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Luke 5:12-26, "The Strangest Miracle" · Clifford Baptist

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  Welcome to the April 19 sermon from Clifford Baptist Church, 635 Fletcher's Level Road in Amherst. Today's scripture is Luke, chapter 5, verses 12 through 26, and the sermon is entitled the Strangest Miracle delivered today by Pastor Jeffrey Campbell.
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  A young mother in Ethiopia went through a hard struggle.
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  Momina grew up Muslim, was married, and had a young son named Mom Muhammad.
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  Her husband had died, and she became the sole provider for her and her son. There were missionaries in Ethiopia. Two women reached out to Momina during this time and witnessed to her, and she came to faith in Jesus Christ.
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  But soon after, those Muslim women who were helping her kicked her out of their house.
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  Muslim family members of hers tried to kidnap her son and raise them for themselves.
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  Momina found help with those who witnessed to her as she continues to grow in the Lord to this day. This is a true story. And to try to raise her son. That story may seem strange to you.
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  Maybe you have seen God do some strange things, some amazing things.
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  But in looking back, stepping back and look at it at the time, you say that is really strange.
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  What do we label strange?
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  Something that goes against the grain, that is not normal.
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  If it does not fall into our definition of normal, guess what? It's strange. It's weird. And sometimes we don't like those things.
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  But when we understand something happens out of our control or out of our reasoning, we continue to label it strange. The King James version of the Bible, there's a lot of good things in that and there's some hard things to understand. But the King James Version uses that word strange today.
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  And as we see that it is talking about what is happening when Jesus has shown up in in Galilee, things are unusual. He has made things uncomfortable.
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  But on the other side of things, they are extraordinary and wonderful and remarkable. Jesus is changing people's lives in Galilee. And to the people that are witnessing it, it is so strange. It's uncomfortable, but it's extraordinary. Can I tell you, today I believe God is doing some amazing things in Clifford, Virginia.
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  They are uncomfortable. They may be out of the norm, but God is doing some amazing things.
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  When we think about strange, different but extraordinary. My question to you today, what is the strangest miracle Jesus ever worked? If we think real quickly in our head, we could go down a list of maybe some things that we talked about. Last week we went fishing. Those of you that missed last Sunday, y' all missed a great fishing trip. Two boats of fish were filled. Is that the strangest thing that Jesus has done? Maybe the feeding of 5,000 or the raising of Lazarus. Maybe it's the calming of the storm or the woman with the issue of blood.
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  Maybe it's healing those who are blind or lepers or those who are crippled.
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  Maybe. Do you remember when Jesus was being arrested and Peter took that sword and he swiped for the servant's head, but he missed and he caught his ear. And Jesus healed that servant's ear. Do you remember that?
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  Maybe that's the strangest.
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  Today my prayer is that in a group of miracles that you can pick out the one that is the strangest. It's different, but it's the most extraordinary thing that Jesus has done.
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  And I'm going to give you a hint. Jesus is still doing it today.
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  Let's look at Scripture together. Luke chapter number four, starting with verse number 12 through 14.
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  And it came to pass when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy who, seeing Jesus, fell on his face and besought him, saying, lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand and touched him, saying, I will be thou clean.
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  And immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he charged him to tell no man, but go and show thyself to the priest and offer for thy cleansing according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. When we think about the strangest miracle, point number one today, is it the miracle of the cleansed leper. The cleansed leper.
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  Jesus encounters a man dealing with leprosy. And for those of you that don't understand leprosy, it is compared or called to Hansen's disease in our day. But it attacks nerves. It is a disease that is very contagious.
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  It deforms skin, it changes the skin's color, it involves growth, and it carries with it lots of. Of pain.
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  When we understand what leprosy is, there are some famous people in the Bible that have had leprosy. Many of you have heard the story of Naaman in the Old Testament. Naaman had leprosy in Second Kings, and God healed him of that leprosy. Miriam and Uzziah, King Uzziah both were stricken with leprosy because of their unbelief. And so God used it in a form in the Old Testament of punishment. And. And so what people thought is this. The people of Jesus, they thought if someone had leprosy, they must have sinned so greatly that God punished them. This was a punishment from Almighty God according to the Leviticus. I know all of you spend lots of time in Leviticus, but Leviticus chapter 13 and 14 lepers were brought before the priest.
