We begin
with a story from the early days of the Salvation Army, over 100 years ago when
General William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, was an old man. He was invited to address a large convention
of Army workers and volunteers. When it was determined he was unable to attend,
he was asked to send a greeting instead. So, he started out by writing
“To the
delegates of the Salvation Army convention: Then to their amazement the body of
this message contained one word. What do
you think it was?
Others.
Signed,
General
William Booth.”
There are 36
“One Anothers” in the New Testament
These are
instructive in defining Christian behavior within the Church. They are the “How To” of Church Life. They reveal what a healthy Church looks like
A local
church is not built by one man, or even a few men, but by every believer being
actively involved in ministry through evangelizing the lost people in their
lives and serving their fellow Christians. A quick glance at the practice of
the New Testament church reveals that they thought very little about programs
and very much about relationships.
Consider the
disciple-making that would naturally take place in the life of a local church
if every believer would practice the loving, one-another ministry that the
early churches first read about in the instructions they received from the
apostles:
The
Christian life is all about relationships. It’s God’s design for our personal
growth, which then translates into church growth—the real kind. Loving one
another is a powerful evangelistic tool, as Jesus says: “By this all men will
know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). I truly believe we are the right track as we
have been focusing on community building practices through the teaching of the
one-another’s over the past couple of weeks.
John brought
us right back to the vision in 'Why Sunday mornings?' and the focus on encouraging one
another and then last week, one of the best large group Bible studies as we
tackled what it looks like to have a hospitality mentality.
This morning
we are looking at bearing one another’s burdens and let’s turn to Galatians 6.
Galatians
6:1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should
restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry
each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If
anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each
one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without
comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load.
Do you
enjoy receiving an expression of love whether that be a gift or a hug. It does something for you especially in a
time of need. How does it make you feel
when someone just completely stops everything they are doing and spends time with
you when you are discouraged or lonely. It is a fundamental human need and
while we are being called to an abounding love in this place, I believe that our
own needs are met most often in meeting the needs of others.
Leading up
to this passage, Paul has already told the believers in this book that “the
only thing that really counts is faith expressing itself in love. He also goes on to say that whole law is
summed up in one command, ‘love one another’.
We keep going on this theme and we see later in Galatians 5 that it is
produced by the Holy Spirit and then here in 6:2 he talks about the law of
Christ which is the commandment to love one another. It is not optional.
Then he
gets really practical and specific by saying ‘bear one another’s burdens’. It is not enough to talk about love, we need
to show it. 1 John 3:18…don’t just love
in word or tongue, but in deed and truth.
We are
given two specific ways that we can bear one’s burdens. Specifically, to come under and lift up and
restore to a place of restoration in their journey with Christ.
1.
Come Under Others v1
1Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are
spiritual should restore him
“If
someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments
for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out.” Eugene
Peterson in the Message
We are dealing
with someone who is ‘caught’. How did
they get there?
The
first thing we are told is that they are ‘caught’ by some sin.
This is not that “ah ha” you’ve been caught
in sin or have been exposed. The word
here is used for an animal or a bird caught in a trap. It describes a believer who is suddenly
overcome by a temptation when there guard was down. They are in the snare. So, what do we do in
that moment? Are we guilty of the
‘bystander effect?’ just staring out of curiosity.
My
biblical mind goes to John 8 and the woman ‘caught’ in adultery. Now, where was the guy in that
situation. I would have loved to know
what Jesus wrote. He then straightened
up and said let anyone of you has not sinned throw the first stone. Brilliant!
I love this story for many reasons.
Jesus puts his reputation on the line for this woman. It is like he is saying you can stone this
woman over my dead body. However, this
was the culture of his day. This is how
they treated people caught in this type of sin.
She walks off the pages of Scripture and we know nothing about this woman
again. However I want to believe that
was a defining moment in her life and she was changed forever!
We
are called to love people when they least expect it and when they least deserve
it.
Notice
that it doesn’t even say if someone has confessed their sin, it just says they are caught in their sin.
Now, if
someone confesses their sin, I’m never surprised by their sin.
My respect
for that person doesn’t go down, it goes up because here is a rare person that
has the humility to actually confess their sin and be honest about it.
