Helping Others Find Freedom
Luke 5:17-26
February 29, 2004
Introduction
As many of you know I am a huge history buff. I read a lot about history, I watch programs on the history channel and I love historical movies because they bring events to life.
I was asked one time why I love history so much and at the time I couldn’t really answer the question but I think I can now. History is about times and events that transform the lives of people. History is about the moments that help to define who we are and how we will be remembered.
One of my favorite periods of history is the American Civil War and one of the best movies about the people of the Civil War is Gettysburg. This morning we are going to watch one of those transforming moments for a man named Joshua Chamberlin.
Chamberlin was a colonel in the Union Army and this event happens a few days before the battle at Gettysburg because his regiment has been ordered to receive 120 men from Maine who are now refusing to fight. During the Civil War mutineers were given a chance to join the fight or be shot for deserting.
This clip is a portrayal of what Chamberlin says to these men and how he explains what they were fighting for.
Play video clip
Chamberlin tells the men that they were fighting to set other men free. Isn’t that the essential message of the church? Isn’t that the mission of the church to show others the way to true freedom?
It has been said that: None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe that they are free.
This statement could easily be applied to those who are lost because they have no idea of the bondage they are in. The reality is that all of us know people who are far from a relationship with Christ.
If the Son sets you free you will be free indeed.
Who was it that helped you find the way?
This morning I want to look at a short passage that tells the story of how four friends helped one man come to Jesus. If you have your Bibles, please open them to the fifth chapter of Luke and we will be starting at verse 17.
Read Text
17 One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." 21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, `Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, `Get up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . ." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today." Luke 5:17-26
I. Jesus must be sought to find help
A. Jesus wants to help
1. Jesus genuinely loves people
The compassion of Jesus revealed the depth of His love for people and it was this love that moved Him to reach out to hurting people all around Him.
Jesus met the needs of those around Him in powerful ways
Jesus healed those who were sick
Jesus taught those who were suffering with spiritual misconceptions
Jesus associated and spent His time with the outcasts of society. He walked among the dirty, the diseased, the disgusting and the down and outs.
2. Jesus accepted people as they were
There was not one person that Jesus would not accept. Jesus even tried to win over members of the Pharisees and did sway several to belief.
Jesus accepted people where they were in life because He loved them so much. Because Jesus loved them so much He couldn’t leave them, as they were, lost and alone.
B. There is no person too far gone
The way Jesus sees people
How does Jesus see people? Jesus saw people not as they were but as they could become. Jesus saw beyond the circumstances and looked into their lives to see the hidden potential in each person.
Biblical examples:
Simon Peter started out a lot more like a pebble than he was a rock but Jesus still changed his name
Paul started out as a murderer but Jesus still made him the greatest missionary of all time
Lazarus started out in a tomb but Jesus made him live again as a sign of the power of new life
Jesus alone has the power to change and transform lives. Jesus alone has the power to save and to redeem
II. Jesus is the source of forgiveness
These men looked to Jesus for help
The four men knew what they had to do and who they needed to go to. When they heard that Jesus was in their area and was healing people they loaded up their friend and took him to Jesus
How many of your friends and family do you need to bring to Jesus? We cannot do it physically as these men did so long ago but we can take the people on our hearts to Jesus in prayer.
These men had confidence in Jesus
The four men were confident that Jesus could heal their friend. They were so confident that they went out to find Jesus and ask for His help
Do you have full confidence in the power of Jesus? When you came to know Jesus as your Lord and savior you placed your confidence in Him. Shouldn’t you do the same for those close to your heart?
These men would not give up
When the men got to the house where Jesus was healing; there was a massive crowd and there was no way to get through. So they took a different approach and lowered their friend through the roof. They would not give up!
Do you feel like giving up on your friends and family? Do you feel like the obstacles are just too much? It’s time to take a different approach and try another way to get to them but never give up.
These men found forgiveness
The men went to Jesus looking for healing and find forgiveness. Why did Jesus forgive the man’s sin when he needed to be healed?
Sin is the greatest sickness that a person can have and Jesus is the cure. Jesus died so that we might have life and have it to the fullest.
Conclusion
How many of your friends and family are paralyzed in the bondage of sin? How many of them are paralyzed by the sickness of selfishness? How many are paralyzed by spiritual helplessness?
Just as Jesus rescued me from the pit of death and destruction. Just as He saved you from the results of sin and death. He can save those that are so close to your heart.
How many of you want to help those people in your life but are unsure of where to begin?
This morning I want to help you find a place to begin.
First, you need to take them to Jesus
a.) We have on the table here, pens, slips of paper and a basket. As I close my message I want you to come forward and write the names or initials of those you need to bring to Jesus on a slip of paper and drop it in the basket. This afternoon I will begin to make a master list of all the names and every Sunday evening we will begin praying for these people.
b.) On the larger half sheet of paper are spaces for you to keep a copy of your list. Put this somewhere where you will remember to pray for these people on a daily basis. There are also prayer guides on the table for anyone who would like some ideas or starters on how to pray for those people on their list.
Second, invite them to church
a.) In a few weeks we are going to begin having events and special days for you use as invitation tools for those on your list.
b.) Begin inviting these people to church now. Don’t wait for a special day to come. The more times that you invite them the more likely that they might come to church.
Third, begin praying now
When you complete your lists of those you want to pray for I would like for you to come up to the altar so that we can pray together about these people.
