People Who Care for Their World-1

In Genesis 4:9 Cain asked God: Am I my brother’s keeper?

The Spirit filled Life Study Bible says:

The theme of brotherhood emerges early in Scripture; and from the very beginning, it is clear that God places a high priority on how brothers [and sisters!] treat each other.

In this passage the question of responsibility for one another first emerges. Cain asks, “Am I my brother’s keeper?”

The word used for “keeper” (Hebrew shamar ) means “to guard, to protect, to attend, or to regard.”

Are we responsible?

“Absolutely,” is God’s answer. Not only are we our brother’s keeper, we are held accountable for our treatment of and our ways of relating to our brothers (blood and spiritual).

For Cain’s sins against his brother, God curses him throughout the Earth, takes away his ability to farm, and sentences him to a life as a fugitive and a vagabond (v. 12).

This clearly indicates that unbrotherliness destines one to fruitlessness and frustration of purpose.

Jesus modeled care and compassion for His brothers and sisters — for all humanity.

John 3:16–17 (TPT) For this is how much God loved the world—he gave his one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in him will never perish but experience everlasting life. 17 “God did not send his Son into the world to judge and condemn the world, but to be its Savior and rescue it!

Jesus was willing to be sent by His Father and die for sins of everyone.

1 John 3:15–16 (LSB) Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 By this we have known love, that He [Jesus] laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

A few weeks ago I talked about how, all through His life, we see Jesus’ compassion for people.

That we could see over and over again in the Word of God that Jesus expressed His love and compassion for People.

We see Jesus’ heart of compassion for people prophesied in…

Psalm 72:12–14 (NLT) He [speaking of King Jesus] will rescue the poor when they cry to Him; He will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them. 13 He feels pity for the weak and the needy, and He will rescue them. 14 He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their lives are precious to Him.

We see that demonstrated through His life here on earth, over and over again…

Matthew 9:36 (NASB95) Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.

Wednesday night, Brother Barry Wagner told how, as he cried out to the Lord to give him a sign of the call God was placing on his life.

In this same chapter in Matthew the verses following vs.36 lept out at him.

Matthew 9:37–38 (NLT) He said to his disciples, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. 38 So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

THAT is the compassion Jesus has for people, especially lost people.

He is calling more folks to join in the harvest — to care about the people of their world.

He is calling us.

John 15:12 (LSB) “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

Just a few verses down Jesus repeats His command: John 15:17 (LSB) “This I command you, that you love one another.

Did you catch it?

This is not a suggestion.

It’s not put forth as a good idea.

It is a command.

Jesus repeated this command — giving it INCREASED emphasis.

Thursday, Darrell, Jimmy and Paul went to storm-ravaged areas of NC.

They took a load of clothes that you sent with them.

Though they were unable to go to where Brother Darrell originally wanted to go, they found an area that was willing to take the things we donated..

Yesterday, at the Men’s Breakfast, Darrell, Jimmy and Paul told of their experience.

Please feel free to ask them about it.

These men were trying to be obedient to the Lord’s command to love others.

Because that is what Jesus modeled.

Over and over I have quoted:

Philippians 2:1–5 (NLT) Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

Repeatedly we read of Jesus deep compassion for people in need.

We see Him reaching out to help, to rescue, to save.

Tuesday I attended a Union County ministers breakfast at G&G.

The breakfast was different from our other meetings.

It was sponsored by Hope House in an effort to get more community support.

When I first became pastor almost 15 years ago, one of the first things I did was get involved with the area ministers.

Within a few months I was asked to be the chair of Hope House as a group of us got it off the ground.

Pam Alexander gave us a report on what Hope House is doing to help people facing crisis financial needs.

Hundreds of people are being helped with tens of thousands of dollars of needs.

But the need continues to rise.

As we try to climb out of the economic pit of run-away inflation, people are hurting.

They need those who are able, to help them.

NOT with just money, but with financial advice, prayer, Biblical help.

