TITLE: LOOKING FOR WOUNDED PEOPLE 12/22/02
TEXT: PSALM 147:1 – 3
INTRO:
IN OUR TEXT BEFORE US TONIGHT WE SEE THE LORD DOING SOME 3 DIFFERENT THINGS. WE SEE HIM –
1. GATHERING OUTCASTS
2. HEALING BROKEN HEARTS
3. BINDING UP WOUNDS
THAT IS A PICTURE OF THE MINISTRY OF OUR LORD. HE IS ALWAYS ABOUT THAT BUSINESS, GATHERING UNTO HIMSELF OUTCASTS, HEALING BROKEN HEARTS AND BINDING UP THEIR WOUNDS.
TONIGHT, I WANT US TO CONCERN OURSELF WITH THE THOUGHT OF LOOKING FOR WOUNDED PEOPLE.
ILL. DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, A CERTAIN NURSE WAS THE SUBJECT OF MUCH DISCUSSION. AFTER A BATTLE SHE WOULD WANDER AWAY FROM THE MEDICAL CAMP ONTO THE BATTLEFIELD ITSELF. SOMETIMES SHE WOULD PERSONALLY DRAG IN A SOLDIER WHO WAS IN DESPERATE NEED OF MEDICAL ATTENTION. MORE THAN ONCE SHE WAS REPRIMANDED BY THE DOCTORS. THEY TOLD HER SHE HAD NO BUSINESS ON THE BATTLEFIELD. NOT ONLY THAT, SHE EVEN BROUGHT IN VIET CONG SOLDIERS ALONG WITH THE AMERICANS.
ONE DAY AFTER A BIG BATTLE AN OFFICER SAW HER ON THE BATTLEFIELD AMID ALL THE SUFFERING, DYING AND DEATH. HE BEGAN TO REBUKE HER: "WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THAT BATTLEFIELD?" SHE SAID WITHOUT HESITATION, "I’M LOOKING FOR THE WOUNDED. THAT’S WHAT I AM HERE FOR."
WHEN I READ THAT STORY I WAS REMINDED OF THE FACT THAT YOU AND I AS CHRISTIANS HAVE THE SAME JOB. WE ARE TO BE LOOKING FOR WOUND-ED PEOPLE.
WHEN WE GOT SAVED, CHRIST COULD HAVE INSTANTLY TAKEN ALL OF US TO HEAVEN – BUT HE DIDN’T. INSTEAD CHRIST LEFT US HERE TO GO OUT AND LOOK FOR WOUNDED PEOPLE.
LUKE 14:23
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.
WHAT’S HE SAYING? "GO! LOOK FOR THE WOUNDED!"
OUR PRIMARY JOB IS TO LOOK FOR WOUNDED PEOPLE. WE ARE TO GO OUT INTO THE BATTLEFIELDS OF THIS WORLD AND FIND THEM AND BRING THEM TO THE GREAT PHYSICIAN WHO CAN HEAL AND BIND UP THEIR WOUNDS; THEN WE ARE TO SEND THEM OUT INTO THE BATTLE FIELDS TO DO THE SAME.
WHERE DID THE WAR BEGIN? WHERE DID THESE PEOPLE RECEIVE THEIR WOUNDS? FOR THE ANSWER TO THESE QUESTIONS, WE GO BACK TO THE GARDEN OF EDEN. THERE WE SEE THAT MAN WAS FIRST OF ALL -
I. WOUNDED BY SATAN GENESIS 2:7
HERE GOD MADE MAN, GAVE HIM INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT WHAT HE COULD AND COULD NOT DO. BUT ALONG CAME SATAN WITH HIS TRICKS AND LIES AND TEMPTED MAN TO SIN. AND HERE IN THE MIDST OF PERFECTION, IN THE MIDST OF WONDERFUL BLISS, THE FIRST BATTLE WOUNDS WERE RECEIVED!
GENESIS 3:4
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
YOU KNOW THE STORY, BOTH ADAM AND EVE ATE OF THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT – THEY HAD BEEN WOUNDED BY SATAN. NOW ADAM WAS –
· NAKED, STRIPPED OF EVERY RIGHTEOUS RAG.
· HE IS BLIND NOW.
· SATAN HAS GOUGED OUT THE EYES OF HIS SOUL AND LEFT HIM IN DARKNESS. HE IS SEPARATED NOW.
· NO LONGER DOES HE HAVE UNINTERUPTED FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.
