Thursday, August 31, 2017

A New Thing


Do you believe that Jesus has the power to change things?

A better question may be,
Do you believe that Jesus can change you, and your circumstances?

13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. - Colossians 2:13-15

Sounds like a pretty big change to me, and this changed heart allows us to worship God like David, Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. Psalm 98:1

The world needs to hear us sing about our wonderful Savior. Amen?

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Who Is


The entire world revolves around the question, Who is Jesus? The Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day struggled with it mightily. In the end, we see that religion by itself can interfere with your ability to answer this question. Despite the fact that the people were in the temple, it was the Sabbath, and that Jesus had not been charged yet, they responded to Jesus, with an attempt to stone Him


The Jews answered him, Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed? I am not possessed by a demon, said Jesus, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death. At this they exclaimed, Now we know that you are demon-possessed! Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are? Jesus replied,  I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad. You are not yet fifty years old, they said to him, and you have seen Abraham! Very truly I tell you, Jesus answered, before Abraham was born, I am! At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. - John 8:48-59

This action shows just how spiritually blinded to the truth they were. Only a redeemed mind can fully understand the realities of the living Christ. The conflict between light and dark still exists. Jesus, the Light, always wins.
Greater is He that is in me! How about you?

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Overcomers

The fact that the world is in turmoil does not come as a surprise to God. Jesus spoke about this, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33, ESV

Follow God's Word on the subject of life in this world. Trust in the Lord. Accept His peace. Overcome the world and it's turmoil with Jesus' help!

Amen?

Monday, August 28, 2017

Tolerate

To "tolerate" means to put up with something that you don't agree with. Don't try to fight or change it.

How should a Christ follower respond to this?

I heard this quote on the topic at the recent Global Leadership Summit, "Tolerance is for cowards. Being tolerant requires nothing from you but to be quiet and to not make waves, holding tightly to your views and judgments without being challenged. Do not tolerate each other. Work hard, move into uncomfortable territory and understand each other." - Randall Stephenson

Love God with all you have, and love the world around you like you want to be loved and accepted. That's when real change for the positive will happen.
Amen?

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Passionate Listener


We need to share the bridge to Jesus & the Good News to everyone we possibly can. We earn the right to be heard by sincerely listening to others. Consider these questions when you are listening to another person's life story.

What need is this person feeling?



What difference does Jesus make with that need?



How can I introduce the Jesus difference?



What faith story do I have that shows the difference Jesus can make with this need?



How to share the message L.I.S.T.E.N.



 Listen to their story

 Identify the difference Jesus makes with their need

 Share your story - the difference Jesus made

 Take them to the cross and the empty tomb

 Encourage them to receive Christ

 Nurture this new relationship with Christ


Always be a passionate listener for Jesus.

Saturday, August 26, 2017

Majestic


Let God’s praise be on your lips today and every day. If you need a jump start join David in his words of worship!



O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings, and crowned him with glory and honor

You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth! —Psalm 8:1–9


How will you respond to this proclamation?

Friday, August 25, 2017

First God


“First, God. God is the subject of life. God is foundational for living. If we don’t have a sense of the primacy of God, we will never get it right, get life right, get our lives right. Not God at the margins; not God as an option; not God on the weekends. God at the center and the circumference; God first and last; God, God, God.”  - Eugene Peterson



Genesis 1:1 is where it all starts! – “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Let’s break this verse down:

In – “are you in or out”, “for me or against me”, My will or your will”, “walk by sight or faith”

The beginningonset, a starting time or place, the first part” - starts where you are and starts right now

God – created-destroyed-saved-promised-conquered-punished-was quiet-sent Jesus-lived-died-rose from the grave-is coming back

Created – came in to being/formed/changed/brought forth/originated/made happen

The Heavens – destination – glory – perfection – holiness – light - Revelation

And the Earth – where we are, to live out our purpose, and life.


Are you ready to start?

Thursday, August 24, 2017

First Things First


When you look at the world around you, what do you see?



The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. - Psalm 19:1–4



The creation around us is proof of God’ existence. It’s hard to look at God’s beautiful handiwork though when we see so much ugliness created by people.  Just because the world denies Him doesn’t change the truth. According to the Bible even those who do not believe are without excuse.



What may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
Romans 1:19–20



Open your eyes to the reality of God, the Creator, and let your heart make Him Lord. Amen?

Wednesday, August 23, 2017

God First

I was thinking about these two great promises of God that allows Him to be first in our life.

The Lord reigns: The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name—he is holy. The King is mighty, he loves justice— you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy. Moses and Aaron were among his priests,  Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the Lord and he answered them. He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them. Lord our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy. and worship at his holy mountain, or the Lord our God is holy. - Psalm 99

The Lord restores: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)  and find out what pleases the Lord. –Ephesians 5:8-10

God is on His throne and He desires us to be in His light. Amen and Amen - How does this look in your life?

