Love and faithfulness Pastor Theo Nayagam Luke 10 25-28 John 4 1-9

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My topic for you is this morning is love and faithfulness are

vital for Christian living. You know, both love and

faithfulness go together because it is so important.

You have to have love to be faithful.

And I came across this story when I was 1 preparing, you

know, and, and, and the story goes like this.

And there is a care home and there is this lady, the wife is

in the care home and she, she is very sick.

She's got dementia. And the husband comes to the

care home every day at a particular time and sees the

wife and spend some time and he goes away.

There is a nurse who notices this all the time.

And one day the nurse asks this guy, let's name him Peter or

Paul or whatever it is. He says, Peter, you come every

day at this particular time and you go and look at the face of

your spouse, but she doesn't know you.

She she can't recognize you. What's the point?

But Peter said, I know her for 58 years I've known her, and

that is enough for me. I want to start with that and

bring you to a picture as to what God wants to do in my life

and your life. To have an intimate relationship

with God, you need to truly love God.

And so from loving God comes faithfulness, from loving God

comes stewardship, that truly you want to be a good steward to

God. And through loving God you will

truly fear God to do what God expects you to do.

See, when you truly love God, you will know the reverence in

the holiness of God that you will want to truly please the

Lord, not anything else. So when you fear God, you will

want to also serve in a place that God has called you to serve

in holiness in what God has called us to do and which is

important. Having said that, I want to go

through the story that we read, read.

You see, it's a very simple story.

We all know this, so many times we, we have studied this, but I

want to bring some truth out of this story.

Love moves towards the need. Now if you look at the scripture

and you, you, I want you to look at the background of this story.

And in this story you will see it was a lawyer who comes in us,

a lawyer who comes in us, the Lord.

In other words, he knew the law. He knew everything about the

law. And he comes and says, teacher,

what should I do? You know, I have done all this.

I have kept the law. I have been a very good man.

I can never say that. I can never say that.

And here he is saying I have done all this.

What should I do? And and then probably the Lord

Jesus definitely has a lot of humour, isn't it unlike us?

And the beauty of this, that he brings the humour out of

bringing the priest who kept the law.

And he and he speaks about the first priest that you know who

kept the law. And in that story, when I look

at this story and when I analyze this story, I think, yes, God

gave the law. And I think you studied in

Galatians and what the law was. And, and, and here for the

priests, it was important that they ceremoniously kept

themselves clean. Outwardly they wore something,

an outward righteous garment which they wore.

But more than that, they should not really touch anything which

was dead, which would call them unrighteous.

So here when they, when he saw this man, he thought he was

dead. Even if I, you know, touch this

person, I will become unclean. And that was his thought.

And look at this, Jerusalem was a place that they would go to

worship. That was a place of worship.

And and they were going from Jerusalem to Jericho.

Jericho at that time was a place where there was business.

So here if you look at this scenario, probably the priest

that finished his ceremonial work in the synagogue and he was

going home and he did not want therefore to be unclean.

So he did, He passed on the other side and so did the the

Levite. He too observed the law.

Both of them truly observed the law, but they didn't go beyond

the law and and this is what Jesus was saying and teaching.

You kept the law. Here was this man, he said,

Lord, I've kept the law here God was bringing Jesus was bringing

the story, I've kept the law. So both the priest and the

Levite, they kept the law, but they got forgot the other thing

of love. Most often times we can keep the

law by doing what is right. But do we have love, truly love

to serve, be united in church, support the pastor in what he

does, truly love. God has called us to do this.

Are we or are we murmuring? These are things which happens

in our churches now. So what happens next is there

was a Samaritan who walks by and what does a Samaritan do?

He was probably going for business.

He responded to another person's need.

Even though he was busy, even though he was going for some

work. The other two were finishing

their work and were on their way to Jericho.

But here was a person who was on a business trip, an outward

change due to an inward transformation.

So there was an inward transformation in this person.

There was a change within side which made him therefore get

down from his donkey to go and help this poor person.

