Mens Lifting each other up!

Mark 2 1-4

Who's carrying you!!

There is a saying that if you want to know who a person is get to know his friends.

Although I'm not sure the truth behind the statement. One thing I can agree with is that your company impacts your character. 1st Corinthians 15:33 states so not be deceived bad company corrupts good character. It's important to understand that it's better to have good character than a good reputation because your reputation is how people see however your character is who you really are Your character is who you are when no one else is watching. So your company if not good has an effect on who you really are. So the question I ask myself is, Are the people I'm around empowering me or enabling me. Are the people In around pushing me to get to my next level or hindering my progress in God? On this Christian Journey you are going to have some trials. You are going to face some issues. Sometimes you going to need someone to call and encourage you to get up and press and your way through.

Do I have anyone that can say, yes there are times when I pray, and seek God but the truth of the matter is sometimes you just need someone to talk too. Sometimes you just need another brother to encourage you that you can make it on this journey. We all are going through something, it may not be the same thing but it is something. We need a team of people to push us to our potential. This for the men of God that know God has assignment for your life. This is for those that know you have a call, This for those who know that where you are now, is not all that God has for you. Ive heard that life is journey, and sometimes on this journey, we can feel stuck, lost and not know which way to go. However, it is in those moments that God places people in your life to push you to the next level. It is not by chance that God places people in your life. We have to understand that everyone we encounter in our life has a purpose. Sometimes God places people in our life for the season we are in. That’s why we shouldn’t get upset when people leave us, but we must understand that they served their purpose, even the people that hurt you served their purpose. Truth of the matter if some people wouldn’t have never left us we wouldn’t be where we are today. Some people left and it motivated you to get through. That’s why we need to start evaluating those who are in our circle as either an asset or a liability, are they adding to you or are they enabling you. Everybody that I’m with should be adding to my life, and likewise, there should be something in me that’s adding to them. That’s why you have to watch how you treat me because I maybe the one that can help you. Look at someone and say be careful how you treat me, because, you maybe sitting by me for a reason. I’ve learned in church that there are no Big I’s and little you’s, because the same person that may not have a title in the church but can have the resources that can get you the job. May have the resources that can get you the car, May have the relationship with God that can push you to the next level. My brothers we are placed hear to help one another to lift each other up. Look at somebody and say “Im here for you man”.

Before you give up just know that somebody cares, Somebody is praying for you. Somebody is rooting for you, as a matter of fact Im hear for you, Im praying for you, you can call me, 941-920-9428 before you give up, The song from the movie that says, Lean on me when your not strong Ill be your friend Ill help you carry on, call on me brother when you need a friend, We all need somebody to lean on.

As we get to the text we find a man who was sick with palsy. The bible did not even give his name but the Bible gives his condition. How many know that sometimes we a a society often give people names according to their condition but how man know your condition is not your conclusion. I may have a condition now. However don’t Judge me because I don’t plan on being in this place to long .

His Condition he was paralyzed many of us know those who are paralyzed are often found weak and is accompanied by lost of feeling. He becomes helpless without the assistance of someone else.

Talking Point:

I came to speak to those who can relate to being stuck. Who knows how it feels to seem as though no matter how many times you try make a move it seems as though you end up in the same place you started at.Anybody ever felt stuck.

However , Although this man was stuck he was able to find 4 good friends that was able to carry him to get to Jesus. Im not sure how long this man was paralyzed but I believe he was probably paralyzed for a while and One day his friends heard about Jesus and stated Listen Bro I know you have been sick for a while but now it’s time for you to get out of your pity party and get well.

As I read the question, I had to ask some question, I was taught to question the text

1st question Was Jesus his first choice?

2nd Who did he contact before he finally decided to go to Jesus.

Maybe he had contacted all of the physicians they could not get him his healing however he made up his mind that he was going to see Jesus.

To be honest Jesus was not a lot of our first choice but it was the right choice.

Talking Points: it’s good to have some friends to call and pray you out of your pity party. It’s good to have some friends that will send you an encouraging text message every now and then, it’s good to have some friends that will take you to get something to eat just to get you out the house. Because it’s easy to be a friend when your up but your real friends show up when you’re down. Look at the person next to you and ask them “Who’s carrying you”?

The Bible said that meanwhile while they were carrying this man, Jesus was in the house preaching, and he had an open door policy, every one that came to the house was allowed to enter, it is the same way with use. He has an open door policy. He said come unto me all ye who are weary and laden, and I will give you rest. However when they get to the house there was no room in the house, but the bible Declares that they carried him to Jesus and when they got to the house there was no room for them to get in. So not only did they carry him to the house but they went to the rooftop carried him to the top tore the roof off and let him down so that he could get in touch with JESUS.

Whatever your barrier is there is room at the cross for you. Some times you got get rid of the roof.

