How Will You Respond To Jesus?
Mark 2:1-12
Many times I have heard Dr. Adrian Rogers say: “You Are Free to Choose, You Are Not Free to Not to Choose, You Are Not Free to Choose the Consequences of Your Choice”
Friend, you have a choice to make. You must choose “How You Will Respond To Jesus”Since His birth men and women have had to make a choice. That choice is whether accept Him or reject Him.
Years ago my pastor and I went out to visit a man and share Jesus with him. We shared the gospel and asked the man if he would like to pray to receive Christ. The man said that he was not ready. The pastor said ok and we continued to talk to him about his family, his work and other issues involved in small talk. Before we left, Bro, Smith asked the man “Will you shake my hand before I leave?” the man said “well of course I will.” Bro. Smith said “ok, shake my left hand if you want to go to hell or my right hand if you want to go to heaven.” The man refused. He thought he had found a loophole out of that scenario. But you see, even though he refused to shake the pastors hand he still made a choice. If you attempt to ignore the conviction of the Holy Spirit or attempt to procrastinate and put things off you are still choosing to reject Jesus Christ.
We have countless examples throughout history of those who rejected Jesus:.
a) At His Birth: No room in the inn.
b) During His Life: Pharisees, Sadducees, The Jews, The crowd {give us Barabbas} Pontus Pilate.
c) At The Cross: The man who said “If thou art the Christ, save thyself & us”
d) After His resurrection: Some still refuse to believe
e) Throughout History: Countless souls have rejected Him.
f) Today: Many (maybe even you) will reject Jesus Christ.
Though there is no shortage of those who would reject the Savior, there are also countless lives that have been changed as a result of surrendering to Jesus. Along with the way one responds to Jesus, come the consequences of that response. - John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Even if you have surrendered to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and have been born again. You too must examine “How you will respond to Jesus” The same Christ that saves you, moves in your life daily; calling you, guiding you & convicting you.
1) For the lost man, you must choose whether to accept Christ or to reject Him.
2) For the saved man, you must choose between obedience & disobedience.
So, how will you respond? That is the subject I would like to consider today. I would like to pose 5 questions to you today in order to answer the question “How Will You Respond To Jesus” The first question we will consider is:
I. Will You Draw Near? - v1a and again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.v2 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
When Jesus entered Capernaum we are told that “it was noised that he was in the house.” Word traveled through this town quicker than gossip on Facebook. Jesus was there and the people were excited.
In the past few days Jesus had:
1) Healed a leper
2) Healed a paralyzed man
3) Healed Peter’s Mother-in-law
4) Healed many other sick folks
5) Cast out MANY demons
6) Preached with authority and power
As a church this should show us something. Lives will not be changed because we have the best programs, the most people, great singing, good preaching, pretty buildings or a lot of activity. Lives will be changed when it is “noised abroad” that Jesus is in the house! We have a responsibility to share the news that Jesus is in the house. (more on this in a moment) But for those of you who are here today and you don’t know Jesus personally. I want you to understand that He is still working miracles today.
He has the power to work great miracles in your life today.The most important miracle that you could ever receive is the miracle of salvation. That is the reason that He came to this earth in the first place. He Himself said that He had come to “seek and save that which was lost” What was lost? Better yet who was lost …YOU WERE! But Jesus came to work a miracle in your life!
When Jesus was on this earth He gave an invitation and that invitation is open to you today - Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
You have the opportunity for eternal life if you will turn to Jesus. You are here today for a reason. God ordained it that you are here today. You are here so that you can hear that the answer to your sin problem is Jesus Christ.
The question you must answer is “Will You Draw Near?” The next question is for the believer and it is this:
II. Will You Bring Others? - v3 And they come unto him, bring one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
As a result of the people spreading the news that Jesus was in town - v2b the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. There was a large crowd that came to see Jesus. In fact there was so many people that no one else could get in the door. This is what happens when Jesus is in the house.
1. Many people that need to know Jesus are not hearing about Him because people are not spreading the news that He is in the house.
2. Many are not spreading the news that He is in the house because they have not seen Him in the house in a LONG TIME!
3. In some cases the reason people haven’t seen Him is because He is not there!
Anne Graham Lotz - “for several years now Americans in a sense have shaken their fist at God and said, God, we want you out of our schools, our government, our business, we want you out of our marketplace. And God, who is a gentleman, has just quietly backed out of our national and political life, our public life. Removing his hand of blessing and protection. - I couldn’t agree with Sister Lotz more and furthermore I believe many churches have done the same thing!
Jesus told the Church at Ephesus to “Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.”
The church today has strayed so far from its original intent. But praise God there are some churches where Jesus is still the focus.(I pray that we are one of them!)
Notice the example of the 4 brethren that brought this man to Jesus - v3And they come unto him, bring one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.
These men knew that Jesus was the answer. Maybe they had witnessed some of Jesus’ other miracles. Maybe they were one of those “many” that Jesus had already healed. They had a burden for this man. They cared enough to invest in him. They did not let the crowd hinder them from their mission. “They broke up the roof and went in by any means necessary”
Do you have confidence that Jesus can help your loved one? Do you have a burden for others? Will you take the time to invest into someone’s life and go further than “telling them about Jesus?” Will you go as far as to bring them to Jesus?
We live in a day and age when “so called Christians” won’t even bring their children to church! But years from now when that same child begins to rebel and live like the devil, those same parents will come to church and ask us to pray for their “wayward child”
In some fashion these men who were carrying this man had experienced Jesus in a mighty way. I am convinced that many of those who refuse to bring others to Jesus, simply haven’t experienced Him themselves! I know this, I want every person in my family, everyone I consider a friend and those that I don’t even know to experience the PEACE, Joy & VICTORY that can only come through a personal relationship with Jesus! The next question is:
III. Will You Trust Religion? - v5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,)
After Jesus told this man “Son, your sins are forgiven” the religious leaders began to think to themselves “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
Their statement that “Only God can forgive sins” was a very true statement:
Isaiah 43:25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. - God
Micah 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
Exodus 34:6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…
What these men did not realize was that Jesus was and still is GOD!
