Breaking through

In studying last week for a sermon about the four friends who cut a hole in the roof to get their paralized friend to Jesus,I jotted the following notes. It is a great reminder of the benefits of doing whatever it takes to bring people to Jesus Christ.

Mark 2:1-12 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 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, four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 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. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My child, your sins are forgiven." But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, "What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!" Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, "Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man 'Your sins are forgiven,' or 'Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk'? 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, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!" 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!"

Knowing the proximity of God
Find Him because He is everywhere.
Psalm 57
Dealing with the crowd
Jesus did not allow popularity to deter Him from the Father’s will
Vance Havner: “Success can feather our nest so comfortably that we forget how to fly”
Things happening outside while the Word is being preached
External focus
Breaking through Boldly to get the miracle
The Men demonstrated “Cooperative” faith
The determination of these men to get to Him pleased Jesus
Find a way!
Cutting a hole and using a rope to let the hurting down through the opening
Leaders do not allow obstacles to stop their progress.
Fulfilling a dream often does not come easy or within the realm of the conventional.
These men had to dare to do the difficult, the unorthodox and the costly thing
Thoughts of the skeptics
No secret thoughts to God
There comes a time to jump up,
Grab your mat and walk
Jesus asserted deity by forgiving the sins and then worked a miracle to prove it
He said that this miracle was expressly to demonstrate His deity
The purpose of a sign is to lead you somewhere.
The primary purpose of the miracle realm is to reveal the nature of God.
We have a duty to present to men answers for the impossible- a personal encounter with God. That encounter will include great power.
We are to re-present God.
******Our supernatural is the natural realm of God
The miracle realm of God is always with purpose. Not entertainment
Miracles like this bring people to a place of decision. (Shifts priorities)
Walk out through the crowd of stunned onlookers. Take the stand.
The world should be saying, “Wow! We’ve never seen anything like this before! “
This miracle had amazing effect on the people. It simple irritated the Pharisees and scribes.
Many enjoy the move of God but they don’t genuinely repent.
It would be sad to hear at the throne,”They would have repented”