Harvest Pointe Christian Church, Milford Ohio is a non-denominational Christian Church (Church of Christ) on the Eastside of Cincinnati OH

Note: Due to technical difficulties an audio version of the sermon on 04-18-10 is not available
Through Jesus' Eyes | Haiti Mission Report Sunday | 04-18-10

Through Jesus' Eyes
Haiti Mission Report Sunday
Luke 5:17-26

Lesson #1:  Help those in need in other lands.

Lesson #2:  Think out-side the box.

    "Jesus saw their faith" (Luke 5:20)
    "Friend, your sins are forgiven."  (Luke 5:20)

Lesson #3:  See people through Jesus' eyes.

Blessings for Haiti

I John 3:17
"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?"

Full Text 

In the early days of the Church we see a wonderful outpouring of love.  It is found in Acts 11:27-30.  Let's read it.  "27During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul."
Here are Christians coming to the aid of their fellow Christians living in another country, even though the famine would spread to them as well.  Very often people will quote that old saying, "Charity begins at home."  And I do believe that.  But we are also to reach out to those in other areas that are in need, just like the Christians in Antioch helped those in Judea.  They were simply following the example that Jesus set.  Not only did He help Jewish people, we also find Him helping Romans and Samaritans, both hated by the Jews.
Lesson #1:  Help those in need in other lands.
Now, let's take a look at one event in the life of Jesus.  Luke 5:17-18.  "17One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. 18Some men came carrying a paralytic on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus."
The Pharisees and lawyers have heard a lot about Jesus, so they're going to check him out for themselves.  They come to watch and they come to criticize.  The place is crowded.  People want to see this showdown.  But some people aren't interested in politics.  Their only concern is getting their paralyzed friend to Jesus!  They want their friend healed!  But the crowd is so packed, they can't begin to get in themselves, much less carry in their friend on a mat.  What can they do?
Luke 5:19 says, "19When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus."  These men are definitely thinking outside the box.  They take up a section of the roof.  Dirt and debris sprinkle these self-righteous snobs.  The paralyzed man is lowered down to Jesus.
Lesson #2:  Think out-side the box.
Look at verses 20-26: "20When Jesus saw their faith, he said, 'Friend, your sins are forgiven.'  21The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, 'Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?'  22Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, 'Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? 24But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins....' He said to the paralyzed man, 'I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.' 25Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, 'We have seen remarkable things today.'"
Verse 20 says, "Jesus saw their faith."  Jesus saw the faith of the four men on top of the roof that said, "We've got to get this guy to Jesus.  No matter what it takes, we've got to get him to Jesus."
But, did you catch what Jesus saw that a lot of people missed?  Not only did Jesus see the faith of the four men on the roof and the man they lowered to Him, but he also saw something else.  Jesus saw beyond the obvious.  In Verse 20 Jesus said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven."
At this point Jesus has not yet healed the man's physical hurt, his lameness.  Jesus addresses this man's deepest pain, his sin.  Jesus saw the hurting man in a way that no one else did.  Jesus saw a man lost in his sin.  Winn Arn was once one of the top church consultants in the world.  He liked to tell Christians to "See people through Jesus' eyes."
That is Lesson #3:  See people through Jesus' eyes.
We tend to see someone who is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.  We tend to see someone who is kind and generous.  We tend to see someone who is a lot of fun to be with.  We tend to see someone who is a close friend.  We tend to see someone who is a beloved relative.
But if that person does not have the blood of Jesus Christ washing away their sins, they have no hope of eternal life!  And if we see them through Jesus' eyes, we will see their deepest need.  We will see their biggest hurt.  We will see their need for Jesus and the healing that only He can give, the forgiveness of their sins.
When you see people through Jesus' eyes you begin praying for those people because you care about them, you have compassion on them.  When you see people through Jesus' eyes you begin to pray for opportunities to help them in some physical way so they can feel the love of Christ in you.  And once they feel the love of Jesus by what you do, then you have an opportunity to share with them how much Jesus loves them.  He loves them so much He died for them.
This is how Blessings for Haiti came about.  Rosa saw people in Haiti who were in need both physically and spiritually.  She saw them through Jesus eyes so she began praying for these people.  Then she prayed for a way to help them.  God provided the answer that was out-side the box:  Blessings for Haiti.
Blessings for Haiti, like the early Christians at Antioch, provides for the needs of our fellow Christians in another country.  But also, by providing for the needs of those without Christ, a door is opened to people's hearts and many are turning to the Lord.
Do you have the love of Christ so that you can see people through Jesus' eyes?  I John 3:17 tells us, "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?"  See people through Jesus' eyes as Rosa shares with us this morning.