"Building a Church Through Outreach"
Extra Baggage
Word of Truth Church
New Church Dedication service
3/17/07
Text: Matt. 11:28-30
Tonight I come carrying many burdens. As you can see these burdens weigh me down. (Sacks of garbage tied around legs on each arm) I bring extra baggage to church with me. This is a new building, but old baggage. I wanted to leave this old garbage in the old building, but for some reason I can’t let go of it. I put on a face of celebration, I shout with a voice victory, but on the inside I screaming, "Help Me!" My face shows laughter, but my heart bears sorrows. Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to celebrate with all this extra baggage? Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to be happy for you with all my extra baggage? I know that you get aggravated with me because I don’t get all excited about your news….I’m sorry that I don’t get giddy over you and your new boy friend, but look at me. I’m tried and weary. I’m lonely and broken. Don’t roll your eyes at me….you must not see my baggage or you would want to help me. Don’t stick your nose up at me, I need your help. I’m at the breaking point and all you want to talk about is you and your good news, but what about me. Can’t you see that I’m troubled? Can’t you see all my problems, I know I don’t talk about them very much, but you wouldn’t understand anyway. I don’t have the words to tell you. I just need your help!
I know that you don’t understand why I don’t embrass you, but my baggage gets in the way. I know you don’t understand why I don’t help, but my burdens are in the way. It’s hard to help others when you are weighted down yourself! I need you.
That is what this community is crying to the church… "Help me!" The lost need us and yet we are weighted down sooo much that we can’t help. The church has new buildings, but old garbage and we are hindered in winning souls. We are hindered in ministering to the needs of others because the church is so weighted!
Think about the paralyzed man in the book of Luke 5:18
Luke 5:18
18And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
Luke 5:19
19And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
Luke 5:20
20And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
Luke 5:21
21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
Luke 5:22
22But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
Luke 5:23
23Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
Luke 5:24
24But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
Luke 5:25
25And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
Here is a great picture of the church….guys who wanted their friend healed. They were a little late to the meeting and the house was already packed, but that didn’t discourage them; they had to figure out another way to get to Jesus. They were not going to let anything hinder them. They were going to push to the point of touching Jesus for their friend. They had faith that if they were only able to get to Jesus they would see a miracle.
Many modern Christians would have given up when the first obstacle was placed in their path. They would have stayed home and given up and decided it must not have been God’s will to heal. THE CHURCH GIVES UP TOO EASY!!! There is a world of hurting people and we walk away with out any concern for them. We act spiritually superior to them and think that its sign from God when we meet opposition, but that sign is not from God it’s from the devil. He wants to stop you from getting the hurting to Jesus because he knows that a miracle is about to happen!
The church must be willing to climb a latter and tear a roof off so that we can get to Jesus. There are a lot of people tonight with too much baggage and we must carry them and their mat to the top and lower them down to the feet of Jesus. Notice that…..you have to have somebody to carry you to the top in order to be lowered to Jesus.
1 Pet. 5:6
6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1 Pet. 5:7
7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
We must find ourselves at the feet of Jesus. Our burdens are lifted at the feet of Jesus. Our diseases are healed at the feet of Jesus. Let’s get them to Jesus and He will heal them. He will take their burdens. He will minister to their needs. BUT WE MUST TAKE THEM TO JESUS!
Notice in Luke 5:20, the word says when He saw their faith…..It was the friend’s faith that impressed Jesus. Because these men had faith in Jesus, Jesus saved and healed this lame man. It wasn’t the lame man’s faith it was the friends faith. In other words, because the church has enough faith to bring the sick to Jesus, he will be impressed with the churches faith and save and then heal the world. We must have enough faith to bring them to Jesus!
Is there anyone here tonight that wants to help a friend? Is there anyone here tonight that has extra baggage that needs to be lifted? Anyone hear tonight that can’t celebrate this new building because of their old baggage? I have good news for you…
Isa. 61:3
3To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
Isa. 61:4
4And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
Isa. 61:5
5And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
Isa. 61:6
6But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
Isa. 61:7
7For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
Isa. 51:11
11Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
Isa. 51:12
12I, even I, am he that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and of the son of man which shall be made as grass;
Isa. 51:13
13And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where is the fury of the oppressor?
Isa. 60:20
20Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.
Isa. 60:21
21Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
Isa. 60:22
22A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.
You have the word of God that promises deliverance. You can leave this service without your garbage tonight, because I have the faith to bring you to Jesus.
I need help tonight? Will you help me with my troubles? I need someone to take me to Jesus? I want to laugh. I want to celebrate. I want to be free will you help me?
I have one more point to give you tonight. God loves to recycle. You are aware of recycling – It changes old items and makes them new. The original item may be damaged or used. Maybe the old item was dirty and broken, but God can take the old, used, dirty, and broken items and make it new and useful. I know that you feel that you will never be useful because of all your garbage and how bad you’ve been hurt, but God wants to recycle you.
2 Cor. 5:17
17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Rom. 8:28
28And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
I know that you have a lot of problems, but in the end all of it works for your good. Tonight, come and let God take your burdens so that you can help others get to Jesus.