THERE IS POWER IN THE UTMOST SPIRITUAL ATTITUDE OF
THE COLLECTIVE EFFORT OF THE CHURCH TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION OF THE LORD
JESUS CHRIST.
(PART 1)
1.
THERE IS POWER IN THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH TO ACCOMPLISH THE WORK OF WINNING THE
LOST AT ANY COST.
·
The four soul winners in
Mark 2:3 were united to bring the paralytic man to the Lord Jesus Christ. Even
though there were major hindrances because the house was packed with
people—making it seemingly impossible for them to enter where the Lord Jesus
Christ was teaching—they persisted.
·
The four soul winners
remained united to carry the paralyzed man onto the roof. Through their perfect
unity, they brought him up to the roof and carefully lowered him right into the
presence of Jesus.
( Psalms 133:1–3 ) [1] Behold,
how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
[2] It is like the precious ointment upon the
head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the
skirts of his garments;
[3] As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that
descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the
blessing, even life for evermore.
·
God the Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ are our supreme models of unity.
( John 17:21–22 ) [21] That
they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also
may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
[22] And the glory which thou gavest me I have
given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
·
The 120 church members in
the Jerusalem church were united in fulfilling the Great Commission of the Lord
Jesus Christ.
( Acts 1:13–15 ) [13] And
when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both
Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and
Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of
James.
[14] These all continued with one accord in prayer
and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his
brethren.
[15] And in those days Peter stood up in the midst
of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred
and twenty,)
( Acts 6:4–7 ) [4] But we
will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
[5] And the saying pleased the whole multitude:
and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip,
and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of
Antioch:
[6] Whom they set before the apostles: and when
they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
[7] And the word of God increased; and the number
of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the
priests were obedient to the faith.
·
Lastly, UNITY IN THE WORK
holds great power to fulfill the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ to
the regions beyond. AMEN & AMEN!
2. THERE IS POWER IN AVAILABILITY IN THE WORK OF THE
LORD.
( Mark 2:1–5 ) [1] And
again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was
in the house.
[2] And straightway many were gathered together,
insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the
door: and he preached the word unto them.
[3] And they come unto him, bringing one sick of
the palsy, which was borne of four.
[4] And when they could not come nigh unto him for
the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it
up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
[5] When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the
sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
·
The four soul winners gave
their precious time to work together to bring this paralytic man to the Lord
Jesus Christ.
·
The paralyzed man was
brought by four believers—this speaks of the availability of God's people in
the work of the Lord.
Ephesians 5:16 – "Redeeming
the time, because the days are evil."
·
Paul encourages Christians
to redeem the time.
·
Christ also encourages
believers to labor in ministry while it is day, taking advantage of every
opportunity to serve before the night comes when no man can work.
·
The Lord Jesus Christ is
our prime model in giving His precious time to do the work of the Lord.
·
CHRIST SAID, "I MUST
WORK THE WORKS OF HIM THAT SENT ME, WHILE IT IS DAY."
·
While we spend time on our
secular jobs, education, or household responsibilities, we must always make
ourselves available for the work of the Lord. Worshipping God requires our
availability; serving in local church ministry requires our availability; our
prayer time requires our availability; and above all, winning lost people
demands our dedicated time to reach those in the regions beyond.
( John 9:4–5 ) [4] I must
work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no
man can work.
[5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light
of the world.
·
Paul also encourages us to
run the Christian race with diligence until we finish our course before Jesus
returns.
( 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 ) [24] Know
ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So
run, that ye may obtain.
[25] And every man that striveth for the mastery
is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but
we an incorruptible.
[26] I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so
fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
[27] But I keep under my body, and bring it into
subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself
should be a castaway.
Let us
redeem the time, for the days are evil, lest we miss our opportunity to do the
work of the Lord.
3.
THERE IS POWER IN THE ABILITY OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL MEMBER IN THE LOCAL CHURCH.
( 1 Corinthians 12:12–20 ) [12] For as
the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body,
being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
[13] For by one Spirit are we all baptized into
one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have
been all made to drink into one Spirit.
[14] For the body is not one member, but many.
