Introduction

Good morning, dear friends.

We gather here today, hearts hopeful, spirits lifted, ready to hear God's word.

We're going to spend some time in Luke 5:19. It's a passage that's simple, yet powerful.

Let me read it for you, "And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus."

This verse, my friends, speaks of a story of faith. A story of barriers being broken and a breakthrough being sought. It's a story that resonates with us, doesn't it? We've all had moments where we've faced walls, where we've needed that breakthrough.

G.K. Chesterton once said, "The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because they are generally the same people." Isn't that so true? And in our lives, aren't our barriers often our own selves?

We're also going to talk about the power of scripture. The power it has to guide us, to mold us, to lead us to success.

Before we begin, let's bow our heads in prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you today with open hearts and open minds. We thank you for your word, for the wisdom it imparts, and the comfort it brings. As we reflect on the scripture today, we ask that you guide our understanding. Help us to see the lessons you have for us. Let your word be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.

Breaking Barriers for Breakthrough

In the passage we read, we see a group of friends who were determined to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus. They had heard of the miracles He had performed, and they believed that He could heal their friend. But when they arrived at the house where Jesus was teaching, they found it was so crowded they couldn't get in. They could have given up at that point. They could have said, "We tried, but it's just not possible." But they didn't. They looked at the barrier in front of them and decided to find a way around it.

They climbed onto the roof of the house, carrying their friend with them. They made a hole in the roof and lowered their friend down into the room where Jesus was. Imagine the surprise of the people in the room as they saw a man being lowered from the ceiling! But Jesus wasn't surprised. He saw the faith of these friends and He healed the paralyzed man.

This story shows us that sometimes, in order to experience a breakthrough, we need to break through some barriers. These barriers could be physical, like the crowd in the house. They could be emotional, like fear or doubt. They could be spiritual, like sin or unbelief. But whatever they are, we need to be willing to break through them if we want to experience the fullness of what God has for us.

The first thing we can learn from this story is the importance of perseverance. The friends in the story didn't give up when they saw the crowd. They didn't let the barrier stop them. They were determined to get their friend to Jesus, and they were willing to do whatever it took to make that happen. They didn't let the size of the barrier deter them. Instead, they let the size of their faith determine their actions.

Secondly, we see the importance of teamwork. The friends worked together to get their friend to Jesus. They each had a part to play. If one of them had tried to do it alone, they wouldn't have been able to. But together, they were able to overcome the barrier and bring their friend to Jesus. This shows us that we need each other. We need to work together, to support each other, to encourage each other. We can accomplish so much more together than we can alone.

Thirdly, we see the importance of faith. The friends had faith that Jesus could heal their friend. They believed in His power, His authority, His ability to make the impossible possible. And because of their faith, their friend was healed. This shows us that faith is essential. Without faith, it's impossible to please God. Without faith, we can't experience the breakthroughs that God has for us.

Finally, we see the importance of action. The friends didn't just have faith, they acted on their faith. They didn't just believe that Jesus could heal their friend, they did something about it. They took their friend to Jesus. They broke through the barrier. They made a way where there seemed to be no way. This shows us that faith without works is dead. It's not enough to just believe. We need to act on our belief. We need to put our faith into action.

Seeking Success in Scripture

The first aspect we need to consider is the transformative power of scripture ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO