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Serving the Lord
Part 7: Serving the Lord with our Friends
By Rev. Bruce A. Shields
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SERMON TIMELINE
1. Introduction to Serving
2. Serving the Lord through our Faith
3. Serving the Lord through our Relationships
4. Serving the Lord through our Marriage
5. Serving the Lord through our Family
6. Serving the Lord in our Home
7. Serving the Lord with our Friends
INTRODUCTION
Today is Sunday. March 17th, 2024
Over the last few weeks, we have discussed the many ways we can serve the Lord in our lives.
It begins with getting where we need to be, examining ourselves, and digging deep into the word of God.
Today’s Topic: Serving the Lord with Our Friendships
SCRIPTURE READING
Joshua 23:15
“If it is evil in your sight to serve God, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh.”
I. WE REFLECT GOD’S LOVE THROUGH OUR FRIENDSHIPS
a. By showing compassion to friends
i. John 4:7-26 – Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well
1. Jesus
asked the woman for a drink
2. She
was shocked because He was a Jew, and she was a Samaritan.
3. Socially,
they had nothing to do with each other.
4. Jesus
tells her in verse 10, “If
you knew the gift of God,
and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and
He would have given you living water.”
5. Without going deeper and making this the entire sermon, Jesus shows how the people we meet may not have the Holy Spirit (Living Water) and may not know we have something they need unless we engage with them and share with them, as verse 14 continues, “a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
ii. Acts 8:25-38 “So,
when they had solemnly borne witness and spoken the word of the Lord, they
started back to Jerusalem, and were proclaiming the gospel to many villages of
the Samaritans.”
1. Here
we read of Philip befriending an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of Candace,
queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure, and he had come
to Jerusalem to worship
a.
Candace is not a name but a title for the
Candaces of Meroe, who were the queens of the Kingdom of Kush.
i. Kush
was the oldest son of Ham and grandson of Noah.
ii. Kush
was the father of Nimrod.
iii. Nimrod
became mighty in the earth (Genesis 10:8).
His name is similar to the Hebrew word for "rebellion," and
traditionally, he was considered a dictator and tyrant.
iv. Nations
founded by Nimrod, including Nineveh, Assyria, and Babel, will become some of
Israel's chief enemies.
v. It
is suggested he was a “hunter” of God’s people.
vi. He
also built the Tower of Babel, the epitome of rebellion.
1.
Trying to get into heaven by any other means but
submission to Yahweh.
b.
Kush is now Sudan in Africa, just below
Egypt.
2. We
see Philip befriend a believer who read the word and even traveled to worship
but lacked understanding
3. God
brought Philip to this Ethiopian so that he would grow spiritually and in
understanding because his heart was right, but he lacked knowledge and wisdom,
which Philip supplied.
4. Philip
explained the scripture and Jesus, and the eunuch confessed, believed in Christ,
and was baptized through their meeting and brief friendship.
5. Side
note: this is the second instance we read of the Jews ministering to Samaritans,
as well as to an Ethiopian citizen and official of an enemy state to the Jews.
Remember,
we are not enemies of God because of the place in which we live, or the rulers
over us, our nationality or race.
We
are separated from God because of sin and need confession, repentance, and
calling on the name of the Lord to save us.
I
have friends with all sorts of beliefs and hope to bring them to light. If ever
our relationships reach a point where I can no longer be a positive influence,
I focus my friendships elsewhere.
Matthew 10:12-14
“Now as you enter the house, give it your greeting. 13 And if the house is
worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace
return to you. 14 And whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you
leave that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.”
Colossians
tells us why we should move on from unfruitful relationships.
iii. Colossians 4:5-6 “Walk
in wisdom
toward outsiders, redeeming the time. 6 Let your words always be with grace, seasoned with salt,
so that you will know how you should answer each person.”
1. Walking
with wisdom means watching for opportunities, as we just read with Jesus, the
Samaritan girl, and Philip and the Ethiopian.
2. Redeeming the time means making the most of
it with others. Not idle chit-chat, but looking for opportunities to grow them
closer to the Lord.
3. Always
speak gracefully, but your words are seasoned with salt.
4. This
is how we teach others about God’s will, the Lord’s desire, and the Holy
Spirit’s empowerment.
Be open and honest about your faith. Answer
questions and genuinely share your experiences from your heart.
b. Encouraging and uplifting friends
i. We
are there for them, helping whenever we can
ii. We
celebrate their successes and offer kindness during their struggles
iii. We
pray for them and offer scriptures to uplift them.
