Church 7/22/2023
Offertory scripture:
Do what you can, especially in faith, God’s grace will cover you the rest of the way.
2 Corinthians 9:8
Sermon message:
Thesis: Jesus wants to help you.
Acts 10:38
You’ll know a persons heart by his or her fruit; look at Jesus, His fruit shows His heart for helping people.
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus wants to help you miss hell and make heaven. He is the only one who can do it.
John 3:16
We do have an enemy who is trying to drag people to hell.
John 10:10
But Jesus came so that we can have life and have it abundantly. He wants us to to miss hell and make heaven; He also wants us to live in abundance.
John 16:33
Tribulation: intense stress
Even when you have intense stress, stand strong and steadfast and courageous in the Word and in Jesus.
John 16:33: Jesus: “I have overcome the world, and I am still overcoming the world, today and every day.”
Because of this we can still have peace.
So how can we receive Jesus’s help?
A key: believing is important.
Point #1: When you need help, listen about Jesus.
Romans 10:17 faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.
Consider the case of Zaccheus the diminutive tax collector. He heard about Jesus and when he learned that the Lord was passing through his town, he climbed a tree. Jesus saw him, invited Himself to Zaccheus’s house. Jesus changed Zaccheus’s life forever that day.
Consider the case of blind Bartimeus. He called Jesus’s name from a distance and asked for mercy. He risked appearing foolish, stupid, or crazy and he got Jesus’s attention. Jesus responded, and Bartimeus in faith asked for his sight to be restored. Jesus restored his sight and healed him.
Listening about Jesus is very important. It builds our faith.
Point #2: Believe that Jesus can help.
Blind Bartimeus believed that Jesus could help him.
A different man, a father, had a son who was demon possessed. He heard about Jesus and came to Him and asked for His help.
Mark 9:22-23
This father said: “If You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
Jesus says: “if you can believe, all things are possible.”
Sometimes it happens that a person might lose faith.
Oral Roberts early in his ministry was getting discouraged. God reached out to him and wanted to expand his ministry. Roberts spent time on his knees and spent a lot of time in the gospels. Then when he was ready, God released him to ministry.
Billy Graham was known for being a man of integrity. But even Graham had times of weakness in his faith. Here were his strategies: Focus on Jesus. Feed your faith. Follow your faith. These were the three steps. Don’t get into doctrines or side details. Focus on Jesus and keep it simple.
Point #3: Go to Jesus if you have an issue.
Matthew 11:28 come to Jesus.
Consider Mary. She had faith at the wedding feast at Cana and came to Jesus to ask for help.
Consider the lepers back in Jesus’s day. Leprosy was not just a physical issue but also an emotional issue due to being separated from everyone else. But ten lepers came to Jesus and asked for healing. He healed them.
If you’re struggling in your faith and you don’t know where to start in terms of looking into the Bible, start with the gospels. Start with Jesus. He wants to help you.
Point #4: Speak faith in Jesus.
Don’t swear while using Jesus’s name. Rather speak words and phrases that bless Jesus’s name and speak to your faith and belief in him.
Consider the woman who was bleeding for 12 years. She had tried everything else and drained her finances. When she heard Jesus was swinging through town, she sought him out, and reasoned that merely grabbing His cloak would be enough to heal her.
Mark 5:25-29
According to the Bible it is important what you say.
Point #5: Receive from Jesus.