He Cares For You, Pt 2

James Weidner III   -   October 8, 2023

Philippians 2:19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.

  1. Caring is a responsibility of the body of Christ. 
    1. Paul sent Timothy to know their state.
      1. There was an interest to know their state.
    2. In order to care one first must know what is going on. 
    3. Ela… I find that people have a tendency to withdraw when their state is not good. 
    4. We need to be seen and be ok with being seen. 
      1. Anonymity has become popular in Church because anonymity is easy, clean and even attractive. 
      2.  the condition of being anonymous…. Not being seen.
      3. lack of outstanding, individual, or unusual features; impersonality.
    5. Ela… it is taking some time to figure out our care strategy… I was trained that when someone is in the body you reach out to them and create opportunities for personal touch… 
    6. But learning that right when someone knows they are being seen they sometimes shrink back into the shadows or someplace where they will not be seen. 
    7. Paul’s mind was to care for their condition
  2. Sincere care is hard to come by.

20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.

  1. After all those years in ministry Paul had a hard time finding many who were like minded and caring…
  2. Ela… It is easier to turn and look the other direction.
  3.  Ela… the story of the good samaritan. 
  4. And many times tempting to do so.
  5. Trying to care for someone can be intimidating…
    1. if you feel you should have their solution. 
      1. 3.2. Caring does not mean you have to know the answer or solve their problems.
      2. 3.3. This mindset needs to be on both sides of the caring. 
      3. 3.4. Ela… I asked one guy how a friend was doing and he said I don’t know because if I ask it will cost me money. 
      4. 3.5. Ela… another guy said to me once after months of counseling: “just talk”
  1. There are different ways to care…

1 John 3:17-18 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

    1. We have to be looking to see…
  2. Then comes the potential for rejection. 
    1. We care because it is the right thing to do. 
    2. Not because we will get anything out of it because we may not. 
    3. You try to care for people and they up and decide one day that they don’t need your care or like you any more and disappear. 
    4. But you have to get up the next week and try again.
    1. Like where we started caring is one of the most challenging things to do. 
  1. Are we ready for Jesus to visit our home?

Luke 19:1-6 (NKJV) 1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.

Luke 10:38-39 (NKJV) 38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.

    1. Intimacy with Christ welcoming Him into our home. 

Conclusion: 

Mark 12:29-34 (ESV) 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”