September 11, 2003   Help Us O Lord!     Psalm 79, Luke 5

By Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church

 

September 11, 2001 gave us a frightening reminder of the horror of evil, but it also showed us the power of sacrifice.   People died, but many were saved because of the sacrifice of the service persons and others who were there that day.  We are reminded of the fact that we need the Lord to perform a miracle today to save the lost before it is too late. 

 

Psalm 79:9  Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake.

 

Scripture Text:  Luke 5:17  One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." 21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, `Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, `Get up and walk'? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . ." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, "We have seen remarkable things today."

 

Help Us O Lord!

 

  1. To Realize the urgency of the hour.   We must hurry to save the lost before the whole building comes down.  Do we understand and realize that people will die and there will be no second chances to get them out.   On September 11, 2001 hundreds of service personnel gave their lives to save others.  They understood the urgency of the hour.  Do we?

 

2.    To Reach the Lost before it is too late.  Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.  Luke 19:10   Now He sends out his church to seek and to save the lost.  We are the Savior to the world.   Many folks were Saviors on that dreaded day that the world came down.   Many took great risks to see the lost saved.  Have we?   Will we? 

 

  1. To Rip off the Roof to let them to Jesus.  To what extent are we willing to go to take them to Jesus.  Are we ready to blow up the pulpit, smash the stained glass, and or rip off the roof of the church to get them to Jesus.  The truth is we won’t have to tear down the buildings, but if we are going to get to the lost before it is too late, we will have to make some drastic changes.  What would you be willing to change in your life, your home, your church, your community, your world to bring the lost to Jesus.   We have not because we ask not.   We ask for the little when God wants to do the great.   We do not need the Lord because we can do it all ourselves and we have been doing it all ourselves for so many years.  Are you ready to do what it takes to get the lost to the Lord? 

 

  1. To Raise the dead.   We have no power over life and death.  We are not able to change people or to save people.  But we know the One who does.  He is the only living true God.  His name is Jesus.  He will cause the crippled to walk, the dead to raise, and the lost to be saved.  He calls on us to call on Him to give us a miracle.  We want to see the miracle of the resurrection of the church.  We want to see the lost come to Christ and the sleeping Christians awakened to answer God’s call to bring them in.  Preachers are afraid to rock the boat.  They may get thrown out and loose your job.  Brother and Sister, God will give you another one.  If they kick you out this church, shake off the dust of your feet and go on.  Quit whining and start preaching.  Let them know that it will take your dedication to the cause of Christ and not a half hearted  come when its convenient Christian life to get the job done.   The folks in the twin towers gave their all, but what will we give.  What have you given? 

 

  1. To Run to Jesus.   We must realize that we have to run to Jesus and take the lost with us.  Run to safety.  People ran when they saw what was happening.  Some ran into the building to save the people.  Some ran away so that they may save their own skins.    Some ran to safety after being freed from the crumbling towers.   Which way are you running?   Running to Jesus means to run into a terrible risk.  The roof may fall in while you are ripping it up.  Run to Jesus to save the lost and then you will save yourself, your church, your family, and your community. 

 

Which way are you going tonight?  Which way is your church going tonight?  Which way will you go when you leave here?