We Need Each Other – 11

We Need Each Other – 11

Subject – Unity and Community – A Place for Miracles

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!” 

--I hope and pray that all of us have learned something about this wonderful community and I hope we realize how much we need each other. Our foundational text:

Hebrews 10:24-25 (NLT2)
²⁴  Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.
²⁵  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

--Our world is crying for its redemption and it appears to me that we are living in the last days. We should love each other enough to motivate each other toward being faithful to God.

--When Barna and other pollsters are saying that church attendance is on the decline, we should be gladly running to God’s house to find hope and love. 

--Doesn’t it stand to reason that you will find more peace and security in the house of God in an atmosphere of worship and the Word than you will staying in bed?

Hebrews 10:21-23 (NLT2)
²¹  And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house,
²²  let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.
²³  Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 

--If God can be trusted to keep His promise, wouldn’t it make sense to be faithful to His house worshiping Him with sincere hearts believing everything will be okay. Notice where these verse are:

--I have prayerfully considered how to wrap up this series on community and how to understand “We Need Each Other.” And I believe God has given me a progression. 

1. I Feel as if I am Paralyzed.

--It doesn’t matter if you are in the church or out of the church, life happens to everyone and it can be very hurtful and depressing. You can even feel paralyzed or stuck.

--Thankfully for us, when we face life with all of its challenges and pain, we have a God Who has promised us He will never leave us or forsake us. See the difference from Paul.

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)
¹³  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 

--No matter what you face you can declare with boldness and with the Word of God backing you up, God is faithful! God is faithful!

--Sinners get sick and Christians get sick. Sinners die and Christians die. Sinners have major difficulties and Christians have major difficulties. The difference is God (Jesus)!

--The blessing for us is that even when we feel paralyzed by life or a bad report, God is not finished with us yet. He will make a way of escape (a way out of the situation).

--That way out may be by healing, forgiveness, provision, blessings, or possibly a miracle like the paralyzed man received when he was lowered to Jesus.

Psalm 103:1-5 (NKJV)
¹  Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
²  Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:
³  Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
⁴  Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
⁵  Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. 

2. I Feel as if I am at the End of My Rope.

--I believe many of you have heard of evangelist Dave Roever. Dave was a decorated Vietnam veteran of solid character. A Purple Heart recipient. 

--At the height of the Vietnam War, he joined the U. S. Navy and served as a river boat gunner in the elite Brown Water Black Beret -- until tragedy occurred.

--As their boat was on a mission, they came under fire from the enemy. The fight was intense. At one point Dave pulls out a grenade, pulled the pin and was ready to throw it.

--A bullet struck the grenade discharging it in his hand and the force of the blast blew him into the water. As only he could tell it, his skin was blown off floating next to him.

--He said he was literally beside himself. When you are at the end of your rope and you think you are about to go under for the last time, reach up, you might just grab the hand of God.

--Obviously, God spared his life and has used him to touch hundreds of thousands, if not millions, for the Kingdom of God. It’s not over until God says that it is over.

--Because this man was a part of the community of the mat, he was not in this situation alone. He had friends who had the other end of the rope to hold him up or to lower him down.

--The point here is that we truly need each other desperately no matter how small the community is. There is such strength when we are connected to others.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (NLT2)
⁹  Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.
¹⁰  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.
¹¹  Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone?
¹²  A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

--Isolation has been the downfall of so many. Pastor, I don’t need the church, I don’t need my family. I can make it own my own without anyone’s help. Watch National Geographic.

Proverbs 18:1 (NKJV)
¹  A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; He rages against all wise judgment. 

--You may not need anyone at this season of your life but there will come a time when you find yourself at the end of your rope. If you have cut off community, you are truly in trouble.

3. I Feel Loved

--The message that we have been trying to communicate in this series has been, “We Need Each Other” and we need each other a lot as the days are getting more and more evil.

Ephesians 5:14-18 (NLT2) ¹⁴ “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
¹⁵ So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.
¹⁶ Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
¹⁷ Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
¹⁸ Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 

--Being careful how you live can mean many things but one thing it means for sure, you need to value this community and the church. We truly need each other.

--This paralyzed man definitely felt loved by his small community of the mat. They loved him enough to take care of him and enough to get him to Jesus.

--They loved him enough that they had decided no barrier or obstacle was going to keep them from getting him to Jesus. True friends get their friends to Jesus. 

--They loved him enough to be roof crashers and to lower their friend into the room where Jesus was teaching. When was the last time you loved someone enough to go out of your way to get them to Jesus?

--This paralyzed man felt loved by Jesus. Jesus wasn’t upset His church service was interrupted. He was pleased there was someone who needed His love, healing, and forgiveness. 

--Just imagine what tremendous love this man felt to realize he had the best friends in the world. Imagine what love he felt when Jesus said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 

--Imagine the overflowing love when the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. He experienced love, freedom, and healing all at one time.

--Even the community was filled with love…Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!” Summary:

1 Peter 4:7-10 (NLT2)
⁷  The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.
⁸ Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins.
⁹ Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay.
¹⁰ God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.