Don’t Come Alone
Theme:
Text: Luke 5:17-26
Offering:
Heb 11:8-13 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. (9) By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; (10) for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (11) By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child [51] when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised. (12) Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude--innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore. (13) These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, [52] embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Luke 5:17-26 NKJV Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
Mar 2:1-2 And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. (2) Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached the word to them.
Luke 5:17-26 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. [35] (18) Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. (19) And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. (20) When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." (21) And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" (22) But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? (23) Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'? (24) But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house." (25) Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, 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 today!"
Introduction
Luke and the other three gospels give us details in what the scene looks like. Jesus had just come off the boat, he was coming back home. This was a place where we have seen many miracles. As he came to a house many people gathered around him. They had probably heard that he was healing and working miracles, just before this he had healed the lepers. Before this he had worked a miraculous catch. So the people gathered. Some came to be healed others came to listen still others came to challenge.
On the front row were the religious leaders who were there to challenge him. The Bible says the house was full.
26 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
Creating an Atmosphere of Healing
1. Faith “without faith it is impossible to please God” “we must ask in faith (believing)”
There were times in Jesus ministry when no one was healed because people didn’t have faith.
MSG 6 It's impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him.
2. Worship “puts God in the right place in our life”
3. Prayer “we have not because we ask not” James
4. Persistence “ask, seek, knock”
Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (8) For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
5. Determination “don’t give up” as in prayer to keep going back, why? Because of God’s timing, I want God’s will to be done more than anything.
(18)Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. (19) And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus.
There was a lot of determination to get this man to Jesus. The Bible doesn’t tell us why these men had so much faith and determination. We are not told of their experience. I just believe that one of two things. 1) either they were healed themselves by Jesus. One could have been the man at the pool in Bethesda. One could have been ole Blind Bartimaeus, one could have been the father of the son whose son was delivered from demons.
You see when God heals you there is something that makes you desire to see others healed.
The second could be they may have been friends of these guys. They were sick and tired of seeing him sick and tired.
Third maybe they heard what Jesus had done
I don’t know what it was but they were determined to get him in the presence of the Lord. They were willing to overcome all obstacles.
You see they couldn’t get into the house.
1. the house was an obstacle
I look around this church to make sure that this church is not an obstacle. Obstacle – hindrances
What were the obstacles?
2. the people were obstacles
1Co 8:9 NKJV But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.
We need to learn to prefer my brother. The best parking place. The best seat in the house. We come too much for our convinces.
Look at the next passage.
(20) When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."
I want you to notice where Jesus begins. This is so important. God begins with your spiritual condition. You may need healing, you may be asking God to heal you but I say you need to get your heart right with God before God will heal you.
So many people have need or jail house religion. When they need God they get all spiritual and holy and churchy but when God answers their prayer, their need, then they forget God.
Dr. Benson, my professor at Holmes, used to tell the story of a man who lay on his death bed dying. Dr. Benson would go regularly and pray for this man. He prayed to prayer of faith. He believed. Yet this man had no change. Finally he asked God, “God why won’t you heal this man.” God said if I heal him he will go back and do the same thing he was doing for me.
God healed him but He healed him spiritually.
Isaiah 1:18 the Lord says to Israel: “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
God desires to cleanse us all of our sins. I can’t do that by myself. Only God can forgive sins.
But Ps 32:1-2 says “Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sins the Lord does not count against him.”
(21) And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Who all the scribes and the Pharisees? They were the religious leaders (notice that term “religious leaders”) who, instead of listening to Jesus healing and life changing words were listening for faults.
Just think they had seen many people healed and God was doing miraculous work in their midst yet they are focused on whether or not he was following their theology.
It was like the disciples. One day they ran to Jesus and told Him about another group of people who were doing great things in Jesus name. But, they said, they are not in our group. Jesus said be quiet. If they are against me they are for me. Be careful who you criticize.
Note see Message translation
Philippians 1:12-20 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, (13) so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; (14) and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (15) Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: (16) The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; (17) but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. (18) What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (19) For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, (20) according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
Note see other gospels with same passage
Luke 9:49-50 Now John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us." (50) But Jesus said to him, "Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is on our side."
(22) But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, "Why are you reasoning in your hearts? (23) "Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise up and walk'? (24) "But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"; He said to the man who was paralyzed, "I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."
Jesus knew what they were thinking. Whether it was discerning of the spirit or He just knew the scribes and Pharisees. Some people are so easy to figure out.
Miracles are signs that follow believers.
Mar 16:15-18 NKJV And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. (16) "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. (17) "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; (18) "they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
(25) Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
Immediately the man go up and took his bed. He comes in lying on the bed and leaves out carrying it.
(26) And they were all amazed, and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today!"
Two results of this miracle.
1. They glorified God
They praised God for what he had done. This is important because there are other times in scripture where people didn’t praise God. Ten lepers were healed and one comes back.
2. They were filled with fear
You see when you see things happen it can cause you to fear. When you see the power of God at work you have to change.
That is what Isaiah ran into. He saw God high and lifted up. He saw His Glory. He saw the seraphims praise the Lord with words of Holy! Holy! Holy!. So he has to change and yell out, “Woe is me I am a man undone. I am a man of unclean lips.”
Conclusion
Two things (miracles & healings) we will be praying for tonight.
First I will be praying for you. If you have a need, a miracle or a healing and you would come and say, “I believe that God will heal it tonight”. Then I want you to come and stand on my right side.
Second I will be praying with those who are willing to be like these four me. People who would say, “Pastor tonight I want to intercede for someone. I want to pray for them. I believe God can heal them. I am also willing to go and pray for them with this prayer cloth.” I want you to stand on my left side.
Four names: faith, hope, love, determination, acceptance, forgiveness,
