1 00:00:02,500 --> 00:00:10,600 This question that is. On the screen this morning is 2 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,400 certainly one that is very thought-provoking and one that 3 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:17,600 is very selfish in the context of where it is written. 4 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:23,300 This is one that we are confronted with on a daily 5 00:00:23,300 --> 00:00:26,400 basis. I believe, you know, when, and 6 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:29,900 if I paraphrase this am I responsible for you? 7 00:00:31,700 --> 00:00:35,700 Are you my responsibility? You know, when Kane wasn't 8 00:00:35,700 --> 00:00:38,300 really concerned about the question when it was asked of 9 00:00:38,300 --> 00:00:41,200 him because he didn't really know the punishment that was 10 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:46,800 really coming at him yet and the fourth chapter and verse verses 11 00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:52,300 12 and 13. The Lord says, when you till the 12 00:00:52,300 --> 00:00:55,700 ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. 13 00:00:56,900 --> 00:01:01,000 A fugitive and a vagabond. You shall be on the earth. 14 00:01:01,300 --> 00:01:06,600 And Cain said to the Lord, my punishment is greater than I can 15 00:01:06,600 --> 00:01:10,600 bear. Well, Cain killed his brother. 16 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:18,000 Cain killed, his family member. Now stop and think about this 17 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:22,100 for a moment. How how would it be for us to 18 00:01:22,100 --> 00:01:25,900 even think or contemplate about killing one of our own flesh? 19 00:01:25,900 --> 00:01:30,600 One of our own blood, one of our our own brothers or sisters and 20 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:37,400 that's what Kane did. and he did it because God accepted Abel's 21 00:01:37,700 --> 00:01:43,900 sacrifice instead of his And the fourth chapter and verses 3 22 00:01:43,900 --> 00:01:47,900 through 8 and in the process of time, it came to pass that Cain 23 00:01:47,900 --> 00:01:52,100 brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord Abel 24 00:01:52,100 --> 00:01:56,400 also, brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat 25 00:01:56,900 --> 00:01:59,500 and the Lord respected Abel and his offering. 26 00:01:59,900 --> 00:02:03,700 But he did not respect Cain and his offering and Cain was very 27 00:02:03,700 --> 00:02:07,100 angry. And why has your countenance 28 00:02:07,100 --> 00:02:08,300 Fallen? Excuse me. 29 00:02:08,500 --> 00:02:12,400 So the Lord's, let me, let me go back here and his countenance 30 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:14,100 fell. That's what happens when I look 31 00:02:14,100 --> 00:02:18,100 away sometimes. So the Lord said to Cain, why 32 00:02:18,100 --> 00:02:20,300 are you angry? And why is your countenance 33 00:02:20,300 --> 00:02:23,100 Fallen? If you do well, will you not be 34 00:02:23,100 --> 00:02:26,500 accepted? And if you do not do well, sin 35 00:02:26,500 --> 00:02:31,600 lies at the door and its desire is for you but you shall rule 36 00:02:31,700 --> 00:02:35,200 but you shall rule over it. Now, Cain talked with Abel, his 37 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:39,300 brother and it came to pass when they were in the field that Cain 38 00:02:39,300 --> 00:02:42,700 rose up against Abel, his brother and killed him. 39 00:02:45,500 --> 00:02:49,600 What a selfish Act. What a selfish sack because 40 00:02:49,900 --> 00:02:52,900 because God accepted Abel's sacrifice. 41 00:02:54,300 --> 00:03:02,600 And not Cain's, Cain gets angry with that decision and kills his 42 00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:07,700 own brother. Lord noticed the Cain's demeanor 43 00:03:07,700 --> 00:03:11,000 and attitude had changed. He asked Gable where his brother 44 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:16,800 was in Cannes response was am I My Brother's Keeper Am I 45 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:22,000 responsible for him? Well, this is the question that 46 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:26,700 we need to ask ourselves today. Are we, our Brother's Keeper? 47 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,000 Do we have a responsibility, watch out and care for each 48 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:35,600 other? Along this journey of life. 49 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,300 And not only our Brothers and Sisters in Christ. 50 00:03:40,300 --> 00:03:44,100 But do we have a responsibility to all mankind to watch after 51 00:03:44,100 --> 00:03:47,600 them and care for them? Well, how many of us would say? 52 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:51,500 Yeah, I have a responsibility and how money, how many others 53 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,200 would prompt maybe, say not my responsibility. 54 00:03:55,700 --> 00:03:58,900 I've got too many other things going on in this life to have to 55 00:03:58,900 --> 00:04:02,000 worry about somebody else. And their well-being, I've got 56 00:04:02,000 --> 00:04:07,400 problems of my own Well, we all probably have different reasons 57 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:09,200 why we might answer the question. 58 00:04:09,300 --> 00:04:12,900 However, we would answer it. The canes response to God was 59 00:04:12,900 --> 00:04:17,700 one of indifference and callousness and selfishness 60 00:04:18,300 --> 00:04:23,300 self-centeredness and all too common throughout what we live 61 00:04:23,300 --> 00:04:27,600 in today in this society that we live in. 62 00:04:28,500 --> 00:04:32,500 Am I My Brother's Keeper? People say, I've got enough 63 00:04:32,500 --> 00:04:35,900 work. In this life to just take care 64 00:04:35,900 --> 00:04:39,000 of myself and I've got so many problems. 