Healing 6 November 28, 2012
A Often when someone isn’t healed/stays sick some will assume that they lacked faith.
1 Faith can release healing, but there accounts in Scripture where people were healed & we have no record that they had faith in Jesus at all!
a Healing can come anyway God wants healing to be manifested.
b There is no “one way” or “one method” that God chooses to heal.
2 1 When He had come back to Capernaum several days afterward, it was heard that He was at home.2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them.3 And they came , bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men.4 Being unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and when they had dug an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralytic was lying.5 And Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, "Son , your sins are forgiven."6 But some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,7 "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?"8 Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, "Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts?9 "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk'?10 "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—He said to the paralytic,11 "I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home."12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, "We have never seen anything like this." Mark 2:1-12 (NASB)
a When the people of Capernaum heard Jesus was back in town they flocked to the house he called home.
aa 1.38, Preaching tour of surrounding towns.
38 He said to them, "Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for." Mark 1:38 (NASB)
bb My guess is that Peter’s house was the house He stayed while in Capernaum.
b The people gathered to hear Jesus preach the word.
aa The place was packed, couldn’t get near the house.
bb Noteworthy that the preaching of the Word preceded hands-on ministry.
3 As Jesus was preaching, the ceiling begins to develop a hole in it over where Jesus was standing.
a The roof would have had to be “dug” up to make an opening to lower the paralytic man down.
aa The roof was made of mortar, tar, ashes, and sand spread all over, and rolled hard. (Grass would grow in the crevices)
bb Stones would have been tiled over the joists.
b Jesus sermon was interrupted by a pallet being lowered by ropes on a pallet in front of Jesus.
B We never see this man’s faith exercised (if he had any to begin with) in this story.
1 We do see the faith of the men who brought their friend to be healed by Rabbi Yeshua.
a Jesus saw “their faith” v.5, referring to the men who lowered their friend down via the opening in the roof.
aa Their actions were the visible evidence of their faith.
bb They were deeply concerned about their friend, wanted to help him.
cc They had the faith that Rabbi Yeshua could meet their friends need.
b They didn’t say, “Pray about it,” but they put some feet to their prayers; and they didn’t let the difficult circumstances to discourage them.
aa Jesus saw that these men wouldn’t let a big crowd stop them from getting their friend to Him.
bb Worked outside the box & wouldn’t let the circumstance deter them & their audacity to get the man to Jesus at all costs (Somebodies gonna have to pay for this roof!)
c Each man carried his share of the load! (Picture of the church today)
aa We all have our share of the load in the ministry of FBC.
bb It is when the body cooperates that we reach our desired destination.
cc Pulling in four different directions only serves to rip/tear apart.
2 I preached this message at Wardline in Hammond and an ornery deacon asked me, “I wonder who had to pay for the roof?” (It would be funny if it had not reflected his genuine attitude towards ministry)
a It’s is sad when we are more worried about our order/cost more than a lost, sick, and hurting person.
b Jesus looked down at the paralytic man & went to the heart of his problem.
aa Not all illness is caused by sin, but this man’s illness was evidently caused by his disobedience to God.
bb Before Jesus would heal this man’s body He would speak peace into this man’s heart by forgiving him of his sins.
c Forgiveness is the greatest miracle that Jesus ever performs!
(It meets the greatest need; it costs the greatest price; it brings the greatest blessing and the most lasting results.)
3 Jesus looked @ the paralytic man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.”
a “Son” is a term of kindness.
aa His condition is a direct result of his sinful life yet Jesus treats him w/ the utmost care, love.
bb Forgiven means to leave, let go, to send away, give up a debt, to remit.
b When we forgive someone who has wronged us we mean that any feeling of animosity we had has changed to one of renewed friendliness & affection (on your end); we don’t hold the wrong done against us against the person anymore.
aa The wrong can’t be removed–the deed can’t be undone.
bb The wrong can’t be changed but we can change how we relate to the one who has wronged us.
4 When we receive forgiveness from Christ (aphiemi) we find He deals with our sin/wrong in two ways:
a Judicial: Our sin, according to the Law, is punishable by death. His blood satisfies diving justice.
b Justification: God removes the guilt of our sin, bestows positive righteousness, stand justified forever.
5 Healing in this man’s life was released when Jesus saw the faith of the men lowering the mat through the roof!
C If the four men displayed healing faith then the scribes displayed displeasure/criticism of what God was doing in their midst.
1 The scribes were seated in the front row (Baptist, fought over the back rows!)
a Either Jesus gave them their seats or they got there early.
aa Pick apart Jesus’ sermon, teaching, critical & cause trouble.
bb No open minds, hearts, seeking truth. (Came looking for a fight)
b What if they would have came with an openness?
aa Jesus could have forgiven their sins, healed their diseases.
bb Seen Jesus is Savior.
cc They came to church with a horrible attitude/wrong heart and missed an opportunity to be touched by Jesus.
2 Nobody could prove forgiveness of sin had taken place.
a Healing the man’s body was an illustration/demonstration of the healing Jesus had put in his soul!
b Jesus backs up His words every time!
c He heals the guy & sends him home with a permanent healing!
D The important thing to note here is that the daring faith of one’s friends can get them healed.
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