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  And the priest would look at that person and judge them whether they are clean or unclean. I'm glad the preacher does not have to do that today. Okay, clean or unclean. And so when we understand this, that the livelihood of every man and every woman, especially those with leprosy, fell into the priest's hands, whether they were able to associate with people or not, when we look at this disease, leprosy, raw skin and scabbing and disease, those that had this disease had to wear torn clothes.
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  Their head had to be covered, but their hair had to hang loose. And here's what they had to do. They had to cover their lip when they talked like this. And they just had to say two words as they approached people, as they covered their lip, they simply had to say unclean. Unclean. Before they ever had any interaction with any other human being, they are reminded of this.
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  They are unclean.
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  Well, that's the kind of person that we meet as Jesus runs into this leper, or I like to say this, the leper comes to Jesus. We are told that he falls down on, on his face and he has simply one question for Jesus. And here's the question. Can you make me clean?
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  This man that lived on the outskirts, away from people, only told in all of his life that he is an unclean, unfit, unsocial man, falls before Jesus and simply says, this, Jesus, can you make me clean again? What does Jesus do? The Bible says simply this. Jesus reaches out and touches the man.
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  That's a no, no. He just broke the rules.
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  But he reaches out and he touches the man and immediately this man was healed. Jesus instructs this man to go before the priest, not to tell anyone. Go before the priest and show the priest be a testimony and let the priest pronounce you unclean. But here's the truth.
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  Jesus has already told him, you are clean. You have been made clean. He had a testimony, a new life, a living proof that the touch of God can literally change his life and a life that has always been associated with deep sickness against God and punishment. Jesus now cleanses the man who is untouchable, unapproachable and unclean by his actions. Jesus shows simply this that a disease named leprosy has no dominion over him and sin cannot pollute the holiness of God, of Jesus as God. And so when we think about that Jesus touched someone and, and pronounce someone clean, that he did not have the authority to do. Now, what do you think this man did? What do you think this old leper did? He probably have followed Jesus words.
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  Except he told everybody. He began to spread the word about Jesus. Jesus told him, don't say anything. But old boy didn't listen. He shared it around.
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  But here's when Jesus touches your life.
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  Let me tell you this, church. You have nothing else to do but tell somebody. If you were someone that was marred by sin and shame and Jesus forgives you, that is shareable news.
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  And that's what this leper does.
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  Now listen, you and I in God's sight. It's not the disease of leprosy that makes us unclean. It is the disease of sin.
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  And a real and honest truth. Today, there's not one person that could walk in this room with an uncovered lip without Jesus and say, I'm clean.
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  Sin has marred us.
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  And so today, when we think about the strangest, the most miraculous miracle Jesus ever performed. Is it this leper who.
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  Who is skin diseased, immediately healed. And now becomes a proclamation for the good news that Jesus has healed me. Jesus has made me clean.
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  There's another miracle.
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  Look at verses 15 and 16.
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  But so much the more went there. A fame abroad of him.
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  And great multitudes came together to hear and to be healed by him and of their infirmities. And he withdrew himself in the wilderness and prayed. The second group of miracles are the multitudes. And how many of you know that? Jesus often ministered to the crowds. As we learned last week. He preached from a boat to the crowds. But really he wanted one person. He wanted Simon Peter to hear his message. And though today I stand before you with many people, maybe there's just one person today that needs the touch and a great miracle in your life.
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  Jesus says this. The multitudes came to hear and to be healed. They came for two reasons today. I don't know why you're here. I'm not a miracle worker. I cannot heal what you have. But I know somebody that can. His name's Jesus. And if you let him into your life and if you let him into your heart. I'm not saying your physical ailments will be taken away. But you will be given spiritual strength to walk day by day, no matter what happens. The greatest miracle in the crowd.
