In a great many of the instances when Jesus healed someone during His earthly ministry, He said that it was THEIR faith that made them whole! Jesus recognized when someone was in faith or not. In today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan in Mark 2 we see this in verses 1-4:
1 And Jesus having returned to Capernaum, after some days it was rumored about that He was in the house [probably Peter’s]. 2 And so many people gathered together there that there was no longer room [for them], not even around the door; and He was discussing the Word. 3 Then they came, bringing a paralytic to Him, who had been picked up and was being carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get him to a place in front of Jesus because of the throng, they dug through the roof above Him; and when they had scooped out an opening, they let down the [thickly padded] quilt or mat upon which the paralyzed man lay.
THIS was a desperate move on their part! Look at verse 5 to see the reaction of Jesus:
5 And when Jesus saw their faith [their confidence in God through Him], He said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven [you] and put away [that is, the penalty is remitted, the sense of guilt removed, and you are made upright and in right standing with God].
Jesus SAW their faith! What did Jesus "see"? Well, we know that He was filled with the Spirit, so I am sure that He knew inside Himself of the faith of these who brought this man. But He also "saw" the desperate, "we refuse to be denied access" attitude! The result of their desperation, faith and boldness? Verses 11-12:
11 I say to you, arise, pick up and carry your sleeping pad or mat, and be going on home. 12 And
he arose at once and picked up the sleeping pad or mat
and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and recognized and
praised and thanked God, saying, We have never seen anything like this before!
How desperate are YOU to receive ALL God has provided for you in His Word? Only YOU can put limits on what God can do in YOUR life! Find out what God's Word provides and then get desperate for it! Matthew 11:12 says this:
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until the present time, the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault, and violent men seize it by force [as a precious prize—a share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with most ardent zeal and intense exertion].
Get YOUR share by going after HIM and His Word! AMEN! One of the saddest things I have experienced in my almost 28 years as an ordained minister of the Gospel is the number of people who have died in my community who never even set foot in The Spoken Word Church, where we have not buried an active member in our 33 years as a local church! Pastor Bill Novak has made his services available to teach and train believers to receive the healing that was provided for EVERY born again believer at the Resurrection of Jesus. Every minister in the area knows and is responsible for whether or not they made this available to their people or not. The people themselves are without excuse because we have fully advertised what we believe. Refuse to go along with the crowd when YOU can have ALL that God has provided for you! John 10:10 wasn't just a great saying from Jesus, it IS the TRUTH!
10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
DARE to believe! DARE to receive! DARE to tell others! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Wake":
Shalom in Him!
