Amazing Jesus | March 5
Amazing Jesus: Making Jesus Proud with Amazing Faith Movement | March 5 | Pastor Charlie Weir
What adjective do you use for someone who regularly surprises you by exceeding your expectations? “Amazing!”
In the first century, Jesus' words and actions continually left people speechless and frozen in their tracks or more simply put He left them amazed. Mark uses eight different “amazing” words, twenty-four different times in his Gospel just to try to convey how exceptionally unique Jesus was and is. His words and actions have the same impact twenty centuries later.
“Amazing Jesus” is a series from the Gospel of Mark starting on February 26th.
Can you use some more “amazing" in your life?
Amazing Jesus: Making Jesus Proud with Amazing Faith Movement
Mark 2:1-12
Mark writes his Gospel to…
• Develop and Strengthen their/our relationship with Jesus by not just putting
them in the room with Him but by literally putting them in His inner circle.
• Encourage and Embolden a persecuted church by not only connecting them
to first-hand witnesses of the sufferings and persecutions of a crucified Jesus
but also to the power and dominion of a resurrected and ascended Savior!
The Gospel of Mark (and the Gospels in general) are anchoring materials for a secure
relationship to God in Christ Jesus providing courage and boldness in times of
hardship.
Gateway’s Serve/Lead Culture
Love First
Go Last
Be Accountable
Serve as One
Give Your Best
“I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I
feel His pleasure.” Eric Liddell Olympian & Missionary
Faith movement brings out God’s pleasure, pride and amazement.
Mark 2:1-12 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people
heard that he had come home. 2 They gathered in such large numbers that there was
no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some
men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 Since they
could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof
above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying
on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are
forgiven.” 6 Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to
themselves, 7 “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can
forgive sins but God alone?” 8 Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was
what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking
these things? 9 Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are
forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? 10 But I want you to know that
the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So, he said to the man, 11 “I
tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 12 He got up, took his mat and walked
out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying,
“We have never seen anything like this!”
Just getting to Jesus unlocks so many doors we didn’t even know were locked.
Any and all moves towards God are faith moves. Jesus’ forgiving his sin is an
indication that we have no idea of the full potency of faith. Never underestimate a
move toward God!
Hebrews 11:6,7 “6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone
who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who
earnestly seek him. 7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy
fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became
heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.
If it is impossible to please God without faith then the converse is true, with faith it
is possible to feel His pleasure and to amaze Him!
Faith Fact #1 Your faith movement towards/with Christ is exponentially more
powerful and far reaching than you estimate.
Faith Fact #2 You don’t need unshakeable of faith to move Jesus you just need
enough faith to get moving. The movement is what amazes Jesus.
Faith Fact #3 Your movement faith for others moves Jesus. A “lent” faith looks like
a carrying faith and it is transformative force.
All Faith Movement is Opposed by Fear & Doubt
Fear/Doubt: “Even God can’t change your/my circumstance. Just look at the facts
on the ground!”
Truth: Jesus isn’t confined by facts on the ground, He made the ground! In fact, He
made us from the ground.
Response: Move anyway.
All Faith Movement is Opposed by Fear & Doubt
Fear/Doubt: “You/I have done nothing to deserve God’s grace or favor. God isn’t
that interested in you/me.
Truth: God’s grace and favor are gifts to receive not earn. The cross was for
everyone, especially you. Your power move is to agree and use that force to change
the focus from your lack to God’s love. Satan wants to shine a light on you, we win
when we shine a light on God.
Response: Move faster.
Faith in Christ isn’t about securing a pain-free life it is about securing eternal life.
To lose sight of life in heaven while on Earth is to lose life perspective while on
Earth.
4 takeaways from Mark 2
Faith movement moves Jesus.
The greater the need, the greater the speed.
Our love for others moves Jesus on their behalf.
Salvation is the most amazing miracle!