Hold The Rope

But it is so good to see you and we are really excited. I'm excited like Lindsey about all the upcoming things. We have just this coming Easter and all these events the announcer on Facebook and if if you could get on Facebook just share all of them more than we ever have 15 or 20 times, but listen to a hundred and just begin now inviting people to Services leading up to Easter and you know, we always challenge to invite seven unchurched people to come to some of our special services but just start getting in the habit of that now because the more people you invite now. Invite other people that maybe you wouldn't have known to invite to just be thinking about that be in prayer for it and he said right after the service we got are connect 201 been coming for a while or just started coming. I promise you there's a place where you can help us out. Like Lindsey said I love that word that got to give her about your availability. If you'll just make yourself available. God will use you. Do you believe that today if you believe it say Amen? All right, open your Bibles to the book of Acts open your Bibles to the book of Acts chapter 9. Acts chapter 9

if you don't have your Bibles you can follow along up on the screen. Now after many days were passed the Jews plotted to kill him. This is talking about the Apostle Paul became known to saw and they watched the kill him then the disciples took him by 9 and let him down through the wall in a large. I believe the message that God has for us today is simply hold the Rope. Let's pray together. Heavenly father. I thank you that you love her. I thank you for sending your only begotten son for us that we could be saved that we could be rescued from our sin that we can become your children. Be born again father I pray today. Pray today God for the hearts. I pray that you give them here's to you father. I know that you have a clear message and God. I know that I am unable In My Own Strength to deliver this message, but I know that in your power, but I can Father I pray for that person. Is lost in a way from you. Father I pray God that you just begin to convict them and draw them and I pray that before they leave here today. They can say that they have an insurance that they're saved and that they have a home in heaven. Father I pray for that new belief. It's just gotten Sager early on in the journey. I pray that they would be encouraged today. And God I pray for them. The servant of you that is overwhelmed. That is burden. That is struggling. God I pray that they would just be blessed today. And God I ask you as you challenge us with this message that we would all answer the challenge to hold the rope in Jesus name a man.

Before I get into this story behind these verses that I just read, I believe it's so important that we see the picture of the church in the picture of the people of God laid out for us in the scripture. You see from the very beginning when God created Adam E4 man of the Dust of the ground Man became a living Soul. Remember he said it is good and he he created the stars in the sky. Never create something you would say. It is good. And when you read the story of creation, that's this consistent theme but something I hadn't noticed before until recently someone brought it to my attention is that when when man was in unbroken fellowship with God in the garden, which was a pair. I'm seeing had yet to enter into the world man had yet to fall God still said that there was something that was not good. Does anybody remember what that was God said it's not good that man should be alone. But that wasn't good even before seeing the world has broken Fellowship, which is the most important thing but still got placed importance on the truth and it's not gonna be some kind of Crusader alone. Said it's not good that man be alone and you go all over into the New Testament and you see Jesus say to be as long as he and the other one and they were to love one another as he is love. And this is the imagery in the illustration that we see of God's people in the scripture. God wants us to be dependent on him and then interdependent upon one another. Did you know that in the scripture? It says that when we love one another as Jesus has loved us that the world will know we are his disciples. Then when we come into unit and some of you heard me say this before, but I believe we need to hear it again. When we come into Unity. Loving one another then it says the world sees this and knows Jesus was sent into the world for them. How many of you want somebody that you know to see in the world for the is there anybody here that wants somebody to see them? We comes when we begin to love one another.

