My Brother's Keeper | Bro. Zach McGee

Hallelujah Jesus. God is good and all the time God

is good. I want to give honor to God

tonight for all that he has done and all that he is going to do.

The world is crazy and messed up.

I'm saying more and more news of urgent bad stuff happening so

much. But through it all I know God is

doing something and I know He will continue to do something

good. I give honor tonight to my wife

and children. I am blessed beyond measure to

have such an amazing woman, 2 beautiful daughters and one more

in the oven. So, so just needs to be a boy.

That would be great, but I will thank God no matter what.

I want to give honor to pastor tonight.

We are blessed with his anointing and his ministry.

I love to listen to him. I feel like I learned so much

because he goes so deep and I love it.

I give honor to our Bishop, especially to his heart.

He's a man I know any of us can go to at any time and know that

he will hear and love and pray with us.

I give honor to Doctor Mason. I am thankful for his ministry

for almost all of my life, how he taught and preached to us and

youth. And I can continue to hear him

and mighty anointed word even still to to this day.

And I'm so grateful. I give honor to Brother Alex

Mason. He is an anointed minister and

musician and I am blessed to call him my friend.

Tonight I'm going to turn to just to read this one scripture

in Genesis chapter 4 and verse #9 I know Genesis, I'm sorry,

Genesis 4 · chapter mention

but it's just one verse, OK. And the Lord said unto Cain,

where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not Am I my

brother's keeper? And tonight I'm going to speak

on this, my brother's keeper. Help me pray.

Jesus, thank you for what you've already done.

And God, thank you for this word.

Pray God you anoint my mind and my lips.

God, as I bring forth and minister the word.

God help me to speak as you would have me to speak and let

your word go forth to accomplish that which you would have it to

do. And God would give you all the

glory and the honor in Jesus name, Amen and Amen.

You may be seated personal responsibility.

It is a big, big hard thing we all have to learn in our lives.

And part of that is learning what our responsibility actually

entitles. Because the harshness of the

lesson comes from the fact that it normally blindsides us when

we learn it. Because we didn't expect to be

the one to have to own up to that much responsibility.

And it feels wrong and unfair if I go into a parking lot and I

parked my car and I'm just a little bit outside the lines or

maybe just not forward far enough, but I'm in the lines and

someone goes through and bumps my car with theirs.

I want to blame them. OK, I wasn't entirely in the

lines, but I was in the lines. Open your eyes.

How did you not see a vehicle? This is not some like little

bitty rock. We're talking about a whole two

3000 LB piece of machinery. And then from their point of

view, why would you park like that?

You know, you can get hit. There's lines here for a reason,

Princess. Park inside of them.

Let me take some chalk and put it over here for you.

And you know we're both right. I don't know legally who would

win that battle, but I do know I'm responsible for how I parked

my car, even though I don't want to own up to that.

They're responsible for not paying enough attention.

If we had both just been focused on being accountable for our

actions and the potential of what could happen, there

wouldn't have been an accident, we wouldn't be stressed out,

everything would have been fine. Now, I'm pretty sure I'm correct

in saying that for most of us, if not every single one of us,

our first instinct is to blame something or someone else for

why we did something wrong. So, you know, sometimes we'll

even admit, OK, I was wrong, but it's still natural to want to

share the blame to help justify our actions.

Like, OK, OK, I parked wrong, but you should have been paying.

You should have. You shouldn't have hit my car.

I shouldn't have parked like that.

If I had just parked correctly, like I knew how to do, this

wouldn't have happened. I need to stop focusing on their

part and start thinking what my responsibility, what I did.

And this, it's not unique. It's always been there in human

history. Adam and Eve did it at the very

beginning. Adam blamed Eve for giving him

the fruit to eat, and Eve blamed the serpent for tricking her

into eating it. But Adam should have led his

wife astray from the serpent the moment he heard it speaking lies

because he was standing right there.

He didn't come up later. And Eve should have trusted what

Adam had already told her about the fruit beforehand, that they

would die if they eat it above what the serpent told her.

