HOSPITALITY

POSITIVE INCENTIVE

John 6:1-12

6 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

² And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

³ And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

⁴ And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

⁵ When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

⁶ And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

⁷ Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

⁸ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, saith unto him,

⁹ There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

¹⁰ And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

¹¹ And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

¹² When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be

Hi, dear child of The  Mighty God in the High heavens.

Welcome ,once again to the stable sanctuary; where we

Believe that everyone is somebody great in the Lord Jesus

Christ.Today, we want to deal with the great idea of HOSPITALITY.The English dictionary defined hospitality as an act of welcoming,receiving, hosting or entertaining guests. In some foreign languages, HOSPITALITY is referred in the following ways;

   French-Hospitalite

    Germany -Gastfreundschaft

     Italian -Ospitalita

    Portuguese -Hospitalidate

    Spanish -Hospitalidad

Now, you may be surprised why I have brought in the idea of other languages in reference to HOSPITALITY. It is because we desire for you to view the weight of the matter in relation to HOSPITALITY.Our Lord Jesus Christ practiced hospitality in diverse ways.On one occasion , he had had a three days meeting/ teaching ; and he did not want the people to go away hungry .He knew clearly what he was going to do to ensure they go away satisfied in the Holy Bible scripture illustrated, a great multitude of people followed Him.Five thousand men; beside women and children.Being the bearer of divine grace, Jesus Christ has great compassion on All people everywhere. In the foregoing incident, the disciples wanted him to send away the multitude;but he asks for  the people to sit down so as to be given what to eat. The disciples marvelled and wondered what to do .Finally, there was a young boy who had five loaves of bread and two fish . This little food in the boys hand was nothing; but in the hands of Jesus Christ it was everything. What a great miracle that was? Hey, the people were many; Bible scholars have estimated the crowd/ multitude to be between ten to fifteen thousand in total.

Jesus Christ took the loaves , gave thanks to God and broke the loaves. He gave the disciples to distribute.Likewise, he took the two fish , gave thanks to God and gave the disciples to distribute. Little is much if God be in it. Verse 12 indicates that the people ” were filled” ; meaning that everyone ate as much as they desired.Eh!

All this indicate the true fact that:

• God is real.He is the true living God.
• God loves Hospitality; taking care of people’s physical, spiritual, psychological ,social and economic needs
• God sent His dear son Jesus Christ to teach us the way of Hospitality
• Following the example of Jesus Christ is the best alternative for you and I in this life.
• With God,all things are possible [Matthew 19:26]

HEAVENLY VISITORS

GENESIS 18:1-10

18 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. ² Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

³ He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord,^[a] 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^[b] of the finest 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.

⁹ “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.

“There, in the tent,” he said.

¹⁰ Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him.

 In this episode,  The Holy Bible text begins gloriously ; ” And the LORD appeared unto him (Abraham)”  Here,we learn that a fresh revelation of the Lord and the manifestation of His presence follows upon obedience to divine counsel . God will speak to your heart and thereafter visit you. Always lift up, high your inner eyes and look upon God . He is there before you. Abraham knew the secret of God’s Presence. Because of that, Abraham found favour in the presence of God . I pray that you too may find favour in the presence of God ; Our maker and sustainer. Abraham offers the Lord and the two Angels  the ” washing of the feet” and the “rest” ; a symbol of spiritual truth in his life.

Indeed Abraham received his heavenly visitors with much exhuberant happiness. See how he is excited to prepare food for them ” a morsel of bread” and meat of ” a calf tender and good” together with ” butter and milk” and set the delicious meal before his heavenly visitors; whom he had not known. Abraham stood by them under the tree and they did eat.

This shows one of the highest levels of hospitality recorded in the Holy Bible. Hebrews chapter, thirteen the second verse records:

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares”

[Hebrews 13:2]

Remember, spiritual activity in the heart of one person who loves Jesus Christ can easily stir up more spiritual activities in the hearts of other people who belong to Jesus Christ. You may never know who is who until you act responsibly. May the Great God of the Universe bless you and greatly reward you as you dearly endeavor to serve Him with much hospitality.

# Stay cool in Jesus Christ.

# Hear the voice of God in your life.

#Serve exhuberantly , cheerfully, enthusiastically.

#”Be abundant” in good work.

# Be very high-spirited/ energetic in Christ Jesus.Amen.