Title: Look at Our Faith
Content: Seeing our faith Matthew 9:1-8
When Jesus came to Capernaum again after the miracle of calming the waves and taught the Word, there was a crowd of people. At that time, precious friends of the paralytic who could not control themselves came to Jesus. The friends discussed that they would heal a friend, and they put it on a stretcher and looked for the Lord, but because there were so many people, they couldn't come to Jesus. Jesus saw the faith of his friends and healed them.
I would like to share some grace with this text. A paralytic means a poor person who cannot achieve salvation on his own without someone helping. This paralytic is a person who has no hope for himself and will die if no one helps him. And the paralytic is a person who cannot know Jesus unless I evangelize spiritually, and he is bound to die forever. Are there no such people around us? How can such a person believe in Jesus and receive eternal life?
First, your friend had a beautiful hope. He wanted to meet Jesus and heal him.
second. Your friend had unshakable faith. Because he believed that only Jesus could heal the disease, he was able to get through the roof and through the many people to come to Jesus. How could the tiles be removed and the roof pierced? It would have been impossible without the trust of my friends.
Third, in your friend's heart, there was a passionate love for your friend. It was a heart of mourning love that had to heal a friend. Compassion comes from pride, but true love begins with compassion. Your friend had a heart of mourning for a soul that was more precious than the world.
What did your friend do to cure a loved one's paralysis?
first. Four friends gathered their hearts and cooperated. Often times you can't do it alone. It's better if you take a blank slate. Even if it is difficult alone, if we do it together, we will show joy and scary power. Koreans do well alone, but do not know how to cooperate. The two cows going to Beth Shemesh knew how to cooperate. Let's all unite our hearts to save souls.
second. sacrificed a lot. Give your time, give your money, don't spare your money to save a soul!
third. I made an active and specific plan. A soul-saving operation plan is absolutely necessary. (phone calls, visits, meals, letters, phone calls, prayers, etc.)
fourth. Any obstacle was overcome. There must have been several crises. I could have gone back because of so many people, but I overcame it. Satan is not complacent when he strives for the salvation of souls. You have to overcome this.
There is one theological caveat in this text. Can a friend be saved by a friend's faith? In other words, can other people be saved through the faith of others? Through evangelism, physical ailments can be healed by the faith of a friend, but the salvation of souls is achieved only through one's confession of faith. The paralytic was healed by the friendship and faith of four friends, and his soul was saved by his confession of faith.
When Jesus healed ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19, nine went away and only one came to Jesus to give thanks. Then Jesus said that your faith has saved you. Nine healed their physical ailments, but their souls were not saved. Today, this paralytic was healed by his friend's faith and his soul was saved through his own faith.
concluding remarks
Do not turn away from the loved one whom I need to save today, do not pass by, and do not delay.
How can you bring them to Jesus? Don't try to evangelize alone, but work together with your family. Hope your friends cooperate. How will you evangelize? Make a specific plan, pay the price, don't give up, and go to the end. 27 million to God! 270,000 to Seomun Church!