Mark 2:1–12 (NLT) — 1 When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. 2 Soon the house where he was staying was so packed with visitors that there was no more room, even outside the door. While he was preaching God’s word to them, 3 four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. 4 They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. 5 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” 6 But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, 7 “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” 8 Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 9 Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, 11 “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 12 And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

Luke 5:17: “The Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus.”

1. THE POWER IS ALREADY IN THE ROOM

• Jesus must be lifted.
  • Lift Jesus up - Jesus said in John 12:32, “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”
  • Test and see - 2 Corinthians 13:5 — “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you.”
  • WHEN JESUS IS IN THE HOUSE, HOPE STARTS MOVING THROUGH THE CITY.
• He has the power
  • 5:17 — “The Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus.”
  • The Lord absolutely had the ability to heal.

2. STUCK IS NOT THE SAME AS HOPELESS.

• The Divine Truth
  • PEOPLE MAY LOOK HOPELESS TO US, BUT THEY ARE NEVER HOPELESS TO JESUS.
• Our role - The Bridge
  • Mark 5:28 — “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”
  • IF WE CAN GET THEM TO JESUS, HOPE IS STILL POSSIBLE.

3. IT TAKES FOUR CORNERS.

• One person was not enough to carry the man.
• The harvest was never meant to be a solo effort.
  • 1 Corinthians 3:6 — “I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow.”
  • Luke 5:6–7 — “Their nets were so full of fish they began to tear! A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat.”
• Think like a harvest team.

4. FAITH JESUS CAN SEE

• Jesus saw their faith
  • Mark 2:5 — “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’”
  • What did Jesus see?
    • He saw passion: they cared too much to leave their friend where he was.
    • He saw perseverance: the blocked door did not become their excuse.
    • He saw the push: their faith had hands, sweat, weight, and movement.
• Passion - PASSION IN THE KINGDOM PAYS OFF! 
• Perseverance - YOU WILL HAVE SOME RESISTANCE! It’s spiritual warfare. Carry on. 

5. WE CARRY. HE CLEANSES.

• Jesus addresses the most urgent problem.
  • Mark 2:5 — “My child, your sins are forgiven.”
  • Jesus does not begin with the man’s legs. He begins with his soul.
• Jesus heals the visible condition.
  • Mark 2:10–11 — “The Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins… Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!”
• When Jesus heals the soul, everything is impacted.