65 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:40,800 I got so many things going on that. 66 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:42,900 I don't have time for everyone else. 67 00:04:46,300 --> 00:04:50,900 And some think of it, as more of maybe even those of those that 68 00:04:50,900 --> 00:04:53,300 may say, yeah, it's our responsibility, my 69 00:04:53,300 --> 00:04:56,700 responsibility, but we look at it sometimes maybe as more of a 70 00:04:56,700 --> 00:05:00,500 Duty than it is of something that we want to do and we really 71 00:05:00,500 --> 00:05:06,000 care for our fellow brethren. Matthew Henry, the commentator 72 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:10,000 says, when a person is unconcerned in the Affairs of 73 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:14,900 others and takes no care when they have opportunity to prevent 74 00:05:14,900 --> 00:05:20,300 hurt, especially in their souls, that person in effect, speaks 75 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:26,900 canes language, You know, something that came to my mind 76 00:05:26,900 --> 00:05:31,400 when I was going through this outline and and and putting 77 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:35,400 together, this lesson is, we look at some of these, large 78 00:05:35,500 --> 00:05:38,000 mega churches. If you want to say and I even 79 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:42,700 heard a comment by a woman earlier this week that they used 80 00:05:42,700 --> 00:05:45,300 to go to one of these mega churches and they just really 81 00:05:45,300 --> 00:05:48,500 never felt connected. They couldn't really get to know 82 00:05:48,500 --> 00:05:52,900 anyone. and that's why she liked going where they were at was 83 00:05:52,900 --> 00:05:56,300 because it was a smaller group and there was more intimacy 84 00:05:56,300 --> 00:06:03,900 between the congregation We have to become. 85 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:11,000 Aware of each other's problems. Fears. 86 00:06:12,100 --> 00:06:19,000 Troubles sins, whatever it may be to where we are. 87 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:22,800 So involved in each other's lives. 88 00:06:23,100 --> 00:06:29,900 Now some of us may not like that, But where we have a pulse 89 00:06:30,100 --> 00:06:35,800 on what's going on in your life to know when you need help, when 90 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:40,900 you need care, when we all need help and care for each other. 91 00:06:44,500 --> 00:06:49,600 The idea of a keeper is to Garden to watch and to protect 92 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,600 and oversee. We don't enable people to 93 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:57,500 continue doing what's wrong, or cover the cover up, what they're 94 00:06:57,500 --> 00:07:00,000 doing by lying for them and things like that. 95 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:02,400 But we want to watch out for them and care for them and 96 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:06,100 protect him and oversee, what they're doing so that we can be 97 00:07:06,100 --> 00:07:09,400 there to help in times of troubles and problems in their 98 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:16,500 lives. Now, that doesn't mean we need 99 00:07:16,500 --> 00:07:18,800 to be busy bodies. In other people's matters. 100 00:07:19,100 --> 00:07:27,100 The Bible condemns that But if we pull back and we are so 101 00:07:27,100 --> 00:07:30,600 silent with our lives when other people are trying to help us, 102 00:07:30,800 --> 00:07:34,800 they can't help. But if we never asked either, we 103 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:38,400 won't be able to help. But when we read the scriptures 104 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,500 it's clear that the answer to that question. 105 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:43,700 Am I? My Brother's Keeper is a yes. 106 00:07:44,500 --> 00:07:48,800 And it all starts that we are to love one another and we hear 107 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,300 this we hear it over and over and over again that we are to 108 00:07:51,300 --> 00:07:54,100 love one another. Let's notice several scriptures. 109 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:58,400 Christian love whether exercise towards the Brethren or towards 110 00:07:58,600 --> 00:08:01,700 Mankind. In general is not an Impulse of 111 00:08:01,700 --> 00:08:05,800 our feelings but it does always run. 112 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,800 It doesn't always Run with our natural feelings, sometimes that 113 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:15,000 we have because sometimes it's hard to act in a way that 114 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:18,800 benefits someone else. When we have our feelings on 115 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:23,500 our, you know, right there on top and, and we react to the way 116 00:08:23,500 --> 00:08:27,900 that people treat us sometimes, or we remember past things that 117 00:08:27,900 --> 00:08:32,200 have happened or whatever it may be, but it's not about our 118 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:35,500 feelings. Let's make that real clear. 119 00:08:36,799 --> 00:08:41,200 It's about what we need to do and we're commanded to do. 120 00:08:43,100 --> 00:08:47,500 For others Vines. Expository dictionary talks 121 00:08:47,500 --> 00:08:55,400 about love it, is it seeks? The welfare of all and works, no 122 00:08:55,400 --> 00:09:01,400 ill to any Love seeks opportunity to do good to all 123 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:06,800 men especially toward them that are of the household of faith. 124 00:09:08,700 --> 00:09:13,500 Jesus commanded this in John, 13 and verses 34 and 35 a new 125 00:09:13,500 --> 00:09:16,200 commandment. I give to you that you love one. 126 00:09:16,200 --> 00:09:20,500 Another as I have loved you that you also love one another by 127 00:09:20,500 --> 00:09:25,100 this all by this, all will know that you are my disciples. 