Twitter
RSS
Facebook
ClickBank1

11/21/11 JESUS HEALS A MAN WITH PARALYSIS

11/21/11 JESUS HEALS A MAN WITH PARALYSIS
Luke 5:17-26
Monday, November 21, 2011
Key Verse: 5:20 Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for the wonderful grace of Jesus that we can give thanks even in the most harrowing and difficult situations. Lord, I am in difficult times. Like everyone else, I have to work, but at the same time I have to maintain the ministry and also lead my house church. I also fight despair and fatalism in my heart. I seem to work hard and not make slow headway.
These sufferings may seem small compared to what others are suffering, but they are sufferings none the less. But despite anything that is going on among us, I can always give thanks to God. The number one reason I am thankful is that I am forgiven and growing in my relationship with Jesus. I am saved daily from despair, depression, fatalism, loneliness and anger. I am going to heaven based on faith in Jesus’ shed blood on the cross. The kingdom of God is growing across the USA and the world. I have a small ministry and people whom I am disciplining. I have Christian friends and shepherds in my life who help me to grow spiritually. I have a ministry among the healthcare workers in the local hospital. Our family has a singing ministry. On a more practical level, I have my health (despite a few glitches). I am basically pain free. I have a clear life testimony in Jesus. I have 5 wonderful kids who are healthy, have faith, are good in school, trustworthy and respected among their peers, are gospel co-workers, who love me. I have a wonderful wife and an intact marriage. My parents love me. My sister respects me. I have friends from my high school days. I have the respect of my peers and “have a place in the city gate.” I have a job that gives good returns and benefits. A job that is clean, healthy and close to home. (4 minutes away.) I can retire when I am 70. (at least I can retire). I have a stable home with internet access. I got out of credit card debt. I live in a quiet, safe, wooded neighborhood. I have a nice park close by to walk my dog. I have a free gym. My life is so blessed. It is like God has poured his blessings upon me. Who am I and who is my family that I should be such a blessed man! It is only because of Jesus Christ and his Gospel that saves me from my sins daily and gives me clear life direction. Jesus is the way and the truth and the life. Praise the Lord.

1. A paralyzed man (17-19).

Verses 17-19 reads, “ 17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.”

Paralyzed people are often at the mercy of others to get around or to be taken care of. People are also emotionally and spiritually paralyzed when they have been hurt and crushed, and they become overwhelmed with fear, insecurities, anxiety, doubt, and lack self-confidence.

I am kind of paralyzed today because of my fixed ideas. I have lack of confidence that people will respond to the gospel with active discipleship. This is keeping me from even trying to reach out to others. This is linked to fatalism and despair. I must remember that Jesus says that the fields are ripe for the harvest. That Jesus is the Lord of the harvest. Jesus has prepared those whom are his. I just need to open my heart and my arms to those whom God has called. Lord, save me from my fatalism that keeps me paralyzed. Please help me to walk in faith.

The friends of the paralyzed man had faith in Jesus and used their muscles and will, faith and love, to overcome obstacles unconventionally to bring him to meet Jesus and be healed. We can be friends of faith when we use our faith, strength, and even creativity to bring friends to Jesus without giving up, especially through prayer.

How easy it is for us to live our lives in the “friends zone” and not care very much if people are suffering and dying in their sins and going to hell. Why are we so content to let this go on? Are we so dull and heartless or is that we do not really believe what the Bible says?

I need to find new and creative ways to bring people to Jesus. There is a way. We just have to try and even try unconventional ways to bring others to Jesus. I thank God for “The Church” and its new and innovative ways to bring others to Jesus. I like Dave Young’s spirit , to bring others to Jesus at DCC. I need to break free and find a way, but first I have to care enough to do so.

2. Your sins are forgiven (20-26).

Verses 20-26 read,“ When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” 21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

Jesus forgave his sins. His inner paralysis first had to be solved. Jesus’ grace also gave him power to take up his mat and begin a new and powerful life walking with God and with friends of faith.

Jesus forgave his sins, because the Jews equated physical aliments with being cursed by God. So to show that he had power and authority on earth to forgive sins, Jesus healed the man. This is proclaiming that Jesus is God who alone has power to forgive sins. Jesus also wants us to be healed on the inside through his forgiveness and then he will heal us physically if is his will. I have been healed from my stammering and from myriad of other ailments because Jesus saved me from many destructive sins that were not healthy to my mind and my body.Thank you Jesus. Now I pray that I may pick up matt and walk.

I also that I have been granted a degree of authority to bring about the sins of others. The person in his passage was healed through the faith of his friends. I pray that I may use this small authority to reach out to others in need.

The Pharisees refused Jesus’ authority to forgive and to heal and remained useless. However, Jesus’ work caused others to praise God and receive much joy. We need to praise God when we see the work of God happening. We need to advertise the work of Jesus in order to bring joy to others and bring hope and show them the way. Jesus is the way.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for friends that help me with their faith, prayers, and guidance. Thank you for forgiving me. Please help me hold on to your grace and word and daily give up my paralytic thinking and pick up my mat.

One Word: Your sins are forgiven; take up your mat




Interact with us using Facebook

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.