Sacrificial Service | Brigham Dion

God uses Casas Por Cristo to build more than houses. Local pastors receive a practical resource that opens doors for evangelism, discipleship, and care in places where poverty has pushed families to the edges of the city. Felipe and Acela’s new home, planted near the city dump in Juarez, became part of God’s provision for a new church among people struggling with sin, addiction, and deep need.

Hebrews 10 calls believers to hold unswervingly to hope because “he who promised is faithful,” and to consider how they might spur one another on toward love and good deeds. The word “spur” carries more than a nice little cheer from the sidelines. It can agitate, stir up, and bother somebody until they have to do something, much like Paul’s spirit was provoked by the idols of Athens. God used the build team to stir Felipe and Acela toward the hard, faithful work of reaching their neighborhood.

Christ also promises the Holy Spirit as the Parakletos, the One called alongside. The Spirit is comforter, counselor, helper, and advocate. The image is the person who lays a mat beside the sick, cares for them until they are well, stands beside the accused and pleads their case, or returns to the battlefield for the wounded after everybody else has moved on. Christ does not move on from His people. His love goes low enough to wash feet, deep enough to bear wrath, and far enough to gather His children under His protection.

The love of God does not rest on performance, obedience levels, or spiritual productivity. The Spirit gives power so that believers can know how wide, long, high, and deep Christ’s love truly is. Adam’s first full day was rest with God before he ever went out to work, showing that God draws people close before sending them out.

The same verbs that describe the Spirit’s work become the pattern for mature believers. God calls His people to come alongside one another as an Aaron came alongside Moses, as Elisha strengthened Elijah, and as Paul strengthened Timothy. This kind of presence matters more than talent, ability, or having all the answers. The kingdom often looks like a sacrifice bunt: laying down a personal opportunity so somebody else can advance. Today is always a good time to be a comforter, counselor, advocate, or helper so that another person can know the love of Jesus.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s love comes before performance Christ’s love is not a reward for getting life together, praying enough, or conquering the next hill. The Spirit helps believers grasp a love grounded in God’s character and Christ’s finished work. That settled love changes how believers serve God and how they love people who cannot repay them. [55:45]
• 2. The Spirit never moves on The Parakletos stays beside the sick, defends the accused, and returns for the wounded. Christ does not abandon His people when they are weak, ashamed, or worn out. His presence is not casual encouragement but faithful nearness to the very end. [52:59]
• 3. Presence matters more than giftedness Being called alongside somebody has less to do with impressive skills than being genuinely present. Moses found courage not merely through miracles, but through the promise that Aaron would go with him. God often advances a calling through somebody willing to stand close and help carry the weight. [61:10]
• 4. Make room for another’s advance The sacrifice bunt gives up a personal moment at the plate so another runner can move forward. Christ’s sacrificial love becomes visible when believers lay down time, energy, attention, and resources to lift another person up. Kingdom faithfulness is often found in helping someone else flourish rather than needing the spotlight. [66:47]
• 5. Today is the time to help Need rarely arrives at a convenient moment, and faithful availability cannot always wait for better conditions. A comforter, counselor, advocate, or helper may simply begin by noticing who needs someone beside them. God can use that ordinary act of presence to make His love known.
  
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [35:26] - Casas Por Cristo and Local Church Partnership
• [37:13] - Homes That Open Doors for the Gospel
• [39:27] - Building Near the Juarez City Dump
• [42:27] - Felipe and Acela’s Encouragement
• [43:38] - Spurring One Another Toward Love
• [46:33] - The Holy Spirit as Parakletos
• [48:25] - Comforter, Advocate, and Helper
• [53:30] - The Deep Love of Christ
• [56:22] - Knowing God’s Love Changes Love
• [59:34] - Called Alongside Others
• [61:10] - Aaron, Elisha, Paul, and Timothy
• [66:17] - The Sacrifice Bunt
• [68:13] - Be a Parakletos Today

Bible Reading

Hebrews 10:23-25
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” [43:38]

John 14:16-17
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” [47:37]

Ephesians 3:16-19
“that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” [55:33]

Observation questions

1. In Hebrews 10:23-25, what are believers called to hold onto, consider, avoid neglecting, and do for one another? [43:38]
2. What did the new home provide for Felipe and Acela besides a place to live, and what kind of neighborhood were they seeking to reach? [39:27]
3. What are the different descriptions of the Holy Spirit’s work in John 14—Helper, Comforter, Counselor, and Advocate—and what pictures help explain those words? [48:12]
4. According to Ephesians 3:16-19, what does the Spirit strengthen believers to understand, and what is the result of being rooted and grounded in love? [55:33]

Interpretation questions

1. Hebrews says believers should “stir up” one another toward love and good works. How can this kind of stirring be more than polite encouragement while still being loving and wise? [44:54]
2. Jesus promises that the Helper will be with His people forever. How does that promise speak to a believer who feels weak, ashamed, forgotten, or left behind? [52:59]
3. If God’s love is based on His character and Christ’s finished work rather than a person’s spiritual performance, how should that reshape the way believers treat people who are struggling with sin, addiction, or failure? [57:20]
4. The word Parakletos points to one who is called alongside. Why might faithful presence sometimes matter more than having the right skills, answers, or resources? [01:01:10]

Application questions

1. Where are you most tempted to measure God’s love for you by your obedience, productivity, or ability to “get it together”? What would it look like this week to rest in Christ’s settled love instead? [57:50]
2. Is there someone in your life who may feel like others have moved on from them—a person who is sick, grieving, overwhelmed, ashamed, or isolated? What is one specific way you could come alongside them this week? [53:17]
3. Who has served as an Aaron, Elisha, Paul, or Timothy in your life—someone whose presence gave you courage to keep going? Have you thanked them, and is there someone God may be inviting you to strengthen in the same way? [01:02:33]
4. What personal opportunity, comfort, time, energy, attention, or resource might you be holding tightly right now? Could laying part of it down help someone else move forward? [01:06:47]
5. Think about someone who needs more than advice right now. What might it look like to be present with them rather than trying to fix everything for them? [01:01:17]
6. Felipe and Acela were encouraged to keep reaching people in a place marked by poverty, addiction, and deep need. What difficult place, relationship, or need has God put near you that may require steady love rather than a quick response? [43:03]
7. Today is always a good time to be a comforter, counselor, advocate, or helper. What is one tangible step you could take in the next few days to help another person know the love of Jesus? [01:08:29]