Faith
is a catalyst: Jesus works where faith is present (Luke
5:20).Luke 5:17-26 Now it happened on a certain day, as he was teaching, that
there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of
every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was
present to heal them. 18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was
paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 and when they
could not find how they might bring him, in because of the crowd, they went up
on the housetop and let him down with his bed though the tiling into the
midst before Jesus. 20 When He saw their
faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins
are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason,
saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God
alone?” 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to
them, “Why are reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins
are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? 24 “But that you may know
that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”---- He said to the man
who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your
house.” 25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying
on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed
and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange
things today?”
1. Faith
is determined: Four men arrive late, carrying a paralyzed man on his bed &
realizing that they cannot possibly get him through the door, they carry their
helpless paralytic friend upstairs to the roof to lower him on the bed in front
of Jesus as He is speaking.
2. They
display their faith that he would be healed.
3. Faith
is not deterred by the problem of the crowds for faith has eyes to see through
situations and to the possibilities for solving it.
4. Faith
always involves God in it! They persevered with efforts for their paralytic
friend to see his spiritual healing as well as his physical healing. Their
actions are an example of the apostle James' statement in James 2:18: "I
will show you my faith by my works."
Faith is manifested
where wisdom of God is applied. Faith is trust in Him the Creator of all things.
Faith is the persistent. It moves through anything that might appear as an
obstacle to healing. Faith is that which is sacrificial. It takes time and some
effort to bring a paralytic before Christ Jesus. Faith found is one that is not
intimated by circumstances nor of people. Faith speaks boldness for God in the
face of persecution or hostility! Faith is that of humble people and of a
loving people. They gave work to see their friend placed before Jesus for the
paralytic ‘s help would come from. Faith is always active. It will not be in
those who complain nor grumble about the terrible condition of their friend,
no they would be about speaking faith of him rising from that bed of affliction
to live for God with a life of joy and mercy!
Jesus could perform His work regardless of any human faith,
but certainly he chose to act with those with eyes of faith to see. For in Matthew 13:58 we find this: Now He did
not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Whoever
believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him
who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love
the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is
the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not
burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the
victory that has overcome the world----our faith. ( 1 John 5:1-4)
Faith is
what overcomes and it is in Christ Jesus! We are to activate spiritual weapons
and not those silly carnal ones.
2
Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war
according to the flesh, 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but
mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every
high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every
thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish
all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
Behind
every stronghold is a lie----a place of personal bondage where God’s word has
been dominated or controlled to an un-scriptural idea or personally confused
belief that is held true. Behind this lie is a fear and behind the fear is an
idol!
Whatever is the lie will be of the false nature! That which is false will either deter you or stop your life in its tracts. It will wrapped you up tightly in something you will not be able to get out of by yourself!
Jesus cursed the fig tree…Mark 11…., not
because it was fruitless, (for the season of figs was not yet, and if it had
been leafless He would not have sought fruit on it! But the fig tree
was boasting a falseness to its bold claims. With leaves appearing,
fruit should be found under the leaves……again as to righteousness producing
fruit worthy of giving out to others, or unrighteousness…are the dishonest,
untrustworthy, separated from God
In this we find what is evil, versus good, the false against truth, so that what
is showing, either by a mask or leaves is hypocrisy!
In Jesus’ speaking, the fig tree represented Israel, & it’s bold claims that it followed God was without
merit. From the early beginnings with men who followed God closely
& held on to the promises of God, these in Jesus’ time had slipped into
that un-fruitfulness that was deceptiveness. They LIED! They believed
they had no flaws! And men can do this even today. They speak of things that happened a hundred years ago that has nothing to do with them today. They must live in this day and this hour. Yesterday is gone.
Jesus saw the prolific display of
leaves on the Fig Tree, and anyone who has cared for fruit trees knows the
flower appears first & then fruit and leaves last. We know that Jesus
addressed those Pharisees who operated by THIS pretentious
show and hypocrisy.
We must want God more than some passed around word of history or some tradition from the past within our own families. God should be more important to us than anything or what others may believe to be true, but in the end is only the false....that pretentious show of leaves and is only a lie! People are to be noble people and have regard for being responsible to what has been given them in their own life and within their family. Being responsible is working with your own hands to make a living and provide food on the table, and not wait for the man to give you a check to life. It is one thing if you are a dog and waiting for their food in their dish, but it is another if you are a man or woman and waiting for a handout as well!
No, no man can
keep you down, but lies as a stronghold can and so man can be held by that belief system they hold on to. If you believe you are still in
slavery, guess what, You are still in slavery. You can be in slavery to what
your parents taught you but was not God’s wisdom or had anything to do with God. You can be held by "old" family traditions and not the real truth as God purposed for you in a wonderful plan for your life.
Faith is
what holds us in truth and if you do not know the truth, then destruction is
all around you. God is faithful and He
will reveal truth to us when we search for Him. It is not looking for a
particular place, for any closet will do. But what is important is that with eyes
wide open we look for God in our heart and when He is seated there, no devil in
hell can hurt you ever!
New teaching at: Voice of Prayer
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