Reel Talk
Pt. 4 - Rogue One 2
I. Introduction
OK, as I mentioned last week I am not a Sci Fi fan so for me to understand or explain a Star Wars movie is a stretch. I will recap again in case you were not here last week.
The movie opens by showing former scientist Galen Erso living on a farm with his wife and young daughter, Jyn. His peaceful existence comes crashing down when the evil Orson Krennic takes him away from his beloved family. The scientist is forced to becomes the Empire's lead engineer assigned to develop the most powerful weapon in the galaxy, the Death Star. Darth Vader wants this weapon to destroy the rebellion once and for all. However, years later, Galen sends a message to his now grown daughter that he went to work on the weapon because he knows his involvement is the rebellions best bet to destroy it. So, he plants a virus, that will destroy the weapon. However, the virus must be activated. Jyn joins forces with a spy and eventual love interest, Cassian, and other resistance fighters to get to the Death Star and set in motion its destruction. Together they face overwhelming odds and save the universe and of course give way to another Star Wars movie.
The scene we are focusing on today is after Jyn has tried to convince the leaders of the rebellion to try to help her destroy the Death Star and they refuse. Recognizing that the only hope they have is to at least try she decides she will go it alone even though the mission seems to be impossible. To her surprise a group of resistance fighters volunteer and rally around her to take on the Empire. When they step up to join her on this suicide mission she is shocked and she makes this statement . . . "I'm not used to people sticking around when things go bad!" Cassian's response is, "Welcome home!"
Text: Matthew 9:1-7 (Message)
Back in the boat, Jesus and the disciples recrossed the sea to Jesus’ hometown. They were hardly out of the boat when some men carried a paraplegic on a stretcher and set him down in front of them. Jesus, impressed by their bold belief, said to the paraplegic, “Cheer up, son. I forgive your sins.” Some religion scholars whispered, “Why, that’s blasphemy!” Jesus knew what they were thinking, and said, “Why this gossipy whispering? Which do you think is simpler: to say, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or, ‘Get up and walk’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both. . . .” At this he turned to the paraplegic and said, “Get up. Take your bed and go home.”
Exodus 2:11-14 (NKJV)
Now it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out to his brethren and looked at their burdens. And he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So he looked this way and that way, and when he saw no one, he killed the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. And when he went out the second day, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting, and he said to the one who did the wrong, “Why are you striking your companion?” Then he said, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you intend to kill me as you killed the Egyptian
Acts 3:1-8 (NIV)
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.
This movie clip and these passages of Scripture force us to understand a crucial and far reaching principle in life.
The Principle of Placement
Placement is paramount. We know this from our own experiences. In elementary school you wanted to be placed in the right teachers room. You wanted to be on the right team at recess. In sports, all you have to do is talk to a coach! They will run you for hours for being out of place because they know that if you are not in the right place the called play, the defensive scheme, the balance on the floor will be messed up and you consequently put yourself and the whole team (family) in jeapordy! This same principle isn't just true in sports it is true in business. In life. It is true in church. Placement is paramount. However, long before we learned it in school or sports all we had to do was examine Scripture and we could have learned this principle. In Genesis, placement is so important that that God spends 5 days preparing environment for man and only 1 day creating man. He goes to work to ensure that He places man in the right place. You can hear it in the instructions God gives Moses about the Children of Israel's camp when He tells Moses to put each tribe in a particular place around the encampment. Everyone had a place. There are countless examples. But let me sum up this idea with this statement. If you reflect on the New Testament and the ministry of Jesus, then you quickly see that all healings took place cause people were in right place. Blind Bartimeaus. The Woman at the Well. So I can say without hesitation that your freedom, your advancement. your promotion are all tied to placement. Being in the right place at the right time matters! You have to be in the right place! So how do you know when you are in the proper place . . . home?
People Reveal Your Placement
You know you are in the right place by how people respond to your trouble. Jyn said it like this "I'm not used to people sticking around when things go bad." She had never been in the right place before. In other there are only two kind of people and the kind of people in your life reveal you placement. They either run to your trouble or run from your trouble. So, in the account in Matthew we see a man who was in the right place. He had people in his life who see his pain, issues, sickness, inability, disability and instead of walking away from him they carry him to Jesus. You need people who can carry you forward. You must have people in your life who will carry you to the right place. If they don't carry you forward you are not home. In other words, you have to be around people who can get to Jesus when you can't. Woman with Issue of Blood said in her mind, "If I can touch what is touching him." You are home when people around you see everything falling apart and all going bad and realizing that you are in condition to get to Jesus on your own they touch Him for you. Some of you have people in your life that carry you to drugs, alcohol to try to get you to forget but those people reveal you aren't home. Some of you have people that will try to carry you to rebellion, distraction, irresponsibility and they reveal you aren't home. Some of you are surrounded by "friends" but you are out of place because when trouble runs in they run out. But I need you to reach over and tell a neighbor "I can touch him for you." You are in the right place! When everything is going wrong these people have proven they will rush in. You are in the right place. You may not feel like you can get to Jesus but all around you are people that can see your issue, your deficiency, your limp and they can touch Him for you! They won't run away they will run to! You are in the right place! Somebody needs to testify to that today . . . "I'm in the right place!"
However, here is the challenge . . . Some of you are in the right place, with the right people but you are resisting rescue! Why?
We have accepted current placement as our permanent placement.
Two examples of that . . . Moses shows up on the scene. He is the right people. He rallies to his people's trouble. Called and anointed to deliver. But the Children of Israel are so accustomed to being slaves that they can't even discern that a deliverer has walked in the door. So they attack the deliverer and reject him. If we become convinced that our current placement is our permanent placement, then we will dismiss the right people and gravitate to the wrong people! You are so unaccustomed to people rushing in when things go wrong that when you wind up in the right place and they rally you will resist rescue. You push them away. You won't return calls. You cocoon in isolation. You build up walls. You attack. Simply because you think the way it is is the way it will always be!
The second example of this is the account I read to you out of Acts. The writer of Acts gives us what seems like an unnecessary bit of information. The writer says the man is lame from birth. Does that matter? Does the time frame matter? Lame is lame right? Would the account have been less dramatic if it had said the man was lame since Christmas? Not really. But maybe I think we read right over the importance of that statement. He was lame since birth. Notice this . . . this man has been lame so long that he isn't asking for his greatest need to be met which was to walk. Instead of asking for the disciples to heal him he asked for money. In other words, he has been lame so long that he no longer thinks walking is a possibility.
That is where some of you are today. You've been alone in your troubles for so long you don't even think there is a possibility of home. Some of you have been hurt so many times you don't even think the Body of Christ can actually operate like Christ. Some of you have been rejected so many times that you won't even consider letting anyone get close again. Some of you have used so many times you don't even believe it is possible to serve and people to actually care about you more than what you do!
However, take another look . . . you are in the right place and the people around you reveal that because we refuse to allow you to become comfortable in bondage. Welcome home. We refuse to allow you to settle in your depression. Welcome home. We refuse to let you keep your head down in discouragement. Welcome home. We refuse to let you stay addicted. Welcome home. We refuse to let hopelessness become your only hope. Welcome home. We refuse to let you lose your mind, your family, your future. Welcome home! We refuse to let you go through life all by yourself. Welcome home! We will not let you battle without backup! Welcome home!
Placement is paramount. Examine your people and you will know if your placement is right. Quit resisting rescue!