· INSTEAD, WE FIND ADAM TRYING TO HIDE FROM GOD
BUT THEN GOD WALKED ONTO THE BATTLEFIELD.
GENESIS 3:9
And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
WHAT WAS GOD DOING? HE WAS LOOKING FOR WOUNDED PEOPLE! ADAM AND EVE HAD BEEN WOUNDED BY SATAN BUT GOD WAS READY TO HEAL THEIR WOUNDS. HE FOUND THEM, TOOK AWAY THEIR FIG LEAVES AND THEN CLOTHED THEM WITH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST.
BUT FOLKS, THAT BATTLE DID NOT END THERE. THAT BATTLE BEGAN TO SPREAD UNTIL EVENTUALLY EVERYONE ON THE EARTH HAD BEEN WOUNDED. THINK ABOUT IT THERE ARE PEOPLE ALL OVER TODAY WHO HAVE BEEN -
II. WOUNDED BY SIN ROMANS 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
MY FRIEND THAT SIN OF REBELLION AGAINST GOD THAT TOOK PLACE WAY BACK IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN BEGAN IS STILL AFFECTING MEN AND WOMEN TODAY.
ILL. I WAS WATCHING A NEWSCAST SOMETIME AGO THAT SHOWED POLICE OFFICERS AS THEY WERE INVOLVED IN A HIGH SPEED CHASE WITH A DRUNK DRIVER. IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON AS THIS MAN HAD LEFT THE BAR DRUNK, GOT INTO HIS CAR AND BEGAN TO DRIVE LIKE A WILDMAN. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, THIS DRUNKEN MAN CAME AROUND A CURB AT A HIGH SPEED HE COULDN’T HANDLE IN HIS CONDITION AND SLAMMED INTO A ONCOMING CAR HEADON FILLED WITH A WOMAN AND CHILDREN. WHAT THAT DRUNKEN MAN DID NOT KNOW WAS THE FACT THAT HE HAD JUST KILLED HIS WIFE AND 3 KIDS!
OH, I GOT TO THINKING, I WONDER IF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF GOD’S PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT ON SATURDAY SOUL-WINNING LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO HAD BEEN WOUNDED BY SIN!
THANK GOD, JESUS WAS ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO’D BEEN WOUNDED BY SIN. HE FOUND –
· THE MANIAC OF GADARA
· TED BUNDY – THANK GOD HE ALSO FOUND NILES LLOYD!
I WANT TO ASK YOU TONIGHT, ARE YOU LOOKING FOR WOUNDED PEOPLE? ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO’VE BEEN WOUNDED BY SIN?
1. SATAN
2. SIN
III. BY SOCIETY
GOD HEALS THOSE WOUNDS TOO.
ILL. BACK IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS, WE FIND A WOMAN BY THE NAME OF HAGAR OUT IN THE MIDST OF THE DESERT, SHE AND HER LITTLE SON ISHMAEL WERE OUTCASTS OF SOCIETY! SARAH BECAUSE OF JEALOUSY HAD SENT HER SERVANT AWAY. SOCIETY NO LONGER HAD ANY USE FOR HAGAR AND HER SON. SO ABRAHAM GAVE THEM A LITTLE BOTTLE OF WATER AND SOME FOOD AND SENT THEM OUT INTO THE DESERT.
AND THERE IN THE MIDST OF THE DESERT WHEN ALL THEIR PROVISIONS WERE SPENT, HAGAR TOOK HER SON, AND PUT HIM UNDER A BUSH AND WALKED AWAY SO SHE WOULDN’T HAVE TO WATCH HIM DIE.
BUT THEN ALONG COMES THE LORD, "WHAT AILETH THEE, HAGAR?" YOU MAY ASK, WHAT’S THE LORD DOING ALL THE WAY OUT IN THE MIDST OF THE DESERT? GOD WAS LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO HAD BEEN WOUNDED BY SOCIETY. AND WHEN GOD FOUND THEM, HE TOOK THOSE WHO –
· WERE OUTCASTS OF SOCIETY
· GAVE THEM FOOD & WATER
· AND PUT THEM BACK IN THE PLACE WHERE THEY BELONGED
YOU MAY FEEL LIKE AN OUTCAST TONIGHT. IT SEEMS AS IF YOU ARE –
· NOT WELL LIKED
· NO ONE WANTS ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU
· YOU’RE A LONER – AN OUTCAST IF YOU WILL
· FOLKS – YOU’RE JUST THE PERSON JESUS IS LOOKING FOR TONIGHT
ILL. IN MARK 1, WE FIND A POOR LEPER WHO HAD BEEN WOUNDED BY SOCIETY. THIS MAN HAD A DISEASE THAT MADE HIM REPULSIVE TO ALL! WHEN HE WALKED DOWN THE STREET, HE HAD TO COVER HIS LIP AND CRY OUT, "UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!"
