I Can’t Carry This Anymore

By Pastor Bob Rasmussen

Good morning to everyone here, and to those watching online, YouTube, Facebook, CWM, our website, and Roku.

Happy Mother’s Day. I do not think that the small gifts that we have for you today are enough. I know for me, if my kids and step kids who I call my children, did not have mothers – I think they would all be pictures on a billboard with a caption of “have you seen this child?”.

The bible says this.

• Proverbs 31:28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

I know this day is difficult for some. Some mothers have lost children, and some sons and daughters have lost their mothers. Others long to be mothers but never had the opportunity or had it taken from them. In every case, I am praying for you.

 

Let’s not make today the only day we honor our mothers and wives. They carry so much the other 364 days of the year, and we should always bless them and praise them—amen?

 

Once again, I posted a sermon title and had a thought in my mind on what I was going to preach on, but the Holy Spirit had a different idea.

There are a lot of things that are happening to people I care about. People in this very room. So, as I was reading, as I was praying, and when I was praising – there was a central theme that I was led to, so that is where we are.

My message this morning is, “I Can’t Carry it Anymore”.

• Luke 5:17 And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

I will grant that there are modern day Pharisees in this world. But I think the greatest challenge around us is the growing number of people who do not believe, people that reject Jesus and His Word.

One poll I read is that 28% of the population in the United States are atheists or do not believe in anything. There is also a trend of people taking scripture and using it out of context, attacking those of us who believe. So that same kind of mindset is all around us.

• Luke 5:18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

There is a beautiful theme woven through the Gospels — a beautiful theme of compassion, intercession, and determined love. It’s the pattern of people who refuse to let someone they cared about stay in their brokenness, to stay in their sickness. People who believed that if they could just get someone to Jesus, everything could change.

Some carried friends. Some pleaded for family. Some spoke for those who could not speak. Some prayed from a distance. But all of them had one thing they believed with all their heart: If we can bring them to Jesus, He can do what we cannot.

 

• Luke 5:19 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.

Jesus is preaching in a packed house. The doorway is blocked and there is no easy way that they can get this man to Jesus. The crowd is immovable. But four friends refuse to turn back. They climb the roof, tear it open, and lower their paralyzed friend right in front of Jesus. That is some determination!

• Luke 5:20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

Scripture says, “When Jesus saw their faith…”. It was not the man that was paralyzed, it was the faith of those around him. Not the man’s faith — their faith. Healing began because someone else believed.

And honestly, some miracles require friends who will tear roofs open. Friends who will step out of their comfort zone to get someone to Jesus. People who refuse to be discouraged by obstacles. People who say, “I’ll carry you until you can walk again.”

• Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

I appreciate this part of the scripture because it reminds me that it doesn’t matter what the world thinks. It doesn’t matter what the crowd of unbelievers believe. It is faith in Christ Jesus that will reign over any situation. It is the authority of Jesus and His power of forgiveness, hope and healing that will bring victory in any situation.

It may even be our family at times that are the ones in the crowd, doubting. Not everyone in our orbit is on our side. They may seem like it, but sometimes you never know.

• Luke 5:24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

The faith of four friends, culminates in this moment. Arise! Get up! And what happens next?

• Luke 5:25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

He came into the room horizontally, unable to move on his own and because of Jesus, he stands up. Glory to God! And I love this, he picks up what? The Greek word is KLINIDION which translates to stretcher. This man picks up the very thing that symbolized his sickness. The thing that he needed to even get there, he is now carrying IT out, it no longer carries him!

Praise the Lord for His mercy!

Another event from the Book of Mark, chapter 7. Jesus is by the sea of Galilee. And there was a man that was deaf and could not speak.

Back then they did not have all the aid that we have to help people with disabilities. Like hearing aids and electronic devices to assist in communication. This had to be so frustrating and challenging. A person with this kind of diagnosis was in a life of loneliness and frustration. I cannot imagine a life where I could not hear music, the voice of my wife, the laughter of our grandchildren.

Again, someone brought this man to Jesus. It does not say, but I do not think he even knew who Jesus was. It is possible, but scripture says this.

• Mark 7:32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;
• Mark 7:34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

Jesus takes some spit and his fingers and touches him, and the man is healed. He did not create some sort of hearing aid. He did not apply some small repair – He healed him wholly.

I love that in this event, we see that Jesus touched him. Sometimes, that is all someone needs is a touch of Jesus –  for their ears to be opened to the truth. Because hearing the truth, His Word and receiving Jesus as their Lord and Savior is the real healing. Salvation from sin and the promise of everlasting life.

Sometimes when someone we know is struggling, just a touch of His promises, just a touch of His grace is enough to get them through and on a path of restoration.

