John 5:1-15

We are all going to have to answer to Jesus. Let’s look at just the words of Jesus. “Would you like to get well?” “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.”

We say it all the time, “Jesus is a judge of the heart.” He knows what you want before you can even speak it because He knows your heart! Psalm 139:1-7 Just like Jesus knew this man’s condition, He knows your condition. Just like the man couldn’t process “how”…, we often cannot process “how.” So we say, “I can’t, sir”… I want to tell you today that you are right about that!!! YOU CANNOT!!!! But Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, can!!!

What is Jesus breaking off of you, right now, today? What are you being made well from? I want to tell you that it does not end there… In the words of Jesus…“Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.”

Jesus came to this man, asked him if he wanted to be well, healed him, left him in the crowd and then found him again in the temple, and then instructed him to stop sinning or something worse, than the previous affliction, could happen.

Has Jesus met you in a real way that has brought you to church this morning? Hebrews 10:26-29

That blood covenant is the work of the cross! It was Jesus taking on our sins and dying, for us… in our place… so that we could be made right with God!!! What is the value of seeking forgiveness if you are only going to turn around and do the same thing again?

Paul addressed this in Romans 6:1-2 and Romans 6:15-16 There’s your two choices.

Jesus was warning this man, as He is also warning us today, to not allow the fact that we are healthy, or as the passage puts it “well”, to lead us back into a life of sin! If we are truly repentant… we will change!!!!! Will you show others around you the fruit that you have been made well and reinforce that with a changed life?

Will you stop sinning so something even worse does not happen to you?

John 5:1-15

We need to make sure that we are not getting hung up on all the details of what is going on around the main point. Because the main point is that Jesus healed a man, that was in sin, and told him to sin no more. John 5:8-9

The Jewish leaders focused on the fact that it was the Sabbath… and missed out on a miracle had taken place in their midst. They were more upset that something happened on the Sabbath vs. being excited about the fact that someone who could not walk, was walking and carrying his sleeping mat that he had been hanging out on for 38 years in hands or over his shoulder.

Again, we see the “letter of the law” overriding the “Spirit of the law”.

And we also see this mindset of: You Are ¬¬¬___________… But Are You _____________?

And so the question has to be asked, “Can we be comfortable and let God be God and celebrate when God does amazing things in our midst?”

Can we join in with heaven, in that moment, and celebrate with the angels and saints that God has brought another soul into His Kingdom?

What about a spiritual battle that someone is overcoming, and God is moving in them? Can you stick around and join us in prayer for those individuals?

Hear this… as soon as you say “yes” and that becomes your heart… there will be “Pharisees” that will come at you and lay into you and tell you can’t.

Are we letting ___________ manage us or are we managing our _____________?

There are people in here… there are people that we know… there are people that we would love to help if they would only ask… that feel like this guy did. John 5:7

Are you able to be used by God this morning? “You Are Forgiven… But Are You Available?”

If someone was to give their lives to the Lord, would you develop a pit in your stomach or a lump in your throat, because you have other things planned today? If someone said, “I want to know Jesus! I want to have a relationship!!! I want to repent (say I’m sorry to God)! I want to know that I get to go to heaven today, can you help me?”

Are you prepared to lead them… and not to an usher, not to an Elder or me, but to lead them in receiving the grace of God for the first time?

Are you willing? “You Are Forgiven… But Are You Available?”

The last couple of weeks we have discussed the power of faith! Today, we are going to look at an example of just the opposite. Mark 6:1-6

Every Christian should guard against themselves against unbelief because of 4 problems that it can cause.

Problem #1: Unbelief Hinders ______________

Unbelief can hinder the growth of others as well as your own growth.

All too often, we know someone so well… they are so familiar… what we just can’t believe that they will change. How are they supposed to grow, if the chains they put down to believe are being picked up by others and placed back around their necks again? 2 Corinthians 5:17

Believe that you have been made new in Christ Jesus? You are a new creation… try some new things!

