Breaking Through

Mark 2:1-12

“And when they had broken through…” Most weeks in revival I pray for a break-through.  I pray for God to break through our pride and predetermined expectations and do something that can only be blamed on Him.  But…break-throughs can be costly.  The roof repair in Mark 2 was no small thing.  But they were willing to do whatever was necessary to get to Jesus. 

God does the saving and healing…But we have to put forth effort to get to Jesus.  The Paralytic was brought to Jesus.  Your breakthrough will end at Jesus – but you may have to put forth some effort to break through barriers before you get there…

They broke through the crowd.

This is nothing short of a miracle.  They’re carrying a paralytic and we don’t know how far they had already traveled.  When they arrived there was a crowd like Walmart on Black Friday eve. They were tired already.  But then the crowd wouldn’t budge and they’re still carrying their friend.  Crowds, critics, confusion, congestion… It’s enough to make folks wanna go back home saying, “It was too crowded…we’ll go back later” And the fella on the cot is asking, “When?”

They broke through the roof.

Jesus saw their faith.  Everybody else saw a hole in the roof.  Jesus saw their faith.  Others saw the mess they were making.  Jesus saw their faith.  Some saw the cost to repair it all.  Jesus saw their faith. There was no applause…no cheers…no praise choruses…no amens…yet Jesus saw their faith.  They broke through the roof for one reason – To get to Jesus.  If you are willing to do whatever it takes to get to Jesus, don’t expect the world to get out of the way.  You’ll have to fight the crowd and be criticized for tearing up the roof.

They broke through the unbelief.

Can you imagine the opposition, negativity, and unbelief they faced as they journeyed to Jesus carrying their friend.  The only way to break through unbelief is by believing. They believed…all 5 of them.  And by the end of the story, they all gave glory to God.  Walls of unbelief are everywhere…in this story imagine how many times they were faced with unbelief - “It’s too far to carry him.”  “It’s too crowded.”  “You can’t do that.”  Don’t let anything or anyone keep you from Jesus.  Ever.  The four believed…and the paralytic believed and was made whole.  

I have a friend, Mike, who was addicted to alcohol for many years. He was drinking three 6-packs a day for longer than he could remember. One night he was sitting at the computer, listening as the Statler Brothers sang Amazing Grace.  As strange as it may sound, God reached out and touched him through that song.  He called his wife in the room…prayed and in a matter of seconds was saved from alcohol.  God still saves and delivers immediately.  Breakthroughs still happen - but it seems we have to be desperate.

Count Your Complaints

1 Corinthians 10:1-5  Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

The people of God  started out surrendered but finished up bewildered.  That’s the work of the Devil.  Satan is a master at scattering families and churches, at dividing and conquering.  The people of God had been rescued and had been sheltered safe in the arms of God, but  were soon scattered far and wide.  What happened?  They were under the cloud and passed thru the sea.  They ate and drank the same spiritual food.  The Lord God was with them. But with many of them God was not pleased.  They complained about at the report of spies who searched out Canaan.  They wished they had died in the wilderness.  They wanted to choose a captain and go back to Egypt. 

And, so, they were scattered.  It’s hard to imagine, knowing what we know from scripture, that these folks couldn’t see the hand of God in their lives.  These few verses attempt to describe the protection of God’s people as they were “under the cloud and all passed through the sea.”  Yet many, if not most, complained.  And how are we any different today?  Very little.  

Just for fun, take a minute and think of all the ways you are blessed.  Think of all the things God has brought you through.  Think of all the good people God has placed in your life.  Count your blessings.  

And then, for a minute or two, count your complaints.  The house is too small.  The car is to old.  Prices are too high.  The kids are too high maintenance.  The job is too demanding.  The paycheck is too small.  The list of complaints is much too long.  

Can we, like God’s people in the wilderness, not see God’s hand?  Too often, we can’t or don’t.  Rather than resting in His protection, we are focused on the problems.  God help us.

Eat A Cucumber

Matthew 16:24   "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

I have a good friend who, like most of us, has struggled with losing weight and keeping it off.  He had lost several pounds some time back and was feeling much better and making his doctor happy.  Having denied himself for so long the food that he wanted, he began to snack a little and soon gained a few pounds back.  ...Back at the doctor for his check-up his doctor was none too happy.  Told him to get back on his diet and if he got hungry, "Eat a cucumber."  

You'd have to know my friend, but he and I had a good laugh over what his doctor said.  Go home and eat a cucumber...  When you're craving a bag of chips, eat a cucumber.  When you want a few cookies, eat a cucumber.  When you want some pizza, eat a cucumber.  When you're craving chocolate, eat a cucumber.  Want some coconut cake...pecan pie...reeses cups...pound cake... "eat a cucumber."

We've all been there when it comes to trying to lose weight...and then once we've lost it keeping it off.  It ain't easy.  We get the idea after a while that we can have a few snacks and we won't gain weight.  We lie to ourselves saying things like "one piece of cake won't hurt."  And then a month later we're struggling to button our pants.  Denying yourself what you want is hard work.

