Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
Two are better than one.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
PHI 4:10 Now, I have received much inner happiness by means of the Lord greatly,
1. The manifestation of Paul’s recovery of his supergrace status is found both in the possession of his perfect happiness and the fact that his happiness is stimulated by the obvious interest of the Philippian church.
2. Paul was in prison because of the Jerusalem fiasco – Paul willfully disobeying God resulting in imprisonment.
3. So great was their interest that they sent their pastor, Epaphroditus, with an offering for Paul.
“That now” – conjunction hoti – o@ti + adverb of time – ede – h[dh + pote – poteV – length = “that now at length.”
Concern – pres-act-inf – phroneo – fronein = to care or be concerned about others with objective thinking.
There have been remarkable technological advances in science, medicine and communication.
Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone, empathy is feeling what he is going through, but compassion is doing something about his need.
1JO 3:17 But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?
GEN 2:18 “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”
Ezer – helper = “to surround with care”
Jud 22 “Some have compassion making a difference.”
We are called ambassadors for Christ – we represent God to these people.
HOS 4:6a “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”
Perhaps more lonely than any other culture around the world even though we are the most advanced technologically.
GEN 2:18 “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him.”
Today as Americans living in an advanced society, we value mobility, convenience, accommodations, and privacy.
Jacob Burckhardt –
“Western man was barely aware of himself before the Renaissance (14th century). He hardly viewed himself as an individual. Mostly he drew his identity from membership in groups, family, tribes and guilds.”
The problem that we have today is that most people want more knowledge and information rather than involvement in other people’s lives.
The method of communicating information has more influence on people than the information itself.
Once the printing press was invented, it took the invention of print to tear us from our tribes, groups, and families, and to plant the dream of isolation in our brains.
There is a kind of love relationship with the intangible’s, those things that don’t talk back.
Computers and computer games – little boxes made for one.
1JO 2:15 Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1JO 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
Being compassionate and caring for others means to lighten adversity by dividing and sharing it.
JOB 6:14 For the despairing man there should be kindness from his friend;
GAL 6:2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ.
The Living Bible – “for the results can be much better.”
The greatest man who ever lived was compassionate and cared for others –
HEB 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Friendship is really indispensable and to the person who thinks he or she has no need and feels no need for it, they must be either much above the human nature or much below it.
MAR 6:7 “And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs; and He was giving them authority over the unclean spirits;”
This is why there was Moses and Aaron.
ACT 13:2 And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”
REV 11:3 “And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for twelve hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”