage you to read some of her memoirs.  She struggled with depression and doubt but she would strengthen herself in the Lord and press on into her calling for Jesus Christ.  We have all been chosen to do good works for the Lord and His Kingdom.  Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. Amplified Classic translation.

She was not an elder in the church or a pastor or a priest standing in a pulpit. She was not some important influential CEO, but her impact on the world left tracts that very few have ever attempted.

She left legacy. Just as we spoke about last week. Wealth in the Kingdom of God is about others. (See the verses at beginning of this page.)

Her legacy lives on through the ministry she began in orphanages, hospitals, and other charitable centers. Here are a few services “Missionaries of Charity” does; care for refugees, the blind, the disabled, the aged, the addicted, the poor, the homeless and victims of natural disasters throughout the world.

“My secret is simple – I pray!” Saint Teresa of Calcutta.  Prayer has no distance.  Just because we are not missionaries in a far-off land, or a clergy in a pulpit, or a great theologian does not mean we cannot be powerful in the Kingdom of God.  Prayer moves mountains when partnered with belief and faith.  Allow the Holy Spirit to remove the limits of the impossible to all things are possible with God. 

“So [Thus; Consequently] faith comes from hearing the Good News, and people hear the Good News [hearing comes; or the message/report arrives] ·when someone tells them [through the word/message] ·about Christ.  Source:  Romans 10:17 – EXB

Shellie challenged us as Kingdom citizens to dedicate October to ramping up what we do for the Kingdom. “Up your game” in October in sharing the gospel.

Claribel told us that the Holy Spirit said, “I’ve created you to do this, and nothing can hinder you!  So have no fear.”

Terry shared, “Get into the Word until the “instructor” (Holy Spirit) sets up shop in you.” Keep pursuing the Holy Spirit and do what He tells you to do, and He will “setup shop”. Then when you ask a question, He will draw on the Word of God that you have already deposited within you.

One of the evangelists I listen to is Bobby Conner.  One day he was preparing to give a message and he asked the Holy Spirit what scripture to teach.  The Holy Spirit told him Acts 29.  Bobby said, “Lord, there is no Acts 29.”  The Holy Spirit replied, “Yes, and that’s the problem.”  WE are to BE Acts 29, 30, 31, etc.  We are the church; we are the body of Christ.  We are to do the signs, wonders and miracles as Jesus did and even greater. “I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone steadfastly believes in Me, he will himself be able to do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these, because I go to the Father.” John 14:12  In Judges 6:34 one of the translations says God put Gideon on like a glove.  Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you and work with you in sync, snuggly fitted like a glove.  “But the Spirit of the Lord clothed Gideon with Himself and took possession of him, and he blew a trumpet, and [the clan of] Abiezer was gathered to him.” Judges 6:34.

Remember, we have a new “Fall Backpack”.  Jesus is going to fill it for us with new pencils, pens, spirals, and binders.  Some will receive (pencil) compasses.