Lean On Me

Lean on Me

Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.

Introduction: We need each other, even the lone Ranger had Tonto.

> Accountability - do you have believers in your life who can look you in

the eye ask you how your prayer life is? How your thought life is?

If you are compromising or sinning in one area or another?

> Relationship with spouse - one level of this very important need for

accountability.

> Beyond that there has to be a same sex person who you trust, can

confide in, and pray with

> Someone to who you are honest, open and accountable

> Some of you are in relationships like I’m describing - informal

> Friendship (yes) but more than that - accountability takes on a new tone

Webster’s definition - answerable, responsible, explicable

Does that define anyone in your life?

{The Circus Clown} = Soren Kirkegaard - philosopher - told this story - Circus

caught fire - they sent word to the village - clown in full costume -

warning

no one believed him - laughed & cheered - the more he tried - the more

they laughed - after all he was just a clown - The village burned

> Pastor’s and teachers are often like the clown

> Our message is ignored because of the role we play

> Make a statement, "Well yeah, your a Pastor"

> Friend - "Well I see what you mean"

Galatians 6:2

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

bastazo- (bas-tad’-zo) Carry

1) to take up with the hands 2) to take up in order to carry or bear, to put upon oneself

something to be carried, to ear what is burdensome 3) to bear, to carry a) to carry on

one’s person b) to sustain, that is, to uphold, to support 4) to bear away, to carry off

bastazo

perhaps remotely derived from the base of 939 (through the idea of removal); to lift,

literally or figuratively (endure, declare, sustain, receive, etc.):

-- bear, carry, take up.

baros (bar’-os); Burden

probably from the same as 939 (through the notion of going down; compare 899);

weight; in the N. T. only figuratively, a load, abundance, authority:

burden (-some), weight. heaviness, weight, burden, trouble

Accountability in the Kingdom of God is played out in several important ways:

Prayer Partnership, Relationship Building, & Brass tacks accountability

I. Prayer Partnership -

A. Sustain, Uphold Support

1. Needs both shared and unshared - pray for them - they pray for you

2. Luke 22:31-32 "Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And

when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers."

3. In Crisis - yes pray for them

a. Continually support them in prayer -

Ephesians 6:18

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in

mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Matt 26:41

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the

body is weak."

James 5:16

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be

healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

II. Relationship Building

A. Example of David and Jonathan

1. 1 Sam 18:1 After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan

became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself.

2. Jonathan had a trust and friendship that knit them together

a. could share anything with each other

b. ask for help - men - women - need to sometime

B. Benefits of a trusting and iron sharpening relationship

1. There when you need them Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for adversity.

2. Ecclesiastics 4:9-12 Two are better than one, because they have a good

return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who

falls and has no one to help him up! {Also, if two lie down together, they will keep

warm. But how can one keep warm alone?} Though one may be overpowered, two can

defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

a. God - Us - Friend

b. Applies to spouse - also to other godly friends

1. very clear - relationship needs to be same sex

C. Can’t get to those hard questions without the trust -

1. [Hall prayers and How’s your prayer life] Turn off - only difference is

the relationship.

2. Need it for yourself and your friend needs to ask you those same hard