"THEY SOUGHT MEANS TO BRING HIM IN"
Luke 5:18
The Lord
Jesus was preaching in Galilee, and the power of God was present for the
healing of needy souls. Suddenly, four men broke up the tiles on the roof and
let a friend down by ropes in front of the Master. When the Savior saw their
faith, he both healed their impotent friend and forgave him of all his sin.
What an instructive picture this is!
Here are
four men with a sick, impotent friend. They found out where the Lord Jesus was
preaching. And knowing that "the
power of the Lord was present to heal," they picked him up on his bed
and sought a way to bring their friend into the presence of Christ. When the
Son of God "saw their faith, he said
unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee." Those four men could not
do a thing to change their crippled friend's condition. But they knew that
Christ could. So they brought him to the Savior, overcoming great obstacles.
And because of their faith in Christ, this poor sinner was both healed and
saved.
Do you
have such faith in Christ? Do you believe that the power of the Lord is present
where the gospel is preached to save lost men and women? If you do, there are
some things you can do for them. I know you cannot change a sinner's condition.
But you can do some things for lost people. And what you can do you are
responsible to do. You can...
1.
PRAY FOR THOSE WHO BELIEVE NOT. "Brethren, see poor
sinners 'round you, slumbering on the brink of woe. Death is coming. Hell is
moving. Can you bear to let them go?"
2.
TELL OTHERS WHAT YOU KNOW OF CHRIST AND HIS
GRACE (John
9:11). You can tell friends, neighbors, relatives and acquaintances what you
have seen, heard, felt and experienced of the gospel.
3.
USE WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU FOR THE SUPPORT OF
THE GOSPEL MINISTRY (3 John 5-8). You may not be able to go to Africa to preach, but you
can help send a preacher. You may not be able to preach, but you can help feed
and clothe the man who does.
4.
DISTRIBUTE TRACTS, TAPES, BULLETINS, AND
BOOKS to
those who might profit from them. That which costs you so little may be of
infinite value to another.
5.
WORK TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR SINNERS TO HEAR
THE GOSPEL.
Did you know that someone has to mow the lawn, shovel the snow, sweep the
floor, replace the lights, wash the windows, and paint the walls at the church
house? You could do that.
6.
BRING SINNERS TO HEAR THE GOSPEL. If you want to, if you
care, you will figure out a way to get people to hear the gospel.
7.
EXEMPLIFY THE GRACE OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE. You can adorn the doctrine
of God, so that those who know you will want to hear the gospel you believe.
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #789
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S.
Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net