Am I My Brother's Keeper?

Key Points





God both warns and offers hope with stories of brother-to-brother
relationships.


Both Cain & Abel were committing religious acts. Both
“believed” but Cain was still “of the evil one”. You can be
religious and not know God. 


God sees and comes asking questions, knowing our very
heart. We can bring a tight-lipped stubborn resolve or a
surrendered admittance: “I need help.” “Mastering it” is too much
for me without You. 


There are other forms of murder as stated by the apostle John and
Jesus: hatred in your heart, anger, name calling with derogatory
terms murdering the soul.


We need to either be born of God, resulting in loving our
brothers, or growing in the love of God, corrected and freed
by Him from the influence of another spirit.  


If we are truly born of God, we will not continue in habitual
anger turning to hatred. Our continued growing hatred,
resentment, or unforgiveness may reveal our need to be born
again; our own soul is in jeopardy until we are born
again.  


Being born of God is a supernatural rebirth and empowering of the
risen Christ, who by His cross has forgiven us of all our hatred
and unloving ways; by His resurrection, He now lives in us,
teaching us to love and forgive as He does.


Loving your brother does not always mean unified in
thought/action. Jesus stuck to His mission despite His brothers’
disbelief, then forgave and utilized them. 


Loving your brother appreciates differences of temperaments and
celebrates the Lord’s use and successes of the other, such as
Andrew and Peter.





Discussion





Which brother/sister (maybe not by blood) came to mind during
this message? 


Does knowing that God sees your heart bring you comfort or
conviction? Do you want to hide and justify yourself or run to
Him for forgiveness and help? 


Are you sure by John’s accounting that you indeed have been born
of God? If not, what do you think is the next step for you? 


After assurance of being born of God, what next steps could you
prayerfully take to move toward that person that came to mind
earlier? 


Our Savior & Lord is known as our brother (Hebrews
2:10-12; John 20:17) and He is not ashamed to call us His
brethren. How does that affect you?





Ten Suggestions For Parents And Siblings





At a very early age, they need to see you bowing your head and
talking to God. They can’t see Him but will start wondering and
learn that He sees all and cares. 


At a very early age, tell them who God is: our loving Creator who
made us and everything in the world.


He made you very special, with likeness to Him. You are
wonderfully made. He made you so He could love you too, like He
loves mommy and daddy. He made us to love Him back. He wants us
to be part of His family: called Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Yes, God has a Son. His name is Jesus. 


Know that your child is born with Adam’s fallen nature and will
reveal it at a very early age with the word “mine,” and a scream
when someone tries to take it. 


When they have a sibling born, let your firstborn participate in
caring for their brother or sister, telling them everything they
have learned above. Their sibling is made by God too, very
special. Special to God, special for you. He wanted you to have a
brother or sister. Let’s always treat them very special and be
kind with good words. 


We all need a Savior. God knows we mess up and are not always
kind… “Mommy got impatient today, will you forgive me?” God sent
His Son, our Savior, to forgive me.


If you have ever called your child a derogatory word or phrase,
it is time for you as a parent to repent. Don’t excuse it. Humble
yourself and ask for forgiveness of your child if they are old
enough to remember and give them permission to call you on it if
you ever do it again. Tell them you need a Savior too. 


Do not display that you have favorites like Sarah did with Jacob
and Isaac did with Esau. Jacob did it with Joseph, gifting him a
special coat to honor him. 


Know that, though you don’t play favorites, each child is
different in temperament and giftings and cannot be treated
exactly the same way. One form of discipline which is necessary
with one child, could crush another. You must study your
children, asking God for wisdom and insight into them. 


To older siblings who participated in the name calling and
mistreatment of your brother or sister: you ought to care what
God thinks and ask Him for help. Apologize and start fresh. You
may not know how deeply they are dealing with things until it is
too late.