SERIES: THE POWER OF SAVING FAITH (2)

TODAY’S SERMON: WHAT GENUINE FAITH KNOWS

Luke 5:17 ESV

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.

Luke 5:18 ESV

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,

Luke 5:19 ESV

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.

Luke 5:20 ESV

And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

Luke 5:21 ESV

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Luke 5:22 ESV

When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts?

Luke 5:23 ESV

Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’?

Luke 5:24 ESV

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.”

Luke 5:25 ESV

And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.

I. Saving Faith Knows That It Is Okay to Be AFRAID and NEEDY

CONTEXT

THE MAN WAS PARALYZED

a. Faith in Fear: Not Faith over fear

Psalm 56:3 ESV

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.

NOTE THE FOLLOWING FROM THIS VERSE

“WHEN” -

I am afraid (speaking to the moments when fear is present and real)

I put my trust (faith) in you - He has the ability to control how he responds and he will choose to let faith have priority

NOTICE HE DOES NOT SAY THAT HIS FEAR IS GONE? HE SAYS I CHANGE THE DIRECTION OF THE EYES OF MY HEART

I DON’T ACT LIKE I AM NOT AFRIAD; INSTEAD I ACT LIKE I KNOW GOD!!!!

ii. When Jesus says Not to be afraid He is saying “Do not let what you see; your circumstances, cause you to act in fear

II. Saving Faith Knows That It Is NECESSARY to Be WILLING to SACRIFICE For Others

Luke 5:18 ESV

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,

Luke 5:19 ESV

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.

Luke 5:20 ESV

And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

THEY SACRIFICED THEIR TIME FOR THEIR BROTHER

Romans 12:1 ESV

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

LET ME SHOW YOU WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE PRACTICALLY:

PRINCIPLE: YOU ONLY LOOK LIKE CHRIST WHEN YOU ARE ACTING LIKE CHRIST IN PROVING YOUR LOVE FOR THE FATHER BY SACRIFICIALLY LOVING ONE ANOTHER

Galatians 5:6 ESV

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Galatians 6:2 ESV

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

BUT NOTE THESE WORDS OF LUKE -

Luke 5:20 ESV

And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

GET THIS PRINCIPLE

PRINCIPLE: SOMETIMES IT IS YOUR FAITH THE LORD NEEDS TO SEE IN ORDER TO BLESS OTHERS

III. Saving Faith Knows That It is ONLY In COMMUNITY that HEALTH And HEALING Are EXPERIENCED

COMMUNITY CAN BE

TWO (WHERE 2 OR 3 ARE GATHERED)

3 (MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION)

12 (DISCIPLES)

THE SEVENTY

120 (UPPER ROOM)

CROWD

COVENANT IDEA. - WE UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF COMMUNITY IN SPORTS, AT WORK AND IN THE HOME: WE FAIL TO SEE IT IN THE CHURCH

BUT COMMUNITY IS GOD’S IDEA AND EVEN WHEN HE CREATED THE PERFECT HUMAN BEING - ADAM HE SAID

Genesis 2:18 (ESV)

“It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

TWO REASONS GOD WORKS IN COMMUNITY

HE HAS ALWAYS DONE IT THIS WAY (NEVER AN INDIVIDUAL THING)

WHAT WE SEE HERE IS THESE MEN UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS ONLY IN COMMUNITY WHERE THE LORD SPEAKS: THEY HAD TO GET NEAR TO JESUS TO HEAR HIM SPEAK HEALING OVER THEIR BROTHER

THE VOICE OF GOD IS POWERFUL AND CLEAR IN COMMUNITY

SOMETIMES IT IS BEFORE COMMUNITY THAT THE LORD WORKS BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE NEEDS TO SEE WHAT THE LORD CAN DO

Luke 5:26 ESV

And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

BUT IF WE FAIL TO BE NEEDY

IF WE ALLOW OUR FEAR TO CANCEL OUR FAITH

IF WE ARE UNWILLING TO BE SACRIFICIAL FOR ONE-ANOTHER

WE WILL NOT SEE THE LORD’S HAND

THE POWER OF COMMUNITY IS ITS UNITY: COMMUNITY

IV. Saving Faith Knows That the GIVER, ALONE, Must Be GLORIFIED for the Gift.

Luke 5:25 ESV

And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.

Praise

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