Get Up & Go

Today we start a brand new series that is extremely timely for us as a church and I suspect for many of us as individuals.

The series is simply entitled “Go.”

And even though “go” in both the original languages of Hebrew and Greek means “go” I think it is important to tell you the tone in which we are saying “go.”

This is not a passive “go.”

This is not a permissive “go.”

We are talking about a passionate & proactive “go.”

This is the “go” of the gun fired at the beginning of a track event.

This is the “go” of the green flag at Arlington or Talladega.

This is the kind of “go” that has some “gitty-up” in it.

Throughout this series we’ll be looking at the “go” statements of Jesus.

We’ll discuss only 6 – there are many more… it was actually difficult to choose only 6.

PRAY

Open to Luke 5

Today’s message is the story of a double “go.”

And since football season is around the corner – we might say it’s “go” on two. (“Set. Down. 343. Go! Go!)

Today’s message is entitled “Get Up and Go.”

And before we read the narrative and study it together, here’s the big idea:

One man was able to get up and go because his friends first got up and went to him.

This is the story of a man who had to be carried to Jesus. Literally.

Have you ever needed to be carried to Jesus? Maybe not literally but figuratively?

• In other words, you found yourself in a situation or place in life where you couldn’t seem to get to Him on your own?

• You needed the help of a friend…

I have. A couple of times. (PAUSE)

Luke 5:17-26 (NKJV) Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!"

Did you notice that the Pharisees & Scribes were sitting nearby – the power of God was present to heal THEM – and yet they receive nothing – nada – zilch.…

• It’s amazing but true → people can be in the immediate proximity of Jesus Himself and remain unchanged.

o Their preconceived notions prevent them from participating

o Their pride & arrogance – thinking they already have God all figured out - stops them from being healed and changed…

o They are quick to criticize and judge – by doing so they unknowingly alienate themselves from the very life of God.

But, then, on the flip side there are these friends.

I wonder how it all played out - Imagine if we put it into today’s context → a couple guys at their apartment are hanging out – watching the Rangers game… contemporized STORY

Each picks a corner of the mat – I wonder what he had to say?

• We don’t know how far they carried him – a block, 2 blocks, 5 miles – we don’t know…

When they get to the house

• Traditional home in that region could hold about 50 people

• That day – way more – everywhere, packed in, standing at the windows 4 and 5 people deep – standing on their toes just to get a peek – just to get within earshot

• Probably smelled pretty bad – everybody is packed in… and this is before they invented Right Guard