Rewind — the teaching platform built on your church’s own preaching

The big idea

Jesus is not only able to help you but willing — and the leper's question, "if you are willing," is the question He's already answered with a yes.

Jesus is both willing and able — unlike people who have the power to help but won't, or the desire but can't. He comes down from the mountain to meet us wherever we are, and when we bring Him our real needs instead of hiding them, He responds because nothing is too hard for Him.

Point 1 of 6

Jesus is both willing and able, unlike anyone else we know

Pastor Tyshone contrasts people who are willing but not able (they can pray but can't provide) with people who are able but not willing (frustratingly connected but withholding). He says what makes Jesus unique is that He has both the power and the desire to act on our behalf.

If he was only will willing and not able, he would be available to do something, but he wouldn't have the power to do it

— Tyshone Roland

A story from life

Preacher describes his personal habit of praying outdoors at night, looking up at the stars to be reminded of God's greatness.

A story from life

Preacher recounts a recent night of frustrated prayer over rising costs for an upcoming crusade, interrupted by a worship lyric about the cost of the cross.

Point 2 of 6

Jesus came down from the mountain of the Sermon on the Mount to reach the leper

Working back from Matthew 8 to Matthew 5-7, Pastor Tyshone traces Jesus teaching the Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer, fasting, and 'ask and it will be given' before coming down the mountain. He explains that coming down represents that no one is too far for Jesus to reach — He comes down into depression, anxiety, and struggle to meet people where they are.

Nobody is too far for Jesus to come down

— Tyshone Roland

A story from life

Preacher tells the story of a 28-year-old friend who believed for years for a car dealership, received it, and still asked for prayer.

Point 3 of 6

Desperation moves people past shame and social barriers to get to Jesus

He pictures the leper, required to shout 'unclean' and stay outside the crowd, pushing through anyway because he'd rather be controlled by the Lord than by the law. Pastor Tyshone applies this to anyone who has had a hard week and stops caring what others think in order to get to God.

Point 4 of 6

Nothing is too hard for God — testified through personal healing stories

Pastor Tyshone tells of his mother's dramatic healing from a condition doctors said would keep her from walking for months, and of a friend closing a $2.1 million dealership deal after years of prayer. Both stories illustrate that God moves in impossible circumstances, whether physical sickness or financial burden.

You go and look look and search. Do your study. Look up other religions. There's no one like our God

— Tyshone Roland

A story from life

Preacher recounts being 15 years old, managing seven medications for his bedridden mother, and then witnessing her miraculous healing at a church service led by visiting evangelist Tim Hall.

Point 5 of 6

Many of us believe God is willing for others but doubt He is willing for us

He confesses his own struggle — praying boldly over others yet privately wondering if God is willing to bless him personally, even naming his own project and possessions as examples of that doubt. He urges people to stop assuming God's goodness applies to everyone except them.

Point 6 of 6

Bring your specific, honest needs to God instead of generic positive thinking

Citing David's raw, sometimes brutally honest prayers in the Psalms, Pastor Tyshone urges people to name real struggles — overspending, purity, addiction, shame — directly to God rather than relying on crystals, horoscopes, or vague positivity.

Related passagePsalms

He's willing and he's able

— Tyshone Roland

Some people aren't praying simply because you think your prayers aren't heard

— Tyshone Roland

If you went to God the way you went to Google, your life would look different

— Tyshone Roland

Take it into your week

Pastor Tyshone's charge is to stop assuming God's willingness applies to everyone but you, and to bring Him your actual needs by name.

Application

Ask God directly if He's willing
Stop assuming God is willing for your friends, family, or even your enemies but not for you. Bring your specific circumstance to Him and ask, honestly, 'are You willing to help me?'
Name your real need instead of generic prayer
Like David's honest, sometimes raw prayers, tell God the specific thing — overspending, addiction, purity, shame, a broken marriage — instead of vague positive thinking.
Try fasting for twenty-four hours
Withhold from food for one day, pray during hungry moments, worship during worried ones, and give your focus to God to grow more aware of His movement in your life.
Push through shame to reach Jesus
Like the leper who ignored the crowd and the law to get to Jesus, stop caring what people think and bring your desperate need to Him this week.
Respond to the altar call if you don't know Jesus
If you have never put your faith in Christ, pray the prayer of salvation now: invite Jesus to be your Lord and Savior and put your trust in Him alone.

Keep going

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