WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.900 Sometimes an event happens that affects us for a week and sometimes an event happens that affects us for a month and sometimes it affects a generation. 00:00:09.700 --> 00:00:10.220 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:30.399 Jesus. 00:00:31.620 --> 00:00:34.359 Mark chapter 2 beginning verse 1 says, 00:00:34.359 --> 00:00:41.560 And when he, speaking of Christ, returned to Capernaum after some days it was reported that he was at home. 00:00:43.060 --> 00:00:50.260 And many were gathered together so that there was no more room, not even at the door, and he was preaching the word to them. 00:00:51.260 --> 00:00:55.379 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 00:00:55.380 --> 00:01:01.140 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him. 00:01:01.940 --> 00:01:05.540 When they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. 00:01:06.820 --> 00:01:09.520 And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 00:01:10.219 --> 00:01:12.219 Son, your sins are forgiven. 00:01:13.320 --> 00:01:16.579 Now some of the scribes were sitting there questioning in their hearts, 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:19.359 Why does this man speak like this? 00:01:19.460 --> 00:01:20.280 He's blaspheming. 00:01:21.240 --> 00:01:23.480 Who can forgive sins but God alone? 00:01:23.480 --> 00:01:29.880 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they had questioned within themselves, said to them, 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:32.840 Why do you question these things in your heart? 00:01:33.800 --> 00:01:36.980 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven, 00:01:37.520 --> 00:01:40.240 or to say, rise, take up your bed, and walk? 00:01:40.920 --> 00:01:44.859 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. 00:01:44.920 --> 00:01:45.780 He said to the paralytic, 00:01:45.780 --> 00:01:51.240 I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home. 00:01:51.239 --> 00:01:58.019 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, 00:01:58.199 --> 00:02:02.259 so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, 00:02:03.280 --> 00:02:07.060 We never saw anything like this. 00:02:08.639 --> 00:02:12.900 When Jesus entered Capernaum, there was a buzz in the air. 00:02:12.900 --> 00:02:15.760 Jesus was in town again. 00:02:15.760 --> 00:02:24.700 He had been going from village to village throughout the Galilean area for weeks, possibly even months. 00:02:25.259 --> 00:02:33.400 I believe that time was probably cut short because the crowds so swamped those little villages along the way 00:02:33.400 --> 00:02:36.219 that he may not have been able to continue. 00:02:36.219 --> 00:02:40.240 But as the word spread, the crowds gathered. 00:02:41.800 --> 00:02:45.379 Now he's back at Capernaum, where his home base is. 00:02:45.400 --> 00:02:46.099 And he's at home. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:48.680 It may be speaking of his home. 00:02:49.219 --> 00:02:53.460 It may be speaking of Simon Peter and Andrew's home, where he resided. 00:02:54.400 --> 00:02:55.400 We don't know. 00:02:55.800 --> 00:02:57.500 But we do know the house was full. 00:02:57.500 --> 00:03:03.259 And the Galilean culture was an open-door policy kind of atmosphere. 00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:08.919 When somebody got up in the morning and opened their door, that meant you were welcome to come in 00:03:08.919 --> 00:03:10.960 and be a part of what they were doing. 00:03:11.620 --> 00:03:15.920 If they wanted privacy that day, they kept the door shut. 00:03:16.080 --> 00:03:18.500 But they literally had an open-door policy. 00:03:18.740 --> 00:03:20.819 And that day, they had the door open. 00:03:21.139 --> 00:03:24.219 And the people came by the masses. 00:03:24.219 --> 00:03:27.840 Apparently, the Sanhedrin got word of it as well. 00:03:27.939 --> 00:03:28.900 And they came too. 00:03:29.080 --> 00:03:32.199 Luke identifies them as Pharisees. 00:03:32.699 --> 00:03:39.800 That is the largest sect of religious leaders that we deal with in the New Testament. 00:03:41.120 --> 00:03:44.639 Pharisees, by the very name, means separated ones. 00:03:44.639 --> 00:03:53.560 And they prided themselves on being studiers of the law and separating themselves from the masses. 00:03:54.219 --> 00:03:58.240 They would never want to be seen with a bunch of Gentiles. 00:03:58.919 --> 00:04:02.979 They would never want to be seen with tax collectors. 00:04:03.639 --> 00:04:07.219 Thought of as authorized thieves. 00:04:08.039 --> 00:04:09.460 Sometimes still today. 00:04:10.060 --> 00:04:14.819 And they never wanted to be a part of being around sinners. 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:16.779 They were holy. 00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:20.339 And if you don't believe it, just ask them. 00:04:20.339 --> 00:04:22.359 They believed it. 00:04:22.359 --> 00:04:23.739 And they looked the part. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:25.519 They wore royal robes. 