Esotropiart

Dave's sermon today was AWESOME!. It is a testament to the power of the Testament. Wut-stuh-Testament sir? The Testament is the Word of God - both Old and New (Testaments). What I'm saying here is more-or-less a reflection of what I heard today. I can't help but repeat it because I was stainken weigh too excited 'bout it, bruddhas 'n' seastars! Is it possible for one verse to have the power to change the world? Is there such a Testament? I testify of this Testament, how it changed not only a lame man's life, but mine as waddle, and yours too!

Getting into a boat, Jesus crossed over the sea and came to His own city. And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven."

And some of the scribes said to themselves, "This fellow blasphemes."

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, and walk'? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" - then He said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your bed and go home." And he got up and went home. But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Matthew 9:1-8 NASB

It's an awesome story all around. But wasn't there one verse that kind of stood out in some way? No? Try reading it again. Hint: it's somewhere in the first paragraph.

Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven! (I think the translators forgot the exclamation point!) But what does that even mean? Why does that relate to the story? Isn't the story yet another record of Jesus' miraculous power over diseases? After all, didn't Jesus spend most of His time on earth healing the sick, blind and lame?

Jesus indeed has power over all sorts of sickness. More powerful than any sorcerer, He can in a word undo any curse. Even 2000 most formidable demons shudder in His presence and call Him by His rightful Name Matthew 8:28-32 NASB. So yes, because of the curse of the Fall of mankind we all experience sickness, pain, sorrow, loss, and even death (Can I hear another "of"?... "OF!"). Yet all these are just symptoms and signs of the true problem.

What happened in the Garden of Eden? Did Adam and Eve catch a cold or develop a rare form of cancer? Is this why God cast them out of the garden and placed a curse on them, sentencing them to death? Rather, it was because of disobedience that mankind fell. It was an evil choice, a sin, that brought upon us all the curse of death. So in an indirect way, all sickness is the result of sin. It doesn't mean sick people sin more than anyone else and they are especially cursed. Yet all sickness and pain has its origin from the shameful act committed in the garden.

Do you take cold medicine to cure a cold? Isn't it just masking the symptoms? Yet Jesus knows the very source of sickness. He knows how to cure it. Though no one can live a perfect life in order to reach heaven, He can. He did. It is finished. Jesus came to die in our place, to pay the penalty we rightfully owed. He came not only to cure physical illness, but spiritual death!

When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?" And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Mark 2:16-17 NASB

"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

Luke 19:10

What causes spiritual death? Sin! So why is it important what Jesus said here? Let's listen again: "Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven!!" Simply put, Jesus got to "the heart" of the matter. In fact, it is a broken heart that Jesus comes to heal: a heart full of sin and death. Okay, so the following verses are talking about people with humility. He comes not only to repair hearts broken and deadened by sin, but also those that are downcast because of the difficulties that result FROM sin.

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18 NASB

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Psalm 51:17 NASB

Is this referring to a heart that isn't working too well? Is Jesus referring to healing a person who suffers from cardiovascular disease? Literally, no. Figuratively, yes! All men are born with a disease in their hearts. No one is ready to face God, nor do they have the power to make themselves right or to even seek God! Jesus came to do some serious "heart surgery"! In one act - His death - He gives us the chance for a total heart transplant - free of charge! He's offering Himself - His Holy Spirit - as a lifelong tenant (Don't worry, He's not an annoying renter... He'll stay "for good"). Our heart has a room He is pleased to call His home. He earnestly seeks the humble plot. As strange and impossible as it may seem, He's very interested in the small amount of hospitality, square footage, and amenities we have to offer. We need only invite Him in. He sees the "for sale" sign and has already paid the mortgage in full... are you willing to hand over to Him what is rightfully His? Don't fear: It won't hurt. He's the Master Surgeon. He's in the business of mending broken hearts.

He heals the brokenhearted
And binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3 NASB

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;

Isaiah 61:1

Okay, so what's so important about Isaiah's message? Did Isaiah have the power to do what he spoke of? No, he was simply delivering a prophecy. Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah's words:

And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.

And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,

"THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED,
TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."

And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Luke 4:16-21 NASB

the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.

Matthew 11:5 NASB

By the way, I didn't capitalize that stuff. The NASB version of the Bible does that, apparently when the words from the New Testament are a direct quotation of the Old Testament (fulfillment of prophecy). All good and well, but how do WE respond to such great truth?

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me."

Revelation 3:20 NASB

Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.

Luke 12:36 NASB

After we have let Him in, we have a new direction in life. There is something we must DO from here on out:

Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.

John 14:23 NASB

Are you now willing to say this along with me (I feel the need to repeat this type of prayer often):

Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight ... Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow ... Hide Your face from my sins And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:4,7,9,10 NASB

K, whutup-wit-dat? That wasn't the direction I was planning to take with responding to the sermon. Those thoughts weren't in my head before I started writing them. I couldn't very well ignore that stuff though. Yet I want to record my original response as well, so:

To Be Continued... here

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Yay! This one made it to Ethnos' online sermon audio collection: Matt 9:1-8 Jesus forgives and heals paralytic. This is the sermon my thoughts here developed from.