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  They wanted to hear what Jesus had to say, but they wanted to be healed today. If you came to Clifford Baptist Church, I don't think it's an accident.
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  I don't think it's something that maybe you mark down as routine.
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  I believe that every person in this room is here by an appointment, Heavenly Father, that loves you.
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  You are on God's timetable, and God has you here amongst the multitude. But he has you listening for the greatest miracle. And the multitudes wanted to hear Jesus, but there was something going on. They desired him to do more. Maybe you're in the multitudes today and you desire Jesus to do more. Here's what I want to tell you. Keep on listening, because there's another miracle. This one's very familiar to you.
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  Look at verses 17 through 25.
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  And it came to pass on a certain day as he was teaching.
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  That there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
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  And behold, men brought in a bed. A man which was taken with palsy. And they sought means to bring him in and to lay him before him. And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in, because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
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  And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, man, thy sins are forgiven thee. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, what reason ye in your hearts? Whether it is easier to say thy sins be forgiven thee or. Or to say, rise up and walk. But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins. And he said unto the sick of the palsy. I say unto thee, arise, take up thy couch and go into thine house. And immediately he rose up before them and took up that wherein he lay. And departed to his own house, glorifying God.
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  The third miracle that we see here is that of a paralyzed man.
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  The rest of our scripture speaks to Jesus as he's not only drawn the attention of the multitudes. But he has drawn the attention of the religious critiques, the religious leaders of the day.
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  They are in someone's home and they are meeting there. But that house is packed with people from all over.
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  We are introduced to family Pharisees and to scribes. These are people who know the law, who copy the law and enforce the religious law to some extent.
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  These religious leaders come from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem. And they're all meeting together in this one house.
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  But there are four friends. These four friends have one friend that is not Doing well. And they bring him to Jesus. And the mindset and their heart is set on this. What? We've gotta get this man before Jesus. Because Jesus is doing some extraordinary things. There are way too many people on the inside. And so in Jesus day, there often was an outside set of stairs that led up to a roof. And so they take those stairs, they get up on the roof, and they begin to peel the roof back, the thatch and the tiling of the day. And then they open a hole in the roof big enough to lower their friend down to Jesus. Now, I hope this don't happen, but if something started happening up there, that'd be strange, wouldn't it? Well, that's what was happening.
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  People wanted to be near Jesus. They were doing anything and everything they could to get into his presence.
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  And these four friends knew this. If we can just get our friend to Jesus, Jesus can take care of him.
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  Oh, if we in America in 2026 had that same mindset that if we could just get our friends to Jesus, Jesus could solve and take care of all of their needs.
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  That's what their mindset was.
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  The Bible says something that is a little bit strange to me.
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  Jesus forgives this man's sin based on the friend's faith.
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  Y' all explain that to me.
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  There's a whole message there.
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  I don't believe you can be saved by the faith of your friends. But here, Jesus says, this.
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  This boy, his sins were forgiven and he was healed because of his friend's faith. And so I want to tell you today, when we understand how the Lord works, we may not know all the reasons and all the whys, but. But Jesus has the answer. And we must have the faith that is seen by others. And we must have faith that brings others to Jesus. And we must have the faith of these four friends that no matter what, we will get somebody to Jesus.
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  As this man is lowered down, unable to walk, just a few minutes would pass, and he would leave in a different way.
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  He would leave via the front door, and he entered through the roof. For some of you, y' all are superstitious, and you don't do that, right?
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  He would leave in a different way through a different entrance. He would leave walking on his own two legs for the first time ever. He's never done that before. And Jesus healed him. He's done something strange.
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  He would leave carrying a mat, a reminder.
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  This is where you were.
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  This is where you used to call home.
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  But that mat would be a testimony to anybody who's seen his Life that Jesus changed this man's life.
