The Great Physician

A sermon series on reaching the lost

I want to paint a picture for you tonight.

Just imagine, you were terminally ill and you tried everything to get healed.

Every natural remedy, every doctor, every possible outlet

Yet, nothing has worked.

There’s a sense of urgency too bc...

This illness that you have is a death guaranteed one too.

Well in the midst of your despair

You come across a message about this doctor.

He’s like no other doctor.

And you think to yourself, yeah been there heard that

But you figure at the same time that you have nothing to lose

so you seek to find Him anyway

Turns out He’s not that hard to find.

Upon meeting Him, He’s able to diagnose you right away and also provide a cure.

That’s it! You’ve received your life back.

You’ve been filled with joy and excitement.

You’ve got a whole new life ahead of you.

When you were sick, it was difficult to notice the sick around you because you had you’re own sickness to deal with

But now that you’ve been healed, you’re more aware of the sickness around you.

What you do in response to noticing that sickness around you says a lot about you.

Do you lead others to the doctor in hopes that they too will be healed?

OR

Do you keep that information to yourself because you don’t to impose on others’ lives?

TRANSITION HERE...

There are many people who die everyday looking for hope and never find it.

They’ve looked in all the wrong places and their “illness” ultimate ran it’s course in their body.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

What we could not accomplish in our own efforts, God sent His only Son to come and do in us and through us.

Jesus is the doctor

TITLE: The Great Physician

Romans 5:6–9 “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.”

When the “sick” or unrighteous person dies and they have not been healed by Jesus

They will never be reconciled to God.

This breaks the heart of God. We see that in scripture...

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

God is firm in His wrath, but He’s also faithful to provide a way out of that wrath.

If we’re being honest we have all been “sick” at some point in time.

Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

But when you accept Jesus death no longer has a hold on you.

That should prompt you to go and share life with those around you.

You are called to aid in the ministry of reconciliation.

If Jesus truly resides in you, then so should His heart.

In the gospel of Mark, Jesus responds to criticism about His ministry approach.

The Pharisees, or the religious leaders at the time, could not understand why Jesus would associate himself with unclean people.

However, Jesus understood that these were the people who would receive Him.

They, unlike the Pharisees, were not this “holier than thou” clique that only did life with people who were like them.

Jesus tells them plainly...

Mark 2:17 ...,“Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.””

Jesus made it His intention to stand on business.

To stand in alignment, not rebellion, to His Father’s call. His mission.

His desire was and is for everyone to be reconciled to the Father, our Creator.

Is that your desire as well?

To see Heaven crowded and the kingdom of darkness done away with forever.

1 Peter 2:24 “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

Because you have been healed and have been made aware of the truth

It is of the utmost importance that you adhere to the command of God.

That command is to...

2. Go out and make Him known.

Matthew 28:18–20 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

Jesus made it clear to us what our assignment is.

We want to create a community of believers across the globe.

That’s why we do mission trips — Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica

We want people to find hope — the true hope they have been looking for.

Jesus tells us to go and make disciples.

That’s not just a pastor’s job, a missionary’s job, but the job of every believer.

Your classmates need to know.

Your family.

Your friends. Your coworkers.

That stranger in the store. The gym.

God isn’t asking you to go, He’s telling you to.

But not in your power nor your own wisdom.

Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.””

God will empower us to do His works.

In fact, you need to be empowered because many people don’t even recognize that they are sick.

They have been conditioned and deceived by the world and the prince of this world Satan. The devil.

This has everything to do with the spiritual realm.

the devil has worked heard to make sure we don’t go out and make disciples.

He has tried stopping us by means of fear, anxiety, rejection, depression.

He has come for us. our family. our friends.

But you have to remember that you carry the authority of Christ.

At the mention of His name, demons flee!

So don’t allow yourself to be bullied by Him. instead...

3. Dare to share Jesus anyway.

I’ve heard it said that if the enemy can’t have you He’ll distract you.

He will work by whatever means necessary to ensure you are not effective for the kingdom of God.

This still does not excuse from the command to go.

Jesus says it again in...

Luke 10:2–3 “And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.”

The harvest is plentiful — meaning that there are people out there who can and will be saved

when the laborers of God’s kingdom come together and obey the command of Jesus over their life.

Don’t be intimidated because you are young.

God can use anyone — including you.

Jesus says to pray for the harvest and the laborers.

In the same breath, He again says to GO!

People are in need of healing. They are in need of the Great Physician — Jesus Christ the Son of God

And you and I, as believers, carry the truth of the gospel which says...

John 8:36 “... if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

Jesus has come to set the captives free and has called on us to aid in the ministry of reconciliation.

Be bold for the kingdom of God.

Let your be broken over the “sick.”

So much so that you move in faith and surrender and do something about it.

PRACTICAL:

This looks like sharing Jesus in the uncomfortable situations.

not backing down in fear.

inviting people to church

being the church (reflecting Jesus yourself)

SALVATION CALL