00:04:26.139 --> 00:04:32.139 They put tassels on the bottom so that you could let you know how elite they were. 00:04:32.819 --> 00:04:36.459 They looked at others with disdain and condemnation. 00:04:37.459 --> 00:04:41.399 Now, having said all that, they were not all bad. 00:04:41.539 --> 00:04:48.159 They were dedicated to knowing, studying, preserving the law. 00:04:48.160 --> 00:04:51.220 They were also, and I'm talking about Mosaic law. 00:04:51.680 --> 00:04:57.220 But they were also very protective of the rabbinical law. 00:04:58.000 --> 00:05:10.320 The rabbinical law is the law that the rabbis added to the Mosaic law to further define what the Mosaic law meant by what it says. 00:05:10.319 --> 00:05:20.920 And the reality is that most rabbis in that day valued the rabbinical law that they developed more than they did the Mosaic law in which God developed. 00:05:21.420 --> 00:05:31.240 And so they were protective of not only the Mosaic law, but their interpretation of it through the rabbinical law and making sure that was taken care of. 00:05:31.519 --> 00:05:32.860 They were devout men. 00:05:32.860 --> 00:05:34.920 And they were proud. 00:05:35.860 --> 00:05:40.340 And they sat in this house to see what all the fuss was about. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:44.540 Somebody, while they were there, took a picture, and we got it today. 00:05:47.540 --> 00:05:50.639 They were dull-faced and miserable. 00:05:50.639 --> 00:05:57.180 And I always am amazed when the State of the Union is spoken and the Supreme Court comes in and sits down. 00:05:57.839 --> 00:06:03.719 And the rest of the people in the room either cheer or jeer. 00:06:03.839 --> 00:06:04.560 They do something. 00:06:04.860 --> 00:06:06.259 The Supreme Court does nothing. 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:11.639 They are dull and seemingly uninterested along the way. 00:06:12.139 --> 00:06:14.839 By the way, don't look like that in church. 00:06:16.079 --> 00:06:17.319 Don't you do it. 00:06:17.319 --> 00:06:27.579 Notice that Scripture says they were sitting while others were standing in a standing room only kind of circumstance. 00:06:28.599 --> 00:06:31.959 They were standing not only in the room but also throughout the streets. 00:06:32.060 --> 00:06:35.120 And I don't believe this was an organized revival meeting. 00:06:35.319 --> 00:06:40.480 I don't believe that they had equipped with flyers or newspaper announcements or anything like that. 00:06:40.539 --> 00:06:43.879 Instead, it was word of mouth. 00:06:44.360 --> 00:06:46.920 That's the best way to get a message out, folks. 00:06:47.319 --> 00:06:48.319 That's the best way to get a message out. 00:06:48.319 --> 00:06:49.319 That's the best way to get a message out. 00:06:50.180 --> 00:06:53.719 Still today, we can blitz social media. 00:06:54.139 --> 00:06:56.300 We can put banners up in front of the church. 00:06:56.599 --> 00:06:58.060 We can do all those things. 00:06:58.560 --> 00:07:02.920 The best way to get the word out is word of mouth. 00:07:03.000 --> 00:07:04.159 It's called testimonies. 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:09.639 And the result of that was a house that was overflowing with people. 00:07:09.740 --> 00:07:13.659 Now listen, most houses in that day were very small. 00:07:13.660 --> 00:07:18.060 They said that the exterior wall of a house typically was only about 18 feet long. 00:07:18.520 --> 00:07:20.700 So we're talking about small homes. 00:07:21.320 --> 00:07:24.980 Fifty people in there would literally be hanging out the edges. 00:07:25.580 --> 00:07:30.660 We do know, as I've shown you in the last couple of weeks, that Peter's house was a larger house. 00:07:31.300 --> 00:07:34.200 But we don't know if that's the case at this point. 00:07:34.660 --> 00:07:37.260 We do know that the church met in Peter's house. 00:07:37.440 --> 00:07:40.800 But that was probably after the resurrection of Christ. 00:07:40.800 --> 00:07:44.079 And so we don't know what size it was at the time. 00:07:44.160 --> 00:07:48.520 But we do know from Scripture that it was overflowing with folks. 00:07:48.960 --> 00:07:50.639 People were everywhere. 00:07:51.240 --> 00:07:52.180 The rooms were filled. 00:07:52.300 --> 00:07:53.220 The doorways were filled. 00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:54.560 The windows were filled. 00:07:54.639 --> 00:07:55.480 People were everywhere. 00:07:55.660 --> 00:08:00.019 And there was a special need on the outer edge of the crowd. 00:08:01.060 --> 00:08:03.199 And thankfully, that man had help. 00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:04.500 There's nothing like good friends. 00:08:05.500 --> 00:08:06.780 This man was paralyzed. 00:08:07.600 --> 00:08:08.800 And he needed help. 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:10.220 And thankfully, he had friends. 00:08:10.800 --> 00:08:12.160 They had a burden for him. 00:08:12.300 --> 00:08:13.439 They wanted to see him well. 00:08:13.939 --> 00:08:18.060 When they heard of Jesus and his power, they wanted to get the paralyzed man to Jesus. 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:22.300 And my friend, that's what we need to do. 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:26.639 Is bring them to Jesus. 