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  I want you to go back a little bit real quick in your Bibles. Look at verse number 17 as we are introduced to this passage. On a certain day Jesus was teaching and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by which were come out of every town of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem. Listen to the last part of the verse. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
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  Jesus was getting ready to do something in the house. Not only that would take care of this crippled man, but Jesus had the power to those that were intellectually smart to change their life if they only seen the truth of who he was.
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  Jesus entered that room, that house, that day wanting to change people's lives.
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  And he changed one because the others were so hard hearted he could not work.
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  When we think of this miracle today, it is a wonderful miracle. Strange in the way as he's brought down through the roof and strange in the way that the faith of his friends changes this man's life.
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  But many leave glorifying God.
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  Is that strange to you?
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  It's strange to me. It's different, but it's wonderful.
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  There's one more miracle.
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  I've already read it and covered it. But the greatest miracle that happens in this paralyzed man's life is not that he rises up and he walks on his own two feet out of that house.
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  It's not that he left in a different way physically than what he came in.
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  The greatest miracle in this house, maybe the greatest miracle that Jesus can perform. The strangest miracle in all the world is the the forgiveness of sin.
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  Listen to these words in verse number 20.
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  And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, man, thy sins are forgiven.
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  Notice the first thing that he doesn't do is heal him physically. The first thing that he does is heal him spiritually.
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  He forgives his sins. And the scribes and the Pharisees begin to reason saying who is this which speaketh blasphemies who can forgive sins but God alone?
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  When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, what reason ye in your heart?
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  What's going on in your heart?
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  I asked the same question today. You came to church to worship the Lord. But what's going on in your heart? What's going on in your mind that you're trying to make it reason? See if it's worthwhile, see if it's beneficial that you will lay your life down, follow Jesus as Lord. As we think about this today, the friends bring their buddy down. They Lower him down to Jesus. Jesus says, thy sins are forgiven. These four words are life changing and they also change eternity.
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  I'm grateful for these four words because they are the most extraordinary words. Thy sins are forgiven. That's not a one time transaction.
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  I'm grateful that as God forgives our sins, they are the sins of yesterday, of today and to come.
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  As God forgives, he continues to forgive over and over again.
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  But those religious leaders, these words are strange in the fact that they're not extraordinary, they're confusing.
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  And so they begin to question Jesus and say this, this man is speaking blasphemies. Who can forgive sin but God alone.
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  They had a front row seat in the house.
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  They watched the roof peel back. They watched the man lower down. And they hear Jesus say, thy sins are forgiven.
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  And they begin to question, who is this guy?
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  Only God is the one that can forgive sin. And if Jesus just forgave a sin, Jesus is claiming this.
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  I am God.
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  That's what Jesus is showing.
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  I have the power to do this.
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  But notice in verse number 22, Jesus knows what they're thinking and he answers them with this question, what reason you in your heart? What's going on in your heart? What's the problem?
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  And they simply say this as they're focused on the miracle, as they're focused on the forgiveness of sin, they have trouble relating Jesus to be God.
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  Can I tell you today that's the problem with many in the world.
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  We see Jesus as a good man, a real man, a historical man.
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  We can prove that.
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  We see Jesus as he has done miracles. And there's evidence there that Jesus performed all of these miracles.
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  But there are some people that reason in their heart and mind that Jesus, yes, he's a good man, we'll give him that. But he's not the God man.
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  And unless you make him Lord and you see him as Lord, then guess what, it's hard for your sins to be forgiven. Jesus uses that self given title as the Son of Man, that he can forgive sins and he can heal. And which one is easier? Let me ask you this church, is it easier for Jesus to forgive sin or to heal somebody?
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  Which one's easier? That's what Jesus says.
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  But you know that the Son of Man hath power on earth to forgive sins. I say unto thee, arise and take up thy couch and go into thy house.
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  When we think of the easiest or which one is the hardest, which is easier, to forgive sin or to rise and walk, the hardest one is this. The hardest one is the Miracle. Because if Jesus said, rise and walk and the man laid flat, it was all for show.
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  No one would believe Jesus. The easier miracle for Jesus is to forgive sin, to change lives for all eternity. That's easier because Jesus is the Son of God. But for you and I, let's flip the coin. Which one do we want?
