Four Men of Faith
Mark 2:1-12
One of the challenges we have in witness to people who have not yet become believers is to communicate in a language they understand. Sometimes our tendency is to use language of the church, “Christianize.” Words like regeneration, propitiation, sanctification, efficacy of the cross, sacrificial atonement, vicarious suffering. Jesus spoke in the language of his day.
I came across some headlines taken from past newspapers.
State Dinner Featured Cat, American Food
Former Man Dies in California
Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim
Drunk gets nine months in violin case
Robber Holds Up Albert’s Hosiery
Shut-Ins Can Grow Indoors With Lights
Legalized Outhouses Aired by Legislature
This morning I want to challenge you with the story of Four Men of Faith and Action.
Mark 2 we find Jesus in Capernaum now his home base of operation. He was probably in the home of Simon Peter teaching to a gathering of people. So many were present that the house was crowded and overflowing out the door.
To this house, four men brought a paralytic on a stretcher believing that Jesus would heal their friend. Since they could not get in because of the crowd the four men carried the man up the outside stairway to the flat top of the one –story dwelling. The men uncovered the roof, breaking through the baked clay, branches, trigs, and saplings below the surface and let down the mat to the feet of Jesus.
Jesus surprised the four men by announcing to the paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then to demonstrate his power to forgive sin he said, “Rise, take up your mat walk.”
Bringing people to Jesus is a partnership. We encourage one another to witness and tell the good news to others about Jesus. Jesus alone can forgive sin.
One of the realities of witness is this: Men are best called to reach men with good news of God’s love.
In these four men who carried their friend to Jesus we see several characteristics needed to be an effective witness for Jesus.
I. They were Men of Compassion.
They were willing to help a friend who was in need. Their friend was paralyzed.
These men were not like the Priest or Levite that walked by a man beaten and bleeding after he was robbed. The Good Samaritan came to the aid. He had compassion and cared for the man’s need.
I’m using every opportunity I have to reach out to my neighbors with acts of kindness. I help Joseph and Mary who are devout Roman Catholics fix things around their house. I’ve had several opportunities to pray with them and tell they the love of Jesus.
Another neighbor, Harry, we take cookies and cakes to give him cheer. He lives along and is a bitter man. His wife left him and he’s all alone.
When you help meet a need of a friend, neighbor, relative or work associate that person is more likely to listen to good news of Jesus that you have to share.
The simplest way to witness is to tell your story and when there is interest share a simple plan of salvation using “A New Life” booklet or Scriptural plan of salvation.
II. They were Men of Cooperation
One man or even two men would have had a hard time bring the paralyzed man to Jesus. The four men working together make it possible to bring the man to Jesus. The men put action to their faith.
Whatever your personality or gifts you can be an effective witness for Jesus. Witnessing is just like one beggar who has bread-giving bread to a beggar who has no bread where to find bread.
Some of you may have the gift of planting the seed, others the gift of watering and others the gift of harvesting and God gives the increase.
Paul said, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.” I Cor. 3:6
“Witnessing is taking the initiative in the power of the Holy Spirit, sharing the good news about Jesus, and leaving the results with God.”
It doesn’t matter what part you play, what’s important is that you are involved: planting, watering or reaping.
III. They Were Men of Consecration
The men inconvenienced their own lives to take time and effort to carry their friend to Jesus. They were consecrated to the task.
When they couldn’t get in the door of the house they didn’t give up. They took the man to the roof and dug through the roof. They didn’t ask for permission. They did what they had to do and were willing to suffer the consequences.
Jesus told the story of three things there were lost. A lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost son.
A shepherd who loses one sheep will not rest until he finds the lost sheep. The shepherd is consecrated and committed to the task.
A woman, who lost one silver coin out of her collection of ten silver coins, does not quit searching until she finds the lost coin.
The father, whose son rebelled and left home to find freedom and enjoy the pleasures of life, did not give up on his son. Every day the father waited for his son to come home.
Jesus never gives up on one person. He is not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance.
Jesus had deep passion for people. When Jesus looked over the city of Jerusalem, he wept. He saw people as being lost and no shepherd trying to find them.
Jesus was willing to get involved with the hurts of people. He touched the Lepers sores that smelled of rotten flesh.
Jesus was not ashamed to talk to a prostitute and offer her forgiveness without casting stones.
Jesus showed ultimate concern when he was obedient unto death on the cross.
Jesus met people in their daily walk of life. Remember Jesus was not ordained. He was a carpenter and the son of a carpenter. Jesus was a friend to everyone who was willing to listen.
We can learn from Jesus in being a witness.
• Jesus was courteous in talking to people
• Jesus was friendly and not rude.
• Jesus never criticized the person seeking spiritual counsel.
• Jesus began where the person had interest.
• To the sinner Jesus offered forgiveness.
• To people in despair Jesus offered hope.
• To the lonely Jesus offered fellowship.
• To those in conflict Jesus offered peace.
• To the confused Jesus offered fulfillment
We can go and do likewise. Everything that Jesus did we can do in the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8
Jesus gives us our marching orders: Reach out in God’s love to people all around you. In everything show God’s love.
Galatians 5:14-15 – “For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: love others as you love yourself. But if instead of showing love among yourselves you are always critical and catty, watch out! Beware of ruining each other.”
Assignment: 3X5 Card – Write 3 names of people who need to become Christ followers. Pray for ways God can show you ways to build bridges to the three people on your list. Look at people you know, FRAN network and ask God to help you list three people.
A medical doctor attended a conference in a hotel near the ocean. During break he looked out and saw a young boy throwing something in the ocean. At noon he gain saw the boy still throwing objects into the ocean. The doctor walked out on the beach and saw the boy picking up starfish and throwing them back in the ocean one by one.
The doctor asked, “Why are you throwing the starfish in the ocean, there are hundreds on the shore. What good do you think throwing a few in will make” The young boy picked up another starfish and threw it into the ocean and said, “It will make a big difference for this one.”
The doctor when to lunch and during lunch he thought about what the boy said. After lunch he walked to the beach and joined the young boy in throwing starfish into the ocean.
You can make a difference in the life of one other person as you pray and build bridges to one person and take the initiative to bring them to Jesus.