[15] If the foot shall say, Because I am not the
hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
[16] And if the ear shall say, Because I am not
the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
[17] If the whole body were an eye, where were the
hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
[18] But now hath God set the members every one of
them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
[19] And if they were all one member, where were
the body?
[20] But now are they many members, yet but one
body.
·
All church members in the
one body are given different talents, abilities, and gifts by God in order to
serve in various capacities within the local church. Every part of the body of
Christ contributes through a collective effort to do the work of the Lord
fruitfully and effectively.
( Acts 2:41 ) [41] Then
they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were
added unto them about three thousand souls.
·
Peter stood courageously to
exercise his God-given gift to preach the Gospel of Christ to the multitude,
and 3,000 souls were saved.
·
We, as church members, must
faithfully use our gifts to serve the Lord inside the local church.
( Romans 12:6–11 ) [6] Having
then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether
prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
[7] Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering:
or he that teacheth, on teaching;
[8] Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that
giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that
sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
[9] Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that
which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
[10] Be kindly affectioned one to another with
brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
[11] Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit;
serving the Lord;
( Acts 6:6–7 ) [6] Whom
they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands
on them.
[7] And the word of God increased; and the number
of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the
priests were obedient to the faith.
·
Praise God for the great
things the Church accomplishes in the ministry of the Lord! Amen and amen!
4. THERE IS POWER IN THE FLEXIBILITY OF THE CHRISTIAN
INSIDE THE LOCAL CHURCH.
·
Flexible means: adaptable,
adjustable, alterable, versatile.
( 1 Corinthians 9:19–22 ) [19] For
though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I
might gain the more.
[20] And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I
might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I
might gain them that are under the law;
[21] To them that are without law, as without law,
(being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain
them that are without law.
[22] To the weak became I as weak, that I might
gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save
some.
·
Paul’s practice of
flexibility in doing the work of the Lord made his ministry highly effective
and fruitful. He made himself a servant unto all to gain more souls for God.
·
Our four role models in
Mark 2:3–4 practiced total cooperation and flexibility in order to bring the
paralyzed man before the Lord Jesus Christ.
( Mark 2:3–4 ) [3] And
they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
[4] And when they could not come nigh unto him for
the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it
up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
·
The good testimony of
Christian women in Romans 16:1–8:
( Romans 16:1–8 ) [1] I
commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at
Cenchrea:
[2] That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh
saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for
she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
[3] Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in
Christ Jesus:
[4] Who have for my life laid down their own
necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the
Gentiles.
[5] Likewise greet the church that is in their
house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto
Christ.
[6] Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
[7] Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and
my fellowprisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ
before me.
[8] Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
·
They are great examples of
flexibility in ministry because all served faithfully; title, position, or
seniority was not a hindrance to performing God's work in the local church.
( Ephesians 4:11–16 ) [11] And he
gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,
pastors and teachers;
[12] For the perfecting of the saints, for the
work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
[13] Till we all come in the unity of the faith,
and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of
the stature of the fulness of Christ:
[14] That we henceforth be no more children,
tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the
sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
[15] But speaking the truth in love, may grow up
into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
[16] From whom the whole body fitly joined
together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the
effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body
unto the edifying of itself in love.
5. THERE IS POWER IN THE SINCERITY OF THE CHRISTIAN TO
FINISH THE MINISTRY WITH JOY FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.
( Acts 20:22–24 ) [22] And
now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things
that shall befall me there:
[23] Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every
city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
[24] But none of these things move me, neither
count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy,
and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the
gospel of the grace of God.
·
The Jerusalem church served
the Lord with deep sincerity to fulfill the Great Commission, even when facing
severe threats to their lives.
( Acts 5:26–29 ) [26] Then
went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they
feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
[27] And when they had brought them, they set them
before the council: and the high priest asked them,
[28] Saying, Did not we straitly command you that
ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with
your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
[29] Then Peter and the other apostles answered
and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
·
The sincerity of believers
brings great results in church growth.
( Acts 6:4–7 ) [4] But we
will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
[5] And the saying pleased the whole multitude:
and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip,
and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of
Antioch:
[6] Whom they set before the apostles: and when
they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.
[7] And the word of God increased; and the number
of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the
priests were obedient to the faith.