00:08:27.639 --> 00:08:31.120 This man could not have come to Jesus by himself. 00:08:31.120 --> 00:08:34.659 He was physically unable to do that. 00:08:35.419 --> 00:08:38.240 Jesus may have passed by him that day. 00:08:38.419 --> 00:08:41.299 But he would not have passed by Jesus that day. 00:08:41.460 --> 00:08:43.620 He was physically lame. 00:08:44.299 --> 00:08:46.980 Physically incapable of coming. 00:08:47.980 --> 00:08:54.560 And what I want you to realize this morning is that there's a lot more people that are spiritually incapable of coming. 00:08:54.559 --> 00:08:59.319 Then there are people who are physically incapable of coming. 00:09:00.199 --> 00:09:02.979 Romans chapter 3 verse 10 through 12 says this. 00:09:03.619 --> 00:09:05.279 None is righteous. 00:09:05.519 --> 00:09:06.219 No, not one. 00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:07.599 No one understands. 00:09:07.919 --> 00:09:10.119 No one seeks for God. 00:09:10.519 --> 00:09:12.219 All have turned aside. 00:09:12.419 --> 00:09:13.739 Together they have become worthless. 00:09:14.319 --> 00:09:15.779 No one does good. 00:09:16.079 --> 00:09:17.759 Not even one. 00:09:17.759 --> 00:09:20.840 And verse 17 and 18 of that same chapter says, 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:23.059 And the way of peace they have not known. 00:09:23.500 --> 00:09:27.980 There is no fear of God before their eyes. 00:09:28.319 --> 00:09:36.159 A person does not wake up to the fact that he or she needs Jesus on their own. 00:09:36.220 --> 00:09:36.840 It don't happen. 00:09:38.259 --> 00:09:41.220 God always makes the initiative. 00:09:42.600 --> 00:09:43.399 And listen to me. 00:09:43.399 --> 00:09:47.659 And he often does that through us. 00:09:47.759 --> 00:09:51.659 He often does it through us. 00:09:51.779 --> 00:09:55.139 He's commissioned us to join him in the task. 00:09:55.360 --> 00:09:57.220 To bring others to him. 00:09:57.899 --> 00:10:00.419 However, there is a resistance. 00:10:01.159 --> 00:10:03.240 And I'm not talking about a resistance in this world. 00:10:03.319 --> 00:10:05.200 There is a resistance to the gospel in this world. 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:11.899 But there is a resistance in us as well. 00:10:11.899 --> 00:10:16.620 Unless you are spirit-filled and led by the Spirit of God, 00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:22.340 you most likely do not share your faith with other folks. 00:10:23.460 --> 00:10:29.120 In addition to that, people may not be interested in listening to you. 00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:31.679 And you know what that does? 00:10:32.139 --> 00:10:33.700 That scares a lot of Christians off. 00:10:34.500 --> 00:10:37.000 Before they even know if somebody don't want to hear it or not, 00:10:37.659 --> 00:10:38.620 it scares them off. 00:10:38.620 --> 00:10:41.600 Because they don't want to be rejected. 00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:45.139 And they feel like that if somebody don't like the conversation, 00:10:45.259 --> 00:10:46.500 that they're rejecting us. 00:10:46.560 --> 00:10:47.600 That's not the reality. 00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:52.879 They're rejecting the message that we give to them is what they're rejecting. 00:10:54.220 --> 00:10:56.580 I'm going to tell you, Satan's all over all of that. 00:10:58.159 --> 00:10:59.539 He oppresses Christians. 00:11:00.200 --> 00:11:02.000 He influences society. 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:04.980 He indoctrinates carnal people. 00:11:04.980 --> 00:11:06.960 Friend, we're in a war. 00:11:07.879 --> 00:11:10.539 And if we're not sharing Christ, we're losing it. 00:11:11.220 --> 00:11:12.220 Let me be more personal. 00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:14.820 If I'm not sharing Christ, I'm losing it. 00:11:15.019 --> 00:11:18.139 If you're not sharing Christ, you're losing it. 00:11:18.500 --> 00:11:19.300 We're in a war. 00:11:19.580 --> 00:11:25.600 And the only hope that the world has is the hope found in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:11:26.139 --> 00:11:33.320 Most people will never come to know the Lord if Christian friends don't bring them to Jesus. 00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:34.960 Now, we may think it's none of our business. 00:11:37.140 --> 00:11:39.060 When Scripture tells us that it is, 00:11:39.700 --> 00:11:45.580 we think they can see the Christ option openly and clearly. 00:11:45.860 --> 00:11:47.879 When Scripture tells us they can't. 00:11:48.440 --> 00:11:49.480 Why can't they see it? 00:11:49.560 --> 00:11:50.879 John 1, verse 5, 00:11:51.280 --> 00:11:55.260 it says that Jesus is the light that shined in the darkness, 00:11:55.700 --> 00:11:58.460 but the darkness has not understood it. 00:11:58.460 --> 00:12:04.759 Never expect someone spiritually in the dark to become spiritually enlightened 00:12:04.759 --> 00:12:08.000 without the outreach of a Christian friend. 00:12:09.560 --> 00:12:17.420 I believe the shooting of Charlie Kirk is a reminder of the spiritual battle that we're in. 00:12:17.900 --> 00:12:20.460 Darkness does not want the gospel shared, 00:12:20.460 --> 00:12:29.519 especially when it's shared in a non-Christian gathering that typically is about politics. 