Good morning All! You know, we live in a day that encouragement is so lacking, turn on the news and you can pretty much get flat out depressed, angry, frustrated. I get it that we can’t just ignore this stuff because much of it calls for action to be taken, or empathy to be given to someone going through something in relation to it. We aren’t just in this for ourselves and can’t just put on blinders, especially Christ followers, we are called to action, but WHAT action are we called to? And how do we know when we are being called by God for something going on around us?
I want to provide four main principles, all found in scripture to live by that will never stir you wrong, but rather enrich your life each and every day when followed.
Principle 1: Pray: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to “rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. “
You see, we are to rejoice always, being constant in prayer, and give thanks for ALL circumstances. Circumstances mean the good, bad and ugly, GIVE THANKS! Car breaks down, give thanks and thank the Lord for getting you this far, and pray for him to show you the next steps to get through that situation, or in my case I say, God you have me here for something and I open my spiritual eyes and look.
Principle 2: Care:
I am by no means a mechanic, but when my battery died this week, I lost all power to my dashboard and lights, and so I had to first get my car which was stuck in a neighbors driveway while visiting, out of the driveway. I then purchased and replaced the battery, while parked on the street, but had no cluster power, or dash lights, or signals. I then drove to an auto parts store and worked on it out front. I managed to fix it after a little time, and all was well. But just as I completed the fix, a man in his 70’s walked up and asked if I knew anything about cars, I laughed because I am the most NON-Car guy ever, and I said… “Well, not really, but ask your question and we will see!” Turned out he had an issue with his break pedal and two tail lights that were out. I actually many years ago had that same issue, I was able to get his issue fixed, also at his request checked his oil, transmission fluid, Epoxied his front grill back on which was falling off of his daughter’s car. Probably sat outside the auto parts store helping him out for over an hour extra, to the point the employee was confused what I was doing. And I laughed internally and just told God, “Well, I guess this is where you want me to be tonight…I will stay as long as you need me.” I ended up having nice conversation with this man, and maybe God will run me into him again soon!
What seems like a mess, or a stress, sometimes God just uses that to get us in the moment, so we can care for someone in need. Sometimes a break down forces us to slow down and be aware…God puts us in JUST the right place at the right time! God gave me the wisdom to fix my issue, and said, WHILE YOUR’E THERE… can you take care of this as well! Always pray and look for God at work around you, and join Him, in the most unexpected places, caring for one another along the way! You know, the cliché about people telling stories about God sending an angel in the most unlikely place, well God uses you and I to do that work quite often, as long as we are looking and answer yes to joining Him.
Principle 3: Share: Acts 6:1-7 tells us…
6 In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews[a] among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”
5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.
7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”
We are almost through bringing this home now, in this scripture in Acts, you see the “Care” principle shown there when the widows were being overlooked and so the twelve not wanting to take away from sharing the Word of God with the people as they were called by God to do, laid hands on and appointed spirit-led disciples to meet the needs of the widows for food and other needs in order that the twelve could continue their calling by God to share the Word of God.
A story to share, while I was working outside the house one afternoon, a man walked up and proceeded to introduce himself, he was from one of the nearby neighborhoods. I invited him up and just let him speak for a bit. He had a huge gunshot wound on his chest, had shared his story, was looking for a bit of help. It turned out he lived at a halfway house in the neighborhood and was working towards getting a job. We didn’t have a very long conversation, maybe 7 minutes. I don’t carry much cash, so I gave him maybe $10, what I had at home.
But then, I proceeded to ask him if he has found a church, and he mentioned New Life City Church in the city by me. The funny thing is our ministry CRU City is connected there so I am very familiar with this church, and somehow God always brings this church up in conversation! So we chatted, I told him how I was connected to a few folks there over the years. I shared the importance of no matter what you are going through in life, to walk daily with the Lord. Pray and walk with Jesus and he is the ultimate healer, helper, and our Savior. I asked if he had heard the Gospel and knows of the hope in Christ, and he nodded and said, “Oh Yes!”. I just concluded with him to walk daily in the Lord and He will take care of everything…
This principle is key, to not only care and build meaningful relationships with people, but ultimately we need to share the HOPE we have in Christ! Visit the “Sent 6:7” link at the top of our web page if you would like to join one of our discipleship groups and learn about knowing the Lord, and also growing in Him, and ultimately learning the tools and methods of sharing this good news of the gospel with others. This good news of Jesus has the power to SAVE a person from an eternal separation from God…It’s never something to be taken lightly. And we can join Him in what He is already doing in a person’s life to introduce them to Christ…God is doing the actual work, we are coming alongside them to share this good news!
Principle 4:Walking in the Spirit: Galatians 5:16 – 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
You may ask, what does that mean you are not under the law? This entire process of praying, caring by watching God at work, and sharing the Gospel cannot be done unless you are a believer in Christ. Visit our “The Road Less Traveled” to learn more about a relationship with Jesus.
Those who are in Christ, you have the Holy Spirit indwelling you at Salvation. Because of the Holy Spirit at work within you, you can walk in the Spirit, under the control of the Spirit in your life. By allowing the Holy Spirit to be on the throne of your heart, the Spirit is in control and so you are not subject to the laws of the flesh. This is why it is necessary to “Keep in step with the Spirit”, as Galatians 5:22-26 tells us.
“22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.”
Below is a podcast by Dr Bill Bright of CRU (Campus Crusades for Christ), that will help you do this most important step and learn to walk daily, keeping in step with the spirit. Only when doing this will you be able to see God at work around you and join Him…
Much of this is covered in our Sent 6:7 studies together, you are welcome to join us by clicking the link and signing up at the top of the page.
Here are steps again but in order:
- Walk in the Spirit daily
- Keep praying and watching for God at work around you
- Care for that person’s needs
- Share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ that has the power to save!
- Befriend, and walk with them on their journey (This is a bonus principle – Join a Sent 6:7 group to learn how!)