THE TEARS OF THE OPPRESSED
TOPIC: THE TEARS OF THE OPPRESSED
TEXT: NEHEMIAH 5:1-19
Nehemiah was never like today’s leaders, he refused to eat the governor’s bread and when he heard about the oppression of his people, he called the nobles, the rulers and the priests involved to stop such atrocity. The poor were not made for the rich, the rich was made for the poor, the rich and the wealthy are to fulfilled their destiny through the poor people around them. The conversation between Father Abraham and the rich man in hell was not about his wealth, but what he used his wealth for; he failed to remember the poor. Cornelius received the mercy of God by his goodwill, not to God directly but to the people around him. Jesus said, 'I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you failed to do for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do for me.' (Matthew 25:31-46 GWV).
Where is your voice, your action and where do you stand when the people were being oppressed? Whenever and wherever you are standing with the oppressed, you are standing for God. Leaders have the tendency to do evil all the time; your voice might call them to order. The worst case scenario was that, the Jews oppressed their fellow Jews, it was unimaginable and ungodly for Jacob to ask for Esau’s birthright on the account that the food he was preparing belong to Isaac their father. Never join in the act of oppressing other people. Are you a civil servant, did you love keeping people’s files until they bribe you? Do you partake in injustice in the land all in the name of using your position to acquire what belongs to the people? The tears of the oppressed always in the presence of God and he hears their crying. God called you to bring comfort to his people (Isaiah 40:1-5). God place you in that position to bring comfort to His people, anything contrary to this will make you loss the favour of God and incur His wrath. Repent now before it is too late.
Some have estates and no children to inherit them; others have children and no estates to leave them. Those who have both have reason to be thankful; those who have neither may the more easily be content. Those who have great families and little substance must learn to live by faith in God's providence and promise; and those who have little families and great substance must make their abundance a supply for the wants of others. You can do something to wipe away the tears of the oppressed in the land? Therefore, Ensure you do not partake in their oppression; 2. Ensure you speak for the oppressed, be their advocates. Hard times and hard hearts made the poor miserable. 3. Ask God to bless you so as to help others in need; 4. Use your position to help the needy and dispense justice to the people. 5. Never be afraid to speak truth to power; 6. Build your capacity in order to have a good platform to speak to power that be. 7. Be an example in words, in deeds, in actions, in conversation, in love, and in faith (1 Timothy 4:12). And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Do you know that God brought Father Abraham (a wealthy and rich man in his days) to confront the foolishness of the rich man in hell? So the foolish rich man could not hide anywhere, here was a man who used his wealth for the things of God and here was a man who never thought good of others. Case close! The little that God gives to you how are you using them? Note, you will give account of your stewardship on the last day.
Word Affirmation: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen!" - Php 4:23 (Don't just say it, mean it!)
“The little that God gives to you how are you using them? Note, you will give account of your stewardship on the last day."
Central Truth