Jesus had returned to His base in Capernaum after a preaching trip. When the locals heard that He was back, they ran to where He was staying (probably Peter’s house) and swarmed around it. So many people crowded into the house that there was no way a paralyzed man, brought to the door by his concerned friends, could get in. But his friends would not be hindered! They hatched a dangerous, unconventional plan.
They picked up their paralyzed friend, hauled him up the side staircase to Peter’s roof, broke through the mud seal, ripped up the straw thatching, and made a hole large enough to lower the man through. They vandalized Peter’s home! When Jesus saw their radical faith, He gave them more than what they’d come for: He met the man’s spiritual needs first and then healed him physically (Mark 2:5,11-12).
Sometimes we simply can’t go any further in life or deeper into faith on our own. Seasons come when we need others to boldly carry us to Jesus.
“I remember when I wrote my book on prayer,” author Richard Foster once told me during a radio interview. “When I finished it, I didn’t want to pray. In fact, I didn’t even like prayer!” He was burned out and spiritually dry. Richard’s weekly prayer group soon came around and he shared his predicament with them. He revealed his prayerlessness to his four friends and waited for their response. “We don’t think you should pray right now,” they told him, “so we will become your prayer for you.” It wasn’t long before Richard was praying again for himself.
Just like the paralytic man and like Richard Foster, we all need bold, faithful friends. I thank God for those who carry me to Jesus and pray the prayer I can’t pray myself.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Job 2:1-13
More:
See Matthew 8:5-13, Mark 5:21-43, and Acts 9:36-42 for more examples of people whose faith affected the lives of others.
Next:
Which faithful friends carry you to Jesus when you’re weak? Who could you be such a friend to today?
lindagma on May 9, 2011 at 6:32 am
What an uplifting thought. I think I sometimes shoulder too much and don’t give others the joy of supporting me.
tom felten on May 9, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Good point, lindagma. Many of us love to encourage others, but we struggle in allowing fellow believers to love on us. The apostle Paul gave us these words: “Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). We can’t help others “obey the law of Christ” if we won’t present our needs and challenges to them!
OnMyWayHome on May 9, 2011 at 12:22 pm
When I read this chapter I smile and then I cry as I wish I could run or even be carried to Jesus to be healed. Some have said that I lack faith and that I don’t ask of the Lord yet I am humbled when I pray, as I do not want to ask much as He has granted me so much and I squandered it away. I don’t want to treat the Lord like a Wishing Machine He has given me enough and I am grateful as to what He has provided. While others around the world struggle just for fresh water, this last year my life changed when I saw ‘Advent Conspiracy’ and its never been the same since.
I’m on my way to the cardiologist this afternoon as to my Rapid Heart Beats (I wake most mornings with it going from 90 to 145) please pray that there is an answer and a healing as I do want to return to work and more over to help at the church.
Thank you Sheridan Voysey and sorry if I took away from your study, as for others gathering around the church I attend are praying for me now than before and helping through this situation.
Thank you
tom felten on May 9, 2011 at 3:09 pm
Praying for you OnMyWayHome. It’s a blessing and privilege to do so! In my battle with a serious, chronic disease I know that many, many people are praying for me. So I don’t spend time praying for myself, other than praying that God would be glorified through my struggle and that His will be done in my life. In both Scripture (the Apostle Paul) and experience, it’s been made clear to me that healing is not always the best for us or others.
OnMyWayHome on May 10, 2011 at 8:10 pm
Thanks Tom….
I did go as well as listening to him and other doctor they say that I will be alright just to much stress. They are still going to check on some other things as well.
I need to learn to trust in Jesus and trust Him in all.
I am sadden as to your illness yet glad to hear of your support group.
R R Kelkar on May 11, 2011 at 7:55 pm
Adverse situations in life should not deter us from doing what we believe should be done. We do not have to wait for that perfect moment of health, happiness and prosperity. That moment may perhaps never come. It is paradoxical but true that when we are weak, then we are strong (2 Corinthians 12:10) because our strength comes from Christ.
daisymarygoldr on May 12, 2011 at 2:06 am
We may have faithful friends. It is important to have friends who have bold faith. Notice, it was the faith of friends—that pleased Jesus to forgive and heal the sick man. Faithless prayers will not elicit any response from Jesus. Earnest prayers of faith that stops at nothing in bringing our friends and family to Jesus will produce wonderful results (James 5:16).
Personally I have not experienced spiritual dryness. However, there have been moments in my life when I was not able to pray because of circumstances that so overwhelmed me. My spirit was willing but my flesh was wearied and worn out. This then made my faith to become weak and wavering. In such situations I am thankful for the faith of faithful friends and family that lifted me up in their prayers.
As members of the body of Christ, we are not alone but belong to the family of God. So, a Christian is not alone in the face of burn out. That’s exactly why we should not isolate ourselves from the church or forsake the friendship of those who have faith. Burnout leads to a crisis of faith, which if not treated results in spiritual paralysis. Those affected are unable to walk by faith. And when people don’t have faith they cannot pray.
In a letter to Jesus Mother Teresa wrote “Where is my Faith — even deep down right in there is nothing, but emptiness & darkness — My God — I have no Faith…” In another letter to the Rev. Michael van der Peet she says, “… the silence and the emptiness is so great, that I look and do not see, — Listen and do not hear — the tongue moves [in prayer] but does not speak … I want you to pray for me…”
Believers therefore, should consider it a privilege to ask for prayers and also pray for others. Love intercedes constantly in prayer for those who lack faith or are unable to come near Jesus Christ. Intercessory prayer of faith perseveres and refuses to give up until the person being prayed for—is completely healed and restored. God has brought people into my life and His Spirit is helping me to persistently intercede for them every day.
“If you have faith when you pray for sick people, they will get well. The Lord will heal them, and if they have sinned, He will forgive them.” (James 5:15 CEV)
GChoo on May 12, 2011 at 9:04 am
Daisymarygold, thank you for your thought-provoking and inspiring sharing. I thank God for the wisdom and the deep relationship you have with Him. I pray that God will continue to strengthen your physical and spiritual life to bring blessing to Him, your family, and to all who have the privilege to read your posts. It has been encouraging.
God’s blessing to all.