Matthew 4:19-20; Matthew 8:3
Intro: Our lives take interesting paths sometimes. Thankfully, we have very few differences in our lives from the lives of the people who lived while Jesus was on the Earth. Life seems to catch us at a crossroads quite often. Things come up. Situations happen. Life seems to take us by surprise because we don’t watch and pray like we should. Today I want to discuss God’s immediate intervention in the lives of those who’ve gone before and now how God can and does intervene in our lives.
I. First Facts First
a. Hebrews 13:8 says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.
i. “same” is from the Greek autos which means of itself. In other words, Jesus is the same in all aspects of Himself throughout eternity past and for eternity future.
ii. “forever” is from the Greek aion which means an age.
b. Jesus hasn’t changed.
i. His instructions haven’t changed
ii. His ways of ministry to mankind haven’t changed
iii. His commands of right living, holiness and commands to do greater works than He hasn’t changed.
II. Immediate Change in Life
a. Mark 2:5-12
i. Story of the paralytic
ii. Jesus forgives his sins
iii. Immediately he takes his bed and walks
b. Matthew 4:20
i. Jesus is looking for disciples. He is looking for people who want nothing else but to follow Him.
ii. Follow me and I will MAKE…
1. make is used here as an action that is performed directly.
2. Jesus was saying – follow me and I will make you, right now, fishers of men.
iii. Immediately they left their nets. The word here is eutheos (yoo theh oce) which means at once, very shortly, immediately.
1. They left behind what they were doing, immediately.
2. Left af ee ay mee (to forsake, lay aside, leave)
c. Matthew 4:22
i. They immediately left their work
ii. They immediately left their family
d. Don’t focus on all that has gone on in your past. Jesus’ forgiving power is the same yesterday, today and forever. His power to sanctify and cleanse you of all unrighteousness, immediately, is the same today. He isn’t concerned about where you’ve been, but rather where you are going!
III. Immediate Healing
a. Matthew 8:3
i. You’ve got to want it (Matthew 8:2)
ii. Jesus purified him immediately
iii. Jesus is willing
b. Mark 5:25-30
i. She had been to everybody searching for something
ii. Spent everything she had only to be worse
iii. Faith moved her mountain
iv. Immediately the healing power of Jesus escaped Him and He was aware of it.
c. Mark 5:39-42
i. Ye of Little Faith
ii. Jesus put out the unbelievers. This miracle required faith
iii. Immediately she rose
d. Mark 9:20-9:27
i. Even the devil knows that Jesus is an immediate God
ii. If You Can? (9:23) – get some faith
iii. Ask God for help in unbelief
e. Mark 10:52
i. Jesus is asking: What do you need?
ii. You’ve got to ask and believe
iii. Your faith will make you well
Ending:
We, as God’s people, must quit believing the trick of the Devil. Satan, over the last 2000+ years, has been deceiving mankind with the ultimate deception. That deception that he has been feeding man is that with God, things take time, but with him you can have it immediately. Not according to my Bible! The Scripture is very clear that when Jesus forgives sins, a life is changed immediately. The Bible is clear that when Jesus heals; Jesus heals immediately. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore IF anyone is in Christ, he is a NEW CREATURE; the old things passed away; behold, new things are come. The word passed there literally means perished. When something dies, the death is immediate. Someone doesn’t half die or die over days. A person continually deteriorates until the death comes, but the actual death is immediate. It is time for us to begin preaching and teaching that holiness and righteousness are for now. It shouldn’t take 1 month, 1 year, 10 years for a creature to become new. The Bible says BEHOLD, which means SEE THIS, ALL THINGS ARE NEW. That means every facet of your life. Every habit that was, is no longer. Every sin, is no more. Every un-surrendered piece of your life, is now surrendered. Every excuse not to commit, is passed away. Behold ALL THINGS ARE NEW. Give Him Praise in the House! IF you are in Christ, you are a new creature! Are you going to stumble, yes! Are you going to sin willfully? No! You are a NEW CREATURE AND LOOK HERE AND SEE: ALL THINGS ARE NEW with me! I’m all about Jesus now. I’ve been redeemed by the blood of the lamb. I’ve been washed by His blood. I’ve been cleansed from head to toe. The dishwasher of the Holy Spirit has washed me, scrubbed me and I am HOLY AS HE IS HOLY. I am righteous as HE IS RIGHTEOUS. I’m saved, sanctified, Holy Ghost Filled, Water Baptized, I’ve got Jesus on my mind cause I’ve found a NEW LIFE!
Saints of God, I want to tell you this morning that being saved, sanctified, living holy and righteous lives is NOT a 12-step program. Jesus didn’t lay out the 12-steps to Holiness. Saint Alphonsus Liguori wrote that book and you can find it at the Catholic bookstore online. Jesus doesn’t hand out a box of pills and tell us to take 2 of these and call Him in the morning. No, the very presence of God Almighty enters right where we are at that very moment that we call on His Name, and His Name is a strong tower. He gloriously enters that room or altar or car or place that we are, at that very moment, and He miraculously, gloriously, wonderfully, and TOTALLY saves our soul from eternal death apart from Him! It happens in the twinkling of an eye. One moment you are as lost as Buddha and the next you are a Joint Heir with Jesus waiting to Join Him in heaven to be seated on the right Hand of God the Father!
If I need a healing; Jesus is there to heal me and IMMEDIATELY I am made well. I don’t have to go to the specialist, the psychiatrist, the counselor or any other professional. Instead I go straight to the source of life. He is the giver of life. He is the creator of life. In Him, we live, we move and we have our being. What a mighty God we serve! If you can but call on His glorious and Holy name then get ready, RECEIVE YOUR HEALING!
If you are under the sound of my voice this morning and you want to receive new life. A life of joy unspeakable and full of glory – stand up quickly and come to the front of this place. IF you are under the sound of my voice this morning and you are tired of the process that you’ve been lead to believe that you need to go through to become everything God wants you to be, the quickly stand up in this place and come forward.
Right now the King of kings and the Lord of lords is standing right here beside me. His Holy Spirit is in me and working through me. If you are in need of something then you better be ready to get it. I’m expecting it. I’m believing it. NOW OPEN UP AND RECEIVE IT, in the Name of Jesus!