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Jesus Kingdom


We need to learn more about the "Kingdom of heaven" that Jesus taught on, and is central to the Christian faith. Look at what Christ had to say about His kingdom.

Matthew 3:2  - "the kingdom of heaven is at hand. 

Matthew 5:3- "theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:19 - "enter the kingdom of heaven"



In Matthew 13 Jesus explains what this kingdom is all about.


Matthew 13:11- 13 -  He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

Matthew 13:24-33 - Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared.  27 “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’28 “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.“The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’29 “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”

31 He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”



33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pour of flour until it worked all through the dough.”



Separation will occur between believers and unbelievers when we die.



God’s Kingdom is bigger and more awesome than we could imagine



A “change” must happen in one’s life to be in the kingdom.



Always be kingdom and heavenly minded.

Monday, August 21, 2017

Great Offer

Forgiveness and cleansing are what God offers to everyone through Jesus Christ. It allows us to come before a holy and pure God. It is through Christ's perfection, sacrifice, salvation, and forgiveness that we can have a right relationship with Him. The Apostle John tells us in his first letter:

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us. My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. - 1 John 1:5-2:2

Accept all that Jesus has to offer you today.

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Sharing Stories

One great method in sharing your faith is called the Three Stories - 1. Their Story: Reveals felt needs 2. Your Story relative to their story 3. God’s Story - The Ultimate Cure.

 Remember what God's Word teaches us in Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentiles.
A Great Outline for your story should contain:

1. Your Life before Christ.(Related to their need)

2. How you received Christ - (How did you hear about Jesus? - What did you hear about Jesus?  How did you respond to Jesus?)

3. Your Life after receiving Christ (The difference He made)

Know and share your story how Jesus came in to your life.
Amen?

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Heart's Desire


Ascending the mountain of the Lord is symbolic to coming in to His glorious presence. The psalmist instructs us on what is required by God to stand before Him. As sinners, we have separated ourselves from a holy, pure, and righteous God. We must go through the "cleansing" process.



 “Who can ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in His Holy Place? The one who has clean hands and pure heart”. – Psalm 24:3-4

Thanks to Jesus' atoning sacrifice on the cross our sins can be forgiven. You have probably sang the song inspired by this psalm as a request to God. Give us clean hands, give us a pure heart, and not let us lift our souls to another.

Pure hands represent our outer sins, things we do (and others can see) that dishonored God. Clean hearts deal with what goes on inside us (what others cannot see) our thoughts, feelings, forgiveness, etc. Our souls to an idol reminds us to keep the first four commandments. We must keep God first and foremost in our hearts, minds, body, and soul. Love Him with all your being.



Make this your desire and song of your heart. Amen?

Friday, August 18, 2017

I Believe


Our Christian life is founded on faith, trust, and obedience. When people hear you speak do they hear, I believe
In Jesus - John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He sent His beloved Son and who ever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
I will.. love God  Luke 10:27 - He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’;
I trust… in God’s plan Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
I am ready… Christ is coming back soon Acts 1:11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.
What does the world hear from you?
May your speech always be positive, hopeful, and full of belief in Christ. Amen?

Thursday, August 17, 2017

I Hope


King David sang, May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. - Psalm 19:14 Is that what people hear coming from your mouth, I hope

So I praise… God - 1 Peter 1:3 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

So I have… Faith - Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

So I know… that I am bigger on the inside than the outside 1 Timothy 1:16 - But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

So I pray… always - Ephesians 6:18 - And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.


May our words always be full of God’s hope. Amen?

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Important Words

Words are so important. Have you ever thought about what others are hearing you concerning your relationship with God? Hopefully you have a positive one that says, I can
Do… all things - Philippians 4:13 - I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Carry out… the work He has assigned me - Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Love… because I was loved first - Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Care… about others - Matthew 22:39 And the second (greatest commandment) is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself..”
See… the Hand of God in all of creation - Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth

Practice “Can do” language today and every day. Amen?

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Bible Smarts


The Bible portrays wisdom as something that doesn’t come easily. To have wisdom implies many struggles but with understanding. It’s when we don’t understand why things are working a certain way that we are faced with the journey toward wisdom. 



Proverbs 22:17-19 - 17 Pay attention and turn your ear to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach, 18 for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips. 19 So that your trust may be in the Lord, I am teaching you today, yes you.



Proverbs 22:17-19 (TLB) Listen to this wise advice; follow it closely, for it will do you good, and you can pass it on to others: Trust in the Lord.



Psalm 119:18 (CEV) Open my mind and let me discover the wonders of your Law.



Proverbs 2:1-5 (NIV) My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.



You need to - Open your mind to knowledge, turn your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding. Amen?

Monday, August 14, 2017

Rock I Stand


We do not need to understand but we must depend on Jesus Christ (the Rock I stand)



1.     My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

o    Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.