00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:38.560 When someone of influence gives the clear gospel to thousands of people 00:12:38.560 --> 00:12:41.820 that came to hear about other matters, 00:12:42.400 --> 00:12:44.300 that, my friend, is a hilltop light. 00:12:44.299 --> 00:12:47.299 That, my friend, is earthly salt, 00:12:47.599 --> 00:12:49.979 and it is a danger to the evil world. 00:12:50.479 --> 00:12:50.759 Why? 00:12:50.939 --> 00:12:54.059 Because it is impactful and because lives change. 00:12:55.139 --> 00:12:59.659 And the Lord chooses to use those bold in the faith 00:12:59.659 --> 00:13:03.879 and willing to bring others to Jesus, 00:13:04.479 --> 00:13:05.899 just like these four did. 00:13:06.419 --> 00:13:08.839 They just brought him to Jesus. 00:13:10.059 --> 00:13:13.519 It's our job to bring folks to Christ. 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:22.600 Listen, if you don't have the boldness to ask them about a personal relationship with Christ, 00:13:22.779 --> 00:13:25.879 if you can't invite them to come to Christ, you invite them to come to church. 00:13:27.019 --> 00:13:30.159 Because I promise you, if they'll come to church, they're going to hear the gospel. 00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:33.759 Let them fellowship with your life group. 00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:37.840 Invite them to be a part of a discipleship group, 00:13:38.039 --> 00:13:40.600 but bring them to Jesus. 00:13:40.600 --> 00:13:44.139 The second thing I learned from them is go out of the way. 00:13:46.100 --> 00:13:47.000 Go out of the way. 00:13:47.420 --> 00:13:50.440 These guys had planned to lead him through, 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:51.899 but the crowd was too great for that. 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:54.040 They couldn't get through, 00:13:54.159 --> 00:13:55.440 so they went to the nth degree, 00:13:55.580 --> 00:13:57.740 and four of them carried him to the roof. 00:13:57.820 --> 00:13:59.860 Now, typically, in those homes, 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:03.139 there were clay steps on either the side of the home 00:14:03.139 --> 00:14:04.879 or on the back of the home. 00:14:04.879 --> 00:14:06.639 You climb those steps. 00:14:06.919 --> 00:14:08.419 You go to the top, 00:14:08.720 --> 00:14:11.120 and the roofs were flat, 00:14:11.519 --> 00:14:12.899 and they were very practical. 00:14:13.539 --> 00:14:15.299 They were used for storage. 00:14:16.019 --> 00:14:20.080 They were used for drying out things like fruit or maybe clothes. 00:14:20.779 --> 00:14:23.500 They were also used for overflow, possibly, 00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:26.419 like a deck would be of sorts. 00:14:26.419 --> 00:14:32.959 The roofs were made of beams that were usually about three feet apart. 00:14:35.059 --> 00:14:38.439 Brushwood would fall across those, 00:14:39.059 --> 00:14:41.559 and then they would be covered with thatch. 00:14:41.659 --> 00:14:45.360 That thatch was made of grain and straw and mud and clay, 00:14:46.139 --> 00:14:48.500 and then sometimes tiles, 00:14:48.659 --> 00:14:51.819 and I believe it's Luke that tells us that they ripped up the tiles, 00:14:51.820 --> 00:14:56.940 but sometimes tiles would be placed on top of that mud and clay 00:14:56.940 --> 00:14:59.820 to ensure waterproofing. 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:01.620 But to be honest with you, 00:15:01.820 --> 00:15:03.680 it wasn't hard to tear through that roof, 00:15:03.760 --> 00:15:05.580 and it wasn't hard to repair a roof like that. 00:15:07.640 --> 00:15:09.860 Therefore, those friends just removed the tiles, 00:15:10.640 --> 00:15:12.720 and they broke through the mud, 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:15.840 and they removed the branches, 00:15:16.380 --> 00:15:18.820 and they lowered him between the beams, 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:20.420 probably by rope. 00:15:21.820 --> 00:15:25.140 But can you imagine the scene inside? 00:15:28.140 --> 00:15:30.160 As Jesus was teaching, the roof was falling. 00:15:32.860 --> 00:15:35.500 And I can't help but think about what those friends must have thought. 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:38.700 I mean, on the way up those steps. 00:15:40.640 --> 00:15:41.640 They had to be bold, 00:15:41.760 --> 00:15:43.900 but it would have been easy for them to say, 00:15:44.440 --> 00:15:46.300 dude, we've toted you far enough. 00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:47.340 We ain't going up those steps. 00:15:50.120 --> 00:15:51.580 What are we going to do when we get up there? 00:15:51.820 --> 00:15:56.000 Or what are the people going to thank? 00:15:58.700 --> 00:16:00.800 Or what's the owner of the house going to thank? 00:16:02.540 --> 00:16:04.200 Or what's Jesus going to thank? 00:16:06.780 --> 00:16:07.820 Why don't we wait? 00:16:08.520 --> 00:16:09.940 Why don't we come back another day? 00:16:09.940 --> 00:16:17.180 All of those responses would have been unacceptable. 