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
Guys try to get in with mat – nobody moves
• Discouraging
• Could have quit
• Could have said – “bad call – let’s just go back”
But maybe one of the guys says, “Over here!” → stairway on the outside of the house that led to the roof as there were on most Capernaum houses…
And so they take their friend on the mat up the stairway → not an easy thing to do!
• Think of how hard it is to get your luggage or a baby stroller up an escalator at the airport or in the mall – this is like 500 times harder than that
• Two guys have to keep it low – 2 have to lift it high
• They’ve got open-toed sandals
• Not that easy
Get to the roof…
• Thatched roof – straw and branches across the beams – covered by a layer of dried mud
Get to the roof – set friend aside – try figure out where would be the spot right in front of the Teacher… the Rabbi… the One who could be the Messiah
• One thinks “here” another disagrees – they split the difference…
• Get on hands and knees – begin to tear and pull up
Imagine what happens inside when that starts
• No sound system – so everyone is listening quietly → THUMP! THUMP!
• I bet Jesus stops teaching
• Stuff starts to fall – little branches, straw in people’s hair, dust from the mud
• And then – they break through - a RAY OF LIGHT comes
• They start tearing at the hole – it gets bigger and bigger – until it’s a pretty big hole
• Then they peer over – 4 heads appear
Most people in the room think “What in the world? What are these numbskulls doing? Is this some form of vandalism? What is going on here?”
But when Jesus looks up, the Bible says He saw their faith.
They take their friend and get some rope they found on the side of the house or on the corner of the roof. They tie it on each corner & begin to lower him down until he rests right in front of Jesus.
And Jesus forgives.
And Jesus heals.
The whole story ends with everyone being gripped with awe – and everyone saying over and over again… “we have seen strange things today.”
• paradoxos – unexpected; extraordinary
• we have all seen extraordinary things today
What does that mean to us?
I believe we all want to see extraordinary God-things take place.
We all want our friends & family to experience the healing & forgiveness that only Jesus can make happen.
• Thank God for my friends – thank God for friends like Phil who led me to the Lord & friends like Danny who never gave up on me.
• Thank God that at different times and in different situations – they thought of me.
• Thank God someone thought of you.
• It’s probably why you’re here today.
• Probably every single person here today can think of someone – it may be more than one person – but every one of us can think of at least one person that we would like to see connect with Christ in a life-changing way.
o Let’s do that right now → think of someone you would like to see experience legitimate, God-breathed life-change before the end of this year.
Now – whether we’ve ever thought of it this way before or not - that person is probably paralyzed.
• Paralyzed by a behavior
• Paralyzed by a belief
• Paralyzed by a memory
Maybe they’re paralyzed by an ADDICTION
• Addicted to illegal drugs
• Addicted to prescription drugs
• Addicted to gambling or alcohol
• Whatever the addiction is – one thing we know – it’s paralyzing
Maybe they’re paralyzed by FEAR
• Maybe it’s anxiety or depression
• Maybe they’re paralyzed by a bottomed out sense of self-worth
Maybe your friend is paralyzed by their PAST
• A nightmarish childhood – neglect or even abuse
Or maybe the person you’re thinking of is paralyzed by SUCCESS…
• They don’t need God…
• Look at what she’s got
• What does she need God for?
• What she may be blind to is the possibility that her greed, materialism, and self-absorption has her spiritually paralyzed
I can relate – I’ve been paralyzed
• There was a time I was paralyzed by my own sinfulness
• There was a time I was paralyzed by having a wounded soul
• There was a time I was paralyzed by an unwillingness to forgive
Maybe you can relate.
Maybe you’ve been paralyzed.
I don’t know what is paralyzing your friend or family member – you may not know either – what I do know is that Jesus still forgives and heals.
Maybe the most important thing I’ll say today is this: In the Biblical story, in my story, and probably in your story, healing and forgiveness would not have happened if it wasn’t for the faith of friends who got up and went to me so I could get up and go again.
Why?
• The Lord sees and responds to the proactive faith of friends.
But it’s important to clarify what kind of faith we’re talking about… and what kind of friends we’re talking about.
Misfortune will test the sincerity of friendship:
Two travelers were on the road together, when a bear suddenly appeared on the scene. Before he observed them, one made for a tree at the side of the road, and climbed up into the branches and hid there. The other was not so nimble as his companion; and, as he could not escape, he threw himself on the ground and pretended to be dead.. The bear came up and sniffed all around him & seemed to even whisper into his ear, but he kept perfectly still and held his breath; for they say that a bear will not touch a dead body. The bear took him for a corpse, and went away.
When the coast was clear, the traveler in the tree came down, and asked the other what it was the bear had whispered to him when he put his mouth to his ear. The other replied," He told me never again travel with a friend who deserts you at the first sign of danger."
ALOUD → Proverbs 17:17 (NIV) A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Real friends don’t let disfigurement… or disability… or dysfunction stop them from being friends.
This kind of friend…
This selfless, sacrificial friend…
Loves at all times.
I think we’d agree… it’s easy to be friends with somebody who’s:
• Successful
• Got it all together
• On top of it all… who is riding the crest of the wave!
But how about when someone falls…
When somebody fails…
When someone loses their connection to Christ…
Or is not connected at all…
• And when that disconnect causes all kinds of ugly consequences
What kind of friend are we talking about? A friend that loves at ALL times.
