Are You Within Reach? Part 1

Based on a Message by Pastor Kevin Rogler on November 10, 2013. To view the message on video in its entirety, click HERE

I was thinking about what happens when you run your car so close to empty.  What happens to the filter?  It clogs up.  Because when it’s so empty, there is nothing there to suck in again except the dirt and the debris that was in the fuel and has fallen to the bottom.  There is stuff in that fuel right, it looks clean but there is stuff in there.  But when it’s so empty, you start to feed on the bottom, so to speak sometimes.  God doesn’t want you to feed from the bottom, He wants you to feed from the top.  He doesn’t want you to be clogged up with bottom dwelling feeding; on the news this week, on your troubles this week, you know what you breathe it in and hack and cough.  You can’t function that way.  He wants you feeding from the top, that’s where the crystal-clear water is.  The reason you are able to feed from the top, is that he’s placed you at the top, in heavenly places, high places.  He doesn’t place you at the bottom.  I have a question.  The question is,

Are you within reach?

Within reach of what God wants to do in your life today?  There is something about being in the reach of Jesus Christ that is better than just reading about Him or when you watch a tv program about Him.  You get within that reach when you come together.  There is Jesus in each one of us and I need the Jesus in you and you need the Jesus in me.  Because I may say something that unfolds something to you or you may be able to say something that unfolds something in me, and you know what, it’s all Jesus.  Coming together allows Him to reach.

What is eating at you today?  Is there anything keeping you far off from Jesus and others?  What is causing you to return to be made whole?  I’m going to explain to you why it’s only in returning to Jesus that you are made whole.  It’s only through Jesus reaching out and touching you that you are cleansed and made whole.  It’s being close that counts.

Luke 17:11 – 19

¹¹ And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.

¹² And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

¹³ And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

¹⁴ And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

¹⁵ And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

¹⁶ And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

¹⁷ And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

¹⁸ There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

¹⁹ And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

There were no cell phones or emails to tell them Jesus was coming, the healer was going to pass by, but He knew they were there.  Jesus was their answer and their answer found them.  Don’t you love it when the answer finds you?  Jesus told them go and as they went they were healed.  That all, go, what kind of answer is go?  Where is the pizzazz?  Talk about practical.  Where do we go?  Well, go where He told you.  Well, what do we do when we get there, what do we do along the way, when do we come back?  He didn’t say that, just go.  I believe they went.  Know why?  Because one turned back.  That one saw he was whole and healed and thought wait!  There is something more important than delivering this message, it’s important to remember to give thanks.  The one threw himself at Jesus’ feet and gave thanks.  Jesus asked weren’t there 10 lepers healed, where are the other ones to give thanks to God?  Notice Jesus told him, Rise and go, your faith has made you WHOLE.  Was it possible that the other nine went healed but not whole?  Can you be healed and go to hell?  Yes.  But I don’t believe that you can be whole and go to hell.

Being healed and being whole are two different things.  And Jesus is all about the completed work.  You know what amazes me, in order for this man to be made whole he had to return back to Jesus, close enough to be touched by Jesus, at His feet.  The others could see what they wanted a far off.  There could be things in your life that you see from afar off so to speak.  But there are those things that the Lord has for you that can only be received from closeness.  Closeness counts.

PART 2 coming soon.  In the meantime visit our website for Daily Power Thought, Online Calender of Events, Our Favourite Worship Music, our location,  and more service videos at:  www.barriechristianfellowship.com