They are both fully responsible for their own action and failure

of personally eating the fruit, but they are also both fully

responsible for not watching out for each other.

Because it's not just that they did the wrong themselves, their

responsibility was also to make sure the other person didn't do

it. Taking full account of our own

actions and reactions goes against our nature, but it is

what we are called to do. Someday we will stand before the

throne of God to give an answer of ourselves before Him.

Every word we have ever spoken will be brought forward.

There's not going to be an excuse or reasoning that we are

going to be able to use to rightly justify our sin or

shortcomings before a God who is perfect, who made us, who knew

our names before we were even in the womb, who knew exactly what

we could and could not do. And beyond that, for what we

could not do ourselves. He was always our strength.

He knows intimately what we can and can't do.

So when we come forward with an excuse, it will die in our

throat because we'll realize how much that excuse isn't real.

It doesn't justify anything because he already adjusted for

all of our shortcomings and made sure a way was going to be

possible, even by being our strength when we come up short.

There's no justification for my wrong actions.

I'm not responsible for external actions.

I'm not saying that what happens to you is beyond your your

control. What you do is what we will give

an account for. I can't have an excuse, but I do

have grace now. We are called to mortify the

deeds of our body, to deny the natural tendencies of our flesh.

We are called to take up our cross, to die or repent daily,

to fast and to pray, to work out our own salvation with fear and

trembling. Getting ourselves right is the

great challenge of our lifetime, to take responsibility for our

own actions and to strive for the mark of perfection ever

growing in God. And yet, on top of that, we are

also called to win other souls besides our own, and on top of

that, called to bear one another's burdens and to look

out for each other. It's hard enough when you feel

like you're already drowning to help someone else to stay

afloat, but that's Our Calling. While I work on getting myself

right with God, I also have to help my brothers and sisters in

Christ to get right with God through my words, my actions,

and my witness, my influence. I think we all know that Cain

wasn't sincerely or innocently asking God, am I my brother's

keeper? I see a more like what am I my

brother's keeper? And he asked with such scoffing

and such frustration and annoyance.

But the question is still there and echoes throughout eternity

asking of us the same thing today.

Am I my brother or sister's keeper?

I can't answer to God for you and I can't control your

actions, so are you my responsibility?

Yes, even as natural born siblings are told to avoid

acting in certain ways or talking in certain ways to avoid

being a bad influence to the younger ones and are also

expected to look after the younger ones when mom and dad

are away. Even in the same ways, we are

expected to be mindful of our words and actions and to look

out for one another. I may not be responsible for the

saving of your soul or for controlling your actions, but I

am called to watch out for you. Galatians 6-1 and two, brethren,

if any man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual,

restore such an one in the spirit of meekness, considering

thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of

Christ. When I see my brother falling,

it is my responsibility, my God-given duty, to reach out to

him and help him get back up. I am to bear his burden with

him, crying with him, praying together, being a listening ear,

reaching out in love when he messes up, or at the very least,

and perhaps the most important, being there that he knows I am

there so that he knows he is not alone.

His fall was not my fault, but my hands should be there to lift

him back up again and to remind him of the love and grace of

God, to be the voice encouraging him to get back to where he

knows he needs to be. I'm not blind to the sin he

committed, but neither am I blind to the grace of God that

is greater than that sin because I have needed it several times

myself. My helping hand is not a seal of

approval for his sin, rather it is the grace of God reaching

through me to my brother. We are the hands and feet of

Christ, not only to the spreading of the gospel to the

whole world, but to the uplifting and encouragement of

our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Galatians 610. As we have therefore

opportunity, let us do good, and to all men, especially unto them

who are of the household of faith, the greatest good we're

going to do for each other is to rise up and be each other's

keeper. To not focus just on my own walk

with God, but that I'm also mindful of your walk with God

and your walk with God. The purpose of the church is to

bring us together so that we aren't alone.

But it's also more than just providing encouragement, help.

It's also about not letting the things we do and say just in our

daily lives 'cause our brother to lose faith.

