God's Unbroken Promises
I WIll Give You What You Need
Mark 2:1-12
Welcome
Prayer
(Advance Slide 1)
Introduction
(Advance Slide 2)
EXAMPLE - The Toy Story trilogy
- The theme of these movies were friendship
- Particularly between Buzz and Woody.
- The ultimate goal for the "toy characters" is to make Andy happy.
This kids movie is a lot like our world.
- Meaning and significance drive what we say and what we do.
- We spend our time chasing elusive dreams in a hope that they will make us happy.
- "If I could just get _______ then the world would be a great place."
(Advance Slide 4)
This is the backdrop of Mark 2:
- We meet a man and his friends (unnamed)…
- The man has a longing to be healed, he is paralyzed.
- The man was confined to a mat (assume that it was 6ft by 3-4 ft.)
- His whole life was lived in these confines…he was totally dependent on others!
(Advance Slide 5)
Text
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” Mark 2:9-11
(Advance Slide 6)
Jesus is "at home" in Capernaum.
- It is unclear who's home it is, but it is standing room only!
- Jesus was like a celebrity…maybe even a rockstar!
- No room inside or outside…people were everywhere…listening and watching
There are some similarities to the account we find in 1:21-28 (Jesus heals the man with unclean spirit)
(Advance Slide 7)
- In both of these instances the people were astonished…AMAZED at what Jesus was saying and doing!
- In the former there was even the recognition of His authority
- “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 1:27
Lesson
(Advance Slide 9)
Who are you carrying?
These 4 unnamed men were amazing friends
- This was a time when other would have behaved callously against someone like this man
- Possibly they would have thought like the disciples in John 9:2, and though he was the worst of sinners.
- Yet, they had a different mindset!
- Their friend's problem became their problem too.
What was the problem…a friend that they cared for couldn't walk
- They knew what he needed (or they thought they did), were willing to do whatever it took.
- With such a large crowd imagine trying to carry the mat and elbow your way through the crowd.
- We can't get in…so close yet so far away.
(Advance Slide 10)
- One friend was "thinking outside of the box" - climb up top and dig through the roof!
- Imagine Jesus teaching and preaching with clumps of clay and straw and ceiling falling in front of Him?
(Advance Slide 11)
Jesus sees their faith and says, "My son, your sins are forgiven."
Who are you carrying?
- We have been saved by the grace and mercy of God and we are passionate about our faith
- Who are you going to sacrifice for? Who will we be inconvenienced by?
- Who are we going to try to get to Jesus?
(Advance Slide 12)
What we really need
(Advance Slide 13)
Why did these men bring their friend to Jesus?
- For healing…not for anything else.
- "Thank you just the same Jesus, but if you could just give us some healing…everything will be okay."
(Advance Slide 14)
- This is relevant teaching for everyone who believe that there is emoting out there that we really need.
- Job promotion to make life complete.
- Enough money to get through the bad economy then I'll be content.
- If you will make my loved one well I'll never ask for anything else again.
- These things only provide temporary satisfaction
- God gives what we truly need!
The Bible does say:
(Advance Slide 15)
- God is aware of our need for food, shelter and clothing - Mt. 6
- God is able to bless us beyond what we actually need - 2 Cor. 9
- God will supply all our needs - Phil. 4:19
Conclusion
We know the rest of the story:
- Until we are right with God, we never really feel alive.
- Nor will we continue to seek what doesn't fill us up.
(Advance Slide 16)
"Rise, pick up your mat and go home"
- Consider the atrophied muscles…they become strong again.
- Yes, Jesus gave him what he WANTED, but He also gave him what he NEEDED
- “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Mt.6:25-26
- "The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore." Psalm 121:7-8
(Advance Slide 19)
God is worthy and faithful…HE has promised to care for us!
- To teach us His ways - Ps. 32
- To give us peace - Jn. 14
- Grant us His deliverance - Ps. 72
- Give us His strength - Philip. 4:13
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