Move Out! Series

Bust A Move

Pt. 3 - Move Out

I. Introduction

The start of a new year makes us think about new. Different. Changes. If we could summarize our approach to a new year, then it could be captured by the word "movement." We desire and determine to make a move.

Movement is defined as "a series of organized activities working toward an objective." So, we started by saying we need to move over. I challenged you to move on because you can't move to next if you are hung up on a previous issue. Then last week, Pastor Andrew stepped in for me and challenged you to move now. Don't let the expiration date of your desperation creep up on you. You have to move now. So, today I want to wrap this up by challenging to move out.

The concept of movement or seeing change is predicated on this principle. If you want something different, then you must do something different. If you want something more, then you must do something more. If you want change, then you must change. In other words, you must move out. The path, the pattern, the plan, the rut, the routine, the recipe that you have been following that got you to the point you are now won't work to take you to new heights. It is the idea that work out fanatics discover. Even the most brutal, exhausting workout routine will take you to a point and then if you don't adjust it or switch it up you will plateau. It is what folks wanting to lose weight discover. The initial adjustment can only take you to a particular goal and then you will get stuck unless you make further changes. It is what we know spiritually. The discipline, the daily discipleship program you followed religiously will get you to a certain place and then you have to change it up. You have to move out!

Let me take you to a familiar passage this morning and see if I can't help us.

Mark 2:1-12 (TPT)

Several days later, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and the news quickly spread that he was back in town. Soon there were so many people crowded inside the house to hear him that there was no more room, even outside the door. While Jesus was preaching the word of God, four men arrived, carrying a paralyzed man. But when they realized that they couldn’t even get near him because of the crowd, they went up on top of the house and tore away the roof above Jesus’ head. And when they had broken through, they lowered the paralyzed man on a stretcher right down in front of him! When Jesus saw the extent of their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are now forgiven.” This offended some of the religious scholars who were present, and they reasoned among themselves, “Who does he think he is to speak this way? This is blasphemy for sure! Only God himself can forgive sins!” (Why is it the saved are always the most cynical and skeptical?) Jesus supernaturally perceived their thoughts and said to them, “Why are you being so skeptical? Which is easier, to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are now forgiven,’ or, ‘Stand up and walk!’? But to convince you that the Son of Man has been given authority to forgive sins, I say to this man, ‘Stand up, pick up your stretcher, and walk home.’” Immediately the man was healed and sprang to his feet in front of everyone and left for home. When the crowd witnessed this miracle, they were awestruck. They shouted praises to God and said, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

I know it is a story you learned in Sunday School when the teacher used flannel graphs but stay with me this morning. I have approached this account a little different in light of our subject today.

Notice that the house was full. The version I read to you declares that not only was the house full, but that the crowd had spilled outside the door. The crowd was blocking the attempt of 4 men to get their sick friend to Jesus. That part we know. But I had a thought. Are we to assume that there were no other sick folks in the crowd outside the door? Should we conclude that every broken, needy, sick, desperate person was inside the house and able to get to Jesus. I would submit that that is highly unlikely. I think there were numerous folks outside the purview of Jesus, outside the scope of His sight, outside the reach of His hand. None of those folks, to our knowledge are healed that day. The reason a paralyzed man who couldn't get to Jesus by himself and the only reason we even have this account in Scripture is because 4 men moved out.