Icon Key
📝 = Fill in the Blank
In Mark chapter 4 we see Jesus teaching, and teaching, and teaching for 30 plus verses, then out of nowhere verse 35 says,
“That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.””
Mark 4:35
I wonder what made Jesus interrupt what He was doing. I wonder what made Jesus stop and say, "Let us go over to the other side.” What was it? A better question might be, WHO was it? Thankfully for us the next chapter answers that questions for us, Mark 5:1 says,
“Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes.”
Mark 5:1
“And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him.”
Mark 5:2-4
“And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.”
Mark 5:5
As I read this text, I couldn’t help but to think to myself, I wonder if the reason why Jesus said let us go to the other side in Mark chapter four was because of the cry of the man in Mark chapter 5. I can’t help but to think, did Jesus hear this man’s cry?
You’ll be amazed at how many people put on their smiles in the morning, only to take them off to put on depression at night.
You’ll be amazed at how many people are in this room today or in a living room surrounded by people but yet still feel alone. This wasn’t just a one night thing, or a one week thing. The Bible said, "AND ALWAYS, AND ALWAYS.” He was in the mountains and in the tombs. This way of living effects all people. This way of living effects those living on the mountain top of success, as well those living in the valley, or in the tombs.
Through their actions, they’re crying out. Through their non actions they’re crying out. And for some reason you picked up on it. For some reason God chose you to see it. For whatever reason God has allowed you to hear it. Everyone else is going on about their business, but not you. You can sense that what you’re hearing is your calling. You can sense that what you’re hearing is your destiny. You can sense that what you’re hearing is your purpose speaking to you. I say to you today…
📝 DO SOMETHING WITH IT.
You talked about it last year. You talked about it the year before. But now it’s time to do something with what God showed you. Now it’s time to do something with what He said. Now it’s time to do something with what you heard.
DON’T ALLOW THEIR CRY TO BE IN VAIN.
Don’t allow this moment to pass you by. DO SOMETHING with it.
That’s what Nehemiah did. In Nehemiah 1:2 Nehemiah said,
“Hanani, one of my brothers, came to visit me with some other men who had just arrived from Judah. I asked them about the Jews who had returned there from captivity and about how things were going in Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah 1:2
“They said to me, “Things are not going well for those who returned to the province of Judah. They are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.””
Nehemiah 1:3
“When I HEARD THIS, I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.”
Nehemiah 1:4
From there Nehemiah got up and began to rebuild the wall for God’s people. It all started when Nehemiah said 4 words…
"WHEN I HEARD THIS…” Nehemiah 1:4
Nehemiah did something with what he heard.
That’s how David stepped into His defining moment. David did something with what he heard.
“As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted HIS USUAL DEFIANCE, AND DAVID HEARD IT.”
1 Samuel 17:23
This had been going on for 40 days now. This was Goliaths usual defiance, but it all came to a stop once David heard it.
I believe with everything in me that help is on the way to this generation.
"….When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord WILL LIFT UP A STANDARD AGAINST HIM.”
Isaiah 59:19
I believe with everything in me that help is on the way for the times. There’s no doubt in my mind that help is on the way, but that help is going to come through you.
God wants to use your hands. God wants to use your feet. God wants to use your voice. God wants to use your mind. God wants to use your resources that He has given you. Help is on the way, but that help is going to come through you.
Don’t miss this moment, thinking that this moment is for someone else.
Mordechai said it best in Esther 4:14,
“For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?””
Esther 4:14
I challenge you today, to do something with what you heard. I challenge you today to do something with what He showed you.
It’s time to give your dream a heartbeat.
It’s time to do something with what you heard. But I must warn you….IT’S GOING TO COST YOU SOMETHING. I admonish you today to…
📝 FIGHT THROUGH THE STORM.
That’s what Jesus had to do. Jesus had to fight through the storm.
“As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).”
Mark 4:35-36
“But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.”
Mark 4:37
It’s amazing to me that the moment that Jesus decided to go to the other side, is the moment the storm came up. Remind you that these boys were fishermen. They were used to reading the weather. If the weather was an issue from the start, they never would’ve set out. I say to you today, find it not strange for storms, and difficulties, and setbacks to COME UP, the moment that you set your heart and mind that you’re going to other side. Find it not strange for storms, and difficulties, and setbacks to COME UP, the moment that you set your heart and mind that you’re going to step into your calling, or that you’re going to be a blessing to God’s people, but the good news is this—If Jesus said you’re going to the other side, then come what may, you’re going to the other side!
You’re going to have to fight through some storms. You’re going to have to fight through some difficulties. You’re going to have to fight through some fears, you’re going to have to fight through some doubts, but if Jesus said you’re going to the other side then you’re going to the other side!
“But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?””
Mark 4:38
“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”
Mark 4:39
This is why many theologians believe that this storm was a satanic attack because Jesus arose and rebuked it. You’ll never find Jesus rebuking the Father. You’ll never find Jesus rebuking a God filled moment.
Jesus was asleep because He knew he couldn’t die here. Jesus was asleep because He knew that he wasn’t finished. Jesus was asleep because this boat wasn’t the cross. This wasn’t His expected end.
“And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Mark 4:40-41
📝 Don’t Forget Who’s In Your Boat
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
1 John 4:4
“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,”
Ephesians 3:20
For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. Colossians 1:27
HELP IS ON THE WAY AND ITS GOING TO COME THROUGH YOU. And when you get there….
📝 GIVE THEM JESUS.
“And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.”
Mark 5:5
“But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,”
Mark 5:6
The Bible said no man could bind, no man could help him, BUT WHEN HE SAW JESUS!!! Not when He saw religion. Not when He saw John. Not when he saw Peter. Not even when he saw James the half brother of Jesus, but when he saw Jesus. We have to give people Jesus! Not ourselves, not our opinions, not religion, you have to give them the one who’s on the inside of you—GIVE THEM JESUS!
“But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.”
Mark 5:6-7
This depicts the struggle that we all face. Part of me wants to worship, while the other part of me wants to stay home. Part of me wants to be free, while the other part of me wants to stay bound. Part of me wants Jesus, while the other part of me wants the world. Part of him worshipped while the other part of him said, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!”
“For He said to him, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” Then He asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, saying, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country.”
Mark 5:8-10
“Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.” And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea.”
Mark 5:11-13
How in the world could a legion of demons be in ONE MAN and not kill him? It was so many demons in that one man, that they went into 2,000 pigs, drove them off a cliff and killed them. How was he still here???
📝 KNOW THAT IT WAS GRACE.
Know that it was grace, that’s brought you this far. Know that it was grace that saw you through. Know that it’s Grace that’s GOING to see you through.
“For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift].”
John 1:16
“God saved you BY HIS GRACE when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
“Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid.”
Mark 5:15
“And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him.”
Mark 5:18
“However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and TELL THEM WHAT GREAT THINGS THE LORD HAS DONE FOR YOU, and how He has had compassion on you.””
Mark 5:19
📝PASS IT ON.
📝 DELIVER what’s been DELIVERED to you.
You can say that…
Help is on the way, because help first came your way.
“And he departed, and BEGAN TO PUBLISH in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.”
Mark 5:20
AND HE DEPARTED. He went out. He put it into motion. I truly believe that help is on the way THROUGH YOU but the question is….
HOW LONG WILL YOU KEEP THEM WAITING?
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