PR. KAMYA EMMANUEL
Standing in for our brethren is unconditional help we give in the help our fellow brethren. This help can be physical or spiritual. As Christians, it is our responsibility to support each other. Especially in times when our brethren have slid off the salvation lane. For example, committing sins that lead to trespass.
In the book of Galatians 6:1-5, the writer cautions us “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load. Be Generous and Do Good.”
The bible calls on those who are still standing firm in Christ to take that responsibility of helping brethren who have fallen back but it also emphasizes that those willing to help must have the spirit of gentleness which is free of mockery, judgement or condemnation or ex-communication.
The spirit of gentleness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Galatians 5:23).
Hebrews 13:1-3, Let brotherly love continue. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.
We must sympathize with our brethren who have fallen because just as they are in flesh we too are and what has happened to them can as well happen to us.
Always remember that ‘You are still standing not because of your prayers but because of God’s grace.’
Whenever we speak to our backslide brethren with love, empathy, we are helping them carry their burden and arise again in the Lord.
In this walk of life, we need each other. What made the early church strong and the foundation of the latter church is because they were united without lies or hypocrisy.
Act 4:32-33, Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. And with great power, the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
A good church must imitate what the early church did, however, a church that is filled with hypocrisy cannot stand. That is why many have sown seeds of hate amongst brethren with lies.
Exodus 17:8-13, Whenever Moses’s hands were up the Israelites prevailed over Amalekites but when they were down the Amalekites prevailed. When his hand got heavy Aaron and Hur held up his hands till Israel completely defeated the Amalekites.
Moses, Aaron and Hur were not in the battle physically but were they stood before God to empower those in the battle.
Moses was powerful as he was also becoming weary and needed Aaron and Hur who wasn’t anointed as he was.
We need to encourage those who have been discouraged in the Lord because of what has happened/been said to them because our God still needs them and offers them an opportunity to repent and be that which He meant for them to be.
It pleases God when we help those who had fallen away come back to Him.
God’s love and his ways manifest in us when we don’t cast aside those who have backslidden because God’s love is filled with forgiveness.
Patience is a very important virtue as we bear each other’s burdens in our ministry, our jobs, our families & marriages.
Give people time to change and be transformed.
To the one who has fallen from God, know that God still needs you, give God a chance to place someone in your life to show you His love and ignore every condemnation voice that wants you to do yourself harm.