in this image that I that I read of the rope in the basket, somebody being lowered down image is recorded multiple times in the scripture found about where this is recorded in before I get into the one about how I want to read one to you that some of you know about in this is one of the most well-known in the Book of Luke chapter number 5 Luke chapter number 5 and in this story it says Then behold men brought on a bed a man who is paralyzed then they start bringing in and lay before him and when this him is Jesus and when I could not find out they might bring me in because the crowd they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the Mist before Jesus. First of all, In this house. Jesus was doing the preaching. Jesus was doing the teaching and and I've just got to say this man. I love to hear some good preaching myself. I love to hear some good music and sometimes me and it was nobody's Jesus wasn't even get through the door. The place was packed so full you couldn't even get through the door in this group of men that's coming has a friend right in this man. This man is paralyzed and he came in there trying to get him to Jesus. They come to the door in the place is packed out. You can see it with me. They can't even get through. So they're trying to think of what to do. I imagine they had to get a ladder to get up on the roof. So they get a ladder and in their friend that they're bringing up on the roof, and it won't And hold him to get him up on the roof. I get him up on the roof make a hole in the room that get the ropes ready. They tied to the bed and then they begin to lower the man down in the bed into the myth of Jesus. And as they do that it says that Jesus when he saw their faith, this is what he said. He said your sins are forgiven and this made some people mad. He said why do you get mad or get up and understand this morning? It's as easy for Jesus to forgive you if you're seeing your faith in him and it's just that easy for him to say rise up and walk and bring you here and do the impossible but it's just is impossible for you to be forgiven of your sins without without Jesus. With Jesus With God all things are possible. Do you believe So they lowering down in the midst of Jesus. He gets his sins forgiven. He gets healed. I want to say to you today. The first person that we need to hold the Rope for is a person who needs their sins forgiven. First we need to hold the Rope for is that the person it's not safe way from God. How do we do this the way that we can do it in a way that we can hold the Rope for that lost person Stickman 80% of people. They don't come to church have never been invited.

Do you want to 80% of the 7,000 people in our local area? That don't have never been invited. I haven't believed that that figure has changed a little bit since we started here at Life church, but I wanted to change a whole lot more. We got a hold of we got to keep on inviting him to come in and I haven't come I want to say to you hold the rope and invite him again. And keep on inviting how long did it take for them to be saved and then keep on holding on to the Rope? Listen, just like for you to hear this morning if you don't hear you're going to hear.

Hold the Rope. Hold the Rope when Jesus saw their faith not how they were. This is they believe their sins were forgiven person that you work with.

As you keep on holding the road. You bring them in and they come in I hear the gospel.

Hold the Rope. Can y'all say that with me? Say it with me? Say hold the Rope. Say it like you mean it hold the road one more hold the Rope. Somebody else we got a hold the Rope is the new believer the new believer that's early in the journey and see the Apostle Paul in the book.

The Apostle Paul was early on in the German and in fact, so he wanted to rid the world of Wonder to be a Christian on the Hearth or anybody that was in the way of Jesus. He wanted to rid them. Get rid of them totally and then one day he was on his way to Damascus. He's riding on his donkeys got papers from the high. Priest of our price to be sealed and all of a sudden turnaround song. And Jesus said Saul Saul. Why do you persecute me? Why do you persecute me? That encourages me to let me know that if I if I'm persecuted or talked about or ran down for the cry for the night?

Jesus didn't say because you're persecuting the Christians, but he identified me understand.

If you're hearing you're a follower of Christ and God is God has got you into this place where you want to just keep taking steps forward and it seems like it gets harder the more steps you take the encouraged because Jesus has got your back and he says to the one that was persecuting. Why do you persecute me? Who are you? He says I'm Jesus. The one that you're persecuting, it's hard to kick against the Pricks. It's hard to come against me isn't. Salsa's with Lord, what would you have me to do see something in already changed? something already changed

cuz he had met with Jesus. You've met with Jesus, you know, you can't meet with Jesus and stay the same some of you that are are concerned about do what I'm supposed to do song is changed. What do you want me to do? You said arise go? Going to Damascus go into the city. I'll give you instructions on what you're to do at the same time and a nice another follower of Christ. Jesus speaks. He says go to Saul go to soloway hands on him and pray for him and for sanitize like you know, who saw is right? He's the one that's killing all of us. Are you sure you want me to go and talk the song praying he lays hands on Saul and in Sulligent Blinded By the Light Let It Shine all the way around you've been in immediately his eyes were open and he was able to see you spilled with the Holy Spirit. Any immediately then went and got baptized in water and it says after that he started preaching. He started preaching that Jesus was the Christ and he was even proving the Jews Jesus Christ in the scriptures. And this was making some people mad and said he grew and he grew and strength and after many days the Jews had to kill Saul they plotted to kill him and some of his friends gathered together with him. And you got him up into this building. I got ready to let him out the window. I got him in the basket. They got the Rope ready in the picture is the similar picture to that of the friends lowering the man in the bed that was paralyzed is the new believer. See one of the things that we got to do is we got to hold the Rope for those that are coming into the church. We got to hold the Rope for those and they're giving their life to Jesus. We've been praying for them. We've been praying for them to come in and get slayed.

Songs getting in the basket. I want you to picture him getting up in the basket you getting ready to be lower down and understand that if anybody that's hold the Rope, let's go if anybody Let's Go song can fall and get badly injured or he can get hurt or killed. How do you lower him out the window? The disciples are holding on to the rope and I imagine that Paul was preaching the message that I'm right. Now don't you let go of the Rope. I'm in the bathroom and I want you to understand there's going to be times you're going to be holding the rope and there's going to be times that you might be in the basket.

And when you're the one in the basket, you're going to preach the message hold the Rope. And he's looking around at some of the people probably that's standing around and they're not doing anything and he saying hey get over there and hold the Rope. Don't just stand around. Y'all don't give up on me in the past.

Please understand. There's some people in there getting their life and those of you that have been saved for more than a minute. Please don't be an example. We got to be an example. So I ask you. Are you holding the Rope for the new believer? Are you praying for the new Believers that are that are coming into the church. Are you spending time seeking God and praying for them that they would continue to grow in their faith.

When they come into the church on Sunday morning. Did I see you here?

Because you would attend the fellowship Faithfully, you know, a lot of you know, what the word of God and I see that you're growing in your faith. Did I watch and see you growing when it comes to at the end of a service and there's a challenge offering free. Are you willing to come and pray for you too scared? Maybe it was somebody with anchor even what they so you just stay back in your seat. Never really need to go to the go to the altar.

The sea god I can tell you this about.

When there's been a call to come and pray. I have never regretted one time when I can. To pray but there's been multiple times that I've regretted not coming. Can anybody identify with? We got a hold the Rope for the new Believers as they're coming in. In small groups and in that's where real growth happens. That's that's where we can hold the road for that new believe because it's in these these small group setting and some of you that are here. Maybe don't know. What a small group is. This is what we consider a large group meeting and then through the week. We also meet in a small groups together Fellowship together. We study God's word together. We pray for one another and it's a totally different setting but it's in this setting where you can hold the Rope others, and then there's going to be in the basket need somebody to hold the Rope free. This happens in small groups and it's hard for me to be in a small group. It's hard because I'm busy or I've got to work right now. We are meeting on Sunday. Tuesdays Wednesdays and Thursdays. Is there any other days I miss? Anybody that's looking small groups an opportunity for you to be able to get that you will grow and then you'll be able to hold the Rope.

awesome the teams that are here at the church that operate and in and do the ministry of the church, you may ask, how can I hold the Rope get on a t get get on a team and this week one of the names that I have is Wednesday night they have kids church and I think it's from about 8 to 3 all the way up to 18. We have the Treehouse preschool age elementary-age the middle school age and then you have teenagers youth group and this past Wednesday. I had the opportunity Elementary age kids. Why you laughing? Well your reactions a little bit like Christie's when I mentioned that they might be cool if I could class because Monday night my sister Fair hit ask Chrissy if she couldn't she was committed to a small group and my sister was having a hard time finding anybody see what do you think about me? I mean nobody else.

I don't know if that's for you. Believe It or Not Without Christie ever talk in the fair the next day sister sends me a text says Hey brother and I said sure I will he text back. Oh, I was just kidding. But since you said yes. You can do it. I was available Wednesday. All right. Wednesday night I come in and I'm pretty sure we had record attendance for the elementary. Kids were pouring in it was getting louder and louder and I was getting more and more nervous Kathy. I was I don't know that I've been that nervous in a long long time to send if somebody leaves one of the little ones astray it be better if they had a millstone tied around their neck God help me cuz he sees kids like I believe it got to give me a few questions to ask. You know, why do I need to be safe? And then how do I get saved? And then how do I know but that was only 15 minutes of an hour that I had with the kids. Cuz I know I know.

We had some time of praise and worship. We got to get the Wiggles out view of what they talk about the week before on the Ten Commandments my son Brian help me out and made a game for me to let the kids play a little bit and then it came time for the Bible study in you know, it just amazes me because these kids at a young age they really do. They were sitting on the edge of their seats. They were listening. They were hearing the gospel. They were answering questions at the end of it as I was talking to him about what it means to be say I want I want to make that decision to follow Christ and sunset. I want to get baptized because I've ever had in my life. It was it was awesome. I loved. I want you to know when the kids church back there. We need your help. You hear me? We need you to stick around. Please after the service today find out how you can help out with some of the things that you can help out with in the kids. Alright, we need your help. And you know what? We need your help holding the Rope for these Believers let the little children come to me. Is there anybody here though? It would say I was on the road. I might have to throw important to God. It's important to his kingdom.