Jesus immediately tells the man because of your faith your sins are forgiven.

Jesus first heals this man spiritual man before he healed his physical man.

I wondered why would Jesus heals his spirit before he healed his body?

And it came to me that it would not make sense for God to heal his body of he was going to go on with the same spirit and mindset.

So sometimes while we are waiting for God to do somethings in the natural he’s working in your spirit. Because if he gave it to you with the same mindset you will go back to your old habits and old way of thinking and living So he heals his faith.

And this religious folk had something to say.

They did not have anything to say when he healed his body.But they had something to say when he forgave his sins.

They would have been okay if he was walking good in the outside but stuck in his spirit.

God work on the internal then the external.

My brothers and sisters the enemy does not care that you riding in a new car with a jacked up mind.

The enemy does not care that you are clean on the outside with a messed up spirit.

However once God changes your faith, once God changes.

I noticed three things that stood out to me about these 4 men

Point 1. They Couldn’t not heal him but they knew a man who could.

The bible says that it was noised that Jesus was in town( In other words the people were talking) these men understood that this was an opportunity they couldn't resist the Bible did not give a discriptive explanation of these men Relationship with God however they understood that if they couldn't heal him they knew of they could just get him to Jesus. Jesus could heal him. We have understand that we don't always have the answers to person problems. It's okay to not always know the answers because sometimes it's difficult to a fix a person when they are going to situation.

What do we tell a friend when a loved one has passed away?

What do we tell a person when they have been hurt?

What do when they have been abused?

What do we tell a person when they come to you with tears in their eyes seeking an answer.

I'll tell you what you can do. You can carry them to Jesus.

I may not be able to fix it however I know a man who can.

These men understood that and they carried him until he as able to get what he needed.

Illustration? Plumbing issue

Point 2. They were men who used their resources to get to THE Source

The bible said that when they got to the house that Jesus was in the house was too crowded.

It was in impossible for these men to get Jesus because of the crowd.

However these friends had a backup plan. If we can’t get to Jesus through the door we will use the roof.

during this time houses where not as secure as they are today.

However Im sure that these men did not bare through the roof with no materials or tools. I believe these men had to find some resources. I believe they had to find a brick or a hammer in order to tear through the roof. They understood that they had to use some resources in order to get to The Source. Jesus was The Source. However these men were able to use whatever it took to get to Jesus. The Source. They weren’t worried about the crowd. They were not worried about what was in the way. They just were worried about Jesus. Do I have anybody in that can say I have been stuck for too long. However Im going to do whatever it takes to get Jesus. Im not going to just worry about myself. Im going to lift the roof for you to.

They could have easily had a breakdown when they saw too many people in the house. but they decided to breakdown but break through the roof.

Tell somebody why have a breakdown when Jesus is in the house to give you a break through.

Point 3. They were willing to believe with him until he got a breakthrough.

Illustration?

Mark 2:5 states When JESUS saw THEIR Faith it was not just the man with the issue faith that Jesus saw. However he saw the 4 men that was carrying him faith.

Sometimes you have get around some people that will believe God with you for your miracle Sometimes you have to get around some people that will believe God with you for healing. That will believe God with you for your deliverance.

As a matter of encourage the person next to you. I don’t know what you have been praying for but Im going to believe God with you and not only is he going to see your faith but he is going to our faith.

Closing

My brothers and my sisters when we come unto the house of God we should be willing to Carry One another.

I’m not sure what you are going through but I’m willing to lift you up until you breakthrough.

We have to come to place where we ask ourselves are can you carry me until I’m converted?

Can you lift me up to I get my blessing?

Can you lift me up until I get my healing?

Can you lift me up until I get my deliverance?

Many of us may feel as though we are just as this paralyzed man. Stuck, not being able to move. However if you couldn’t get to JESUS before. We are going to pray with you to carry you until you what you need.

Circle of four.

I’m not sure who has been carrying you before, but today I’m going to carry you.

The bible tells us that Jesus explained to him pick up his mat and walk. He was able to carry what once carried you. It aint that I aint

Not only should we lift each other up as men but we should also lift up Jesus. Even Jesus needs to be lifted up. How do I say that, because he said in his word in John 12:32. If I be lifted up from the earth Ill draw all men onto me.

Why should we lift him up, because he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: The chestistment of our peace was upon him and with his strips we are healed.

Why should we lift him up, because he hung on the cross for three days they took him to a borrowed tomb he stayed there one day, he stayed there two days, but early the third day morning he got up with all power in his hands.

We should take about 15 seconds and lift him up,,, and he will draw the men!!

|PRAY|

|Call to discipleship|

He would have never made it on his own.

6. fail not to assemble yourself

Jesus was in the middle of his sermon..

When they came through the roof

It was out of the norm

The story could have easily ended there