Afflict the Comfortable and Comfort the Afflicted

2 Tim 4:2-5 NLT

Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage the people with good teaching.

1. Preach the Word.

Matt 4:4 KJV

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

People love to hear stories, they enjoy funny fables, and they often will applaud a dramatic and well prepared performance. Of course, when speaking to our friends we may include any or all three of these methods, but the most important thing is that we communicate the Word of God. The Word of God contains within itself the power to change people and situations.  The Word of God stands forever.

Isa 40:8 NIV

8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever."

2. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not.

Have you ever run into someone- at the mall, the post office or the grocery store- and they wanted you to pray for them, or give them a word of encouragement right there on the spot?  Were you prepared or were you in your "off" mode?

The account of Philip in Acts chapter 8 is a great example of someone being ready to go, ready to preach, and ready to lead someone to the Lord.  He didn't know where he was going, or to whom he was being sent, but he stayed prepared.  When that Ethiopian eunuch, a man of great importance, came across Philip's path, Philip was ready!

3. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage!

One very experienced Pastor put it this way:  "Our job is to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted."  That pretty much covers the correcting, rebuking, and the encouraging, doesn't it?  But we're not supposed to correct, rebuke and encourage any old way, we are to do it-

 Patiently

1 Peter 5:4 NIV

And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

4. Give the people "good teaching."

That takes us right back up to the top of the list, "Preach the Word."  Word based teaching that is properly prepared, rightly divided, and patiently presented IS GOOD TEACHING.  It will always bring forth fruit.  Just like the snow and the rain that water the earth, you can know that the Word of God, faithfully preached, will accomplish and achieve much in the Body of Christ today.

Isa 55:10-11 NIV

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Afflict the Comfortable and Comfort the Afflicted

What’s your take on this?

Breaking the Bondage of Debt

There's really only one way to Break the Bondage of Debt! We just need to do the things we know the Word of God is already telling us! As in the last blog Basics of Biblical Finance, it is foolish for us to continue to spend, spend, spend more than we make.


I'm going to challenge you this day. If you haven't already, go back and read The Basics of Biblical Finance and then sit down and do what it says. I had a few conversations with folks this week concerning the subject of finance. One gentleman said, "Pastor Al, you should of have done these messages about five years ago, we would all be a lot better off today!" Another said, "We sat down this week and put a budget together and found that we do have enough money to pay tithes and even save some money." Wow, you're kidding, Dave Ramsey is right? Hmm, I would say it might be a great idea to listen to what he has to say! Just Sayin!


Here's a link http://podcasts.jlmalive.com to listen to the message in it's entirety. To those I spoke with above - imagine where you will be five years from today. Imagine actually paying your tithes and saving money all this next year, wow! You are about to have the best year of your life! At the link above you will also find a link to our LifeGroup study sheets so you will be able to follow along while listening to the message or JUST READ IT, it's very informative as to the direction you need to be going, to Break the Bondage of Debt!