“Focusing on the Needs of Others”
Philippians
2:1-5
Mike
Barnett, September 30, 2007
Today’s Focus:
Friendship Ministry (The Stewardship of Relationships)
Food for Thought: “People of Faith Put Others First”
Forward
in Faith . . .
F ocusing
on the needs of others
A
cknowledging the gifts of God’s people
I
nvesting in Kingdom building
T eaching
the Word of Life
H onoring
God through passionate worship
Luke
5:22-32 says:
22Jesus knew what they were
thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to
say, 'Get up and walk'? 24But that you may know that the
Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...." He said to the
paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 25Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had
been lying on and went home praising God. 26Everyone was
amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We
have seen remarkable things today."
27After this, Jesus went
out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth.
"Follow me," Jesus said to him, 28and Levi got
up, left everything and followed him.
29Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a
large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. 30But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged
to their sect complained to his disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with
tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
31Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a
doctor, but the sick. 32I have not come to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Introduction:
This is the story regarding how Jesus called Levi to be a disciple and changed
his name to Matthew who wrote the book of Matthew in the Bible. Jesus had spent the afternoon teaching and
healing to the amazement of all who heard and saw Him. After all, to see a man
shriveled since birth get off his pallet and not only walk but dance and shout
must have been absolutely glorious! It surely impressed Peter. And it moved a
hated tax collector named Levi so much he invited Jesus to share supper with
him. Jesus said, “I’d be happy to,” much to the chagrin of His disciples.
Peter was
especially annoyed and scolded Him, “You can’t be seen dining with sinners.
People will think you are no better than they.”
Jesus was
quick but compassionate in His correction of Peter. “Sinners are precisely the
ones I should dine with. A doctor doesn’t treat the healthy, but the sick. The
Lord is not sent to the saints, but to sinners, for the heart of the Lord is
mercy” (paraphrase). And with that, He entered the house of Levi for supper.
After the
eating, dancing, laughing, and partying had subsided, Peter himself was drawn
to the door of the tax collector’s house to see if his Master had survived.
There he found Jesus—His arm around Levi, praying with him, transforming him.
Peter, too, was drawn in, and in one of the truly memorable moments of
Scripture, Peter learned what the gospel of Christ was all about. To win souls
to the Kingdom, the first step is to become a friend, to accept one another in
all our humanity (Stan Toler, The People Principle: Transforming Laypersons
into Leaders, 1997, pp. 120–121).
·
Friendship is
accepting one another, just as Christ has accepted us.
·
Oddly, most
people would say they want to have friends, yet few are willing to pay
the price in order to become a friend to others.
·
The price tag
for friendship is loving and accepting a person where they are and is not
contingent on them changing.
·
Like Peter,
we seem to have lots of excuses for keeping other people at arm’s length.
·
But being a
friend is not an optional activity for a person of faith.
·
It’s part of
God’s plan for being a whole and healthy person as well as for building His
Kingdom.
·
Do you have
friends? Are you a friend to others? It’s important. Let’s find out why.
Philippians 2:1-5 says:
1If you have any encouragement
from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship
with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then
make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in
spirit and purpose. 3Do nothing out of selfish ambition
or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but
also to the interests of others. 5Your attitude should
be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
1) Relationships Are Part of God’s Plan for a Fulfilled Life. (Verse
1)
A. Relationships
open up a world of possibilities.
If you
have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his
love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion . .
.”
Illustration:
I have observed that each friend we meet represents a new world for us, a world
that may not even exist until we meet that person. Friendships open up a world
of possibilities. Sadly, many people often choose to leave those worlds
unexplored.
·
Some people
think they don’t have time for friendship.
·
Life is hectic.
A national magazine survey reveals 80 percent of people feel stress at work.
·
Work, church,
and school activities keep us busy five, six, or seven days a week.
·
Building
relationships takes time and effort; we wonder if it’s worth it.
·
Many people
have “relationship waiting lists.” They don’t have room in their schedule to
add one more relationship.
·
Do you have
time to be a friend?
ILLUS: Leonard
Syme, professor of epidemiology at the University of California at Berkeley,
indicates the importance of social ties and social support systems in
relationship to mortality and disease rates. He points to
B. Failure
to build relationships is costly.
Illustration:
We have more stress, not less, when we are isolated. How many mistakes have
resulted in your life from loneliness or the failure to seek counsel and
support of friends?
·
In prison,
solitary confinement is the worst possible punishment! Clearly, God intends for
us to build relationships with others.
·
Friendship is
one of the small things people try to ignore and yet maintain good health.
·
But like high
cholesterol or high blood pressure, the absence of strong relationships will
take its toll eventually.
