GETTING THE CLAY OUT OF THE WAY Mark 2:1-12

These men wanted to get their paralyzed friend to Jesus, but couldn’t get him there because of the crowds that blocked the door into the house where Jesus was teaching, verse 4. So, they took the paralyzed man onto the roof of the house, broke up the roof and lowered their friend down to Jesus.

Houses in that day usually had one of two types of roofs. The first consisted of beams, covered with criss-crossing sticks. This wooden foundation was then covered by clay tiles, which was in turn covered with more clay and finally grass was placed on the top. The other type of roof was covered with overlapping clay tiles. To get this man to Jesus, they had to dig through the layers of the roof to get the clay out of the way! When they did this, their friend experienced the grace of God that resulted in the forgiveness of his sins and the healing of his body! Tonight, I want you to know that your walk with Jesus will never be all it can be until you get the clay out of the way in your life! You see, clay in the Bible is a type of this old flesh!

Jeremiah 18:1-6. The same clay stays with you until you make the trip home to glory, and it tends to get in the way. What I want you to see from this passage is the truth that the clay of our flesh must be “uncovered” and “broken up” before we can ever experience the Savior’s power and blessing in our lives! But, when we get the clay out of the way, we can experience Jesus and His glory in a way that is impossible otherwise.

I. EXAMINE THE PERSON OF JESUS-( they saw  Jesus and what He was doing

A.     He Becomes More Discernable - As they stood on that roof, the voice of Jesus was dimmed and His face was hidden from view, but when the clay was removed, they could look on Him!

B.     He Becomes More Desirable-When we get the clay out of the way in our lives, business will pick up! When He is seen in His right position , the soul will long for Him and desire Him more than life itself!

o        David - Psa. 42:1-2.

o        The disciples on the road to Emmaus-Lk 24:13-36

II. YOU CAN ENTER THE PRESENCE OF JESUS---After the clay was taken out of the way, those men where able to lower that sick fellow right into the very presence of the Lord!

A.     You Can Discharge Your Burden-When the clay was removed, they were able to let the paralyzed man down at Jesus feet. They were able to give Him their burden!

B.     You Can Discover Your Blessing - Jesus looks up and sees these men and what they have done to get their friend to Him. He commends them and on the basis of THEIR faith, he heals the paralyzed man!

·         Until your flesh and mine is dealt with, we can forget revival! We can forget the power of God! But when we take the steps to ensure that this clay if broken up before God, He’ll move in power in His church, 2 Chron 7:14.

·         Do you want to know who is going to cause me more trouble at this church than anyone else? It isn’t you and it isn’t the devil! My biggest problem is me and this rotten, stinking, Adamic nature that I carry with me. It gets more corrupt every day, Eph. 4:22!

III. YOU CAN EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF JESUS---After the clay was out of the way, the paralyzed man could get to Jesus. When he got to Jesus, he experienced the Lord’s power in a two-fold way.

C.     His Cleansing Power - Verse 5 tells us that Jesus cleansed this man of his sins! When the clay was taken out of the way, he was cleansed by the Lord!

·         When we uncover the clay of our lives through confession and when we break up the clay of our lives through humble repentance, we can and will experience His cleansing power, 1 John 1:9!)

·         No matter what kind of stain you bear on your spirit today, the Lord can wash it away and you can experience His cleansing power!

D.     His Changing Power - Verses 10-12 tells us that Jesus changed

this man’s life! Before this man met Jesus he could do nothing, but when the clay was taken out of the way, he walked differently.

·         That’s what will happen when we get the clay out of the way! It will change our walk! It will change our prayer lives. It will make us bold in our witness. It will make us vocal in our praise! It will fill us with excitement and it leave a lost world scratching their heads in amazement at what the Lord has done!

Conclusion: Are you in a position this evening to Examine His Person; Enter His Presence and Experience His Power? If the clay is in your way, I know One Who can help you get it taken care of, if you will come to Him. He still specializes in taking the clay of our lives and making us into vessels of honor for His glory! Will you get the clay out of the way so He can bless you like He wants to?