Cpr For A Healthy Walk Part 9 Series

“CPR for a Healthy Walk" Part 9 “Restore and bear burdens”

REVIEW

I. Cleave to Christ and continually cultivate a dynamic relationship with Him.

II. Persistently pursue, develop and maintain meaningful connection with the community of saints.

A. Fervently pray for one another

B. Preserve the unity of the body.

C. Continually build up the body in love

1. Encourage one another daily

2. Speak words of life

3. Stimulate one another to love and good deeds

4. Serve One another

5. Admonish one another

When we speak words that encourage let them be God’s words.

When we serve let us serve let it be by God’s supernatural strength.

Our mission in life can be summed up very simply. We live to speak the words and do the works of Jesus.

Jesus came to demonstrate His love for the father by complete obedience to His will.

We demonstrate our love by a life of sacrificial love and obedience.

Jesus came to love and serve people.

Our mission is to love and serve people.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil.

Our mission is to renounce and resist the world the flesh and the devil.

Jesus came to seek and save the lost.

Our mission is to make disciples of Christ from every nation.

Jesus came to explain the father.

We are called to proclaim the excellencies of Him who called us out of darkness into light.

The church grows as we speak the words of Jesus. The church grows as we do the works of Jesus. He even said greater works than these shall you do. Doing our part as workman in God’s building project is not an option. God will evaluate each of us as to our faithfulness to the project as well as the materials we used. 1 Cor. 3:10-15

The materials that last, consist of encouraging words, helpful deeds, timely admonition, words of life, supportive presence. Prayer, preserving the unity, building the body, restoring the fallen, and supporting the weak.

What has God called you to do? Speak and serve! Speak words that give life. Serve needs that give life. If you build with words and works that discourage or destroy, you will suffer loss. If you build with words and works that encourage and build, you will realize reward.

Action today

Repent of inactivity

Repent of discouraging words.

Repent of checking out of the building project.

Repent of building with the wrong materials.

Resolve to be actively involved in kingdom building through a commitment to speak the words and do the works of Christ.

Resolve to be an encourager who speaks words of life.

Resolve to give of yourself as a slave of others.

In any building project, crisis events need to be addressed. The building of the church in midst of hostile territory is no different. There actually is much to learn from Nehemiah’s building project. The things he faced and how he dealt with difficulty and opposition are not much different than the things we face as workman assigned to the building of the temple of God in enemy territory.

We are called to persistently pray

We are called to diligently preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

We are called to continually build up one another in love.

But we are also called to gently restore the fallen and broken.

As well as support the weak and wounded.

D. Gently restore the fallen

Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted. Gal 6:1-5

If we were loving one another as Christ loved us this would be taking place and yet God sees fit to instruct us specifically regarding our responsibility to the weak and wounded. We have been instructed to pray for those struggling in their walk or sinning but we are also called to respond to the fallen in other ways. The word translated “caught” is an old verb “to take beforehand, to surprise, to detect.” Some think this is that they are caught committing sin. More likely, it is the idea of being tripped up and surprised by sin or temptation. This interpretation is also born out by the word used for “trespass” here.

Trespass = Literally, a falling aside, a slip or lapse rather than a willful sin. If we become aware of someone tripped up by a sin, we have a responsibility. Earlier we learned that if we come to realize someone sinning we are to pray. Here we have additional responsibilities. Prayer is the first line. Here God encourages a second level of action.

But first, we must identify who is responsible for this action. The recipient of the action is “the one tripped up by sin.” The one called upon to act is, “You who are spiritual.” Who are the spiritual? Does this refer to elders? Does this refer to those who have been Christians a long time? When are we “spiritual”? This word comes from the root word used for the Holy Spirit meaning breath or wind. Paul calls on the ones who have a spiritual focus, the ones walking by the spirit direction and energy of the Holy Spirit. Regardless of age, length of time a Christian, title, position, if you are in touch with the Holy Spirit and walking in His strength and not in the flesh, you have the necessary credentials to respond to anyone caught in a trespass. You have the wisdom and energy of Christ. What are the “spiritual” to do?