The Walk: When You Can't Walk

August 8th, 2021/Riverside & Lookout

Story: Traveling on sabbatical and needing help in Ontario.

Intro: There’s a passage in Mark chapter 2 that helps us understand what it looks like to Walk when you can’t walk

Passage: Mark 2:1-12

When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”

6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” 8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

Pray:

Background:

Jesus performed many miracles around the region of Galilee, including this one. This miracle takes place early in Jesus' ministry. At this point in the story Jesus had already shown His power over sickness and demons many times.

This was not an attempt to gain credibility or a following, this was God’s love and compassion on display. He was constantly showing the people that He had both the power and desire to perform miracles and forgive sins.

Title: When You Can’t Walk

Big Idea: AIM or CIT

I want you to see that even when you can’t walk, the story is not over. There are people that are ready to help and God who is ready to heal. When Jesus is in the story, then the story is never over!

Main Points: How to persevere when you can’t walk:

1. Receive Help From Others

   1. (3) four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.

   2. Can you imagine the four men saying “We have someone that can heal you, let’s go.” “NAH, I’M GOOD.”

      1. Why does that sound crazy to us? We do it all the time?!

         3. Giving & Receiving

      2. Giving without receiving is selfish. Receiving without giving is selfish.

      3. Giving without humility is prideful. Receiving without gratitude is prideful.

      4. Giving with an ulterior motive is manipulation. Receiving with an ulterior motivation is manipulation.

         4. Here’s practical handles in how to give & receive:

      5. Receiving:

         1. Gratitude - thank you for your generosity. This means more than you know.
         2. Honor - this wouldn’t be possible without you. You’re such a blessing in my life.

         3. Expectation - what is God calling me to do in response to this act of generosity? 2. Giving:

         4. Gratitude - you’re welcome, it’s my privilege. I’m just glad I could help out.

         5. Honor - anything I have is God’s. I’m just trying to be obedient to His voice in my life.
         6. Expectation - how is God calling me to be generous again?
            5. We can’t know what this man was thinking. What we do know is that he couldn’t get to Jesus on his own, and he got there because four men carried him.

      6. Question: Where are you turning for healing? Do you run to the healer or the number? Do you run to the comforter or the coper?

      7. You can numb or cope with things that are even good things. Like running, business… etc.

      8. When you know who the healer is, then you know that everything else is never going to satisfy.

         6. This man couldn’t walk, but what is the situation or circumstance in your life keeping you from walking in the freedom that you can’t do alone?

      9. it’s hard to receive help from others in a culture that says “you don’t need anybody”, “don’t be weak”, “get it together”, “you can handle this on your own!” The reality is that you CAN'T DO IT ON YOUR OWN!

2. Remain In The Faith

   1. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
   2. Leaders that reflect the love and compassion of Jesus don’t allow obstacles to stop their progress. They work together to find a solution knowing it’s worth it!

   3. WTF

      1. Where’s the faith? (Andy :))
      2. What if you were about to jump out of an airplane and you said “I have faith that the parachute will catch me.”, but you never actually jumped out of the airplane?
      3. Jesus saw their faith in action, and He said to the paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven.” That forgiveness was grace, not something anyone earned.

      4. Heavy Words

         1. Words are a powerful thing, but words without action carry little weight. I want HEAVY words!
         2. I want people to feel the weight of my encouragement, calling up, offering to pray for someone, when I say let’s walk this out together.
         3. I’ll show you my faith by my works!
            4. Question: What’s holding you back? Is it fear? Rejection? Criticism? Resources?

      5. It was obvious that nothing was holding them back from getting to Jesus.

      6. Never let a tangible obstacle hold you back from a supernatural miracle! (Say it with passion and say it slow)

         5. It’s easier to stay faithful when you know the heart of your Father.

      7. Knowing the heart of the Father and seeing His faithfulness over your life is what gives you strength to remain faithful and faith filled.

      8. Story: When my truck was stolen… His faithfulness is what carries me and gives me strength to carry on!
      9. For the one who can walk today, your habits, disciplines, and faithfulness today are what will help you remain faithful when you can’t walk!
         6. The focus of this passage is not the men coming through the roof, it’s not their faith, it’s not even the miracle, IT’S THE REALITY THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH! HE ALONE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT FORGIVES SINS AND BRINGS HEALING TO OUR WORLD.

3. Rejoice In The Miracle

   1. 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”
   2. You see, the greatest gift wasn’t the healing from being paralyzed, the greatest need was the forgiveness of sins and the greatest gift was grace.
   3. Jesus' priority is your greatest need, not your greatest problem.

   4. We’ve all got people in our lives that are in need of a miracle… in need of forgiveness.

      1. And there’s only one person I know that will never let them down, His name is Jesus! There’s only one person I know that always offers forgiveness… His name is Jesus!
      2. Let’s meet people where they are and point them to Jesus! Let’s meet people where they are and carry them to Jesus!
         5. Practical - Are you living and loving in such a way that your neighborhood, work, or community says “We’ve never seen anything like this?” (Pause)

Closing: Before we move on I want to tell someone at this point… wait. Wait, you’re getting stronger. Wait, this part of your story is not the end. Wait, God wants you to trust Him a little more. Wait, He will renew your strength.

In closing I want you to know that God is in the miracle business. When Jesus died and rose from the dead, defeating sin and death on the cross, He established the greatest miracle in all of human history. He made a way for you and me to have an intimate and personal relationship with God the Father.

If God doesn’t do anything else in your life He did enough when He sent His Son Jesus Christ to redeem us from our sins!

He is in the miracle business! He’s working miracles in my life every single day! Have you experienced the transformational power of Jesus Christ in your life! Jesus brings the dead things to life! He makes the blind, see! He makes the lame, walk! He takes the broken things in your life and makes them new! And you can experience this today!