Jesus: Life in Our Desperation and Delays

Devotional

Day 1: Desperation as a Catalyst for Divine Intervention

In moments of desperation, we often find ourselves driven to seek help beyond our own capabilities. Jairus, a respected synagogue leader, found himself in such a situation when his daughter was on the brink of death. Despite his status, he humbled himself and sought Jesus, recognizing that only divine intervention could save his child. This story illustrates that desperation can be a powerful catalyst that propels us toward Jesus, opening the door for His transformative power to work in our lives. When we earnestly seek Him, we invite His presence and intervention into our circumstances, allowing Him to bring about change and healing. [10:04]

Psalm 34:17-18 (ESV): "When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Reflection: Think of a current situation where you feel desperate. How can you humble yourself and seek Jesus' intervention today?

Day 2: Embracing Delays as Opportunities for Growth

The woman with the issue of blood had endured years of suffering and delay in her healing. Despite societal barriers and the prolonged wait, her faith in Jesus led to immediate healing when she reached out to Him. This narrative teaches us that delays in our lives can be opportunities for growth and deeper trust in God's perfect timing. Even when waiting seems unbearable, Jesus is working behind the scenes for our good. By embracing these delays, we can develop a more profound faith and experience transformation as we trust in His timing and purpose. [17:00]

Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV): "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."

Reflection: Identify an area in your life where you are experiencing delay. How can you use this time to deepen your faith and trust in God's timing?

Day 3: Life Triumphs Over Death in Jesus

Jairus' daughter's resurrection is a powerful demonstration of Jesus' authority over death. In situations that seem final and hopeless, Jesus offers hope and renewal. This miracle challenges us to trust in His power and timing, even when circumstances appear beyond hope. With Jesus, even the most hopeless situations can be transformed into opportunities for new life. We are reminded that where we see finality, Jesus sees the potential for resurrection and renewal. [28:52]

John 11:25-26 (ESV): "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'"

Reflection: Consider a situation in your life that seems hopeless. How can you invite Jesus to bring new life and hope into this area?

Day 4: Faith as a Transformative Force

Both Jairus and the woman with the issue of blood reached out to Jesus in faith, resulting in miraculous outcomes. Their stories highlight the transformative power of faith in Jesus, even in the face of desperation or delay. Trusting in His power and timing is crucial for experiencing His life-giving presence. When we place our faith in Jesus, we open ourselves to profound transformation and healing, allowing His presence to work in and through us. [21:46]

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent challenge where you struggled to have faith. How can you actively choose to trust in Jesus' power and timing today?

Day 5: Surrendering to God's Providence

The recurring theme of "it came to pass" in Scripture reminds us of God's providence. We are encouraged to surrender our lives to Jesus, trusting that He is orchestrating all things for our good. In moments of crisis, we must rely on His power and believe that He will bring about His purposes in our lives. By surrendering to His providence, we can experience peace and assurance, knowing that He is in control and working for our ultimate good. [36:27]

Proverbs 16:9 (ESV): "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find it difficult to surrender to God's providence? What steps can you take to trust Him more fully in this area today?

Sermon Summary

Today, we explored the profound theme of how Jesus, the embodiment of life, intersects with our moments of desperation, delay, and even death. Drawing from Mark 5:21-43, we delved into the stories of Jairus, a synagogue leader, and a woman suffering from a long-term illness. Jairus, despite his high status, found himself in a place of desperation as his daughter lay dying. His story reminds us that no matter our position or pride, we must humble ourselves and seek Jesus in our times of need. The woman, on the other hand, had faced years of delay in her healing. Her faith in reaching out to Jesus, despite societal barriers, resulted in immediate healing, illustrating that our delays can lead us to deeper faith and transformation when we bring them to Jesus.

The narrative culminates in the ultimate confrontation between death and life. Jairus' daughter, pronounced dead, is brought back to life by Jesus, demonstrating His authority over death. This miracle is a powerful reminder that where we see finality, Jesus sees opportunity for resurrection and renewal. It challenges us to trust in His power and timing, even when circumstances seem beyond hope.

In our lives, we often face situations that seem desperate, delayed, or dead. Yet, these are precisely the moments where Jesus invites us to believe in His transformative power. Whether it's a personal struggle, a prolonged waiting period, or a seemingly hopeless situation, Jesus assures us that He is the life that can bring change and renewal. As believers, we are called to live with divine confidence, trusting that nothing is impossible for Him. Let us be encouraged to surrender all to Jesus, knowing that He meets us in our moments of need and brings life where there seems to be none.

Key Takeaways

1. giving presence. [21:46]
5. Surrender and Trust in God's Providence: The recurring theme of "it came to pass" in Scripture reminds us of God's providence. We are encouraged to surrender our lives to Jesus, trusting that He is orchestrating all things for our good. In moments of crisis, we must rely on His power and believe that He will bring about His purposes in our lives.

** [21:46]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:48] - Introduction to Mark 5
[02:08] - Jazz Funeral Illustration
[04:12] - Jesus as Our Lifeline
[05:07] - Craving a Deeper Life
[07:28] - Jairus' Desperation
[08:50] - Jairus' Plea to Jesus
[10:04] - Desperation Meets Life
[12:22] - The Woman's Delay
[14:55] - Immediate Healing
[17:00] - Truth and Openness
[21:46] - Death Meets Life
[23:32] - Private Miracle
[25:41] - Jesus' Authority Over Death
[28:52] - Transformation Through Faith
[31:55] - Meeting Life at the Cross
[36:27] - Surrender and Trust in Providence

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What actions did Jairus take when he found himself in a desperate situation regarding his daughter? ([08:05])
How did the woman with the issue of blood demonstrate her faith despite societal barriers? ([12:22])
What was Jesus' response to the news of Jairus' daughter's death, and how did it reflect His authority over life and death? ([21:46])
How did the crowd react when Jesus said the girl was not dead but sleeping, and what does this reveal about their understanding of Jesus' power? ([24:34])

Interpretation Questions

How does Jairus' humility in seeking Jesus challenge our own approach to desperation and pride? ([10:04])
In what ways can delays in our lives serve as opportunities for deeper faith and trust in Jesus, as seen in the woman's story? ([17:00])
What does Jesus' ability to bring Jairus' daughter back to life teach us about His power and the hope He offers in seemingly hopeless situations? ([28:52])
How does the concept of "it came to pass" in Scripture encourage believers to trust in God's providence during times of crisis? ([17:58])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when desperation drove you to seek Jesus. How did that experience change your relationship with Him? ([10:04])
Are there areas in your life where you feel delayed or stuck? How can you bring these to Jesus and trust in His perfect timing? ([17:00])
Think of a situation in your life that seems beyond hope. How can you invite Jesus into that situation to bring renewal and transformation? ([28:52])
How can you cultivate a habit of surrendering your plans and desires to God's providence, trusting that He is orchestrating all things for your good? ([17:58])
In what ways can you demonstrate faith in Jesus' power and timing in your daily life, especially when facing challenges? ([21:46])
How can you encourage others in your community to seek Jesus in their moments of need, just as Jairus and the woman did? ([10:04])
Identify one specific area of your life where you need to trust Jesus more. What steps can you take this week to deepen your faith in His transformative power? ([36:27])

Sermon Clips

1) "You know, you and I are in the second line. We know that there's no more darkness, no more pain. We know that there's behind death, life, not the other way around. So even this morning, how is our thinking? Are we thinking about being in the first line or the second line? Are we in the line of celebration? Because this morning, we're going to see that Jesus is going to become like a life jacket. He's going to become like a buoy for John. He's going to become like Jairus for the woman with the issue of blood, for Jairus' daughter. When all is going to seem like it's lost, he's going to be able to reach out and save them." [04:12] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "So just ask yourself this morning, is your soul craving? A deeper life? And I don't say that trivially. I know people use that, but Jesus is the life. Is your soul craving that deeper life? I am the way, the truth, and the life. And then could you say this morning, you and I, that Jesus can change anything. Not even my current struggles can stop his destiny for me. That's where we ought to be this morning. We ought to be in that second line. We ought to be ready to receive his blessing." [05:07] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "Even this morning, our desperations, they can often drive us to be, to be closer to Jesus. That ought to be the natural step. Here we see that all the security that Jairus has has been stripped away. Maybe his pride. We don't know. But it's leading him now to recognize that he needs Jesus to in. intervene. He needs Jesus. He needs the life. And just like Jairus, you and I, we're going to have those moments of desperation. We will have those moments of desperation, but they should push us. They should propel us. They should even plunge us towards the life, towards Jesus." [10:04] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "When we place our faith and our trust in the life that Jesus offers, life meets desperation and things change. There's only one outcome when Jesus, the life, meets desperation. He will transform the situation. He will do it. You have God's word with that. And as we build this, we will be able to do it. We will be able to do it. We will be able to do it. We will be able to do it. We will be able to do it. We are going to see, in fact, this is a message that the Lord gave me years ago, and I've been waiting like on tiptoes to get the chance to speak it." [11:17] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "Whenever you and I whenever we face delays if we hold on in faith like the woman if we reach out to jesus and we carry on waiting we know that he has a perfect timing again let's learn from that because whenever a delay meets jesus whenever a delay meets the life nothing stops his plan for your destiny nothing stops it jesus will always make sure you arrive on time you know one of my favorite little phrases in the scriptures is it came to pass 484 times it says it came to pass it means that it was all in god's providence it was always going to happen it came to pass." [17:58] (50 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "Even in situations where things seem dead, physically, spiritually, Jesus shows you and I that he holds the authority. He holds the authority over life and death. Any situation that encounters Jesus can be transformed. Where other people see the finality of death, Jesus sees an opportunity. He sees an opportunity to display his power and to say, I am the resurrection and the life. Again, that should be a challenge to us this morning. Are there areas of our life where we feel that they are dead? Dreams, aspirations, relationships, hopes, we feel that they're dead. Can we believe the word of the Lord Jesus this morning? He said, believe. Even in the face of death, Jesus brings new life." [29:34] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "Remember, nothing is impossible for the Lord Jesus. You have to trust his power. Sometimes the wheels might come off, but he can stabilize us. He can breathe life into every dead and dark circumstance. He can do it. He has done it here, and he will do it again. He can breathe his spirit. Has he breathed his spirit into your soul this morning? That's very important, especially if you're watching. Has he breathed his Holy Spirit into your soul? Has there been a time where you've dropped to your knees, metaphorically or spiritually or physically, and you've confessed, you've told all the truth?" [31:05] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "we need to learn this morning is Jesus the life he will meet you at every one of those moments he will meet you and he will win but I can't resist this morning just that closing thought in verse 36 he said to them be not afraid only believe do you believe this morning do you believe that death is swallowed up in victory do you believe that delays and desperation do you believe that dreams are not swallowed up do you believe this morning do you believe in Jesus as your savior because there is a second death for those that reject the truth of the gospel I would encourage you to make sure you know you believe first and foremost about your eternal destiny" [33:04] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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