I also think that we, us – in the church, can be going through something difficult. It does not just have to be physical, sometimes it is emotional, or relational – this life can be hard. And I know sometimes that I, I start focusing so much on the situation, I let Jesus and His promises get out of my line of site and I struggle.

And so, I think we need each other during those times to help each other get refocused on Him and His Word.

Some people need you to speak for them until they can speak for themselves. They need your voice, they need your prayers, and they need your advocacy. And sometimes I think we need to ask ourselves, who in your life has no voice right now? Who in your life cannot hear in the noise of their desperation? Who in your life cannot see through their pain or their fear? Who needs you to stand in the gap?

Who, in your life needs a touch from the Savior? Let’s jump ahead in the Book of Mark at another amazing description of Jesus and His awesomeness!

• Mark 8:22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

You probably see the theme here with these scriptures. They – they brought someone to Jesus. Here we have a blind man that that they have brought before the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

• Mark 8:23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought. 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

Here, Jesus touches the man—or, more accurately, He spits on him (a little gross, in my opinion). But something is different: Jesus asks, “Can you see?” The man’s answer is basically, “Sort of.” His sight is improving, but it’s not clear yet. He’s partially healed. And then we read a little further:

• Mark 8:25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. 26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

I think this is so important and intentional for us to comprehend. Why didn’t Jesus heal Him with the first touch? Was it because He did not have all the power? Was it because Jesus did not have all authority? No, but it doesn’t really say – but I think that not every miracle is an instant whole manifestation of healing. It is still a miracle, but maybe Jesus is telling us sometimes it is a process.

Perhaps not every breakthrough is sudden. It was still a breakthrough. He started out blind, but it says that he saw men as tress, walking.

Some healings unfold step by step. I know that for me, Jesus has healed me. But not wholly yet.

I struggle with pain every day, but not like I used to. I can do things that I could not do before.I remember about a year ago, I accepted a project that was very lucrative and sounded good. I went to the first site, and I was directed to a ladder to the roof that is completely vertical. I knew that physically maintaining 3 points of contact – I was just in too much pain to trust being able to climb that ladder. And if I made it up? To climb back down the ladder safely was also an issue.

I remember making the call to a very upset project manager when I said I can’t do these jobs. I felt defeated.

Fast forward to recently. I had a project installing 51 cameras. I did all the cabling and all the cameras. The owner, who is very challenging, wanted a total of 7 cameras on the roof line. There was no money in the budget for a lift so the vertical ladder it was.

But this time, I was healed enough to safely and confidently navigate that ladder. I was able to get all of the cameras installed on the roof line.

It was a victory. And it started out with people praying for me, for people helping me remember who Jesus was.

Something I did a little over a year ago was to stand and play guitar – to praise in pain – because there was a cost in doing it and I was shown that by my wife, who is often struggling but pushes through the pain. Sometimes during soak she has almost fallen over like this past Friday. But she pushed through. We inspire each other by example.

Bringing someone to Jesus sometimes means walking with them through the long road of recovery, of repentance, and restoration.

There are folks going to need you to stay with them for the long haul. Not every miracle is instant. Not every healing is instant. Not every breakthrough is sudden. Some healings and situations unfold step by step.

There are times folks will be in a quiet room where the noise of whatever they are going through is so loud they can’t hear or see Jesus, but we can be there to remind them of God and remind them of His Word and His promises.

In Luke 7, there is another event that I want to look at. There was a certain centurion’s servant. This servant was very, very ill. It says that he was close to dying.

• Luke 7:3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

Someone told this man about Jesus. Someone shared what Jesus could do. Someone let the light of Christ shine in this moment.

If people do not know, then how can they be saved? In this day and age, I find it hard to believe people in the United States do not know of Him, but I do not think they really know Him.

That is where we come in. Sharing our testimonies, sharing our struggles and how Jesus has shown up, time after time. Sharing how faithful He has been in our lives. That is the beginning for people to really get to know Him, to know who He really is.

Continuing in Luke:

• Luke 7:6 saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: 7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

I love this because it speaks of humility. Even though he holds a high position in the Roman Military, but compared to Jesus, he acknowledges he is nothing compared to Jesus.

• Luke 7:8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

And here we have the Centurian acknowledging the authority of Jesus and that he has faith that Jesus just needs to say the word -and his servant will be healed.

• Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

You cannot read this and see that thing that the Lord responds to is what? Faith. Faith in who He is, faith in what He can do, Faith in who He says He is. And what happens?

• Luke 7:10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

It does not say that Jesus went there, it does not even mention a word, it just says the servant was healed. That is the power of Christ. Hallelujah and amen.

To me this is a perfect example of intercessory prayer by making ourselves humble before God. That we acknowledge the authority of Jesus. That He is all powerful, there is nothing, nothing He cannot do. And then we have to have faith, amen?