00:16:18.780 --> 00:16:21.480 It was a day of a miracle, 00:16:21.840 --> 00:16:26.340 and none of those friends knew that when they got up that morning. 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:31.460 You never know what God's going to do, 00:16:31.460 --> 00:16:35.840 and when he's going to do a miracle in somebody else's life, 00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:38.120 because of your effort. 00:16:39.560 --> 00:16:41.200 And let me ask you something. 00:16:42.560 --> 00:16:44.019 What is too much? 00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:51.340 When have you done too much to try to lead somebody to the Lord Jesus? 00:16:51.899 --> 00:16:55.399 When have you went too far to lead one to Christ? 00:16:57.799 --> 00:17:01.960 When have you done too much to lead somebody into a real relationship with Christ 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:05.539 and keep him or her out of an eternal hell? 00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:08.000 When do you give up trying? 00:17:09.159 --> 00:17:10.440 When do you stop that? 00:17:10.539 --> 00:17:13.259 These guys showed us you don't give up. 00:17:14.859 --> 00:17:17.740 If the crowd gets thick, you work through the crowd. 00:17:20.180 --> 00:17:22.779 If entrance is not possible, then go to the top. 00:17:22.779 --> 00:17:29.680 And God worked in that because God chooses to work in extreme efforts. 00:17:30.539 --> 00:17:33.920 And in those times, he often makes his greatest moves. 00:17:36.859 --> 00:17:38.240 Let me tell you something else. 00:17:39.099 --> 00:17:40.399 As I learned from them, 00:17:42.039 --> 00:17:44.700 be assured he will meet them. 00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:48.599 Notice the reason that Jesus did what he did. 00:17:49.180 --> 00:17:52.700 In verse 5, it says that he saw their faith. 00:17:53.299 --> 00:17:55.519 He was blessed by their faith. 00:17:55.619 --> 00:17:57.299 He was blessed by the man's faith 00:17:57.299 --> 00:18:00.460 as well as those who carried him 00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:02.700 and who tore him through that roof. 00:18:06.639 --> 00:18:10.160 Faith can be a head thing. 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:14.460 Faith can be just a belief. 00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:16.839 I believe that Christ changes things. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:21.180 I believe that Christ was really God. 00:18:21.299 --> 00:18:22.460 I believe Christ really is. 00:18:22.460 --> 00:18:23.720 That's head stuff. 00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:29.019 But real faith, the faith that Scripture speaks of, 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:31.120 must be active. 00:18:32.640 --> 00:18:33.940 Real faith moves. 00:18:34.539 --> 00:18:36.340 Real faith takes risk. 00:18:37.039 --> 00:18:40.319 Real faith does not just ponder but acts. 00:18:40.900 --> 00:18:44.059 Real faith does what it takes to bring someone to Christ. 00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:47.259 Real faith trusts that God will do his thing 00:18:47.259 --> 00:18:48.819 when we bring them to Christ. 00:18:48.819 --> 00:18:50.379 We just provide the opportunity. 00:18:50.379 --> 00:18:50.879 We just provide the opportunity. 00:18:50.879 --> 00:18:52.200 And they did that. 00:18:52.259 --> 00:18:53.480 And when they did that, 00:18:54.439 --> 00:18:57.059 Jesus did not give them what they expected. 00:18:58.319 --> 00:18:59.939 He forgave the man's sins. 00:18:59.940 --> 00:19:05.340 Not only was that the man's greatest needs, 00:19:05.700 --> 00:19:08.100 which Christ always deals with our greatest needs, 00:19:08.600 --> 00:19:11.420 but I want you to understand the culture in which they lived 00:19:11.420 --> 00:19:15.900 because the thought was that if you had an illness 00:19:15.900 --> 00:19:18.960 or you had some type of physical difficulty, 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:20.700 that it came because of sin. 00:19:20.700 --> 00:19:25.779 As a matter of fact, let me remind you what John 9, 00:19:25.860 --> 00:19:26.779 verse 2 through 3 says. 00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:30.279 When the disciples asked Jesus, they said, 00:19:30.420 --> 00:19:33.920 Rabbi, who has sinned, this man or his parents, 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:35.000 that he was born blind? 00:19:36.019 --> 00:19:37.399 And Jesus responded to them, 00:19:37.639 --> 00:19:39.440 it wasn't that this man's sin or his parents, 00:19:39.639 --> 00:19:41.680 but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 00:19:42.799 --> 00:19:45.940 Now, what they were speaking to was a common trend 00:19:45.940 --> 00:19:46.680 and an understanding. 00:19:46.819 --> 00:19:50.079 As a matter of fact, rabbis, one statement, 00:19:50.299 --> 00:19:52.579 a saying that rabbis often would say would be, 00:19:52.579 --> 00:19:55.599 there is no sick man healed of his sickness 00:19:55.599 --> 00:19:57.759 until all sins have been forgiven. 