THE POWER OF FAITH
Introduction
The story in Mark 2:1-12 is an interesting work of faith in the life of the sick man. This man was sick and could not help himself. His friends would have been praying for his healing and recovery and it has not happened.
Suddenly they heard of Jesus Christ and what the Lord has been doing in healing the sick people and casting out demons from people who are possessed of strange spirits. I am sure that these wonderful friends of the sick man were delighted by the news of Jesus entering their city - Capernaum.
The bible says His entry was noised everywhere in the city and everyone interested knew the house where the Lord will be ministering. So, these good samaritans came with their friend stretched on the bed, to be healed by Jesus Christ.
The sick man did not know about Jesus, but his friends did. They believed that with all they have heard about the Lord, He should be able to heal their friend. But on arrival at the venue, there was not space anywhere for them to get to where the Lord was.
But, the bible says "And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee".- Mark 2:4-5
How the Sick of Palsy was Healed:
The faith of the friends of the sick man and their works brought healing to him. They believed that Jesus can heal him, but their faith will have to be put to work before their answer will appear. That was the case in this matter. The sick man will need to be brought before the Lord for his healing to take place. So the friends took him to the meeting.
And as always, anywhere the Lord was teaching and preaching, the venue was fully packed and there is no more space for them to carry their friend before the Lord. The obstacle provided a strong test of their faith in Jesus healing their friend as well as a proof of their love for their sick friend.
Love will always make a way, where there seem to be no way. The sick man was helpless in every respect. He could not pray for himself, nor bring himself to where the Lord was ministering, he even had no faith of his own that Christ will heal him. But the faith of his friends made it possible for him to be recovered.
The love for their friend made a way for them to see the roof as an alternative route to the Lord. Their faith looked up and saw the roof. These men did not consider the risks involved in their alternative plan, or what the house owner would say. They quickly climbed up and opened the roof and let their friend down with a rope.
This is why the bible says that Love is the greatest of all virtues. Love is the atmosphere that makes everything possible, and faith works with love. Whenever love meets faith, an uncommon miracle is about to happen. The four men carrying the sick man had faith that Jesus will heal him, with such faith and love, they refused to be discouraged by the crowd.
The eyes of Faith:
With their eyes of faith, they had seen their friend healed and no human obstacles can quench their spirit. They successfully lowered the sickman in front of the Lord and when Jesus saw their faith, He spoke to the sick and said, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. Whenever faith is put to work, it can be seen by the Lord.
This story teaches the compassion that should be in men, toward their friends and even enemies. The strong faith of those four men means that the sins of their friend was forgiven immediately and he was healed. Nobody knows the kind of sin the sick man committed, but it was forgiven him because the Lord saw the faith of his friends for his healing.
It can also be used to save relatives and friend who continue to live their life without God. They may be very wicked, argumentative and quarrtelsome, but if we commit to praying for them everyday, and asking God to touch and save them, God can see your faith in their salvation and save them.
It is our Christian duty to have compassion on one another, pray for one another. The Lord did not see the faith of the sick man, but his friends. Your prayer can save your son or daughter, parents and friends. Those wicked and difficult relatives and friends of yours can be saved by your prayer, when you pray consistently for their salvation or even healing.
If you are a believer, God expects you to act like the four men whenever your loved one is sick or need salvation. Sometimes you are the only one saved in your family or in your office, so that your prayer can save and deliver the other people who have not known the Lord.
Faith can be seen by the Lord and whenever a strong faith is at work, the Lord will have compassion and save the person you are praying for. Remember the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much and and faith without works is dead.
The four friends displayed their faith in Christ for everyone to see, and the Lord honoured their faith in Him.
CONCLUSION:
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