Bringing People to Jesus

“And they come unto Him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.” (Mark 2:3)

By now you are familiar with the rest of this story in the life of Jesus. When we left off last time Jesus was in a crowded house where He was preaching the Word to the standing room only crowd. When we pick up the story today we find a paralyzed man being carried by four others.

From what I have read of this man’s disease, in those days there was no cure for him short of a miracle. He knew he needed a miracle, his four companions apparently knew it and certainly, Jesus knew it. He was desperately ill. Perhaps all he could think about was being healed, being well and able to make a living as he perhaps had done before.

There were four stretcher bearers. Likely there was a man at each corner of the stretcher. It took a lot of strength, effort and cooperation to get this far. Someone suggested the names of these four men were Vision, who first saw the man, Sympathy, who himself had been ill with the same disease, Perseverance, who would not give up and Faith who knew Jesus could heal him. It takes all those to bring people to Jesus.

He Preached the Word

“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." (Mark 2:2)

Jesus was in a house in Capernaum. We do not know the size of the house, nor how many rooms, whether one, two or more, or the size of the rooms. We do know that there was a large crowd, so many they could not all get in where Jesus was. I remember going to church and folks who could not get inside standing on the outside around the open windows and doors to hear men of God preaching the Word of God.

Our text says that Jesus preached the Word to them. I would love to have heard the Master Preacher of all preachers as He preached the Word. He could preach to a crowd, as here, or out on the hillside as He preached the Sermon on the Mount to that multitude. Or He could preach to one man named Nicodemus one night, or a Samaritan woman by herself at Jacob’s well.

If you do not like to hear men of God preach the Word of God you would not have liked Jesus. The Bible says, “…it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (I Corinthians 1:21)

Invite Jesus to Live at Your House

"And again He entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that He was in the house.” (Mark 2:1)

It must have been a special privilege for the Savior to come to Capernaum for a second visit. When He was there the first time He cast out demons, healed Simon’s mother-in-law and healed a centurion’s servant. Jesus’ visits were sometimes hurried and brief. There were places He never visited at all.

When one senses that Jesus is “coming by,” it is wise to take advantage of that opportunity. Word got out that Jesus was in Capernaum and that He was in a certain house. I wonder whose house it was. Was Jesus invited to that house or did He just happen to be passing by? And, I also wonder, has He been to your house lately? Did Jesus make any changes in your house and did you invite Him to stay? Has word gotten out, do people know that Jesus is in your house?

Invite Jesus to come to your house and give Him the keys. Put Him in charge of the language spoken there, the clothing worn, the beverages consumed and the entertainment enjoyed.  

Lord, Send a Revival

“A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth. O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.” (Habakkuk 3:1-2)

Sometimes nations as well as individuals become so wicked that God must bring judgment on that nation or person. Such was the case of Judah in the days of Habakkuk the prophet.

It was about 626 BC that the Southern kingdom of Judah was headed for destruction by the hands of the Chaldeans under Nebuchadnezzar. The prophet was fearful and reminded God that He (God) was of purer eyes than to behold iniquity. Surely, God would not deliver the Jews to that wicked nation, the Chaldeans. But the prophet sees the enemy of God, the enemy of Judah coming, God having sent them in judgment on the unrepentant people of God. They would go into captivity for their sins.

Many years ago I heard evangelist Billy Graham say that if God allows America to continue on in her present path of sin without being brought to judgment, that God will need to apologize to Sodom and Gomarrah for destroying them for their sins.

Will you join me in praying for a spiritual awakening, a turning back to God, a genuine revival in America?

Tomorrow?

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.”(Proverbs 27:1)

I’m not sure if the revelers last Thursday evening were celebrating because the year 2015 was gone, or because 2016 had arrived, or a little bit of both. I suspect that many of them did not know why they were celebrating.

I am sure of one thing put to music by a writer many years ago, 

     “I don’t know about tomorrow, I just live from day to day, 

          I don’t borrow from its sunshine for its skies may turn to gray. 

     I don’t worry o’er the future, for I know what Jesus said, 

          and today I’ll walk beside Him, for He knows what is ahead. 

     Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand; 

          but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.” 

               (Copyright, 1950 by Ira Stamphill)

Live every day with Jesus. Let Him be your Savior and constant companion. Don’t say “I’ll do it tomorrow.” Tomorrow is too uncertain. Take care of that major decision today, right now.

Heed the Advice of Jesus

“Tell us, when shall these things be?” (Matthew 24:3)

Man has an insatiable appetite for wanting to know when Jesus is coming again. We have heard all sorts of speculative forecasts into future events related to His return and the end of the world. In the mid 1980’s three comets were supposed to line up in perfect order and then, watch out, the following October the second coming would take place. The date came and went and as you know, nothing happened. The forecasters said, “Oh, we miscalculated by a year. But, watch out next year.”  I can almost hear that woman’s voice on my GPS in my car: “Recalculate. Recalculate. Recalculate.”

Jesus gave His disciples two pieces of advice which would serve us well to heed. First, He said, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” (Matthew 24:36) God alone knows the date of the return of Christ. Man’s speculation from ignorance only confuses folks and never helps. The second piece of advice is,“Therefore, be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” (Matthew 24:44) Our concern is to be ready all the time. Be expecting Him any hour of any day or night.

Could Jesus return in 2016? He could, but I am not speculating. He could return today, tonight, this month, this year or next year. Someone reminded us that we are not on the time and place committee. We are on the welcome committee. We are to be ready.

The Crowning of the Year

"Thou crownest the year with thy goodness; and thy paths drop fatness.” (Psalm 65:11)

David was not without his faults but he knew how to praise God and to be thankful. He acknowledged God as the source of all his blessings. God was seen as the giver of water to the parched earth. David saw the hillsides blessed with flocks of sheep. God softened the clods of dirt with water, softening the earth so that the seeds sowed there would more easily germinate, producing a good crop.

In their day a year was made up of 360 days. God crowned the year with His goodness. We just finished a year which had 365 days. God crowned 2015 with His goodness. Yes, there were some terrible events globally; mass shootings, wars and threats of wars, floods, tornadoes and earthquakes. Close to home loved ones became sick and many died. But the year was crowned with God’s goodness. He did not leave us nor forsake us in the hard times.

He is giving us one extra day in 2016. With February having 29 days this is a leap year. We will have 366 days to enjoy God’s blessings on us. He will crown this year, 2016, with His goodness. There will be problems, just like our Savior said. But, He also said,“Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Look for and enjoy His blessings this year.