APOPKA, Fla. (BP) – Jeff Iorg used Mark’s account of Jesus healing the leper to encourage First Baptist Church in Apopka to obey Jesus in compassionate evangelism, preaching June 7 during the 11 a.m. worship service.
Jesus broke the law by touching the leper, but told the leper to obey the law of Moses by going to the priest to offer thanks, said Iorg, president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
“He says, go to the priest and offer the sacrifice for thanksgiving for your healing. Somebody might say that’s not that unusual. Yes, it is,” Iorg said. “Jesus just obliterated the law by touching this man. Now He tells the man, go obey the law. So Jesus says, don’t tell anybody. Go obey the law.
“Jesus was saying to this leper, here’s what I need from you now. I don’t need your good ideas about what needs to happen next. I need you to do what I say. I need you to obey me.”
There’s no need to try and figure out what to do in serving God, Iorg said, as God has told us plainly what to do.
“It’s right in front of you in the Word of God. Do what Jesus says. That’s the message,” Iorg said. “So if you’ve come today, wondering ultimately what … we want you to do as a result of being in this worship service today, it’s very simple. We want you to do what Jesus says.
“Church family, this is the most serious part of this message.”
Iorg preached a day after First Baptist Apopka members joined other Southern Baptists in Crossover Orlando, a broad evangelistic outreach to the city. He commended the church for its diligence.
“You already know this. That’s why you continue to do outreach of different kinds all around this community. So let me talk to those of you for a few minutes who are seriously committed to being the hands and feet of Jesus,” Iorg said. “It wears you out, doesn’t it? I mean, it is draining to be a church these days. Have you observed that there’s no shortage of hurting people?”
The leper, known only by his condition, suffered physical, social and spiritual pain, Iorg said, pointing out the many ailments of a suffering world the church is called to serve. As many in the church are volunteers, they are not driven nor upheld by financial reward nor notoriety.
Rather, it is God’s power that strengthens Christians to follow and obey Him.
“Ask regularly for a fresh infusion of the compassion of Jesus for hurting people,” Iorg encouraged worshipers. “Don’t ask for more money or more accolades or more recognition. Just find yourself in the morning time in your devotions or here on the front steps of this church here in a few minutes, bowing your head and saying, Lord, I get burned out from working with all these hurting people. There’s a steady stream of them and they take everything I’ve got.
“I’m asking you to replenish the supply will keep me going and to give me the compassion of Jesus for the hurting.”
Host pastor David Schorejs, senior pastor of First Baptist Apopka, baptized three new believers at the start of the service, and welcomed a new convert after the sermon. While majority Anglo, the congregation is multiethnic in membership and in leadership, averaging about 275 in Sunday worship from a membership of 500.
Iorg preached in advance of the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting June 9-10 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, with preliminary events having begun June 6.
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