MEANT FOR MORE: SPIRITUAL EMPHASIS WEEK ONE
MEANT FOR MORE • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 2 viewsWe can't realize how we are meant for more until we realized that we need God to set us from from being spiritually paralyzed.
Notes
Transcript
Show NF “Paralyzed” Lyric Video.
For the past several weeks, we have talked about how we are meant for more. We learned together how when God calls us to do something, it requires us to trust Him. That requires us to let go of our life and trust in him. When you let go of what you think your life should be, then you can discover God’s plans for you.
We were encouraged to look at what it means for us to know and understand what it means to be MEANT FOR MORE, trusting God. How, like David, you were meant for more. You just need to be willing to let go. And sometimes, that can be hard because of things we have done in our past that we are embarrassed about. Things in our past that might be keeping us from trusting God with our life.
Last week we learned how in Christ, we are not defined by our past but transformed into new creations, capable of living a life that brings honor to Him. Paul’s life is proof of this. Through the mercy that Christ gives, Paul's life and his story were redefined. He didn’t see his past as something to be chained to. Instead he saw it as an opportunity to show who Jesus is. How God can use our failings for His glory.
We came away with the truth that WHEN YOU BEGIN A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST, YOUR PAST DOESN’T DEFINE WHO YOU ARE OR DETERMINE YOUR FUTURE. Instead, through the transformation of Christ, our worth is redefined not by our past, but by the mercy of Christ. When we experience that, when we let go of our past and embrace Christ, we can begin to see and know how we are meant for more.
But we’ve got to address something. If we want Revival to break out on this campus, we have got to start with us. However, many of you are just like the song says, you are paralyzed. For whatever the reason, you are paralyzed. It is time for you to no longer be that way. Turn to the book of Mark. We are going to dig in to Mark 2:1-12. As you turn there, let me set up Mark. Mark gets right to it. For Him it is all about the actions of Jesus. Mark doesn’t spend time with the birth or Jesus’ sermons like Matthew does. He focuses more on the teachings of Jesus.
Jesus enters the city of Capernaum after calling His disciples, teaching in Galilee, and driving out demons. As Jesus went and taught, He starts to get popular. People start to show up in crowds. And this is where our passage begins:
When he entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word to them. They came to him bringing a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
But some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts: “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Right away Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he told the paralytic—“I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home.”
Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
1. Boldly Breaking Barriers
1. Boldly Breaking Barriers
Mark 2:1–4
“When he entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that he was at home. So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and he was speaking the word to them. They came to him bringing a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and after digging through it, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.”
Here is Jesus teaching. Jesus is teaching and He is completly crowded. No room. You have this group that is simply trying to heal their friend. They are trying to get to Jesus, and can’t get in. So they decide to do something bold. Like crazy bold. (Have some fun with this. Like joke about how the people who owned the house. Joke about how funny it is, you’re there and all of a sudden you see sun when you shouldn’t see it.)
Yet that’s what these friends do for this guy. They are so desparate for their friend to be healed that they are willing to be bold. To have a bold faith that defies limitations and peer pressure. These friends decide to show such a bold faith that defies what the world would say to do. Their decision broke through society norms and physical structures to get to Jesus.
What do you think would have happened if they were paralyzed by the fear of stepping out in faith? You see, the friends are like many of us. They were desparate to see their friend come to know Jesus. And while they got more than what they ever imagined, they were willing to do whatever it took. But they more than likely dealt with the fear of the unknown. What if they get in trouble? What if they get arrested? What if they go to tear through the roof, they cause a disaster? They could have been paralyzed by their fear. And the result would have been that their friend would not have had an encounter with Jesus. He wouldn’t have been forgiven of sin and he would not have been healed.
Some of you are paralyzed by the fear of the unknown when it comes to stepping out. You have friends that are desparately need Jesus and you feel stuck, helpless by fear of peer pressure. You feel like you can’t because it is just too much, and so you are stuck. Today can be the day to change that.
Some of you are paralyzed by the fear of giving up your life to Jesus. The paralysis of peer pressure, the paralysis of self doubt, the paralysis of fear. You want to follow Jesus but you are afraid, and so you are stuck.
2. Faith Rewarded with Forgiveness
2. Faith Rewarded with Forgiveness
Mark 2:5–7
“Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts: “Why does he speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?””
When we step out in Faith, God moves. We see this here when Jesus says your sins are forgiven. Jesus here acknowledges the friends' faith and immediately offers forgiveness, highlighting the centrality of spiritual healing. Because they were willing to step out and embrace the unknown in faith - their friend not only receives healing physically, but receives a spiritual healing in forgiveness. The friends didn’t save - they were just willing to do whatever it took for their friend to be saved. Even if it meant they “embarrassed” themselves. If they looked weird and didn’t do it just right. Despite what others may have thought about or said about them. And we will see here in just a minute that there were people who hated what they were doing. But that didn’t stop them.
Because of their faith, they stepped out and broke free from paralysis. For those of us paralyzed by living our faith, Scripture teaches us that the Lord is our light and our salvation. That we are to not be paralyzed with fear.
