Living Miracles: Faith that changes lives
Notes
Transcript
The purpose of Jesus is simply this, to change lives. Jesus came not to make a name for himself, not to build himself a kingdom, not to see how well he could do at this life. No! Jesus came to change our lives permanently. Jesus did not come to make us rich, to help us live comfortable lives. Jesus came to change our lives and to recruit us to the team of changing peoples lives. The effectivness of faith is to continuously seek to bring others into the faith, not for selfish or self serving purposes, but to see Jesus change lives. This morning as we explore the word of God, I pray our hearts are challenged as believers with this question. Am I actively seeking to bring others to Christ? For those who do not know God, I want you to ask this. Has anyone ever done for me as much as Jesus has? Today we will be in Luke 5:17-26 and in this scripture we will find a group of friends who believed in the power of Jesus to change their friends life, and would stop at nothing to get him there. We will see Jesus affirm His authority and dispell doubts in who He is. We will see the destiny of Worship and Witness that we are called to live in. Turn with me in your Bibles to Luke 5:17-26 While you turn there I want us to listen to the words that John Wesley wrote down.
I want the whole Christ for my Savior, the whole Bible for my book, the whole Church for my fellowship, and the whole world for my mission field.
John Wesley.
17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
1. Cultivated Conviction:Persistent Friends, Bold Faith
1. Cultivated Conviction:Persistent Friends, Bold Faith
17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, 19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”
Could you imagine having friends so persistent? Are you the type of person so consistent and persistent in peoples lives that you live in such a way. I was taught a phrase at work that I try to live by. Consistent persistence leads to persistent consistency. Can I say that I believe the church has lost this over the years. We have lost this sense of urgency, we have lost this consistencty in sharing of the faith. Some of it is because we do not want to offend others, some of it is because after sharing and being turned down we lose heart, whatever the reason, when I look around I do not see this consistent persistence in the curch anymore. There seems to be this mindset of well I will present Jesus and whatever happens happens. I can tell you that part of the reason this has happened is becuase the reformed mindset has seeped into the church and the feeling is that if God created a person for heaven they will find their way eventually. We have lost the mindset of being on fire for Christ and having persistence in our message. This persistence does not have to be offensive or in people’s face, it must be loving and serving. So what caused these friends to have this consistent persistence? First they had a concrete belief in what Jesus could do. Read it again. Luke 5:17-18
17 On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. 18 And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus,
These men were going to see Jesus, they heard the stories, they may have seen Jesus miracles, either way they believed in their hearts the power of Christ. There was nothing in them that doubted that in the presence of Jesus their friend would walk again. We need to get back to this place, some of us need to get to that place. The place where we understand and believe in the name of Jesus to change lives. How does this happen? This morning I am going to help you prepare to reach that place. Here is a list of things that every believer can do to reach that place.
1.Go to church- There is nothing magical about going to church, it is not a biblical mandate except to not foresake the gathering of the saints. But here is what going to church will do. It will encourage you to see what Jesus is doing in the lives of others. Church is the place where we share our weaknesses and failures while elevating Jesus strength and successes in our lives.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2. Worship- This moring as you sang the songs of worship, they were not random songs. These songs Ken picks each week to bring us to 2 places. First a place of reflection on how God has blessed us in our lives in the last week, Second, a place of saying thank you to God for His blessings. Worship is not all about what we can get out of it, while that is part of it, the bigger part is how can I sing at the top of my lungs to a God who is so so good to me.
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!
3. Daily time with God- When you take time to have daily time with God. I am not going to make rules here on what you should do, such as read your Bible for 30 minutes or pray for an hour. What I am going to say is set a part of your day aside for you to speak with and to worship God for His presence in your life.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple.
4. Serve- When you have reflected on all that God has done for you and how He has changed your life. Take that joy inside of you and take that fire inside of you and go serve others!
10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
If you want to have the kind of faith that these men had, the things we just listed will get you there. Do you know why the church gets so complacent? Because we stop remembering what God and Jesus have done for us. Listen if Jesus can take me and make me into anything good, He can do so much more in the lives of others. If we want a church on fire for what Jesus can do in the world, it starts in our homes, in our closets.
6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
These men first had a concrete faith in Jesus and believed in His power. Second they had a persistent mindset. When these men were met with a challenge, they did not throw up their hands and say, oh well we tried. They were not content with their friend knowing they tried and giving them some encouragning words. No, they were not going to stop until they got their friend in front of Jesus. Look at what the Scripture says.
19 but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus.