• When someone’s up we’re not envious.
• When someone’s down we’re not condescending.
• The kind of friend that is consistently considerate regardless of whether the other person is or not.
What kind of faith are we talking about?
• Certainly not just mental agreement…
• Not just believing a certain set of values
We’re talking about a faith that expresses itself in action.
In the context we’re speaking of today, it is faith that GOES!
• Faith that gets its hands dirty
• Faith that jumps into troubled waters and stormy seas to rescue a friend.
VIDEO CLIP → The Guardian
Sometimes our friends find themselves in troubled seas… in storms… unable to help themselves…
The question is will we have the kind of faith that says…
• “I’m here”
• “You’re gonna be okay – I’m not gonna let go.”
• “Don’t worry – I won’t quit on you.”
James 2:26 (NRSV) For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead.
No matter how much I say that reaching people for Jesus is important, if I don’t actively engage in introducing people to Him, then He is not an important person in my life, no matter what I say with my mouth.
The GO faith that the friends in Luke chapter 5 had…
• Motivated them to do something
• It was faith that sprung them into compassionate action
• It was not sideline – grand stand faith – It was in the trenches… 4th and 1 give me the ball faith!
It was the kind of GO faith that…
• Caused them to pick up that mat
• And when they got to the house, it was the kind of GO faith that said, “I’m not going to give up… I’m not going to quit… my friend needs to get to Jesus”
Don’t quit on your friends.
Don’t give up on your family.
You’ve told them before.
Maybe, you’ve asked them before.
You’ve already reached out.
Maybe, you’ve invited them to church in the past.
But, don’t give up on them.
Don’t quit.
Someone didn’t quit on you.
Galatians 6:9 (Msg) So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit.
You’ve probably sowed some seeds in the past – so don’t give up… don’t quit.
Maybe things have changed since the last time you reached out.
Maybe that person has changed.
Maybe he/she wasn’t ready back then.
Maybe their circumstances have changed.
Maybe they’re in deep yogurt now – and everything was cool back then.
Who knows – maybe they are ready now.
Maybe they’ve changed.
Maybe the way we went about reaching them in the past is no longer relevant.
I mean, it didn’t work then, why would it work now?
Maybe we need to:
• Look for fresh inroads.
In other words:
If there front door is jammed – we might have to go to the stairs – we might have to go to the roof.
We might have to get on our hands and knees and dig!
• Which means we need to start – or re-start – or fervently continue to pray for our friends, and co-workers, and neighbors, and family members…
• Really pray
• And then, really act
The disabled man’s friends in Luke 5 – if nothing else – they were extremely resourceful.
We may have to be, too.
• Maybe the last time you hammered them with Bible verses
• Or maybe you invited them to church within 60 seconds of the conversation
• Maybe you tried used guilt, condemnation, and manipulation
o You told them – “the end is near” – “turn or burn” – “get right or get left”
I’ve got an idea this time around – try being normal! (tell the person next to you)
Be yourself! You’re the right person for the job just as you are…
• God sent you – with all your idiosyncrasies, personality quirks, and your gifts and talents
• God sent you into that person’s life just as they are and just as you are
• You’re God’s fully equipped missionary for that mission… for that person… for that friend
So be yourself.
It’s seeing the reaching of those within our sphere of influence differently.
It means we might have to:
• See beyond the problem to the potential.
There’s the story in the Bible of:
• Jesus & Zacceus → Jesus sees beyond his shady, crooked, tax-collecting exterior, and He sees the philanthropist within
• Jesus & Peter → He sees beyond that external, acute foot-in-mouth diseased fisherman – He sees past that impetuous exterior, and sees the apostle within
• Jesus & the Woman at the Well → He sees past her perennial relationship failures – He saw past 5 divorces – and He saw the worshipper and the messenger within
My friend, Phil, had to see past the exterior of a 20 year-old foolish punk… and he did…. And he saw his best friend who needed desperately to be rescued…
At the appropriate time – one day I’ll tell you my whole story…
In the meantime – you’ve got a story to tell… and God has placed you in the path of people who need to hear it… the Lord has an amazing way of orchestrating life intersections… the people in your life right now are not accidents – it’s not a coincidence, it’s providence - they are there according to the plan, purpose, and will of God.
It starts by seeing past the sin that paralyzes, and seeing the Savior who forgives and heals.
John 4:35b (Msg) “Well, I'm telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what's right in front of you.”
Can you see it?
Can you see that disconnected co-worker?
Can you see that dissatisfied family member?
Can you see your friend loving God, loving people, and changing his/her world?
Can you see them free from whatever has been paralyzing them?
Can you see them healthy & whole in Jesus?
• In the words of Jesus, “Lift up your eyes…”
Let’s get a vision for our friends.
I mean, think about it… can you see Jesus standing right in front of the person you thought about just a little while ago – and He looks right at them and says, get up, take your mat and go
If that’s to actually happen, we’ll have to all get on it and be about our Father’s business and start immediately to invest in and invite our friends…
If they’re going to get up and go we’ll have to first get up and go to them.
LET’S LITERALLY DO THIS: Let’s see how many people we can have on each elbow…
• Especially now – at the beginning of a new school year – when people are getting back into their routines…
o Let’s be prayerful
o Let’s be resourceful
o Let’s not give up on people
o Let’s see them the way God sees us all
o Let’s have “go” faith that carries our friends & family to Jesus
