Wanting Change
Wanting Change
Luke 5:17-26 (NIV) 17One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” 21The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
Things that can paralyze us:
Our fears about the future.
Our regrets about our past.
Our doubts about our abilities.
How will Jesus help me change?
1. Jesus will ease my fears.
Matthew 9:2 (NLT) Some people brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child!...”
Proverbs 12:25 (NLT) Anxiety in your heart weighs you down, but an encouraging word cheers you up.
1 Peter 5:7 (NLT) Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you.
Psalm 34:4 (NIV) I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.
2. Jesus will eliminate my guilt.
Luke 5:20 (NIV) When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
3. Jesus will enable me to do the impossible.
Mark 2:10-12 (NLT) Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, take your mat, and go on home, because you are healed!” 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.
Mark 10:27 (NIV) Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Growing Deeper Together (Group Discussion Questions)
Use these points throughout the week as part of your quiet time, in your small group, or over coffee with a friend to help you apply what you learned in today’s message.
Spend some time in reflection and introspection. What are areas of your life that you think could benefit from changes? Do you think they are the same ones God would identify? What would he ask you to work on that you didn’t (or didn’t want to) identify?
Which of the three things that can paralyze did you relate to the most?
Do you have confidence that Jesus will do each of the items in the second section? Step forward in faith and trust him to walk with you on this journey of transformation!
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