The kindness of love was able to bind up the wounds.

Showing genuine kindness and love will be the balm of

healing. So when we go through a

challenge and a difficulty, the balm of healing is the kindness

that you show to a person. When we go through a situation,

when we go through a challenge, what we do is to show kindness

and love. If a person is in hospital, what

do we do? We, we wouldn't say, look, I'm

praying for him, but go to the extra mud, go to the hospital

and lay hands and pray for him. We show the true kindness and

love. He was able, therefore, to get

down from the donkey and help him and heal the wounds.

In first two cases we see they just skipped the law.

But here was a person who walked beyond the law to get down and

do what is right. He was able to remove the

garment. Jesus did the same thing.

Jesus removed the garment and he sat down to wash the feet of the

people of the disciples. Wounds can be people with sin

and isolation, people in need of a situation and they have fallen

into and not able to get up themselves.

So you may be fallen into a pit, you may have a wound within.

There must be something which is going wrong with you, but you

know, to go beyond to help a person is what God is expecting

us to do. Our salvation is just not an

outward change. It's not an outward change.

It's an inward change. It's totally inward, a total

transformation to be like Him. Are we able to do that?

Can there be a shift in our lives?

The Samaritan truly played the part of a priest.

He also played the part of a Levite.

Are we able to do that today? Go and do likewise, Jesus said.

Would you go and do likewise is the question that I would pose

to you. The second scenario here is

this, the woman at a well, love listens before it speaks.

Love listens. This is so important.

Here was Jesus knew everything about this woman.

He could have had three fingers pointing at him or one finger

pointing at him, at her, but Jesus was willing to listen.

He was hungry for souls, so when he was hungry for souls, he was

prepared to listen to all what she had to say.

This meeting was not an accident.

It was a divine appointment for Jesus that truly showcases the

love of Jesus in bringing the Samaritan woman.

Love crosses all barriers, which is so important.

It is able to cross barriers. That love will breakthrough

barriers. Jews do not, you know, they

avoid being with Samaritans, but Gods love ignores it cares in

God's agenda. Love has no race, no gender, no

reputation, no geography. It will cross all boundaries.

That is true love no matter what.

If a person cannot speak, still love goes beyond to make itself

known. Love that speaks grace before

judgment. The God of grace speaks before

judgment. Will you give me a drink for the

Lord Jesus to go and ask this person, Will you give me a

drink? It starts with a request, not a

rebuke. Usually we would we would want

to rebuke someone who's in adultery or is in sin.

Here God was requesting something.

He starts with the request and approaches a open dialogue.

He wants a dialogue, love that of first transformation and

because of all these, what happens?

There is a transformation, there is a change, there is a change.

This woman was willing to change because Jesus came to her level

to understand, to know, to listen and ask for water.

Are we able to do this? Are we able to come to another

persons level? Whoever drinks this water I give

will never thirst. Our love for people can bring.

Our love for people can bring them to Jesus.

Whoever drinks the water I will give will never thirst.

Was 14 and Jesus names a brokenness and that's what God

wants to do today to reveal to us our brokenness and to be the

strength to heal you in the brokenness.

Finally there is a revelation for the woman.

There is a revelation she finally says I know you are the

Messiah. So when when our compassion goes

to to their heart, there is a revelation, there is something

revealed about Jesus. There is a revelation.

And what does this revelation bring?

That revelation brings a transformation, a change.

When we show that love, when we can cross boundaries, when we

can move, that's when change can happen.

So that brought a transformation and that transformation brought

a proclamation. She was able to go and tell

others, look, this is what this man did, why he had compassion

and love. And that's what the Lord wants

to bring to our churches today, to bring that love and kindness,

to listen to cross boundaries so that we can truly be what God

has called us to do. How did God do all these for us?

God did this to us through the cross because of His

faithfulness. This is so important for you and

for me. The steadfast love of the Lord

never ceases. His mercies never fails.

They are new every morning for you and for me.

