Sunday Morning Podcast March 8, 2020. Bro. Dave Goble.
TEXT: LUKE 14:22-24
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
Today, we are beyond the city and suburbs and instead surrounded by the highway and hedges. We all are needing to be as a community there, searching for lost souls in need of a great Healer. It’s a thrill when we find others there also thirsting and hungering after righteousness. It’s a spiritual country filled with many injured and hurting by sin, and in need of spiritual healing.helped by this community we are part of. That’s the common idea. It creates a shared common interest and concern, to go out. We care about souls. We need to know individually what part and value we hold in it, and how to be effective, yet not self righteous.. We’re not comfortable when we see men and women lost in the highways and hedges, yet not brought in. Not content and comfortable with “well we got ours, let them get theirs.” We want to see them get theirs as well. Sharing the interest and concern, and then there has to be stability to create the ability to grow, and prosper. When there has been adversity and destruction, there needs to be stability to help souls still thrive with healing. Not to be worrying what’s around the next corner, or it’s not going to thrive in it’s mission. The same holds true in the family structure. We need to have a measure of stability. Not up one day, and down the next, which is counterproductive to thriving. Families need to be grounded and settled in the truth, so the children know, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” That’s the ideal that God has designed for us. And for my part, if I’m the only one who can be grounded and stable, then “you’ll find me in the gap.” Then those who depend on me, will know that I am stable. Otherwise, a double minded man is unstable in all his ways. Stability begins with spiritual healing. When someone suffers a malady ( injury or illness) there first needs to be a recognition and diagnosis. If tho, you recognize it, and can’t treat it or are unwilling to be treated, you’re worse off than before, and cannot have spiritual healing. So first, diagnosis, second treatment, and then third recovery. God has designed the Church to be used and helpful as a community in those three things. If someone is near you, and you hope someone else will help them, it might not ever happen! We need to know what our gifts are, for it’s not just for the pastor to have all the gifts! We all have gifts and need to know what it is! Are we givers, or are we takers? There comes a time when we need to be givers! The Lord expects us to be cheerful givers.
We need to ask God to show us our gifts. And if we know “something is wrong” with us, we need to find out and know what our need or sickness is. It’s good when Christ gives us confirmation and definition about our need. Christ comes to heal, and not judge. There are times when someone won’t accept their sicknesses and needs. But God will or would show them, if they but ask and seek Him. God will be faithful to tell you the truth. Mark 2:1-12 tells about the man sick of the palsy, but no convenient way to bring him to Jesus who was teaching within a house that was full. But those around showed concern as a community, and went on the rooftop to remove the tiles, and let him down in the midst where Jesus was. Jesus not only healed, but forgave the sick man his sins. The man was only healed, when he was brought in by others concerned. If Christ is not welcome, He instructs us to shake the dust off of our feet, and move on. But if Jesus is welcome in the midst of your needs, you need to bring Him into your “house.” Individually and as a community we need to welcome all souls to Jesus. People with all types and obvious appearances of sin….we need to welcome them all in our midst! No matter how deep the affects of sin they possess! Stability is important to create the atmosphere to reach and welcome all. Concern is what is supposed to be and needed so they can be converted. It won’t happen unless we invite and welcome them! They need to know the symptoms of their spiritual sickness. Jesus needs, for the sinner’s sake, to know the causes of what is wrong with them. The physician is called to treat the cause. Lots of things cause the sickness of sin, and Jesus wanted to heal souls from what the need was. There are times we need a diagnosis spiritually. How many won’t receive it? As God’s children we need also to know whatever is wrong, just as also the sinner needs to know about their sins. You as God’s child must never become complacent, or the Lord cannot reach you. This need is just as serious as the need to be delivered from sin. If the Lord can reach us, then we still need to then know our diagnosis to be healed, …so He can heal us. But we must first be interested to find help. And then be willing to be healed from our lack. For the healing of the lost, God instructs us to be as a community in order to go out into the highways and hedges to bring souls to Christ. For spiritual healing.
Spiritual Concern And Healing….