Palm Sunday – Can Your Faith Save Someone? 20363h

Welcome to Redemption Church in Plano, Tx! My name is Chris Fluitt and I welcome everyone… In the Room… Online… Palm Sunday  -An important historical day in the life of Jesus. -A day celebrated in the Church. -More about Palm Sunday in a bit… There are times where I need more than…  Advice Sometimes people try to help with advice… “Try this app.” “Read this book.” “Just think positive.” And I nod politely—but inside, I know… I need more than that. Lifehacks Lifehacks are neat… will help you get work done in record time, smarter effort, and less cost. But if I am really honest… I need more than that. Encouragement I am thankful for encouraging words. They lift me up. They help me keep going… But I have big problems… I need more than that. I need more than a shortcut. I need more than a TED Talk or podcast. I need more than tips, and hallmark greetings… I need more… I need a Savior Am I talking to anyone who needs more? Do we know anyone who needs more? A friend. A sibling. A coworker. They don’t need a new habit – they need healing. They don’t need a fresh routine – they need rescue. They don’t need another lecture – they need the Lord. People are silently struggling. ..they aren’t saying it out loud—but they’re living this every day: “If something doesn’t change soon, I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.” Here’s the good news—and it’s the best kind of news: God’s help didn’t come to us as a philosophy or principle. Help came as a Person. There is help for you that is more than words, ideas, or religious structure. A savior is available to you. That’s exactly what Palm Sunday is all about. Palm Sunday  Picture this… Jesus riding into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey—not a war horse. He was a King coming in peace… Crowds are laying down their coats. They’re waving palm branches. They’re shouting from their soul: “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” It was a cry of desperation and declaration. It was a praise and a plea. Hosanna means #1 “A Savior has come.” #2 “And I need saving.” They cried HOSANNA… not “I’ve got this mostly under control.” They cried “I can’t do this on my own—and thank God, I don’t have to.” They were saying: “We believe You’re the One who can save us.” Palm Sunday isn’t about perfect people praising Jesus. It’s about needy people welcoming a Savior. But here’s the question we’ve got to ask next… WHAT IF YOU CAN’T GET TO THE SAVIOR? What if you believe Jesus can help—but you just can’t get to Him? You’re too hurt. Too broken. Or life has just completely paralyzed you. That’s exactly what we see in Luke 5. There’s a man who was paralyzed. Can’t move. Can’t walk. Could not get to Jesus. His paralysis is an obstacle. Hosanna – The savior is present, and the man needs saving. What can He do? HE HAD FRIENDS! Luke 5:18  But then there is another obstacle. Luke 5:19 The house was filled and they could not get the paralyzed man to Jesus… But the scripture continues. Luke 5:19 Most people would have stopped there. Not these friends. They climb onto the roof. Tear open a hole. Lower their friend right in front of Jesus. Amazing right? But what happens next is wildly unexpected. Luke 5:20 – When Jesus saw their faith, He said, ‘Friend, your sins are forgiven.’ Jesus saw THEIR FAITH… Who is their? Jesus saw the faith of the friends… and then Jesus saved the paralyzed man… Can Your Faith Save Someone? The paralyzed man needed more than -Advice -Lifehacks -Encouragement He needed a savior! These friends had enough faith to bring him to Jesus. Jesus saves this man, forgives his sin, and heals him of paralysis. So here’s the question for you: Who in your life needs more than help—who needs a Savior? Maybe they’re close to giving up. Maybe they’re drowning in anxiety or depression. Maybe they’ve been burned by church before. Maybe they’re not even sure Jesus would want anything to do with them. They need someone to carry them. Someone who won’t give up when the crowd is thick. Someone who won’t walk away when it’s inconvenient. Someone with enough faith to get them to Jesus. That someone could be you. You don’t have to have the perfect words. You just have to love them enough to act. So what do we do? We don’t just shout Hosanna today—we live it. We believe a Savior has come. And we believe He’s still changing lives. Cleta and Kim are long-time friends. Recently Kim was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer. Kim lives in NYC. Kim was not a believer in Jesus. Kim needed a savior and was running out of time. Last Month Cleta traveled to see Kim in NYC… Her mission was to carry her friend to Jesus. Cleta prayed. Cleta believed. Cleta pushed past obstacles… and shared her faith with Kim. Kim confessed belief in Jesus… Kim prayed repentance and gave her life to Jesus. A few days later Kim ed. It is sad that Kim ed, but it is a miracle that before she ed away, her friend brought her to Jesus. Can Your Faith Save Someone? 1. Believe Boldly -Don’t underestimate what your faith can do for someone else. -Trust that Jesus still responds to bold, comionate, inconvenient faith. -Faith is personal—but never meant to stay private. 2. Carry Someone -Who in your life is hurting, stuck, or searching? Bring them closer to Jesus through prayer, presence, invitation, and love. 3. Break Through Barriers -Do whatever it takes. Some people won’t meet Jesus unless someone like you carries them past the obstacles. 1g2do