One of the great keys to recieving blessing from God is to put yourself right there in the crowd at one of Jesu's meeting.
Imagine you were there at Nazareth jammed up against the door, pushing people off your toes [and being pushed yourself off somebody else's toe] man it's hot and you are being peppered by dust for some men are coming through the roof.
It's not like church....
Jesus interupts His sermon as men let down a man on a bed...you are annoyed at the interuption but the Teacher is not annoyed His face is radiant as the man who is evidently paralysed is laid before Him. Jesus saw their faith, He didn't hear it, He saw it.
"Cheer up son, your sins are all forgiven you"
Wow you think I wish all my sins could be forgiven just like that "blasphemy! why is He saying stuff like that, only God can forgive sins"
It was YOUR pastor who spoke....but he is a godly man, he is known throughout all Israel as an expositor of Isaiah....you now filled with aMAZEment, You look at Jesus, His face is sill radiant, His eyes sweep the assembly, briefly your eyes meet but they settle upon your pastor, he had spoken under his breath, the Teacher would not have heard but He directed Himself straight at him.
"Which is easier to say big shot? your sins are forgiven? you say that in all your sermons, who's to know? nobody can see if anybody's sins are forgiven or not...talk is cheap..."
What he says next takes your breath away
"But that you may KNOW that the Son of man has power to forgive sins ....turning again to the paralytic....arise take up your bed and go home"
Now He's bin and done it...the place is suddenly charged, everybody is holding their breath now. He hadn't raised His voice, He had made no dramatic gestures, the sun had not suddenly shone through the windows, nobody heard a choir of angels. Nobody actually was quite sure what He meant....
But the man who was paralysed knew....since the Master had said "son your sins are all forgiven" his face had been as radiant as the Lord's
the burden of sin had lifted from him and a great peace had swept over him, he KNEW that Jesus was more than just hot air, he knew His words had power.
He rolled off of his bed and stood up before them all. He was saved, saved from his sins, saved from his sickness....and all the people gave glory to God, they clapped, they shouted, some fell to their knees, some raised their hands.
These Pentecostals never change.