00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:01.159 And therefore, what happens is, 00:20:01.899 --> 00:20:03.699 Jesus deals with three different matters. 00:20:04.759 --> 00:20:06.819 For one, he forgives the man's sins. 00:20:07.039 --> 00:20:09.819 That means he washed and cleansed and took his sins away. 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.379 He forgave the man's sins. 00:20:11.579 --> 00:20:13.039 The second thing he did was, 00:20:13.179 --> 00:20:15.139 he satisfied what everybody else was thinking. 00:20:16.480 --> 00:20:18.839 And the third thing was, he healed the man. 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:22.339 But I want you to be clear this morning, 00:20:22.659 --> 00:20:26.159 Jesus always looks past our physical condition 00:20:26.159 --> 00:20:28.539 and looks to our spiritual condition. 00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:30.579 Yes, he healed this man as proof 00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.659 of what he could do in his heart, 00:20:31.959 --> 00:20:34.359 but I bet nobody thought it was gonna go that way. 00:20:35.240 --> 00:20:36.019 Understand something. 00:20:36.339 --> 00:20:39.559 It's not our job to determine someone's greatest need. 00:20:39.639 --> 00:20:41.019 That's not the job we have. 00:20:41.699 --> 00:20:43.500 It's our job to get them to Jesus. 00:20:44.839 --> 00:20:46.500 Jesus is the one that'll meet their needs. 00:20:46.839 --> 00:20:48.259 Jesus is the one that'll work it out. 00:20:48.259 --> 00:20:51.199 We often think somebody needs to change their lifestyle 00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:53.160 or change the places they go 00:20:53.160 --> 00:20:54.480 or act differently 00:20:54.480 --> 00:20:56.900 or show a concern for different things. 00:20:58.840 --> 00:21:00.580 Never forget this, folks. 00:21:02.600 --> 00:21:06.480 Never forget people without Jesus 00:21:06.480 --> 00:21:09.779 are without Jesus. 00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:14.299 people that don't have the Lord 00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:15.660 don't have the Lord. 00:21:16.759 --> 00:21:19.399 And if they could fix all those things, 00:21:19.720 --> 00:21:22.359 they wouldn't need a Savior. 00:21:22.879 --> 00:21:23.859 But the reality is, 00:21:24.599 --> 00:21:25.899 they can't fix all that. 00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:28.220 And if you're waiting to come to Christ 00:21:28.220 --> 00:21:30.779 for you to fix some things before you do, 00:21:30.859 --> 00:21:31.500 don't wait. 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:32.279 Don't wait. 00:21:32.279 --> 00:21:34.819 Don't worry about what God needs you to do 00:21:34.819 --> 00:21:36.500 in your life 00:21:36.500 --> 00:21:38.000 before you come. 00:21:38.700 --> 00:21:39.680 Don't wait on that. 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:41.259 You come as you are 00:21:41.259 --> 00:21:42.700 and let God change you 00:21:42.700 --> 00:21:43.920 from who you are 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:44.859 to what He'd have you to be. 00:21:45.240 --> 00:21:46.079 And don't worry about 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:47.000 what God needs to do 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:48.359 in someone's life. 00:21:48.599 --> 00:21:51.059 Get them to Jesus. 00:21:52.139 --> 00:21:53.819 He'll meet them where they are. 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:55.660 He'll change them. 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:58.819 Let me tell you what else will happen 00:21:58.819 --> 00:22:00.980 when you bring them to Jesus. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:05.279 The impact will change things. 00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:08.259 The last verse we read, 00:22:08.339 --> 00:22:09.259 verse 12, says this, 00:22:09.819 --> 00:22:10.839 and He rose, 00:22:10.939 --> 00:22:11.759 speaking of the paralytic, 00:22:12.259 --> 00:22:12.960 and immediately, 00:22:13.159 --> 00:22:14.559 or the former paralytic, 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:17.000 and immediately picked up the bed 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.539 and went out before them all 00:22:18.539 --> 00:22:20.059 so that they were all amazed 00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:20.799 and glorified God, 00:22:20.879 --> 00:22:21.019 saying, 00:22:21.099 --> 00:22:24.220 we've never saw anything like this. 00:22:25.819 --> 00:22:26.859 This transformation 00:22:26.859 --> 00:22:29.199 was not done in secret. 00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:31.919 People saw 00:22:31.919 --> 00:22:33.919 what took place. 00:22:35.000 --> 00:22:36.099 And when they saw 00:22:36.099 --> 00:22:36.740 what took place, 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:37.899 they couldn't help but share it. 00:22:38.839 --> 00:22:39.759 It is powerful 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:41.099 when somebody comes to Christ. 00:22:42.679 --> 00:22:44.019 Because it not only affects 00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:44.719 that person, 00:22:45.319 --> 00:22:47.159 it affects so many others. 