Transformative Faith: Encountering Jesus' Healing Power
Summary
Throughout the life and ministry of Jesus, there are countless stories that reveal not only his miraculous power but also his heart for people and his desire to transform lives from the inside out. The story of the paralyzed man and his friends, who tore through a roof just to get him into the presence of Jesus, is a vivid example of the lengths to which faith will go when it is desperate for God’s touch. This account is more than a tale of physical healing; it is a window into the priorities of Jesus and the nature of true transformation.
When the paralyzed man was lowered before Jesus, the obvious need was physical healing. Yet, Jesus first addressed the man’s deeper, unseen need: forgiveness. This reveals that while we often focus on external circumstances, Jesus is most concerned with the condition of our hearts. He knows the internal struggles, the hidden wounds, and the spiritual paralysis that can hold us captive. His authority is not limited to the physical realm; he has the power to forgive, to heal, and to set us free from the grip of sin.
Obstacles are inevitable on the journey to encounter Jesus. Crowds, critics, and even our own limitations can stand in the way. But these barriers are not meant to deter us; they are opportunities to cultivate a tenacious faith that refuses to give up. Sometimes, it is the very pressure and pain we face that drive us to seek God with all our hearts. The story also reminds us that we are not meant to walk this journey alone. Community is essential—faith needs a friend. We need others to encourage us, to carry us when we are weak, and to help us experience the presence and power of Christ.
Finally, Jesus calls us not only to receive forgiveness but to walk in victory. He tells the healed man to pick up his mat—the very thing that once defined his limitations—and carry it as a testimony of freedom. In Christ, we are not just forgiven; we are empowered to live above the things that once held us captive. The invitation is to seek Jesus wholeheartedly, to press through every obstacle, to walk in community, and to experience the fullness of life that comes by the power of his name.
Key Takeaways
- Jesus addresses our deepest needs first, not just the obvious ones. While we may come to him seeking solutions for our external problems, he sees the true condition of our hearts and offers forgiveness and inner healing before anything else. This inside-out transformation is the foundation for lasting change in our lives. [09:16]
- Obstacles and adversity are not signs of God’s absence but invitations to deeper faith. The challenges we face—whether they are crowds, critics, or personal struggles—can become the very catalysts that drive us to seek God with greater passion and persistence. Often, it is in the struggle that our faith is refined and our desire for God is awakened. [25:25]
- True spiritual growth and breakthrough rarely happen in isolation. We were created for community, and God often uses the faith and encouragement of others to bring us into his presence and into our destiny. The journey of faith is not meant to be a solo endeavor; faith needs a friend, and we need each other to experience the fullness of God’s work. [30:13]
- Jesus’ miracles are not just demonstrations of power but revelations of his identity and mission. When he forgives sins and heals the paralyzed man, he is declaring his authority as God and showing that he came to set us free from both the penalty and the power of sin. The physical miracles point to a greater spiritual reality: in Christ, we are emancipated from everything that holds us captive. [39:20]
- Walking in victory means taking authority over what once held us. Jesus instructs the healed man to pick up his mat, symbolizing that the things which once defined our limitations no longer have power over us. In Christ, we are not only forgiven but empowered to live in freedom and to testify to the world of his overcoming power. [42:29]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:09] - Introduction to Jesus Stories
[01:09] - The Chosen Clip: Friends Lower the Paralyzed Man
[07:41] - Reflections on the Miracle and Messiness
[08:43] - Reading Luke 5: The Paralyzed Man’s Story
[10:35] - The Partnership of Faith and Obedience
[14:23] - The Reality of Imperfect Conditions
[16:12] - Jesus: The Image of the Invisible God
[18:10] - Jesus Demands a Response
[20:06] - The Priority of God’s Presence
[21:41] - Jesus Wants to Be Lord, Not Mascot
[23:06] - Obstacles as Opportunities for Faith
[26:21] - The Church Thrives Under Pressure
[29:05] - The Necessity of Community
[32:21] - Jesus Heals from the Inside Out
[39:20] - The Deeper Meaning of Miracles
[42:29] - Walking in Authority and Victory
[43:58] - Communion: The Lamb at the Table
[48:16] - Invitation to Trust Jesus
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Paralyzed Man and the Heart of Jesus
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### Bible Reading
- Luke 5:17-26 (The story of the paralyzed man and his friends bringing him to Jesus)
- John 20:30-31 (“But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”)
- Matthew 6:33 (“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”)
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### Observation Questions
1. In the story from Luke 5, what obstacles did the paralyzed man and his friends face when trying to get to Jesus? How did they respond to those obstacles? ([08:59])
2. When Jesus saw the paralyzed man, what was the first thing he addressed, and why might that have surprised the people watching? ([09:16])
