Matthew 9:1-2
"Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat."
Matthew 9:2b
"When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, "Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven."
There's a spiritual and physical problem for much that ails me
Spiritual issues=spiritual illnesses
Be what God calls you to be, and do what He calls you to do.
Matthew 9:3
"At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, 'This fellow is blaspheming!'"
--->What they were really saying was, "This man is a threat to us".
Matthew 9:4-6a
"Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, 'Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? Which is easier to say: Your sins are forgiven? or: Get up and walk?
But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.'"
*Diseases of the connective tissue, meaning the spiritual and physical illness that we inflict on ourselves when we isolate ourselves from one another.
*We're joined together in a committed, spiritual relationship with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
*The church serves as a spiritual hospital for sick sinners.
Matthew 9:6b-8
"So he said to the paralyzed man, 'Get up, take your mat and go home.' Then the man got up and went home. When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man."
Directives for Pastors:
Acts 20:28
"Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood."
Directives for the Flock:
Hebrews 13:17
"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."
Directives for the Church Body:
Galatians 6:9-10
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith."