128 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:31,000 If you have love one for one another, in John 15, verses 12 129 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:33,600 and 17. This is my commandment that I 130 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:34,800 that you love one. Another. 131 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:36,800 As I have loved you, these things. 132 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:41,000 I command you that you love. One another Paul taught it in 133 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,900 Romans 13 verse 8. Oh no man. 134 00:09:43,900 --> 00:09:46,500 Oh no one. Anything except to love one 135 00:09:46,500 --> 00:09:48,700 another. For he who loves another has 136 00:09:48,700 --> 00:09:52,900 fulfilled, the law 1st Thessalonians 4 and verse 9, but 137 00:09:52,900 --> 00:09:56,500 concerning Brotherly Love have have, you know, need that? 138 00:09:56,500 --> 00:10:01,000 I should write to you for you yourselves are taught by God to 139 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:05,000 love one another Peter talks about this in First Peter, 1:22 140 00:10:05,200 --> 00:10:08,100 since you have purified, your souls in obeying the truth 141 00:10:08,100 --> 00:10:10,100 through the spirit. Spirit in sincere, love of the 142 00:10:10,100 --> 00:10:12,300 Brethren. Love one, another fervently with 143 00:10:12,300 --> 00:10:15,000 a pure heart first, Peter 3 and 8. 144 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:18,600 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one 145 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:21,200 another love. As Brother's be, tender-hearted 146 00:10:21,200 --> 00:10:24,000 be courteous. John talks about in First John 3 147 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,500 and verses 11 through 12 17 and 23 for. 148 00:10:27,500 --> 00:10:30,300 This is the message that you heard from the beginning that we 149 00:10:30,300 --> 00:10:34,500 should love one another not as Cain, who was the Wicked one and 150 00:10:34,500 --> 00:10:37,000 murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? 151 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:40,600 Because his Works were evil. And his brothers righteous but 152 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:45,500 whosoever has this world's goods and sees his brother in need and 153 00:10:45,500 --> 00:10:49,200 shuts up his heart from him. How does that love of God abide 154 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:52,600 in him? And this is his Commandment that 155 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:54,800 we should believe on the name of the his son? 156 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:58,300 Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us 157 00:10:58,300 --> 00:11:01,800 commandment first. John four verses 7 and 11 158 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:04,600 through 12 beloved, let us love one another. 159 00:11:04,600 --> 00:11:08,300 For the love of God for the Love For Love is of God. 160 00:11:08,300 --> 00:11:11,400 And every Everyone who loves is born of God and knows, God 161 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:15,100 beloved, if God. So loved us, we also ought to 162 00:11:15,100 --> 00:11:17,800 love one. Another no one has seen God at 163 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:21,200 any time, if we love one, another, God abides in us and 164 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:24,900 his love has been perfected in US, 2nd, John 5. 165 00:11:25,300 --> 00:11:28,900 And now I plead with you lady. Not as though I wrote a new 166 00:11:28,900 --> 00:11:32,400 commandment to you, but that which we have had from the 167 00:11:32,400 --> 00:11:35,500 beginning that we love one another. 168 00:11:37,800 --> 00:11:41,000 Pretty clear. This is not something that we 169 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:45,200 find one little bit of something somewhere tucked away in a 170 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:47,500 scripture. But it is a theme that is 171 00:11:47,500 --> 00:11:51,500 throughout scripture that we are to love one another. 172 00:11:51,500 --> 00:11:55,100 Well, how do we do that? How do we accomplish that? 173 00:11:55,500 --> 00:11:58,700 How do we express this kind of love for each other? 174 00:12:00,000 --> 00:12:03,300 How do we show our love? For one another. 175 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:07,200 Well, one of the, first things we do is we try to edify each 176 00:12:07,200 --> 00:12:11,400 other. You know, if if we see someone 177 00:12:11,400 --> 00:12:16,100 struggling, you know, at work or wherever it is and we know how 178 00:12:16,100 --> 00:12:20,400 to get that job done. We may want me, we may go up to 179 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:23,200 them and say you know, if you just do this and be a lot 180 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:28,800 easier, if you try it this way, it would make your life a whole 181 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,600 lot easier to get that accomplished a lot quicker. 182 00:12:32,500 --> 00:12:34,900 And we edify them, we teach them. 183 00:12:35,300 --> 00:12:39,300 And that's what we do to those. That we love Romans Fort 14 184 00:12:39,300 --> 00:12:41,700 verse 19. Therefore, let us pursue the 185 00:12:41,700 --> 00:12:45,400 things which make for peace and the things by which one may 186 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:52,700 edify another I hope that if I need edification, you will do. 187 00:12:52,700 --> 00:12:55,700 So I'm hoping that this edification that we're offering 188 00:12:55,700 --> 00:12:59,400 this morning helps you, because of my love for this Congregation 189 00:12:59,400 --> 00:13:02,200 of my love for you. The brother in that stand in 190 00:13:02,208 --> 00:13:06,400 this Pulpit do that because of their love for the church and 191 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,000 their love for their Brethren and Sisters in Christ. 