00:22:48.939 --> 00:22:50.059 Your faith, 00:22:50.699 --> 00:22:52.599 if it's in Christ, 00:22:53.179 --> 00:22:55.299 is not a private matter. 00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:59.799 private faith 00:22:59.799 --> 00:23:01.619 is dead faith 00:23:01.619 --> 00:23:04.000 because it has no fruit. 00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:08.079 Salvation is not to be done 00:23:08.079 --> 00:23:08.659 in inclusion. 00:23:10.159 --> 00:23:12.539 It's to be made public. 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:16.180 A couple of months ago, 00:23:16.259 --> 00:23:17.599 someone asked Charlie Kirk 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:21.139 in a podcast, I believe, 00:23:21.140 --> 00:23:23.380 how he wanted to be remembered. 00:23:25.460 --> 00:23:26.480 And Charlie looked at him 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:26.740 and said, 00:23:26.780 --> 00:23:27.360 if I die? 00:23:31.220 --> 00:23:31.980 And the man said, 00:23:32.000 --> 00:23:32.980 if it all goes away, 00:23:34.480 --> 00:23:36.420 if you could be associated 00:23:36.420 --> 00:23:37.280 with one thing, 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:39.000 how would you want 00:23:39.000 --> 00:23:39.480 to be remembered? 00:23:41.700 --> 00:23:42.720 And Charlie said, 00:23:43.080 --> 00:23:44.020 I want to be remembered 00:23:44.020 --> 00:23:45.460 for courage of my faith. 00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:49.480 That would be 00:23:49.480 --> 00:23:50.660 the most important thing. 00:23:52.420 --> 00:23:53.900 The most important thing 00:23:53.900 --> 00:23:56.279 is my faith. 00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:59.420 Let me be honest with you. 00:24:00.559 --> 00:24:01.860 I don't know everything about him. 00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:04.660 What I had seen 00:24:04.660 --> 00:24:05.460 had been on reels 00:24:05.460 --> 00:24:06.360 or sound bites 00:24:06.360 --> 00:24:07.480 before his death. 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:08.799 Since then, 00:24:08.819 --> 00:24:09.840 I've seen a lot more of them. 00:24:12.180 --> 00:24:13.259 But I know this. 00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:16.440 He was not ashamed 00:24:16.440 --> 00:24:17.740 to tell others about Christ. 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.980 He was not afraid 00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:26.240 to give a clear gospel 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:28.379 no matter the setting. 00:24:30.839 --> 00:24:33.420 Faith is not to be private. 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:37.420 Faith is to be public. 00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:39.700 And when it is, 00:24:40.960 --> 00:24:42.319 say people get fired up. 00:24:43.259 --> 00:24:44.799 And when it is, 00:24:44.879 --> 00:24:46.279 lost people get saved. 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:48.519 And when it is, 00:24:48.599 --> 00:24:49.619 private Christians 00:24:49.619 --> 00:24:50.579 became public, 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.599 will become public. 00:24:52.779 --> 00:24:53.680 And churches 00:24:53.680 --> 00:24:54.519 will experience revival. 00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:55.980 And the kingdom of God 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:56.519 will grow. 00:24:56.700 --> 00:24:58.240 And heaven will celebrate. 00:24:59.000 --> 00:25:00.319 And the church will shout. 00:25:00.759 --> 00:25:01.660 Or at least it should. 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:03.319 Why? 00:25:03.480 --> 00:25:05.240 Because some friends 00:25:05.240 --> 00:25:07.319 went to the extreme 00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:09.240 to bring a man 00:25:09.240 --> 00:25:10.160 to Jesus. 00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:10.980 Jesus. 00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:13.100 Because Jesus 00:25:13.100 --> 00:25:14.300 healed his deepest hurts. 00:25:16.240 --> 00:25:16.620 Cured 00:25:16.620 --> 00:25:17.600 his deepest wounds. 00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:18.960 Changed him 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:19.800 inside and out. 00:25:20.100 --> 00:25:20.820 And because many 00:25:20.820 --> 00:25:22.420 lives witnessed it 00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:23.880 and have never 00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:25.040 been the same 00:25:25.040 --> 00:25:25.180 since. 00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:29.660 So I ask you 00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:30.060 this morning, 00:25:30.600 --> 00:25:32.860 who do you need 00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.539 to bring to Jesus? 00:25:41.179 --> 00:25:42.479 What are you willing to do 00:25:42.479 --> 00:25:45.759 to bring someone to Jesus? 00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:49.979 Let me be even more personal than that. 