Whatever It Takes!

Introduction

Attention Step

We are taking a break from our Attitude Series

Homecoming next Sunday!

We are going to be in Luke chapter 5 this morning

Taking a look at one of my favorite narratives in the Bible!

By the Way....

There will be a time we study the book of Luke together on a Sunday morning!

Believers.... read through Luke

New Believers.... read through John

Struggle Reading?.... read through Mark

Read all of them?.... read through Matthew

Let’s take a look at the passage this morning (stand as I read through our passage. Pray at end)

Interest Step

We see in this passage a certain kind of people called the Pharisees

Group who originally formed to protect and keep the Law of God (is this wrong?)

Their great desire and mission was to glorify the Law of God in their daily lives and make sure others were keeping it as well

BY THE WAY: The term Pharisee comes from a Hebrew word which means “to separate/divide”

That’s exactly what they became

Their focus on keeping the law of God quickly went from a lifestyle of worship to a lifestyle of legalism

They were good at praying in public but not private

They were good at giving but after they made it known to those around them

These groups of “religious rulers” came and questioned Christ and His works

Instead of experiencing the miracle of God, they were too busy being focus on the logistics of worship rather than the EXPERIENCE of worship

They missed Christ healing a paralyzed man!

Lead Into Subject Step

This narrative isn’t about the man who was healed (Christ healed many people)

This narrative isn’t a lesson about the attitude of the Pharisees (Christ does that when he calls them hypocrites)

The narrative is actually about (besides Jesus Christ) the 4 friends who carried the man to Jesus!

The four men who did not stop until their friend was touched by the hands of Jesus Christ!

We can call them “THE DETERMINED FOUR”

Let me ask you a question, would you say that you are a DETERMINED believer?

What does it mean to be a determined believer?

Story of bennett with food?

Transition

This morning I would like to show you four things the DETERMINED FOUR knew and understood which lead them to do what they did for their friend

1. Knowing the SOLUTION (v. 17-18)

Explanation

These men knew who they needed to get their friend to go see

Notice how it doesn’t mention how they took him to another doctor (they probably tried)

In fact, they probably tried everything in the book to get their friend healed for many years

Think about it with me, how easy would it have been for them to give up on the fact that their friend will forever be in that condition?

Listen, when you know the answer to something you will always fight for it

If the Bible isn’t true, then why did so many people die while trying to translate it?

If Christ wasn’t the Messiah, then why did all of his disciples die as martyrs

When someone argues you with you and KNOW the answer, you WILL have the final word won’t you?

These men knew that Christ was exactly who their friend needed to see!

Argumentation

The rich young ruler.... what did he need in order to inherit eternal life?

Well it wasn’t all of the goods he had accumulated

He needed Jesus Christ!

What about the woman at the well? Did she have to go purify herself from her sins and get into a recovery group before she was healed from her “addictions?”

No, she needed Jesus

What about Paul? Did he need to go to a psychiatrist and then a step by step program to overcome his “issues”?

No, he needed Jesus!

Illustration

Application

It’s amazing to me the different solutions people try to turn to fix either their own issues in their lives or even the issues in other people’s lives

For some reason people think to spend more time at work for fix the issues you have at home

FALSE! You need to spend more time with God!

For some reason people think being controlled by drugs or alcohol will solve your problems

WRONG! You need to be controlled by the Holy Spirit!

For some reason people believe a certain individual will never get saved because of the way they look, have lived or have responded to you up to this point

Here’s the deal: if you are giving up on people or even worse.... not even trying to share Christ with people then you have no confidence in who Christ says He is

If you know, understand and believe that Christ IS who He says He is then you can’t help than try to fix this wicked, sick world by introducing them to solution to all of the world’s problem which is a walk with Jesus!

An encounter with Jesus… They need to be slapped right up the side of the face with who Christ is!

Application

Here’s the deal: Your evangelism is a direct result in the amount of faith you have in the statement: “Jesus is the Savior of the World”

That’s unfair Timothy.....

Not it’s not! Those who have been to the cross of Calvary and understood it should’ve been them left CHANGED!

Those who realize the depth of the forgiveness of Christ towards them, leaves not being able to shut their mouth about Christ

Sad reality.... some of us are still sitting here looking at me with blank stares and not getting this...

You haven’t shared Christ with someone in a long time

You’re life speaks louder than words by the way

Many say I am saved but not talk about BY WHO!

It’s like me saying I am married but never mentioning Hannah-Kait

Your belief in Jesus Christ dictates your activity in the evangelism world

You believe Jesus is everything you’re willing to go the extra mile for someone to meet Jesus Christ

Which leads to our next point this morning....

2 . Knowing the SACRIFICE (v.19-20)

Explanation

What an amazing picture of what friends are!

The crowds were too intense to carry their friend straight to the feet of Jesus

They could have quit and they could’ve said “Well shucks. We should’ve came earlier. Maybe another time”

NO! They found another way!

A determined believer is willing to keep the destination but change the route if needed

What’s the destination of these friends? Get their paralyzed friend to Jesus

Did it go as planned? NOPE AND THAT’S OKAY!

These friends were willing to do whatever it took so their friend would be laid at the feet of Jesus

Illustration

Have you ever seen the footages of Black Friday shoppers as soon as the doors are opened?

He will mess with you!

