Luke 5:17b, 22-23 (NKJV) who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them…But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’?
There is tremendous power in our words, especially words of encouragement that will lift people up emotionally.
Jesus was expected to minister to everyone who came out to Him. Some might have been curious only while others were sceptical about Jesus and His ministry. The scribes and Pharisees were out to reason, question, and judge Jesus rather than seek Him out to heal their sicknesses and pain, whereas the paralysed man and his four friends were full of faith and expectation for him to be healed.
Jesus is a great example of someone who shows grace and love in ministry. He was moved by love and compassion for the paralysed man. While we may not know many paralytics, we all know people who are down and oppressed, and it requires much patience, love, and grace to journey with them. Jesus forgave the paralytic, even though He knew he was a sinner. To restore his health, Jesus spoke grace and mercy to his life. Instead of dwelling on the sin he committed, Jesus chose forgiveness. Sadly, many people like to amplify the sins of others to condemn them rather than to bring restoration to them. Have we forgotten that we should hate the sin but love the sinners?
Acts 4:36 (NKJV) And Joses, who was also named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated as Son of Encouragement), a Levite of the country of Cyprus,
The name Barnabas means “son of encouragement”. Every one of us needs one or two “Barnabas” in our lives because we are surrounded by too many discouragers, naysayers, and even those who are delighted to see us discouraged. We, as believers, must also be known as encouragers.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NKJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
God is merciful and comforts us in all our tribulations. The source of tribulation is not God because He is the God who comforts us in times of tribulation. He comforts us with His Word and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We can comfort others when we are comforted by the Lord, even when we may not have had similar experiences. We can always use the promises in the Bible that the Holy Spirit has brought into our remembrance to encourage those who are down.
Sermon Series: Up! Cell Group Campaign 2023 (Part 3)
扶起沮丧的人
路加福音5:17b，22-23（新标点和合本）“他们是从加利利各乡村和犹太并耶路撒冷来的。主的能力与耶稣同在，使他能医治病人。……耶稣知道他们所议论的，就说：“你们心里议论的是什么呢？ 23或说‘你的罪赦了’，或说‘你起来行走’，哪一样容易呢？”
我们的言辞中蕴含着巨大的力量，尤其是那些鼓励的话语，能够使人一扫阴霾，盎然向上。
人们期望耶稣能服事每一个来求他的人。有些人可能只是出于好奇，而其他人对耶稣及其事工则持怀疑态度。文士和法利赛人是来质疑、质问并审判耶稣的，而不是为了寻求祂来治愈他们的疾病和痛苦。相比之下，那瘫痪的人及他的四个朋友则是充满信心，期待他得到治愈。
耶稣是在服事中展现恩典与爱的伟大典范。祂被他们对瘫子所表现出的爱和怜悯所感动。虽然我们可能不认识许多瘫痪的人，但我们都认识那些感到沮丧和受压迫的人，与他们同行需要极大的耐心、爱心和恩慈。耶稣饶恕了瘫痪者，尽管祂知道他是个罪人。为了恢复他的健康，耶稣对他的生命道出了恩典和怜悯。与其沉溺于他所犯的罪，耶稣选择了宽恕。可悲的是，许多人喜欢放大他人的罪过以谴责他们，而不是为他们带来恢复。难道我们忘记了我们应该憎恶罪而爱罪人吗？
使徒行传4:36（新标点和合本）有一个利未人，生在塞浦路斯，名叫约瑟，使徒称他为巴拿巴（巴拿巴翻出来就是劝慰子）。
巴拿巴的名字意味着“劝慰之子”。我们每个人的生命中都需要一个或两个“巴拿巴”，因为我们周围有太多的扫兴者、否定者，甚至还有些人乐于看到我们垂头丧气的样子。作为信徒，我们还必须以鼓励者的身份为人所知。
哥林多后书1:3-4（新标点和合本）愿颂赞归与我们的主耶稣基督的父神，就是发慈悲的父，赐各样安慰的神。 我们在一切患难中，他就安慰我们，叫我们能用神所赐的安慰去安慰那遭各样患难的人。
神满有怜悯，在诸般患难中都安慰我们。患难不来自于神，因为在患难时安慰我们的正是神。祂藉着祂的话语和圣灵在我们生命中的工作来安慰我们。当我们受了主的安慰，就能够去安慰他人，即使我们可能没有类似的经历。我们总是可以运用圣灵所提醒我们的圣经中的应许，来鼓励那些感到沮丧的人。
讲章系列：Up！小组活动2023（第三部分）
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