(Mark 2:5-12 NLT) Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “My child, your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves, “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” Jesus knew immediately what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”
This morning we continue our new series entitled, “Faith and Patience VOL III – Never Give Up!” Yesterday I introduced you to the story of a paralyzed man who received the help of his friends in order to receive his breakthrough. This man could obviously not walk to where Jesus was and instead of hoping and praying that Jesus just might pass by where he was, this man’s friends decided to carry him to Jesus. They were convinced that if they could get their friend in front of Jesus that He would heal him. However, when they found Jesus He was teaching inside of a home and the home was busting at the seams. There was no way to get past the crowd. The men could have easily just waited for Jesus to finish and waited for the crowd to break up, but they were on a mission. These men were there to see the power of God manifested in the life of their friend and they would not take no for an answer. This is the ‘never give up’ spirit I have been teaching about. When you read the Bible and you see all the mighty things Jesus did, don’t forget to notice the determination the people who wanted a touch from Jesus exhibited. Sure, sometimes the people hardly did anything and Jesus delivered them from their circumstances, but in many of Jesus’ miracles the people had to overcome adversity in order to access the grace of God. It’s the same today. You can’t earn a blessing or a miracle. There is nothing you can do to pay God for anything. Everything God gives you He gives you by His grace. However, sometimes you will have to overcome hell and high water to access God’s grace. So no matter what you face and no matter how difficult it gets, never give up and keep your faith switch in the “ON” position.
Determined to see their buddy healed, these men carried their friend up to the top of the house, tore a hole in the roof, and then lowered him into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. Wow! Can you picture the scene? Our text says that Jesus saw what they did and called it “faith.” Jesus then forgave the man his sins. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law immediately broke out into a theological debate (that I will not discuss in this series), but at the end of the day the man was healed. The man who was once paralyzed stood up and carried the thing that had been carrying him (his mat).
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Choose your friends wisely. This man received his breakthrough because his friends refused to take no for an answer. When you are in need of a breakthrough you should surround yourself with people like-precious-faith. If you surround yourself with doubting people you will hear the wrong things and it could lead to a faith-failure.
2. Your faith should be visible. We live in a society of skeptics. Many in the world think faith is nothing more than the mystical optimism of modern people holding on to ancient stories, while many people of ‘the faith’ hide the reality of God from others under the guise of it being “personal.” I am not saying that you need to thump a Bible over the head of every person you come in contact with, but I do advocate living a life of “visible faith.” Jesus saw their faith and He saw it in their actions. Faith is an action word. If we truly live what it is that we say we believe, then people will be able to see our faith in the way we live. Can the world see Jesus in you? If not, it’s time to make some changes!
Closing Confession: Father, I live a life of faith. I walk by faith and not by sight. I surround myself with people of like-precious-faith. Together, we build each other up and we keep each other going. With that type of support I am able to act out my faith daily. I am not out to flaunt my faith, but I do not hide it either. I am who I am. I am whom You have made me to be. I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is Your power unto salvation for everyone who believes. Use me Father as an example of Your righteousness today. As I walk with You, with total determination to see Your best manifested in my life, I declare that others will be able to see YOU in ME! In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
