OTHERSIDE SAINTS
LUKE 10: 30-35
I. INTRODUCTION
THE PAINFUL PLIGHT, AND PERPLEXING PREDICAMENT OF OTHERS SHOULD COMPEL US TO BE PRESSED INTO ACTION IN AN EFFORT TO RELIEVE THEM OF THEIR SUFFERING. YES MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS, THOSE OF US WHO ARE STRONG OUGHT TO BEAR THE INFIRMITIES OF THE WEAK. BUT I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT MANY OF US WHO PERMEAT THE PEWS ARE NOT ALWAYS INTERESTED IN THE PAINFUL PLIGHT AND THE PERPLEXING PREDICAMENT OF OTHERS. ON THE CONTRARY, INSTEAD OF HELPING, WE OFTEN BECOME HINDERER’S BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT TO GET INVOLVED. WE MAY SEE THE NEED, BUT PASS BY ON THE OTHER SIDE.
BUT I MUST HASTEN TO TELL YOU THAT THE LORD EXPECTS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB TO LEND A HELPING HAND TO THOSE IN NEED. A HELPING HAND TO THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN DISENFRANCHISED BY THE WORLD. THOSE WHO ARE CONSIDERED OUTCASTS OF SOCIETY. THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN ON HARD TIMES. IT IS NOT THE INTENT OF ALMIGHTY GOD THAT HIS CHILDREN BE OTHER SIDE SAINTS, BUT FOLLOWERS OF HIS SON WHO WAS IN THE BUSINESS OF HELPING THOSE WHO COULD NOT HELP THEMSELVES.
SO MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS THE CHALLENGE IS FOR US NOT TO BE OTHER SIDE SAINTS, BECAUSE IF THE TRUTH BE TOLD, MANY OF US HAVE BEEN BEATEN UP BY THE WORLD, BUT PRAISE GOD THAT SOMEBODY WAS THERE TO ASSIST US. WE MUST BE WILLING TO BE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT AN OTHER SIDE SAINT.
II. THE TEXT
JESUS HAD BEEN TEACHING THE DISCIPLES ABOUT SPREADING THE WORD OF GOD. HE INFORMED THEM HOW THEY WERE TO RESPOND TO THOSE WHO ACCEPTED THE GOSPEL, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO REJECTED THE GOSPEL. NOW, ONE OF THE DOCTORS OF THE LAW FACITIOUSLY ASKED HIM THE QUESTION CONCERNING THE INHERITENCE OF ETERNAL LIFE. ALLOW ME TO MOCK TIME MOMENTARILY TO REPORT THAT ETERNAL LIFE CANNOT BE INHERITED, BUT IS GRANTED ON THE BASIS OF ACCEPTING CHRIST AS SAVIOR.
JESUS PUTS FORTH THE PARABLE OF THE MAN WHO HAD BEEN BEATEN UP ON THE JERICHO ROAD. (TALK ABOUT THE ROAD). MANY OF US HAVE BEEN THAT MAN THAT WAS WOUNDED AND LEFT FOR DEAD. NOTICE THE PRIEST SAW THE MAN IN NEED BUT DID NOT ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE MAN. THE LEVITE CAME TO WHERE THE MAN WAS, LOOKED ON HIM AND PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE. TWO RELIGIOUS GROUPS REPRESENTED, BUT THEY DID NOT WANT TO GET INVOLVED. THEY WERE RELIGIOUS ON THE OUTSIDE BUT NOT ON THE INSIDE. MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE SAINTS ON THE OUTSIDE, BUT ARE AINT’S ON THE INSIDE.
PRAISE GOD FOR THE SAMARITAN THAT CAME THAT WAY, LOOKED AT HIS NEEDS AND MET HIS NEEDS. THE SAMARITAN WOULD REPRESENT JESUS MEETING THE NEEDS OF US WHO WERE BEATEN UP BY SIN, WOUNDED SPIRITUALLY, BUT YET JESUS PAID THE PRICE.
III. THE APPLICATION
AS CHRISTIANS, EACH AND EVERYONE ONE OF US HAS A MISSION RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR FELLOWMAN. JUST AS JESUS TENDED TO THE NEEDS OF HUMANITY, SO MUST WE. WE WOULD DO WELL TO REMEMBER THAT WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND. IF WE DO NOT DEMONSTRATE COMPASSION FOR OTHERS, OTHERS WILL NOT DEMONSTRATE COMPASSION FOR US. GALATIANS 6:7, “BE NOT DECEIVED; GOD IS NOT MOCKED: FOR WHATSOEVER A MAN SOWETH, THAT SHALL HE ALSO REAP.” PROVERBS 21:13, “WHOSO STOPPETH HIS EARS AT THE CRY OF THE POOR, HE ALSO SHALL CRY HIMSELF, BUT SHALL NOT BE HEARD.” 1 JOHN 3:17, “BUT WHOSO HATH THIS WORLD’S GOOD, AND SEETH HIS BROTHER HAVE NEED, AND SHUTTETH UP HIS BOWELS OF COMPASSION FROM HIM, HOW DWELLETH THE LOVE OF GOD IN HIM?”
AS THE HOLY SPIRIT MARINATED MY MIND ON THESE PROFOUND PASSAGES, THE APEX OF MY ATTENTION WAS DRAWN TO THREE POINTS. ONE, WE MUST DEMONSTRATE THE COMPASSION OF CHRIST. MATT. 14:14, “AND JESUS WENT FORTH, AND SAW A GREAT MULTITUDE, AND WAS MOVED WITH COMPASSION TOWARD THEM, AND HE HEALED THEIR SICK. TWO, HELPING FOLK REQUIRES PATIENCE. 1 THESS. 5:14, “NOW WE EXHORT YOU, BRETHREN, WARN THEM THAT ARE UNRULY, COMFORT THE FEEBLEMINDED, SUPPORT THE WEAK, BE PATIENT TOWARD ALL MEN.” THREE, WE MUST BEAR THE BURDENS OF HUMANITY. GALATIANS 6:2, “BEAR YE ONE ANOTHER’S BURDENS, AND SO FULFIL THE LAW OF CHRIST.”
SO NOW MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, WE MUST BE ABOUT OUR FATHERS BUSINESS IN GETTING INVOLVED IN THE WORK OF THE KINGDOM. THE LORD IS NOT LOOKING FOR OTHERSIDE SAINTS WHO ARE ONLY CONCERNED ABOUT SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE, BUT ABOUT THE SERVICE TO OUR FELLOW MAN.
