What Makes the Difference?

Introduction:

Pledge

Passage:

29 And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him.

30 And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”

31 The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!”

32 And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?”

33 They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.”

34 And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

Title: What Makes the Difference?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

You have heard people say, .......

A circumstance in my life made the difference.

A Football coach said, .....

One played made the difference.

A pastor said, ......

a ministry made the difference in their church.

An inch, a person, a pet, a story, a song, a mom or dad ....... Whatever it was, it made a difference in the life.

Caused them to stop doing what they were doing and (living a life they were living) and start doing it differently.

Something made a difference!

Pause:

Segway:

I know I stated last week that we were finishing up Chapter 20.

The thing I didn’t tell you was “when.”

Maybe today!

I have to tell you that as we have been on this Journey With Matthew It has been the most rewarding preaching I have ever done. (For me personally!)

It has caused me to ask questions, sit and reflect, get emotional, and the list could go on.

The end of Chapter 20 has caused me to do just that!

Body:

I have struggled with the idea that the Crowd (in verse 31) rebuked the 2 blind men telling them to be silent.

Remember what this word “rebuked” means:

Greek word - [Epitimao] which means, warn in order to prevent an event from happening.

WHY?

Why would the crowd not want these 2 blind men to be heard?

I started to think about the church today .......

Give examples of churches who have chosen not to help people.

- Having money collected to disburse to kids who need lunch money at school.

- Not helping a family in need because the Mom and Dad were not married.

These kids were silently crying out for food and the church was rebuking them to be still (metaphorically)

- I have heard of stories of years ago of those who were divorced being shunned by the church.

Ones who were crying out for a friend, a support system, whatever ....

Why would we, as the church, do this?

Why did the Crowd do this?

One of the interesting things about this is it wasn’t just the crowd that did this.

Look at Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people,

Why?

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Why would these individuals who (for some) have walked with Jesus for almost 3 1/2 years .....

listen to his teachings

saw the miracles, the healings

heard the rebuking of demons

seen the dead come back to life

the have heard, felt, and received HIS LOVE .......

Why would they try and keep people from ALL of THIS?

Pause:

BUT LET US JUMP AHEAD A LITTLE BIT..........

Turn to Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

2 And a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple.

3 Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms.

4 And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.”

5 And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them.

6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

7 And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.

8 And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

Look at Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Wait a minute ..... What we read about with Peter and John ..... this took place about 8 weeks after Jesus had died on the cross and was resurrected.

8 weeks ago we read John, James and his mom seeking the highest position in the Kingdom of Heaven, the 2 blind men being rebuked for asking Jesus to heal them.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

No we read Peter and John stopping/ having Him look them in the eye/ heal a lame man.

What in the world happen between then and now?

Climax:

This is where it gets good church ....

What we see before is a bunch of guys and gals who have decided to follow Jesus ....

follow him for about 3 1/2 years

eat sleep and drink with him (basically live with him)

But when push come to shove they ..... (jesus was arrested)

they deserted him.

Peter denied Him 3 times

No longer seeking the highest position in the Kingdom

No longer walking the streets (to see the Blind and the lame)

They went into hiding.

But about 8 weeks later we read they are healing people.

As a matter of fact scripture tells us they were preaching, teaching, healing, and receiving thousands into the fold.

What happen?

What made the difference for these disciples and the crowd?

Now if you have done any studying, listening to preachers, or have been around the church all your life you have probably figured out the answer to the question, WHY? WHAT HAPPEN? WHAT MADE THE DIFFERENCE?

But for those who haven’t figured it out yet turn to Acts Chapter 2:1-12

1. When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.

2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

t figured it

3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.

6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.

7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?

9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,

10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,

11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”

12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”

This is actually the answer to our question, “What made the difference?”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit!

It’s what causes you to go from being a believer to a follower. (The Baptism of the Holy Spirit).

Let me recap what you would find in scripture .....

They went from quieting the lame and blind to healing them.

They went from rebuking the people to receiving them into the Kingdom.

They go from running scared to speaking boldly about this one named Jesus.

WHY?

Because they received the Holy Spirit!

In the church today we call this a couple of different things but it means basically the same thing ...

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Perfect Love

Christian Perfection

Christian Holiness

But the one most commonly used is “Sanctification.”

Sanctified through and through.

It’s a state where you are no longer just a believer .... you are a sold out follower of!

Your will, your desire is no more ..... it’s HIS will HIS desire which rules you now.

Conclusion:

So let me ask the question ..... Are You different?

We know what makes the difference ..... Are You Different?