2.    When darkness veils His lovely face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

3.    His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

4.    When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
Stand firm, stand on the truth, and stand on Christ. Amen?

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Be Different


 One definition of the word "odd" is Deviating from what is ordinary, usual, or expected; strange, different, or peculiar. I think that is a good description of a Christ follower. If we are like everybody else then how can we make a difference for Jesus?



Jesus in Matthew 5:12-16 describes Christians like this, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.



Scripture tells us that we are different - we are not from this world but just passing through. It is on this passing through journey called life that we are to make a difference in the world. We are to bring the truth of God out of the darkness and in to the light. We are not to be ashamed of the Gospel, and need to apply it to our lives.

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Hearing


A few years ago we had a minister's lunch at the church I was at for about 16 area pastors. Our church has ten different outside doors. Everyone who has been there knows to go in the side door for "eating" events. I thought it was weird that a new pastor that I talked to earlier did not show up. He called me about 20 minutes in to the lunch saying he could hear us inside, but couldn't find an unlocked door to get in! I rescued him from the parking lot, but it made me think about how the world sees the church. Do they ask the question, How do I get in?



Recently a friend told me of a funeral at his church where he encountered a group of people outside on his front lawn who asked, Is this the church, and how can we get in? That just gives me the shivers! Have we become so isolated and outdated that the world really doesn't know who, what, or where we (the body of Christ) are?



 Today ask yourself - do those around you know of Christ, and how can they have a relationship with Him?



Romans 10:12-14 tells us; …For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich to all that call on him. For whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? …

Friday, August 11, 2017

Leadership Application

"The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning." - Proverbs 14:6

I am really excited that the Global Leadership Summit is helping tens of thousands of Christians grow. I love learning from great leaders. Here are some of my favorite quotes on the subject:
Leadership is influence.
Everything rises and falls with leadership.
If you try to lead and no one follows then you're just taking a walk.
Everyone is a leader.
The first person you lead is yourself.
Lead where you are.
Wise leaders take wise risks.
No one leads alone.
To be a good leader you must be a good follower.

Why not pick one of these quotes and think about how you can apply it to your life.

Be wise - good leaders look to God for direction.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Two Are Better

I  am excited to be going to the Global Leadership Summit for the twelfth time! I heard a speaker there a few years ago talk about an experiment in dealing with stress and anxiety. Scientists had a monkey in a cage that was stressed out by loud noise and other stimuli. Nothing seemed to calm them down till they allowed the monkey's friend enter in to the same cage. Monkey buddies reduced stress by 50%!

We shouldn't be surprised. Solomon shared years ago.

Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
    But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
    two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
 
I've got a couple of monkey buddies in my life that helps me deal with stress. I pray you do too. They're also a lot of fun.
 
Apply God's wisdom - find and keep monkey buddies in your life. Amen?

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

New Being


Many times when we are suffering a health crisis we cry out to God for his great grace to ease our pain and suffering. There is a path that we need to follow to achieve this in our lives. Paul instructs Christ follower: 
So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.  They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.  Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves overto sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. That, however, is not the way of life you learned  when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. - Ephesians 4:17-24
Paul warns not to act like and think like the world. It will cause you to be separated from God and develop a hard heart and depraved mind. Instead follow the truth of Christ and become "new" in your thinking and actions. You were created (and redeemed) to be forgiven, holy and righteous.
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who long for your saving help always say, “The Lord is great!” - Psalm 40:16
Regardless of your circumstances today you can turn to Christ and become a new being in Him. Through the power of the Holy Spirit all change is possible. Amen?

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Live Out

Direction and purpose can be found throughout the Bible. Consider what Hebrews 10:23-25 says,  23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching

These verses speak volumes in to a believers life. 
1. Hold on to your hope in Christ.
2. Jesus is faithful to His promises.
3. Help other believers to live a life full of God's love and obedience.
4. Do not stop being the church! Fellowship and coming together is essential.
5. Encourage each other when you are together.
6. Jesus is coming back soon!
Live out the Word of God everyday. Amen?

Monday, August 7, 2017

Prayers That Count

I love this prayer by Paul found in Colossians chapter 1:3-14.


We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints— the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Pray this right now for yourself and for someone who God has laid on your heart. Pray the Word of God daily.

Sunday, August 6, 2017

Friendships

Do you remember the story of healing found in Mark 2:1-­12, A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, 11 “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Have you ever tried to bring a friend to Jesus?

Despite what it may cost, Jesus came to save sinners, and we have a great responsibility to guide them to Him.

Don't we all have friends who need the forgiveness of Jesus?  Are we urgent about it?

There was two healings that took place in this passage; 1. The man was healed from being paralyzed. 2. The man’s sins were forgiven (eternal healing).

Are we afraid of how others will react, or perhaps of how Jesus will react to our efforts?

What sacrifices will you make to bring others to Jesus?