The WEAKNESS of the Church - Injury
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The NEED For Revival
The NEED For Revival
· The LATENESS of the hour
· The DARKNESS of the world
· The WEAKNESS of the Church
A – Weakness Caused by Sickness or Injury
A – Weakness Caused by Sickness or Injury
The world will be saved once the church decides it wants it
The “infrastructure” is all around us
· It’s not that we can’t, because there are millions of Christians and a church on every corner
· We each only need to reach 5 people to evangelize the world!
· the only thing missing are willing hearts
The reason the world is not reached is because the church doesn’t want to
The church CAN but WON’T
The reason the church needs revival is to get her “want to” back
One of the reasons the church WON’T has because of hurt or wounds
An injured or sick church cannot carry revival
· A broken leg needs healed to carry the load
· Eyes need healed to see the vision
· A broken heart needs healing to fulfill the call.
Revival turns the church from “won’t” to “want”
First Heal the church, then save the world
First Heal the church, then save the world
Hurt in church = common saying (excuse)
· Preacher was talking about me in his sermon
· Something the pastor said hurt their feelings
· Visitor wasn’t greeted - or made to stand up
I was wounded in the house of my friend
Zechariah 13:6 (NLT)
6 And if someone asks, ‘Then what about those wounds on your chest?’ he will say, ‘I was wounded at my friends’ house!’
· I used to… I remember when…
· I don’t do that anymore, I don’t go there anymore.
· I tried that for a while. But something happened.
· Injury = weakness – don’t use it much – reminds a person of past pain
Enemy comes to steal kill and destroy
John 10:10 (NLT)
10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
Military tactic - injure or mame versus eliminate. It is expensive
· The goal of spiritual injury is to sideline the gift so that everybody loses
· You lose, the church loses, the world loses
· Look at the bigger picture, The attacks are not about you but your ministry
· BTW - The pain in the pulpit is greater than the pain in the pew - so follow me as I follow Christ
· If I can forgive people and move forward, so can you!
Injury Comes in all Forms
Injury Comes in all Forms
· Sidelined by slander
· Hardening of the heart, wounded heart, quotation mark heart attack quotation where your heart was attacked
· Burned by criticism and insults
· Cut off by an “un” invite or neglect
· Beat up by circumstances
· “Hit and run”
· Crippled by criticism
· Punctured by partisan politics, splits.
· Hamstrung by humiliation or hurts
· Burned out by exhaustion
· Damaged of disappointment
· Bruise my betrayal, Absalom and Judas kiss
People are people,
· Don’t harden your heart or get cynical
· People are not your problem, hurting people hurt people
Stress causes most illnesses
· Psychosomatic, most illnesses in the brain, misunderstanding, are you being faked out by the enemy?
· Maybe the situation is not as bad as you imagined.
· Sickness of unforgiveness – mad at folk who didn’t really do that much – made a mountain out a molehill
Injury Requires SURGERY
Injury Requires SURGERY
Injury, like a broken bone, may need surgery
But nobody wants it or looks forward to it
1. Surgery involves disrobing you, putting you on a cold table, people staring at you
2. Doctors cutting you, maybe sawing, drilling, pounding
3. It’s for your good!
Surgery = face what’s really eating you and do whatever it takes to deal with it
Get under the knife so you can get on with your life
Let God re-set the joints = the dislocated members of His Body!
Examples – counseling, deliverance, intervention, altar call prayer and personal ministry
the CHURCH is to be a hospital!
Yes, the very place most avoid and make excuses about
Come on to me and I will give you rest
Matthew 11:28 (NLT)
28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
The church are the hands and feet of Jesus – give us a chance to help you!
Injury Requires THERAPY
Injury Requires THERAPY
· Injury, like a broken bone can bring atrophy form being immobile and not used for long periods (pandemic)
· Therapy to get your strength back, your bounce back, your groove back, your smile back, your ministry back, your life back.
· Types of therapy = forgiveness, praise, read the Word, faith confessions
· Therapy requires repetition = forgiveness 70x7
DON’T HUG A CRUTCH
DON’T HUG A CRUTCH
· Don’t turn a temporary setback into a permanent sideline
· Crutches are excuses why you don’t do much anymore.
· Becomes an excuse for opting out – a crutch of handicap
Answer to Wounds: Keep Eyes on God
Answer to Wounds: Keep Eyes on God
· Keep eyes on God not man - He never fails
· Eyes on Word - psalm 23 - restored soul
· Eyes on Spirit - Don’t confuse conviction for condemnation
Closing - Protect Yourself, Help Others
Closing - Protect Yourself, Help Others
Don’t waste your pain
Guard your heart above all else, from it flows the issues of life
They who wait upon the lord shall renew their strength
· I am strong in the Lord and the power of his might
· I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me
· The best is yet to come
· Tomorrow will be better than today
· I will fulfill my destiny
· Greater is he who is in me
Testify - Let your passion be greater than your pain
Glorify - Let your future be greater than your past
Fortify - use your healing to help others
There are many rosemaries out there
We need you and they need us
You win, the church wins, the world wins!