WHAT JESUS CAN DO FOR YOU

TEXT: Mark 5:1-7

INTRODUCTION: When we have a problem we go to the person we feel is qualified to take care of the problem.  If we have problems with our automobile we go to a mechanic, if we have problems with our health we go to a Doctor, if we have legal problems we go to a Lawyer, if we have problems with our plumbing we call a plumber.  We go to or call them for what they can do for us.  Unfortunately they cannot always do for us what we expect. I want to share tell you about someone that can do anything for you.

I.          HE CAN GIVE YOU PURPOSE IN LIFE

A.        One of most dramatic conversions‑the Crazy Man of Gadarenes.

1.      He was the ultimate outcast.

a)      He didn't wear clothes or live in society.

b)      He was violent and psychotic.

(1)  Chained and guarded, but still broke free.

(2)  Cutting himself with stones

(3)   Was enslaved by evil.

2.      Jesus delivers him.

(1)  The demons vacate.

(2)  The man returns home as an evangelist.

(3)  He simply tells what Jesus has done for him.

B.        Does your life seem empty

1.      Jesus can give you purpose for your life

II.       HE CAN JOIN THE VALLEY AND THE MOUNTAIN Matthew 8:1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

A.        Jesus comes down to our level.

1.      He not only takes us up with him, but comes down to us.

2.      Left Heaven

3.      Experience what we go through

4.      Went where people were

5.      Lived where people live

B.        You are never too low for Jesus to find and bless.

1.      Woman at the well

2.      Woman caught in the act of adultery

3.      Went home with Zaccheus

III.    HE CAN DO WHAT OTHERS CAN'T DO Matthew 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou Wit, thou canst make me clean.

A.        The leper knew Jesus could heal him.

B.        The sinner really knows Jesus can forgive him and change him.

C.        Others cannot, but Jesus can.

1.      He knows what it is like to feel pain

2.      He knows what it is like to be forsaken

3.      He knows what it is like be hungry

4.      He knows what it is like to be tempted

IV.    HE CAN SEE THE INDIVIDUALS IN A CROWD Zacchaeus, Woman with issue of blood

A.        Christ can see you.

1.      Can’t hide from him

2.      Some worry about the preacher

B.        You are not lost to Him.

1.      You may feel that your sins can’t be forgiven

a)      Jesus can reach down and pick you up

C.        Right now, Jesus occupies a place where he can look out and see the needs of everyone in this place.

V.       HE CAN MEET YOUR EVERY NEED Matthew 8:3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will, be thou clean.  And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.'

A.        Whatever the need may be, Jesus can meet it

1.      Health

2.      Finance

3.      Counsel

4.      Friend

B.        Whatever the problem may be, Jesus can handle it

1.      He can fix the broken heart

2.      He can forgive the sinner

C.        Whatever the question, Jesus can answer it

VI.    HE CAN BE YOUR FRIEND

A.        He shows He cares because of what he has done

1.      Man was a friend of God

B.        Right relationship by creation

1.      Created in image of God (Rational, personal, moral) (Elements of thinking, feeling, willing)

C.        Walked with God daily

1.      Man sinned and broke the relationship

D.        God does not go back on His word of warning

1.      As a parent we tell our children not do things and tell them of the punishment if they do.

E.        God had issued the command

1.      Man disobeyed

2.      The punishment

a)      Physical death

b)      Spiritual death

c)      Eternity in hell

d)      Torment [Lazarus & Rich man]

e)      Separation from loved ones

3.      Christ shows he cares

a)      Died in our place

b)      Conquered hell for us

c)      Took sting of death away

F.         He shows cares because of what he is doing.

1.      He is a friend when there is sickness

a)      [Friends] Centurion’s Servant

Matthew 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

b)      [Family] Jarius’s daughter

Mark 5:22-24  And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

c)      [Personal] Lady with issue of blood

Mark 5:28-29 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.  And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

G.       He cares when we lose a loved one

1.      Death of Lazarus

2.      Brother of Mary and Martha

H.        He cares when we have problems in life

Matthew 8:23-26 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

1.      Many face problems in life

a)      Finances/children/marriage/job

b)      Drugs, alcohol

2.      No problem to big/no problem to small

I.           He shows he cares because of what he will do.

1.      He is preparing a place for us

John 14:1-2 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

a)      Place where there is no death, sickness, suffering

Revelation 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

b)      A place of great beauty

Revelation 21:17-18 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.

Revelation 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.

CONCLUSION: It is not too late. The story of "Wrong Way Riegels" is a familiar one, but it is worth repeating. On New Year's Day, 1929, Georgia Tech played UCLA in the Rose Bowl. In that game a young man named Roy Riegels recovered a fumble for UCLA. Picking up the loose ball, he lost his direction and ran sixty‑five yards toward the wrong goal line. One of his teammates, Beeny Lom, ran him down and tackled him just before he scored for the opposing team. Several plays later UCLA had to punt. Tech blocked the kick and scored a safety, demoralizing the UCLA team. The strange play came in the first half. At halftime the UCLA players filed off the field and into the dressing room. As others sat down on the benches and the floor, Riegels put a blanket around his shoulders, sat down in a corner, and put his face in his hands. A football coach usually has a great deal to say to his team during halftime. That day Coach Price was quiet. No doubt he was trying to decide what to do with Riegels. When the timekeeper came in and announced that there were three minutes before playing time, Coach Price looked at the team and said, "Men, the same team that played the first half will start the second." The players got up and started out, all but Riegels. He didn't budge. The coach looked back and called to him. "Roy, didn't you hear me?  The same team that played the first half will start the second." Roy Riegels looked up, his cheeks wet with tears. "Coach," he said, "I can't do it. I've ruined you. I've ruined the university's reputation. I've ruined myself. I can't face the crowd out there." Coach Price reached out, put his hand on Riegels' shoulder, and said, "Roy, get up and go back.”The game is only half over." Riegels finally did get up, and he played hard and well. All of us have run a long way in the wrong direction. Because of the forgiveness offered in Jesus Christ, however, the game is only half over.

A pastor was giving the children's message during church.  For this part of the service, he would gather all the children around him and give a brief lesson before dismissing them for children's church. 

On this particular Sunday, he was using squirrels for an object lesson on industry and preparation.  He started out by saying, "I'm going to describe something, and I want you to raise your hand when you know what it is." The children nodded eagerly. 

"This thing lives in trees (pause) and eats nuts (pause)..." No hands went up.  "And it is gray (pause) and has a long bushy tail (pause)..." The children were looking at each other, but still no hands were raised.  "And it jumps from branch to branch (pause) and chatters and flips its tail when it's excited (pause)..." 

Finally one little boy tentatively raised his hand.  The pastor breathed a sigh of relief and called on him.  "Well," said the boy, "I know the answer is supposed to be Jesus ...  but it sure sounds like a squirrel to me!"