Problem #2 – Unbelief Causes ____________________

These people were amazed at Jesus’ teachings only to take offense that He was the one doing the powerful miracles they expected the coming Messiah to be doing. Not this Jesus the carpenter!!!

We have other examples, in Scripture, of this type of division. Genesis 37:18-20; Acts 9:21-26

Unbelief based on being familiar with someone and their past can cause division. Let’s embrace the heart change regardless of what someone’s past was. These examples show us that people defaulted to what they thought they knew and pushed away a messenger of God.

Problem #3 – Unbelief Causes __________________

One commentary I read suggested that the Jews had a preconceived idea of what the Messiah should look like and act like. They could not connect the dots between the prophesied Messiah and Jesus (the Messiah) standing before them. They could not see that Jesus the carpenter, was the Messiah! Vs. 2-3 In answering their own questions, they became hard-hearted because of their unbelief.

Problem #4 – Unbelief Hinders a __________ of God

If faith produces healings and miracles, then a lack of faith denies them possibility of them! Mark 6:5-6 Just like Jesus stood in amazement at the unbelief of those He grew up with, God is standing in our schools, government buildings, work places, on the street, our homes and He is amazed at the unbelief in our culture.

We cannot sit by and let Satan have our city, our work places or our schools! Christians… we have work to do!

We need to guard ourselves against unbelief and then we need to take action!

need to take action!

Today we are going to see two blind men that will be healed according to their faith. Matthew 9:27-31

I believe that everybody can have their needs met by Jesus by following examples found in Scripture. Mark 5:34; Mark 5:36; Matthew 9:29

Can I tell you this, that if you don’t believe that it _______ happen, you will never believe that it ___________ happen!

Doubt will ___________ your miracle and ________ you of your faith!! James 1:5-8

Example #1: Pursue Jesus

All three groups had to ________ Jesus and then ________ toward Jesus. They had to get into His presence. You need to see this… Jesus was available to each of them.

He is available to each and every one of you that seeks Him out, today. Hebrews 13:8

Example #2: Profess Faith

The woman with the issue of blood made a profession of faith prior to touching Jesus. Mark 5:28

Jairus made a profession of faith at the feet of Jesus. Mark 5:22

These 2 blind men made a profession of faith when they were in the house with Jesus. Matthew 9:28 How would you respond to that question? Luke 11:9-13

If we ask, in faith, if we seek, in faith, if we knock, in faith… Jesus will respond!

Example #3: Do not doubt

When you ask, ask without doubting!

We just read in James,

… ask in _________, with no _______________, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive _________________ from the Lord;

Jairus’ daughter didn’t get kinda healed. Luke 8:55

The woman’s blood did not just taper off. Luke 8:44

The blind men didn’t have blurry vision. Matthew 9:29-30

All you and I have to do is follow the examples found in Scripture!

Pursue Jesus – Come to His feet today!

Profess faith – Believe in Who Jesus is and that He can do what you ask!

Do not doubt – Ask, Seek and Knock and know that you will receive, you will find, and the door will be opened!

Today, we are going to look at an attribute about a dad…

This attribute is what drives him.

This attribute is what helps define him.

This attribute is the __________ of a father.

But Jesus, knowing the heart of the father, encouraged Jairus not to fear, to hold on in _________ and his daughter will be healed. Luke 8:50-56

As dads we have these invisible spiritual shoulders that can carry just about any load that is put on them… as long as it is worth carrying.

Can I tell you that when a man has someone standing with them at their side… they will endure just about anything!

Jesus knowing this gave Jairus the ___________________ he needed to continue in his quest for a miracle.

This was Jesus, who demonstrated His _____________________ over the weather by calming the storms!

This was Jesus, who demonstrated His ______________________ over the super natural, the spiritual realm, by casting out demons!

This was Jesus, who was now going to demonstrate His __________________ over life and death!

With everyone laughing in the other room, Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter to life!

One commentator said something to the effect that, her soul having gone to God in death returned to God coming back to life.

Jesus __________________ the faith of a father.

He reinforced the faith of a father, who is crazy enough to believe that God can do anything!

