I. The Barrier of Prejudice - not my family
A. II Kings 5:2 "And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife."
B. Marauding bands of Syrians crossed over into Israel with object of capturing slaves. These bands took captive this particular little girl, who became the property of Naaman assigned to attend to his wife. Few would blame her for hating all Syrians with a passion. No one would expect her to have any allegiance to or love for a Syrian, especially her slave master.
C. Two shopkeepers were bitter rivals. Their stores were directly across the street from each other, and they would spend each day keeping track of each other’s business. If one got a customer, he would smile in triumph at his rival. One night an angel appeared to one of the shopkeepers in a dream and said, "I will give you anything you ask, but whatever you receive, your competitor will receive twice as much. Would you be rich? You can be very rich, but he will be twice as wealthy. Do you wish to live a long and healthy life? You can, but his life will be longer and healthier. What is your desire?" The man frowned, thought for a moment, and then said, "Here is my request: Strike me blind in one eye!"
D. One sign of jealousy is when it’s easier to show sympathy and "weep with those who weep" than it is to exhibit joy and "rejoice with those who rejoice."
E. William Law (1686-1761) - If I hate or despise any one man in the world, I hate something which God cannot hate, and despise that which he loves.
F. Proverbs 25:21-22 "If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: [22] For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee."
G. Matthew 5:44 "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"
II. The Barrier of Indifference - not my place or my business
A. The little maid was a slave. Where does she get off thinking that she can stick her nose in Naaman’s business?
B. As D.L. Moody walked down a Chicago street one day, he saw a man leaning against a lamppost. The evangelist gently put his hand on the man’s shoulder and asked him if he was a Christian. The fellow raised his fists and angrily exclaimed, "Mind your own business!" "I’m sorry if I’ve offended you," said Moody, "but to be very frank, that IS my business!" Even if people reject the gospel, we still must love them.
C. It is our business. Luke 19:13 "... Occupy till I come."
D. Mark 16:15 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."
E. Matthew 5:13-16 "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? It is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. [14] Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. [15] Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. [16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
III. The Barrier of Noninvolvement - not my concern - let someone else do it
A. When Rosina Hernandez was in college, she once attended a rock concert at which one young man was brutally beaten by another. No one attempted to stop the beating. The next day she was struck dumb to learn that the youth had died because of the pounding. Yet, neither she nor anyone else had raised a hand to help him. She could never forget the incident or her responsibility as an inactive bystander. Some years later, Rosina saw another catastrophe. A car driving in the rain ahead of her suddenly skidded and plunged into Biscayne Bay. The car landed head down in the water with only the tail end showing. In a moment a woman appeared on the surface, shouting for help and saying her husband was stuck inside. This time Rosina waited for no one. She plunged into the water, tried unsuccessfully to open the car door, then pounded on the back window as other bystanders stood on the causeway and watched. First, she screamed at them, begging for help; then cursed them, telling them there was a man dying in the car. First one man, then another, finally came to help. Together they broke the safety glass and dragged the man out. They were just in time -- a few minutes later it would have been all over. The woman thanked Rosina for saving her husband, and Rosina was elated, riding an emotional high that lasted for weeks. She had promised herself that she would never again fail to do anything she could to save a human life. She had made good on her promise. (Bits & Pieces, June 24, 1993, pp. 20-21.)
B. You must get involved to have an impact. No one is impressed with the won-lost record of the referee. (John H. Holcomb, The Militant Moderate)
C. Galatians 6:9 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."
D. In the People’s Republic of China, the largest nation in the world and a billion people strong, is what is called the Three-Self Church. That is the state-approved church. At their churches, they sing hymns, some to western tunes. They are allowed to read the Bible. They can pray. There can preach sermons and give Bible teaching. But they’re not allowed to evangelize. That’s part of the deal with the state. "They can do their thing as long as their thing doesn’t include persuading somebody else." 50 million Christians in the People’s Republic of China have chosen not to be part of the Three-Self Church, and meet in house churches, because they’re convinced you can’t be a Christian unless you evangelize. They say that the two go together; and if you don’t evangelize, you’re not a Christian. They would say that those who are in the Three-Self church are not Christians, as far as the New Testament definition is concerned.
E. Luke 6:46 "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?"
IV. The Barrier of Inadequacy - I’m too young
A. It is almost as presumptuous to think you can do nothing as to think you can do everything. -Phillips Brooks
B. Edward Everett Hale, the distinguished poet and former Chaplain of the U.S. Senate, while speaking of Americans eloquently captured the essence of every believer’s duty: "I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, that I ought to do. And what I ought to do, by the grace of God, I shall do."
C. There is a story of an Atlantic passenger laying in his bunk in a storm, deathly sick--seasick. A cry of "Man overboard" was heard. The passenger thought, "God help the poor fellow--there is nothing I can do." Then he thought that at least he could put his lantern in the porthole, which he did. The man was rescued, and recounting the story next day he said, "I was going down in the darkness for the last time when someone put a light in a port-hole. It shone on my hand, and a sailor in a lifeboat grabbed it and pulled me in." Weakness is no excuse for our not putting forth all the little strength we have. Who can tell how God will use it? (Lakewood Bulletin, Montgomery, NC.)
D. Habakkuk 3:19 "The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments."
E. Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
V. The Barrier of Timidity - I’m too afraid
A. Proverbs 29:25 "The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe."
B. In preparing for his book, Good News is for Sharing, Leighton Ford talked to many people, and the fear issue comes up front again and again. What makes people hesitate to share their faith? Here are some of the fears that have been mentioned to him:
1. "I am afraid I might do more harm than good."
2. "I don’t know what to say."
3. "I may not be able to give snappy answers to tricky questions."
4. "I may seem bigoted."
5. "I may invade someone’s privacy."
6. "I am afraid I might fail."
7. "I am afraid I might be a hypocrite."
Perhaps the most common fear, however, is that of being rejected. A survey was given to those attending training sessions for the Billy Graham crusade in Detroit. One question asked, "What is your greatest hindrance to witnessing?" Nine percent said they were too busy to remember to do it. Twenty-eight percent felt the lack of real information to share. Twelve percent said their own lives were not speaking, as they should. But by far the largest group were the 51 percent whose biggest problem was the fear of how the other person would react! None of us likes to be rejected, ridiculed, or regarded as an oddball. (Lieghton Ford, Good News is for Sharing, 1977, David C. Cook Publishing Co., Page 15.
C. Psalms 118:6 "The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?"
D. Isaiah 41:10 "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
E. In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering. (Howard Hendricks.)
