Where do we go from here?

We’re about to pick up into an incredible streak of miracles…

- Jesus calms a storm.

- Jesus heals a demon possessed man.

- Jesus heals someone just by them touching him.

MAIN QUESTION- But what do you do when in the middle of your streak you get hit hard?

(NLT) — 21 Jesus got into the boat again and went back to the other side of the lake, where a large crowd gathered around him on the shore. 22 Then a leader of the local synagogue, whose name was Jairus, arrived. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet, 23 pleading fervently with him. “My little daughter is dying,” he said. “Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.” 24 Jesus went with him, and all the people followed, crowding around him.

(NLT) — 35 While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.” 36 But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” 37 Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James). 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. 39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” 40 The crowd laughed at him. But he made them all leave, and he took the girl’s father and mother and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying. 41 Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” 42 And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed. 43 Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then he told them to give her something to eat.

KEY POINT- The enemy loves to build up setbacks as irreversible defeat.

Think about it… There was only one thing that may have gotten everyone to stop… One thing that could have been a crushing blow to the momentum…

The servant didn’t say hey your daughter’s temperature just spiked really high you need to hurry!

The servant didn’t say hey your daughter is crying…

Your daughter is dead why bother the teacher anymore.

KEY- The enemy loves to point out the fact of your reality and tell you what to do about it.

You’re poor and have no money, why try to follow God’s plan…

No one likes you so why even try to evangelize…

You’re insecure so why try to be great…

KEY POINT- Your reality and God’s power operate on different levels.

POINT- What seems like a major loss to you is an opportunity for a miracle for God.

When you are hit with a crushing truth what are you going to do???

When your streak looks like it has died what is next???

When everything looks like it is over, where do you go from here???

KEY- Jesus sets an example for us in moving on from the place of devastation.

1. Refuse appearances.

(NIV) — 36 Ignoring what they said, Jesus told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” 37 Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James).

KEY- Just because someone tells me of the reality of death does not mean death is in my future.

CHALLENGE- Stop believing that everything reality says you will experience is in your future. ITS AN ACTION.

ILLUSTRATION- Being told that teenagers won’t get passionate about God, they are only interested in hanging out and games…

DEFINE- The Greek word Jesus used for “ignoring” is the word parakouo (par-ae-cue-o) which means, “to disobey; refuse to listen.”

You see when it comes right down to it, what word are you going to obey?

What word are you going to obey- You’re sick and its not getting better or God’s word that says I’m healed I know I am…

What word are you going to obey- The flesh that says be anxious or God’s word that says be anxious about nothing.

What word are you going to obey?

(ESV) — 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

KEY- The appearance of my situation is designed to make me quit, my faith in the midst of struggle is designed to make me keep going.

2. Rearrange Your Surroundings

(NLT) — 36 But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” 37 Then Jesus stopped the crowd and wouldn’t let anyone go with him except Peter, James, and John (the brother of James).

Not just anyone can travel with you.

Those that are going to travel along my side know how to believe God for miracles.

(NLT) — 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

KEY- Those that were staying with Jesus were those who believed.

NOTE- Some people you need to call to a higher faith… V37

ILLUSTRATION- Traveling with Greg, Robin, Jermel, Nancy, Sharon to India.

KEY- The three disciples who Jesus invited were the same 3 disciples Jesus invited with him when he first healed Peter’s mother in law in .

CHALLENGE- Your surroundings may not be great at the time of your disaster, but how will they look moments after?

(NLT) — 33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”

KEY POINT- Your surroundings matter!

3. Return to the plan.

(NLT) — 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. 39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”

KEY- Along the way it would appear that there would have been reason’s to stop.

POINT- My one reason to keep going is better than a thousand reasons to stop. Because God said so.

POINT- You won’t expereince God’s power outside of God’s plan.

ILLUSTRATION- Wanting to quit when I was a teenager.

(NLT) — 23 Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.

You experience problems and the spirit of God is telling you stick to the plan.

Life at home is getting more challenging and the spirit of God is telling you, just stick to the plan.

Why?? Why is God reminding you to stick to the plan????

Because often our natural reaction is not apart of God’s supernatural plan.

My ways are not his ways.

(NLT) — 8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

4. Restate Your Faith

(NLT) — 38 When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. 39 He went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”

CHALLENGE- Let there be no doubt in your mind and other people’s mind about what you believe.

KEY- People will struggle to understand your faith.

CHALLENGE- Hows your faith sight?

Jesus said the girl was just sleeping not because he thought she was just sleeping… (her heart had stopped beating she was medically dead.) Jesus said she is just sleeping not because of what he saw but because of what was about to happen.

Death signifies the end - Sleep says I’m coming back.

CHALLENGE- Stop calling things what they are and start calling things what they will be.

5. Restore what was lost.

(NLT) — 41 Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!”

CHALLENGE- It’s not enough to just talk.

(NLT) — 14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.

I’m not just going to call something what it’s going to be but I’m going to go wake it up!

Conclusion…

It’s time to wake up what you were told is dead…

That dream.

That relationship.

That purpose.

But its time to move on from the place you were when you were told it was dead.

ILLUSTRATION- On 9/11 many people can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing. The moment was so surreal…

Some of you may remember exactly what you were doing when you were told its dead…

That dream, that goal, that hope, your future…

Some of you don’t have to try hard to remember not because it was so surreal, but because you are still in that spot…

You haven’t been the same since…

If you want to wake up the dead its time to move on.