Proverbs 27:17
“Iron sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore, comfort one another and build up one
another, just as you also are doing.”
Hebrews 10:24-25 “let
us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not
forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging
one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
c. Being a “Christ-like” example to friends
i. Our
actions are an example to them (living as one imitating the Lord)
ii. We
reflect God’s character through the Spiritual Fruit.
iii. Be
someone who draws them to the Lord, not away from
iv. Philippians 2:3-4; 1 Corinthians 11:1; Titus 2:7-8
II. WE SHARE OUR FAITH THROUGH FRIENDSHIPS
a. Open communication is an opportunity for ministry
i. Friendship
is a bridge to faith
b. Inviting friends to church and church events
i. Invite
them to join you for worship service
ii. Or
faith-based church activities
iii. Or for a one-on-one bible study or group
1. You
may feel unqualified to lead a study, but that’s OK. You learn together.
2. There
are plenty of trustworthy studies to guide you.
3. My
book, Drowning in Milk: A Guide to Spiritual
Maturity, is a great way to start. It has group studies at
the back of the book to guide you through small group discussions.
c. Leading by our example
i. Live your faith authentically
1. You
should be the same at home as you are at church
2. If
you are not, then you need to mature spiritually.
ii. Your
actions will always speak louder than your words.
iii. Be
someone who lives the things you say you do
Some may say, “Well, I believe Jesus is God…”
Good. 1 John 5:3
says, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His
commandments are not burdensome.”
1 John 2:3-4
says, “By this, we know that we have come to know him if we keep His
commandments. Whoever says, “I know Him” but does not keep His commandments is
a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
Do you reject the world? You can either be godly or
worldly. You cannot be both. (1 John 2:15-16; James 4:4; 1
John 3:13)
Are you repenting from your sins? 1 John 3:9 “No one born of God
makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep
on sinning, because he has been born of God.”
1 John 3:5-6; 1 John 5:18; 1
John 2:29; 1 John 3:10
If we are to lead others, we must be right, not
blind. The ONLY way to be correct and not blind is to fill yourself with the
Word of God.
Reject false teachings (you must know true
teachings), and examine yourself (you must know the measure from the word).
We may be able to pretend for others, act the part, and
put on the show when others are around, but we will not deceive God. And,
eventually, you will reveal yourself to others in the way you talk and act and
by the things you allow and do in your life.
Matthew 12:33-34 “Either
make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its
fruit bad; for the tree is known by its
fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil,
speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of
that which fills the heart.”
What is your heart filled with? You may not even
realize people are hearing the truth from your very lips.
If we are not honest with ourselves and others, they
will make assumptions about God because of us.
One assumption may be that no God exists because he
says one thing but does another.
Or, why would I want this God? Because this guy is
no different than me (or the world).
Matthew 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will
it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown
out to be trampled under foot by men.”
We need to be honest with ourselves because not only
does our relationship with the Lord depend on it, but so does our relationship
with our spouse, children, neighbors, family, friends, and ministry for the
Lord.
III. FRIENDSHIP IS A SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR SPIRITUAL GROWTH
a. Praying for our friends
i. Matthew 18:20; James 5:16; Acts 12:5
ii. For
their growth, well-being
iii. For
their needs and concerns
b. Studying scripture together
i. Acts 8:30-35; 2 Timothy 2:15; Proverbs 27:17
ii. Invite them to bible studies and small groups
1. We
have a couple starting up this summer!
iii. Read
scripture together and discuss its meaning and impact.
c. Holding each other accountable
i. Galatians 6:1-2; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10; Proverbs 27:5-6
1. By
the way, this can only be done by judging others…
2. We
judge their fruits and know where the needs are
ii. What about “Don’t judge”?
1. Don’t
stop reading at Matthew 7:1…
iii. Matthew 7:3-5 “why
do you look at the speck
that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log
that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to
your brother, ‘Let me take the speck
out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your
own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first
take the log out of your own eye, and then you
will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
1. First,
we examine ourselves and get right by taking our plank out…THEN we can judge
and help our brother!
iv. We
offer help, encouragement, and support so you can grow in the Lord!
CONCLUSION
Our friendships are a great way to serve the Lord
and grow spiritually with others. When we have healthy Christian relationships,
we serve the Lord, increase His kingdom, and strengthen ourselves and others
through the process!
NEXT WEEK: Serving the Lord Part 8: Serving at Work
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