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MARK 3:1-5

"STRETCH FORTH THINE HAND"

Intro: The enemies of Christ often would unconsciously compliment. Christ
       entered into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. There was a man
       there with a withe         so they began to watch Christ. Why? 
       They knew He would be  more interested in the needy man than the
       rest of the crowd. They in their  thinking linked Him with need.
       You may be sitting here today with some paralyzing habit gripping
       your life, Jesus is also here and He is more interested  in you and
       your need than of the others who have no need.

I. "STRETCH FORTH THY HAND."
        A. Via imagination let us go back in time and across in space to
           this synagogue.
                1. We are in the synagogue watching.
                2. There is a man whose hand is withered.
                3. Some one tells him to step forth you. must not look at
                   Him yet.
                4. He commands this man to stretch forth his hand.
                        a. My feelings - a little angered What do you
                           mean? Can't you  see? Mocking a man's
                           disability before the crowd?  Don't you think
                           if he could he would have a long time ago?
                        b. Reverse the film a moment - we are in a
                           synagogue, you are man with withe        .

(a. He would not command the impossible.
(b. I cannot do it, but I will because He told me to.
(c. The minute you said "I will" to the command of Christ  you feel a
    strange sensation, life begins to pulse in  your hand.
        B. The lessons to be learned.
                1. When Jesus begins to deal with a man His method is to
                   go right to that area of failure.
                        a. He does not stop to admire the good hand.
                        b. He brings you face to face with your paralysis
                           that thing that has mastered you for so long.

(1. Have you been mastered by some evil habit?
(2. Has some ungodly passion gripped your life?
        Jesus says abandon it.

II. NOW NOTICE OBEDIENCE "HE STRETCHED IT FORTH."
        A. The man had a deep conviction that his hand was withered.
                1. If you are not conscious of your need no help.
                2. You must first feel your own helplessness before you
                   will come to Christ.
                3. You say one power paralyzed? You say one habit?
        B. Looking into the face of Jesus he knew somehow. He was not
           seeking to just mock Him.
                1. Do you  think "I've tried so many times before."
        C. By faith he attempted the thing commanded.
                1. The moment he did he came into contact with the
                   infinite resources of Christ.
                2. Through faith he did the impossible.

III. "HIS HAND WAS RESTORED."
        A. The moment you submit in obedience to the commands of Christ
           His infinite resources come into your life. He changes your
           weakness to power. He changes your uselessness to usefulness.
           He changes your disability to abilities.
        B. He does not call us to imitate a life but He communicates to
           us life.
        C. Is there anything else in the story?