OPPORTUNITY

 

I.                    Introduction –You never know what might await you when you return

A.     When I returned from Nicaragua:

1.      Air conditioner at home and church had gone kaput!

2.      Middle of July and we’d had more rain here than the rainy

season in Central America

 

II.                 A surprise awaited the one Samaritan who returned even if he didn’t know what to make of it…

A.  “Get up and go your way, your faith has made you well.”

B.     So apparently not only does he receive healing that day, but he’s

                        made well too.

C.     In these days when we’re so much more attuned to issues of health and well-being, the story certainly warrants our consideration.

D.     Who knows, we might even be surprised to find what happens to

us with Jesus, on the road to Jerusalem?

 

III.               “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”  -  Sooner or later, don’t we all find ourselves right where the lepers are, maybe not desperate on the side of the road, but in those times and situations that lead us to cry out to God?

A.     When the tests come back positive and the doctor tells you its cancer – “Lord help me!”

B.     When we hear of another roadside bomb going off in Iraq or Afghanistan leaving scores dead including young children and other unsuspecting bystanders not to mention our own bright, young children whose lives are cut short for what?  “Lord, God, have mercy on us all!”

C.     When you’ve done everything you can to save your marriage, but even that’s not enough.  “Lord have mercy on me.” 

D.     The lepers’ cry expresses the deep grief and sadness that is so much a part

of life.

 

IV.              And we expect some sort of a response

A.     A change in the situation, a different outcome?

B.     At least to know that our cries are heard the Psalmist who cries out, “Lord you have searched and known me.  You know when I sit up and when I rise up.  You discern my thoughts from far away.”

 

V.                 But Jesus responds with a command.

A.  “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”

                  B.  Isn’t just like Jesus.

                  C.  We come looking for a little sympathy, a mercy handout and instead we a job to do.  “Go, love, serve, do.” 

                  D.  I guess the old saying about prayer is true, we don’t always get the answer want or hope for.

 

VI.              Well, the lepers do as they’re told, they obeyed.

A.     And we are told that as they went on their way, they were healed.

B.     That’s no

C.     Much to be said for obedience.

D.     Lot’s of churches out there who will tell you just exactly what you have to do.  Churches that are pretty full these days.  Where a lot of things are happening.

 

VII.            But there’s more to life than obedience, meeting obligations even God’s.

A.     If meeting obligations, doing what is expected then, my friends, maybe

we ought to be doing something different with our time on Sunday mornings.

 

 

 

VIII.         The opportunity to meet Jesus in worship and praise.

 

 

 

 

IX.              Implications for our own worship today and every day…

Pastor Brian Peterson