Preached by Mike Underhill, 4/10/2010

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Mike Underhill Preaches about the Pursuit of Happiness

Mark 2:1-12 Jesus Heals a Paralytic

Have you ever noticed that people in the Special Olympics are always happy? Why is that? – Because they never give up. Never Give Up. The paralytic couldn’t walk but he went after Jesus.

The Old Testament in the Bible is a shadow of things to come. Jesus is to be a shadow for us or parallel like the paralytic was.

Matthew 10:22
He who perseveres to the end will be saved. Sometimes we put our hope and pursuits in other things besides God. What or who are you going to follow?
The paralytic was tempted- can I do this? He saw his hope. He said, “Take me to see Jesus!”
Sometimes the line in life is too long. The paralytic climbed to the top of the roof. They dug through the roof- (heart not to give up). There are consequences when you do give up.

Luke 11:24-26
When you leave a house clean more demons come back unless it’s filled with something else. We are not above this happening. We have to do something to make something special. Like this retreat- we have to do something to make it special. Do what the Bible says. You can get open with sin.
Looking Stupid
He cut in line to get close to Jesus. The Pharisees were bitter. People don’t like you to cut in line.

People go to a great extent to get on TV. The paralytic just wanted to get healed. Are you living like that as a disciple or are you trying to balance worldliness with being a disciple?

1 Corinthians 1:27-30
Do you ever think “I wonder why God made me a disciple- he must think I’m awesome.”- Not true. God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. What did we do to get selected by God? God looks for the fools & weak to pick for his mission. He wants the little kid who is going to have faith. God picks the losers. We are the things that are not. He chose the paralytic because he was weak. Stop trying to look cool- nobody cares. There is no cool way to share your faith. It’s the Bible Talk or God that is cool, not you.

1 Samuel 16:1-7
Be who you really are. God looks at the heart!

Paul said, “To the weak, I became weak.” You can’t make a disciple by acting like a non-disciple. Disciples are fools of the world.

James 4:4
Friendship with the world is hatred toward God. God is jealous over us. He doesn’t want to share us with anyone. Like a girlfriend cheating on a boyfriend. He wants you to stay away from worldliness. God gets hurt when we cheat on him. Don’t be stupid though. Don’t just do whatever you feel.
Being Forgiven
Mark 2:4-5

Did the paralytic want forgiveness or just healing? He had guilt- “what did I do to be like this?” So Jesus said, “your sins are forgiven.”

Habakkuk 10:19-22
We can loose focus of why Jesus died on the cross. Why did he die? – For our hearts to be sprinkled so we don’t feel guilty. To cleanse us from a guilty conscience. Your not supposed to feel guilt once you repent. Otherwise you are not accepting Jesus Christ. You’re being prideful if you don’t forgive yourself after God has! Are you better than God?

Forgiveness alone is your joy! Everything else beyond is a blessing.

Luke 10:18-20
Our names are written in heaven. If not happy, something is wrong.

Mark 2:8-12
Which is easier to say? What matters is that Jesus said it. Your sins are forgiven. This amazed everyone. We look stupid but Jesus is real and when we pursue Jesus like the paralytic the world will say, “What is this?” and be amazed!

Categories: Campus Ministry, Sermons
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