3. According to John 20:30-31, what is the purpose of the miracles recorded in the Gospels?
4. In Matthew 6:33, what does Jesus say should be our first priority?
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to forgive the man’s sins before healing his body? What does this reveal about Jesus’ priorities? ([09:16])
2. The sermon mentioned that obstacles and adversity can actually be invitations to deeper faith. How might challenges in our lives serve to strengthen our relationship with God? ([25:25])
3. The friends of the paralyzed man played a crucial role in his encounter with Jesus. What does this story teach about the importance of community and spiritual friendship? ([30:13])
4. When Jesus told the healed man to “pick up your mat,” what do you think he meant by that? How does this relate to living in victory over things that once held us back? ([42:29])
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### Application Questions
1. The paralyzed man’s friends went to great lengths to bring him to Jesus. Is there someone in your life who needs help getting closer to Jesus? What practical step could you take this week to support or encourage them? ([08:31])
2. Jesus addressed the man’s deeper, unseen need before his obvious physical problem. Are there “hidden” needs or struggles in your own life that you tend to ignore? What would it look like to bring those to Jesus first? ([09:16])
3. Think about a recent obstacle or challenge you’ve faced. Did it push you closer to God, or did it make you want to give up? How could you approach similar challenges differently in the future? ([25:25])
4. The sermon emphasized that “faith needs a friend.” Are you currently walking through your faith journey alone, or do you have people supporting you? What’s one way you could strengthen your spiritual community this month? ([30:13])
5. Jesus told the man to pick up his mat as a testimony of freedom. Is there something in your life that used to define your limitations, but now could be a testimony of God’s work? How can you share that story with others? ([42:29])
6. The message said that Jesus wants to be Lord, not just a “mascot” or backup plan. Are there areas in your life where Jesus is not in first place? What would it look like to put him first this week? ([21:41])
7. The story shows that true transformation happens from the inside out. What is one specific area of your heart or character you want Jesus to transform? How can you invite him to start that work today? ([35:59])
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite the group to pray for one another, especially for any “hidden” needs or obstacles that were shared. Ask God to help each person experience both forgiveness and freedom, and to strengthen the bonds of community within the group.
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus Has Authority to Forgive and Heal
Jesus demonstrates His divine authority by forgiving sins and healing the paralyzed man, revealing that He is both able and willing to address our deepest needs—both spiritual and physical. The story in Luke 5 shows that while we often focus on our external problems, Jesus first addresses the heart, offering forgiveness and new life before physical restoration. This encounter reminds us that only God can truly forgive sins, and Jesus’ words and actions confirm His identity as the Son of God who brings total healing. When we come to Him, He meets us at our point of need, transforming us from the inside out. [10:01]
Luke 5:18-25 (ESV)
And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, “Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God.
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust Jesus not just for outward change, but for deep, inner healing and forgiveness today?
Day 2: Faith Requires Tenacity and Action
Miracles often require a partnership between God’s power and our willingness to act in faith, even when circumstances are messy or difficult. The friends who brought the paralyzed man to Jesus refused to let obstacles stop them—they climbed the roof and tore it open to get their friend into Jesus’ presence. This kind of determined faith is what God honors; He often allows challenges to test and strengthen our resolve, drawing out a passionate pursuit of His presence. When you face barriers, remember that God is looking for those who will press through, trusting that He will meet them on the other side. [08:59]
Mark 2:3-5 (ESV)
And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Reflection: What obstacle is currently standing between you and a deeper experience of Jesus’ presence, and what bold step can you take today to overcome it?
