sf552 - A ROOF RAISING REVIVAL (Mark 2 1-12)
Mark 2:1-12
INTRODUCTION
Biblical Background
Capernaum came to be known as His town. It seems to have been the headquarters where Jesus Christ conducted His greater Galilean ministry. Many of the healing miracles which Jesus did took place in the city of Capernaum. They were amazed at what He did. They were astonished by what He did. And yet they really were not moved to conversion by all that Jesus did.
Modern Parallel
The church has three possible fates...
Retribution
(Numbers 32:23) "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.
Rapture
(1 Thessalonians 4:17) After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
Revival
(2 Chronicles 7:14) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Four characteristics of true revival...
1A. A SUPERNATURAL EXCITEMENT (1-2)
1B. The source of the excitement was Jesus. (1b)
The Lord’s person should excite us!
The Lord’s presence should excite us!
The Lord’s power should excite us!
2B. The scope of the excitement was broad. (2a)
The coming of Jesus was the biggest event in town.
Nothing bigger can or will happen in your life.
3B. The subject of the excitement was the preaching of Jesus! (2b)
(1 Corinthians 1:21 NIV) "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe."
2A. A LIFE CHANGING EVANGELISM (3-5)
1B. The paralyzed sinner (3)
Sickness is often used to illustrate what sin does to us.
Ø Sin will cripple you and make you powerless.
Ø Sin will change you and make you dependent on others.
Ø Sin will isolate you and keep you from Christ.
Ø Sin will condemn you to death.
2B. The persistent soulwinners (4)
They paid a great price to bring their friend to Jesus!
They refused to allow his condition to stop them.
They refused to allow the crowd to stop them.
They refused to allow the ceiling to stop them.
When I read this I thought about the old boy who went to sleep one Sunday in church. The preacher was just kinda going on and on. He dozed off‑ to sleep. About that time a piece of the ceiling fell and hit him right on the head and knocked him out in the aisle. So the pastor ran down from the pulpit, got over him, and was shaking him, saying, are you all right. The old boy said, hit me again, Lord, I can still hear him.
They refused to allow the critics to stop them.
3B. The perfect Savior! (5)
Jesus honored the faith of the sinner and his friends.
When Jesus finds faith a sinner finds forgiveness!
A little boy had disobeyed his mother. So he got out a little slate chalkboard and on that slate he wrote, Momma, I am sorry I was bad. If you forgive me, wipe this out. The next time he came by, Momma had wiped it clean. A sinner comes to Jesus, and says Lord, I'm sorry I have sinned, if you forgive me, wipe this clean. Jesus said I will wipe it as white as snow ‑ on the spot forgiveness.
3A. A SOUL SEARCHING EXAMINATION (6-9)
1B. Jesus read their hearts. (6-8a)
(Jeremiah 17:9-10 NIV) "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? {10} "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.""
Jesus knows every thought, desire, and intention of our hearts.
Nothing is hidden from Him.
2B. Jesus revealed their hearts. (8b-9)
(Luke 8:17 NIV) "For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open."
God will first reveal your sin to you.
If you do not repent, He will reveal your sin to the world.
4A. A GOD CENTERED EXALTATION (10-12)
1B. Their praise was based on reality not emotions. (12a)
This man was healed.
This man had been saved!
2B. Their praise was a result of God’s power not man’s programming! (12b)
They were amazed!
Ø Only God is truly amazing!
What has happened in your life lately that can only be explained by saying God did it?
APPLICATION
The Danger of Revival!
The Son of God was right there in their midst and for the most part they were unmoved and untouched about it.
Ø It is possible for a church to have a miracle in its very midst, yet for the most part the people be unmoved, and not be, converted.
Ø It is a very serious thing when a church has the Lord Jesus presented to it and that church does not believe upon Jesus.
Later Jesus pronounced a curse upon the city of Capernaum.
Ø He said that the city, which would exalt itself to heaven, would be instead plunged down to hell.
Ø Therefore, now when you come on the edge of the sea of Galilee, they will show you the ruins of the ancient city of Capernaum.
Ø It is a pile of rubble, brick and stubble because they did not know when their moment of opportunity came.
What will you do today with Jesus?
How will you respond to His power and His presence?
What God-sized event are you trusting God for?
A ROOF RAISING REVIVAL
Sunday, September 6, 1998 - Mark 2:1-12
1A. A SUPERNATURAL _______________________ (1-2)
1B. The ____________ of the excitement was Jesus. (1b)
2B. The ____________ of the excitement was broad. (2a)
3B. The _____________ of the excitement was the preaching of Jesus! (2b)
(1 Corinthians 1:21 NIV) "For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe."
2A. A LIFE CHANGING ________________________ (3-5)
1B. The paralyzed _________________ (3)
2B. The persistent ____________________ (4)
They refused to allow his ____________ to stop them.
They refused to allow the ____________ to stop them.
They refused to allow the ____________ to stop them.
They refused to allow the _____________ to stop them.
3B. The perfect __________________! (5)
3A. A SOUL SEARCHING ______________________ (6-9)
1B. Jesus ___________________ their hearts. (6-8a)
(Jeremiah 17:9-10 NIV) "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? {10} "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.""
2B. Jesus ____________________ their hearts.
(Luke 8:17 NIV) "For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open."
4A. A GOD CENTERED ______________________ (10-12)
1B. Their praise was based on ____________________ not emotions. (12a)
2B. Their praise was a result of God’s ______________ not man’s programming! (12b)