192 00:13:11,300 --> 00:13:13,800 We also find that we are to serve one. 193 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:18,300 Another Galatians 5 and 13 for you Brethren have been called to 194 00:13:18,300 --> 00:13:21,300 Liberty. Only do not use Liberty as an 195 00:13:21,300 --> 00:13:26,000 opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another 196 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:33,700 Matthew, 25 and 31 through 46. When the son of man comes in his 197 00:13:33,700 --> 00:13:38,000 glory and all the Holy Angels with him, then he will sit on 198 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:41,700 the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered 199 00:13:41,700 --> 00:13:44,300 before him and he will separate them. 200 00:13:44,300 --> 00:13:47,600 One from another as a Shepherd divides, his sheep from the 201 00:13:47,600 --> 00:13:51,000 goats. And he will set the sheep on his 202 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:55,800 right hand, but the goats on his left, then the king will say to 203 00:13:55,800 --> 00:13:59,100 those on his right hand. Come you blessed of my father, 204 00:13:59,100 --> 00:14:02,000 inherit the Kingdom, prepared for you from the foundation. 205 00:14:02,100 --> 00:14:05,500 Action of the world for. I was hungry and you gave me 206 00:14:05,500 --> 00:14:08,700 food. I was thirsty and you gave me 207 00:14:08,700 --> 00:14:12,100 drink. I was a stranger and you took me 208 00:14:12,100 --> 00:14:14,900 in. I was naked and you clothed me. 209 00:14:15,100 --> 00:14:19,600 I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to 210 00:14:19,600 --> 00:14:22,700 me then the righteous will answer him saying. 211 00:14:23,700 --> 00:14:28,100 Lord when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give 212 00:14:28,100 --> 00:14:30,900 you drink? When did we see you a stranger 213 00:14:30,900 --> 00:14:34,100 and took you in or naked? And clothe you or when did we 214 00:14:34,100 --> 00:14:38,000 see you sick or in prison or and come to you and the King will 215 00:14:38,000 --> 00:14:40,300 answer and say to them assuredly I say to you in. 216 00:14:40,300 --> 00:14:43,100 As much as you did it. To one of the least of these my 217 00:14:43,100 --> 00:14:49,100 brethren, you did it to me. and then he will say to those, on 218 00:14:49,100 --> 00:14:54,900 the left hand depart from me, You cursed into Everlasting fire 219 00:14:54,900 --> 00:14:59,100 prepared for the devil and his angels for I was hungry and you 220 00:14:59,100 --> 00:15:03,500 gave me no food. I was thirsty and you gave me. 221 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:07,300 No drink. I was a stranger and you took me 222 00:15:07,300 --> 00:15:12,600 not in took Not Me In. You did not take me in, I'm 223 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:15,600 sorry. Naked. 224 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:19,100 And you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not 225 00:15:19,100 --> 00:15:22,000 visit me, they will also answer him saying. 226 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:23,600 Lord. When did we see you hungry? 227 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:27,300 And thirsty, or a stranger, or naked or sick or in prison and 228 00:15:27,300 --> 00:15:30,600 did not minister to you? Then he will answer them saying 229 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:35,200 assuredly, I say to you as much as you did it, you did not do 230 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:36,700 it. To one of the least of these, 231 00:15:37,100 --> 00:15:40,900 you did not do it to me and these will go away into 232 00:15:40,900 --> 00:15:45,800 Everlasting punishment, but the righteous into Eternal life. 233 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:57,400 It's really, really a sobering. Group of scriptures. because, We 234 00:15:57,800 --> 00:16:04,900 are to serve each other. When we see problems, when we 235 00:16:04,900 --> 00:16:09,900 see someone in need, when we see someone that needs help, it is 236 00:16:09,900 --> 00:16:14,400 our responsibility to help them to do something for them. 237 00:16:15,500 --> 00:16:19,800 To guide them to protect them to serve them. 238 00:16:20,700 --> 00:16:26,600 Now this is not This lesson is not. 239 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:34,800 Meant to say that we here at plans Road don't do this because 240 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,100 we do. And there are several people in 241 00:16:37,100 --> 00:16:40,600 this congregation that do it more and more, and more, and 242 00:16:40,600 --> 00:16:43,400 more than some of us maybe have the ability to do. 243 00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:46,100 But that doesn't mean that we see others taking care of the 244 00:16:46,100 --> 00:16:49,200 need and therefore, we don't have to do anything and we don't 245 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:53,900 have a responsibility because we do as Brothers and Sisters in 246 00:16:53,900 --> 00:16:56,600 Christ. I'm so thankful that we have 247 00:16:56,600 --> 00:17:00,800 those here that take up those Bilities and see to them 248 00:17:01,100 --> 00:17:04,400 sometimes before we even know what's going on, there are 249 00:17:04,400 --> 00:17:08,500 people on it already. And I'm thankful for that. 250 00:17:11,300 --> 00:17:16,700 But we are to serve each other. And we should never ever ever 251 00:17:16,700 --> 00:17:19,700 have the attitude. Well I don't have the time I 252 00:17:19,708 --> 00:17:23,599 don't have the means I don't have I don't have I don't have 253 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:29,700 income with all kinds of excuses because we have a 254 00:17:29,700 --> 00:17:32,400 responsibility. We are also to Bear one 255 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:35,200 another's, burdens Galatians 6 and