Day 3: Seek Jesus First and With All Your Heart
Experiencing the fullness of life in Christ requires making Him the highest priority, seeking Him wholeheartedly rather than passively or as a last resort. Jesus doesn’t want to be a backup plan or a cultural symbol in your life—He desires to be Lord, the One you pursue above all else. When you seek Him first, as Matthew 6:33 and Jeremiah 29:12-13 teach, you will find Him and discover the transformation your soul longs for. God promises to be found by those who go all in, who refuse to settle for a casual or half-hearted relationship. [21:05]
Matthew 6:33 (ESV)
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Jeremiah 29:12-13 (ESV)
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
Reflection: In what practical way can you put Jesus first in your schedule, decisions, or relationships this week?
Day 4: We Need Each Other—Faith Needs a Friend
God designed us for community, not isolation; faith flourishes when we journey together, supporting and encouraging one another in pursuit of Jesus. The paralyzed man’s miracle was only possible because his friends carried him, showing that breakthrough often comes through the love, prayers, and actions of others. We are called to be part of a spiritual family, to lift each other up, and to refuse to let anyone be left behind. Don’t try to do life or faith alone—reach out, connect, and let others help you get closer to Jesus. [30:13]
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV)
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
Reflection: Who is someone in your life you can encourage or help draw closer to Jesus this week, and how will you do it?
Day 5: Jesus Sets Us Free from the Power of Sin
Jesus not only forgives our sins but also gives us authority and victory over the things that once held us captive, empowering us to walk in newness of life. When He told the healed man to pick up his mat, it was a declaration that the mat—once a symbol of bondage—no longer had power over him. In Christ, you are not just forgiven; you are set free to live above the things that used to define or limit you. The power of Jesus breaks every chain, and He calls you to walk in that freedom and help others do the same. [42:29]
Romans 6:6-7 (ESV)
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.
Reflection: What is one “mat” or old pattern that used to define you, and how can you walk in Christ’s freedom over it today?
Quotes
The story of a of some friends that had that bodacious kind of spirit. They're like, we're going to we're going to get them in the presence of Jesus. I'm going to tell you, that's one of that's our heart's posture. I just want to get people in the presence of Jesus because when when you meet him, you'll be changed forever. uh Luke chapter 5 and 18. We're going to read the passage together. Luke chapter 5 and 18. And it says this, "Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd right in front of Jesus. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Of course, be healed." Right? No, friend. Your sins are forgiven. And I wonder if the friend the guy's like, "Hey, I wrong number here. I think we're it's kind of Don't you kind of know what I'm here for? Like, uh, hello Jesus. But Jesus is up to something that's supposed to unlock something for us as we study his methods and his ministry. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, "Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who could forgive sins but God alone?" Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, "Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? which is easier to say your sins are forgiven or to say get up and walk. But I want you to know that the son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins. So he said to the paralyzed man, watch this. I tell you, get up, take your mat, go home. I tell you, get up, take your mat, go home. And immediately he stood up in front of them and took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. You know what I find in in most miracles, if not all miracles, there's a partnership. There's very rarely like a miracle where it doesn't involve somebody's obedience and faith. In fact, one of my favorite miracles is in Acts chapter 10 when it's it's old Peter who's in prison. And imagine he's in prison behind bars. He's chained up. And the Bible says God sends an angel who breaks open the prison bars, breaks the chains, all the uh all the all the people uh watching. I can't remember the name of what they're called. Not the prisoners, the wardens, the the guards. That's it. That's the word. The guards. All the guards just pass out. They're just like, "The angel has done it all. I got you, Peter. And he comes up to Peter and he goes, "We're getting out." And then he says something so interesting to me. He says, "Put on your shoes." But you did all that. Why couldn't you just put on Peter's shoes for him? Right? Just And the shoes are on. Whoa. Look at it. It's interesting because what God does is he says he says I'll do what you can't do, but I need you to do what you can do and I'll turn your natural into supernatural. And there's a partnership with God and the miracle working power that we want to see in every one of your lives. And miracles look so many different ways. God does miracles. God connects the dot. God heals homes, heals hearts, heals families. There's so many ways that God is moving, teaching, drawing, calling, and wants to be involved in your life. [00:08:25]