I remember being in church camp. I was 1415.

I was fairly young and I was in a dorm room with a couple of

guys. I was 1718 and I wasn't the only

1415 year old. There was a few of us, but the

conversation came up, you know, what would you do on your last

day of earth? Typical stuff.

And the first thing every older guy said was get laid and

repent. That was the very first thing

the impact that has on younger guys 1415, because when you see

the older guys in church, you think you should be able to

think I should be able to follow them and be LED, right?

In this case, the focus was on gratify your flesh first and

then your spirit. They weren't telling me that's

what I needed to do. They were just being an

influence and not aware of it. So it's not just about using our

words to actually actively provide encouragement and

support when we can. It's also just our passive

support, our witness and encouragement on a daily basis.

Because it's not always the direct hits that kill someone's

faith. That's true.

Often times it's just us, us not caring enough about our witness

to each other, that leads someone away.

Romans 14 and 13. And then I'll turn to Hebrews 10

and 24. But Romans 14 and 13, let us not

therefore judge one another anymore, but judge this rather

that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in

his brother's way. Hebrews 10/24.

Because that Romans was about not being the stumbling block,

you know, not not tripping someone on purpose.

And this is the other end of the spectrum.

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good

works. So it's about not being the

issue. And beyond that, guiding to

love. You know, when you provoke

something and provoking a bear or something, normally it's in a

bad way. You know you're provoking

someone that's only to anger. You're pushing on someone to do

something or to have a certain response.

And in this God is causing, calling us to provoke unto love

and good works. Because you have eyes on you.

You don't realize how many there are, but you have eyes on you.

And so where are we leading them?

Because it's my responsibility to influence my brothers and

sisters to love to do that which is good and holy.

If you only see me entertaining my flesh, whether it's just

through looking lustfully at somebody or gossiping about

somebody or stealing candy bars from a store, because it's a

small thing that doesn't matter. It does.

I'm not saying it doesn't matter.

That's only going to encourage you to entertain the desires of

your own flesh. Or if I know, let's say for

example, I know you have a conviction against energy

drinks, just for example, and I know that it's a struggle

spiritually for you, but I decide that's your problem,

that's your conviction, I don't care and I'm going to drink it

in front of you anyway. I may even offer one just out of

spite because I really don't agree with your conviction and

it doesn't bother me the same way.

Maybe it's not a spite. Maybe I'm just not thinking

about it and there I am drinking one in front of you.

But whether it's on purpose or it's just by not thinking about

it on accident, I am still being the wrong type of influence.

I am becoming a stumbling block to you, potentially leading you

to sin, leading you to go against your conviction.

And the nature of sin is not the list of do's and don'ts.

Don't. The nature of sin is just

pulling you from God. And if you have a conviction

from God telling you to do something and you're ignoring

that conviction, you're pushing yourself further from God.

I can't be the wrong influence that encourages you to keep

doing that. What I need to do is put myself

aside because I am my brother's keeper and I'm going to put that

drink away. I'm going to pour it out.

I'm going to not bring it around you anymore.

I'm not going to talk about it anymore.

I'm going to make sure I do everything I can, even if it's

inconvenient, to make sure I'm not a stumbling block.

Our duty as Christians is to make sure every action points to

Christ, that every single person in our lives will be influenced

from sin and to love and good works.

If we're aware that someone is struggling with something, we

don't tempt them with it. The freedom that we have in

Christ does not give us the liberty to cause others to fall.

Yeah, I'm free to drink and energy drink, but that doesn't

mean I can just ignore the responsibility and drink it in

front of you and cause you to fall.

And every single thing we should have the interest of our

brothers and sisters in mind. And I'm not denying that it

feels like a lot too much even to be your brother or sister's

keeper. God knows it's hard enough

trying to focus on getting myself right, let alone focusing

on what my witness is like to those around me, but we are the

only Bible most people are ever going to read.

A lot of those people may still be lost right now.

They may not be my brother in Christ, but I can invest in my

future brother in Christ to be the Bible they need to see.

