BUILDING TOGETHER THE KINGDOM

1. BY AFFIRMING EACH OTHER’S WORTH. How can we do that?

We do it by accepting others.
Romans 15:7, “Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you.” Some tend to put down others who aren’t like them – people who are late, or don’t dress the right way, or whatever. We’re all different.

We do it by giving our attention.
Galatians 6:10, “Give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.” You can accept someone but not give them attention – this one takes TIME. Here’s a general principle – what we give attention to tends to grow – marriage, kids, plants, etc.). The only place where this doesn’t work is my hair! People thrive on FOCUSED ATTENTION – it communicates love. Many people have attention-starved relationships.

We do it by expressing our affection.
Romans 12:10, “Love one another with brotherly affection as member of one family.” We’re talking about physical touch – we all need it. There’s the FAILURE TO THRIVE SYNDROME in babies – they’re neglected and they don’t thrive.
It can happen with adults, with teenagers, with all of us (we need hugs, touches). Parents need to hug their kids – it’s so healthy. We all need it!

We do it by showing our appreciation.
1 Thessalonians 5:12, “Brothers and sisters, appreciate those who work hard among you, who lead you in the Lord and teach you.” Appreciation means to raise in value. Are there valuable people in your life who need to hear it from you?
When we share and show our appreciation, we’re raising their value in their eyes and in ours.

2. BY PRAYING FOR EACH OTHER’S GROWTH

Colossians 4:12, “Epaphras always prays for you that you will grow to be spiritually mature.”
Wouldn’t it be great to know people are praying for your spiritual growth?
We pray for a whole lot of things – but do we pray for someone’s spiritual growth?

HOW DO YOU PRAY FOR SOMEONE’S SPIRITUAL GROWTH?
Here are a number of passages that do just that.
Ephesians 3:18-19, “I pray you’ll be able to feel and understand, how long, wide, deep, and high Christ’s love really is, and to experience this love for yourselves.”

Hebrews 13:21, “I pray you will always be eager to do right.”
Romans 15:13, “I pray God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace while you trust in him.”
Ephesians 1:17, “I pray God would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation.”
2 Thessalonians 3:5, “I pray the Lord will guide you to be as loving as God and as patient as Christ.”
Ephesians 3:16, “I pray God may strengthen you with power through his Spirit.”
3. BY ADMITTING OUR OWN NEEDS AND SHORTCOMINGS (honesty).

Ephesians 4:25, “Tell each other the truth, because we all belong to each other.”
This is about honesty and openness. When we’re honest about ourselves, it tends to help others be honest about themselves. Honesty about our concerns, fears, failures and so on. People tend to stay away from “Mr/Mrs PERFECT” (because we can’t identify with that person).

What happens when we’re honest and open – what happens to us and those we influence?

We receive emotional healing.
James 5:16, “Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” You want forgiveness, you confess it to God or the person you’ve offended. If we want healing, if we need to get rid of the pain, if we need to get it behind us, God says ADMIT IT TO SOMEONE – tell someone one who can pray. Secret life? ADMIT IT. Deep hurts? ADMIT IT. Failures in life? ADMIT IT.

We get a fresh start.
Proverbs 28:13, “Anyone who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confesses and forsakes them, he gets another chance.” God is always willing to give us a fresh start but it involves honesty.

We experience God’s power to change.
James 4:10, “When you bow down before the Lord and admit your dependence on him, God will lift you up and give you honor.” God resists the proud but lifts up the humble heart. When we admit our need for him, his life/power is always available to us.

We also experience deeper fellowship with others.
1 John 1:7, “If we live in the light, then we have fellowship with one another.” None of us is PERFECT – when we admit that, others are more comfortable to be around us and open their lives and hearts to us.

4. BY ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER’S COMMITMENT.

Romans 1:12, “I want us to help each other with the faith we have. Your faith will help me, and my faith will help you.”
We need to encouraging support of each other! We can’t make it alone, period. Our commitment to Christ needs encouragement. We need to LIFT EACH OTHER UP – to tell others that their faith in Christ is the right way to go – to keep PUSHING each other toward the goal of honoring Christ in everything!