Jesus. Jesus is the image of the invisible God. You and I in our in our current state, it is impossible for us to truly know, see, and understand God. How can we? He's in yesterday. He's in tomorrow. He's in today. He's up. He's down. He's all around. He's out. He's in the cosmos. He's outside of the cosmos. He's timeless, spaceless. How can you and I ever know the invisible, eternal God? But what God gave us is his son. His son represents his glory, his nature, everything about him. It's not the trees that move the wind. It's the wind that moves the trees. It's the invisible world that affects the natural world. So, what we're interested in is not just the empirical world that we can see and measure. We're interested in a world that we cannot see. And we have no way of seeing it until Jesus comes into the world. And now we have seen he which is from the beginning. We see his glory. We for the first time understand what heaven looks like and what God looks like. [00:15:52]
MT Wright says this. MT Wright says, "When you look at Jesus, you're looking at the human face of God." I love this. I like to see I want to see if I go to a place I've never been before, a restaurant, I want to see what the food looks like. I don't want to just like order based on the menu. Oh, the menu says it's got quinoa and kale. Awesome. But what does it look like? So, I'll pretend to go get a toothpick or go to the restroom cuz I'm going to mosey through and look and see cuz I want to see. I'm like, I'll have whatever they're having. I'll even get on Yelp. I don't know what this is, but I want that thing right there. That's what I want to see it. Anybody like me? Anybody? Let's Okay. Okay. I got to see it. Why? Why? Why? Why? Because by seeing we become. We talked about this last week. In seeing we mirror. And seeing we begin to walk and dance with him. This Christ, this Messiah, this living Lord Jesus. [00:17:07]
John Stoz the Anglican in his book basic Christianity makes one of the most profound observations. It's simple but it's profound. And here's what it is. He said that nobody in the Bible who met Jesus had a moderate reaction to him. Either they were smitten with him, drawn to him, or they walked away hating him. That's what Jesus does. He demands a response because he speaks the truth. Who he is and what he is is going to demand a response from every one of us. As I preach this sermon, as we read God's word, as the Holy Spirit moves in your life, you will respond one way or another. It's impossible to stay neutral. The Bible, let me I'll submit to you Newton's third law. Remember Newton's third law. For every action, there's an opposite or equal reaction. It's impossible to stay the same. When you've met Jesus, it's impossible. When you meet Jesus, you're going to change one of two ways. You're going to be drawn to him or repelled away from him. But there is no staying the same. [00:18:13]
But when Christ came and he was taken from this earth and he ascended, it changed. In fact, Christians begin to make their salutations the final prayer in the Bible. And the final prayer in the Bible was this. It was come Lord Jesus. Hey, come Lord Jesus. Hey, come Lord Jesus. the benediction, salutation, their hello. Everything was we want to be in his presence. It wasn't get us out of here, come Lord Jesus. It was being in his presence is everything in this meeting. Come Lord Jesus in this situation. Come Lord Jesus in this moment. Come Lord Jesus in this prayer. Come Lord Jesus. Everything is about his presence. I want to know him. I want him closer. And I think that that ought to be something in our heart. [00:19:44]
Jesus doesn't want to be our mascot. He wants to be number one. He wants to be in first position. He wants to be Lord of our lives. What we do is we demote him to second position. I mean, he's in I mean, he's he's here, right? He's a useful friend. We have a useful friend named Jesus. He's not Lord, he's a useful friend. Or we demote him even more. He's a moral compass. He's an emotional anchor. He's a spiritual insurance policy if things go bad. Or even more, we'll demote him even more. He's a cultural symbol, a backup plan. And some of you, some people have even demoted him to irrelevant and ignored. He doesn't want to be your mascot. He wants to be your Lord. Because when you make him prime, when you put him first, when you seek him first, I'm telling you, church, all of a sudden, that engine to know him turns into a moment that transforms you. [00:21:33]
Because in every person's heart is a God-sized hole. Only God can fill the hole in your soul. That's why we exist as a church, to help people get to Jesus. We're lowering him down. Here he comes. Just don't drop him. Okay? Some people get frustrated because of obstacles. People go, "I can't believe there's obstacles. It should be easy. If he wants me, he'll come get me." And I see the opposite in scripture. It's almost as if he's like, "I'm going to come this close, but I want to see if you're willing to break through, get through. I'm going to see what I'm going to see what's really inside of you." I know we blame the devil for so much. The devil gets way too much credit. He's really becomes our escapegoat. You know, we're like, "Oh, the devil. The barista messed up my drink. The devil. Somebody cut me off. The devil. This didn't go well. It's the devil." It's always the devil. And sometimes there's just obstacles. And sometimes those obstacles become some of the greatest things that prove some of the great create some of the greatest faith in people. [00:22:40]