Let them see Jesus through me so that someday they might be 1 and

I was the right influence to them to help win over my brother

in Christ. They're not my brother yet, but

I'm still their keeper for the future possibility.

Sometimes we're the only godly influence in a brother's life.

They may not relate to anybody else in the church because we're

all different, so that's fine. They may go home to a lost

family, we may not even know how much of an influence we are on

them. And we for sure are some of the

first influences on the lives of the children around us.

God forbid we lead souls astray because we entertained our flesh

rather than God's will, rather than rather than being mindful

of the impact we have on each other.

We can't just decide our witness doesn't matter as much as our

own desires, or even decide how they look at me doesn't matter

because they're their own person.

I guarantee you have never not been influenced by somebody.

It is impossible to go through life and not take influence from

others. For better and for worse, you

are that influence. It is true though.

Every person is responsible for their own actions.

You have to give an account. I have to give an account.

You have to give an account. Yeah, sure, that's right.

But we can be held liable with the person if we don't do our

part to steer them correctly. I don't remember the exact

scripture, but even Sodom and Gomorrah will rise up in

condemnation against this generation because with what

we're doing today and what God is doing in our midst today,

Sodom and Gomorrah would have already repented by now.

And yet our generation has not. If we are not a part of helping

in their salvation, we are a part of helping in their sin.

We can deny facts and truth all we want, but the fact remains,

we will always be the influence. And you know, I don't want those

of old that have been condemned in their sin to stand up against

me and say before God, God, you know, I would have already done

the right thing by now. But Zach McGee didn't.

James 519 and 20 Brethren, if any of you do err from the

truth, and one convert him, let him know that he was converted.

The Sinner, from the error of his way, shall save a soul from

death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

When I see my brother or sister going astray, as a brother I

ought to be the one reaching out to them.

We are not allowed to just sit back in our pews, sit back in

our own salvation and turn a blind eye.

Because we are our brother's keeper.

If they leave the faith and none of us reached out, none of us

were the influence to point them back to Christ, we will give an

answer for why we did not do our part to save this soul from

hell. Because that's forever.

This is not saving someone from a Boo Boo.

This is not saving someone from a temporary lifetime mistake.

This is saving someone from a burning hell for eternity.

And in that place they will never know the love or peace of

God again. We have to be serious about

this. Galatians 6/1 Brethren, if any

man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, those who

are mature in Christ, restore such a one in the spirit of

meekness, considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

And because I said mature in Christ, don't think you don't

qualify. You're further along in Christ

than you are aware of as my children age.

Even though Grayson won't be an adult for a long time, she is

more mature than Julie and understands and knows more

things than Julie. I would expect her if she sees

Julie about to jump off of something too high that she

would make the attempt to stop her.

If she doesn't, Grayson will get in trouble for not trying to do

the right thing and Julie's hurt.

Ye, which are spiritual. Restore such a one.

You're further along in God than you realize we ought.

We often times think we're not enough.

You know, we under undersell ourselves.

We don't have a high opinion of ourselves.

We think we look ahead and just see how much further there is to

go. But I'm looking at everybody

here right now, and I'm looking how far back the old you is

because of how far you've come. And every single person here has

come so far and can win souls and can be a holy influence.

You're not perfect, I know that, but that's OK.

That's not what people need. We just need a brother or sister

in Christ who is willing to look out for us.

But if a man be overtaken at a fault, restore such a one in the

spirit of weakness. This means, and I believe a lot

of us have been guilty of of it over the years, at least once or

twice. We don't talk bad about them

when they're not here anymore. We don't talk about how I'm not

surprised. They weren't really committed

anyway. They were going to backslide any

moment. No, when we see our brother or

sister falling away from grace, that is our time to lovingly

reach out to be the support and the encouragement.

And if that doesn't work with actual reaching out with words,

the witness and the example that they need to see to get back to

God. We need have to be the reason

people find it easy to come to church.