Understand this, they did not verbalize their thoughts, “Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were reasoning within themselves”Jesus asked them if "They thought it was easier to heal a disease than to bid away sin?”He then goes on to tell the paralyzed man “I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins” These men were directly opposed to what Jesus was doing.
Further into the Gospels we will see that the “religious leaders” will constantly oppose the work of Jesus Christ.
Mark 2:24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?
Mark 3:6 And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
Mark 8:11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
Mark 10:2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.
People seem to be opposed to what they do not understand. (ESPECIALLY RELIGOUS FOLKS!)
The word Pharisee comes from a Hebrew word that means “to separate".
a) Pharisees were extremely accurate concerning the law of Moses
b) Much of their creed and beliefs were sound, But their system of religion was a form and nothing more.
c) They had very lax morals and Jesus referred to them as a “generation of vipers”
d) They were self righteous and filled with pride.
There are those today who are much like the Pharisees. They are opposed to what they don’t understand. Some are self righteous hypocrites (like the Pharisees) There are many who trust their “religion” to get them to Heaven. The Bible speaks in II Timothy 3:5 of those who “have a form of Godliness but deny the power thereof” There is no shortage of “religious people in our day”. Friend, religion will send you straight to Hell! The only hope of eternal life is found in Jesus Christ.
Today people get so caught up in so many “isms”
1) Fanaticism - You see these folks that are all hyped up and passionate about worship but they could care less about the Word as long as they have the hype (base their salvation & relationship with Jesus on emotions and goose bumps) Much of what we see sweeping across our country today is nothing more than a performance. From the “seeker friendly” mega churches all the way down to the local churches.
2) Legalism - Someone said “legalism is our attempt to offer God the produce of our own hands.” - Much like Cain, we imagine God is pleased with the harvest of human righteousness. As a result we become do-gooders, moralists, or crusaders for a cause… in our own strength.If you base your salvation on church membership, the work of your hands or baptism alone you are in a mess. JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY!
3) Traditionalism - Is defined as the systematic emphasis on the value of tradition
Simply put, traditionalism is doing things a certain way, because that is how it has always been done
A young woman was preparing a ham dinner. After she cut off the end of the ham, she placed it in a pan for baking. Her friend asked her,” Why did you cut off the end of the ham"? And she replied ,"I really don't know but my mother always did, so I thought you were supposed to." Later when talking to her mother she asked her why she cut off the end of the ham before baking it, and her mother replied, "I really don't know, but that's the way my mom always did it." A few weeks later while visiting her grandmother, the young woman asked, "Grandma, why is it that you cut off the end of a ham before you bake it?" Her grandmother replied, "Well dear, otherwise it would never fit into my baking pan."
If your rationale behind why or how you do something (for God or in the church) is because that is the was it has always been done, or that is the old time way, or that is the way mama & daddy did it, then you are dead wrong. The true test should be IS IT BIBLICAL!!! There is such a divide in the church today between the different generations. The young hate the old way and the old won’t tolerate the new way and the Devil is having a field day! It is time that we remove our religious rituals and simply worship & serve JESUS!
A19th-century Danish theologian Soren Kierkegaard identified two kinds of religion :
Religion A - The first is "faith" in name only It's the practice of attending church without genuine faith in the living Lord.
Religion B - Is life-transforming, destiny-changing experience. It's a definite commitment to the crucified and risen Savior, which establishes an ongoing personal relationship between a forgiven sinner and a gracious God.
These “religious leaders” were opposed to Jesus. Will you allow your religion, fanaticism, legalism, or traditionalism to cause you to be opposed to what Jesus is trying to do? (Source: Sermonillustrations.com)
Will you trust religion? If so you are headed down the wrong path! The opposite of trusting religion is following Jesus, which leads us to the next question:
IV. Will You Follow Him? - v11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all;
Jesus did not let the religious folk hider His work. He addressed it and then got back to the task at hand.
Note: If we, as a result of our personal preferences (the things we just examined) refuse to let God move here at Stockdale, He will ultimately accomplish His will, He will just do it elsewhere! Jesus looked at this man, gave Him a command and changed his life forever! If you are here today and you have realized that you have been trusting religion to get you to heaven, you can leave that erroneous mindset behind today. Look to Jesus and do what He commands. REPENT AND TRUST HIM TODAY!
Notice, as soon as Jesus spoke to this man, HE WAS CHANGED! Jesus has that same power today and He can change you forever! WILL YOU FOLLOW HIM? If you are following Him today, I pose one last question to you….
V. Will You Offer Praise? - V12b Insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.
The people that were present were absolutely amazed at the miracle wrought before there eyes. They all watched at a paralyzed man just got up and walked! We are told that they “glorified God”
When the people of God “draw near” …and when they “Bring others” …and when folks stop “trusting religion” …and begin to “follow Him” there will be much cause for praising God! If we will follow the examples that have been put forth we will have plenty of reasons to “offer praise”
I would like to end where we began. With this quote “You Are Free to Choose, You Are Not Free to Not to Choose, You Are Not Free to Choose the Consequences of Your Choice”
i. Will You Draw Near?
ii. Will You Bring Others?
iii. Will You Trust Religion?
iv. Will You Follow Him?
v. Will You Offer Praise?
HOW WILL YOU RESPOND TO JESUS?
