I Can Take It Now – The Encore

Good evening. Bishop Jakes once preached a sermon titled, “I Can Take It Now.” Through partnership, I received this sermon back in 2006 and have never been able to let it go. I think I’ve shared it with at least a few people who read my blog. Regardless of how many times I listen to it, a new “Word or meaning” is delivered each time.

In this sermon, Bishop Jakes ministers from Mark 2:1-5

“A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Upon first read, I believe many would be immediately drawn to the fact that this man’s sins were forgiven. However, when I read, I can’t help but to think about how he got to the place in which he was forgiven. See, it was this man’s four friends that were strong enough and dedicated enough to take him from a place of dependency to a place of being fiercely independent. When they couldn’t get him through the door to see Jesus, they lowered him through the roof. Talk about loyalty.  If you’ve read any of my blogs, probably 1 out of 10 touch on relationships in some way or another. This is why. It’s essential to me to have people in my inner circle that are willing to help usher me to breakthroughs in my life – people that know my heart and is willing to pick me up and take me into an atmosphere where anything’s possible regardless of whether or not they think they will benefit from it. One of the things that Bishop Barnes used to openly and proudly say to others was, ” I need you. I can’t do this without you; you make me better” – Awesome Words of Wisdom.

As people in close relationships, I only think it’s fair for those types of expectations to be placed on us, and for us to place upon in return. I am so ever grateful for the closely knitted relationships in my life; because of these people, love, happiness, and accountability are not things that I will be falling short of anytime soon.  They cover me; they pray for me; they love me; and if needed, they will carry me…I need them; THEY make me better.

Here’s an excerpt that I clipped out just for you 

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I need four men who are as crazy as I am; as wild, as wreckless, as relentless as I am because I can’t have a weak man carrying me. I gotta have somebody who can run into a problem and work it out. I can’t have somebody who hits a hard place and drops me. If I’m a woman, I wouldn’t want to be married to a man who hits a hard place and drops me. I’m a man and I don’t want to be married to a woman who hits a hard place and drops me.  I don’t want a momma that drops me; I don’t want a daddy who gets weak and drops me. I don’t want a friend who gets tired of me and drops me. I don’t want a preacher who gets sick of me and drops me because I’m so messed up, I’ve got have somebody who can get in a tough place and figure a way around it. You can’t drop me; I’m already broken, already messed up; I’m already shattered. I can’t take another breaking. If you drop me again…

Peace – Kimberly

Originally posted: DEC 12TH, 2008