BECOMING A GOOD SAMARITAN: WATCHMAN FOR THE HURTING COMING ALONGSIDE THOSE WHO SUFFER. This morning we are going to tackle a big subject. The Good Samaritan gave us an example of caring for the Weak and the Powerless, even when they are strangers. This morning I want us to look at our responsibilities when it comes to those in the world who are hurting because of disease and sickness. Jesus twice sent out his disciples with very clear and concise instructions. Those same instructions apply to us as His servants:  Matthew 10:8 - Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.  Luke 10:8-9 -"When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, 'The kingdom of God is near you.' HEAL: THERAPEÚŌ - attendant, servant. To voluntarily wait upon, minister to, render service, heal. Pictures the physician's watchful attendance of the sick and man's service to God. Therapeuo means to serve as therápōn. Therápōn-denotes a faithful friend to a superior, who solicitously regards the superior's interest or looks after his affairs, not a common or domestic servant. Therápōn approaches more closely the position of oikonómos, manager, in God's house.  One who heals the sick is a friend who closely watches over one he considers his superior. One who heals the sick is actually functioning as a manager in God's house! The reason this is so important is the actual meaning of the sick that Christ sent them out to minister to. SICK: ASTHENÉS: "Without strength, powerless, weak, without physical ability. By implication, meaning afflicted, distressed by oppression, calamity. In a moral sense, wretched, diseased, i.e., in a state of sin and wretchedness .  Our attitude toward sickness and disease reveals the state of our heart-whether we are fit to be managers in God's House! THE ROLE OF THE “WATCHMAN” Ezekiel explains the Code of the Watchman. God sets some people up as Watchmen over His people. They are to warn the people of impending danger. 1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, speak to your people and say to them, If I bring the sword upon a land, and the people of the land take a man from among them, and make him their watchman, 3 and if he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows the trumpet and warns the people, 4 then if anyone who hears the sound of the trumpet does not take warning, and the sword comes and takes him away, his blood shall be upon his own head. 5 He heard the sound of the trumpet and did not take warning; his blood shall be upon himself. But if he had taken warning, he would have saved his life. 6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet, so that the people are not warned, and the sword comes and takes any one of them, that person is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand. “So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. Ezekiel 33:1-7 Now at this time both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms of Israel and Judah had already been taken into captivity. Both nations had gone on a massive sinning spree - worshiping false gods and graven images and turning their back on their one true God time and time again. Isaiah had prophesied over 100 years earlier, to the Nation of Judah who had witnessed their brothers to the North taken by the Assyrians. They thought they wouldn't be captured because THEY were so religious, beloved by Jehovah. They were proud of their "RELIGIOUSNESS" and wondered why they were having trouble with the Assyrians too! They were trying everything to win God's favor and support. They were even fasting. But here is what Isaiah said: ISAIAH 58:3-12 3 “Why have we fasted, but You have not seen? We have denied ourselves, but You haven’t noticed!” “Look, you do as you please on the day of your fast, and oppress all your workers. 4 You fast ⌊with⌋ contention and strife to strike viciously with ⌊your⌋ fist. You cannot fast as ⌊you do⌋ today, ⌊hoping⌋ to make your voice heard on high. 5 Will the fast I choose be like this: A day for a person to deny himself, to bow his head like a reed, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast and a day acceptable to the Lord? 6 Isn’t the fast I choose: To break the chains of wickedness, to untie the ropes of the yoke, to set the oppressed free, and to tear off every yoke? 7 Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to ignore your own flesh ⌊and blood⌋? 8 Then your light will appear like the dawn, and your recovery will come quickly. Your righteousness will go before you, and the Lord’s glory will be your rear guard. 9 At that time, when you call, the Lord will