The Gift God Wants You To Have

The Gift God Wants You to Have

(Luke 5:17-26)

Christmas years ago, we only had two kids, and they were asking for all kinds of things. We convinced them what they “really” wanted wasn’t more toys (which is what they asked for) but actually a family trip to the mountains. They were impressed. But Rebecca and I stuck to our guns, and didn’t over buy gifts; we knew what gift we wanted to give our girls – an experience instead of more stuff. Finally, when we were in the mountains, snow falling, Christmas music, fire in the fireplace, my daughter Sharon said, “Dad, this is the best present ever!” But to be clear, what she thought might be the best present, wasn’t the present she asked for.

I. The Gift

• This man would have felt completely helpless in almost every situation. He was totally dependent on others.
• This man had amazing friends!
• Roofs back then were made with permanent wood beams, but filled in with mud or earth and usually replaced every year.
• Luke 15:20, he saw “their” faith. The faith of the four friends. By the way, they have no exit plan! They totally believe Jesus will heal their friend.
• Luke 5:20, Jesus did not give them what they expected. In fact, Jesus’ gift may have been a let down!
• This is deeply personal: “Man your sins are forgiven.” YOUR: You have personal stuff between you and God. SINS: It’s your sins that are your real problem.

II. Jesus gave

• 5:20 sins forgiven, “Greek, af-ee-ay-me” is forceful, intense. It’s a form of “eimi” to send forth, or to go. Like, “your sins are gone.” Driven out.
• Jesus didn’t just see most visible need, He saw his biggest need.
• Illustration, old radio show “The Shadow.” The tagline was, “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men, the Shadow knows.” Jesus sees the heart of this man. He sees his biggest problem.
• We often think we don’t need God’s forgiveness. We might think we are beyond God’s reach, or that we are held captive to a specific sin that feels like it can’t be forgiven. Some people think they aren’t that bad, so they never even turn to God for forgiveness.
• Forgiveness is the gift the Lord wants you to have!

–Forgiveness releases us from the crippling power of sin and guilt.

–Forgiveness gives us freedom out of shame and fear.

–Forgiveness gives us strength to walk with the Lord. So long as you live in sin you are crippled. God’s forgiveness gives you the strength to have a relationship with God.

III. Help for our doubts.

• Can I actually know I’m forgiven?
• Luke 5:21, the objection from the lawyers is that Jesus does not have authority to forgive sins.

What’s Needed to Forgive Sins?

1. (You need to be the one sinned against.)

2. (Just forgive myself? Only God has authority)

3. (To forgive sins, you have to be able to pay for the offense yourself. Jesus had the budget to pay for our sins because he used his righteousness to expunge our guilt.)

Illustration:

The Simonian Farm in Fresno, California is one of the most renowned family run produce farms in the United States. Founded in 1901 by Armenian immigrant, Baghdasar Simonian, ownership of the farm has passed through three generations of family leadership to its current owners, Dennis and Bonnie Simonian.

Situated on 80 acres in the San Joaquin Valley of California, the Simonian Farm produces more than 180 crops, and seasonal fruits including cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, apples, pomegranates, blackberries, grapes, boysenberries, and figs.

One September day in 1995 the Simonians learned that they would receive a visit from the president of the United States, Bill Clinton. They received a telephone call regarding this special visit less than an hour before Clinton was to arrive. So what began as a normal day of vocational routine turned into an emotional frenzy bordering on pandemonium in preparation for the president’s visit.

Given all that had to be done, and the honor of meeting the president, the Simonians decided that their daughter, Ashley, should miss school. Because meeting the President was such a rare opportunity, they further believed no teacher would refuse to grant an excused absence for their daughter.

Just as they said they would, President Clinton and his entourage arrived at the Simonian Farm, and marveled at the operations, and products of the farm. The president also signed several autographs. While he was signing Ashley’s memory book, an onlooker mentioned that Ashley had skipped school to meet

him. Without hesitation, and in the middle of the farm produce store, the president invoked his full authority and wrote an excuse for Ashley’s absence from school that day. In essence, she had a Presidential Pardon!

“Presidential pardons have been issued for murderers, thieves, embezzlers, and derelict soldiers. But I imagine Ashley’s pardon was a first in American history: a presidential pardon for absence from school. Regardless of his or her politics, it would be a rare teacher who would refuse to accept an excuse from one of the most powerful authorities on earth”.

Can you imagine how this written pardon by the president would be cherished, and for generations

to come, it would be the centerpiece for the momentous events of that day? From the frantic scramble to prepare for the president’s arrival, to his actual presence, and signing of the excuse, this presidential pardon would forever be etched in the minds of the Simonian family.

• Luke 5:22-23, Jesus knew why they were there. Which is easier? To heal physically or forgive sins? Actually, it’s easier to heal physically. To forgive sins is something only God can do. But physical healing would be visible evidence. That’s what they needed.
• Luke 5:24, the problem is that we can’t know that sins are forgiven, can we?
• Luke 5:25, Jesus proves that he can forgive sins by healing the lame man. If he has authority over the physical realm, he has authority over the spiritual.
• They are right: Only God can forgive sins. How is he able to forgive sins? Authority? Why: Because he’s not a prophet. Teacher. He’s God on earth.

IV. Encouragements:

Luke 5:26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”

Receive with confidence the gift he wants you to have.

1. Take first step: Follow him. Disciple. Baptized.

2. Some of you: Get rid of something.

3. Rise up and walk. Walk away form sin.

Ps 103:12: as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Jer 31:34: “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Mic 7:19: You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

Isa. 55:7: “Turn to God, he will abundantly pardon.”

Col. 2:13: “God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.”

How forgiven am I?

Theological weight of God’s Forgiveness:

–My sins are expiated. (They are Removed)

–My sins are Propitiated. (God’s wrath removed)

–I am reconciled to God. (I can have a friendship with God)

–I am redeemed! (With his own blood, God bought me.)

–My sins are substituted. (God put his son where I belong.)