Jesus said following Him included denying yourself and taking up your cross.  Becoming a Christian is one of the easiest things you'll ever do. Being a Christian is one of the most difficult things you'll ever do.  Some days I think I'm doing pretty good.  Other days I wonder if I'll ever make any progress.  On most days I'd rather have an Oreo than a cucumber.  On most days I have problems with my self.  

Today, once again, I am recommitted to "coming after Christ and following Him..."  Anyone with me?  M 

Agreeing With God

1 John 1:9

It's been a while since I got caught doing something I shouldn't have been doing.  But I remember how it felt.  I remember Mother talking to me in no uncertain terms.  I remember being told to go wait in my bedroom till Daddy got home.  That was the worst wait, knowing judgment was coming in the form of a tired father who had worked all day and was coming home to a boy who got caught.

Whether it was at home waiting on my dad, or at school waiting on the principal, confessing never came easy for me.  I've never enjoyed admitting I was wrong.  That it was my fault.

Took me a while but I learned, as a much older person, that confession is a way of cleansing the soul. After I get over the embarrassment of getting caught and the humiliation of being talked to and the frustration of knowing what I should have done so I wouldn't have gotten caught... Confession actually felt good.  At least it was out in the open.  I did it.  I admitted it.  Now move on.

As a believer in Christ, confession has taken on more and deeper meanings.  Confession is a way of agreeing with God.  It's telling God what he already knows.  It's responding to conviction.  It's a pathway to freedom.  It's a step toward repenting.  It's recognizing God's opinion and agreeing with Him.  ...I seldom enjoy discovering God's opinion about my sin, my pride, my reckless decisions.  I seldom am quick to agree with Him.

But when I do, there is immediate peace.

If I will confess my sin, God is faithful to forgive me and cleanse me.  If I will confess my sin.  If I will tell God what He already knows.  If I will agree with God.  MM

Your Arms Are Too Short

Luke 15:11-32

James Weldon Johnson wrote, “Young man, Young man – Your arms are too short to box with God.”  Johnson’s poem about the Prodigal son is more than rhyming words and a clever imagination. His words are prophetic for many today that are trying to box with God…thinking they will win. 

The Prodigal resisted and rebelled and ran away, bound for a better place in the far country.  It was a place far from home, far from his father, far from everything he’d ever known to be right.  It was a place far from God – with crowded streets, bright lights, and loud music.

Johnson writes more, “Young man, Young man - Smooth and easy is the road that leads to hell and destruction. Down grade all the way. The further you travel, the faster you go. No need to trudge and sweat and toil, just slip and slide and slip and slide, till you bang up against hell’s iron gate.”

What some describe as hitting rock bottom, the poet describes as a “bang up against hell’s iron gate.”  Either way, the pain of running out of money and friends was overwhelming for the Prodigal.  He was in a place where no one cared about him.  No one loved him.  He had walked away from everyone and everything that mattered.  What would he do?

He could go home – but it would mean admitting he was wrong.  He had failed.  How would he be received?  Would his father and family mock him?  Not his father.  Most of his family would run out to welcome him back.  But there’s an elder brother in every family who’s not willing to forgive or forget.  His father was more than eager to have his son back home.  It’s a picture of sufficient grace.

Friend, your arms are too short to box with God. Quit fighting a fight you’ll never win.  If you’ve left home – come home.  Leave the crowded streets of nameless faces and come home where you belong – where you’re loved and wanted.

Come home.  Your family has missed you.   

Barking Blind

1 Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

Recently I was staying at a home near the place where I was preaching for the week.  The couple I stayed with had two dogs.  One was a young dachshund, running and full of life.  The other was an old dachshund slow and tired.  And blind.

I walked past the pen where the old dog lived at least twice every day.  He always barked but he never looked in my direction.  He was barking blind.  It was all he knew to do.  Just because he was blind didn’t mean he couldn’t bark. 

Sometimes we have to bark blind.  When we can’t see the enemy...but we know he’s there.  The Devil is good at what he does.  He is the tempter, the adversary, a liar, a deceiver, and given the opportunity he will devour us, our homes, and families…and everything we value. 

All that old, blind dog could do was bark.   

…If you know something is wrong…  It doesn’t feel right…  Speak up.  Stand up.  Just because you can’t see the Devil doesn’t mean you can’t sense his awful presence.

Do what you can with what you have.  You may think you're too old.  You may think you're too young.  You may think no one will listen to you.  You may be the only one barking...Bark anyway.   M

People Watching

1 Timothy 4:15
"Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all." 

Do you ever participate in people-watching?  I think we all do.  We sit and watch and talk and make comments about people and the way they dress...they way they walk...the way they do what they do.

"Look at what that lady is wearing...can you believe that?"

"Look at that guy's hair...it's purple!"

"Oh my goodness look at that...they have their son on a leash..."

"Oh my..."  "Oh me..."  "Can you believe that?"   "That's ridiculous."

Paul said to Timothy to walk in such a way that other people could see his progress.  That they could see his commitment to Christ...  Paul seemed to have been saying to young Timothy that it matters what others think of you.  Your reputation is important.  As a Christian...it matters that others "see your progress."

While we may enjoy watching people - We need to be reminded there are people watching us.  God help us to let our light so shine - that our progress may be evident.  M