verses one through two 256 00:17:35,600 --> 00:17:37,700 brothers. If someone is caught in a sin, 257 00:17:39,500 --> 00:17:43,500 You who are spiritual, should restore him gently but watch 258 00:17:43,500 --> 00:17:48,100 yourself, or you also may be tempted, carry each other's 259 00:17:48,100 --> 00:17:50,800 burdens. And in this way, you will 260 00:17:50,800 --> 00:18:00,500 fulfill the law of Christ. I'm thankful that that there 261 00:18:00,500 --> 00:18:06,200 have been times in our life and I think you could probably say 262 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:10,400 the same thing is that that when you have had problems, there 263 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:14,400 were brothers or sisters that stepped in and filled the gap. 264 00:18:18,900 --> 00:18:21,800 The Baird the burdens along with. 265 00:18:24,100 --> 00:18:27,900 Those are sick, those made me having emotional problems. 266 00:18:28,100 --> 00:18:31,400 Those that maybe have lost loved ones. 267 00:18:34,000 --> 00:18:37,100 And others come and help bear those burdens. 268 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:42,600 Other step in. And help. 269 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:47,000 That's what we're supposed to do. 270 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:57,700 We are our Brother's Keeper. Barnes says, when we talk about 271 00:18:57,700 --> 00:19:00,600 fulfilling the law of Christ love Christ requires us to love 272 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,300 one another. This was the distinguishing law 273 00:19:03,300 --> 00:19:06,900 of the Redeemer and they could in no way better fulfill it than 274 00:19:06,900 --> 00:19:09,500 by aiding each other in the Divine Life. 275 00:19:09,700 --> 00:19:12,200 The law of Christ would not allow us to reproach the 276 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:16,200 offender or to taunt him or to rejoice in his fall. 277 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:19,700 We should help him to take up his load and infirmities and 278 00:19:19,700 --> 00:19:23,500 sustain him by our councils and exhortations and prayers 279 00:19:23,700 --> 00:19:26,300 Christians conscious of their infirmities. 280 00:19:26,300 --> 00:19:29,600 Have To the sympathy and the prayers of the Brethren. 281 00:19:29,900 --> 00:19:33,300 They should not be cast off to a cold and heartless world. 282 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:37,500 A world rejoicing over there fall and ready to Brand them as 283 00:19:37,500 --> 00:19:40,100 Hypocrites. They should be pressed to the 284 00:19:40,100 --> 00:19:43,500 warm bosom, a brotherly. Kindness and prayer should be 285 00:19:43,500 --> 00:19:47,500 made to ascend without ceasing around an airing and Fallen 286 00:19:47,500 --> 00:19:51,600 brother, it didn't end. Is this the case in regard to 287 00:19:51,700 --> 00:20:01,500 all who bear the Christian name? there's a little story, I ran 288 00:20:01,500 --> 00:20:03,000 across and I hope I can remember. 289 00:20:03,000 --> 00:20:06,600 I'm the worst at telling stories because I forget half of it. 290 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:14,400 about this young boy that comes into his daddy and and And he 291 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,700 says, he comes in his daddy sitting there reading the paper, 292 00:20:18,100 --> 00:20:20,700 and he comes up to him. And he says, daddy. 293 00:20:20,700 --> 00:20:22,900 I've got a, I've got a question for you. 294 00:20:24,700 --> 00:20:28,600 And the dad says, well son can't you wait till I'm through 295 00:20:28,600 --> 00:20:31,800 reading the prayer. I mean reading the paper And he 296 00:20:31,808 --> 00:20:35,200 says, well Daddy, it's a really important question of really got 297 00:20:35,200 --> 00:20:39,400 an important question for you, and so he pulls down his paper 298 00:20:39,400 --> 00:20:43,800 and he says, what is it son? He says, what is a Christian? 299 00:20:46,300 --> 00:20:48,800 Well, I guess this is an important question. 300 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:53,200 I better explain it to him. He says a Christian is a person 301 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:57,300 that, that is a good person, that's a moral person that 302 00:20:57,300 --> 00:21:00,800 believes in God, that believes that Jesus Christ died for our 303 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:03,500 sins, and that was buried and rose again. 304 00:21:03,700 --> 00:21:06,500 So that we get to have a hope of everlasting life. 305 00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:09,300 A Christian is a person that does good to other people. 306 00:21:09,500 --> 00:21:12,300 Appreciate Christian is one that takes care of other people 307 00:21:12,500 --> 00:21:16,700 oppression at Christian is one that That is responsible and 308 00:21:16,700 --> 00:21:19,500 honest, and trustworthy and all these things. 309 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:25,400 And the boy asked the question. He said, well, Daddy have I seen 310 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,900 a Christian. Have we seen Christians yet? 311 00:21:29,900 --> 00:21:31,800 You seeing? It's a sad statement. 312 00:21:33,300 --> 00:21:37,900 On society sometimes and maybe I hope not in our lives. 