Episode 137

This Isn't Working

Sunday, May 10, 202642 min

A sermon part of "The Real Jesus" sermon series by Pastor Greg Harvey.

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Devotionals from This Message

Five short reflections drawn from this message — Monday through Friday.

Daily devotion

Your Situation Is Not Your Identity

Tuesday

'And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.' - Romans 8:28

The Bible calls him "a man with a withered hand," not "a withered man." This distinction changes everything. Whatever you're facing today - financial struggles, relationship problems, health issues, or personal failures - these situations do not define who you are. You are a beloved child of God who happens to be dealing with a challenge, not a problem disguised as a person. When we let our circumstances become our identity, we give them power over our future. But when we see ourselves as God sees us - whole, loved, and valuable - we can face our problems from a position of strength rather than defeat. Your current chapter is not your whole story. God has more planned for you than what you're experiencing right now.

Your situation is not your identity. Whatever you're facing, no matter what you're going through, no matter what you're dealing with, it does not have to be your identity.

Reflect: How has a current struggle tried to become your identity, and how can you separate who you are from what you're going through?

Prayer: Father, help me see myself as You see me - not defined by my problems but as Your beloved child walking through temporary challenges. Remind me that my identity is secure in You.

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Episode 138May 17, 202651 min

Requires Real Love

A sermon part of "The Real Jesus" sermon series by Harlo Hakes

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Episode 136May 3, 202637 min

Message summary

Sometimes we reach a point where we must admit the uncomfortable truth: this isn't working. In Mark 3:1-6, Jesus encounters a man with a withered hand in the synagogue, but the real problem wasn't the man's physical condition - it was the broken religious system that created such an atmosphere. Jesus sees beyond our situations to fix the systems in our hearts that keep creating the same problems. Your situation is not your identity; you are a person dealing with a problem, not a problem disguised as a person. When Jesus told the man to stretch out his hand, He was asking him to reveal what was wrong, demonstrating that faith requires us to act before we feel ready. God wants to transform the systems in our hearts, not just patch up our circumstances.

When This Isn't Working: Breaking Free from Broken Systems

Sometimes we reach a point where we have to admit the uncomfortable truth: this isn't working. Whether it's a relationship, a habit, or a pattern in our lives, recognizing when something needs to change requires real courage. Often, we'd rather stay in familiar dysfunction than step into uncomfortable freedom.

The Real Problem Isn't Always What We Think

In Mark 3:1-6, Jesus enters a synagogue where a man with a withered hand is present. While everyone focuses on the obvious problem - the man's physical condition - Jesus sees something deeper. The religious leaders are watching, waiting to accuse Him if He heals on the Sabbath.

Your Situation Is Not Your Identity

Notice that Scripture doesn't call him "a withered man" or "a broken man." It says there was "a man with a withered hand." This distinction matters profoundly. Whatever you're facing - addiction, divorce, anxiety - that situation is not your identity. You are a person dealing with a problem, not a problem disguised as a person. "'I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'" - Romans 8:38-39

Jesus Fixes Systems, Not Just Situations

Looking Beyond the Surface

While everyone expected Jesus to simply heal the man's hand, He was more concerned with confronting the broken religious system that created such an atmosphere. We often ask God to fix our situations when He's really interested in fixing our systems - our hearts, our patterns, our ways of thinking.

The Danger of Living Situation to Situation

Many of us live from problem to problem, constantly asking God to be our "repairman Jesus." But the real Jesus wants to get to the root issues. If we don't allow Him to fix the system, we'll keep creating the same problems that the broken system produced in the first place.

What Creates Broken Systems in Our Hearts?

A Pessimistic Attitude

The Pharisees were watching Jesus, looking for something to accuse Him of. They had an attitude of negativity from the start. Here's the truth: you will always find what you're looking for. If you're looking for reasons to be offended, you'll find them. If you're looking for problems, you'll see them everywhere.

Prejudice and Predetermined Judgments

The religious leaders had already decided who Jesus was and what He would do. They weren't there to witness a miracle; they were there to judge. You can't be a witness if you insist on being a judge. This hits close to home when we realize we often prejudge how God can move in our lives. We decide how He should answer, who He can use, and what methods He should employ. Sometimes God tries to use people we don't expect, and we miss His work because we don't like the package it comes in.

