Let Downs

Gtcotr/ss081212

Have you ever been let down by someone? Most everyone has been let down by someone in life and perhaps you have let someone down yourself.

The Bible clearly shows us that:

·        A spouse can let you down

·        People you don’t even know can let you down

·        Friends can let you down

·        Even co-workers & close associates can let you down

God has a heart for those who have been let down … and … God also has a heart for those who have let others down.

Today we are going to look at 4 Major “Let Downs” in the Bible ~

1.  David was let down by his wife, Michal

1 Samuel 19

11  Saul also sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and to kill him in the morning. And Michal, David’s wife, told him, saying, "If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed."

12  So Michal let David down through a window. And he went and fled and escaped.

13  And Michal took an image and laid it in the bed, put a cover of goats’ hair for his head, and covered it with clothes.

2.  Joshua’s spies were let down by a prostitute in Jericho

Joshua 2

15  Then Rahab let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was on the city wall; she dwelt on the wall.

16  And she said to them, "Get to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you. Hide there three days, until the pursuers have returned. Afterward you may go your way."

3.  A sick man was let down by 4 of his friends

Luke 5

18  Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Jesus.

19  And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.

4.  Paul was let down by some disciples in Damascus

Acts 9

23  Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him.

24  But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him.

25  Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.

Like I said earlier -The Bible clearly shows us that:

·        A spouse can let you down

·        Someone you just met can let you down

·        Friends can let you down

·        Even Disciples can let you down

Whoever it is in your life that let you down was a God send …

God bless the rope holders in this life … those who stay behind to face the music, do the cleanup work and pay a price. Those who continue to do what they are called to do so that others can do what they are called to do. Someone has to hold the rope and pay the price for anyone to be let down.

Each one of these examples stood to pay a heavy price for holding the rope and standing the ground and each one let down went on to do their work. David; the Spies; the Healed Paralytic; and Paul …

Perhaps you don’t need to be let down, moved on, set free, let go by others … maybe you are right where you want to be and right where you need to be … perhaps you are the person whom God is calling to hold the rope for others … maybe you are the one called to pay the price, hold the rope, stand the ground and make a way for someone else to pursue their calling. Whichever we are in any moment … it all pays the same!

Our church is filled with rope holders … we are those whom God has called to let others down … to stay by the stuff … pay the price … stand the ground and make a way! God told me that He wants to encourage you! My Church is a rope holding Church we will let people down.

You see, each time you have contributed your life’s energy or money to this church you were holding a rope and paying the price for others to do the work which they were called to but could not do unless someone let them down. And every such person and work we begin and support is critical to God’s overall Kingdom plan. Works like:

·        Church On The Rock Food Pantry in Port Arthur

·        Agua Resources International & Agua Canada

·        Church On The Rock North – Beaumont

·        Church On The Rock South – Groves

·        New Life Church On The Rock in Vidor

·        Church On The Rock in Bridge City

·        Cowboy Church On The Rock

·        Rock Church Southeast – Port Arthur

·        Church Online – Worldwide

·        Church On The Rock – Sour Lake

·        God’s House Church On The Rock – Beaumont

·        Turning Point Church On The Rock – Cleburne

·        Real Life Family Church On The Rock – Conroe

·        Yoshkar-Ola Christian Center, Russia

·        SARA COTR Children’s Home, Nepal

·        Prakhonchai Church of God’s Favor, Thailand

·        Charismata Revivals  & their 300+ Churches, Kenya

·        KE Resources International Church Management & Consulting Group

·        RU 100% SURE? Evangelism Training

·        Mike & Jude Kelly Ministries, Philippines

·        Ralph & Annie Dryden Ministries, Thailand

·        Church On The Rock Bible School, Katmandu

·        Kazan Christian Center, Russia

·        Postcards From The Bible Television Ministry

·        Johanis Ciandy Ministries, Indonesia

·        Church On The Rock Health Services

·        Church On The Rock Jail Ministries

Each one of these found their beginning or covering and continues to function as a part of this little local church in which you are sitting – GTCOTR … and that’s not all - Together we have let these people down!!!

These do not count the numbers of ministries resident in our Church, those which we have made possible along with those which we support in some vital way. Ministries such as:

·        Pastor Lynne Parker at Faith Harbor Assembly of God, Port Arthur

·        Terrell Park Stables, operated by Cowboy COTR

·        Mexico Ministries - Mission Support

·        Faik Serhan – Minister to the Druze communities in Israel

·        Jerusalem Institute of Justice – Jerusalem

·        Church On The Rock, Port Au Prince, Haiti – Earthquake Relief

·        Support for Schools, Orphanages, Medical Clinics & Feeding Centers Around the Whole Wide World On a Daily Basis.

·        One Life Family, Pastor & Discipleship Conferences  - US & Abroad

·        Leadership Mentoring Programs

·        myOnlineTV.net – and Online Christian Family Broadcasting Network

·        Printing & Distribution of Daily Devotions in several languages

·        GTCOTR Apps & Web Sites from ezSermons.com to My-Church.com

All of these things are managed by our staff on a Monday through Friday basis before we have Church … and on top of everything else we do from feeding the hungry to visiting the sick --- we still have great Church!!!

Let me be the first to tell you – You guys and gals, members and supporters of GTCOTR, we are master rope holders who can be proud of every one we have let down over these past few years – but … we ain’t seen nothin yet! Time fails me to tell you of the vision we have to take the Gospel of Jesus deeper into our communities here in Southeast Texas and into communities like ours all over the globe.

What do we need to do from here? First – Be thankful to God for including us in His plan. Next, I’m asking you to keep your hands on the rope with me while we "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." (Luke 5:4) … the greatest harvest of souls this generation has ever seen is yet ahead. Let’s keep ourselves and our Church strong so we can continue to let other people down.