Theme: Commitment to One Another in the Body
Text: Matthew 22: 36-39
Introduction
A. Now, let’s open our bibles in the book of Matt.22: 36-39. In this passage we find the two greatest commandments of God –to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Lord talks here about our priority and commitment.
First He said: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all you soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind.” He told us that our first priority and commitment in life must be to the Lord who created us, saved us and sustains us. Without Him we would not be here for there is no life apart from Him. He is the Giver of life! So if you would notice, we started our series on the subject of commitment with several admonitions that we must be committed to God.
In view of that, being your pastor, I will always encourage you here to grow and mature in your commitment to the Lord. I believe each of you don’t want to leave this world and step into eternity and be shocked and embarrassed over your lack of commitment to the Lord while you lived in this world. Certainly, the only time when we will truly understand where we failed in this life is when we face our living, loving, gracious Creator. But if we’re doing our best, our shame and humiliation shall be erased by His grace because God knows how much we endeavor to live our lives for His glory and honor.
Then the Lord tells us that our second priority and commitment must be to people, He said: “Love your neighbor as yourself,” or, “Love your neighbor as you would love yourself.” He is saying, “You take care of your neighbor.” If you would remember, in one of our previous messages I said, “Life is not about us; it’s about God –therefore, we should live our lives for His glory. Now I would also say, “Life is not just about what we do in life or what we accomplish in life. LIFE IS ABOUT MINISTERING TO OTHERS!”
Look at the example of the Son of God, our Lord. On what did He focus His life? His first priority was pleasing His heavenly Father, which He did. His second focus in life was ministering to people. He focused His life on ministering to people.
We are members of the body of Jesus, the church, the family of God, right? We belong to God, we belong to His family, and we belong to each other. Now, what can we do to minister to one another? The Word of God will show us how we can live our commitment to serve and support one another in the body of Christ. We can and must support one another in various ways.
I. ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER
Sometimes, I watched movies depicting true war stories like that of Vietnam, Germany, North Korea, etc. There were things that I really admired about soldiery. It’s their dedication and loyalty to their duties that is very impressive. And what is more astounding is their concern and sense of responsibility to each other. When someone gets wounded, they would do their best to get him from the battle lines. They would jeopardize themselves just to bring the wounded comrade to a secure place. And I observed that there is greater loss in the battle lines when a soldier is wounded than killed. Why, because it takes only one person out of the battle when a soldier is killed, but it will take three persons out of battle when a soldier is wounded because it needs two persons to remove him from the battle lines.
Now, I believe we have a lot of wounded people that make up the army of the Lord. We have people who are wounded because of their past sins and they are overwhelmed with the guilt of those sins. We have people who are wounded because of sins they are struggling against currently, that cause them to feel a false sense that they are useless in the kingdom. We have people who are wounded by relationships that have failed. We have people who are wounded by other people, perhaps by their children or spouse, or by Christian brothers or sisters who have hurt them maybe even unaware. Perhaps, we have wounded people here, people who are carrying heavy loads of life.
Anyway, the truth that we have a lot of wounded people in our churches is not surprising. What is surprising is the lack of concern and sympathy of many so-called believers with those who are hurting. We do nothing to help heal their wounds, don’t we? We fail to ever help the healing process, maybe because we do think their wounds are not serious at all. Being members of one body, we must be willing to help one another. How can we help our wounded brothers and sisters in the Lord? One of the greatest ways for us to help one another is through a steady diet of encouragement. To encourage is to provide someone with courage.
Look at the illustration given by Paul in Gal.6. Though hypothetical, Paul told us to lovingly encourage those who have fallen into sin. Rather than condemning or passing critical judgment to the erring ones, we should help them overcome their struggles and lead them to spiritual restoration.
Now, please open your bibles to I Thessalonians 5:11. What does Paul say here?
It is indicated here that the idea of encouraging one another is not just a suggestion or something that we might do if we have the time, but it’s a duty of each and every believer and follower of Jesus. Church of God, be careful, it is a lot easier to be a discourager than it is to be an encourager. It takes less thought and effort to tear someone down than it does to build someone up. We should never forget that we have a duty to one another to provide encouragement, and that encouragement is vital to each person. Every normal human being needs encouragement. You could never find one who does not need encouragement.
II. PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER
In chapter 5 verse 16 of his book, the apostle James told us to pray for one another. It is our individual duty to pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in this church. I understand that James is trying to say that prayer is one of the best things or one of the most beneficial services we can do for our sisters and brothers in the Lord.
First, because prayer is a very powerful thing. That was the truth that James would like us to know and understand in this chapter. Prayer is powerful because the miraculous God of the Bible will perform great wonders in response to the prayers of His faithful and righteous children. James’ allusion to the experience of the prophet Elijah in the Old Testament emphasizes the power of prayer.
Therefore we should be praying and be devoted to prayer when we have brothers or sisters in Christ who are sick and struggling with illness, when they are wrestling with decisions, when they are struggling with sin or a spiritual problem, when they are in the midst of some trial or trouble, or whatever else they may be going on in their life. We need to seriously pray for them because they need the power of God to work in their lives. Through prayer we can ask God to mightily sustain them and graciously provide them their needs.
Secondly, there is great comfort in knowing that people are praying for you. That’s the reason why we find Paul, for several times, admonished the believers in Thessalonica, Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae to pray for him and for all the saints. He found comfort and strength to face adversities and opposition to his ministry by the knowledge that countless of people are praying for him.
Peter, on the other hand, was so confident to the point that he was able to sleep in his prison cell in spite of the fact that Herod had already ordered his execution. Why? Because he knew that the whole church was praying for him, and he believed with all his heart that God would surely deliver him from imprisonment in answer to the prayer of the church. And yes God did! God indeed proved Himself to be true and faithful to His word.
The truth of the matter is this: the church needs your sincere prayers. Look around you –everyone here needs your prayer. You can never find anyone here who would tell you he doesn’t need prayers –your prayers. I myself need your prayers, and I know you need my prayers too. I think it’s now time that we start doing what the Bible says and see expectantly the moving of the Lord in and among us. James says, “Pray for one another,” and for that there is a promise, “so that you may be healed.” Prayer gives us the benefit to experience powerful healings and deliverances right from the throne of the Almighty God.
III. SHARE WITH ONE ANOTHER
From the beginning of the Church, sharing was one of the marks of Christian experience. The principle that prevailed in the fellowship of the early church was “to each one according to his need.” If you read the history of the early church in the book of Acts you will be astonished at the generosity of every believer. As a result, there was not a need among the believers that that was not met. There was not any person in need that did not receive help. Every one shared according to the measure of their love and faith.
But sharing is not limited to material blessings only, though the apostle usually makes reference to it. Some biblical passages tell us to share one another’s burdens. And it is about to feel the hurt of those who are hurting, to help others unburden their loads, to agonize with them, to pray with them, to let them know that you truly care. In this life we are going to face some great burdens. We are going to face some difficult times, and to our fault sometimes we seclude ourselves from everyone and attempt to handle our burdens ourselves. However, we should realize that we have a church family that should be willing to help bear the burdens. That means when certain individuals in our church family are hurting, we are there to help them through their struggles.
Now let’s see what Paul says about sharing in Gal.6. 6-10.
1. He begins with a command. In verse 6 he said: “The one who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with the one who teaches.” Then in verse 10: “Whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the family of faith.” Sharing in any kind is a command of God and an opportunity to serve those who are in the family of faith.
2. Then next, Paul says the principle and the promise behind the command of sharing. He said: “Do not be deceived. God will not be made a fool. For a person will reap what he sows, because the person who sows to his own flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. So we must not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up” (v.6-9).
We understand here that God does not command Christians to give or to share material blessings simply so that their churches will have the ability to support and meet the material need of their pastors, teachers and missionaries, but that Christians might receive a greater blessing. The Bible says, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Sharing is also a biblical way to God’s blessing.
B. CONCLUSION:
What do you do as part of the body of Jesus? Of God’s family? Of this church family? Are you an encourager or discourager? Are you praying for you sisters and brothers in the Lord? Are you a burden bearer? Do you share with others in the family of God?