313 00:21:38,900 --> 00:21:41,400 That people see Christ Living in US. 314 00:21:42,800 --> 00:21:45,700 And we don't blend in with the rest of the world and become 315 00:21:45,900 --> 00:21:48,900 part of the world. And creep people never see 316 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:54,400 Christ in us as this little boy, never saw somebody apparently 317 00:21:55,000 --> 00:22:01,400 that fit the description that his father had given well, Let's 318 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:05,300 move on. We show our love to each other 319 00:22:05,300 --> 00:22:08,800 by forgiving one. Another Ephesians 4:23 be kind 320 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:13,600 and compassionate to one another forgiving each other just as in 321 00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:20,000 Christ God forgave you We submit to each other, Ephesians, 5 and 322 00:22:20,000 --> 00:22:24,800 21, submitting yourselves to one another in the fear of God. 323 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:30,000 Matthew Henry, commentary says that there is a mutual 324 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:35,000 submission that Christians 0 to one another condescending to 325 00:22:35,000 --> 00:22:40,000 Bear one another's burdens not advancing themselves above 326 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:44,400 others, nor domineering over one another and giving laws to the 327 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,700 other. We must be of a yielding and of 328 00:22:47,700 --> 00:22:52,400 a submissive Spirit we submit to each other. 329 00:22:53,400 --> 00:22:57,500 That means sometimes we give into each other and we don't 330 00:22:57,500 --> 00:23:03,600 insist upon our own ways, but we bear each other's burdens, and 331 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:06,500 we don't try to take over other people's lives and all those 332 00:23:06,500 --> 00:23:08,600 kinds of things we submit to each other. 333 00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:12,500 We also find that we are to exhort one another, Hebrews 3 in 334 00:23:12,500 --> 00:23:15,200 verses 12 and 13, C to had brothers. 335 00:23:15,200 --> 00:23:18,600 That none of you has a sinful unbelieving heart that turns 336 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:22,700 away from the Living God, but encourage one another daily as 337 00:23:22,700 --> 00:23:27,400 long as It is called today, so that none of you may be hardened 338 00:23:27,500 --> 00:23:31,500 by sins deceitfulness. You know, there's times. 339 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:37,800 In our lives that we need to be told you need to straighten up. 340 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:42,900 You can't be doing that. We exhort each other, we try to 341 00:23:42,900 --> 00:23:45,700 correct each other. We try to help each other and 342 00:23:45,700 --> 00:23:50,200 let each other know that we do care for each other. 343 00:23:55,800 --> 00:24:02,800 We are to consider. One another Hebrews Tenon and 24 344 00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:05,300 and let us consider how we may spur one. 345 00:24:05,300 --> 00:24:09,800 Another on toward love and Good Deeds. 346 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:12,900 We are to be hospitable to one another first. 347 00:24:12,900 --> 00:24:17,400 Peter foreign verses 8 through, 10 above all love each other 348 00:24:17,400 --> 00:24:21,300 deeply because love covers a multitude of sins. 349 00:24:22,300 --> 00:24:25,600 Offer Hospitality to one another without grumbling. 350 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:28,800 Each one should use whatever gift. 351 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:35,400 He has Andres and receive, and received to serve others 352 00:24:35,900 --> 00:24:41,100 Faithfully, administering God's grace, and its various forms. 353 00:24:44,300 --> 00:24:46,900 Christians ought to love one another, which implies an 354 00:24:46,900 --> 00:24:53,300 affection for that person. A desire for their welfare. 355 00:24:54,500 --> 00:24:56,300 And a hearty Endeavor to promote it. 356 00:24:58,300 --> 00:25:02,100 And this Mutual affection that is shown between t, tween each 357 00:25:02,100 --> 00:25:06,700 other, it must be sincere and must be honest and strong and 358 00:25:06,700 --> 00:25:11,100 Lasting. In verse 9, the hospital 359 00:25:11,100 --> 00:25:16,300 Hospitality here required is a free and kind entertainment of 360 00:25:16,300 --> 00:25:21,000 strangers and travelers. The proper object of Christian 361 00:25:21,000 --> 00:25:28,800 Hospitality are one another. The Nearness of the relation and 362 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:32,400 the necessity of their condition in those times of persecution 363 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:36,700 and distress obliged. Christians to be hospitable to 364 00:25:36,700 --> 00:25:39,500 one another. The manner of Performing this 365 00:25:39,500 --> 00:25:45,000 duty is this, it must be done in an easy, kind manner without 366 00:25:45,000 --> 00:25:48,500 grudging or gambling, grumbling at the expense or trouble. 367 00:25:51,000 --> 00:25:54,800 I don't know. You know, I there's there's 368 00:25:54,800 --> 00:25:57,500 certain things I miss as time goes on. 369 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:05,100 There's a lot of things I miss. But one of the things I miss is 370 00:26:05,100 --> 00:26:09,800 how the Brethren used to get together, more on Sundays or 371 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:16,600 just at any time. When I was young and at home, we 372 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:20,800 never went home without another family on a Sunday. 373 00:26:23,100 --> 00:26:26,200 We just didn't we spent the day together? 374 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:32,200 And it's sad that I see sometimes in the church that we 375 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:35,700 want to see how quickly we can get away from each other. 376 00:26:37,700 --> 00:26:42,500 And that's not right. Want to see how quick we can get 377 00:26:42,500 --> 00:26:45,000 past the service, want to see how quick we can get over with 378 00:26:45,200 --> 00:26:48,200 the lunch. Have we take out the singing and 379 00:26:48,300 --> 00:26:50,200 get on with the service, so we can get it over with. 380 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:52,100 So we can get on to our own lives and get away from the 381 00:26:52,100 --> 00:26:54,400 brother. I'm not for that. 382 00:26:55,800 --> 00:26:59,000 Never have been. I'm not going to make a big deal 383 00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:01,600 out of but I'm not for it. I think we need to be together. 