She was not “on the mend!” No, she was __________! She was__________!

Jesus did not want people focusing on the “things He did” vs. the fact that He is the _______________ and had the authority to do them.

If you are only drawn to _______ Jesus can do and not WHO He is… then you have missed the point of ______ Jesus came to this earth.

Today, we are going to look at how sometimes situations appear hopeless. And when they do, we need to Hold on in ____________!

Luke 8:40-42; 49-50 How many here have experienced, “God’s timing,” in the fact that God’s timing is not always in line with our timing?

Can I encourage you: “just because there is a __________, remember, Jesus has the final say!”

Sometimes the last thing we want to hear is: James 1:2; Philippians 4:6-7 You may not want to hear that, but you need the word of God spoken to you and over you! In a time of need, we need to be encouraged that we are not alone, and that God’s got this! We need to hear that all things are possible still.

Romans 12:12 echoes Jesus’ response to Jairus and to all of us today that are going through trials… “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”

Rejoice in _______ – Don’t be afraid

Be ________________ in tribulation – Just have faith

Be constant in ______________ – she will be healed

Trust that the miracle you need to happen will happen in Jesus’ name! Mark 9:24

Do not let the _______________ magnify the process to the point that it causes you to ______ hope. And with Jesus, there is _____________ hope! Romans 15:13

MacLaren’s Expostions: “But one’s gain shall not be another’s loss, and Christ does not let any applicant to Him suffer whilest He attends to any other. Each has an equal claim to His heart.”

Hebrews 10:23

Is Jesus truly your Lord and Savior today?

Is He truly your source?

Do you believe that He is faithful?

Will you hold on in faith this morning, to the promise that your miracle is coming?

We get to see a demonstration not only of people operating in faith, but Jesus’ response to their actions. Our passage today is an encouragement that when we step out in faith… our faith gets Jesus’ attention. Luke 8:40-48

We see here, Jesus responding to the multiple needs for His healing touch. Here a man is desperate to get Jesus to heal his daughter. There is also a woman who sees touching Jesus as her last possible chance to be healed. And they both are putting a demand on Jesus at the same time for the same thing! And the great thing is Jesus is never too busy to respond to an act of faith!

We have a local Jewish leader from the synagogue coming and kneeling at Jesus’ feet begging for Jesus to do a miracle. But He is also the focus of another in desperate need of His healing touch. We have Jesus surrounded and being pushed in on from every side. And we have a woman pressing in through the crowd, in faith, hoping for a miracle. I wonder how often we don’t receive a miracle because we don’t press in? I wonder how often we think that Jesus is just too busy, so we don’t ask, or we don’t try to reach out to Him? Can I encourage you today, that Jesus is never too busy to do a miracle! Jesus can always handle another request!

What is faith? Hebrews 11:1 Can I encourage you today, bring your need before the Lord today! You can ask for Jesus to come and do a miracle and He will come to you! You reach out and touch the fringe of His robe today and He will heal you today! It really is that simple! Don’t let your fears get in the way. Don’t let your doubt block your miracle! Don’t let pride keep you from falling to your knees at Jesus’ feet. Don’t let a crowd deter you from getting to the Source that can provide a breakthrough in your life! Mark 10:47-52

I wonder how many times instead of ushering people into Jesus’ presence to be healed and delivered, the religious spirit drives people away. Hebrews 4:14-16

There was a spiritual withdrawal that had taken place. Something had gotten Jesus’ attention! Someone used some faith and Jesus felt it! Someone’s desperation, someone’s fear, someone’s hopelessness, someone’s “this is my last chance”, someone’s “I know He can do it, I just hope He will do it”, someone’s faith stopped Jesus in His tracks.

Jesus took note of healing power leaving Him! When we deliberately reach out for the hem and make contact… Healing power is transferred! Will you respond in faith and allow Jesus to respond to you? Will you allow yourself to hear the words that this woman heard… “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

Jesus wants to have an encounter with you today! Will you exercise your faith?

