When Faith Really Changes Things

Introduction:

Good morning again church. If you are new or it’s the first time here in a while I’d like you to know that during the preaching time we take a book of the Bible and preach it through from front to back. Not all in one day of course. With that being said we’ve been walking through the gospel of Mark where John Mark invites us to come and walk with Jesus through the narrative of His life, ministry, death, resurrection, and so on. We’ve made it to chapter 5 and we’re on the last of three interactions that Jesus has in this chapter. The first interaction that Jesus had was with the demoniac with Whom Jesus delivered and the man became a missionary to the area. This interaction Jesus has with this man among the tombs would have made Jesus unclean but it did not matter, people matter to Jesus. The second person we saw last week was a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years, most likely from a disease of the uterus, and she had faith that touching Jesus would heal her and it did. But her desire to make this a single private act was not allowed by Jesus b/c he felt his power go into her and he wanted to interact and restore and assure her of her proper faith! That gets us to today’s third person Jairus and his dying daughter. Today we’ll see how our faith if often challenged by fear, ridiculed by others, but ultimately could lead to life change like no other. lets dive in…Mark 5:21-24 Mark 5:35–43

1. When faith really changes things its b/c you believe and don’t fear.

Mark intertwines the story we covered last week and the Jairus’ story. Jairus comes first and then is put on hold.

Notice that he first bows to the feet of Jesus, (all the characters in chapter 5 bow before Jesus) Jews don’t bow…then asks if Jesus will come to his home and lay hands on his 12 year old daughter b/c she is dying.

Then a woman with an issue for 12 years comes up and interrupts the walk to Jairus’ house.

Illustration: if you were to go to the emergency room and you had an issue but weren’t dying, and a child came in who was then you know the child is priority. But that’s not what happens.

This most likely drew frustration in the heart of Jairus. Maybe the anxiety and fear are doubling. He’s already scarred and at his whit’s end b/c he is loosing his daughter.

But as Jesus tells Jairus, fear not, keep on believing.

There’s a song about that but its not in the hymn book: don’t stop believing …ha!

When news comes in that it’s too late, Jairus must have collapsed, at least on the inside, but Jesus ignores the messengers, and tells Jairus to keep believing.

Where have you lost hope? Where do you struggle to keep believing? Where does fear dominate in your soul? Can you take Jesus at his word, don’t fear, keep on believing…?

Maybe one of the reasons you haven’t seen a breakthrough in that thing that has bugged you, you have struggled with, the prayer issue, etc…is b/c you don’t believe that Christ cares.

Maybe you think Christ is too interested in everyone else when things are dying at your house. Don’t fear, keep believing.

2. Often times people think you are crazy to think faith changes things.

Notice the messengers, most likely friends or family come to break the bad news.

The text literally says that Jesus ignored the message and tells Jairus to keep believing.

Whether they though Jairus crazy is irrelevant. They just had news and Jesus said to ignore it.

Not Jairus must put his faith in something…

in the words, opinions of others

in his feelings or emotions

in the Words of Jesus

Which will you do?

do you listen to the voices of others who say don’t believe in God, don’t trust Him, it’s just death and taxes, it won’t get better, get your affair in order, you’ll never change, you can’t be a new person, they’ll never get saved…

do you listen to the voices in your head: its hopeless, its all going to hell in a hand basket, this is the end, i can’t, i won’t, i’m a failure, i’ve failed so much, i committed an awful sin, crime, etc. i am not good enough, i’ll never change, i’ll never break this addiction, the fear

Do you believe the Lord

is your motto this verse: do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, with prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your request to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus?

Do you put anxiety and fear to bed and pray? DO you bring your petitions over and over and over until you get an answer?

Do you thankfully come before Him, believing that His ways are not your ways and his plans aren’t yours but you will trust Him?

3. When faith really changes things even the dead come back to life!

One commentator said, The best explanation is that Jesus overheard what the messengers said and accepted the reality of the child’s death but that he refused to accept the finality of death. Though he did not tell the ruler how the crisis would end, Jesus urged him to believe that all would end well.

As was the custom, professional mourners had been secured; and they were already at work

When Jesus arrives he asks what’s the fuss. Says the girl is asleep. This phrase is the same he uses when he speaks of Lazarus. It means dead.

Now the mourners are probably shocked but they go from crying to laughing. They mock Jesus. So he kicks them out.

Jesus can get rid of the voices telling you not to believe, even those thoughts in your mind that the scriptures say we are to take captive unto Christ.

Jesus had already dismissed the crowd and now it was Peter, James, John, and the girls parents.

Jairus has said nothing according to Mark…apparently he kept on believing. But at this point has has nothing to loose believing in Jesus too!

Jesus touches her hand (ceremonially unclean) and tells her to get up. And she does.

She starts to walk and he tells them to feed her, just in case someone thought they were dreaming.

Jesus raised the dead, therefore showing his final of three categories that he is Lord over…demons, sickness, death

You must decide who Jesus is to you..is he Lord over demons, sickness, and death? Then put your faith in Him!

Don’t stop believing.

Conclusion

In our church we have all kinds of stories. Some that have blown me away have been people who have been controlled by the demons of addiction… please stand if this is you…

Others have battled sickness, cancer, disease, and they were or are being healed..please stand if this is you…

Some of you were at the point of physical death… but some of you weren’t any of these…except you were…b/c if you were lost in your sin the bible says you were dead, if this was you stand.

Church look around and see and taste that the Lord is good.. Today we should all be down here at the altar telling the Lord thank you one more time, praying through the things we are called to put our faith in Him over, and asking the Lord to bring spiritually dead people back to life.