SCHOLARS SAY PEOPLE WHO HAD A LITTLE COMPASSION WOULD HANG CLEAN RAGS ON THE FENCES AND TREES SO HE MIGHT TAKE THEM OFF AND WIPE THE CORRUPTION FROM HIS SORES. THAT’S THE ONLY THING SOCIETY WOULD DO FOR THIS MAN. HE WAS AN OUTCAST FROM HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
BUT THERE WAS ONE WHO –
· CAME FROM HEAVEN, BORN IN BETHLEHEM’S MANGER
· WALKED ACROSS THE SHORES AND WATERS OF GALILEE
· ONE WHO LOVED OUTCASTS.
· WHEN HE CAME FROM HEAVEN, WAS LOOKING FOR WOUNDED PEOPLE.
AND ALONG CAME THIS LEPER TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, SAYING, "LORD, IF THOU WILT, THOU CANST MAKE ME CLEAN"
WHAT WAS HE SAYING? "I KNOW YOU HAVE THE ABILITY, BUT DO YOU LOVE ME ENOUGH?" IMMEDIATELY JESUS SAID, "I WILL; BE THOU CLEAN" NOW THINK ABOUT IT! THIS ONE WHO HAD BEEN WOUNDED BY SOCIETY, WHO HAD BEEN CAST OUT, WAS INSTANTLY RIGHT BACK WHERE HE BELONGED!
ILL. IN JOHN 4 WE FIND A WOMAN OF ILL REPUTE COMING TO DRAW WATER FROM JACOB’S WELL.
· SHE WAS AN OUTCAST FROM SOCIETY
· SHE HAD, HAD FIVE HUSBANDS AND WAS NOW LIVING IN SIN.
· SHE WAS A FALLEN WOMAN WHO NEEDED HELP
WELL, ONE DAY JESUS WAS HEADED HER WAY.
JESUS: "I MUST NEEDS GO THROUGH SAMARIA."
I AM SURE THE DISCIPLES DID NOT UNDERSTAND THAT – FOR THE JEWS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SAMARITANS. THEY DID NOT KNOW IT, BUT CHRIST WAS LOOKING FOR WOUNDED PEOPLE! YOU KNOW THE STORY, JESUS GAVE HER LIVING WATER SO SHE WOULD THIRST NO MORE!
IF YOU HAVE BEEN CAST OUT BY SOCIETY, HE IS LOOKING FOR YOU. THANK GOD, HE STILL FINDS OUTCASTS TODAY!
WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WOUNDED -
IV. BY SELF
I AM NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT SUICIDES; I AM TALKING ABOUT THOSE WHO’VE BEEN WOUNDED BY PRIDE. ONE OF THE GREATEST ENEMIES OF THE SOUL IS PRIDE!
PROVERBS 16:18 - "PRIDE GOETH BEFORE DESTRUCTION"
IT WAS BECAUSE OF PRIDE THAT –
· NAAMAN ALMOST MISSED BEING HEALED
· UZZIAH WAS STRUCK DOWN BY LEPROSY
· HAMAN WAS HUNG ON THE GALLOWS
· CAUSED THE PHARISEES TO CRY OUT, "WE’LL NOT HAVE THIS MAN TO RULE OVER US! GIVE US BARABBAS"?
· PRIDE IS A DEADLY ENEMY OF THE SOUL!
· PRIDE CAUSES MEN NOT TO HUMBLE THEMSELVES.
THE BATTLEFIELD OF THIS WORLD IS FILLED WITH THE WOUNDED SOULS OF PRIDE. PEOPLE WHO ARE TO EMBARRASSED TO ADMIT THEIR PROBLEM OF SIN. ISN’T THAT STRANGE – THAT PEOPLE ARE –
· TOO PROUD TO HUMBLE THEMSELVES BEFORE GOD!
· TOO PROUD TO ADMIT THEY ARE SINNERS!
· TOO PROUD TO WEEP! TOO PROUD TO PRAY! TOO PROUD!
