Close Enough To Help

Introduction

Wreck on I-40 a few weeks ago.

Only after we had been on site for several minutes were the firetrucks and ambulances showing up.

Proximity is key.

When it comes to ministry, proximity is key.

How close are you to people?

Joshua 21 shows us how God’s people need to be close to others so that we can help in times of need.

You Are Called

1 Peter 2:9–12 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Royal Priesthood

Christ brought those two lines together (Melchizedek in Psalm 110).

Belong

You were bought by the blood of Christ. Therefore, for His own possession! Your agenda, desires, preferences, we lay down at the foot of the cross and let God redeem and renew us.

Proclaim

In this context that is that we worship! We worship because we have been accepted into the family of God and we have received mercy and forgiveness!

Hosea & Gomer. not a people (lo ammi). not received mercy (lo ruhama). And then at the close of the book, the names have been changed. This beautiful acceptance of those who were not Hosea’s but now they will be treated no differently!

Reflect

Your life should reflect the calling.

Leads to the conversion of others. Connected to what you’ve been proclaiming! Now they see the proof of what Christ has done and is doing in your life.

Serving Your Community

Allow the Old Testament to enlighten the New Testament calling. What did the priests do? How were they structured? How did they live?

We see their distribution. v. 3.

48 cities spread amongst the tribes in the Promised Land. Geographically situated where they were close to the people. They were not all gathered together in Shiloh, where the tabernacle would be set up. They would go and serve for a month and then return to their homes and be amongst the other people.

Are we among people?

The “Holy Huddle” mentality.

Taking kids out to evangelize. Parents pushed back. The same kids they were around at school we were seeking to be intentional to win them to the Lord. But, these parents were living in fear. Train them up to be strong in the faith and then set them loose to share the faith.

You may very well be the only committed believer in your family, among your immediate neighbors, in your team at work.

God has placed you in life for a reason.

We are called to be aware of those around us to support them, but also to be that person they know they can call.

Conclusion

A foreigner was visiting America and made the following observation: Nearly every conversation someone started with me began with a complaint.

Very true. Think about conversations you’ve had and how often they start with some complaint! Traffic, weather, work, politics, their football team’s coach.

We have a hard time connecting with people and so we have this default that everyone is miserable about something and so maybe I can start a connection with them there.

When we share our faith, we have a similar struggle: where do I start this conversation.

Pray

Be Aware

Take It To Jesus

Repeat

Invite

Our calling as priests is to meet people where they are and help to meet the greatest need that any person has: spiritual healing through Jesus Christ.