Did you could get on that I think about it. I'm so glad that somebody help her up for me Kenny. I'm so glad that when I was growing up. I can remember dad taking me to church and me and my mom she would take me there for you service that there was at every seam church, I think.

And you know what man is might be hard for you to believe you probably thought I was just I know that's probably tough for you and I straight from probably about me straying from God in the Bible. Do you believe that if you do say Amen? I'm glad that somebody kept I'm glad that the age of 19. Somebody help the rope and invited me to a church service in Bishop, Virginia / Stony Ridge over the mountain and I'm so glad that the pastor there he would still hold the rope and he was preaching the gospel play. I got saved. Do you know those teachers they were teaching me in kids church. Don't see that they so they had no way of knowing and no way of knowing that they were holding rope for somebody that won't they might be it might be a faster. You don't know who wrote for the Rope for the Apostle Paul like we know in today for a new believer. They were on the road for him and let me down at a window that you don't know.

God's bring the me and he's bringing them in and I want to encourage you can search workers only encouraged the leaders of the middle of all the small group leaders all the teens today. Don't be discouraged. But keep on holding the Rope what you're doing is working and your reward will be great in heaven. I believe that I would encourage you to keep on holding the row. And it's got to keep bringing in people. Are we going to be prepared? I believe we're on the edge of something beautiful and we got to be ready for we need more and more of you help us hold the rope in every area and every every there's all kinds of different. How do you know that the cleaning is important that they're holding the Rope it was nasty and smelled bad and was just a mess going like that. You know why you don't it's cuz somebody's holding work. Every week we got to maintenance me and my dad and Brandon McCracken still take the trash out the trash already and we never took the trash out. if you mess with me, but that's important and you know what that

I just say to you. We need help holding the road. And we need your help. Holding the Rope these disciples that were holding the Rope for Paul. I want to point this out. They have been saved very long either. We got a hold the Rope. Got a Hold the Rope for those that are coming in for those are against we also got to hold the Rope For that one that may have been safe for a while but becomes overwhelmed last night when we were when you came in here to pray some of the leadership and some others that just love to praise him in and as we are praying that has John asked John to pray over the small groups. I said pray that is small group leaders. We would have something to say to that one that's hurting that one who who might be in a situation with her husband or wife is encouraging words. Maybe they're going through their feeling overwhelmed and we just have something I want you to know John is give us the compassion of Jesus to hold the Rope for others when their overwhelming they're hurting. Can you buy Freedom over whelmed and I don't want you to be too ashamed to just get in the basket and let us hold the Rope for you.

Would you help hold the Rope for somebody hurting? This Wednesday a lady who may have I've ever seen in my life. She lost in a span of 3 months. And it was one of most difficult things I've ever seen anyone go through and she's had a hard time being around people ever since for a while or follower of Christ and she was questioning struggling. I've been in contact with her and she said Brandon, I don't know that I'm ready when I come to a small group and I also have been won on Wednesday. Gerald and Sara Collins this year. It took a big step and I said we're going to leave group is Gerald was telling me that he wanted to leave a small group was like the look on his face face. Was that of unbelief pretty sure

And it was on managing your emotions and you know, they had all kinds of people signing in this past Wednesday that are precious lady who's been to that trash. Showed up people to go to the whole meeting with she showed up and Sarah grab ahold of her hug your neck. They cried together. They talkin and talkin all week. And I'm just so thankful Sarah Gerald willing to step up and hold the rope braid. Hallelujah We got a hold of the Rope for that one. That's hurting that one. That's burning that one that's overwhelmed. I think about our meals Ministry team ever Mills Ministry team take me home need a meal. I bet you if I had you raise your hand if you would have been asked if you want to meet with probably a lotta But you know, if you've ever been that one in the basket, you have been that one in the basket. You just had a surgery or going through some of your family is hard to make dinner is hard to have meal and those meals just start showing up any of you ever had that happen with the meals team brought you meals if you have when you just look up your hand, isn't that wonderful and it wonderful graveyard. And I know that show more with the person who is going through a tough time here in the church. She wants to expand it. But I want you to know that doesn't happen unless we get more people on the Millstream hole in the room. We got to hold the Rope. This Spring Mills team comes on Wednesday and feed the kids. And that's so important to those kids. They might not always give me in the situation. They're in but how many of you know, that means we got to keep holding the road and we need more people holding the Rope. I can remember whenever it was getting close to time for us to begin our walk and a few of us. We're starting out was going to Crossroads Church before we launched out before we launched out. That's where we were and one Sunday service. I feel so overwhelmed and it was like we just circle around the bed round and round it goes like I was in the mouth of the lion roaring seeking whom he may devour. It was just a constant like weight that I In one Sunday morning, I went up there and I just pray a meltdown and I prayed and I said God, I don't know what to do, and I don't know that.

