By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Editors Note: The devotional has a background song  which can be heard if you use Internet Explorer.

SCRIPTURE:
“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, "Why does this fellow talk like that? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, "Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take your mat and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . . ." He said to the paralytic, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this’”. (Mark 2:5-12, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself who are the main characters involved!

1. Jesus

2. Paralytic

3. Teachers of the law

4. Crowd

Observations:
I asked myself what role they play!

Point 1: Jesus

1. Jesus saw their (four men who brought the paralytic) faith.

2. Jesus said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

3. Jesus knew in his spirit what the teachers of the law were thinking in their hearts.

4. Jesus asks the teachers of the law 3 questions.

5. Jesus tells them He has the authority to forgive sins.

6. Jesus tells the paralytic 3 things.

Point 2: Paralytic

1. The paralytic got up.

2. The paralytic picked up his mat.

3. The paralytic took his mat and went home.

Point 3: Teachers of the law

1. The teachers of the law were sitting there when Jesus told the paralytic his sins were forgiven.

2. They thought to themselves ‘why does this fellow talk like that?’

3. They thought to themselves, ‘He’s blaspheming!

4. They thought to themselves, ‘Who can forgive sins but God alone?’

Point 4: Crowds

1. The paralytic walking amazed the crowds.

2. The crowds praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

Observations/Interpretations:
I decided to focus on the first 2 actions of Jesus today.  

I asked myself what is the significance of Jesus’ actions?

Statement 1: Jesus saw their (four men who lowered the paralytic) faith.
When Jesus saw their faith, He intervenes in the life of the paralytic. This is so cool because what this tells me is the importance of intercession. These men interceded on behalf of the man for his healing and Jesus took notice. We are not told if the paralytic believed but only the actions of the four men. It is possible that ‘their’ could have meant the paralytic too but we don’t know.

Implications:
This has valid implications for our own lives because Jesus does take notice of intercessory prayer. I know I have prayed to Jesus for people who do not even know Jesus that they would be healed for an ailment and Jesus has healed them and shown them mercy because of the prayers.

Our beloved dad, who is with the Lord Jesus now, went into sudden cardiac arrest on October 07, 2007. When the paramedics came they asked us, 'How long has it been since he was dead?'

They were trying to resuscitate my dad and I was praying to Jesus, my beloved Lord and Personal Savior that Satan would not take my dad away. I did not want my daddy to have died without knowing Jesus Christ as his Lord and Personal Savior. None of us wanted him to die at all.

As I prayed and family members prayed, they told us that my dad got a pulse and they were able to revive him even though he was unconscious. We knew our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ heard our intercessory prayer on behalf of our daddy.

Lord gave us 70 extra days with our dad and in those days we saw all kinds of miracles but the greatest miracle of all was my daddy giving his life to Jesus Christ before going home to be with Jesus in Heaven. For 47 of those 70 days my mom read to my dad the New Testament more than once reading Revelation and the birth of Jesus multiple times. For most of those days, I was able to claim God's wonderful promises and see them come true His way. I praise the Lord Jesus for that. Intercessory prayer does work and reaches the Father. The prayers of His people reached our Lord and Savior from the churches (Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland, Oakland International Fellowship, etc), from students, from friends, from family, etc.

There is precedent for INTERCESSORY prayer in the Old Testament too!

When people were sinning and going their own way, they were bit by a snake and many were dying. When Moses saw that, he pleaded with God and interceded on behalf of the Israelites. When Moses’ intercession reached God, "The LORD said to Moses, 'Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.' So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived." (Numbers 21:8-9, NIV)

Moses interceded on behalf of the Israelites and God took notice. I believe Jesus took notice of the four men who interceded on behalf of the paralytic.

I ask you now dear friend, who do you intercede for in life?
Dear friend, we have the awesome opportunity to intercede on behalf of our family, friends, and even those we consider our foes. The four men interceded on behalf of the paralyzed man in front of Jesus. Our family, friends, and churches interceded on behalf of my dad and Jesus took notice. Jesus hears our intercessory prayers before Him. Moses interceded on behalf of the Israelites and Jesus heard. Nehemiah interceded on behalf of the captives and Jesus heard putting it upon the kings heart to send Nehemiah to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls.

