Speaker:
Rev. Dr. Delali G. Bodza
Theme: Moving Boundaries ( Barriers, Seals, Obstacles) Into Your Now.
Texts:
Luke 5: 17 - 26
Mark 2: 1 - 12
Matthew 9: 2 – 8
Introduction:
" Now Is My Time " Is The Theme For Our 100 Days Prayer Festival.
Jesus Christ Is Your Now. Your Now Has Existed In Christ Since The Day You Genuinely Gave Your Life To Jesus.
What Do We Mean By " Now " ? The Immediate/ Sudden Display Or Manifestation Of Your Deepest Expectations.
As A Covenant Child Of God, You Have Every Right To Access Your Now
• Your " Now " Even Though Already Exists In Christ Never Manifest Easily.
• Accessing " Your Now " Comes With Confronting Boundaries/ Barriers/ Limitations
• But Accessing Your "Now " , Comes By Moving Boundaries/ Removing Barriers/ Breaking Limitations
Scriptural Background:
Certain Elements To Consider In This Passage
1. Jesus Christ
2. The Crowd He Was Addressing
3. The House Where The Meeting Was Taking Place
4. The Paralytic Man
5. The Four Friends
6. The Roof Of The House
A. Jesus Christ Was The Main Focus Of The Four Friends = If Only They Could Get Their Paralytic Friend To Jesus
They Saw Jesus Christ As Their All = If Only...
They Had No Plan B
They Harnessed All Their Effort / Energy To Get Their Paralytic Friend To Jesus
• They Were Not Prepared To Compromise
• They Did Not Yield To Distraction
• Who Hears Your Problems And Issues First
B. But There Were Two Major Boundaries/ Barriers/ Obstacles To Conquer
1. The Crowd
2. The Tiles At The Ceiling Of The House
C . Note That There Were Certain Major Boundaries/ Barriers/ Obstacles Within These Four Men Before Even The Two Above
1. Mental Boundary = Can This Be Possible
2. Emotional Boundary = Fear Within
3. Their Belief System = How Sure Were They That Their Faith Or Belief In Jesus For Sending Their Friend To Him Will Work / How Sure Were They That Their Expectation Will Be Met / What About If It Does Not Work.
4. Tradition Of Men / People's Opinion
D. The Resolve Of The Four Men
1. To Break Through The Boundary Of The Crowd
2. To Break Through The Boundary Of Courtesy Of The House Owner
3. To Break The Boundary Of The Ceiling
4. Lowering Their Friend To Where Jesus Was Standing
E. Three Qualities That Led Their Actions
1. Determination
2. Faith Focus
3. Perseverance
F. Jesus Reaction
1. First Jesus Saw Their Faith V 20 Ie Their Actions Demonstrated In Breaking Through The Crowd/ The Lifting Of The Man To The Roof / The Breaking Of The Tiles / Their Lowering Of The Man
2. Secondly He Addressed The " One Thing " Needed To Be Tackled V 20 = To This Man It Was Sin
3. That Means This Man Was Not Born Again Hence His " One Thing " Was Sin.
Sin Was The Boundary/ Barrier/ Obstacle To What The Man Needed Now.
4. Jesus Said To The Man " Get Up, Pick Your Mat And Go Home " V 24
Immediately...V 25
G. Addressing The " One Thing"
Why Is Jesus Christ The Surest, The Shortest And The Quickest Way To Getting The Best Of God And The Best Of Anything In Life ?
Because, Only Jesus Knows And Has The Power Of That " One Thing " Boundary, Barrier, Obstacle
Application
• There Is Always The One Thing To Your Now
• Where Jesus Addressed The " One Thing "
1. Mark 10 : 21 - 22
2. Luke 10 : 42
H. Lessons From This Strange/ Remarkable/ Wonders/ Unaccountable /Incredible/ Marvelous Happenings V 26
1. Every Challenge/ Difficult Situation We Face Reveales A Dimension Of God To Us = Job 19 : 25 - 26
2. Reveals Our Level In Faith And Maturity
3. Positions Or Qualify Us To Become Reference Points
I . Prayer :
Oh Lord, Which Dimension Of God Are You Revealing To Me In This Challenge You Have Permitted To Come My Way.
Oh Lord, What Is That " One Thing " In My Life To My Now
Oh Lord, What Is The Boundary That I Need To Remove For My Now
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