384 00:27:02,500 --> 00:27:10,200 We ought to prefer each other. And that is being hospitable to 385 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:15,200 each other, bringing them into our homes, asking them over for 386 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:18,100 dinners or for lunches or whatever it may be doing things 387 00:27:18,100 --> 00:27:21,200 and activities together and doesn't have to be us all doing 388 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:24,600 everything all at once. But we can be families coming 389 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:27,600 together, whatever it may be, or those that are traveling, is 390 00:27:27,600 --> 00:27:30,300 your home open to those that are traveling to those that are in 391 00:27:30,300 --> 00:27:32,800 need. Maybe someone has had problems 392 00:27:32,800 --> 00:27:34,900 in their home. Have you offered your home as a 393 00:27:34,908 --> 00:27:39,800 place for them to spend? And time and feel comfortable 394 00:27:40,100 --> 00:27:42,900 while they take care of the problems at home. 395 00:27:42,900 --> 00:27:49,100 Whether it's a water leak, or a fire or whatever it may be, And 396 00:27:49,100 --> 00:27:52,700 then not complain about it. That's what he says. 397 00:27:54,300 --> 00:27:56,100 How are well, are we doing these things? 398 00:27:56,100 --> 00:28:00,000 Let's see how we're fulfilling our obligations to one another. 399 00:28:11,100 --> 00:28:16,600 so, when we evaluate, Our role as our Brother's Keeper when 400 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:22,400 someone maybe becomes a child of God or maybe comes back to, to 401 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:29,100 the the church during we do we receive them into the family God 402 00:28:29,100 --> 00:28:35,200 or do we just ignore them? Romans 15 and seven. 403 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:39,300 Accept one another then just as Christ accepted you in order to 404 00:28:39,300 --> 00:28:40,700 bring. Praise to God. 405 00:28:41,900 --> 00:28:46,200 Are they included in the family activities of the congregation? 406 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:50,400 If you say the family life, or do they remain On The Fringe? 407 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:55,000 Because they're not in the circle of trust. 408 00:28:55,200 --> 00:29:00,300 If you say, do we edify them as individuals? 409 00:29:00,300 --> 00:29:02,800 Are we encouraging the members of the body? 410 00:29:02,800 --> 00:29:05,500 Or we like a cancer? Weakening the members of the 411 00:29:05,500 --> 00:29:09,500 body of Christ by our own example, maybe or by our words, 412 00:29:09,500 --> 00:29:11,900 our attitudes, do we submit to them? 413 00:29:11,900 --> 00:29:15,000 Or, or do we just want to rule over them? 414 00:29:15,700 --> 00:29:19,400 Do we serve them in love or expect them to serve us? 415 00:29:20,500 --> 00:29:23,000 Do we demonstrate Hospitality to them? 416 00:29:24,300 --> 00:29:28,400 By visiting them in their time of need or inviting them into 417 00:29:28,400 --> 00:29:32,100 our home or accepting invitations, into their home. 418 00:29:33,500 --> 00:29:35,800 Maybe one of Brothers, overtaken in a fault. 419 00:29:36,300 --> 00:29:41,000 Do we even offer our help? Our counsel. 420 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:45,000 Are we even aware of the problems they are experiencing 421 00:29:45,300 --> 00:29:49,600 if so, why are we not aware? Is it because we aren't around 422 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:52,200 them enough to even know what's going on in their life? 423 00:29:53,700 --> 00:29:59,600 We are a family. In a family, should gather a 424 00:29:59,600 --> 00:30:03,600 family should be together. A family should love to be 425 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:06,900 together because we are a family. 426 00:30:09,700 --> 00:30:13,400 And if I am not with you, I don't know what your needs are. 427 00:30:18,000 --> 00:30:21,200 Maybe it's because we don't assemble enough with our 428 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:25,000 brethren. We may wonder about them but 429 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:28,900 that's not sufficient. And then before we know it, some 430 00:30:28,900 --> 00:30:35,800 drift away and sometimes we may not even realize they have 431 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:41,700 drifted away. Do we exhort them? 432 00:30:42,400 --> 00:30:45,500 So they won't be caught up in sin. 433 00:30:48,300 --> 00:30:52,400 Are we afraid to confront them because we're afraid maybe that 434 00:30:52,400 --> 00:31:00,200 they will run away? Are we willing to Bear their 435 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:04,200 burdens? To help them overcome and become 436 00:31:04,200 --> 00:31:08,800 stronger, or would we rather maybe not get involved and not 437 00:31:08,800 --> 00:31:16,600 be bothered with it? Are we quick to forgive them 438 00:31:16,600 --> 00:31:34,400 when they repent? it's a story of a, Peasant who 439 00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:36,600 applied to join the Communist party. 440 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:41,900 I just ran across this story. I didn't write it so And he 441 00:31:41,908 --> 00:31:46,500 appears before the local party secretary to answer questions 442 00:31:46,500 --> 00:31:53,400 about his worth worthiness. If you have to count, excuse me, 443 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:57,700 two cats, will you give one of them away and he says yes I 444 00:31:57,700 --> 00:32:00,000 will. They asked him. 445 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:02,500 If you have two tractors, will you give one away? 446 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:07,300 Certainly he says If you have two houses will you give one 447 00:32:07,300 --> 00:32:09,200 away? Absolutely. 