Could you imagine sitting in here today and having roofing falling down all around you, seeing daylight coming in from above you and seeing a man lowered down? Frist I have to say that this says something about Jesus ability to deal with distactions while he taught. Jesus was teaching while these men created a path to lower their friend down to Jesus. The second thing is these men were committed. I have a picture of what a roof would have looked like in this time and I want you to see this and I will explain the parts to you. First you see the large timbers taht were the main support of the roof, above those you see smaller timbers that would have been used to keep the clay in place while it dried and keep it from falling through the large cracks of the timbers. Last on top of that you see the clay. This roof that these men went through would have been of similar build, maybe not exactly but close to this. They were persistent. The work it would have taken to get throught that roof and to Jesus would have taken some amazing effort. This is convicting to me. Why? Because at the first rejection, at the first opposition, many of us walk away. Well I tried. We believe that somehow our effort equates to God’s satisfation. Here is another phrase I have learned at work, no one cares about effort if results do not follow. The church has got to get out of this, well I tried mindset. No we must try, and try, and try again. After we have tried again we must try again. After we feel like there is no point in trying again, thats right try again! The church can never get complacent with effort, we must seek results. We must seek the place where when the devil throws up his defenses we do not walk away. Now please do not hear me saying that we do the work of the spirit. I am not saying that at all. The spirit does the work inside a person not us.
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
WE are however to be a part of getting people to Jesus.
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The church must become more persistent and not allow the defenses of the devil to stop us. When the walls of Hell come up we march around and sound the alarm, trusting God to tear down the walls. Who are you actively trying to bring to Jesus for healing? The Cultivated convition here is are we persistent and bold in our faith? In this scripture we also find the authority of Jesus being affirmed. Look back at the scripture with me.
2. Profound Proof:Authority Affirmed, Doubts Dispelled
2. Profound Proof:Authority Affirmed, Doubts Dispelled
21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.”
Notice here that the scribes and pharisees did not say anything out lound, Jesus percieved their thoughts. Jesus understood how they were thinking. In His answer Jesus said something big to them. I know your heart. This was something that they were not perepared for becuase they understood the scripture and here is what their minds likely went to.
9 The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
10 “I the Lord search the heart
and test the mind,
to give every man according to his ways,
according to the fruit of his deeds.”
In the fact that Jesus was able to tell these men what they were thinking He affirmed His diety. He then went on to affirm His power through healing the paralyzed man. What we see here is that Jesus is completely filled with the spirit and working in the power of the Father to deliver the will of the Father here on earth. Jesus is the messiah that was spoken of in the old testament and He knew exactly who He was performing this miracle in front of. Jesus was affirming His authority in the face of those who doubted Him. Are we affirming Christ in the face of doubt? We have a great opportunity in our world to affim Christ and to make much of Him. We are called to affirm the power of Christ. Here are some statistics for you.
92% of people believe Jesus was a real person
56% of people believe Jesus is the Son of God
18% are not sure
26% of people believe that Jesus was a religious leader or good person
67% of people believe that Jesus sinned when He walked on earth
What does this prove to me? It proves to me that the church must be much more vocal and real in affirming who Jesus is in our lives and who the Bible says Jesus was and is. Jesus affirmed His authority and dispelled doubt, how are we doing with this in our lives? Are we so confident in our faith as to stand firmly on it?
We are to lift the name of Jesus up because in the name of Jesus is the power to save.
32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
We are to proclaim to the World and affirm our belief in Jesus Christ as the sinless son of God who has the power to take away all sin and to give to us the free gift of Salvation that He did all the work for. We are to stand confidently and firmly in His wonderful name. Are you affirming the name of Jesus in your life and dispelling the doubt that the world hopes to secure in your life?
3. Declared Destiny: Healing Sparks Worship And Witness
3. Declared Destiny: Healing Sparks Worship And Witness
25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
The healing of our lives should result in Worship and witness. Church we are called to be a constant witness to the greatness of Jesus. When is the last time you considered all that Jesus has done for you? When is the last time you took inventory of all the ways that you are blessed? We are to consider the greatness of Jesus in our lives and worship Him because we take time to consider all that He has done for us.
23 Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Tell of his salvation from day to day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and he is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and joy are in his place.
28 Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength!
29 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come before him!
Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;
30 tremble before him, all the earth;
yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.
31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice,
and let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!”
21 He is your praise. He is your God, who has done for you these great and terrifying things that your eyes have seen.
13 Sing to the Lord;
praise the Lord!
For he has delivered the life of the needy
from the hand of evildoers.
1 We give thanks to you, O God;
we give thanks, for your name is near.
We recount your wondrous deeds.
Worship does not take place becuase the music I like gets played? Worship does not take place because the lighting is right. Worship does not take place becuase of anything external. Worship takes place when I consider all that Jesus has done for me. Notice the result on others when the man was healed, notice what the man did after Jesus healed him.
25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
As we wrap up this morning I want to present 2 things. First, to the person who is still on the fence about giving your life to Jesus, consider all He has done for you even though you have given nothing to Him. Consider all He has given to set you free and to bless you. To the believers in here. Is your life living a constant state of worship? Are you standing on your faith and making much of the name of Jesus? I am going to ask us to do 2 things. First this morning as we sing our invitation song, believers I want you to sing with the consideration of what Jesus has done for you. Do not think about what the person to your left or right is thinking but close your eyes and sing to the God who saved you and gave you more than you could ever hope for. To those who have not given their hearts to Christ, do that this morning. Do not delay, do not wait. Jesus is great and wonderful, loving and caring. He stands ready to offer you a free gift that you could not earn.
3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time;
it hastens to the end—it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it;
it will surely come; it will not delay.