·
God intends
for us to have friends and to be friends. Do you have good friends? Are you a
good friend to others?
C. God’s
plan is for us to have good relationships.
Illustration:
It wasn’t good for Adam to be alone, so God created Eve as a companion. The
Bible is filled with examples of good friends: Aaron and Hur who helped Moses,
David and Jonathan, Ruth and Naomi, and Paul and Barnabas.
·
A good friend
helps you grow:
“As iron
sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).
·
A good friend
steers you right:
“Wounds
from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses” (Proverbs 27:6).
D. Friendships
will build the
Illustration:
Jesus’ disciples brought individuals to meet the Master—Andrew brought Peter;
Philip brought Nathanael.
·
Who brought
you to Christ?
·
Your
relationships can be a powerful vehicle for witnessing.
·
Who will you
bring to Jesus?
ILLUS: In
a survey of 4,000 new converts by the Church Growth Institute, 75 percent
indicated friends or relatives had invited them.
2. Relationships Require an Investment of Time and Energy. (Verses
2-3)
“Then make
my joy complete by being like‑minded, having the same love, being one in
spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in
humility consider others better than yourselves.”
A. You
have to give in order to gain.
Luke
Illustration:
Two men were hunting in the northern
·
Let’s face
it, we’re selfish by nature.
·
People
typically look at what’s best for them, not others.
·
We’re even
taught this is a virtue—being assertive, getting what you need.
·
Our consumer
culture caters to the notion that “It’s all about me.”
·
The Bible,
however, tells us to put others first. We follow the One who was willing to
give himself away.
B. Having
friends requires extending yourself beyond your comfort zone.
Luke
Illustration:
We give our time to others when they need it.
·
We loan our
possessions or give money to friends in need.
·
Friendship
requires sacrifice, and sometimes it’s one-sided.
·
You must be a
friend in order to have one.
Illustration:
Are you willing to extend yourself in order to be a friend?
·
Will you set
aside your natural inclination to be possessive and defensive?
·
Will you take
the time to notice what’s happening in another person’s life?
·
Will you get
over the it’s-all-about-me mind-set?
3.
“Each of
you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of
others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.” Vs. 4-5
Illustration:
Henry Durbanville said a friend is the first person who comes in when the whole
world goes out. Are you a friend?
Here are
some of the things you must learn to do if you would like to be a friend.
A. Be
generous. (Mark 12:29-31).
“‘The most
important one,’ answered Jesus, ‘is this: Hear, O
·
A good friend
is aware of the needs of others.
Philippians
2:4 says, “Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to
the interests of others.”
·
Other people
are constantly in need of companionship, encouragement, conversation, and
assistance.
·
Give another
person what he or she needs, and you’ll make a friend.
B. Be
tolerant. (Proverbs 17:1).
“A rebuke
impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool.”
Illustration:
All friends will disappoint you from time to time with small slights or
insults.
·
To be a
friend, you must accept the faults and foibles of people.
·
If you insist
on “paybacks” or getting your just reward in all situations, you’ll find it
hard to keep friends. Be tolerant, and you’ll make friends.
C. Be
trustworthy. (Proverbs 11:3)
“The
integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their
duplicity.”
Illustration:
What’s the main thing you want in a friend? Most people would say, “Someone you
can count on.”
·
Author Andy
Steiner says society pressures adults to become more independent of friends,
but research shows friendships are vital to our psychological and physical
health (Utne Reader, September/October 2001).
·
A good friend
is someone who is there when you need him or her.
·
A good friend
keeps an open door and closed mouth.
D. Be
considerate. (Proverbs 25:17)
“Seldom
set foot in your neighbor’s house—too much of you, and he will hate you.”
Illustration:
Don’t take advantage of your friends.
·
A good friend
is there when you need him or her, but your friends have needs too.
·
Someone said
a friend is a person who knocks before entering instead of after leaving.
·
Show up with
something in your hand, not always with your hand out.
·
Remember the
Golden Rule—treat your friends as you’d like to be treated.
Illustration:
Dr. John Trent tells the story of a couple in
After an
examination, he told her she had rheumatoid arthritis for which there is no
cure. She sat crying for a moment as she considered her future. Then her tall,
Betty
said, “Rusty, you need to get a divorce. I can’t be a wife to you anymore. It
hurts every time I move, and I can’t even hold your hand. For your own sake,
you need a woman who can really love you. Why don’t you get a divorce and go
your way, and I’ll go mine?”
