Title: Look at Their Faith
Contents
bsp; Mark 2:1-12
bsp; Today's sermon tells a very surprising story. This is the story of breaking through the roof to meet Jesus. There are stories of people singing with a high voice to meet Jesus or climbing a mulberry tree to meet Jesus, but the stories of people breaking through the roof like this are truly surprising stories.
bsp; Jesus came to a town called Capernaum and preached the gospel. People brought a paralytic man on stretchers to the place where Jesus was. But it was impossible to get close to Jesus because there were so many people there. So they climbed to the top of the roof. And then the roof was torn off. Finally, on the roof that had been opened, the stretcher was strapped to your ears and put down in front of Jesus. Eventually, the sick man met Jesus and was healed, and his soul was also saved. This is what it is.
bsp; The phrase that stands out in today's text is 'as if'. It is not the paralytic's own faith, but the word that He healed him 'just as'. That sail? What kind of belief?
bsp; First, it was the faith to hear the sail.
‘…When he entered Capernaum, there were rumors that he was in the house’ (1). Rumor is the modern word for information. I have preached on the subject of three pieces of information. People hear, follow, and act on this and that information, but the really important information that changes lives is that humans have souls. There is an eternal kingdom of God. And to that kingdom is to go through the grace of Jesus Christ on the cross. In fact, this is the content of the Bible, that is, the content of the gospel.
bsp; Today, how many people are not being saved because they have not heard the good news - the good news? There are so many people with such closed ears to hearing the word of God that is directly related to the salvation of their souls, although the world's gossip and information for entertainment are so bright. How many others hear the Word with the ears of the flesh, but not with the soul, and ultimately do not hear it?
The Lord said.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door,
I will go in to him and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20
bsp; Salvation begins with hearing. So do all relationships. A relationship begins with listening. A person who does not listen cannot establish a relationship. Such a person is a person trapped within himself. A disconnected person. The history of salvation also begins with hearing. By listening to the Word, your relationship with God is opened. It is said that faith comes from hearing (Romans 10:17). This is because true faith begins with hearing the Word. Hearing with the ear is not hearing. Hearing by faith. Hearing with the soul. No matter how much you hear the word of God with your ears, if you do not listen with your soul, you have not heard it. To hear the voice of the Lord and open the door means to hear with the ears of the soul.
bsp; Dear brothers and sisters, I hope you will listen to the Word of God by faith. Please listen with your soul. I hope that you will have such faith by saying that the Word is so. At that time, I believe that the work of healing, the work of restoration, and the work of grace will begin within you as well.
bsp; Second, the sail was faith in action.
When these people heard the gospel, they acted immediately for the paralytic, even though it was not their own business. This is where the miracle has already begun. Change has just begun. Healing has just begun. Faith is action. Faith is not a thought. Faith is not an emotion. If you are truly moved, you are bound to act. Faith is action. Faith that stays only in thoughts cannot be a powerful faith. True faith is followed by action.
bsp; I saw on TV that we Koreans did public service advertisements like this about donating or being passive about doing good things. If you ask someone who weeps while listening to stories about their neighbors in need, have you ever helped them? ‘I should have done it, but I haven’t done it yet.’ But we can’t do it yet.’ Most of them answered that way. Thought is there, but action is not. That ‘yet…’ will last a lifetime.
bsp; In the text, it was faith in action, the sail that Jesus said, ‘Last day? It would be better if I went to Jesus... It wasn't just a thought, it was faith after carrying a stretcher. Although he actually came to Jesus, there were several obstacles. However, it was a belief in action that transcends obstacles. It was a faith that never gave up. There is no giving up in faith. Giving up is used only when counting cabbages, and is never used for faith. He said, “If it is possible, what do you mean? Nothing is impossible for those who believe” (Mark 9:23).
bsp; These people heard rumors about Jesus and came to Jesus, but there were many barriers to meeting Jesus. First of all, I couldn't go to Jesus because people were blocking my way. It hit people's walls. So they went up to the roof and started tearing down the roof. He lowered the bed among the people who were startled, and eventually met Jesus and received the blessing of healing.
bsp; When people want to have the right faith, the first blockage is the human wall. Since all human affairs are made in relationships with people, the life of faith is also made by people, but it is also a problem because of people. Among those who want to believe for the first time, there are those who want to believe in themselves, but do not have the courage to believe because of the face of the people around them. Some people want to believe in Jesus, but some people who believe in Jesus first see an unrighteous life of faith and get hurt and quit. Some people want to lead a religious life, but others give up because they can't break through the wall of laziness.
bsp; The second wall is the wall of the environment. When you try to believe in Jesus, you may suddenly have problems in your family. This is because Satan tries to tempt those who are trying to be zealous. However, it is only a threatening shot and can never break God's people. However, in many cases, they fail to break through the walls of this environment and give up their faith. Also, if you try to start a life of faith in a family without faith, persecution may come. In some cases, work or economic conditions are not suitable for a religious life. The weakness of the body can become a wall.
bsp; There is also a wall of sin. There are people who have a willing heart, but are weak in the flesh, unable to make a decision and fall into the temptation of sin. This sin eventually builds up a high wall with God, making it impossible to meet the Lord. You have to set your own direction and make a decision, and if you pray and ask for the help of the Holy Spirit, you will surely fall apart.
bsp; I ran with faith, but there were walls like this that stood in the way of Jesus and him. I couldn't get close to Jesus at once as I thought. However, no wall could stop this man's earnestness and longing faith. In the end, I even drilled through the roof. It was this faith that allowed us to overcome the walls of people, through the walls of our environment, and draw near to the Lord.
bsp; When the chicks come out, it takes several hours to break the shell and come out. At that time, it is said that people should not peel it with their hands. It is said that through the process of waking up on their own, you gain strength in your muscles, breathe in air, and gain the strength to adapt to your new environment. In order for us to have sincere faith, we must tear down the walls that stand in our way. It is only possible through faith in action. Faith cannot be replaced by anyone. I have to make a decision on my own and break down the wall on my own. ‘At that time?? It was faith in action that could overcome any difficulties.
bsp; Third, the sail was devoted faith.
When he saw the sick man coming down through the wall and healed him, the Lord said that he had healed his physical ailments with remission of sins “just as”. In fact, this miracle is more precious and greater in the faith of the four men who brought him than the faith of the sick man himself. It was these people who heard the news, and it was these people who brought the sick. The zeal to climb to the roof belonged to them, and the devotion that worked together through the roof belonged to the four people. He became one with faith and devoted himself to his brother.
bsp; Faith is not alone in loneliness. The works of grace and blessings are manifested in giving thanks for the love you have received, caring for them, praying for and devoting yourself. Toil and sweat for others is the fragrance of faith. A prayer for others, service to others, even a drop of tears for others, God never sees in vain. That will soon become a fruit of blessing for me.
To have mercy on the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay them for their good deeds. Proverbs 19:17
The four of us labored, giving up face for one paralytic. Jesus valued that faith and devotion. So, Jesus blessed not only this sick man, but also these four, and saved their souls.
bsp; Dear saints, the life of faith is being healed, restored, and enjoying a life of joy. In order to be healed, receive grace, and enjoy a life of joy, please remember today's Word. We believe that amazing works of grace will appear for all of us every day when we listen to the Word by faith, break through walls and draw closer to God, and dedicate ourselves with joy. Even if there are thick walls that stand in our way, please move forward with faith. At that time, I believe that God will fulfill the works of faith and miracles. With this belief, I bless you too that your life will always be overflowing with grace and joy.