Last week we saw Jesus demonstrate authority over the natural and this week we will see again His authority over the supernatural.

Mark 5:1-20

I want to focus on 4 aspects of this passage: 1) Jesus’ authority over the demons. 2) The foolishness of demons. 3) The foolishness of the people. 4) Jesus’ commission to the saved man to share the Good News

First: Jesus’ authority over the demons. And here, even a demon, an enemy to God and it comes before Jesus and kneels at His feet. Verse 2 & 6 These demons in the presence of Jesus couldn’t flee, they couldn’t escape, they ran to Him instead of away from Him. So it is with any attack from the enemy, that when confronted with Christ… they have no power… they have no authority… Christ does.

Second: The Foolishness of the Demons. There wasn’t any reverence in their tone. Their tone was more of a, “mind your own business, Jesus” tone. Verse 7-8 Verse 9 Take note of the foolishness, here kneeling at the feet of Jesus, instead of pleading for mercy and salvation they plead for lack of torment. They are not apologetic… they just don’t want their fun to be cut short! Verse -10-13

Third: The foolishness of the people. Verse 15 They were afraid! Here this man that was tormented and destructive was sitting quietly at Jesus’ feet. Again… “Who is this man…?” Verse 16-17 Matthew Henry Commentary: There are a great many who prefer their swine before their Saviour, and so come short of Christ, and salvation by Him. They begged Jesus to leave them!

Fourth: Jesus’ commission to the saved man to share the Good News. Verse 18-19

Jesus didn’t permit him, but instead left him with a command… Verse 19 The paradox of coming into a saving relationship with Jesus is that we want more of Jesus! But the people around you may not be as eager to know Jesus as you are. They may still prefer their swine over a Savior.

We may desire to leave that situation and get a “fresh start”. But can I encourage you today that when you come to know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have the freshest start anyone could hope for. Can I tell you that you sticking around and “being different” will be a witness to your family and friends more so than if you took off and went somewhere. Verse 20 Will you share your story?

Will you share your story?

Today, we are looking at Jesus’ divine authority over the weather. Mark 4:35-41

I love that this all started with Jesus saying, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” “Let’s” … or “Let Us”… cross to the other side of the lake.” There was a promise given... Jesus told the disciples that they were going to cross to the other side of the lake. Jesus was going with them! Jesus got into the boat with them!

How often do we “get in the boat” with Jesus when times are good only to freak out when the storms of life come at us? I want to remind you today that Jesus is still in the boat, right? How often do we try to manage things in our lives when we should just trust that Jesus is in the boat, so it’s going to be ok? How often do we default to old ways of solving things, instead of trusting that Jesus is in the boat, so it’s going to be ok? How often do we get our lives to where it looks like we are about to sink, and then we turn to Jesus for help? How often do we allow fear to drive us? 2 Timothy 1:7 We need to walk in faith and not panic! We need to go to Jesus before our storm becomes an issue… not wait until there is nothing more WE can do.

And in all of those, it is usually after we get the boat to just about sinking that we go to Jesus to bail us out.

Instead of trusting Jesus in the beginning and handing those areas of our lives over to Him and believing that since Jesus is in the boat with us… it’s going to be ok. Jesus says to us, “I am still in the boat with you… so you are going to make it! Where is your faith?”

41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!” This is the question that needs to be answered: Is He just a man? Or is there more to Him? Philippians 2:9-11

See, when we believe that Jesus is God. When we believe that He can control the storms in our lives, we can live with the peace that surpasses all understanding! We can praise God in the storm because He is the one who comforts us through the storm. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7; Revelation 12:11

Christ will provide comfort to those who trust in Him and call out to Him.

I believe that when we grab ahold of that understanding… We will be able to weather the storms of life! When we realize that Jesus is still in the boat, right… There is hope! There is peace! There is a strengthening of our faith! There is the confidence that if God is for us… nothing can stand against us!

Will you trust God? Will you trust in Jesus… even if He is napping in the back of the boat?

Matthew 13:33

Heaven is like leaven.....