August 18- 19, 2007 GOD CAN!                            Mark 2: 7, Selected

Meet Our Greatest Needs!

(Senior Pastor Roger Storms)

*** Mark 1:34a “So Jesus healed great numbers of sick people who had many different kinds of diseases, and he ordered many demons to come out of their victims.” [New Living Translation]

*** Mark 2:1-2 “Several days later Jesus returned to Capernaum, and the news of his arrival spread quickly through the town. Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there wasn't room for one more person, not even outside the door. And he preached the word to them.” [NLT]

*** Mark 2:3-5 “Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn't get to Jesus through the crowd, so they dug through the clay roof above his head. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man,….” [NLT]

*** Mark 2:5 “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My son, your sins are forgiven." [NLT]
I’ve viewed this “needs” thing backwards!

My Greatest Need is Forgiveness!

*** Eph. 2:1-5 “In the past you were spiritually dead because of your sins and the things you did against God. Yes, in the past you lived the way the world lives, following the ruler of the evil powers…. In the past all of us lived…trying to please our sinful selves and doing all the things our bodies and minds wanted. We should have suffered God's anger because of the way we were. But God's mercy is great, and he loved us very much. Though we were spiritually dead because of the things we did against God, he gave us new life with Christ. You have been saved by God's grace.” [New Century Version]

*** Mark 2:6-9 “But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there said to themselves, "What? This is blasphemy! Who but God can forgive sins!" Jesus knew what they were discussing among themselves, so he said to them, "Why do you think this is blasphemy? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Get up, pick up your mat, and walk'? [NLT]

Blasphemy = intentionally speaking improperly about or against God!

*** Mark 2:10-11 “I will prove that I, the Son of Man, have the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, take your mat, and go on home, because you are healed!" [NLT]

Jesus Teaches 3 Things:

• God CAN Forgive Sins!

• I, Jesus AM God!

• To show you that I CAN forgive, I’ll show you I can heal!
*** Mark 2:12 “The man jumped up, took the mat, and pushed his way through the stunned onlookers. Then they all praised God. "We've never seen anything like this before!" they exclaimed.” [NLT]

*** Luke 7:37-38 “A certain immoral woman heard he was there and brought a beautiful jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.” [NLT]

*** Luke 7:39 “When the Pharisee who was the host saw what was happening and who the woman was, he said to himself, "This proves that Jesus is no prophet. If God had really sent him, he would know what kind of woman is touching him. She's a sinner!" [NLT]

*** Luke 7:43 “Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt." [NLT]

*** Luke 7:44-47a “Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn't offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn't give me a kiss of greeting, but she has kissed my feet again and again from the time I first came in. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. [47] I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love.” [NLT]

*** Luke 7:47b-48 “But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love." Then Jesus said to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven." [NLT]

*** James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” [New International Version]

IT WILL:

• Deepen your relationship with God!
*** Psalm 51:14 “Forgive me…, O God who saves; then I will joyfully sing of your forgiveness!” [NLT]

• Mend your relationship with others!
*** Col. 3:13 “Get along with each other, and forgive each other. If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you.” [New Century Version]

• Relax your relationship with yourself!
*** Psalm 32:5 “Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the Lord." And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” [NLT]