448 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:12,400 No problems. If you have two cows. 449 00:32:12,400 --> 00:32:14,300 Will you give one away? Oh no. 450 00:32:14,300 --> 00:32:17,500 I couldn't do that. He says well why not? 451 00:32:18,700 --> 00:32:21,100 He says, because I have two cows. 452 00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:32,200 You see, we don't mind. Doing it until it impacts. 453 00:32:32,700 --> 00:32:42,000 Our life are selfish lives. when it impacts us, when it comes 454 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:51,200 home, when it, when it hits us, when it becomes some work, then 455 00:32:51,200 --> 00:32:56,000 we've got a problem. Just like this person. 456 00:32:56,000 --> 00:32:58,300 He didn't have two cats. He didn't have two houses. 457 00:32:58,600 --> 00:33:01,200 Didn't have two tractors, but he had two cows, and he wasn't 458 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:05,900 willing to do it. Excuses, have become so common 459 00:33:05,900 --> 00:33:08,700 these days often when we have the opportunity to be 460 00:33:08,700 --> 00:33:10,500 hospitable. We hear these excuses. 461 00:33:10,500 --> 00:33:12,900 Well, I don't have the room. We're not able. 462 00:33:13,100 --> 00:33:18,100 I I don't know about that. I did and I didn't know that 463 00:33:18,100 --> 00:33:22,900 someone else was in need no one told me and I can't do that. 464 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:30,400 You know, there's barriers. That we put up sometimes when we 465 00:33:30,400 --> 00:33:35,900 talk about this subject that we put barriers in our own lives 466 00:33:36,600 --> 00:33:40,100 and in, you know, Jesus called us to do a work and called us to 467 00:33:40,100 --> 00:33:42,500 do something here. That is not comfortable. 468 00:33:42,500 --> 00:33:49,100 And it's, it's, it's difficult work for us to be our Brother's 469 00:33:49,100 --> 00:33:52,200 Keeper. We want it to be easy. 470 00:33:54,500 --> 00:33:59,900 You know, when when and Stacy had little, Zoe she keeps 471 00:33:59,900 --> 00:34:01,600 telling me. She's so very thankful that 472 00:34:01,600 --> 00:34:06,300 she's got a good baby. That is easy to take care of, 473 00:34:06,900 --> 00:34:10,400 but shouldn't we all know that sometimes we've had really good, 474 00:34:10,400 --> 00:34:13,100 easy babies, to take care of. And then we've had some that 475 00:34:13,100 --> 00:34:19,199 were just a chore. We love them. 476 00:34:19,300 --> 00:34:22,100 We absolutely love them, but they're a chore. 477 00:34:23,500 --> 00:34:26,800 And some of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ are a chore. 478 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:33,100 It's not easy. But we have a responsibility. 479 00:34:43,300 --> 00:34:48,300 We group people into certain categories and we put them into 480 00:34:48,300 --> 00:34:53,600 these categories about okay, you know, if if and we kind of 481 00:34:53,607 --> 00:34:57,300 create our own circles in our own people that we feel 482 00:34:57,300 --> 00:35:00,500 comfortable with and we don't like stepping out of that into 483 00:35:00,500 --> 00:35:04,100 other areas because we feel uncomfortable and it can be for 484 00:35:04,100 --> 00:35:06,900 all kinds of reasons. But we put these barriers up 485 00:35:06,900 --> 00:35:09,800 that we don't want to go outside of that barrier. 486 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:12,900 That we have created because that's our comfort. 487 00:35:13,200 --> 00:35:15,900 You see? And we don't like, stepping out 488 00:35:15,900 --> 00:35:19,200 of that comfort zone and we may not help. 489 00:35:19,200 --> 00:35:21,500 Someone who knows what the reason is. 490 00:35:21,500 --> 00:35:26,300 Maybe it's the way they dress. Maybe it's their political 491 00:35:26,300 --> 00:35:31,300 views. Maybe it's because of the rage, 492 00:35:31,700 --> 00:35:35,800 maybe it sometimes might even be because of their skin color. 493 00:35:36,800 --> 00:35:38,400 Well, we better step out of that one. 494 00:35:42,300 --> 00:35:46,600 Are you your brother's keeper? Or are you one who both cares 495 00:35:46,600 --> 00:35:51,300 for all those in the family and be cared for by them? 496 00:35:54,300 --> 00:35:58,300 And lastly, I just thought of this at the end. 497 00:35:59,900 --> 00:36:05,500 Are we our children's keeper? Yeah, we are. 498 00:36:06,900 --> 00:36:10,300 Proverbs 22 and 6, train up a child in the way he should go 499 00:36:10,700 --> 00:36:13,500 and when he is old, he will not depart from it. 500 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:18,500 You see, we are more than just a keeper of our brother. 501 00:36:19,700 --> 00:36:24,600 I keep of our brother. We are a keeper of everyone. 502 00:36:27,100 --> 00:36:33,400 When it comes to their soul. When it comes to their welfare, 503 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:36,600 when it comes to their well-being, whatever it is. 504 00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:39,900 When it comes to their needs in times of sickness, whatever 505 00:36:39,900 --> 00:36:43,700 tragedy problems in their life, emotional. 506 00:36:44,000 --> 00:36:48,600 Whatever it is. We are our Brother's Keeper. 507 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:53,000 We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the 508 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:58,700 Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you 509 00:36:58,707 --> 00:37:01,800 would like any additional information, or you would like 510 00:37:01,800 --> 00:37:05,000 to receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail. 511 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:09,500 Please email us at info at her Church of Christ 512 00:37:09,500 --> 00:37:13,400 Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays 513 00:37:13,400 --> 00:37:19,100 at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. 514 00:37:19,700 --> 00:37:23,200 Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our 515 00:37:23,200 --> 00:37:24,100 honored guest.