Ministering to the Hurting
There are many hurting people in the area that need ministering to before we go out to minister in the uttermost parts of the world. We need to see and examine our own “world” first. To be even more specific, let’s look at even a smaller group of our world, the LOCAL CHURCH.
I) The church is full of people who have needs which require our attention.
A) Many in our church are hurting from a broken heart.
1) They may not even be here today that the Lord wants here and 1 of the reasons that there not here is because they hurt. Some have felt that there is no hope, they have lost hope in their God.
a) Many in the body of Christ are saying to themselves, “Where is God when we need him.”
b) God is still where He has alway been, but what the problem is, is that they are hurting and no one takes time to minister to them.
c) Instead we give them advice like: “Just believe God. Let the spirit of God take care of you.” Or “If you’d had faith, you wouldn’t have gotten into this mess.”
(i) GAL 6:2
2) But Jesus said to minister to the brokenhearted. Or to reach out to them so that they will be healed.
a) You might even be thinking that only the Lord can heal and that’s true but He uses us to minister healing.
B) It’s possible to reach such a place, even if you’re surrounded by people who know how to believe God, where you’re under so much pressure and the hurt is so great that you cannot help yourself.
1) You need the Body of Christ to reach out to you.
a) You need someone to put their arm around you and say, “We’re w/ you. Hang on. We’re standing w/ you.”
2) Many times people who claim to have faith often seem to imply to those in need: “If you had any faith, you’d get out of the muck and mire, and come up here w/ us spiritual giants.”
a) It’s too easy to look down on someone and say come up here w/ us.
b) But it’s another thing to walk down to where they are and to grab hold of that person and help bring him or her up to new heights in God.
(i) 1COR 9:19-22 read Strong's concordance on the Word "save" from verse 22. (Rescue from danger or destruction) it can also mean rescue restore or preserve.
(ii) (GAL 6:1) says, "Brethren, if any man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the Spirit of meekness; considering thyself lest thou also be tempted."
(iii) LUKE 15:4
c) I know that this is talking about the Lord Jesus Christ, and it’s also talking about pastors, but 1 thing is true for all of us, we all have been given the ministry of reconciliation.
d) We’re to go and restore that person, minister to their hurts and broken hearts.
II) Jesus made the statement that we are to set at liberty them that are bruised.
A) That means that we are to minister to them.
1) There are many battered and bruised Christians, who have been hurt by other Christians.
a) Some have been hurt intentionally and others have been hurt w/out the knowledge of the offender. Sometimes people are hurt for no reason at all. You did nothing wrong.
(i) Whatever the reason is for their feelings of hurt or rejection they’re still hurting.
2) These people that are hurting need special care.
a) Take the time to minister to them.
(i) Don’t just quote the Word to them and tell them to stand on it.
(ii) They need love, the God kind of love.
III) Jesus said in (LUKE 4:18) that we are to “preach DELIVERANCE to the captives.”
A) There is many in the body of Christ who are OPPRESSED.
1) Maybe they shouldn’t be because of our inheritance in Christ. But they are regardless.
a) The Church is for them, so they can get set free.
b) Jesus didn’t say I only want those that are perfect to come to me.
(i) Really just the opposite.
(ii) MAT 9:13; MAT 18:11
2) Maybe some of these people have been standing, believing God for something, that they are becoming weary in there well doing.
a) What are we going to do, jump all over them and say, “Oh, ye of little faith?”
b) They may be feeling that they’re losing the battle.
(i) They need someone that will stand w/ them.
(ii) EXO 17:12
(iii) What should we say to Moses, “Oh, ye of little faith.”
(iv) Sometimes people need their hands held up.
B) Paul teaches us not to look at ourselves as some big faith giant, looking down at others.
1) 1COR 10:12
2) ROM 12:3
a) He told us not to think of ourselves more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly.
(i) 1 translation says that we ought to think of ourselves w/ sober judgement.
3) The Bible says in (MAT 6:33) “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
a) Too often we’re seeking our own kingdom and the things that we like to do.
(i) But purpose to put God’s kingdom 1st.
b) People are part of God kingdom.
(i) Reach out to those that are hurting, if you don’t no one else will.
November 7, 1990 WED PM and WOLCC SUN 1/19/91
IV) There are many people that are hurting and many of them are not the easiest to love. They're not the easiest to be kind to. Sometimes people can be room, ignorant, and just down right insensitive, there's no other way to put it but they are hard to love. Yet the Bible tells us we are to love one another and to even go as far as loving our enemies. We have to love our brothers and sisters in the Lord and that includes those that are unlovely.
V) The Bible says faith worketh by love. If you want your faith to work you have to walk in love if you love even the least of your brethren, you're going to stop your faith from working.
VI) Sometimes people say, well I just love them by faith. But again the Bible says faith without works is dead. If you want your faith to work not only do you have to love your brothers and sisters in the Lord, but you also have to act like it's true. 1st Corinthians 13.