Getting back your fight
(This is an illustrated sermon showing how the church should bring the sick to Jesus Christ)
Idea for Illustration came from Tommy Barretts church
Preparation:
-5 men, 1 man laying on a cot, the other 4 wearing white t-shirts, each shirt having a different word on them. Love, Faith, Works, and Vision.
-Needs to be a cot with long poles.
-Need rope, saw, and hammer.
-Sound effects of sawing
-Wood chips or styrofoam to drop from ceiling
(None of the men need to talk, just follow Pastors lead)
Mark 2:2-12
2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them.
3 and they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men.
4 And being unable to ’get to Him on account of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying.
5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "My son, your sins are forgiven.”
6 But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts, 7 "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins ’but God alone"
8 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, "Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts?
9 "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ’Your sins are forgiven; or to say, ’Arise, and take up your pallet and walk’?
10 "But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," He said to the paralytic,
11 "I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home."
12 And he rose and immediately took up the pallet and went out in the sight of all; so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God saying, "We have never seen anything like this."
A. Jesus Teaching in a crowded house
1. In the culture of Jesus day the sick or diseased were looked on as sinners.
2. This Paralytic was not only sick, diseased, afflicted, but definitely the people considered him a sinner .
B. But who were these 4 men
Vs. 3 And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men."
1. I believe their a beautiful representation of what people of our Lord Jesus Christ should be.
2. A Triumphant church
3. People that have learned how to fight the fight of life for Jesus Christ.
4. People that know if they continue fighting the good fight of faith they will live in victory.
5. Victorious church reaching hurting people and bringing them to Jesus! -No matter what the cost!
6. I believe they represent 4 Christ like characteristics needed in the church.
I. The first is Bro. Love
(Bro. Love comes out)
Shows him love and compassion.
A. Bro. Love is full of compassion for this sick man and exercises care for him. ..
1. God’s people must be moved by love for the hurting.
2. We are called to love - 2 of the greatest commandments
-Jesus moved to compassion in
Matthew 9:36
“And seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shepherd."
-He touched the lepers
-With the adulteress women instead of condemning or throwing rocks at her with the other men. He simple forgave her and said, "go and sin no more"
-Dying on the cross He showed compassion of love and asked His Father to "forgive them for they know not what they do."
3. Christ has set a standard for us,
John 15:12 "This is my commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you."
John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another ."
4. He is telling us that we need to give proof of our disciple- ship.
5. Love everyone: Good, bad, ugly, lonely
I Thessalonians 3:12 "and may the Lord cause you to --"’ increase and abound in love for one another, and for all I men, just as we also do for you;"
5. Love your enemies? Jesus said in
Romans 12:17
"never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what --"’ is right in the sight of all men."
B. Love is a mighty force -You can’t fight love
1. Bro. Love cares so much about this sick man he wants to bring him to Jesus
(Bro. Love picks up one corner, but can’t bring him to Jesus.)
II. Next Bro. Faith comes on the scene
(Bro. Faith walks out with bible)
Shows him scripture and talks to him about faith
A. He has his bible and points out some scripture and pats them on the shoulder for encouragement.
1. Now this is a very important element.
Hebrews 11 :6
"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."
Without faith it is impossible
2. Faith is vital in spiritual combat
Ephesians 6:16 "in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one"
3. Faith should be united with love
I John 3:23 " And this is his commandment that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ & love one another as he commanded us."
4. By Faith God’s People conquered:
-Abraham -David
-Moses -Joshua
Hebrews 11 :33 " by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions. .."
5. Unbelief puts circumstances between you & God.
-With Faith God stands between you and circumstances.
5. Bro. Faith is so confident in the Power of God he encourages Bro. love and they both try to pick up the cot.
(Man on cot falls out on floor and the two put him back on the cot and try to think of another way.)
6. Someone else is needed in order for our sick friend to make it to Jesus.
III. Here comes Bro. Works.
(Bro. Works comes out and very anxious to work carring hammer, rope, and saw)
James 2:26 "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."
A. Believing is not enough it takes work
1. Oh we have to have faith that someone will come to be a nursery worker, S.S. teacher, Ushering, list goes on.
2. Its not just faith, but also it takes work.
3. Jesus is not just People oriented, but He is Task oriented.
4. At the Judgement seat of Christ in Matthew 25 when he separates the sheep from the goats.
-I was hungry you feed me, Thirsty you gave me something to drink, a stranger, I was naked you clothed me, I was sick and imprison you visited me.
BUT THEN JESUS SAID TO THE GOATS:
-I was hungry you did not feed me, Thirsty you gave me nothingto drink, a stranger, I was naked you clothed me not, I was sick and imprison you never came.
(Men need to fellow along with Pastor)
5. Bro. Works is making himself available more than will to carry his load as they slowly try to make their way to Jesus.
6.but then they’re confronted by an obstacle. ..the crowded house!
7. But praise the Lord our final necessary team member comes on the scene
IV. Bro. Vision
(Bro. Vision comes out)
A. Not enough to Love -Have faith/believe -Work
1. Need Determination
2. Must have VISION for complete for complete victory!
3. We as a people need a vision
Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision the people perish”
B. In ministry, soul winning, reaching out to the hurting there is tremendous obstacles.
1. Bro. Vision is willing to take risks, Bro. Vision has an idea.
2. We must find a way to get to the roof, Saw, Rope.
3. With love, faith, work, and a vision.
4. We can still do it! We can risk it"
5. We are determined to make it.
C. Souls are worth it, Ministry is worth it, God’s glory is Worthy of it!
1. Everything we do for God theres risk involved.
ILL: About Productions
-Sometimes the old methods will not always work, so you must be willing to take a risk.
-Put Love, Faith,Works, and vision into Action
-No matter what obstacles get in your way, you can do it.
-But one thing we need to do first is put Love, faith, works, and vision in to action first in the church.
D. Imagine with me the Mark 2 Church service
(sound effects begin of sawing)
(Styrofoam drops from ceiling after sound effects start)
(4 men carry man on cot in to Pastor)
1. When Jesus saw the mans faith he said, "My son your sins are forgiven."
2. But came the criticizers the scribes. Reasoning in their hearts against Jesus.
Verses:
6 But there were some of the scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,
7 "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins ’but God alone"
3. And the same happens in the church todayImagine Criticizers
-Why isn’t it in the bulletin -Why can’t we afford it
-Do we really want to reach those kind of people
-Do we really want to get our church dirty
-I can’t believe the Pastor would have someone protry satan in the church.
4. God help us when church has become a “waiting room” for the Saints, instead of a hospital room for the sick.
Conclusion:
A. Be determine to show love even when you don’t want to, but you know you need to.
1. Determined to have faith, then put faith to work.
2. Be determine that were going to have a vision, not just as a church, but as an individual.
3. I’am going to fight to bring the love, faith, work, vision that my life, family, marriage will serve God.
4. Last week the I preach on “Getting back your fight” so we can be a blessing to others.
5. Not just a blessing within these 4 walls, but making disciples on the outside as well.
