2-2-16 I ve Been Robbed Page One Text: Lk 10 (turn there) Intro: I want to look at the account of the Good Samaritan. Most people know about the Good Samaritan but what do we know about the victim? àjesus Himself is the one who gave us this parable where a certain man who was hurting got helped by a another person, who in that time and setting The victim never expected help from. But I think we can learn more than we have from this parable. So, let s take another look at this parable told by Jesus Lk 10: 30-35 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you. A: Where Was This Victim Going? Lk 10:30 Then Jesus answered and said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 1: So this man starts out in Jerusalem, it s the Center, where the church people go. Possibly he belongs there o But satan always plays the DOORS Cross on to, to the other side Because it s more fun. The grass is greener. It s like Disneyland or Las Vegas! 2: So, this man woke up on this day and said and said today I m going to Jericho. A better place I want to have a good time. o I have some money and yup, I m going to go. 3: Jericho was located about 15 miles NE of Jerusalem; it sits more than 3,500 feet lower in altitude. The man would have to walk through the canyon and mountain roads to get there. o And, after he s finished having his fun, walk back up the same way to get home. But somehow he thought: That s easier than being at or involved at Jerusalem! 4: The enticement of Jericho was there: It s been described as a "City of Palm Trees, a city of great wealth And at the same time great poverty as well. Note: I know for a fact that he didn t wake up and say: Today I hope I get robbed. He was just trying to live life to the fullest Go to Jericho try something different where it s fun and greener. BUT: On the way to joy he got robbed. I can t prove this, but I think the robbers names were: Deceit, Lies and Sin. 5: This mans joy and plans for fun were stolen and destroyed. John 10:10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy
B: Have We, Or Are We Like This Man 1: Like him, we may have started out with the intention of reaching our destination BUT We may feel like we ve fallen amongst the robbers. o It s possible that we have. à Let me list some possibilities: We got married to enjoy each other now we hate or, love each other less. Kids were a great idea, but today, they just might be our greatest argument. o He was a very nice and polite man at first Now, he only mistreats you. o She was an elegant queen now she s nothing but a drama queen. The job seemed perfect and we were praising God for it And now we hate getting up in the morning the praising has stopped. We purchased that thing and now it s weighing us down. 2: The robbers were not standing in the middle of the road to Jericho - They laid in wait so when a person has been enticed by the lights, bells and whistles - The thief pounces on them seemingly, out of nowhere and robs them. 3: No one plans on falling out of step with the Lord - But our Joy, Peace, Our Dream, Laughter and our Sleep can be stolen. Listen: Life is an expert at pitching curve balls to us. Anyone know what I m talking about? Back to our text: Lk 10:30 Then Jesus answered and said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. C: Stripped Of Our Clothing Rom 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Gal 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Point: We are to always be Christ-like. Put Him on. Jesus is exactly who the thief wants to strip from us. 1: On the way to Jericho: They stripped him of his dignity and self-esteem. That s what the devil is always telling me: I m not worthy and Not good enough 2: Our enemy constantly launches fiery darts at us: Don t you dare try to change your life! Don t try to get married again! Don t you dare trust that man again! She doesn t deserve another chance! o Don t hope again you ll never get over it! 3: The end of Lk 10:30 They left him half dead! The devil doesn t want you dead he wants you half dead. o What good is there in the devil killing you you ll go to heaven
D: Left Half Dead 1: Being half dead can mean: Being alive externally or physically, but dead internally or spiritually. Smiling on the outside but I m crying on the inside. I laugh, but hate myself 2: We ve become experts at hiding our pain and faking a life of joy. HALF DEAD a: We live in a place that puts pressure and value on the outside, but no value for the inside. b: How we look, talk, dress and what we drive tell everyone everything is OK But we re half dead. Listen: Jesus didn t do what He did for us to be half dead Christians. The worst thing a Believer to do is to remain half dead. o You actually hurt the Kingdom and the Family by remaining that way. So if you are there... let s get you full of life again. E: The Helps That Comes Lk 10: 31-32 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.??? So why did the Priest and the Levite both pass by without helping? Because they couldn t help him. They didn t possess what it takes to help a half dead person. 1: These two figures represent Religion: Dead itself and full of empty rituals. - I have said 10 s of thousands of hail Mary s, father forgive me s and even more Our Fathers and nothing changed who I was. o We ve lit thousands of candles nothing was changed! - Some people see and talk to their Tia Concha, Shrinks, Probation officers and even the tarot card readers and nothing happens people remain half dead. o Alive on the outside and dead on the inside. Listen: Only when that river of living water touches something or some one, does it come to life. John 7:38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. Rev 22:1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. (Ezek 47 speaks of healing waters ) But I Digress Back to our text: Lk 10: 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. F: The Samaritan is JESUS 1: The Samaritan went where the man was no walking away or round but straight to the victim. I know that God came right where I was at my desperate time. When Jesus saved us, came straight at us. 2: Now that we are His, when we fall victim to our enemy
GOD still comes to our rescue!!! Note: The Samaritan helped because he Saw him and had compassion Jesus sees us from the inside and has compassion. o He sees our soul and sees how frail we are and wants to help us. I love it when God loves me. Rescues me. Lk 10: 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 3: GOD is going to bandage your wounds. It might not be as soon you walk out the door but he will heal your hurts. In Fact: Since the moment you accepted Jesus, He s been working on you. To heal, sooth and restore. o Everything the robber took from you He s been restoring. 4 After the Samaritan cleaned and bandaged his wounds.. he placed in in the Inn. Lk 10: 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you. Listen: Don t leave the Inn! That place where God has placed you to be restored and built up. o The place where He works on our hearts and soul. Show up at the Inn, Open up at the Inn. God is working on you in the Inn, let Him. G: If Jesus is the Good Samaritan.. Who s The Inn Keeper? 1: The Inn Keepers are the Five Fold Ministers: Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Evangelists and Teachers. o Those called to look after your spiritual well being. For you, it could be Nancy and Myself, Chad and Cynthia as your Pastors. He did call us to look after you. o It s our calling and privilege to do this for God. Our desire is that you serve God well, and do it joyfully. 2: Some of you in this room, God is nurturing you to become Inn Keepers one day. I see Pastors, Pastor s Wives, Leaders and Teachers all up in here! o Get yourself ready and quit running away. There victims that need our help. 3: AND I want to add Inn Keepers are pretty much anyone else God uses to help heal, sooth and build your soul into what God intended for you to be. 4: And when Jesus comes back.. He will repay us for our labor. Conclusion: 1: If you ve ever been robbed you know that violated feeling. If you ve ever fallen victim to our enemy. Been Robbed
o You don t have to go through it alone. 2: God has provided Good Samaritans allow them to help you. Stay in the Inn. Allow Jesus to heal the wounds through the Inn Keepers. o And then you prepare yourself to help the next victim. 3: Don t sit there saying, Oh poor me, I ve been Robbed.. when help is all around you. AMEN