Dr. Trent
said, “Rusty sat down on that stool beside her. He looked her in the eye and
said, ‘Betty, can you smile? It doesn’t hurt to smile.’ He said, ‘That’s all I
need, just a smile. Well, really I don’t even need a smile. All I need is
you.’”
E. Be ____________________(careful)
(Proverbs
·
“Do not make
friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered.” Benjamin
Franklin said, “Be slow in choosing a friend, slower in changing.”
·
A poorly
chosen friend can bring you to ruin.
·
Many people
have failed financially, morally, and ethically because they chose the wrong
friends.
·
Do your
friends build you up or drag you down? Conclusion: Chuck Swindoll recounts a
story of friendship from the life of Thomas Jefferson. “During his days as
president, Thomas Jefferson and a group of companions were traveling across the
country on horseback. They came to a river that had left its banks because of a
recent downpour. The swollen river had washed the bridge away. Each rider was
forced to ford the river on horseback, fighting for his life against the rapid
currents. The very real possibility of death threatened each rider, which
caused a traveler who was not part of their group to step aside and watch.
After several had plunged in and made it to the other side, the stranger asked
President Jefferson if he would ferry him across the river. The president
agreed without hesitation. The man climbed on, and shortly thereafter the two
of them made it safely to the other side. As the stranger slid off the back of
the saddle onto dry ground, one in the group asked him, ‘Tell me, why did you select the president to ask this favor of?’ The man
was shocked, admitting he had no idea it was the president who had helped him.
‘All I know,’ he said, ‘Is that on some of your faces was written the answer
‘No,’ and on some of them was the answer ‘Yes.’ His was a ‘Yes face’” (Charles
Swindoll, The Grace Awakening, 1990, p. 6).
·
Is yours a
“yes face”? Can others count on you to be a friend? People of faith are people
of friendship. People of faith are constantly looking to meet the needs of
others, not just of themselves. Who is the person you can befriend today?
“The
philosophy of a vibrant, growing church is rooted in Philippians 2:1-5—Christ
First, Others a Close Second!” (Stan Toler)
MY HOPE IS THAT AT NEW
HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP YOU WILL BE GOOD FRIENDS WITH GOD AND WITH THE
PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP THE NEW HEIGHTS CHURCH FAMILY.
THE KINDS OF WORDS
FRIENDS SAY TO EACH OTHER:
1) I’M PROUD OF YOU, I BELIEVE
IN YOU, YOU ARE A WINNER.
2) I’M SORRY, I WAS WRONG, PLEASE FORGIVE ME.
3) YOU ARE FORVGIVEN!
4) THANK YOU.
5) I ACCEPT YOU AND APPRECIATE YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE.
6) WHILE I ACCEPT YOU AND LOVE YOU UNCONDITIONALLY, I DO
NOT AGREE WITH YOUR CURRENT BEHAVIOR AND I HAVE SOME INSIGHTS FOR YOU THAT YOU MAY
NOT SEE BECAUSE OF YOUR BLIND SPOTS – SO EAT THE FISH AND SPIT OUT THE BONES.
7) I LOVE YOU ALWAYS NO MATTER WHAT!
REASONS WHY WE ARE HESITANT TO GET TO CLOSE TO
PEOPLE:
1.
FEAR OF
BEING HURT.
2.
DO NOT
WANT TO PAY THE PRICE.
3.
TOO BUSY
AND PRIORITIES ARE OUT OF WHACK.
4.
TOO
INDEPENDENT.
5.
UNDERESTIMATE
THE BLESSING.
Ecclesiastes 4:7-14 says:
7 Again I saw something meaningless under the sun:
8 There was
a man all alone;
he had neither son nor brother.
There was no end to his toil,
yet his eyes were not content with his wealth.
"For whom am I toiling," he
asked,
"and why am I depriving myself of
enjoyment?"
This too is meaningless—
a miserable business!
9 Two are
better than one,
because they have a good return for their
work:
10 If one
falls down,
his friend can help him up.
But pity the man who falls
and has no one to help him up!
11 Also, if
two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though
one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly
broken.
·
We need to be
friends with people and with God.
John 15:10-20 says:
10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love,
just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that
your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love
each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no
one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You
are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer
call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business.
Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my
Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose
me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will
last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other.
Matthew
22:37-40 says:
37Jesus
replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind.'[a] 38This is the first
and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it:
'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[b] 40All the Law and
the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
THE
GOAL AND VISION OF NEW HEIGHTS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP IS TO EMPOWER PEOPLE TO
BECOME THE PERSON GOD CREATED THEM TO BE -THAT HAPPENS WHEN WE LOVE GOD AND LOVE
PEOPLE, AND TO LOVE ANOTHER IS TO BE THEIR FRIEND!