It's unchanging love for you and for me.

I want to take you to, you know, to Genesis chapter 15, verses 17

Genesis 15:17

and 18. I want to explain a little about

this, about Abraham and how God brings that faithfulness and

love together which we can enjoy today.

Genesis chapter 15 verses 17 and 18 goes like this.

Genesis 15:17

And it came to pass. When the sun went down, it was

dark that behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning

torch that passed between these pieces.

On the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abraham saying to

your descendants, I give this land from the river of Egypt to

to the great river of Euphrates. I'm going to explain this to

you. What happened was God was giving

a promise to Abraham. And in the olden days, in Bible

times, the covenants were made by the weaker party with a party

was strong and what they would do is there was an animal

sacrifice between the party who was poor and the party was very

rich or wealthy. So the, the servant or the poor

person would have to do the sacrifice and he will and the

sacrifice are all cut in two. And he has to walk through the

sacrifice. And you know, and the person

who's stronger will make the covenant to say, look here, if

you don't keep the covenant between you and me, this will

happen to you. This will happen to you.

Your body will be cut into this. And, and what they do is they

take the blood, put it on their finger, and then after that and

the person who makes the cover and cuts himself, and then there

is a meal that they celebrate. This is what is done in the old,

Old Old Testament, not Old Testament.

It was before it was a custom which they practiced which

Abraham knew about. Now if you look into the Word of

God and carry on all along, you will see that Jesus.

In this chapter, what he does, he puts Abraham to sleep.

He says make the sacrifice. I'm going to make a covenant

with you. And what does he do?

Puts Abraham to sleep. And he walks as a servant.

And he said, if you don't keep the covenant, this will be done

to me as a servant. Do you get what I'm saying?

And he walks through the sacrifice, and where does he

make the covenant? Because the covenant was broken,

The people of Israel did not keep the covenant.

So who becomes the servant? Jesus became the servant because

he walked through the sacrifice. And finally, where was the

sacrifice made for you and for me?

On the cross of Calvary? His body was broken.

It was cut beyond recognition, blood was shed, and that was the

perfect sacrifice for you and for me.

And that is His faithfulness, that love and that faithfulness

coming together today so that we can serve in unity, so that we

are in unity together to serve what God has called us to do,

not in disunity, but in love, working together to say, Lord, I

have come to serve you because you know what the Lord is going

to ask us on that particular day.

I gave you all these talents. What have you done?

You can say, Lord, I did this. I did this.

One thing that I want and all of us want is this good and

faithful servant because he paid the price for you.

That's all he's expecting you to do because he paid the price,

because he became a servant for you and for me.

And he said, yes, I will do that.

I'll put you to sleep. I'm willing to do that if you

and I are prepared to do that. Yes, love can overflow through

us to touch people, and that's the beauty of the word.

The beauty of this covenant is that Abraham, Abraham's time, it

was a servant who will pass through the cut animals to say

that his body will be cut into pieces like these animals if he

does not fulfill the promise. And God puts him to sleep and

walks between the animals to become a servant.

And the promise was not only fulfilled in Abraham, but

fulfilled for me and for you on the cross.

Isn't that beautiful? One Corinthians 19 says, God is

faithful by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son

Jesus Christ our Lord. Hebrews 13 and five says, For He

himself has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you.

He will never leave you nor forsake you.

John 15 and verse 5 says, Therefore remain in Him.

If you remain in Him, you will bear much fruit.

Apart from Me you can do nothing.

Faithfulness is a person and not a performance.

It's not a performance. It's not to get recognition, to

say you know, I am this, I can do this, come and join my

fellowship. No, faithfulness is a person and

not a performance. And when we stay with Jesus

daily, choose his presence, his presence morning by morning, ask

his presence. Start with small goals, you

know, don't set big goals. Start with small goals.

If you have not read, start with 10 minutes and then go on.

Then to 15 and half an hour and 1 hour.

