Words to Live By

Scripture Text 

Mark 5:35-36, 41-42

Intro: No matter what situation you are in or what you are facing now or what you might face in the future, Jesus has some words of truth that you can live by. Jesus’ words will never fail you! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever! (Hebrews 13:8) What He speaks He brings to pass!

I. The problem. Mark 5:35 (NLT) While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.” Jairus’ daughter had died. Death is final and  seemed it was too late for help. This was a hopeless situation from a human point of view. Maybe you are going through a hopeless situation or circumstance right now or you are facing one in the future. Jairus had faith that Jesus could and would help. Jesus cares about our problems. Hebrews 13:5b (NKJV) ^5b For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

 When we pray Jesus also hears our cry for help. He cares and is concerned about us.

II. Jesus heard about the problem.  Mark 5:36a (NLT) But Jesus overheard them. Messengers from Jairus’ house came with the word that his daughter was dead and Jesus heard them. Jesus had compassion on Jairus and was going to help him. He has compassion for us. We are told to ask, seek, and knock on heaven’s door for all our needs. Luke 11:9-10 (NLT) ⁹ “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

III. Jesus speaks words of faith. (Mark 5:36b) Only believe.”

 1. “Don’t be afraid.” Jesus knows our first reaction to a problem. Fear and faith can’t exist together. Fear cancels out faith! Fear paralyzes us, drags us down. Fear is all around us each and every day to some degree. How can we overcome fear? Jesus tells us how!

2. “Only Believe.” (v:36)

 a. Jesus says the way to handle our every problem is to believe. Believe means to have confidence in the truth. Jesus is the truth so He only speaks truth. Believe also means to have a conviction that a person will be involved in a given situation. It means to have faith in the reality, honesty, and benevolence of a person. When we bring a problem to Jesus in prayer, we are to have trust and confidence that He has heard us and He will take care of the problem. James 1:6-7 (NLT) ⁶ But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

IV. Jesus grants the believer’s request.  Mark 5:41-42 (NLT) ⁴¹ Holding her hand, he said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means “Little girl, get up!” ⁴² And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed.

 a. Jesus demonstrated His great love and amazing power. He raised Jairus' daughter from the dead whereby Jesus shows us His great power and as the angel told Mary “nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37) When God spoke these words to Mary she meditated upon this simple statement, "With God all things are possible," she believed and was encouraged. In Mark 9:23 Where a father asked Jesus if He could do anything for his demon possessed son Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."

 Conclusion: May these words of truth and faith dwell in our hearts from this day forward. When we face problems in this world and we take them to God in prayer, may we be able to remember the words of Jesus in each situation. “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”

Invitation: Have you placed your faith and belief in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior and Lord? If not ask Jesus to forgive and save you right now. “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”

      Invite Him into your life right now and know the love, peace and joy of sins forgiven!