What’s Stopping You

Scripture

Mark 2:1–12 KJV 1900

1 And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. 3 And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. 4 And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. 6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only? 8 And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? 9 Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? 10 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) 11 I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. 12 And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

What if the only thing standing between you and your miracle…

is not the devil,

not your past,

not your condition,

not even God’s will—

but what’s in the way?

What if Heaven is willing,

power is present,

mercy is available,

but access is blocked?

Because in Mark chapter 2, Jesus is in the house—

teaching, forgiving, healing—

and yet a man who desperately needs a miracle

cannot get to Him.

Not because Jesus isn’t able.

Not because Jesus isn’t willing.

But because something is stopping him.

And that forces the question we must all answer tonight:

👉 What’s stopping you?

CONTEXT OF THE TEXT (SETTING THE SCENE)

Mark 2:1–2 KJV 1900

1 And again he entered into Capernaum, after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. 2 And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.

Jesus returns to Capernaum.

Word spreads quickly.

The house is filled—standing room only.

Religious leaders are present.

Expectation is high.

Important note:

Jesus is not advertised as healing here—He is teaching.

But when Jesus shows up, miracles are always nearby.

WHAT WAS STOPPING HIS MIRACLE?

HIS AFFLICTION – THE LIMITATION OF HIS CONDITION

Mark 2:3 – “And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four.”

[Teaching moment]

“Palsy” likely refers to paralysis or severe neurological impairment.

So what the Bible is describing to us today is a that man lived in:

Dependence

Isolation

Financial vulnerability

Social exclusion

Because In first-century Jewish culture, sickness was often interpreted as divine judgment.

So not only is his body broken— his identity is broken.

[Preaching cue]

Some of us are not just fighting what’s wrong with our body—

we’re fighting what people think is wrong with our soul.

HIS PROXIMITY – HE COULDN’T STAY WHERE HE WAS

Mark 2:4a – “And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press…”

Distance matters.

This man could not receive his miracle from where he was laying.

The reason why it is so important for you to go to church is because the church is the place where we come together,

There always has and always will be strength in number

[Key Apostolic truth]

Sometimes God does not heal you where you are

because staying there would keep you dependent on the same environment.

Parallel Scriptures:

Ruth had to leave Moab to be redeemed (Ruth 1:16)

Blind Bartimaeus had to cry out beyond the crowd (Mark 10:46–52)

Lepers had to go show themselves before healing (Luke 17:14)

👉 You cannot receive what God has for you while refusing to move closer.

HIS FAITH – OR LACK OF IT

Here’s something powerful:

Jesus never mentions the paralytic’s faith.

Mark 2:5 – “When Jesus saw their faith…”

This man is silent.

He doesn’t cry out.

He doesn’t speak.

[Teaching insight]

He may have been content, resigned, accustomed to disappointment.

But thank God—

his miracle was not limited by his faith alone.

WHAT ELSE WAS STOPPING HIM?

OTHER PEOPLE – BOTH THE CROWD AND THE CRITICS

a) The Crowd

They were not evil—but they were in the way.

Sometimes the biggest obstacle is not opposition—

it’s congestion.

It’s always crowded at his hands

b) The Critics (Scribes)

Mark 2:6–7 KJV 1900

6 But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, 7 Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?

While a man is being forgiven and healed, religious minds are offended.

[Preaching cue]

Be careful—you can be close to Jesus

and still be blocking someone else’s miracle.

THE ROOF – EXPECTATION & MAN-MADE LIMITS

Mark 2:4b – “…they uncovered the roof where he was…”

The roof represents:

Cultural boundaries

Religious structure

Human expectation

“This is as far as you can go”

[Apostolic declaration]

Faith is willing to damage what’s temporary to access what’s eternal.

Some miracles don’t come through doors— they come through desperation.

NOW—WHAT DID HE HAVE RIGHT?

HE HAD THE RIGHT FRIENDS

Four friends. No names. No platform. Just faith.

Text: Mark 2:3–5

[Teaching → preaching transition cue]

The Bible is intentional.

Numbers matter.

Patterns matter.

God does nothing randomly.

It is not coincidence that the Holy Ghost tells us four men carried this broken man to Jesus.

1. 

Four Men Carried the Presence

When the Ark of the Covenant was moved, it was never dragged, never meant to be placed on a cart, never rolled in convenience.

It was borne on the shoulders of men.

Exodus 25:14–15 –

“And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them.”

Numbers 7:9 –

“But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.”

The Ark represented:

The presence of God

The mercy seat

The place where heaven met earth

[Preaching cue]

When God moves His presence, He moves it through people, not convenience.

Just like the Ark—

this man’s miracle was carried by faithful shoulders.

Four Gospels Carried the Story of Jesus to the World

Matthew.

Mark.

Luke.

John.

Four witnesses.

Four perspectives.

One Christ.

Deuteronomy 19:15 –

“At the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.”

God didn’t just send power—

He sent testimony.

These four friends did not just carry a man—

they carried a message:

“If we can just get him to Jesus…everything can change.”

[Apostolic emphasis]

Some people preach with pulpits.

Some preach with platforms.

But some preach by carrying broken people into the presence of God.

3. 

Four Friends – A Complete Witness of Faith

Biblically, the number four often represents completeness in the earth:

Four corners of the earth

Four winds

Four seasons

This miracle was not partial faith.

Not borrowed faith.

Not temporary faith.

It was complete, united, shared faith.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 –

“And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

Now imagine four.

[Preaching cue]

Some miracles don’t come because one person believes.

They come because someone else refuses to stop believing for you.

Contrast them:

Amnon’s friend (Jonadab) – gave destructive counsel (2 Samuel 13)

Job’s friends – spoke theology without compassion (Job 16:2)

This man’s friends – carried him to Jesus

[Preaching cue]

Some friends talk you into trouble.

Some friends talk you out of faith.

But real friends carry you when you can’t walk.

7. 

THEIR FAITH, TENACITY & RESOLVE

They:

Refused discouragement

Refused convenience

Refused delay

They climbed.

They tore.

They lowered.

James 2:18 – “I will show thee my faith by my works.”

Faith that doesn’t move doesn’t heal.

JESUS’ RESPONSE – FORGIVENESS BEFORE HEALING

Mark 2:5 – “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.”

Jesus deals with the root before the result.

[Apostolic emphasis]

Some of us want God to fix what we feel—

but Jesus wants to fix what’s forgiving us from God.

Then comes healing.

Mark 2:11–12 – “Arise…take up thy bed…and go thy way.”

PARALLEL STORIES OF PRESSING THROUGH

Woman with the issue of blood – pressed through the crowd (Mark 5:25–34)

Zacchaeus – climbed a tree (Luke 19:4)

Blind men – cried louder when rebuked (Matthew 20:31)

Canaanite woman – refused offense (Matthew 15:22–28)

Matthew 15:22–28 KJV 1900

22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Every miracle required movement past resistance.

FINAL SHIFT – WHAT’S STOPPING YOU?

[Slow, altar-driving tone]

Is it your condition?

Your comfort?

Your crowd?

Your fear of tearing something up?

Your dependence on the wrong voices?

Jesus is still in the house.

The question is not Can He heal?

The question is:

👉 What’s stopping you from getting to His feet?

ALTAR CALL (POWERFUL & DIRECT)

Tonight, we are tearing the roof off expectation.

If you need healing…

If you need forgiveness…

If you need restoration…

If you need breakthrough…

Don’t wait for a door to open.

Don’t wait for approval.

Don’t wait for perfect conditions.

Come now.

Because Jesus is still saying:

“Rise…take up your bed…and walk.”