We Need Each Other – 6

We Need Each Other – 6

Subject – Trust in the Community

By Rick Welborne

Luke 5:18-26 (NLT2)
¹⁸  Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus,
¹⁹  but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus.
²⁰  Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”
²¹  But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
²²  Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts?
²³  Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’?
²⁴  So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
²⁵  And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God.
²⁶  Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!” 

--It is quite difficult for me to get away from the community of the mat. This small group of men teach us so much about what community should be.

--This paralyzed man had true friends in their small community. Not people who were just friendly but people who are committed to you in a way acquaintances or paid service providers are not.

Jean Vanier – A community is never there just for itself or for its own glory. It comes from and belongs to something much greater and deeper: the heart of God to bring humanity to fulfillment. A community is never an end in itself; it is but a sign pointing further and deeper, calling people to love. 

--Today for a moment please imagine with me that you are the man on the mat. 

1. The Trust Issue with Your Friends.

--You wonder if you can trust your friends to keep you safe. What are these guys getting me into? Are they going to drop me? Ground level wouldn’t be so bad but from the roof…devastating!

--Whenever you venture out to share Christ with someone, are you a person who can be trusted to not drop them? Can you deliver on what you are promising them? Be careful what you promise people.

--Probably the most important question we need to ask…are we truly a friend to the person we are witnessing to? Have we taken the time to develop a relationship with them?

--Do you know about their lives and their families…has there been enough connection with this person that they trust you? Are you a friend or just an acquaintance? Listen to what Jesus was accused of:                                                                            

Matthew 11:19 (NIV) ¹⁹  The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."' 

--People want to know they are loved and that we truly do care for them. Love keeps showing up, love keeps listening, love keeps making sure that people are not hurt…love keeps directing people to Jesus!

--Because I am strong in evangelism, I often talk of leading people to Christ. But what about those who are already our brothers and sisters. Can they trust us not to drop them?

--It would be scary to find out how many people are out of church because they felt someone dropped them when they were on their mat. Now they feel they cannot trust the community of believers.

Galatians 6:9-10 (NIV)
⁹  Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
¹⁰  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

--As a community of believers we must be able to trust that we have other’s good in mind. We do all we can to get each other to Jesus when someone finds themselves on the mat. 

2. Trust Issues with the Crowd. 

--The paralyzed man wonders if he can trust the crowd to be civil who had gathered to hear Jesus teach. After all, they had arrived early to get their seat. 

--Don’t you imagine that they came with their own list of things that they would love for Jesus to take care of for them. It may not be as serious as being paralyzed but it meant a lot to them.

--The crowd could have looked at this as a form of butting ahead and no one likes for anyone to jump in line in front of them. He was in no place to defend himself if people got physical. 

--Years ago I was on the platform watching as people were coming into the sanctuary finding a place to sit for the service. I thankfully saw a new couple come in. Thank you, Lord!

--Right after they got seated a couple comes in behind them who were regular attenders and they head for the same pew where the new couple was sitting. It was their pew…their permanent seat.

--I am sure there were impressions of their bottoms because they had sat there for so many years. I think…no they want…then, I think…yes, they will.

--I make a bee-line to the regular couple to try to intervene before something got ugly. I put my arms around them and gently guided them to another pew.

--They said to me…those people are in our pew and they need to move. They are guests and they did not know so you have to sit somewhere else. 

--They were not happy with the people or with me…what is wrong with people when we take ownership of certain seats. Just wiggle your big _____ until it fits in the new pew. I shall not be moved!

--Now that is funny (not really) but what about new converts or new people who come into the church and begin to take over positions you thought you should have? I have been here 20 years!

1 Corinthians 12:11-12 (NKJV)
¹¹  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
¹²  For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 

--I have had people want to argue with me that they should have seniority because of how long they have been attending or how long they have been saved. 

--The collective congregation (the crowd) needs to take a deep breath, swallow our pride, realize it is not about us, and just love people God sends our way. The lost or re-locating believers. 

--The crowd should rejoice with those who get to Jesus and find salvation or healing.

Romans 12:15-16 (NLT2) ¹⁵ Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep.
¹⁶  Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

3. Trust Issues with Jesus.

--The paralyzed man has to be wondering if he can truly trust Jesus. What if it turns out that He cannot help me after all? What if He is making a really good point and doesn’t like being interrupted. 

--He lies on his mat (or you sit on your pew) thinking of all these dangers. I could get dropped (hurt), I could get ridiculed, or I could be rejected if I stand or come forward. Does Jesus love me?

--On the other hand, if I don’t go thru the roof, it is certain that I will never be healed. This is your one shot at wholeness. He makes his decision and affirms he wants to be a roof crasher too.

--This man’s friends must have wondered how Jesus would respond (we still wonder). Jesus looks up and sees the faces of the friends looking down at Him. The verse says He saw their faith.

--We have no indication that these men said anything to Jesus but he saw their faith. He saw men working hard to get their friend to Him and their only thought was…We must get our friend close to Jesus.

 James 2:17-18 (NKJV)
¹⁷  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
¹⁸  But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

--How interesting…Jesus saw these four men’s faith…so what did He see. I think James makes it pretty clear what Jesus saw…You show your faith by your works. Missions!

--Jesus saw these men doing everything they could, working with their hands, to get their paralyzed friend to Him. They could have had faith that Jesus would come by the man’s house but that wasn’t enough.

--Usually healing stories speak of Jesus seeing the faith of the one asking for healing for themselves or their child. Here it’s the faith, not of the man, but the faith of his friends. 

--Do we, in our wonderful community, have any idea what the faith of one person can do for a friend? What did Jesus see in the faces? A big hole and four faces but more.

Ortberg – Jesus sees four guys who are sweaty, dusty, anxious, hopeful, thinking only of their friend and trusting somehow Jesus has the kind of heart that will respond. Jesus sees a little of what God intended when He made human beings. He sees a little island of shalom in a sea of brokenness. He thinks to Himself that this is humanity at its finest. He sees their faith.

--What does Jesus see when He sees you?

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NCV)
²⁴  Let us think about each other and help each other to show love and do good deeds.
²⁵  You should not stay away from the church meetings, as some are doing, but you should meet together and encourage each other. Do this even more as you see the day coming.