He said, "Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. Do not pray for task equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks. Then the doing of your work shall be no miracle, but you shall be the miracle. I love it. Sometimes we just got to get that tenacity. I'll climb the house. I'll tear up the roof. I'll do whatever it takes to get into his presence. There's two laws, two ideas that are present in our current world, in this empirical world. Number one is called the region beta paradox, and it's this. Worse things are sometimes better. For instance, if a person's dating another person and the person is kind of mean and kind of abusive, the odds are way less that they'll get out of that relationship. If they're very abusive and very cruel, the odds go up that they'll have the internal will to make the painful change to get out of the relationship. So the idea is is that sometimes it's easier to walk two miles than it is to walk one mile. It's a paradox." [00:23:52]
So when life is kind of good, what do we do? We forget about God. When things are easy peasy cheese and crackers, what do we do? But the moment that life shakes, the moment that temptation and trials hit, what happens? We get hyperfocused. I got to get I got to get to the one who has the answer. And sometimes the things that you're facing and the challenges that are before you are the very thing that are going to produce the will and the effort that's going to get you to the top of the house, tearing off the roof and get you into the presence of Jesus. It's got our attention and it's getting his attention. God wants a people who have passion. Passion to pray, passion to worship, passion to teach the word, to share the word, to get into a small group and live life with other believers. It takes a passion because as long as things are easy, the church never does it. [00:25:21]
In fact, historically, there's a historical study on when does the church do the best. You want you want to know when the church is the best? When it's under fire, when there's enemies. When it's being pressured. Sometimes some of the best things that happen to us are when things happen against us because it's going to pull out that faith. It's going to pull out the best that God has for us. In fact, here's the question. What's your limit? What's your pain barrier? At what point do you give up? That's always the question I have. You know, Elijah and Elisha, there was two prophets in the Old Testament. One of them's name was Elijah, the older guy. And then he found a guy named Elisha. Which probably confused everybody they hung out with. I'm Elijah. This is Elisha. El who? You're Eli. What? This is my successor here. And finally Elisha in his heart goes, I'm going to get a I want a double portion of what you have. [00:26:12]
He's like, I'm about to take off. God's about to snatch him up in a fiery chariot and take him to heaven. And Elisha, the older gentleman, says to the younger prophet, "Stay here at Jericho. Stay here with the prophets. Stay here over here at at at the River Jordan." He tried to talk him out of it because he was really proving, "Do you really really want it? How easy can you how how much tension before you give up? Do you give up whenever someone sits in your seat, offends you, says the wrong thing? You submitted your application like, "I want to I want to be in a small group. They never got back to me. I'm giving up on God." Until you've climbed a roof and tore it apart, we have no excuse to give up. We're not giving up easy. The presence of God and standing in his presence and believing for the miracles and people's life is a non-negotiable. We're a church that exists to see people meet Jesus and their life be changed radically. [00:27:22]
But point number two, you can't do it alone. I know you think you're the lone ranger. I know you think that you got this all by yourself. You've got it all in your head. Those little conversations you have in your I got this. Just just just me. Just I got this all by myself. We're going to figure this out. You weren't designed to figure it out on your own. The first sin in the Bible, sorry, the first problem in the Bible was not sin. The first problem in the Bible was solitude. God looks at Adam and says, "It's not good for man to be alone." Solitude, there's no there's no fruit produced in solitude. Even God is a community, Father, Son, Holy Spirit. You can't outg, right? We need each other. We can't do this without each other. I need somebody who while we're while we're pulling our friend up on the roof, we go, "This is crazy." Somebody go, "No, this is We're not crazy enough. We're not crazy enough. I need someone to say, "Hey, you got this. We're going to go all the way. You need a group. You need a community. You need a church. You need some people who will get behind you and go, "Hey, we missed you. Where are you?" We need some people in our life who will get in our corner and fight with us and for us. That's why we exist. Amen. [00:29:15]
