Who Will Hold the Rope?

Acts 9:17-25

At Adamsville, we have a mission statement: To Know Christ, to Grow into his likeness, and to Show him to the world. That is just what happened to Saul (better known as Paul.) Saul had been persecuting the church in Jerusalem for some time and he got permission to hunt for Christians in Damascus. On the way there, Christ met him in a blinding flash of light, and Saul was struck blind. We talked last week about Ananias and his conversation with God. And you’ll remember, God’s assurance that Saul had become a believer—behold, he prays. He knew Christ. After being restored to sight, some experts say that Saul spent the next several years in the dessert studying the faith. Whether or not that was the case, however, is irrelevant. At some point, he began to preach to the Jews about Jesus, and he grew bold and powerful (he grew into Christ’s likeness and began to show him to others)—so much so that the Jews in Damascus decided it was time to kill Saul. But some of the other believers found out about the plot and they lowered Saul in a basket during the night, allowing him to escape unharmed. This morning, I want to focus on those other believers. You see, we hear a lot about Paul’s ministry, but it would never have happened if it weren’t for some folks willing to hold the rope for him. If we are going to be engaged in ministry for the Kingdom of God, we need to have a system of support, i.e., people who are willing to hold the rope for us.

When I had the privilege to work at Camp Asbury, I was a facilitator on the high ropes course. For those who don’t know what high ropes are, picture a series of obstacles set 35 to 40 feet up in the air. It was definitely a faith-growing experience for me. When you were getting ready to go up that tree and when you got up there, there was one very important question that became very, very important: Who is holding the rope? In fact, there were a series of verbal commands that the climber and the rope holder would go through to make sure that the climber was safe. I remember one youth group that was on the course over the fall, and they had a guy who played football—a big offensive lineman. And he when he got up to the catwalk, he asked me, “What happens if I step off?” I told him he would drop a little bit and then come to a stop. So he stepped off. And he dropped a few inches, stepped back onto the catwalk, and walked across as calmly as if he were on the ground. You see, he knew someone was holding the rope.

What does it mean to be a rope holder? There are at least three different jobs needed. Some people may have more than one job, but other times, it may take three different people.

• The first category of rope holders are Intercessors: Those who will stand in prayer and lift that person, group, or situation up on a daily basis. Gen 18:20-33. Abraham is an intercessor not only for his nephew Lot and his family, but for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. When you read this passage, you can see the spirit of the intercessor. He or she is full of holy boldness. Not timid in the requests. Also, he or she is not irreverent towards God, but has a reverent humility. Finally, the intercessor needs a bit of importunity (to importune is to solicit in a pressing manner; think of a pushy telemarketer). Each time Abraham asks, he pushes a little further. Are we willing to respectfully but boldly press God for the needs of others?

• The second type of person needed is someone with the gifts of helps and service. If I were to describe this with one word, it would be support. These are important, since ministry doesn’t come with an easy button. The gift of helps is seen in that person who is able to work behind the scenes to relieve others of detailed or routine jobs. They relieve them so they can focus more fully on their area of ministry. (1 Cor. 12:28, Romans 16:1-2, Acts 9:36, Mark 15:40-41) Service is the ability to see things that need done. This person is a doer, not looking for praise, but just wanting to make sure things are done and ministry can continue. (2 Tim. 1:16-18, Romans 12:7, Acts 6:1-7, Titus 3:14, Galatians 6:2,10). Now I began to ask God, “What is the difference between these two?” And what God showed me is that a person with the gift of helps always works behind the scenes. He or she shies away from any form of public service. On the other hand, the person with a gift of service will do whatever needs done to keep ministry going. They don’t seek out the public eye, but they won’t shy away from it either. I also need to say that these gifts are not mutually exclusive; i.e., you may have both gifts.

• Finally, we all need some Encouragers. These are persons with a gift of exhortation, that ability to reassure, strengthen, encourage, and affirm others. This can simply by praising what is already going on, or by helping them move from their problems to a resolution to that problem. (Romans 12:8, Acts 14:21-22, Heb. 10:25)

When this sermon was first suggested to me, it was in terms of supporting our youth and youth leaders as they prepare for Battle Cry. I agree. We need to be supporting them. But in the last several weeks, God has begun to impress upon me the need to have rope holders around all those who are ministering within the church, for without that support, we are much more likely to fall prey to the attacks of the enemy.

So as our praise team comes, as we close this morning, I am looking for rope holders. If you are willing to be an intercessor, a supporter, an encourager, I want you to come forward this morning, and we are going to give you a piece of rope, as a reminder of this vital ministry in our church. In the coming weeks and months, we will do more to formally organize our rope holders, but this morning, we just want to pray for you. If God is calling you in this way, please come as we sing.