When Gifts Become Burdens

The Sabbath Perversion

God created the Sabbath as a gift for humanity - a day of rest and restoration. But the religious system had perverted this gift into a burden with over 600 rules. They took something meant to serve people and made people serve it instead.

How We Pervert God's Gifts Today

We do the same thing when we: - Turn rest into restriction - Make blessings into idols - Transform relationships into control mechanisms - Chase money instead of letting it serve us - Depend on people in unhealthy ways When you make a gift into a god, it becomes destructive.

The Healing Requires Faith to Stretch

Stretching Out What's Wrong

When Jesus told the man to stretch out his hand, He was asking him to reveal what was wrong with him. The man probably instinctively wanted to stretch out his good hand - we're all experts at hiding our problems and showing only our good side. "'Stretch out your hand.' And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other." - Mark 3:5

Faith Comes Before Feelings

Notice the order: the man stretched out his hand, and then it was healed. We want it the other way around - we want to feel healed first, then act. But faith requires us to do what we can't do, believing that God will do what we can't. Interestingly, Jesus found a loophole in the Pharisees' system. He didn't stretch out His own hand (which would have been "work"), but gave a word that the man acted upon. God has given you His word - now He needs you to stretch in response to it.

Life Application

This week, identify one area of your life where you've been asking God to fix a situation when He might be trying to fix a system. Instead of just praying for the problem to go away, ask Him to reveal the heart issues or patterns that keep creating similar problems. Take a step of faith to "stretch" in an area where you feel weak or broken. This might mean: - Having an honest conversation you've been avoiding - Taking action on something you know God has called you to do - Forgiving someone when you don't feel like it - Trusting God with a decision that scares you Ask yourself these questions: 1. What familiar dysfunction am I choosing over uncomfortable freedom? 2. Am I looking for problems and negativity, or am I looking for God's goodness? 3. Have I prejudged how God can work in my life or who He can use? 4. What gifts from God have I turned into burdens or idols? 5. Where do I need to stretch in faith, even when I don't feel ready? Remember, your situation is not your identity. You are a beloved child of God dealing with a problem, not a problem disguised as a person. God wants to do more than patch up your circumstances - He wants to transform the systems in your heart that create those circumstances in the first place.

Summary

In this sermon from Mark 3:1-6, the pastor examines Jesus healing a man with a withered hand in the synagogue on the Sabbath. The message emphasizes that while everyone focused on the obvious problem - the man's withered hand - Jesus was more concerned with addressing the broken religious system and hardened hearts of the Pharisees. The pastor challenges listeners to recognize that God often wants to fix the systems in our lives that create recurring problems, rather than just patching up individual situations. The sermon highlights how the Pharisees had perverted God's gift of the Sabbath from a blessing into a burden through legalistic rules.

The key lesson centers on the man's act of faith in stretching out his withered hand before it was healed, demonstrating that God often requires us to act in faith and obedience before we see the miracle. The pastor concludes by encouraging the congregation to 'stretch' in areas where they need healing - whether in faith, forgiveness, obedience, or trust - believing that God will meet their faith with His power.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You this morning with open hearts and minds. We ask that You would prepare us to receive what You want to speak to us today through Your Word. Help us to be honest about the areas in our lives that aren't working and give us the courage to allow You to address not just our situations, but the systems and heart issues that create those problems. Open our eyes to see beyond the surface and give us faith to stretch in the areas where You're calling us to grow. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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This Isn't Working

Transcript

Devotionals from This Message

Your Situation Is Not Your Identity

Continue listening

Requires Real Love

Message summary

When This Isn't Working: Breaking Free from Broken Systems

The Real Problem Isn't Always What We Think

Your Situation Is Not Your Identity

Jesus Fixes Systems, Not Just Situations

Looking Beyond the Surface

The Danger of Living Situation to Situation

What Creates Broken Systems in Our Hearts?

A Pessimistic Attitude

Prejudice and Predetermined Judgments

When Gifts Become Burdens

The Sabbath Perversion

How We Pervert God's Gifts Today

The Healing Requires Faith to Stretch

Stretching Out What's Wrong

Faith Comes Before Feelings

Life Application

Group Discussion Guide

Summary

Intro Prayer

When Others Criticize

Ice Breaker

Key Verses

Questions

Life Application

Key Takeaways

Ending Prayer