Please ignore the roof.

King James Version Chapter 5

17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Bible Reading:

Comment on the flowers from Victory Baptist

Introduction:

People who get interviewed after tornadoes

Let’s not miss this the most significant aspect of the story for the most innovative.

Couple passages on evangelism & fasting.

“The faithful communicator of biblical truth will be gripped by the realization that the book lying before him is filled with wisdom, for it is the Word of God. He will tremble at the thought of manipulating it or abusing it. He will carry out his assignment under a divine mandate to honor the text in its context as it was given by the Holy Spirit of God, always pointing to the hero of the Bible, Jesus.” -Tony Merida

What is God’s intent in preserving this story for us? What does it mean that power of the Lord was present? What made this men unique to those around them? What does it mean to bring people to Jesus today? What did we learn from Jesus response to this man and his friend?

I. This was the place to be. v. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

A. Certain time. v.17 And it came to pass on a certain day

1. We don’t know the day but I bet the people in the story know and told others.

2. Crowds had been building, “Jesus is about to the thing he does.”

B. Variety of people were present

1. People were drawn to Jesus. v.17 which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem:

2. People who desire to distract from the wonder of Jesus. v.17 that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by

C. Power was present. v.17 The power of the Lord was present to heal.

1. Jesus did what no priest could do. Leviticus 13:34 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall: and, behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, nor be in sight deeper than the skin; then the priest shall pronounce him clean: and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean.

2. He lays hold of the man, and Jesus does not become unclean: the man becomes clean.

3. More than a teacher was present. The power of the Lord to heal.

Recognize this was the place to be. Good news. Your are at the place today. Available to us.

Luke 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.

II. Men were not innovative but convinced.

A. Sought means and found them. 18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

1. Modern response would be men who host conferences on cutting roofs. SLIDE

2. Use An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to Use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens

3. The means was as straight a line as possible.

4. The means was outside of what seemed reasonable under normal circumstances.

B. They knew at the feet of Jesus they would find answers.

1. We do not know there names but we know somethings about them.

a. Frank Faith, Harry Hope, Larry Love, & Dan Determination. (make sermon prep quicker) b. We know they were thoroughly convinced Jesus could bring healing.

2. Jesus was willing and able. Luke 5:12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

C. Are you convinced God could work in your situation.

1. What is harder for God? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

2. Where do you draw the line between what God can and cannot do?

a. Can God bring healing to your loved one with medical needs?

b. Can God help your loved one with addiction?

c. Can God bring healing to your friend who has been hurt?

3. Wonder how many people after seeing this thought. I should go get my friend.

III. Jesus response is the message of the day and this day. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

A. She was looking at faith not a hole in the ceiling.

1. Not just the faith of the men but faith is required by those needing healing.

a. How do I know it is the faith of the man plus his friends?

i. Because it is what the Bible teaches.

ii. Faith cannot be inherited.

2. Also, Jesus did not just comment on the mans faith but his friends.

B. Man’s greatest need is always for his sins to be forgiven. 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins,

1. Son of Man

a. Over eighty times Jesus calls himself the Son of Man. What does that mean?

b. First mention Daniel 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

c. What does the Ancient of Days give Him? Daniel 7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

d. God alone can forgive sins.

2. Completely helpless without an encounter with Jesus.

a. Pharisees should have been on the ground with the lame man.

b. Why? Didn’t they hit the ground. Because unlike that leper, and unlike that lame man, they did not see their need. They didn't see how much they needed Jesus.

c. Luke is telling you there is no one whose sin has put them beyond the reach of Jesus. Luke 5:12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

C. Jesus heals. Matthew 9:2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

a. Our fundamental need in this world is forgiveness of sins. Without that blessing no other blessing of God can be enjoyed.

b. Jesus saw past everything that could be considered this mans identity and saw his greatest need.

c. It would be odd and unhelpful for me to be known as a Nissan truck driver

IV. What does it mean to bring people to Jesus today?

A. If it means cutting into a roof by all means cut into the roof.

B. True friends bring us to Jesus to meet our needs.

1. No value in denying your friends need. Proverbs 27:6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

2. True friends discourage sin and encourage obedience because they love God and love us. Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

C. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see some strange things? 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

1. Seeing a man walk was harder in their minds because it could be seen.

2. Our lives should be visible demonstration that our sins have been forgiven.

D. Look at Jesus example of what do when people wanted to know about Him.

1. Spent time with them. John 1:38 Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou? 39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

“If that hole in the roof teaches us anything, it’s that faith is what brings a person to Jesus, not intellectual reasoning’s. Curiosity crowded the classroom, but it was faith that dug through the roof to bring the paralytic to the feet of Christ.”