LUKE 5:17-26 – WHO WILL CARRY THE STRETCHER?
We already read the Scripture about 4 men who carried a stretcher and brought a paralytic man to Jesus. When you came to Christ as your Savior, there were probably one or more people who helped bring you to Jesus. They were instrumental in leading you to Christ. In a sense, they helped carry the stretcher.
Many of the ideas for this message came from an article written by Donald D. Orvis in Moody Monthly magazine in March of 1978.
Think for a moment, who helped carry the stretcher that brought you to Jesus?
- Who prayed for your salvation?
- Who set an example of what a Christian is?
- Who witnessed to you?
- Who preached to you in person or on radio or T.V.?
If you are saved, Jesus wants you to “carry the stretcher” so others will come to know Him as Savior. After all someone else did it for you! Where would you be if someone didn’t pray for or witness to you? Mark 16:15, 1 Timothy 2:1-4, 1 Peter 3:15
Do you remember what Jesus said to those who would want to be disciples? He told them to count the cost. They were to consider what was required to be a disciple.
This morning my question is “WHO WILL CARRY THE STRETCHER?”
I am reminded of Isaiah 6:8 – Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
Before we decide if we are going to say, “Yes Lord, I’ll help carry the stretcher to bring people to Christ,” I want us to consider from the story in front of us what it will take from us in order to carry the stretcher that brings others to Jesus. What will it cost us?
IT TAKES COMPASSION TO CARRY THE STRETCHER
Vs. 18 – These men brought this sick man to Jesus because they cared! They had compassion on the man who was sick.
I think we as Christians have lost our compassion for the lost, or perhaps we have never had it. I don’t think that we really care that people without Christ are dying and going to hell. John 3:36, Revelation 20:11-15
IT TAKES TIME TO CARRY THE STRETCHER
In our story, these men donated their time to bring this sick man to Jesus.
Everything we do takes time.
Work takes time.
Pleasure takes time.
Eating takes time.
Church takes time.
Prayer and reading the Bible take time.
Carrying the stretcher, bringing someone to Jesus takes time.
- It takes time to develop a friendship, a relationship, so a person will be receptive to the Gospel. I am convinced that most people are more receptive to the Gospel if they see someone living the Christian Faith in front of them. We can’t live the Christian Faith in front of people, unless we spend time with them.
- It takes time to be available when that person has a need.
- It takes time to pray for that person’s salvation.
- It takes time to share the Gospel.
- It takes time that you could be using to do something else. But we should be making the best use of our time. Ephesians 5:15-17
IT TAKES PERSISTENT EFFORT TO CARRY THE STRETCHER
These four men came to where Jesus was, and discovered that due to the crowds and location of Jesus, that they weren’t going to have it so easy. They were going to have to be persistent to get this man to Jesus.
There are some people, especially children, who can hear the Gospel once and be saved.
There are others who require persistent effort on our part to be won to Jesus.
Make no mistake, only the Spirit of God convicts and saves. But also make no mistake, that we need to be persistent about bringing people to Jesus!
IT TAKES CREATIVITY TO CARRY THE STRETCHER
Vs. 19 – They couldn’t get in to see Jesus. They got creative! They found a way to get the man to Jesus!
Let me tell you folks, the Gospel message doesn’t change.
The message of salvation is the same.
God’s Word does not change.
But methods do change!
For example, years ago, many people came to evening church. In fact many unsaved would go to church, and many would be converted. Pastors would emphasize evangelism and see many come to Christ.
In our day the unsaved, if they come to church at all, come in the morning. We emphasize the Gospel now in the morning service instead of the evening. The message hasn’t changed, but the method has.
Let me tell you something folks, if we are going to win people to Christ, we need to ask the Lord for creative methods that are going to reach Baby Boomers and Generation-X!
IT TAKES FAITH TO CARRY THE STRETCHER.
Vs. 20 – Jesus responded to the faith of the men who brought the sick man to Jesus. It doesn’t say he saw the man’s faith. It says that He saw their faith, the ones who were carrying the stretcher!
Carrying the stretcher, bringing someone to Jesus requires faith.
- Faith that bringing people to Jesus is important
- Faith that bringing people to Jesus is God’s will
- Faith that bringing people to Jesus is a heaven or hell issue
- Faith that bringing people to Jesus is worth the effort
- Faith that bringing people to Jesus pleases God
- Faith that bringing people to Jesus helps them.
IT TAKES PRAYER TO CARRY THE STRETCHER
When the men in our story lowered the stretcher of that man down to Jesus it was a form of a prayer. They were saying to Jesus, “Here he is, Lord, please heal him!”
For some reason, God honors the prayers of His people when it comes to saving people.
2 Peter 3:9, 1 John 5:14-15
If it’s God’s will that people be saved, shouldn’t we be praying for their salvation? God has chosen to accomplish His work in answer to our prayers! We’d better get busy!
IT MIGHT TAKE MONEY TO CARRY THE STRETCHER
It might not have cost any money to fix that roof, but I have a feeling that these men either paid for the fixing or did the fixing of the roof.
Jesus talks about money. He talks about investing money in God’s work. Often, when we invest money in God’s Work, we are investing in souls. Matthew 6:19-21
IT MIGHT TAKE CRITICISM TO CARRY THE STRETCHER
Do you think everyone was happy with those men?
With all the Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting there, I highly doubt it.
When you witness you may be criticized,
- For being narrow minded
- For wanting to convert people to your religion
- For not minding your own business
- For being too religious
But it is better to be criticized than to be silent!
Four men carried the stretcher to bring a man to Jesus.
Will you carry the stretcher to bring others to Christ?
Remember, there is a cost.
IT TAKES COMPASSION TO CARRY THE STRETCHER
IT TAKES TIME TO CARRY THE STRETCHER
IT TAKES PERSISTENT EFFORT TO CARRY THE STRETCHER
IT TAKES CREATIVITY TO CARRY THE STRETCHER
IT TAKES FAITH TO CARRY THE STRETCHER
IT TAKES PRAYER TO CARRY THE STRETCHER
IT MIGHT TAKE MONEY TO CARRY THE STRETCHER
IT MIGHT TAKE CRITICISM TO CARRY THE STRETCHER
ARE YOU WILLING TO PAY THE PRICE?
WILL YOU CARRY THE STRETCHER?