It is so exciting to know that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ hears and answers when we do intercede on behalf of our family, friends, foes, etc. Friend, Jesus waits to hear from you. Never give up no matter what the obstacles are for obstacles will be put in your pathway but keep going as the four men did. Keep going as our family and church did on behalf of our daddy. Our daddy lived more days that anyone expected in the condition he was in. More than anything he was resuscitated back to life and gave his life to the Lord Jesus on the 70th day before going to be with the Lord.

I don't know who you are interceding on behalf of right now but don't give up friend. Hold on to Jesus and you will be holding on to hope. Friend, the greatest intercession was done by Jesus Christ on our behalf.

Friend, while we were still sinners, Christ died on the cross for us. Jesus did that so that you and I can be freed from the bondage of sin that paralyzes us and captivates us as a prisoner. Jesus shed His precious cleansing blood upon that cross at Calvary for your freedom from bondage to the paralysis of sin. Jesus has interceded on your behalf before the Father so now when God looks at us and sees Christ's cleansing blood covering over us because we have turned our lives over to Him, God's judgment will pass over us. Yes, friend because of Christ's intervention, we who were once separated from God can find Eternal Life through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

"For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 6:23, NIV)

It is a wonderful feeling and opportunity to bring those paralyzed in sin before the Lord Jesus and see our Lord Jesus deliver them and heal them completely. It is awesome that we who were also in bondage once to the sin that captivates us forever have been delivered because of Christ's sacrificial death on the cross, his burial, and his Resurrection on the 3rd day to give us life.

May we intercede on behalf of others knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ does hear, listen, and answer for He is our Immovable Rock, our Fortress, and our God. May you always hold on to Jesus and you will be holding on to hope.

If you are using Internet Explorer, listen to the song, ‘Hold One' by Twila Paris and take the words to heart.

"Intercede Now Today Expecting Righteously Christ Eternally Daily Emancipates!" (I.N.T.E.R.C.E.D.E)/"Who do you I.N.T.E.R.C.E.D.E for in life?"

Make this your prayer:
Dear Jesus, thank you so much for interceding on our behalf. You love us so much that you died for our sins shedding your precious blood and came back to life on the 3rd day to save us. Lord, you know the paralysis each of us face in our own lives, you know what hinders us from moving on, picking up our mat and going on in life. More than anything, it is sin Oh Lord. It is sin that captivates and paralyzes us but we know you are there to help us. So Jesus, come and please help us to overcome things that paralyze us. Help us to receive the help you offer and not be so individualistic. Please take our guilt, fear, or whatever we face and cover us with your loving presence please. And Jesus there are those that are physically paralyzed that need your loving touch and help in their lives. Please help them in all they need to do. Give them strength to endure and bring your healing in their lives please Jesus. Thank you Jesus we are never out of your love and never out of your reach no matter where we have been. Thank you we can talk to you for you are our Great Physician. Help us to intercede before you on behalf of others without letting obstacles come in the way. Thank you Jesus so much for hearing our prayers and answering us. Let us not forget what you have done for us and what you will continue to do.  We turn our lives over to thee and ask thee for your loving healing grace to engulf us. Thank you for your cleansing blood to heal us. Thank you for delivering us from the bondage of sin. Thank you Jesus for hearing us and answering us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

"May my spoken words and unspoken thoughts be pleasing even to you, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray the prayer below, meaning it in your heart.

Prayer:
God I am a sinner. I am invaded by this deadliest virus. Many times I feel so guilty and yucky inside. I need forgiveness. I am so sorry for my sins. I have not obeyed you with my whole heart! I have gone my own way and done my own things. I still struggle with sin. I need you Jesus in my life so I can receive forgiveness and a new beginning. In the process, I can forgive others as you help me to. Thank you so much Jesus. I accept the antidote you have sent me. I believe Jesus you died for me and your cleansing blood will cleanse me from all my sins. You came back to life to save me. Thank you God I am set free, free from the bondage of sin. Hear my cry Oh Lord. I accept you Jesus into my heart. I make you my Lord and Personal Savior of my life. Thank you Father God for giving me Salvation. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and personal Savior! I can live a life of peace with you on my side. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! In your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN!