Why God Wants You to Fall - Power of the Lamb Ministries

The Crippled Christian

Crippled Christian, by Ivor Myers

Get my sermon notes by clicking, The Crippled Christian Notes

Luke 2:34,35 the Bible says, “And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;” (Luke 2:34)

This looks like an ominous text. It’s a strange text because here we’re being told that Jesus, the child is set for the fall. Now how many of you like falling?

All right. How many of you get really irritated when you trip over something that happened to be in your way? How many of you would not be too happy if you knew that that thing that was in your way was intentionally put there to trip you up? This is what the text appears to be saying.

Behold, this child is what everyone set for the fall. That word set is translated as laid in the following verses Luke chapter 24 verse 12 where it speaks about the disciples going into the tomb and seeing the linen cloth laid there to the side. The linen cloth was intentionally laid to the side.

It speaks about the same word is used in John 11 verse 41 where it says that Lazarus was laid in the tomb. He was intentionally put there.

In Matthew three verse 10. Now the ax is laid to the root of the tree. It’s translated as said in Matthew five 14 a city set on a Hill.

The same word as you set when it’s speaking about the water basins. You remember where Jesus turned the six water basins into wine. It says that these water basins were set in a certain place. And in John 19 verse 29 where they talk about a bowl of vinegar being set and they took this this vinegar to give to Jesus.

All of these verses point to something intentionally being set. And the question is, why were God set Jesus Christ in a place to cause people to stumble to fall?

In Proverbs chapter 16 verse eight, I want to show you this because there is a reason why God sent his son and set him up for us to fall.

Proverbs 16 and verse 18 Proverbs 16 it be verse 18 I’ll just go ahead and quote, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18).

Destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. So if the Bible is telling us that Christ was set up for our fall, it appears then that the reason that Christ has been settled for our fall is because mankind struggles with an issue of pride. What do you think?

Are we being prideful? No one is agreeing with me. Yes, mankind has an issue of pride. The Bible tells us, whosoever exalts himself shall be water shall be humble, but he that humbles himself shall be exalted. The book of Isaiah chapter eight verse 14 and 15 I want you to notice this. Isaiah chapter eight verses 14 and 15 the Bible says there.

“And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.” (Isaiah 8:14).

So the Bible telling us here that Christ would be set as a rock of offense and a stumbling for those in Jerusalem. Notice verse 15.

I want to focus on those five things to stumble, to fall, to be broken, to be snared, and to be taken. Why would God want to set his son in a position to cause mankind to stumble?

First Peter chapter two verses five through eight the Bible tells us this,

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” (1 Peter 2:5-8).

So good news and bad news for those who disbelieve this rock, Jesus Christ is what is a stumbling block. But for those who believe he is something precious. Amen.

So how many of you came into this world believing? Oh, so we were all disobedient at one time? Oh, so the Bible is right when it says all have what? Sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

So all of us were on a road to destruction. All of us have sinned. And so now we understand that God sent his son into this world to cause the disobedient to stumble.

Who were the disobedient? Raise your hand.

Every one of us, we’re the disobedient. So Christ wants us to stumble. What? Pastor, that sounds crazy. Yes, it is true. God wants you to stumble.

Turn with me to Isaiah 59 hour. In fact, we’re going to look at it on the screen. Isaiah 59 verses one through three and four and then verse seven the Bible says,

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins

have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness.” (Isaiah 59:1-3).

“Their Feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths.” (Isaiah 59:7)

Their what everyone? Their feet do what? Run to evil. Pause for a second. How many of you hate tripping when you run?

You know tripping when you walk is one thing you know you might trip like walking up the steps and Oh, that’s always frustrating. It’s embarrassing, but the trip when you’re running, you know what happens. And don’t be running on concrete.

When you trip, when you’re running it’s a frustrating and painful thing.

Why would God want to trick us when we’re running? Because the Bible says the disobedient run to what? To evil. You guys do you catch what God is doing. When you run to evil, all you’re doing is running to hurt yourself.

So God says, I need to trip you up to stop you from running to hurt yourself. And God will do that. Yes he will.

He will stick his foot right there and ness up your plants. He will break your truck down in front of a church because he knew you needed to be in that church. He will totally strip you up, mess up your plans.

Just this morning someone was sharing with me that they had a plan. They were going to commit suicide. You know what? They got a gun and shot themselves in the heart shot. This person shot himself in the heart and God sure enough messed up his plans. Because that person is here today.

That was God tripping somebody up who was running to what? Evil.

Beloved, this is what God does because he loves us. He’s tripping us up. Not because he wants to hurt us, but because he’s trying to save us. Yes, he will send you to prison to set you free.

He will do all kinds of things to totally flip your plans because very often, beloved, we like to go on our own plans, don’t we?

So God says I’m going to, I’m going to cause you to stumble. And how does he do that? He sets Jesus in the way he sets Jesus in the way.

First Corinthians one verse 23 I want you to notice what it says. First Corinthians chapter one verse 23 the Bible says here,

“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;” (1 Corinthians 1:23).

But we preach who? Christ what? Crucified.

So when I say Christ crucified, what do you think of you think of the cross. Check this out guys. The cross is the stumbling. The cross is what causes us to stumble.

Somebody needs to say amen.

He sent his son into this world to die on the cross so that when we come face to face with the cross, it causes us to stumble.

We preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block and onto the greets foolishness. So Christ wants us to stumble. Why? Because he’s trying to stop us from running to evil.

Not only does he want us to stumble, he wants us to fall. Cause you know sometimes you stumble and you catch yourself. You’re either one of those and the catch is a long catch. You know what I mean? Stumbling. And it’s like you’re doing everything in your power to like not finally hit the floor and does. And so we fight the stumble. How many of you, not a fight the stumble and we fight the stumble. We don’t want to fall, but God wants us to fall.

John 12 verse 24 listen to what Jesus said here. He said,

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.” (John 12:24).

So we might compare falling with dying. God wants you to die? Does God wants you to die?

He short us. Hey, short us. He wants the old man to die. That’s why he put the cross in your way so that you could stumble and not only stumble, but also fall.

You see beloved, that’s why Jesus came to this earth to die on our behalf. So that we could see what he did for us and that love, that amazing love, that amazing grace would stop us in our tracks, would cause us to stumble, would cause us to fall. Jesus not only wants us to fall, he wants us to fall and be broken.

Notice with me, Matthew 21 verse 42 to 44 not for 21 verses 42 to 44.

“Jesus Saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” (Matthew 21:42-44).

So watch this, beloved God not only wants you to stumble, he not only wants you to fall, he wants you to fall and break something.

He wants you to fall and be broken. Anyone ever fall and break something? You’re running and you fall. You break that leg and now you’re walking with that limp.

God wants you to be broken. What does it mean to be broken? It means to be humbled. First Peter chapter five verse six first Peter, chapter five verse six.

“Humble Yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” (1 Peter 5:6).

Remember what I opened in text, said the son of God is set for the fall and rising again of many. If we want to rise, we must first fall.

The Bible says in Philippians two eight it tells us that Jesus humbled himself and became obedient unto the death of the cross.

That’s what it means to fall. God not only wants us to stumble, he not only wants us to fall, he not only wants us to be broken, he wants us to be snared.

You say, pastor, what does it mean to be snared? What are you saying? How can God want me to be snared? If you look at Luke chapter 5 what does it mean to be snared? What does it mean to be snared? Don’t look at the screen. What does it mean to be snared? It means to be captured.

Wait, God has said in a trap for us? Watch this.

“And So was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.” (Luke 5:10).

Now the Greek word there for catch, it’s actually translated as ensnared. Let me ask you, does God want to ensnare men?

Does God wants to catch fish? Does God want to catch men yet?

So watch this. When he sets the cross in your path, he is planning that the cross will cause you to stumble, cause you to fall, cause you to be broken.

That’s how he catches you. He ensnares you.

This is why Paul said that he was a prisoner of Jesus Christ because he was caught red handed. He was caught and ensnared by the love of God.

And finally he wants you to be taken. That’s what we read in Isaiah eight right? They will stumble, fall, be broken, captured, and taken.

Notice with me, Isaiah six I’m sorry, Psalm 68 verse 18 Psalm 68 verse 18 the Bible says, talking about Jesus has ascended on high.

“Thou Hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.” (Psalms 68:18).

This Texas telling us that Jesus, when he ascended to heaven, took captives with him.

How many of you would like to be taken with Jesus when he comes again, you want to be taken. If you want to be taken, you first must be ensnared and if you want to be ensnared, you must be broken.

And if you want to be broken, you have to fall. And if you want to fall, you’ve got to stumble. And if you want any of that to happen, you got to go through Jesus.

That’s what he’s calling us to do guys. He’s saying, that’s why I set my son in your path.

Now we’re coming around the bend here. We’re coming so close, but I need you to check this a few more verses. Romans chapter six verses one through five the Bible says,

“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:” (Romans 6:1-5).

Pause for a second. What is baptism? What happens in baptism? Two things happen.

I’m looking for two words specifically. In a very literal sense. When someone is in the baptismal pool, two things happen to them. They fall and they rise.

They fall and they rise and this falling and rising is a symbol of a new creature being born. It’s a symbol of conversion. This is what God is doing.

Notice with me. First Peter chapter two verse one through five because in first Peter chapter two verses one through five the Bible says first Peter, chapter two verse one.

“Wherefore Laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:1-5).

How many of you, how many of you want to guess what that word laying, laying aside. It’s an intentional setting down, but the question is how do you, how do you lay aside, how do you drop the sins you are carrying before?

You once had malice but now you dropped malice. Why did you drop malice? Has anyone ever tripped while you were carrying something dishes? A book bag, something.

So imagine running with something and you trip. What happens to the stuff you are carrying when you were running? When you trip, you drop it, you drop it.

Christ becomes a stumbling block so that we can trip and drop our sins. Because when we trip and drop our sins, we have laid them aside and God can do the work he desires to do in us. God sent his son into this world to trip you up.

That’s good news guys.

When we think of the birth of Christ, the Bible says, let us lay aside the weight or the sin that does so easily beset us.

This is what he’s calling us to do. He’s calling us to lay aside. He’s calling us to not be afraid to stumble and fall and allow Jesus to take control of our lives. That’s why he came into this world.

So I’ve got two stories to close with. Number one, do you remember a gentleman by the name of Jacob

You remember what happened

When Jacob was returning back to his home and he runs into an angel. Who is really Jesus. And the Bible says that Jacob in his fear grabs hold of this angel and they begin to wrestle.

Many of us don’t like wrestling much less wrestling with God because that’s what God has come into this world to do. He is coming to this world to wrestle with us, to stop us from doing some of the crazy things that we often think of doing either to ourselves or to others, because that’s what sin does.

It leads you to do crazy things.

So God is wrestling with Jacob and the morning is about to come. And then Jacob says, Oh, God says, let me go. And Jacob is like, no, I’m not letting you go. I’m not letting you go.

And then you know what? You know what God finally does. What does he do?

He touches the hollow of his thigh and all of a sudden Jacob experiences this intense pain and he still refuses to do what? Let go.

God blesses him. And you know what he does? He changes his name. Let me ask him, what does the name chain signify? Does that signify new birth signifies the new birth, doesn’t it?

But the result, the evidence of the name change was that Jacob was now crippled. He walked with a limb. So in my mind, he was probably walking like this maybe, but he had to live. The evidence of his conversion was in the limp. Where is your limp?

Do you have one?

Because that’s the sign that you have wrestled with God. That’s the sign that you have stumbled and fallen and broke something. And what is broken is the old you.

That’s what the limp signifies. It’s the old you. So now when people get mad at you, ah, you know it’s okay. I got a limp.

The things that you once used to love to do now, you can’t do those things anymore because yeah, you know, I’ve got a limp.

In fact, when the Bible says, let us run with patience. The race that is set before us, you, you ought to be running with a limp. That’s the evidence that God has made you into a new person.

One more story.

How many of you remember man by the name Mephibosheth? You’re that guy. Remember how when he was five years old, he was Jonathan’s son. He was five years old and after a saw had been killed, his nurse takes them up and she’s running with him. And what happened to them?

He fell and became lame.

Many years later, David is king and he’s looking for someone to bless in the house of Saul and he learns about Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth.

He sends for him and he says, come I, and you can imagine what this lame man is thinking. He’s thinking is the King after me to destroy me because he knows I’m of the house of Saul.

What was David’s seeking to do? He was seeking to bless him and the Bible says he brought him into his own home and he said, you’re going to eat at the King’s table from now on and you will be as one of the King’s sons.

Beloved. When you become crippled, God invites you to his table. That’s ultimately what he’s after. He’s just trying to stop you. Stop me. Stop us from hurting ourselves by running to evil.

It might look like something worthy to chase after, man, I want this guy in my life, man. I want this woman in my life, man. I really want this. And you might wonder why to God shut the door to that job?

Why does it seem like God always messes up my plans? It’s because he loves you. It’s because he loves you. How many of you want to stumble? How many of you want to fall? I know you’re like, what?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You get what I’m asking, right? We want to fall on that rock.
How many of you want to be broken?
Yes, beloved. This is what God is after.

Stop running away from him and start running toward him.