James
5:16…one of the least practice verse in it's entirety. Yes,
you confess your sin directly to God and be absolutely forgiven. Why confess to someone else…There is
something more than just forgiveness.
I need to invite someone into my sin because I need help, I need someone
to hold me accountable, to bear my burden. We need relationships of
authenticity where we don’t fake it with each other till we make it. I give them the freedom to confess their sin
to me and then we carry each other! It’s
huge!
We all
struggle with sin and if you think you are an exception to that rule, then your
sin is pride.
Second,
they require the help of spiritual people.
The
phrase “you who are spiritual” in this context describes those who are walking
in the Spirit, filled with the Spirit, producing the fruit of the Spirit, and
keeping in step with the Spirit. Since this is not meant to describe a certain
class of super-spiritual saints, it really applies to everyone who loves the
Lord and wants to please him. But the mark of their spirituality is that they
are alarmed at what sin has done to a brother or sister in Christ, and instead
of walking on by, they stop and help out instead of casting judgement. They get involved. If you have the attitude,
well, it serves them right, you are probably not the person to help them
out. No one has ever be restored by
judgement. If you think you are superior
to them, you are not the right person. You know you are the person to come
under someone when your heart breaks for them.
It is this kind of spiritual person that can speak into the situation.
I just
want us to spend a little more time on this and really let it sink in. Imagine yourself in this scenario.
I picture
in my mind’s eye a large army of the Lord’s servants, marching along together. They
are laughing and singing as they go. As you march with this happy band, your
friends are to your right and left. Together you are singing “Amazing Grace, my
chains are gone” and or maybe, How Deep The Father’s Love For Us… Suddenly you
notice the friend to your right is no longer there. Looking back, you see him
in the distance, lying by the side of the road, his foot badly mangled by a
trap labeled “Lust.” His face is contorted in pain, his left leg covered with
blood. You can see that he cannot free himself. He is calling out to you? What
will you do? The army marches onward. Will you go back and help them out? Or
will you keep marching on? If you are truly spiritual, you go back and help your
friend for that’s what friends do for one another.
Restore gently
We are to
bring the person back to a former good condition and even better now hopefully
because they will now be able to show others the same grace they
experienced. The word restore gently is
best described as taking a dislocated part of the body and setting it in it’s
proper place. We need to understand why
the believer is in the place they are in so it takes discernment as much as
compassion to get to the root issues at hand.
We tend to
restore harshly instead of restoring gently.
We think
OK that stone didn’t work, let’s try a bigger stone!
Don’t
point out the problem if you aren’t willing to be part of the solution. This verse holds us to a higher
standard. You need to help people make
it right.
When
dealing with sin issues.
You can’t
help someone who doesn’t want to be helped.
Take pressure off yourself. They
have to be ready to change.
Our
natural tendency is to criticize in others what we don’t like about
ourselves. Its about ego,
When you
are free in Christ, you don’t have to worry about your ego or putting others
down to feel good about yourself. Your security
is not in yourself, it is Jesus Christ who died for you. When you get that, you are free to help
others.
But
watch yourself, or you also may be tempted
As you
read this passage you might be thinking does that mean I am in danger of
falling into the same sin and while that may be true, that is not what the
passage is saying. I often say when I hear of a pastor falling into sin, “but
for the grace of God, go I”
You need
to guard your heart because you yourself become more susceptible, more
vulnerable yourself.
However,
the sin that often can rise up in the person who is focused on restoring the
offender is anger towards the person who has committed the sin. We need to remember that the sin of anger
towards a person is just as serious a sin as confirmed in 1 Corinthians 5:11
2.
Come
Alongside Others v2-4 read
What are
the burdens – they could be financial, inconvenience, time.
The word bear
means to cover. Technically, it would be
like a roof that covers a home, to shield or to guard. It means I got your back, I’m in your corner
and together we are going to get through this.
It is a protective covering.
The HS
sets the standard for us. He is our
paraclete. It means helper, comforter, counsellor to come along one’s
side. It also used in a military sense
in that it was a term used of soldiers who literally would have each other’s
back or your blindspot That is the Holy Spirit for us. God is our Defender, our shield, our
refuge. The HS intercedes for us. Romans 8.
He is bearing our burdens for us in prayer. This is what we should be for each other.
