DOES JESUS SEE YOUR FAITH?

Mark 2:1–12 NLT

1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” 8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

INTRODUCTION:

“If you don’t live it, you don’t believe it.”

(Paul Harvey)

Faith is never something that you just talk about having…it is something that must be demonstrated in the way we live.

James 2:17-

James 2:17–18 NLT

17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”

James 2:26 NLT

26 Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

Faith that doesn’t have any action or works isn’t real faith.

NOTE: You can believe right but if your actions aren’t lining up with what you say you believe…you don’t have a genuine, living faith.

Our text this morning demonstrates that faith must be lived out.

Notice verse 5 again

Mark 2:5 NLT

5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus saw their faith.

What did Jesus see?

He saw their action…He saw them doing something to demonstrate what they believed.

So, this morning I want to share with you 2 observations from this story about faith.

1) FAITH TAKES ACTION

Jesus is back in Capernaum, which became His base of operations while He was in Galilee.

At least, that’s what the NKJV says.

It’s generally thought that this was a figure of speech, that means he was at home.

In fact, that’s the way the NIV translates it: “the people heard that he had come home.”

And Mark refers to this has Jesus’ home.

Capernaum had

This home may have been the home He set up for His mother Mary…or it may have been the home of Simon Peter, where He stayed on His previous visit to the city ().

tells us that when Jesus went back to Nazareth, after his baptism and temptation in the wilderness, he was so thoroughly rejected by the people with whom he grew up that he left Nazareth and made Capernaum, which was a fishing village on the Sea of Galilee, his home base for the three years of his public ministry.

Verse 2 says a crowd came & filled the house & Jesus began to preach to them.

Mark 2:3–4 NLT

3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.

Mark 2:3–5 ESV

3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 5 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

There are so many lessons that we can take away from these verses.

First of all, if others are going to come to Jesus to we have to care enough to go to them & bring them to Jesus.

If others are going to be saved, we have to go to them & bring them to Jesus.

We can’t wait on them to show up at church…but we have to find a way to get them to Jesus.

But secondly, notice their faith & determination.

They could have given up when they saw the crowd…They could have said, we tried, but we’re not going to be able to see Jesus today - He’s too busy.

But that’s not what they did…Their faith was persistent…and their faith led them to take action...

Their faith didn’t give up.

Get this picture in your mind - Jesus is teaching the crowd…and all of this commotion starts taking place on the roof…then a ray of sunlight comes breaking through as a hole appears in the roof…you have dust & rock falling from the ceiling…and then a paralyzed guy gets lowered down through the roof.

Now just imagine what Peter is thinking if this is his house.

He’s probably getting angry & about ready to fight…We don’t know.

But these guys wouldn’t be stopped…They knew Jesus was in the house…and that He could help their friend so they took action.

They were bold & took a risk & it paid off.

If they would have left, their friend would have remained paralyzed.

NOTE: Faith finds a way...Faith takes action & doesn’t give up…Faith doesn’t just pray & then wait on God to do everything.

By faith you pray but then you also obey.

NOTE: You will never know what God will do until you do what you can do.

Do what you can do & God will do what you can’t do.

(Illus. Job search - Pray, fill out applications, resume, etc.)

NOTE: You will never know what God will do until you do what you can do.

In fact, God will never do for you what you can do for yourself.

NOTE: Some of you here today are waiting on God to move & I am here to tell you that God is waiting on you to move.

And when you take action & do what God has told you to do…He will move.

IF YOU WILL BE OBEDIENT, WHAT YOU NEED IS ALREADY DONE!!!

2) OUR FAITH + JESUS’ POWER = RESULTS

Mark 2:5 NLT

5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

Mark 2:5

Mark 2:9–12 NLT

9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

Mark 2:

Jesus saw their faith & He responded.

He forgave the paralytic of his sin & healed him of his paralysis.

NOTE: Jesus responds to faith.

Faith unlocks His power in our lives.

Faith is the key to receiving from God.

Mark 5:34 NLT

34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

NOTE: What we receive from God, we receive by faith.

We don’t receive anything w/o faith…We only receive what we believe for.

Faith is essential for the Christian life.

We begin in faith & we are to continue in faith.

(Illus. The four men tore the roof off to lower their friend to Jesus)

So, if you’re going to see the power of God in your life…you have to strengthen your faith & use your faith.

Romans 10:17 NKJV

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

We are able to strengthen our faith when we read & study God’s Word…and we use our faith when we put the Word of God into practice.

(Illus. Peter walked on water at the command of Jesus)

But we will also see our faith being strengthened as we obey God’s Word & follow the leading of the HS.

Faith is like a muscle…the more you use it…the stronger it becomes.

NOTE: God honors faith b/c faith honors Him.

But if you never use it…it becomes weak.

NOTE: Your faith can grow…Your faith can increase...and you can believe God for big things.

You can see God do supernatural things in your life as a result of your faith.

NOTE: God honors faith b/c faith honors Him.

Heb.11

Mark 9:23 NLT

23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

If you can believe - have faith - “anything is possible.”

NOTE: God honors faith b/c faith honors Him.

Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Hebrews 11:6 NASB95

6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

CONCLUSION:

Does Jesus see your faith? Does He see you taking action?

Are you doing all that you can do so that God can do what you can’t do?

Remember, God will not do what you can do.

And He usually doesn’t do anything until we do what we can do.

If you’re waiting on God to move first, that’s not faith.

By faith, step out & obey Him first…and He will move on your behalf.

When He sees your faith, He will respond with His power.

Let’s pray!!!