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  REMEMBERING THE FORGOTTEN
  by A.W. Tozer
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Summary: We must prioritize our service to the poor and seek to be like
Jesus in our devotion to them, rather than seeking wealth and influence.

Topics: "Humility in Service", "Compassion for the Poor"
Scripture References: James 2:1

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DESCRIPTION
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A.W. Tozer emphasizes the danger of churches that, after starting with
humble beginnings, become ensnared by wealth and social status, leading
to a neglect of the poor and marginalized. He warns that as
congregations grow, they may become complacent and hardened, focusing on
their own class while ignoring the cries of the less fortunate. Tozer
calls for humility and a return to serving those who are often
forgotten, urging believers to emulate Jesus in their compassion for the
needy. He challenges the church to resist the temptation of elitism and
to remember the heart-hunger of the impoverished. Ultimately, he
encourages a commitment to serve God's poor, reflecting Christ's love
and humility.

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CONTENT
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Gospel churches which mostly begin with the lowly are usually not
content till they attain some degree of wealth and social acceptance.
Then they gradually fall into classes, determined largely by the wealth
and education of the members. The individuals that comprise the top
layer of these various classes go on to become pillars of the religious
society and are soon entrenched in places of leadership and influence.
It is then that their great temptation comes upon them, the temptation
to cater to their own class and to neglect the poor and the ignorant
that make up the swarming population around them. They soon become
hardened to every appeal of the Holy Spirit toward meekness and
humility. Their homes are spotless, their clothes the most expensive,
their friends the most exclusive.

Apart from some tremendous moral upheaval, they are beyond help. And yet
they may be among the most vocal exponents of Bible Christianity and
heavy givers to the cause of the church.

Let us not become indignant at this blunt portrayal of facts. Let us
rather humble ourselves to serve God's poor. Let us seek to be like
Jesus in our devotion to the forgotten of the earth who have nothing to
recommend them but their poverty and their heart-hunger and their tears.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/aw-tozer/remembering-the-forgotten/
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