Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Withered ~ Worn Out ~ Waiting on JESUS...It's Up to YOU!

Sunday,April 10, 2011
New Life in Christ - Bishop Dudley

Sermon: Withered, Worn, and Waiting: It’s Up to You!
Sermon Text: Mark 1:29-31
“As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.”
Point 1: They took Jesus with them (Vs. 29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.
Jesus was being led. They didn’t leave Jesus at the synagogue. Jesus couldn’t leave the synagogue on his own and therefore he was a part of the “they”. He needed to leave in the custody of someone. He had just finished ministering and driving out demons. – vs. 21-25:
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”

You must take Jesus with you after the shouting, teaching, praising, and singing during the worship service. You can’t have a powerful experience at church and then leave him there. We come to his house but we don’t want to bring him to our house. The only way you know that you’ve been with Jesus is if he’s with you. Your life will never change if you continue to leave him at the church. When you were young, the conviction fell on you during the worship experience, but the conversion didn’t happen because you left Jesus at the church.
Point 2: They took Jesus to Simon’s mother-in-law’s house vs.29-30 - 29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her.
They knew that if Jesus handled all that he did in the synagogue, he could surely handle what was going on at their home. They knew their mother was sick, so they took Jesus with them.
After you decide that he’s going to accompany you, you need to know where you’re going to take him. Its one thing to invite someone to church; but it’s another thing to take Jesus where they are. You must have something specific for him to do. If you don’t have a specific place to take him to, you’ll end up taking him to places where you shouldn’t be. It is important to remember that he is everywhere but he doesn’t abide everywhere. He can’t abide in places where you know you shouldn’t be because he would be so focused on getting you out of that place. We know that Jesus saves, heals, satisfies, and brings peace. Therefore, you need to take him to where he can do all of these things.
Point 3: Jesus took her by the hand vs. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up.
Jesus didn’t heal her first but he took her by the hand. Taking her by the hand was the healing process.
Jesus heals in many different ways. Sometimes he heals instantly, but other times he will help you to your healing. He’s not going to turn things around when you’re not doing something for yourself. When Jesus helps you up, you participate in the healing. When you take him with you, he will do what he’s supposed to do. We always want Jesus to handle everything all by himself. However, some things are in your power and ability to do. Jesus will help you but he will not do what you can do for yourself.

Point 4: She took care of them …The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
The fever left and she began to wait on them. The healing motivated her to service. She didn’t just receive but she gave back. She served everybody that was with Jesus. It didn’t take the woman any time. She immediately started serving them.
John 6:26: “Jesus answered, "You've come looking for me not because you saw God in my actions but because I fed you, filled your stomachs—and for free.” Most people forget that he had human needs.
So many times we want something from Jesus, but we don’t want to do anything for him. We seem to be too preoccupied with other things going on in our lives. When the Lord does something for you, it should make you want to turn around and serve him. Serving Jesus also means serving his people. How can you love God but you don’t want to help someone else (his creation)? Your mindset should be: “my service to God is also helping my fellow man”. How can we see that the Lord has done something for us, and we know there are things that need to be done, yet we don’t want to do anything?
Psalm 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
Jesus is waiting for you to take him with you. He’s waiting for you to help yourself to your healing. It’s up to YOU!

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