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The Lord's Day Bible Message Outlines

July 12, 2009
Pastor Dana Johnson

"And He said to the man who had the withered hand, 'Step forward.'" -Mark 3:3 

1. A withered hand is better than a hardened heart.

a. A hard heart is self-righteous; and without proper response to God.

b. A hard heart rejects Christ.

c. A hard heart received a response of anger from Christ.

2. The withered hand represents, metaphorically, our inability to do our work.

a. What is the work God has given to you?

b. The inability to do your work may be due to:

1) Self-inflicted harm.
Ecclesiastes 10:18 - Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of hands the house leaks.

2) The mischief or mistreatment of others.
Nehemiah 6:9 - For they all were trying to make us afraid, saying, "Their hands will be weakened in the work, and it will not be done." Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

3) Overuse.
Hebrews 12:7-12 - If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? 8But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. 9Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? 10For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees.

3. To those who sense a "withered hand," "Step forward!"

a. Step forward to draw near to Christ.

b. Step forward, even in the presence of Christ's accusers.

(All Scripture quoted is from the New King James Version)