Notes from a sermon on 23 January 2011
Mark 2 verses 1 - 13
Mark 2 verses 1 - 13
Mark 2 is a familiar story. 4 men who brought their friend who was unwell. He was paralysed. They carried him to the Lord and he was healed. He will take our right hand. The God of heaven will take us by the right hand and he will say to us “fear not for I will help you.” (Isaiah 41 verse 13) I The promise of God is that he will lead us. William Carey said “expect great things for God and attempt great things for God.” Notice here in this portion of scripture see a turn of things in the life of one man - he couldn’t walk but before he went away he walked again.
A people that are excited. We see this right through the chapter - verse 2 “it was noised that he was in the house 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.” Before this situation Jesus took time to pray - Mark 1 verse 35. When Jesus entered into Capernaum the people got so excited. Am I so excited about what the Lord has done in my life? Am I telling others about it? Are we excited because we are saved by the grace of God? That any moment now God could break the skies and take his children home to enter into the place he has prepared for them? If haven’t faced that yet I would be standing in dread today. I must as a sinner face God’s judgement one day. The people were excited about Jesus being in the house. They didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see Jesus. They made every effort to see Jesus. “where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst.” The Lord is gazing on you, knowing everything, every thought in your heart and mind, knowing all that is going through your life at this time, ready to take you by the right hand. The woman at the well wanted water but she met Jesus. She confessed her sin. Jesus forgave her every sin that day. As she left the water pot and told everyone that she met she was excited. Do you and I have that excitement today? Do others see what Christ has done for us? Are we excited so much that we want to tell others about it? We are saved by God’s grace and yet some times we cannot muster up to tell another man or woman the great things God has done for us. The heathen could say “God has done great things for them” Psalm 126 verse 2. Sometimes we fall into category of the Laodicean church - lukewarm.
A pact that was encouraged - verses 2 and 3. As a direct response here because of the excitement that was in the air all roads led to this house where Jesus was. It came from the hearts of the people first and foremost. John Wesley was used in the Methodist circles to preach in days of coldness, apathy, when people were turning away from things of God. He had a little advice for his preachers going out when standing in the pulpits preaching the word of God. He said “set the preacher on fire and the people will come to see him burn”. When people begin to burn with passion for God our families will be transformed. This man had never worked a day in his life probably. His friends made a pact to take him on this stretcher, carried him right to the excitement, was with love in a day when no interest in gospel. Your heart and mine can be hardened through circumstances today. We might have been hurt by someone years ago. Once professed faith in Christ but there was nothing in the heart. Someone did something to offend you or hurt you. Maybe every time you heard the gospel you rejected it. That ground becomes hardened to the word of God. The Bible says the moment the seed is sown the enemy comes to pick up the seed. Why? “Lest they believe and be saved.” That is what happens. Nothing could compete when get excited about what God could do. In Nazareth Jesus was hindered from doing many mighty miracles because of unbelief. That is still the case today. When we begin to get excited and believe what God can do things do change. As they gathered 4 men also came, they were stirred into a course of action. Isn’t that the same story for the woman at the well? John 4 verse 39 “for the saying of the women”. All this happened in Capernaum because of the excitement of the people that drew these 4 men to bring their friend to the house. As God takes his word and applies it to your heart it will go out and people will believe in Christ as Saviour because of that.
A person who was enabled. People began to gather - that was good but when God began to work that was tremendous. 4 men came along with their friend, spoke to this man about the Lord, told him what he could do. They were attempting great things for God and expecting great things of God. 4 men became convinced that the Lord was going to do something for them. They came and saw the crowd but were not put off. They went up onto the roof and lowered the man down through the roof. When Jesus saw them he said to the sick man ”thy sins are forgiven you.” He stood to his feet, a complete new person. The moment you come and sit at his feet crying out to him to be saved he will make you a new creature in Christ .
A praise that is expressed. The moment people looked at this man they glorified God because of what God had done. All because they were excited about his visit. Why not ask God to come into your heart, Maybe there was a time when you were excited but the fire has gone out. The coldness of sin has crept in. We need that revival fire once more.
A people that are excited. We see this right through the chapter - verse 2 “it was noised that he was in the house 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.” Before this situation Jesus took time to pray - Mark 1 verse 35. When Jesus entered into Capernaum the people got so excited. Am I so excited about what the Lord has done in my life? Am I telling others about it? Are we excited because we are saved by the grace of God? That any moment now God could break the skies and take his children home to enter into the place he has prepared for them? If haven’t faced that yet I would be standing in dread today. I must as a sinner face God’s judgement one day. The people were excited about Jesus being in the house. They didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see Jesus. They made every effort to see Jesus. “where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst.” The Lord is gazing on you, knowing everything, every thought in your heart and mind, knowing all that is going through your life at this time, ready to take you by the right hand. The woman at the well wanted water but she met Jesus. She confessed her sin. Jesus forgave her every sin that day. As she left the water pot and told everyone that she met she was excited. Do you and I have that excitement today? Do others see what Christ has done for us? Are we excited so much that we want to tell others about it? We are saved by God’s grace and yet some times we cannot muster up to tell another man or woman the great things God has done for us. The heathen could say “God has done great things for them” Psalm 126 verse 2. Sometimes we fall into category of the Laodicean church - lukewarm.
A pact that was encouraged - verses 2 and 3. As a direct response here because of the excitement that was in the air all roads led to this house where Jesus was. It came from the hearts of the people first and foremost. John Wesley was used in the Methodist circles to preach in days of coldness, apathy, when people were turning away from things of God. He had a little advice for his preachers going out when standing in the pulpits preaching the word of God. He said “set the preacher on fire and the people will come to see him burn”. When people begin to burn with passion for God our families will be transformed. This man had never worked a day in his life probably. His friends made a pact to take him on this stretcher, carried him right to the excitement, was with love in a day when no interest in gospel. Your heart and mine can be hardened through circumstances today. We might have been hurt by someone years ago. Once professed faith in Christ but there was nothing in the heart. Someone did something to offend you or hurt you. Maybe every time you heard the gospel you rejected it. That ground becomes hardened to the word of God. The Bible says the moment the seed is sown the enemy comes to pick up the seed. Why? “Lest they believe and be saved.” That is what happens. Nothing could compete when get excited about what God could do. In Nazareth Jesus was hindered from doing many mighty miracles because of unbelief. That is still the case today. When we begin to get excited and believe what God can do things do change. As they gathered 4 men also came, they were stirred into a course of action. Isn’t that the same story for the woman at the well? John 4 verse 39 “for the saying of the women”. All this happened in Capernaum because of the excitement of the people that drew these 4 men to bring their friend to the house. As God takes his word and applies it to your heart it will go out and people will believe in Christ as Saviour because of that.
A person who was enabled. People began to gather - that was good but when God began to work that was tremendous. 4 men came along with their friend, spoke to this man about the Lord, told him what he could do. They were attempting great things for God and expecting great things of God. 4 men became convinced that the Lord was going to do something for them. They came and saw the crowd but were not put off. They went up onto the roof and lowered the man down through the roof. When Jesus saw them he said to the sick man ”thy sins are forgiven you.” He stood to his feet, a complete new person. The moment you come and sit at his feet crying out to him to be saved he will make you a new creature in Christ .
A praise that is expressed. The moment people looked at this man they glorified God because of what God had done. All because they were excited about his visit. Why not ask God to come into your heart, Maybe there was a time when you were excited but the fire has gone out. The coldness of sin has crept in. We need that revival fire once more.
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