Oakbrook Evangelical Free Church

Introduction:
RR + car accident over Memorial Day! Husband / off duty public relations officer…

Somehow the driver lost control on a small California bridge. In an instant, the car with a family of four in it catapulted through the railing and into the water. Immediately, that car began to disappear beneath the water. In those next frantic moments, the two parents emerged from the car, swimming to the top. Mom had actually been able to free one of her children and help her get out, as well. But their little boy was trapped in the car at the bottom. Meanwhile, a few passersby had gathered on the bridge above. One man, hearing the mother’s screams for help for her son, dove from the bridge and into the water. A nurse was actually one of those who also happened to be on the bridge that day. Realizing that the boy was going to need immediate CPR if he was rescued, she shook off her fear and she also plunged into the water. After a short time, the man surfaced – carrying that boy with him. The nurse immediately began working on him, right there in the water. His life was saved by two people who certainly had not planned to rescue anyone that day.

If you belong to Jesus Christ, I hope you see yourself in that story. Like that man on the bridge, you will find yourself in a position to do something about a person who needs encouragement and help. One of the questions I’ve had from time to time is “Is there anyone who really cares?”

As you think about the people at work, at school, in your neighborhood, in your family or the place you shop or recreate – among those people must be those who are needy and hurting. You know Christ. You’ve experienced the comfort of our merciful Father. You know them – how can you be a better people helper?

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (have received). For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” ESV

2 Corinthians 7:5-6 “For even when we came into Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were afflicted at every turn—fighting without and fear within. But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,” ESV

Later that day I heard a story…that reaffirmed that men seem to “go it alone”.
Question: How can I help?

I. God Comforts Us
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction

2 Corinthians 7:5-6
Ways and means – God who comforts, comforted us by the coming of Titus

If we are to be an instrument of God’s comfort we must be absolutely convicted that God is the true source of help and comfort.

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” ESV
If we are to be of help we must live in dependence on Him.

For three specific things:
1. Sensitivity
2. Wisdom / discernment
3. Timing
So often the issues are hidden. The presenting issues are not the real ones.
we stumble into situations.  Or inadvertently uncover the real issue (presenting vs actual)

Wisdom / discernment:
Pat answers and bunches of words – Fowey.
Words aptly spoken!
Divinely appointed coincidences.

The danger is that we are not prepared! (Must be walking w/)
Or that we are not dependant! (Say whatever comes out)
Or say to ourselves “I can’t”

Quote Chambers: June 7, 2009

The more we know that God is the true comforter and counselor and that we are totally dependant on Him, the more we will be useful to God to help others.

II. So That We Can Comfort Others
2 Corinthians 1:3-5 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God (have received). For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.” ESV

A. Embrace the “stuff” God has allowed in ur life!
He doesn’t waste experiences on us.
He is building a story in your life of his grace and mercy.
Stop apologizing or minimizing your story!

B. Work out of your personal experience base!
Cancer survivors encourage others who have cancer.
Older women can encourage younger women.
When a Pediatrician has children of their own it increases their ability
AA – built on strength of recovering alcohols can help other alcoholics

The real issue is understanding! Multi-dimensional nature of humanity. Complexity of issues!
James 1:19-20 “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” ESV

And let me add: “slow to answer”
People are so quick to assume that their experience is what others r
Christians can be so quiet to think they know it all.
Too quick to apply a Bible verse to the situation.

The Comforter does speak truth:
John 14:16 “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,” ESV

John 16:12-13 ““I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.” ESV

Even Jesus is slow to speak!
Ephesians 4: Speaking the truth in love!

C. Work out of your knowledge base -transferable experiences -
~ Tons of research has been done!
~ We can learn from others how to help: stages of grief; stages of change; etc.
~ You don’t have be an alcoholic to help an alcoholic!
~ You can administer the Heimlich maneuver without having had it applied to you in an emergency.
~ You don’t have to be married to be a student of the marriage relationship!
~ You don’t have to have arterial blockage in order to perform by-pass surgery.

But you do need to be a good student and learn all you can about various issues.

D. Work out of the areas of your interests, passions and dreams!
These are clues about God’s calling in your life!

III. Called to Be a Loving Community
Helping real people with real needs with real resources!

Our mission is:
To build a loving community that obeys Christ
To reach our community that is lost without Him.

Definition: A loving community refers to living a lifestyle in community based upon the teaching of the NT. It emphasizes the things Christians should do to and for one another as an expression of their relationship in Christ as well as those things they should not do to one another in order to preserve harmony in our relationships.

Requires that Christians commit themselves to one another in all we are and have in the large community of believers, in small groups and friendship and mentoring relationships.”

“As a result (of the faithful teaching and equipping ministry ) we are no longer to be children in the faith…easily tricked but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him, who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by that which every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” Ephesians 4:11-16

1. We build each other up in love when each part does its work Eph 4:16
~ Personal gifts
~ Personal story
~ Personal calling

2. We build each other up in love when we have equal concern for each other. 1 Cor 12:25
Worth of the individual! Other person focused!
Be careful what we say or do. We have no idea what others are going through on a specific day.

3. We build each other up in love when we serve one another in love. Gal 5:13

4. We build each other up in love when we bear with each other. Eph 4:2 Humility, gentleness, kindness, patience

5. We build each other up in love when we carry each other’s burdens. Gal 6:2

6. We build each other up in love when we encourage one another and build each other up. 1 Thess 5:11

7. We build each other up in love when we submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Eph 5:21, Phil 2:3,4

8. We build each other up in love when we forgive one another. Eph 4:32 “When forgiveness intervenes!” Relational laundry room!

Worthington’s book…

9. We build each other up in love when we are honest with one another. Col 3:9 Openness and honesty depends on…

Safe places
Safe people!
Confidentiality! +
Exceptions: child & elder abuse; self harm or harm others!

Openness and honesty depends on taking the risk to trust! Why men go it alone? Naturally independent! Have not made the time to develop deep relationships!

Places where the truth comes out…

10. We build each other up in love when we offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9

Openness and honesty depends on taking the risk to trust! Why men go it alone? Naturally independent! Have not made the time to develop deep relationships!

Places where the truth comes out

11. We build each other up in love when we confess our sins to each other and pray for each other. James 5:16

Humility

12. We build each other up in love when we teach and counsel one another with all wisdom. Col 3:16

Proverbs 12:18 “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” ESV

Call to commitment to biblical community
Call to fulfill the mandates of our calling toward each other
Call to move toward a small community of believers committed to personal, relational and numerical growth.

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

St. Francis was born at Assisi in 1182. After a care free youth, he turned his back on inherited wealth and committed himself to God. He lived a very simple life of poverty, and in so doing, gained a reputation of being the friend of animals. He died in 1226, aged 44.

Sometimes Christians are called to turn the world upside down. To bring the exact opposite of what we find in our world. St. Francis’ prayer is a bold one, asking for strength to give of ourselves to meet the needs of others. He recognizes that it “is in giving that we receive”, that as we give of ourselves, we receive the peace and blessing of our risen Lord Jesus. We cannot earn eternal life, but that we are pardoned from the sins that block our claim on it.

Think about the situations that you are involved in that require peace, consolation, hope, light and joy. Then, if you’re bold enough, pray the prayer!