Don't say yes straight away. I want to pray two hours and go

to sleep. Now start with just, you know,

10-15 minutes and carry on. Can I be obedient to Your Word

today? Lord, give me revelation when I

look at the Word. Let it not be like a newspaper.

Lord, give me revelation. Speak to me through the Word.

Because You are the author. I want You to speak to me.

Be quick to apologize, quick to say sorry and repair brokenness

and promises. Sometimes it's good to have a

body call him in the morning, have a Bible verse, share a

Bible verse, and at the end of the day I say, how did the day

go? Did the Bible verse?

Did it speak to you? Faithfulness is love that shows

up again tomorrow, eyes open to need, hands needy to serve, and

a heart anchored in the God whose promises never, never

fail. In closing, I want you to listen

to this very carefully. I say close recognition at

sunset, Recognition at sunset. One evening, the nurse, the

nurse noticed something, something new.

Peter's wife looked up, focused at his face and whispered.

You came, I'll read it again. Peter's wife looked up, focused

his face and whispered. You came.

Tears filled his eyes as he answered.

Of course I promised you and I, I promised you and I made a

promise. Church, a day is coming when the

recent bridegroom will split the sky and every cloud, every cloud

will be taken away. Every mind will be clear.

Those who live lives of love and faithfulness will hear him say

You came, well done, good and faithful servant.

Read that again. It's important for you and for

me. Those who live lives of love and

faithfulness will hear him say who say Jesus say you came well

done, good and faithful servant. So be faithful in the things God

has called you to. Be faithful in your church.

Be faithful to your pastor. Be faithful in the little things

God has given you until that sunrise, until that sunrise that

is. Keep crossing roads, keeping

promises, and echoing the God whose mercies are new every

morning. His mercies are new for you

every morning. But keep crossing those roads,

and you see His love flowing through.

Now will you go and do likewise? That's what Jesus said to to

whom? To Amen, to the lawyer.

Would you go and do likewise? Help us, Father, to go and do

likewise? Why, Father?

Why? Because you did it all.

You became the servant and you were the sacrifice, Godfather

for us and help us, God, with your strength in US.

You beginners, Lord, help us to go and do likewise.

Father, we pray. Father, we pray for your move in

this place. God, Lord, I seek your face.

At this particular moment, I want you to look at your hearts

and ask yourself, Lord, have I hurt you, Father, in any way?

By by doing things godfather against you?

By speaking against friends, relatives, not desiring to do

what God has called you to do. Today is a day for you to come

and say, Lord, forgive me. Lord, I want to put my heart

right with you. God, I've done all these.

I want to be a good steward to you, Godfather, when you come

back, I want you to say, good and faithful servant, if that is

you and if something is hurting in your heart that you have hurt

someone and that pain is there, today is a time for you to say,

come, Lord, Lord, I want, I want to put everything right.

Jesus was at the well and he was at the well.

You know, for what? Not to rebuke, but to show grace

today. God wants to show that grace to

you. God wants to pour that love to

you. He doesn't want to be a priest

and a Levite, but he wants to be that Samaritan to heal the

broken wounds. And that's what he wants to do

today. So would you come up?

Would you come up? Lord, we want to thank you.

We want to praise you. God, those who are going through

any of this, I want you to come up and to say, Lord, I am

hurting in this area. I want healing.

And if you are broken and wounded and thrown and and not

cared for, I want you to come up as well.

God wants to touch you and heal you Today, Father, we praise

you, we worship you, God, we glory for you.

Let your name be exalted in this place.

Blessed be your name, holy be your name.

Thank you Jesus, Amen. As I spoke these words, as I

prayed this prayer, no, in your heart, if you feel that you've

hurt somebody, you've spoken bad about someone, today is a time

for you to come up. Or if you're in any pain and if

you're hurting, God wants to heal you.

I want you to come up, examine your heart.

It's good to put your heart right with the Lord, and if it

is right, there's no condemnation here.

It's only grace and love. So if there's anyone, please

come up and the pastors will pray for you.

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