I love what Billy Graham said. Billy Graham said, "It takes 10." It takes in intercessors and and prayer warriors and living examples and storytellers and teachers and encouragers and disciples and inviters and and and church moms and church dads and it takes Sunday school teachers. It it takes it takes more than just one one person coming to Christ. There's a string of events, testimonies, moments that it took for that person to cross the threshold in the faith. Dr. Elmer Towns said this. He said from Liberty University, he said, "It's it takes three hearings of the gospel in seven touches. It doesn't happen all at once. It's several moments in sequence of people hearing the gospel and seeing the body of Christ and having that warm cup of coffee and that big smile and hey, let's let's connect on Tuesday morning. Are you free?" It's all those little things. It's not just one. [00:30:27]
What Jesus is showing us is this. I know what's inside of every man. I know what's inside of people's hearts. And that's what I'm going after. And he says to the man, "You're forgiven." And the people are blown away. Why? Because there's only one person that can forgive sin. It's the one to whom it is violated against. And when we sin, we sin against God. So, if you go over to somebody and punch them in the mouth and then I come to you and I'm like, "Hey, you're forgiven." The guy with the bloody lips, like, "What do you mean he's forgiven?" Or I come to you and I'm like, "Hey, I know you have a a mortgage with um Wells Fargo, but I would just love to tell you the debt is forgiven. You're good." Wells Fargo's like, "You don't have the authority to expune this debt, right? If you go to Tarier, also known as Target, and you shoplift." And I'm like, "No, you're good. You're forgiven." No, the one that you you perpetrated against Target, they're the one who could be like, "No, you're good. We you're forgiven." [00:37:08]
When when Jesus said, "You're forgiven," he was putting he was putting his stake in the ground and showing us the most important thing. Jesus is God because only God can forgive sins. And they're like, he's like, "Is it easier to say you're forgiven or to say rise up and walk?" Because I could be like, you know, you're forgiven and there's no way to quantify that. But if I'm like, stand up and float and you do it, then maybe what you said the first time about being forgiven is also true. Jesus is making two points here. Number one, it starts internally. And number two, I have power over your outside world and your inside world. And I'm here to emancipate you. Why do we need emancipation? Let me let me tell you every and please hear if you haven't heard another if you haven't heard anything I've said and you don't hear another thing that I say, hear this. [00:38:07]
When we study the miracles of Jesus, we're not just studying his craft of doing cool things. person who was sick is no longer sick. Cool. He's actually showing us the mirror to the other side. The person who was physically blind, he's showing us how he can heal the spiritually blind. The person who was physically deaf, he's showing us how he can heal those who are spiritually deaf. The young girl who was dead, who he raised back, it's not just physical death, but it's spiritual death. I'm going to show you that I can make you spiritually alive. And this man who's paralyzed, Jesus is connecting the dot. This is what sin does. This is why I'm forgiving him. Because sin paralyzes you. Watch this. S sin doesn't just hurt us, it holds us. It doesn't just infect us, it enslaves us. [00:39:20]
Have you ever known the right thing to do, but you are powerless to do it? The guy can't move his toes. He's saying, "Move your toes. Move your toes. Move your toes." He can't do it. Sin is the same thing. Do right. Do good. honor God. But sin made it impossible. So Jesus came not just to set you free from the penalty of sin, but from the power of sin. And I want you to hear me as I close. That's why Jesus said these three things. Are you ready? Rise up. And this is where I would have been like, "What? What? High five, bro. Now you go on. Get out of here and you go run for us run." But he says something peculiar. He said, "Rise up." They He rises up and then he says, "Take up your mat. You want me to bend back down and take the mat? Because if if I was Jesus, and I'm not, but if I was Jesus, I'd be like, "Leave your mat behind, boy. You're never coming." Get the organ going. You're never coming back to your mat. Leave it. That's like an awesome sermon. He left his mat in that house. You know what I mean? Like, how amazing. No, Jesus said, "Pick up your mat." [00:40:26]
Why? It's not just the penalty of sin. I want my people to see the power of sin that keeps you a slave and small has no more authority over you. Watch this. The thing, the mat that once held you, the thing that was once your identity, pick up the mat. Let's get him there. Had control over your life. I want you to take control over it. The mat doesn't have control over you. You now in Christ have control over the mat. The power of Christ is not just for the penalty of sin, but he wants to raise his church up to walk in the authority and victory over the power of sin. It's kept you small. It's kept you a slave. has kept you tied to weak things, small things, bitterness, addiction, all those things. Christ said, "I have authority over it." Come on. That's why we exist, church, to help people walk in victory. The overcoming power of Jesus. Amen. [00:41:17]
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