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:53.939 Do you need to come to Jesus today? 00:25:56.059 --> 00:25:57.740 Has there ever been a time in your life 00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:59.000 when you've asked the Lord Jesus 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:01.159 to forgive you for your sins? 00:26:01.160 --> 00:26:04.259 To come into your life and to save you 00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:06.180 and to change you from this day forward? 00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:09.440 Not only does that give you eternity with Him, 00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:13.340 you can have a certainty of where you'll spend eternity, 00:26:13.480 --> 00:26:19.380 but it also gives you an uptick, 00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:22.360 as an understatement, 00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:25.120 for the rest of your life. 00:26:27.960 --> 00:26:29.700 Because Jesus promises us 00:26:29.700 --> 00:26:32.039 that He will empower us with the Spirit of God 00:26:32.039 --> 00:26:35.819 and He'll give us the ability to rise above 00:26:35.819 --> 00:26:39.640 whatever those things are that encumber us. 00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:42.539 That He'll always provide a way out 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:45.059 for those things that tempt us. 00:26:47.400 --> 00:26:49.500 If you've never given your heart and life to the Lord, 00:26:49.640 --> 00:26:50.980 even if everybody thinks you have, 00:26:50.980 --> 00:26:54.400 I want you to know there's not a better day 00:26:54.400 --> 00:26:56.740 for you to surrender your life to Christ than today. 00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:02.539 Maybe you're here and you have done that, 00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:03.279 but it's private. 00:27:07.120 --> 00:27:08.279 You don't share your faith 00:27:08.279 --> 00:27:09.779 and you've never acknowledged it publicly. 00:27:11.700 --> 00:27:12.360 Jesus said, 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:14.180 if you're ashamed of me before men, 00:27:14.220 --> 00:27:15.860 I'll be ashamed of you before my Father. 00:27:15.859 --> 00:27:18.559 Which really means that if all you've got 00:27:18.559 --> 00:27:20.619 is this private faith down in you, 00:27:20.859 --> 00:27:21.979 that it's really not real. 00:27:22.479 --> 00:27:23.299 I didn't say that. 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:24.240 Jesus said that. 00:27:26.419 --> 00:27:27.959 And so the reality is, 00:27:28.519 --> 00:27:29.839 you need to acknowledge that. 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:34.079 Jesus, by His commission and by His example, 00:27:34.199 --> 00:27:36.000 tells us that we acknowledge that 00:27:36.000 --> 00:27:38.699 publicly confessing our faith through baptism. 00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:40.759 If you've never been baptized as a believer, 00:27:40.860 --> 00:27:41.840 we're doing it next week. 00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:43.940 We'd love to include you. 00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:48.620 Or maybe you're here this morning 00:27:48.620 --> 00:27:52.160 and there's a matter in your life 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:54.819 that you need to bring to Jesus. 00:27:57.259 --> 00:27:59.299 There's something within you 00:27:59.299 --> 00:28:02.100 that you're not handling the way 00:28:02.100 --> 00:28:03.140 you need to be handling it 00:28:03.140 --> 00:28:04.779 because you're trying to handle it on your own 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:07.160 and you need to surrender that to the Lord. 00:28:07.160 --> 00:28:09.900 Or maybe God's drawing you 00:28:09.900 --> 00:28:11.160 to fix the First Baptist Church. 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:13.880 He's doing a wonderful work in our midst. 00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:14.779 I'm thankful for that. 00:28:15.460 --> 00:28:16.240 God's drawing you. 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:16.600 You come. 00:28:16.680 --> 00:28:17.580 We'll be happy to guide you. 00:28:17.660 --> 00:28:18.779 And I don't have a clue 00:28:18.779 --> 00:28:21.380 what God's telling you to do. 00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:22.500 I really don't. 00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:26.940 But I know that if you'll do it, 00:28:27.600 --> 00:28:29.720 He'll change your life. 00:28:31.600 --> 00:28:32.880 You just come to Jesus 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:35.560 and commit to bring others to Jesus 00:28:35.559 --> 00:28:38.119 and trust Him every step of the way. 00:28:38.679 --> 00:28:39.919 Lord Jesus, I love you. 00:28:40.039 --> 00:28:41.879 Thank you, Lord, for your love for us. 00:28:42.339 --> 00:28:43.859 Lead us right now 00:28:43.859 --> 00:28:45.379 to just simply be obedient 00:28:45.379 --> 00:28:46.740 as you speak to our hearts and lives. 00:28:47.159 --> 00:28:49.679 In Jesus' precious name, amen.