Great
picture of this Exodus 17:9-16 when Moses hands were raised they were winning
the battle.…Aaron and Hur – came alongside him to hold up his hands Joshua overcame the Amalakites as his hands
were raised to sunset.
We need to
hold up one another’s arms in prayer.
It could
be a financial burden, an emotional burden… our job is not to throw stones but
to figure out what burden they are bearing.
I know of
someone who has becoming to Grace for a few months. He told me the story of a someone who had
lost control of their car and was in a ditch.
He said his natural instinct was to keep on driving…everyone has cell
phones and she was going to be just fine.
However, something inside him told him to stop and to his surprise he
did find a lady in there and yes, she had a cell phone, but she was in so much
shock and her hands were trembling so much, she wasn’t even able to dial any
numbers.
4Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in
himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5for each one should carry
his own load.
This
passage teaches us to test our own actions. What is the lipmus test? It really comes in the form of how others
come to know that God I love through me.
Take
pride in himself – It is a sense of self awareness
that I boast in that Christ has used me to fulfill the law of love.
Paul often
said that he would boast in nothing but the cross of Christ. It is only because of Christ’s sacrificial
love for me that I have anything to give to others. It is a boast that the love that flowed from
the cross is now flowing through me.
Do you
want to know who I am proud of?
Jack Pol –
comes on Sunday with an expectant heart, he smiles through the pain and he
loves to be with God’s people.
Brian
Johnson – comes to park cars on Sunday, just went through inner ear surgery – he carries the joy of the LORD.
Kerry
McDougall. I went to Chris and Kerry’s
last week and she gave me permission to read this card from one of the hockey
moms.
Your example that you set (healthy or ill) is so amazing that has
made so many of us better people. You
taught us all to smile through adversity, not to complain and embrace life, to
laugh loud, hug longer and stronger and you have brought us all closer to God.
It
also tells us to carry our own load. It would appear that the passage is
contradicting itself, but the word here that Paul is using is load, like a
traveller’s backpack, as it refers to the actions that we answer to God for .In
verse 2, one is carrying the sin burdens of another.
3.
Don’t
Give Up On Others v9.10
6 Anyone
who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his
instructor.
7 Do not
be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows
to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one
who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us
not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all
people, especially to those who belong to the family (household) NASB of
believers.
We are all
living in this house together and there are some family members that haven’t
yet had the chance to sit around the family table and enjoy a great meal. We need to lead them to the household of
faith. You said, but Jack, I have
already invited them to church. I don’t
want you to invite them to church, I want you to invite them to come home, come
home and believe that this is a time and a place where they can experience
God’s love in a whole new way.
The one
thing that I love about Jesus is that you find Him loving people that other
people have given up on!
When we
are at our worst, He is at His best
STAY with
it… If I could state today message in one statement it would be this.
Listening ears and helping hands. It is the delicate balance I spoke of last
month between having the heart of a Mary and the hands of a Martha.
Let’s not
make this more complicated than it is.
Be quick to listen and slow to speak.
Counsellors
will tell you it’s not coming up with brilliant solutions. Often people just need to get it off their
chest. People need a sounding board. Before you speak into someone’s life, pray
for them.
Pray for
the wisdom to know what to say, how to say it and when to say it.
Don’t give
up, stick with them and see them through the other side with stamina and perseverance.
John 16:12
There is
so much more than I want to tell you, more than you can bear. (same word)
Jesus
could have brought more truth to the table, but He knew He has said enough.
Bearing
one another’s burden also means holding your tongue…someone may not be in the
right emotional state to hear it.
Be patient
and stick with them…it really is worth the wait!
Bear one
another’s burdens!
The Takeaway
Take time to write out a burden you are bearing and give a card to someone you trust to pray for you.
Matthew
11:28-30
Jesus said
my yoke is easy and my burden (same word as used here) is light. Jesus has carried the weight of our sin.
Yoke in the Jewish culture means taking in the teaching and lifestyle of
the rabbi. Some of you have been trying
to figure it out in your own strength and wisdom. He took our burdens in His own body on the
cross. He is offering us His mercy and
grace. We get to transfer the burden
of our sin, our disappointment, our failures to His account and He transfers
His righteousness to our account. \
Amazing!
