He Knows
My brothers and sisters in Christ, in the back of our sanctuary on a table
sits a basket. Within the basket are some handouts that read; “Call To
Prayer And Self-Denial”, which is sponsored by the United Methodist
Women. I have read this material and it is interesting but may still leave
the question of what does this mean? Let us together examine what a
Call To Prayer And Self-Denial means. This calling is not just for the UM
Women but for all of God's children. May we remember as children of
God, that Paul the Apostle stated that we are called to give ourselves to
God as a "living sacrifice."
Romans 12:1-2,
"I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to
present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to
God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to
this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that
you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and
acceptable and perfect."
Not as a living sacrifice by putting yourself on top of a fire of wood, but as
a living example unto others. It is in this sacrifice that one may through
faith come to rejoice when they see one less fortunate prosper and are
joyous for them. Through prayer, one may be delivered by God the
Father to become a living example unto others and in this transformation
of the mind the will of God may shine through for others to see.
In God's house, there are those seated among you who are homeless,
paralyzed, lost, in need of hope while searching.
One day a man went to visit a church. He got there real early, parked
his car and got out. Another car pulled up near by and the driver got
out and said, "Hey mister, I always park there. You took my place"
The visitor went inside the church for Sunday School, found a seat and
sat down. A young lady from the church approached him and stated,
"You took my seat. I always sit there." The visitor was taken back by
how rude people were being, but said nothing. After Sunday school the
visitor went to the sanctuary and sat down. A member of the church
walked upto the visitor and said, "This is our pew. We have been sitting
here for years." And then they stared at the visitor until he got up and
moved. As the service began the visitor sat there by himself listening
to the sermon and the music as it was sung. As the congregation
began to pray for Jesus to be among them the visitors apperance
began to change. Horrible scars appeared on the visitors hands and
on his sandled feet as he had tears in his eyes. A member of the
congregation asked the visitor "What happened to you?". The visitor's
hat turned into a crown of thorns as he replied, "I took your place on
the cross."
"Do not be conformed by the world but be transformed by the
renewal of your mind., that you may prove what is the will of God,
what is good and acceptable and perfect."
My brothers and sisters in Christ, the call to prayer and self denial is not
about a denomination, it is about what is inside the person. Our model
is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who brings sinful man and God the
Father together. Self-Denial is about controlling your impulses to assist
another, getting up and out of your comfort zone to be there. It is about
joy in another child of God prospering, growing in the word of God as you
haven't given, to serve them. It is about being there to carry another, to
show them the way.
Let us open our Bible and turn to Mark 2: 1-4,
"And when Jesus returned to Caper'na-um after some days it was
reported that Jesus was home. And many were gathered together,
so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door;
and Jesus was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing
to Jesus a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not
get near Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above
Jesus; and when they had made an opening, they let down the pallet
on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said
to the paralytic, "My sons your sins are forgiven."
In examining this text what we know, is that four unidentified men came
to see Jesus and realized that the home where Jesus was, was full of
people. In reading this one is led to believe these four men were Christians
for they had a friend (why else may one do this) who they carried, because
he could not walk, on a pallet (a pallet is a wooden platform used to carry
items on or to set something on). What we know from this text is that the
four men came to the home and realized there was only one way in,
through the roof. From reading the text it does not indicate that the four
men did not say, OH WELL, TOO MANY PEOPLE HERE and then head
for home.
We do not know from this text what time of day or night it was, just that it
was, (Mark 2:1), "after some days, it was reported that Jesus was home."
According to the text, the four men did not drop the pallet with the
paralyzed man on it through the roof, "they let down the pallet on which
the paralytic lay" with him still on top of it. We know the paralytic was a
man for the text states that Jesus said to the paralytic, (Mark 2:4), "My
son, your sins are forgiven."
My brothers and sisters in Christ, the question is, was the paralytic
paralyzed physically or spiritually? All we know is that the man was
paralyzed. How many in this day and age are paralyzed spiritually unable
to walk with Jesus Christ, for they have never met him, let alone come to
realize who Jesus Christ is other than to say His name in vain?
My brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus is the reason for the season for
without Jesus Christ in your life what JOY is there in living? Prayer and
Self-Denial is praying for the lost, that they may come to know Jesus Christ
as their Lord and Savior and to have eternity in heaven.
The question is, how does one who is paralyzed come to know Jesus if they
cannot come to him, for they do not know who he is? How, you may ask?
The paralytic comes to know Jesus Christ, when a Christian leads them.
When you and I pick up the pallet and show them the way to the Good
News. There are many just waiting, anticipating, not certain where to turn
or how to get there.
I call on you at this very moment to go to those who are spiritually paralyzed
and share the Good News with them. Take them to our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ and let Jesus touch them, as they hear His words of assurance,
"My son, your sins are forgiven." To God Be The Glory, "your sins are
forgiven."
I call on you this day to not only support the United Methodist Women's
program of Prayer and Self-Denial, but to get up at this very moment and lift
the Good News up to one in need. In the words of Mother Teresa, "if you
can't feed a hundred people feed just one." Don't be afraid to bring that lost
soul back to the flock, for he knows your name, he see your every tear fall,
for he formed your heart and knew your name before your mother felt you in
her womb.
May we be in prayer,
Father, thank you for knowing who I am when so often I feel that that no
one in this world knows who I am let alone my name. May I be a servant
of prayer and self-denial so that I may lead another to my Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ. May the spiritually paralyzed be able to be free and walk
with Jesus Christ and come to know we are one in your name and rejoice
in knowing I Have A Father Who Calls Me His Own, for He Knows My
Name and knows my every thought and yet He still loves a sinner like me.
How could I not love you, how could I not serve you Father, for you are my
comforter and strength when I do not feel I can keep on going on?
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
Amen
01/25/2004 JWM
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