- To God be the glory! *
THE OUTERMOST LOST PEOPLE BEFORE GOD NEED GREAT HELP FROM
UTMOST SPIRITUAL CHRISTIANS
(PART 2)
·
The paralytic man is a type
of sinner before God.
(Mark
2:1–5)
1. The
Palsy Man is Without Christ – Separated from Christ and spiritual life
(Ephesians 2:12).
Eph 2:12 That at
that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,
and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in
the world:
2. The
Palsy Man is Having No Hope – Hopeless in the world without God to save him
(Ephesians 2:12).
3. The
Palsy Man is A Child of the Devil – Belonging to the power of darkness before
coming to Christ (John 8:44).
Jn 8:44 Ye are
of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a
murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no
truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar,
and the father of it.
4. The
Palsy Man is Spiritually Blinded – Blinded by the god of this world from seeing
the light of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4).
2Cor 4:4 In whom
the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest
the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should
shine unto them.
5. The
Palsy Man is Dead Spiritually – Dead in trespasses and sins, walking according
to the course of this world (Ephesians 2:1–3).
Eph 2:1 And you [hath he quickened], who were
dead in trespasses and sins;
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked
according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of
the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Eph 2:3 Among whom also we all had our
conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of
the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as
others.
6. The
Palsy Man is A Lost Sinner – Among those whom the Son of Man came to seek and
to save (Luke 19:9–10).
Lk 19:9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is
salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.
Lk 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek
and to save that which was lost.
7. The
Palsy Man is Without Strength – Helpless and unable to reach God on his own
(Romans 5:6).
Rom 5:6 For when we were yet without strength,
in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
8. The
Palsy Man is In Need of Faithful Friends – Requiring the aid of believers to
bring him to Jesus (Mark 2:3).
Mk 2:3 And they come unto him, bringing one
sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.
9. The
Palsy Man Needs To Be Forgiven and To Be Restored By Jesus – Requiring Jesus'
divine authority to forgive sins and grant healing (Mark 2:5).
Mk 2:5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said
unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.
10.
The Palsy Man Needs To Be Saved by Faith in Jesus – Reaching complete spiritual
and physical transformation through faith in Christ (Mark 2:5).
1. THE
OUTERMOST PEOPLE ARE SEPARATED FROM A HOLY GOD BECAUSE ALL HAVE SINNED.
( Romans 3:23 ) "For
all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;"
2. THE
OUTERMOST PEOPLE ARE SINNERS WHO INHERITED SIN FROM ADAM AND EVE.
( Romans 5:12 ) "Wherefore,
as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed
upon all men, for that all have sinned:"
3. THE
OUTERMOST LOST PEOPLE ARE DISOBEDIENT TO GOD; THEY NEED JESUS CHRIST TO BE
SAVED.
( Romans 5:19 ) "For
as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one
shall many be made righteous."
4. THE
OUTERMOST LOST PEOPLE ARE ALL SINNERS ON EARTH, AND NO ONE IS TRULY GOOD BEFORE
GOD.
( Ecclesiastes 7:20 ) "For
there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not."
5. THE
OUTERMOST LOST PEOPLE CHOOSE SEPARATION FROM GOD BECAUSE OF WICKEDNESS.
( Psalm 14:3 ) "They
are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that
doeth good, no, not one."
6. THE
OUTERMOST LOST PEOPLE ARE LIKE SHEEP WHO TURN TO THEIR OWN WAY, LEAVING THE
SHEPHERD WHO CARES FOR THEM.
( Isaiah 53:6 ) "All
we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and
the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all."
7. THE
OUTERMOST LOST PEOPLE DECEIVE THEMSELVES WHEN THEY CLAIM THEY DO NOT COMMIT
SIN.
( 1 John 1:8 ) "If we
say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in
us."
·
GOD DECLARED HIS LOVE TO
ALL OUTERMOST LOST PEOPLE. GOD LOVES ALL OUTERMOST LOST PEOPLE AND SENT HIS
ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, JESUS CHRIST, TO PAY FOR THE SINS OF THE LOST WORLD.
( John 3:16 ) "For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
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