Sermon Central
-
Doug Nichols Served With Operation Mobilisation ...
Contributed by Christian Cheong on Nov 18, 2009 (message contributor)
Doug Nichols served with Operation Mobilisation in India 1966-1968.
In 1967, Doug Nochols was serving as a missionary in India. While he was just starting to study the language he contracted tuberculosis and was eventually sent to a sanatorium to recuperate.
It was not a very good place to be. It was not very clean and conditions were difficult because there were so many sick people there. But Doug decided to do the best he could in that situation. So he took tracts and some Gospel of John booklets and tried to pass them on but they were not interested in an American and his God. No one wanted the tracts and books. He tried to witness, but he was handicapped because of his inability to communicate in their language. Discouragement set in and Doug began to wonder why God had allowed him to be there anyway.
Doug would often be awakened in the night by the rasping sound of coughing, both his and others. But then, what can you expect in the TB ward of a sanatorium? Unable to sleep because of his raspy cough, early one morning Doug noticed an old man trying to sit on the edge of the bed, but because of weakness, he would fall back. Exhausted, the old man finally lay still and sobbed. Early the next morning the scene was repeated. Then later in the morning, the stench that began to permeate the ward certified the obvious: the old man had been unsuccessfully trying to get up and go to a rest room.
Says Doug: "The nurses were extremely agitated and angry because they had to clean up the mess. One of the nurses in her anger even slapped him. The man, terribly embarrassed, just curled up into a ball and wept."
The next morning- about 2:00 A.M.-Doug noticed the old man was again trying to generate enough strength to get himself out of bed. This time, though, without thinking, Doug got out of bed, went over to where the old man was, put one arm under his head and neck, the other under his legs, and gently carried him to the rest room. When he had finished, Doug carried him back to his bed.
But what happened after that is what makes the story. The old man, speaking in a language Doug didn’t understand, thanked him profusely, and then... gently kissed him on the cheek.
The story doesn’t end there, either. Eventually Doug drifted off to an uneasy sleep.
In the morning he awakened to a steaming cup of tea served to him by another patient who spoke no English. After the patient served the tea, he made motions indicating that he wanted one of Doug’s tracts.
"Throughout the day," says Doug, "people came to me, asking for the Gospel booklets. This included the nurses, the hospital interns, the doctors, until everyone in the hospital had a tract, booklet, or Gospel of John.
Over the next few days," he adds, "several indicated they trusted Christ as Saviour as a result of reading the Good News!"
A final thought. The world doesn’t care how much you have or what you know; they want to know how much you care.
He said, "Now what did I do? I didn’t preach a sermon. I couldn’t even communicate in their language. I didn’t have a great lesson to teach them. I didn’t have wonderful things to offer. All I did was to take an old man to the bathroom and anyone can do that!"
Reference: Heroes - People Who Made A Difference In Our World by Dr. Harold J. Sala, (OMF Literature, Inc., P.O. Box 2217 Manila, Philippines, 1998), pp. 29-31.
Related Sermon Illustrations
-
There Is The Story Of A Young Man Who Applied At ... PRO
Contributed by Bruce Ball on Jul 23, 2004
There is the story of a young man who applied at a logging company and asked for a job. The foreman asked him if he could fell a tree with an ax. The young man walked over to a tree and felled it like an old pro. The foreman hired him. On Monday, the young man outdid everyone else on the crew. ...read more
-
A Man Had A Heart Attack And Was Rushed To The ... PRO
Contributed by Lou Nicholes on May 25, 2005
A man had a heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. He could receive little company and was to avoid excitement. While in the hospital a rich uncle died and left him a million dollars. His family wondered how to break the news to him with the least amount of excitement. It was decided to ask ...read more
-
The Hosts Of Midian Had Come Up, And A Large ...
Contributed by Clark Tanner on Apr 23, 2004
“The hosts of Midian had come up, and a large army of about 32,000 was gathered together by Israel. But God reduced that army to a mere handful. Of the 32,000 there were only 300 whom God could trust. He knew these would stand, that they would never quit, that they would never compromise. So He ...read more
-
One Day A Boy Came To His Father And Said, "Dad, ... PRO
Contributed by Philip Harrelson on Jan 13, 2005
One day a boy came to his father and said, "Dad, it’s just six weeks before I will be going to college and I was wondering if you were going to give me a going-away present. If you are, I have a suggestion to make." The father smiling answered, ’What is your suggestion, son?" The boy’s eyes ...read more
-
Men Aren't Equipped PRO
Contributed by Robert Garrett on Apr 11, 2005
MEN AREN’T EQUIPPED A man and his wife were having some problems at home and were giving each other the silent treatment. The next week, the man realized that he would need his wife to wake him at 5:00 AM for an early morning business flight to Chicago. Not wanting to be the first to break the ...read more
Related Sermons
-
Living In Love Or Death Series
Contributed by Dennis Davidson on Jan 14, 2013
We are taught here in John that we know that we have passed out of death into life because we love the brethren. Love of the brethren is a proof of sonship. People with a heart for God have a heart for people.
-
This Is No Time For Sleeping
Contributed by Pastor/Author: Terry Sisney on Sep 21, 2022
The Christian life is a walk, it's a run, but never forget... it is a fight, and the warfare is real, and we get tired, but we cannot go to sleep. A sleeping saint is a powerless saint and is no threat to the devil.
-
You Gone Have To Work Your Faith
Contributed by Charles Jones on Dec 7, 2012
Belief in the existence of God is absolutely foundational not only to an understanding of the Bible but also to life itself. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that he who comes to God must believe that He is, that He exists and that He is a rewarded of them that di
-
Knowing Who You Are 1 Series
Contributed by Troy Campbell on Oct 20, 2011
Part 3 of 6 of the series, "Who Am I"
-
When Your Back Is Against The Wall Series
Contributed by Jonathan Russell on Oct 19, 2011
This message looks at several instances when Paul's back was against the wall, noting what he did to push through the adversity to continue God's mission for his life
