Come-Help-Us

COME – HELP- US ACTS 16:6-10

INTRO: BILL HYBELS SAID “THE WORK OF THE CHURCH AROUND ME KILLS THE WORK OF GOD IN ME.” HOW TRUE THAT IS. IN THE MODERN AMERICAN CHURCH WE SO OFTEN FORGET ABOUT THE SIMPLICITY OF WHAT OUR WORK AS CHRISTIANS IS ALL ABOUT. THAT WORK IS TO BRING ETERNAL GLORY TO GOD THE FATHER THRU HOLY SPIRIT FILLED WORSHIP AND JESUS EXALTING GOSPEL MISSIONS. QUITE SIMPLY, IF WE WORSHIP GOD IN OUR LIVES AND HE IS LORD OF ALL WE ARE THEN OTHERS WILL SEE THE LORD JESUS LIVING THRU US AND THEY WILL CALL OUT TO US IN SOME WAY “HEY, COME OVER HERE AND HELP US” TO GET WHAT YOU HAVE. HOWEVER WHAT MOST OFTEN HAPPENS IS WE GET SO BOGGED DOWN IN THE WORK OF THE CHURCH IN COMMITTEES, PROGRAMS AND TRADITIONS THAT WE DO KILL THE WORK OF GOD IN OURSELVES. THIS CHURCH WORK IN ESSENCE BECOMES OUR GOD AND OUR RELIGION. WE FACE A WORLD THAT IS CRYING OUT TO THE CHURCH “COME OVER AND HELP US…PLEASE.” PERHAPS IT IS TIME WE DO! LET’S SEE WHAT PAUL DID WHEN HE WAS PRESENTED WITH THIS SAME QUESTION AND OPPORTUNITY.

READ ACTS 16:6-10

I. V9 “COME OVER…”

A. V6-8 STRUGGLE, CONFUSED, NO DIRECTION

WHERE DO WE GO? - WHAT DO WE DO? - WHY SHOULD WE?

CAUSED BY ARGUMENT? 15:36-40

1. THEY DID NOT STOP – WORK IMPORTANT

V6 PHRYGIA, GALTIA

V7 MYSIA – BITHYNIA

V8 TROAS

V9 FINALLY GOD GAVE A VISION OF HIS WORK

B. V9 “COME OVER” CALL IS TO US - GREAT COMMISSION

ILL: GOD SAYS COME TO JESUS, THEN GO AND TELL

BUT WE ARE MORE INTERESTED IN CONTROVERSY

THAT IS WHAT EXCITES US, RATHER THAN THE

VISION OF GODS MISSION, COME TO ME AND GO AND

TELL. JUST LIKE THESE IN ACTS 16.

II. V9 “COME OVER AND HELP…”

A. DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO HELP

FEED THE HUNGRY

SHELTER THE HOMELESS

CLOTHE THE NAKED

ENCOURAGE THE DISHEARTENED

LOVE THE UNLOVABLE

BUT MOST IMPORTANT HELP IS THE GOSPEL!

B. HOW CAN WE HELP IF WE ARE THE ONES IN NEED?

2 COR. 5:18-19 “NOW ALL THINGS ARE OF GOD, WHO HAS RECONCILED

US TO HIMSELF THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, AND HAS GIVEN US THE

MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION, THAT IS, THAT GOD WAS IN CHRIST

RECONCILING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF, NOT IMPUTING THEIR

TRESPASSES TO THEM, AND HAS COMMITTED TO US THE WORD OF

RECONCILIATION”

WE MUST BE RECONCILED BEFORE WE CAN

COME OVER AND HELP.

C. GOSPEL HELP IS WHAT BRINGS US TOGETHER

1. VISION IS WHAT IS NEEDED V9 PROV 29:18

D. NOTICE THE CONTEXT OF PASSAGE

V8 “THEY…” LUKE WITH THEM BUT NOT IN

UNITY. ILL: “THEY AND US”

V9 “COME AND HELP…” VISION COMES OF

GODS WILL – GO AND GIVE GOSPEL

ILL: PASTORS OF LEWIS CO. = JESUS

V10 “WE…” FINALLY GODS WORK – UNITY

WE WILL COME AND DO IT!

FROM “THEY” TO “WE” = HARMONY, UNITY, PURPOSE, EXCITEMENT. PROV. 29:18. WITH VISION THERE IS LIFE!

III. V9 “COME OVER …AND HELP US”

A. HELP “US” WHAT MUST WE DO?

1. CONTEND FOR THE TRUTH –

CONTEND = “FIRMLY HOLD ONTO”

CONTEND FOR OUR MISSION = GOSPEL

ILL: IF WE MUST AGREE ON EVERYTHING OUR MISSION WILL AMOUNT TO NOTHING. WE SHOULD AGREE ON OUR MISSION,

“COME AND HELP EVERYONE WE CAN TO KNOW JESUS AS SAVIOR AND TO GLORIFY GOD IN THE HIGHEST WAY POSSIBLE.”

IN THE END SHARING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS AND GLORIFYING GOD IN THE HIGHEST, THIS IS THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IN THE PRESENT AND IT IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL BRINGS US TOGETHER!

B. HELP “US” HOW DO WE DO THIS?

1. CONTEXTUALIZE THE GOSPEL= MAKE IT RELEVANT

AND UNDERSTANDABLE TO OUR CULTURE

ILL: MISSIONARIES SPEND YEARS TRAINING TO RELATE TO CULTURE. WE THINK WE CAN REACH OURS WITH METHODS OF THE 50’S AND 60’S. 1 COR. 9:22-23 “I HAVE BECOME ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN, THAT I MIGHT BY ALL MEANS SAVE SOME. 23 NOW THIS I DO FOR THE GOSPEL’S SAKE, THAT I MAY BE PARTAKER OF IT WITH YOU.”

PAUL “I HAVE COME TO HELP…”

C. HELP “US” THEY NEED OUR HELP

1. HELP REQUIRES US TO CHANGE

OUR PREFERENCES – TRADITIONS – COMFORT

ILL: MY FOOT IS FUNNY SHAPED. SHOES HURT TILL BROKE IN. RESIST NEW SHOES. SHOE SEPARATED IN, PUDDLE, WATER THRU TOES. BUY NEW SHOES.

ED STEZER SAID “PEOPLE NEVER CHANGE UNTIL THE PAIN OF STAYING THE SAME IS GREATER THAN THE PAIN OF CHANGE.”

“COME OVER AND HELP US”

SINGLE MOM - ABUSED WIFE - HOMELESS CHILD -

HUNGRY SENIOR - PREGNANT TEEN - DRUG ADDICT, DRUNK - OUT OF WORK FATHER – TROUBLED MARRIAGE

LONELY TEENAGER – DEPRESSED MOM -

WE CAN ARGUE, BEMOAN, COMPLAIN AND BICKER