When they come and taste and see the Lord is good they will see

He is good. But we have to be the ones that

make it easy to be here. Be that brother or sister in

Christ, the holy example that the younger you needed to see.

Sometimes we can even self paralyze our own selves by

overthinking of the right way to do or say something.

But all anyone really needs is just to see someone who is

consistent and faithful in service and more importantly

outside of church. Again, not perfect, but

genuinely growing in Christ. James 516.

Confess your faults one to another.

Those are big words. Those are hard words.

And pray one for another, that ye may be healed.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Those first few words are hard not because of what the words

are, or even necessarily because it's hard to admit things,

though it is. It's hard because are we worth

having someone confess to us? Are we honorable and trustworthy

enough that they know they can tell us I messed up in this

specific way? And they know that in US they

will find prayer and love and support and that no one else

will hear from my lips what that fault was.

I have to be a safe space for my brother where he can admit his

faults but also know he's going to get the prayer and support he

deserves. My responsibility is to be so

faithful and consistent in God that he has No Fear of my

judgment or possibility of gossip.

My relationship with God is not just for me, it is also from my

brothers and sisters when they are feeling weak, just like you

are for me when I'm feeling weak.

How many of you come in here every service with a raging

fire, just ready to run, dance and shout, and you just whoa,

ready to go every time. No hands Good, because most of

the time we're not. But we get in here and we see

others who are, and there's plenty of times I came in just

feeling like a wet blanket. But as I see my brothers and

sisters in Christ worshiping and I don't even know if they're

feeling it or not, they may just be going through the motions,

doing their best because they don't feel it either.

But I see the worship and I see the fire, and that influences me

and has helped me. We need each other.

We give each other fire. If you are looking for someone

to pray for your need or for your struggle, who would you

consider and why would you consider them?

Be that person where you are so loving and helpful and

encouraging that even in the midst of their sin, your brother

or sister in Christ is able to come to you for prayer and help

without fear. Not just because you are some

spiritual giant, but because you are faithful and they know that

you love like a brother. You love like a sister.

If I'm a musician, you could go ahead and come.

I'll be coming to a close, a priority.

The priority for a soldier in the middle of a battlefield is

not to focus on preserving his own life, his home or his

family. His duty is to stand beside and

defend. Put all of his focus to lay down

his life for the brother beside him.

But why? How could the brother beside him

be more important than his home and his family and making sure

he lives long enough to see them again?

How does making his brothers in arms such a priority better

protect the ones he loves? It's because by focusing on

defending his brother and making sure that they stand together,

they create an an effective wall of the fence for both of their

homes from the enemy. A lone soldier is not a threat,

but when there is a wall of soldiers fighting as one unit,

defending each other, not letting each other fall, there

is no chance for the enemy to breakthrough it.

If we stand beside one another and keep each other praying and

worshipping together, we create a strong spiritual defense

against the enemy that will safeguard our family and our

homes, our community and each other.

It will safeguard those who are coming into the faith and are

still too young and weak to put up a a strong defense

themselves. Yet the enemy wins by causing

division and picking us off 1 by 1.

But he has no chance against a unified church where every

single one keeps their brother and their sister.

It takes a lot of effort to always be mindful of those

around you and to own up to all of your responsibility, because

that's a lot. But the answer to Cain's

question is yes, I am my brother's keeper.

If we can go ahead and stand. And this altar is open tonight.

If you want to be up here, if you want to be in your Pew, in

the Pew, it's fine. I just ask that instead of

praying for yourself, focus instead on each other.

Pray for a brother, for a sister, just one or many.

Whoever comes to mind. Pray for them instead.

Pray for the needs, Pray for healing, Pray for unity among

us. Pray for the backslider, but

pray for each other, because as the word says, pray one for

another that ye may be healed. It didn't say pray for yourself,

it was telling everyone else to pray for everyone that you may

be healed. Because the effectual fervent

prayer, that prayer that goes, that doesn't give up, that is

passionate of a righteous man. Every person who was born again,

a person who is living for God, not the perfect one, not the

pastor. You availeth much.

Let's pray.