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Book: Mark
 Print ( PC Only )
MARK 3:1 - 5
"STRETCH FORTH THY HAND"
I. "AND THEY WATCHED HIM."
A. As soon as He entered the synagogue He became the center of
attention, why?
1. Because there was a man there with a withe .
2. In their minds they automatically connected Jesus with
the man with the greatest need.
a. This was a true evaluation of Jesus nature.
b. As some of you came into the sanctuary today,
you may have thought, "look at those happy
loving people, I know the Lord loves them, but
how could He love me? My life is so messed up.
I have been so crippled by my flesh, withe
nothing, my whole life is a disaster area.
c. As Jesus is also with us in the sanctuary, you
are the one He is most interested in.
3. They watched to see if He would heal on the Sabbath
day.
a. According to their interpretation of the law,
to heal on the Sabbath unlawful.
1. You could only take measures to
preserve life, nothing toward healing.
B. This angered Jesus, "He looked round about on them with anger.
It hurt Him that their hearts were so hard.
a. They would actually withhold help from the
needy man because of tradition.
b. If you are holding some needy person back from
Him, He's angry.
II. "STAND FORTH."
A. Jesus did not leave them long to wonder.
1. The fear of the crowds reaction will not dissuade Him
from helping the man.
2. He focused the attention on the man's need.
a. He didn't ask him how he managed with one hand.
"How do you tie your shoes?"
3. He wants you to face squarely your need, your place of
impotence, that blighting area of your life.
B. He then asked a rhetorical question of the crowd.
1. Lawful on Sabbath to do good or evil.
a. It would be evil to withhold help if it is in
your capacity to do good.
2. To save a life or kill.
a. Answer 's obvious.
b. They had nothing to answer.
Ill. "STRETCH FORTH YOUR HAND."
A. Christ gave him an impossible command.
1. If he could, his hand wouldn't be withered.
2. Don't you know he tried a thousand times and failed.
B. The man had only two choices.
1. Argue with the command.
a. Tell the Lord his condition, symptoms, etc.
2. Obey the command.
C. I believe in his mind he said, "I can't" but in his heart he
said, ''I will."
D. As soon as he willed to obey the command of Christ he found he
was given all the capacity and power to do it.
IV. APPLICATION--THE LORD IS INTERESTED IN THAT CRIPPLED AREA OF YOUR LIFE
TODAY.
A. That habit in your flesh that defeats you.
B. That situation where you can't find victory.
C. Your place of weakness.
D. He is saying to you now, "stretch forth your hand."
1. "Be delivered now."
2. "Have complete victory."
3. "Be free now."
a. "But Lord, you don't know how long I've
struggled."
b. "How hard I've tried."
c. There you are arguing.
E. Don't argue with Him, obey Him.
1. The moment you in your heart will to obey Him you will
discover new power, new life, new capacities, all that
you need, and you can obey, you can do it.
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