Ms. Alexander, at 73 years old, needs volunteers.

People to be a receptionist.

To be a counselor.

Maybe Jesus is calling YOU to step up and help those in need.

We Were In Need

Thanksgiving is in 2 1/2 weeks.

As we sit around a Thanksgiving table with family and friends we should be Thankful that Jesus reached out to us.

WE should tell others.

Like Anna we need to tell others what God has done for us.

Luke 2:36–38 (LSB) And there was a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers. 38 And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

Romans 10:13–15 (NLT) For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.” 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 … That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

The reality is that EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US needed a Savior.

Romans 5:8 (LSB) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 5:1–2 (LSB) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

There is not one among us who did not need Jesus to save us from our sins.

Not one.

Jesus Reached Out To Us

And then, we needed some one to TELL us about a Savior.

I remind us of what I just read in Romans 10:14 (NLT) … And how can they believe in [Jesus] if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them?

Jesus prompted someone to tell us about Him.

Through the anointing of the Holy Spirit we heard the message and responded to it.

For myself, it was an AG evangelist that came to the church I was forced to attend.

Yes, I was drugged.

Drugged to church by my mom — forced by my NON-church attending, alcoholic, PTSD from 2 tours in Vietnam, Career Marine dad.

After months of rebellion, on a Sunday night, the Holy Spirit broke through and I broke down in weeping as I surrendered to the call of the Holy Spirit to salvation THROUGH an evangelist.

But we live in a FREE country.

Where it is not a jailable or capital offence to tell others about the wonderful gift of forgiveness of our sins and eternal life through Jesus.

Imagine living in a country where telling someone about a loving Savior could mean imprisonment or even death.

And yet we have indigenous people doing just that.

And not only that, we have U.S. missionaries, risking their lives to tell others about salvation in Jesus.

I have talked often about Live Dead missionaries — putting their lives on the line to take the love of Jesus to nations that are closed to traditional, open missionary efforts.

I am in awe of them — many of whom are young single women — where are the men?

We can do no less than support these efforts:

With finances.

With prayer.

We Should Reach Out To Others

That is why I am asking you to fill out a faith promise form next week.

If you were going to look at it from a purely selfish viewpoint (please don’t)…

We cannot outgive God.

The more we give, the more He multiplies blessings and pours them into our lives.

Jesus tells us it is a clear principle of the Kingdom of God:

Luke 6:38 NLT

38 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

Proverbs 11:25 (NLT) The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

Thankful to Participate

I don’t know about you, but I feel so blessed to be able to be used by God to touch the lives of others.

That God would TRUST us is astounding!

People, who more often than not, when we touch anything it turns to rot and ruin.

But God invites us to partner with Him in the ministry.

Like the disciples of Jesus He is calling US to an amazing adventure:

Mark 1:17–20 (LSB) And Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19 And going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him.

Will we go?

Will we OBEDIENTLY follow Jesus?

Leaving everything to do His will?

Will we do as He asks in…

Luke 9:23–26 (NLT) Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. 24 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 25 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed? 26 If anyone is ashamed of me and my message, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels.

As the Worship Team comes…

God is not only calling us to walk in the footsteps of His Son who showed compassion to all those around Him…

It didn’t mater to Him if they were Roman soldier, Jew, Samaritan or Gentile — He showed compassion.

It didn’t matter whether they were rich or poor or a slave — He showed compassion

But God not only calls us to walk in Jesus’ footsteps, He is calling us to walk in the footsteps of the early church.

Time and time again we see the church in one location reaching out to the needy in another location.

We see the church in one location give generously of their finances so that others could hear the Gospel.

That’s God’s plan — for us to pray and surrender to the Holy Spirit to touch THROUGH us.

As we sing this closing song, if you are willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus…

If you are willing to reach out through finances, prayer, through acts of kindness…

Would you join me at the front?

Would you lift your hands in surrender and ask the Holy Spirit to touch through you?