MY FRIEND IT IS PRIDE THAT IS SENDING PEOPLE TO HELL! ARE WE WARNING PEOPLE? ARE WE LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WOUNDED BY SELF?
CHRISTIAN – IT IS YOUR JOB!
QUOTE: D.L. MOODY SAID, "I PICTURE THE WORLD AS A WRECKED VESSEL, DRAWING NEARER AND NEARER TO DESTRUCTION. GOD GAVE ME A LIFEBOAT AND SAID, ‘HERE, MOODY, SAVE ALL YOU CAN."
D.L. MOODY SPENT HIS ENTIRE LIFE LOOKING FOR THOSE WHO WERE WOUNDED.
QUOTE: C. T. STUDD, THAT GREAT MISSIONARY SOUL, GAVE AWAY ALL OF HIS MONEY AND SPENT HIS LIFE ON THE MISSION FIELD. HE MADE ONE OF THE GREATEST STATEMENTS OUTSIDE THE WORD OF GOD: "IF JESUS CHRIST BE GOD, AND HE DIED FOR ME, THEN THERE IS NO SACRIFICE TOO GREAT TO MAKE FOR HIM." STUDD WAS OUT LOOKING FOR THE WOUNDED.
ILL. DR. CLYDE BOX AFTER HE WAS SAVED BEGAN TEACHING THE 12 – 13 YEAR OLD BOYS’ SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS. THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN IN HIS CLASS NAMED ALVIN. HIS MOTHER WAS A GOOD WOMAN, HIS FATHER AN ALCOHOLIC AND HIS LIFE WAS SORT OF A MESS. WELL ONE SUNDAY AS HE WAS PREACHING, ALVIN CAME FORWARD AND GOT SAVED.
YEARS PASSED, AND DR. BOX MOVED ON TO TAKE A CHURCH. THEN ONE DAY HE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL TELLING HIM ALVIN CALWELL WAS DEAD! AS A 15 YEAR OLD BOY, HE SOMEHOW DROWNED IN A STOCK TANK TRYING TO GET A BIOLOGY SPECIMEN FOR SCHOOL.
BRO. BOX FELL ON HIS FACE AND BEGAN TO WEEP AND FEEL SORRY FOR THIS YOUNG BOY. THEN HE CAME TO HIS SENSES AND BEGAN TO PRAISE THE LORD BECAUSE HE HAD REMEMBERED ONE DAY HE HAD BEEN OUT LOOKING FOR WOUNDED PEOPLE AND AS A RESULT THAT YOUNG MAN CAME TO CHURCH AND WAS SAVED – HE’D SEE HIM IN HEAVEN SOMEDAY!
FOLKS, THIS WHOLE WORLD IS A BATTLEFIELD WITH CASUALTIES OF EVERYKIND. AND I BELIEVE IT IS HIGH TIME WE CHRISTIANS GET BACK TO THE BASICS OF LOOKING FOR WOUNDED PEOPLE.
YOU SAY –
· I DON’T HAVE THE TIME – THANK GOD HE TOOK TIME FOR US
· PEOPLE ARE TO HARD TODAY
LISTEN, INSTEAD OF SAYING THAT – WHY DON’T WE JUST ADMIT THAT WE ARE POWERLESS CHRISTIANS AND NEED THE POWER OF GOD?
ILL. IT IS FUNNY TO ME THAT WE ARE WINNING NO ONE WHEN A 77 YEAR OLD MAN NAMED CARL HATCH IS WINNING EVERYONE.
ILL. WHEN CARL HATCH LEFT DR. JOHN RAWLINS CHURCH UP IN OHIO, DR. JOHN RAWLINS HAD EVERY PERSON STAND THAT HAD BEEN LED TO THE LORD BY CARL HATCH. AT THAT TIME OVER 1,000 PEOPLE STOOD TO THEIR FEET. DR. CURTIS HUTSON SAID IN THAT CHURCH THERE WERE OVER 200 FAITHFUL, TITHING FAMILIES THAT CARL HATCH HAD LED TO CHRIST.
WAS IT BECAUSE CARL SIMPLY HAD A GREAT LIFE STORY? NO, CARL HATCH HAD THE POWER OF GOD. THAT SAME POWER IS AVAILABLE TO ALL OF US HERE TONIGHT.
ISAIAH 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground:
TONIGHT LETS APPROACH THE THRONE OF GRACE BODLY, ASK GOD FOR HIS POWER AND THEN DO LIKE JESUS AND GO OUT LOOKING FOR WOUNDED PEOPLE.
