BOLD FAITH

Good morning! Today is an exciting day. And no, I’m not talking about the Super Bowl, even though I am excited about it. I’m excited to preach this morning. It has been such a blessing to have those who came and preached these past few weeks. I spoke with many of yall and yall shared how you loved hearing from Sterling, Terry, and Duffy. I’ve really enjoyed what they shared with us and to be challenged to live out our faith.

This weekend has been a great weekend. For the past forty weeks, I have been involved in a training program to run a half marathon. And yesterday was my running “graduation day” for my training. It has been such a blessing and a challenge to complete this training.

As a runner, I’ve heard it all before from people who don’t run. My favorite that I have been told is, “If you see me running, something is chasing me!” (Have some fun with this) And I get it. I wasn’t always a runner. Years ago, running was the furthest from my mind. I didn’t have a problem with running, but for me, it just was not something that I would ever thought that I would do. If you had told me when I was in my twenties, that I would later in my life enjoy running and doing a half marathon, I would have thought that you were crazy. There is no way that I would run one mile, that was impossible.

That all changed eleven and a half years ago. In May of 2013, I was diagnosed with type two diabetes. I knew that I needed to make a change. I needed to change my diet, and I needed to exercise. But, I didn’t have weights, a gym membership, or anything like that. All I had was some running sneakers and headphones. So I took a leap, stepped out of my comfort zone, trusted in God, and decided to give running a try. Began small with a mix of running and walking. It moved to running through one song, and then walking for a couple. From there, it transitioned to running more and walking less.

But what happened is that I feel in love with running. I’m not a fast runner, but I’m not the slowest. I get enjoyment out of going for a run. I love running outside and just enjoying God’s creation. All it took was trusting that God was going to help me and taking a leap and do it.

If I had given into the fear of the unknown, there is no telling what would have happened. Sometimes it is that fear that stops us for doing something bold. And while listening to our fears can be a good thing from time to time, when it comes to living out our faith, it can be a hindrance to our walk with Christ. For many of us, it can even keep us from following after Him.

This morning, I want to look at a popular story that took place during Jesus’ earthly ministry. Grab your Bibles and turn to Mark 2. And while you turn there, let me help set the stage for what has been going on in Mark leading up to this moment. Mark is a very straightforward writer. He isn’t like Matthew Luke or John. Mark is action. He dives immediately into the ministry of Jesus, and has Jesus popping up in different places from one passage to the next. The New Bible Commentary says it like this:

The New Bible Commentary 1:1–20 Foundations of the Kingdom of God

We have seen that Mark was an evangelist and like most evangelists, blunt and ‘to the point’. For example, he does not begin his gospel with an elaborate preface but by telling us that his subject is the ‘good news’ about Jesus the Christ (or Messiah), God’s chosen agent who is also the Son of God.

Anybody have friend or a spouse that is pretty blunt and to the point? Never a dull moment around them. (Have some fun with this, but read the room.) So Mark gets right to it. In Mark 1, we see Jesus begin preaching on the Kingdom of God. We see Jesus drive out demons and we see sudden shifts of scenes and moments by use of the words like “immediately,” and “just then,” for example. Mark with rapid fire action writes about Jesus’ healing and cleansing people, but yet with a command to not tell anyone. In the story before chapter two, we see Jesus to tell the man He just cleansed to get evidance of his healing through a certifcation by the priest and not to tell anyone.

What does the guy do? He goes and tells and people flock to Jesus. Everywhere Jesus went, He would draw a crowd. It is this season of popularity that our text takes place this morning.

Mark 2:1–12 CSB

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!”

Pray with me.

A lot of times when we look at this passage, we focus in on the discussion between the Scribes and Jesus. And while that discussion matters, because the scribes who should know that Jesus is the Son of God because His ability that He just did, refuse to acknowledge it. These men were blinded by themselves, paralyzed by their own zeal, that they would acknowledge God right in front of them.

However, there’s more to the story than just this debate between Jesus and the Scribes. Here we have a paralyzed man with a group of friends. That group of friends wanted to see their friend who was paralyzed have an encounter with Jesus, believing that Jesus would heal him. And the paralyzed man was willing to go through whatever it takes to have an encounter with Jesus.

For those of us, there are three things that I want us to look at in this passage when it comes to living out a bold faith.

TO LIVE BOLD FOR CHRIST MEANS

BOLDLY BREAKING BARRIERS

FAITH REWARDED WITH FORGIVENESS

FACING FAITH’S CRITICS

TRANSFORMING FAITH IN ACTION

So let’s talk about BOLDLY BREAKING BARRIERS.

1. Boldly Breaking Barriers

Mark 2:1–4 CSB

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 completely 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 desperate 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 desperate 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.

This morning, someone of us are paralyzed by fear. Some of you are paralyzed by the fear of the unknown when it comes to stepping out. You have family, friends, coworkers, classmates that desperately need Jesus and you feel stuck, helpless by fear of peer pressure, the unknown, or whatever the excuse may be. 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 simply 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.

We see a group of friends being willing to do whatever it took to see their friend have a life changing encounter with Jesus. They were so willing that they took a bold step of faith to literally break through whatever barriers.

You and I are called to show that same type of faith. So to live bold means that we have to boldly break barriers. The second point this morning is that FAITH IS REWARDED WITH FORGIVENESS.

2. Faith Rewarded with Forgiveness

Mark 2:5–7 CSB

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 DESPERATE 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.

To live boldly for Christ, we have to be willing to BOLDLY BREAK BARRIERS, that we are to show a FAITH REWARDED WITH FORGIVENESS. However, it also means that we have to FACE FAITH’S CRITICS.

3. Facing Faith's Critics

Mark 2:8–9 CSB

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 CSB

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. To live boldly for Christ, we have to be willing to BOLDLY BREAK BARRIERS, that we are to show a FAITH REWARDED WITH FORGIVENESS. It means that we have to FACE FAITH’S CRITICS. And finally it shows a TRANSFORMING FAITH IN ACTION.

4. Transforming Faith in Action

Mark 2:10–12 CSB

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 spiritually. 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 in this church, in our homes and in our community. But in order to see that happen, we have to embrace this truth: It begins with you and me. A famous author said this:

Revival begins when you draw a circle around yourself and you make sure everything in that circle is right with God.

However, 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 is waste 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.

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 are going to pray and have a time of invitation. This alter is open for you. 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. 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.