Paralyzed #4

Fear To Commit

Remind there is no youth next week. It is the 5th Wednesday…

today is the last of a 4 weeks series called paralyzed so let’s check your memory.

Fear To Share

Materiel Things

Prayer

Full Commitment

What is something you think takes full commitment?

Who’s ever went snow boarding, skiing, or tried to do a back flip?

We all know those skill require full commitment. If you second guess it you will fall, you will fail, and you will get hurt…

Go ahead and open your Bibles to page “524” John 12:36–43 “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.” Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”

This is being written by John about the life of Jesus specifically talking about the pharisee’s. They were the religious leaders who were supposed to lead people closer to Jesus. Listen to what he says here...

John 12:37 “Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him,”

These guys saw...

Blind people see

Dead come to life

Deaf begin to hear

and they still did not believe

Explain that the Jewish people were awaiting a messiah and the pharisees refused to accept Jesus as that messiah because of his social, economic, and approach

They even said Jesus’s miracles were not miracles but they were acts of demons...

Matthew 12:22–24 “Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, “It is only by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons.””

They saw these things with there own eyes and refused to accept it as true.

What things have you seen and given credit to something other then Jesus?

Let’s keep going...

John 12:38 “so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?””

John is now connecting prophecy to what is actively happening.

What is prophecy

Isaiah 53:1 “Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

He starts by asking this question- Who has believed what he has heard from us? Asking who has believed in the gospel?

Then says who has the are of the lord been revealed. This arm signifies the power and authority of God.

John 12:39–40 “Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.””

Free will is important here...

Explain how we were given free will and eventually Jesus turns us over to what we want

Romans 1:24–28 “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.”

Were all given a choice and Jesus desires relationship with all of us. But if we continue to deny him he will harden our hearts and blind our eyes.

This example in romans is talking about sexual acts with the same sex. Jesus gives them all the tools needed for living righteously and they choose blatantly to act outside of that. When they do so God eventually turns them over to their sin and to their eternal punishment.

Jesus wants you to walk in holiness but if you deny him he will allow you to talk alone...

This is a waring that today is the day...

2 Corinthians 6:2 “For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Jesus gives us all a chance, but we are nor promised tomorrow.

Has Jesus revealed himself to you and you have not made a decision to follow him?

John 12:41–43 “Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.”

Do you care more about social status then following Jesus?

The pharisees were worried that if they confessed Jesus they would be removed from the place made to worship the father. How wild!

Are there people in your life that make you question committing to Jesus?

Application

If Jesus has made himself known to you and you have no responded today is the day.

We are called to live a public life for Jesus - Who knows you follow Jesus?

Are there people that don’t because it will “Change your status?”