As I was praying a man a man by the name of the Ouija very interesting character, but a man who was faithful to God came up to the office and he laid his hand on my shoulders I was praying and he said something what would he didn't know is when I when I was growing up when I was growing up and I was getting anxious or upset or nervous about something my dad. And sometimes I wouldn't even tell him that it was me that I was talking about.

Me and make me feel better. He would say this phrase. It don't seem like much maybe maybe you but he would say this he would say son. Everything's going to be alright, and you know what when they say that I just knew that everything was going to be alright MSA up at the altar when he laid his hand on. Somebody else you didn't know. Is it from the time I got saved leave the doctor not believe what God has always had a tough time suitable evening. Had a tough time on my shoulder. He said Son.

Do you believe that today?

What is Luigi?

I've been holding the road. I want you to think about that. Glad that people. What happened in the basket? I'm so glad that people have been.

Pastor Tucker Think about the people here at the church. Delete her son and even going over to their house going into the Holy Spirit Room. They seen that I'm struggling bird and I might be overwhelmed and they steal it sprayed and everyone I needed some prayer. You pray for me some of your pray for me at your home in your prayer closet. I just want to thank you for holding the Rope for me when I've been the one in the back. Thank you for me and I want to commit to you that when you need let me ask you this. Would you commit to hold the Rope there? Anybody here today? That would say?

As long as it's one way or the other or hold the Rope for your in the basket. We're not looking for you to criticize the people that told the wrote of how they're holding. All right, we're at we're not looking for you to just tell everybody how to hold the Rope. But I'm asking you to get in and hold the rope with. We we need your help holding the row and I want you to know there's two leaders that are here. Sometimes it's all right for you to be in the basket. And let other people how many of you here really enjoy being part of God's playing how many guess what other people enjoy it. So it's alright sometimes for you to be the one in the basket when you're in for them to hold.

Pride that keeps us from getting in the basket when somebody hold the Rope for us. I want you to know I've had to have people hold the Rope. for me A lot of times Will you help hold the Rope for someone? William

It's not about your ability, but your availability.

and Joshua chapter to go do a mission and they were about to be attacked by the enemy and there was a lady who is known as Rahab the prostitute that's how she was no. Definitely not because I have good but it was because she believed the report of the Lord the word of the Lord is entrusted. And it says that she left them down by a rock through the window for her house was on the city. So Rahab The Prostitute takes away all whatever. Do you know that the Hebrews? She's listed, right? Alongside Noah, right alongside Abraham Heroes of Faith. There is Rahab The Prostitute and you know, why? Cuz she believed God and she held the Rope she held. The Rope will you hold the road today? Will you? hold the route going and staying on your feet.

Holland you're here today and God dealt with you about holding a rope. And you say Brandon. I want to answer the challenge. I'm holding a rope. I want to help hold the Rope for the one in the basket and I know there might be in the basket. I need somebody for me. If you're not there with you today, as you heard this simple message hold the Rope. You just lift up your hand. Would you looked it up and around waving to rain? I want to ask you how do you want me to hold the road and I'll stick around after the service today and you'll get that hear different ways that you can hold the rope that those you that raise your hand and anybody else. Dealing with you to the front and just begin to pray and seek God. Don't worry about a few body else is looking at you.

How how do you want me to help hold the Rope for others? I have you want me to help hold the Rope?

Who do you want me to invite to church?

God how can I hold the Rope over? believer liberally without finding phone God is weak Thrasher children. We want to do the work that you have us to do and we want to hold the Rope for us. We want to help.

Alive in our hearts to you if you seek your face God show us and I asked you to make it plain and clear. I pray you give everyone here that you're dealing with the Courage the courage to take the stuff that you want them to take. Thank you. Let's Worship the Lord again.

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