FOUR MEN OF FAITH

MARK 2: 1 – 12

 

1 ¶ And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.

 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.

 4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.

 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

 8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?

 9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

 10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)

 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

 

IT WAS NOT THE MIRICLE OR THE DISEASE, BUT THE ACTION OF THE FOUR MEN THAT WE WANT TO LOOK AT TODAY.

 

I.                  MARK 2: 5  THEIR FAITH

5.     When Jesus say their faith…

A.   James 2: 18  An active faith

1.                 We do not know how well or how long they knew Jesus.

2.                 We know their faith by their actions.

18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

3.  Heb. 11: 6  What unbeliever ever brought one to Christ.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

4.  Mark 2: 1  …and it was noised that he was in the house.

5.  Rom 10: 17  They heard and went to where Jesus was.

     17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

          B.      Do we have the faith to tell others about Jesus?

                   Acts 8: 30    Phillip was sent to teach a man.

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.  The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

When was the last time we took time to tell someone outside bible class about Jesus?

C.      Eph. 6: 4  What about our own children?  Do we teach them or do we expect the Bible teacher to do that.  What about our grand children and great grand children?

          4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

D.      1 Thess. 5: 14  What do we do with the weak?

          14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

II.      Mark 2: 3  They came with a purpose.

                   3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy,

 

 

          A.      Luke 12: 13  Let us compare this with a man in Luke that came to Jesus.

13 ¶ And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

                             14 And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over

you?

15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

          B.      The men of Mark 2 sought no recognition for their help.

                             It does not even tell us their names.

                             They had one purpose, to help the man that could not help himself.

          C.      They showed no greed or ulterior motive for bringing him.

I was thinking as I prepared this lesson, how many times I have said I wish I could teach an honest mechanic so I would have someone to work on my cars.  I never have and may never will as long as I have an ulterior motive.

          D.      Do we fail sometimes because we have the wrong purpose.

          E.      Acts 8: 9 - 10  Simon the musician tricked the people.

9 But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one:

10 To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God.

                   1.       Acts 8; 13  Simon believed and was baptized.

          13 Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.

 

 

 

                   2.       Acts 8: 18 – 20  Simon say a true power that could make him some real                            money.  His motive was impure.

          18 And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

 19 Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

 20 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money

          C.      What is our true purpose in being a Christian?

III.    Mark 2: 4  How far were they willing to go?

4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

They did what was needed.  Many may have had pity on the man, but did nothing.

These four helped one another.  They could not have done it without one another’s help.  They were persistent,  not easily discouraged, and

did not give up until they got him to Jesus.

          A.      2 Cor. 4: 3 – 7  Paul preached Christ not himself.

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

1.      Everyone they preached to did not obey.  The devil blinded some minds.

2.      Willful sin can blind some today.  We are free to make our own choice.

3.      Rom. 1: 16 – 17  If we preach Christ some will obey.

16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

          B.      Matt. 5: 13 – 16  Are we the salt and light we should be?

13 ¶ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

If we are not living as a Christian we will not have the influence to show Christ to others.  They will see us.  You can not curse your fellow man and then expect him to want to study the Bible with you.  You go to the bank to check on a mistake.  They admit they made a mistake and correct it.  In all this you rant and rave and threaten to take your banking somewhere else and then just before leaving you turn and say Oh by the way I need a loan.  Do you think you will be given a good reception, I think not.  At best they will give you the highest interest rate on your lone.      

Now who in the bank are you going to invite to worship?  The one you shouted at or the ones that just heard you?

Our work is to let Christ be seen in our life.

 

 

 

 

                    1.       Luke 6: 43 – 46  A good tree and a good man bring forth good.

43 For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.  A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

 46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

                   2.       Luke 6: 47 – 49  A wise man has a good foundation.

47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.

49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Are you wise or foolish?  Are you faithful or unfaithful?  Have you obeyed Christ in Baptism for the remission of your sins, are you putting it off, are you confused as to what it is?  We have Bible classes for all ages Sunday morning and Wednesday nights.  We have home bible studies in your home or ours.  We have Bible studies you do at home with your Bible.  How can we help you?

Are you unfaithful and need forgiveness?  As Christians we have and advocate with God, Jesus Christ.  If you are in Christ you can ask for forgiveness.  You may need the prayers of the church.  How can we encourage you?

Do you need to come today?