1. ICEL How do we respond to the Word of God? Luke 8:5-8 Luke 5:17-26

2. ICEL Luke 8:5-8 5 ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. 6 Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.’ When he had said this, he called out, ‘Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.’

3. ICEL Luke 5:17-26 17 One 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 those who were ill. 18 Some men came carrying a paralysed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When 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.

4. ICEL Luke 5:17-26 20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’ 21 The 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?’ 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, ‘Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”?

5. ICEL Luke 5:17-26 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today.’

6. ICEL Various responses to the Word of God in Luke 5.

7. ICEL The Crowd Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Luke 5:26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said: We have seen remarkable things today.

8. ICEL The Crowd Matthew 11:23-24 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles which were performed in you, had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.

9. ICEL How do we listen to the Word of God? Maybe with an open heart, but non-committal? Dangerous - dire consequences for ourselves Hebrews 6:7-8 Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop…..receives the blessing of God. But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. - hindrance for others

10. ICEL The Pharisees Luke 5 21 They began thinking: Who can forgive sins but God alone? Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? 22 The Lord knew what they were thinking. 23 What is easier? … 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…

11. ICEL The Pharisees They were not just non-committal, like the crowds; they felt resistance rising in their hearts against this message and against this man. Eventually they would kill him. Do we belong to this category? We listen to the word regularly, but we feel a certain resistance. Matthew 23:13 You yourselves will not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

12. ICEL The Paralyzed Man He is completely helpless. He cannot come to Jesus by himself. But he has friends. 24 I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home. 25 Immediately he stood up, he went home praising God.

13. ICEL The Paralyzed Man Some of us here this morning, may be in the category of the paralyzed man. Maybe you have lost all hope, and cannot even find the strength to pray. - The Lord knows your heart, He knows what you need. - Do not isolate yourself from your friends. If you cannot pray, your friends can pray for you. They can take you to Jesus.

14. ICEL The Four Friends They are the heroes of this story. They had three qualities: 1. They were real friends for their sick buddy. 2. They had faith. 20 When Jesus saw their faith… 17 the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick. This power had something to do with their faith! Mark 6: 5- 6 He could not do any miracles there (in Nazareth) and he was amazed at their lack of faith.

15. ICEL The Four Friends They are the heroes of this story. They had three qualities: 1. They were real friends for their sick buddy. 2. They had faith. 3. They had perseverance. Overcame obstacles. I hope that we will leave the church today like these 4 men. That we receive the Word of God with faith, good soil.