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  • Aug23Sun

    Breakthrough FAITH

    August 23, 2015

    The gospel of Mark is one of the biographies of Jesus’ life.  Mark gets straight to the ministry of Jesus and here in chapter 2, we see that Jesus is preaching the words of life to a packed house as the place was filled to overflowing. Jesus was gaining a lot of attention as people were being healed everywhere he went.


    They knew that Jesus was the only hope, He had a ministry of healing and they needed a miracle


     (The following is comprised with thoughts from Josh Monen)


    What happens when you or someone very close to you has a need. A need that only Jesus can meet? A need that can only be met by a miracle?


    Without oversimplifying, I've discovered that there are two basically different mindsets on this as it relates to people who call themselves Christians.


    The first teaches that you can, and should, press in for breakthroughs. And even if circumstances seem really dire and bleak, you still contend for it and believe in God’s power to overcome and see the breakthrough.


    The second is more of a passive approach. This belief system teaches that God will move in His own time and there is nothing we can do to influence Him to move. And really, the breakthrough is not what’s important anyway, what’s more important is “accepting” that God has ordained these circumstances and that they are all part of a bigger plan...


    Now, I have a real problem with the second mindset. I believe it’s this kind of thinking that has hurt a lot in Christian circles.  Why is this?  Well, when we are not allowed to press in for breakthrough we are sentenced to a life where circumstances become our lord instead of the Lord.




    OK, let's look at this amazing story in Mark 2



     Four friends bring their paralyzed friend to the meeting where Jesus was. They could not get in through the front door so they dug a hole in the roof and then let down their friend through the hole.



    And what did Jesus say when He saw this?


    When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”  Mark 2:5


    First of all, he admires the boldness of the friends and He rewards their faith.  It is amazing to see that our collective faith makes a huge difference.


    So, here is what He didn't do... Jesus didn't rebuke them for their “works”.


    Did He remind them it is God alone who has the power to heal and in “His time” He would do it, “if He was willing”? Did He stop the meeting and point to the men and teach everyone that man can do nothing and these presumptuous  men should learn to “wait on God” instead of taking matters into their own hands?


    No. He did none of that.


    Instead the Bible says, “When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”


    Why are we afraid of being bold?


     Wow! What these four friends did was considered an act of faith and Jesus honored them and healed the man. Where is this kind of teaching in the church today? Why are we so fearful of being accused of “taking matters into our own hands” and approaching God?


    The Bible teaches us to approach His throne with confidence and boldness in Hebrews 4:19 This does not mean we are arrogant or full of pride. We desperately need to understand the difference between arrogance and boldness.


    We need to understand faith and works.


    Of course we cannot perform miracles on our own. Nor can human will power take the place of God’s power. But we can exercise our will and our faith so that we can achieve breakthroughs with God.


    Does that make sense?


    Those men believed something and that belief led them to overcome any obstacles in their way. They did not look at the problem of a full meeting and say, “God must have other plans for our friend.” No, they said, “We will get our friend to Jesus and we’ll do whatever it takes.”


    Whatever it takes


    Jesus Christ is perfect theology. He is a perfect representation of Father God. If He commended these men for their faith this should encourage us not to back down when we are seeking breakthroughs of our own and for those we love.


    Josh Monen




    Let’s  BE BOLD and really trust God for the miracles, believe that He still heals, He still speaks and wants to be involved in our lives, in the big things and little things.

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