Proverbs 13:4

The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

Trapped by circumstance

Many times, in life we find ourselves in situations that we didn’t foresee that keep us from fulfilling our objectives.  Sometimes the most routine of agendas turns out to be difficult if not impossible to accomplish.  We can feel trapped in our circumstances and need help to escape.  At other times we may be the help that someone else desperately needs.

Circumstance of Floyd Collins

Family Vacations in Cave City KY

When I was young, we used to take our annual vacations at Cave City Ky and explored mammoth cave.  One year I could not go, but my Dad and Brother decided to take a spelunking tour.  Complete with knee pads and hard hats.  They had to crawl through some very tight passageways and in one of them my Dad got stuck when he was about halfway through.  He said that it was one of the scariest events of his life.  This recalls the story of a man by the name of Floyd Collins.

Crystal and Sand Caves

Floyd Collin’s family owned Crystal Cave. A nice cave but it was too far off the tourist trail to make much money. Floyd was determined to find an entrance to the Mammoth Cave System that visitors would see before they came to Mammoth’s historic entrance. Sand Cave is one of those little “nothing” caves that are usually bypassed by almost everyone. On Jan. 30, 1925, Floyd was on his way out of a dangerously unstable passage when a 27-pound rock fell on his foot. There is a chance that the passage did lead to Mammoth and that Floyd had *found* what he was looking for when he got trapped. Understand, Floyd Collins was known as the best caver in the country surrounding the longest cave system in the world. But further exploration that day was not to be. Just 120 feet from the entrance and 60 feet underground, Floyd lay unable to move in the darkness.

Trapped

For more than 2 weeks, Floyd suffered in that cold, wet tight passage. Above was a carnival atmosphere, each day the news was reported in the Louisville, KY newspaper from a first-hand account as their brave reporter navigated the unstable cave passage, fed, talked with and even attempted several times to free Floyd himself.

Finally, after all the excitement, worldwide attention, mine shaft and all, Floyd still lay trapped. Sometime around the 15th day, Floyd’s voice was stilled forever.  The authorities decided it was too dangerous to remove the body and left it there. 80 days later Floyd’s brother Homer raised enough money to give Floyd a decent burial. Later, Crystal Cave was sold and Floyd’s body was put in a glass-topped coffin in Crystal Cave. For many years cavers paid their respects. Then the body was stolen and afterward found in the river minus a leg.  This was quite a dramatic national story

Today we will look at a man in the Bible that was unable to move; just like Floyd Collins, he was trapped and unable to free himself.

Mark 2:1-5

And again he entered into Capernaum after some days, and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

Sick of the Palsy

PALSY, = To paralyze; to deprive of the power of motion; to destroy energy.

Palsy is a type of the dead and helpless state of our fallen nature

Ephesians 2:4-12

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Fallen man is no more able in himself to give life to his soul than the palsied man could to his limbs

Ephesians 2:8–9

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Desire without diligence is empty

DILIGENCE, n. [L., to love earnestly; to choose.]

1. Steady application in business of any kind; constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken; exertion of body or mind without unnecessary delay or sloth; due attention; industry; assiduity.

4 ways that diligence was exercised

1.  Diligence in their concern for others

Compassion is required of the believer

•     Eph 4:32

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

•     Col 3.12

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

•     1 Cor 1:3-5

Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

•     1 Peter 3:8

Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

Diligence in Faith

Faith that is real

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

•     Worshiping faith (vs1)

•     Walking Faith (vs2)

•     Working Faith (vs3)

•     They had a faith that works

•     Put action behind your faith

Matthew 7:7

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:

•     Ask

•     Seek

•     Knock

3. Diligence in adversity

Could not come near because of the press

That is what the press will do

•     try to keep you from Jesus

•     Convince you this is not a Christian nation

•     Convince you that all roads lead to the same place

Matthew 7:14

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

•     Convince you that you came from a rock

Carried him to the roof

•     They did not give up

•     need help from up on high (roof)

•     Took effort to overcome obstacles that were separating them from Jesus

Need to break through everything that keeps us snug and comfortable

•     self-reliance

•     normalcy bias

•     family

1 Samuel 17:28–29

And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab’s anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.

And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

family is the first to discourage

They humbled themselves before the Lord (vs 4)

Lowered him to Jesus

James 4:6

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

James 4:10

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

1 Peter 5:5–6

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

The Lord not only cured his palsy, but forgave his sin (vs5)

Psalm 68:19

Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Psalm 103:2

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Psalm 116:12

What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

•     He did more for them than they even imagined was possible

Ephesians 3:20

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

4. Diligence in Unity

Find others to work with

Hebrews 10:24–25

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

• dare to be different
•   Climbing on a roof and tearing a hole was definitely different
•   be ye separate

2 Corinthians 6:17–18

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Is there not a cause?

1.   There are people that we all know

a.  that are in desperate Spiritual condition

Paralyzed by

• 1.   Guilt
• 2.   Doubt
• 3.   Fear

Romans 5:8

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

They can’t get to Jesus and are depending on us

a.  you could be someone’s last hope

Don’t give up

• 1.   No matter:
• a.  What we must do
• b.  How long it takes
• c.   How much criticism you get

There is a cause to fight for,

Do whatever it takes to get them to Jesus. No matter what we must do, how long it takes or how much people criticize us. Exercise diligence, For their sakes, do not give up!

Our hope at Irvington Bible Baptist Church is that this podcast provided some encouragement and has helped you to develop a closer relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ.