SERMONS

THANK YOU FOR CARRYING ME Acts 3:1-2 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

To carry someone or something is defined as: 1. To move while supporting 2. To sustain the weight or burden of 3. To provide sustenance for 4. To be chiefly or solely responsible for the success, effectiveness, or continuation of 5. To bear the charges of

When someone is carried, it indicates an area of need or lack in their lives They are unable to carry or sustain themselves It might be financially, emotionally, spiritually, physically. The lame man was unable to stand on his own. His daily existence was dependant upon others to carry him to a place of supply/need meeting.

Like the lame man at the gate, some of us have gone through seasons and circumstances of our lives that have made it crucial to be carried by others. You didn't expect it to be this way- You didn't know you would lose your job. You didn't know your marriage will fail. You didn't think you would fall spiritually. You didn't plan on having a nervous breakdown. You didn't know they would turn on you. You didn't know your business partner would steal from you And so, here you are, needing to be carried again like a newborn infant, at the mercy of others- You don't want to be in this position, but you are.

Who are your carrying today? It might be your mom or dad. It may be your husband or wife, or your son or daughter. It could possibly be a friend. Someone in your church may need you to carry them. Your pastor may be going through pressure under the weight of ministry. Your faithfulness in praying, attending, giving, and serving helps carry him. You are a great asset and strength. Every church needs those who will be “carriers.” You may be putting extra money in the plate You may be buying groceries for a family. You’re buying clothes for some kids in school. You’re praying someone into the kingdom who’s not there yet- he’s on drugs, she’s on the streets, they’re rebellious- but you keep standing in the gap.

Do you know how vital it is that you carry them (and continue to do so “until” ) ? Religious people tried to capture Paul and kill him. On one occasion, it looked like their plot would be successful Put some of Paul’s friends put him in a basket, and carried him over the wall, letting him down safely to the other side What if they had let go of the rope? What if they had considered the cost of doing so too great? What if they had been too busy? What part of the 13 bibles that he wrote would you not want? Which letter to the church is unimportant? What if the lame man’s friends had decided not to carry him that day? What if they had other plans? What if they got tired of carrying him? What if he would have missed his miracle?
Who else would be affected because he wasn’t carried until? His family, children, grandchildren, community, world- the inventions inside him, the gifts untapped into

When you carry someone, you make an investment in them You willingly make sacrifices. You believe in them. You consider it worth what you are doing

You’ve got to be careful when you’re carrying someone that you don’t drop them prematurely Mephibosheth was dropped as a child and permanently scarred. (2 Samuel 4:4) Later on in life, he was accepted by David. He was loved and accepted, but never healed of past pain. Be careful that you don’t drop someone you’re supposed to be carrying.

Friends working together made an investment in a man Mark 2:3 They got him into the presence of Jesus. The four friends worked together as a team. Like them, we need to do whatever it takes, get them in to the church, into the atmosphere of faith. You get them to the house, we’ll pour into them. The team God has raised up in the local church is there to minister life unto those who enter.

Like you. I’ve carried and been carried It’s in those times when I know I am being carried that I feel so uncomfortable. I know I should be able to stand, but I have some problems doing so on my own. I had a word some time back by a prophetess that I had never met- she said, you’re strong, you’re a mighty man of God; She described in detail some things going on, having never met me It was God’s way of saying, you’re going to get through this. When I’m weak, I have to go back and stir up the prophecies to find strength. I turned my ankle over the other day and couldn’t stand immediately. A man who was in the place of business came to my aid to lift me up. Although our paths had crossed before, he didn’t really know me. And yet, here was this man who was feebler than I was in my wounded ankle state, and yet he was willing to carry me. So some of us are standing and carrying . Others are being carried . I don’t give up on you, and don’t you give up on me- Victory is coming!

The lame man was laid daily, but it was daily “until” Until the victory came, until healing, deliverance, wholeness. I hear the Lord saying some of you are carrying some folk right now, but there is an “until” coming- their victory is soon. There is coming a suddenly- an entrance of the presence of the Lord. When your “until” comes, it will bring a command of faith to throw away the shackles, stand and be healed. I declare a prophetic word to you today, that your until is here! It’s time to dance, and rejoice- It’s time to throw away the crutches.