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  We want Jesus to heal all their sickness and make everybody well. And we live all eternity here on this earth. And many people would flock to Jesus.
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  Is that the goal?
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  No.
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  No church.
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  We are so wrapped up in 50 and 60 and 70 and 80 and 90 years that we want God to make us all whole and all of us live to 100. But I can't promise you that with this book. But what I can promise you is when the Son of Man forgives your sin, that you'll not only live the rest of your earthly days, but you will live all eternity with the One who forgave you.
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  This was a complete miracle in a physical sense, but in a spiritual sense, it was a complete healing.
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  So I ask you this today as we close.
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  What's your greatest need around this room?
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  Our families are filled with so much.
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  We each have different needs. What is your greatest need?
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  And if I could tell you anything from this story today, here's what it's taught me. Just bring your greatest need to Jesus, and he'll take care of it.
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  And when he begins to work, put your faith in him and he will forgive your sin.
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  And he'll not only lead you one day, he will lead you all of your days.
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  That's what the Bible teaches. The strangest miracle is this. Jesus forgives us and he wants to spend eternity with you and me.
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  And so today, can you bring your greatest cares and questions and needs and just put them before the Lord?
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  Praise God that you don't have to be declared unclean by me.
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  And here's what I want you to do. If you have a need, bring it and put it on this altar, lay it before the Lord and give it to him.
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  And if you are a child of God, he will forgive you and make you whole. And I'm grateful for. For that promise and that hope. Listen to these words from Hebrews, chapter 4, verses 14 and 16.
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  Seeing that we have a great high priest that is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our profession.
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  For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, but was in all points tempted, like as we are, yet without sin.
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  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.
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  Today, what's your greatest need? Will you bring it to Jesus?
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  Maybe you've got someone on your heart. Maybe you want to be a good friend or a good parent or a good brother and sister or a good grandparent. And you need to bring somebody to Jesus that needs him.
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  You can do that through prayer, certainly.
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  But we can do that when we petition God.
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  Maybe today there's somebody that boldly needs to come. Maybe it seems strange to get out of your seat and walk down in front of a church and kneel at an altar and say, God, I need you.
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  Don't let that stop you.
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  Today, Jesus knows your need. And here's the hope and the promise. Jesus will meet you where you are. And so today I'm grateful for Jesus not only healed in a physical manner, but he healed in the greatest, most extraordinary way, the inside, the sin.
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  Praise God that Jesus went to a cross to forgive our sin.
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  Praise God that he went and he laid in a tomb dead for three days to take our death, our punishment.
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  Praise God that he rose on the third day to give life and hope to all those who will believe today.
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  Will you just come by faith, knowing Jesus can take care of you?
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  That's the invitation today. Let's pray.
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  God, we talked about some strange miracles.
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  People with skin disease, a man crippled, peeling the church roof back, house roof back, and lowering him down before Jesus.
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  Lord, we look at our lives and things may not be normal. They may be difficult and hard.
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  There may be strange things that are happening in individuals and families in this room.
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  God, I just pray that your Holy Spirit will convict somebody, maybe even all of us, maybe the whole church, to just fall down before you say, God, I need you.
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  I need you to touch this area of my life.
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  I need you to touch this member of my family.
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  I need you to touch in a physical way, God, but more importantly, I need you in a spiritual way. God. God, forgive me my sins.
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  The promise of forgiveness of sins is for all eternity.
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  God, today, if there's one in this room that needs your touch, God, I pray that you will give them the courage to stand up, run to an altar, fall before a holy God, Simply say this, God, I need you, God, for the work that you're doing.
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  We will leave here rejoicing and glorifying God of the strange things that you're doing today.
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  We praise you now in Jesus name.
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  You've been listening to Truth for the journey from Clifford Baptist Church. You're always welcome to visit Clifford Baptist Church for Sunday School at 9:45 worship at 11:00am and Wednesday evening worship at 7:00pm Join us again next Sunday for Truth for the Journey.