People are CRAAAZZZYYYYY on that day

That is one good thing about online shopping

Listen to this, there is a real website called “blackfridaydeathcount.com”

The count is 12 deaths and 117 injuries

There’s even honorable mentions with 5 more deaths and one more injury

These people would camp out all night, press up against the doors and would run people over just to make sure they could get their child what they wanted on Christmas

We go from a day of thanks to a day of mercenary attacks for the latest gadget for our kid!

Why does this happen? Why do people turn to animals over items in a store?

It’s that determined effect!

Willing to keep/reach the destination no matter how the route changes to it

Cross your arms.... fold your hands.... feels different but accomplishing the same thing

Application

How does this apply to the church and the life of a believer?

Introducing people to Jesus Christ involves sacrifice

Sacrifice of what?

Pride: you must put the need of the unbeliever above yours!

Time: Did you know it takes on average for someone to hear the Gospel over 13 times before they give their life to Christ

Sometimes the first time they hear the Gospel is through acts of service to them

It may take baking cookies for you neighbor on their birthday

It may take you shoveling their driveway even after they have been rude to you

Preferences/Opinions: You must get uncomfortable to reach an unsaved person

You know how many times I have gone into a home where I could barely breathe because of the odor?

You know how many times I had to give up something in order to reach out to someone?

You know how many times God took me outside of my comfort level to use me to introduce them to him?

Friends, I am going to say something that will make some in this room VERY uncomfortable but it’s time to say it

Times change but the Gospel doesn’t! (That’s my ministry motto)

We WILL do what it takes to get people to open to the truth of God’s Word

For some, that bring you to criticize many in this church for compromising God’s Word for feeling, emotion, performance, catering to a certain group

NO! Let me ask you a question though, how much is this world depending on feeling and emotion?

Listen here, the only person I am catering to is God Himself

If it takes me crawling through a roof to bring someone to Christ instead of walking pleasantly through the foyer, I am going to do it!

Why? Because I am willing to reach the destination (introduction to Christ) with unbelievers no matter the route it will take.

Times change, God’s Word doesn’t

(Which means, the methods used 30 years ago won’t work today)

I know because I am from this generation!

Good news though… short shorts in basketball are making their return so.... Just kidding

Knowing the sacrifice also knows that sacrifice brings obstacles to overcome

3. Knowing the Stumbling Blocks (Road Blocks)(v.21-24)

Explanation

Here something we all must understand and that is the fact that not all people are going to support you when you are a determined believer!

Again, what was the meaning of the word “Pharisee”?

“Dividers”

These were religious rulers who KNEW WHAT THE LAW OF GOD SAID, yet, became the biggest stumbling blocks of the ministry of Christ!

Think about that for a second...... do we have pharisees in the church today?

Pharisees today may look and sound like this:

That’s not how we used to do it

I am afraid we are getting away from the Word if we don’t look or sound this way

You say Pastor/leader “God is calling us to do this but I am not sure I’m on board with that doing it that way.”

We must focus on the unsaved but not as much as the people we have here already

Friends, I am afraid Christ would walk into the church today and say the same thing to many of people of the established churches that he said to the pharisees back in this day: “WOE TO YOU YOU HYPOCRITES!”

Often to the ones who claim to know and love Scripture

Often to the ones who have been the most faithful in attendence

Argumentation

Matthew 7:21–23 ESV

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

We must note the context of this passage… comes right after the statement made up in

Matthew 7:15 ESV

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

I love what one commentator said in regards to this passage...

“A person can seem like a Christian in the eyes of other people, yet still be an “evildoer” in God’s sight and sent away from His presence (verse 23). Only those who do the Father’s will and who are known of God will enter heaven.”

Application

Friends, let’s not be a pharisee in our walk with Christ, let’s be a supporter of the will of God

Let’s be willing to do whatever it takes to be a welcoming community at CBC for people to come in on Sunday Mornings and enjoy themselves in a way that softens their hearts to the Gospel

Let’s be willing to reconstruct our mindsets in how we live in order to reach our neighbors

Let’s go the extra mile KNOWING their will be opposition from your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ and you count it worth it to push through the accusations to accomplish the will of God

Routes changes but the destination always remains the same

4. Knowing the SAVIOR (v.25-26)

Explanation

Do you want to know what’s great about our Savior?

He doesn’t have to have things go a certain way or pattern for him to get His will done

He will save a person’s life no matter how they get to him

Did you hear that?

The power of God is not stopped by the way we finally get someone to Christ!

In fact, it’s often a messy path to get an unbeliever to Christ because you’re dealing with a messy life!

Another thing that is great about our Savior is that He comes through for us!

Verses 25-26...

Application

That truth should resonate with all of us this morning

You may be here and got here through a messy path but guess what YOU”RE HERE and YOU’RE HERE FOR A REASON

That reason may be to clean up your life finally with the redemption found in Jesus Christ

You may be here this morning and you have had a pharisaic attitude

Could look like this: You’ve been neglecting Evangelism but you’re here every time the doors are open

Could look like this: You are always against any change in the church

This morning, let’s all get on the same page, let’s become a DETERMINED BELIEVER TOGETHER

Response:

Let’s respond by getting rid of any ounce of a pharisaic attitude this morning

Let’s think of a name of a lost person and commit to reaching out to them over the course of the new few months

Let’s meet Jesus for the first time and get a brand new start!