For many of you, that’s what you needed today to make that step. To break free from the paralysis. You may be the friend paralyzed by fear of the unknown. Some of you may be the ones needing to lower the man to Jesus, some of you may be the one on the bed needing to be healed of your own paralysis. You may not be physically paralyzed like the man, but spiritually you are. You’ve tried to do things your own way. Tried to look like you are a “Christian,” but on the inside you are nowhere near it. And deep down, you know this isn’t working. It has done nothing but make you numb. But you don’t know what to do and so you are numb. Paralyzed.
For some of you, you’re the person on the bed. Paralyzed by a hurt you experienced. A hurt so deep that you’ve become paralyzed to anything. All this is is just going through the motions. Like the lyric in the song that says where’s the person that I know, because for whatever reason they have left you with all this pain. You appear fine on the outside, but you go home and break down in your room because you feel so empty and paralyzed. You’ve tried to bury it but it keeps coming back up. Just like the friend lowered on the cot, you are DESPARATE for Jesus to heal you.
Here’s the truth in this section. We see Jesus’ heart for inner transformation. He wants to go deep. He see you for who you really are -someone in need of forgiveness and healing. Someone who is meant for so much more but is so paralyzed and needs to be healed. Today can be the day for you.
3. Facing Faith's Critics
3. Facing Faith's Critics
Mark 2:8–9
“Right away Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat, and walk’?”
I said earlier that when we step out, there will be those who will judge. We see this hear. Listen to me, Jesus healed this man and those who should have known better judged what Jesus did! So if Jesus was treated with skepticism and questioning, we will too. True faith often faces skepticism and questioning from others.
Although Scripture is silent, I’m sure that there were those who questioned these friends. But that did not stop them from doing what they knew was right to do for their friends. In a sense, they stood firm in their faith and were not swayed by doubt and judgement of others. For you, the truth is that no matter what is causing you to be paralyzed, when you make that step. Whether it is to step out in faith for the first time, to seek healing for pain, to finally respond to God calling you to be bold in your faith - you will be looked at differently. You may even be judge for your actions. That is going to happen.
Many of you know that because that is the reason that you are so paralyzed. And every day that numbness of paralysis is just hurting you more and more. Because you are afraid. Yet it isn’t working. It is only causing you more and more pain. So instead of giving in - it is time to break free. And the one who can do that? Is the one who loves you and I so much that He took our place, died on the cross, and rose again. The one who desires to forgive us. Its the one who says you can’t handle this, but He can. He wants to help you to break free. We don’t have to be afraid of what others may say. When we let go of our life, when we trust in God, we no longer have to be afraid. 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.”
You no longer have to be afraid. You just need to trust. The friends did that for the paralyzed man. They trusted and took a leap. The paralyzed man trusted in Jesus. He took a leap, and we see what happens.
4. Transforming Faith in Action
4. Transforming Faith in Action
Mark 2:10–12
“But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he told the paralytic—“I tell you: get up, take your mat, and go home.” Immediately he got up, took the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!””
Not only is the man healed physically, but he is healed spirtually. We see here that this shows that only Jesus has the authority to both heal and forgive sins. It is only Jesus that can get to our brokenness and bring healing. This is what happens when we move from being paralyzed to demonstrate our faith in action. We see that miraculous transformation takes place, physically and spiritually. Leading to a new life of purpose.
I think we all want to see God move and break out on this campus. We want to see our school on fire. You want to see this school be on fire? You want to experience a Spiritual Emphasis Week like no other? It begins with you and me. Anne Graham Lotz said it like this, “Revival begins when you draw a circle around yourself and you make sure everything in that circle is right with God.” But if we sit here, paralyzed by fear. Whether it is the fear of others or the fear of the unknown, then nothing will happen. All we will have done was wasted time. We have to be willing to step out. You have to be willing to step out. No one can do it for you. No one in this room can do it for you. Only you.
We can’t expect God to move or do anything to break out on our campus if we just go through the motions. Some of you, you’ve heard this before. And while you may agree and even look like you live this, deep down you are paralyze, like NF raps about in the song, “Paralyzed.” On the outside, you look the look, but on the inside, you are numb spiritually. And you hate everything about it. But up to today, you’ve been afraid to let go. Today is the day. Today is the day where you break through the barrier of being paralyzed.
As the musicians come: Like I said, it doesn’t have to be this way. There is a better way. That way is through Jesus. Who believes in us. Who sees us for who we really are and loves us just the same. But we have to be willing like the friends in this story, like the paralytic, we have to be willing to let go of our fear, breaking free of being paralyzed and trust in Him. And as hard as that is, it is one of the most freeing things we can experience. We are no longer who we once were. We are no longer living in the pain of being paralyzed by our fears, our sins, our past. We are set free!
We just have to be willing. The musicians are going to come forward and they are going to lead us in a time of reflection. This is the altar. I am hear if you need to talk. Your teachers who have been praying for you are here to pray and talk with you if you need to talk. Today is the day for you to make a change. Today is the day for you to break free. Let’s pray, and then let the Holy Spirit lead.