2 CORINTHIANS 5:16-21

THE BEST SQUAD IS AN AVAILABLE SQUAD. 

18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.

WORLDLY CULTURE: YOUR ROLE IS TIED TO ABILITY

GOD’S NOT LOOKING FOR ABILITY. HE’S LOOKING FOR AVAILABILITY.

And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.

So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.

There is so much to the idea of being ambassadors! An ambassador does not speak to please his audience, but the King who sent him. An ambassador does not speak on his own authority; his own opinions or demands mean little. He simply says what he has been commissioned to say. But an ambassador is more than a messenger; he is also a representative, and the honor and reputation of his country are in his hands. - GUZIK

2 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”

8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man[a] has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”

12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

MARK 2:1-12

IT’S OUR JOB TO BRING PEOPLE TO GOD

WE NEED TO BE PERSISTENT

• Persistent: continuing firmly or obstinately in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.

29 And now, O Lord, hear their threats, and give us, your servants, great boldness in preaching your word. 30 Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31 After this prayer, the meeting place shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. Then they preached the word of God with boldness.

ACTS 4:29-31

- STAYING FILLED KEEPS YOU AVAILABLE. 

IT’S GOD’S JOB TO DO THE HEALING