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

1. Jesus

2. Men who brought the paralytic

3. Paralytic

4. Teachers of the law

5. 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: Four men who brought the paralytic

     1.Their faith influenced Jesus' actions. 

Point 3: Paralytic

1. The paralytic got up.

2. The paralytic picked up his mat.

3. The paralytic took his mat and went home.

Point 4: 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 5: 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&2: Jesus saw their (four men who lowered the paralytic) faith , Jesus said to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven!

When Jesus saw their faith, He intervenes in the life of the paralytic. This is so amazing 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:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
The implications for my own life are profound to learn how seriously Jesus takes intercessory prayer. When I pray for my loved ones or those in need, Jesus takes notice. Thank you Jesus. I need to make intercessory prayer a part of my life knowing the Lord hears and answers. 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.

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.

Our precious 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 entire New Testament more than once, especially 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 from Pittsburgh Chinese Church-Oakland, Oakland International Fellowship, etc reached the Father.

Recently, I saw how the Lord Jesus helped my loving wife Chandra and I to be reunited together in the states after a long visa process. Even when she could not come to the USA earlier, the Lord made a way for me to go to India 4 separate times to be with her. This is because of intercessory prayer of my family, brothers and sisters in Christ, etc. Thank you Jesus.

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. The four men interceded on behalf of the paralytic and Jesus noticed. Our family and friends have prayed for my dad's life and for my dad to receive Jesus. Jesus took notice. My loved ones have prayed for Chandra and I to be finally united here in the states and the Lord took notice. Thank you Jesus. You can intercede too for others and our Lord will take notice. Yes, He will! Thank you Jesus!

Yesterday, in our small group leaders training Pastor Hugo shared the importance of deeply sharing with one another and the importance of interceding for one another. For many this part of SG is the best because they know their requests are being interceded for. You can be the one interceding on behalf of someone and see amazing results in the Lord's timing. Thank you Jesus!

I ask you now dear friend, how have you seen your prayer of intercession impact someone's 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. That is exciting that your prayers reach the heart of God and 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. One day you will see your prayer of intercession impact someone's life. I know you will because the Lord will use your prayer to touch the hearts of those you are praying for. Thank you Jesus.

If I share about prayer of intercession and not share with you the Greatest Intercessor of All, the complete impact of intercession will not be realized. 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 just as my dad and so many others have. Thank you Jesus. Jesus intercedes on your behalf before the Father because He loves you so much. Come as you are and find mercy in time of need.

"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.

"Intercede Now Today Expecting Requests Could Everyday Surround Savior, Importantly Offering Nurture!" (I.N.T.E.R.C.E.S.S.I.O.N)/"How have you seen your prayer of I.N.T.E.R.C.E.S.S.I.O.N, impact someone's life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for encouraging us to make a prayer of intercession on behalf of our loved ones before you. You Oh Lord who healed the paralytic because of the 4 friends intercession can do the same in our lives when we intercede on behalf of our loved ones. Thank you so much Jesus. Oh Lord, please let us never take intercessory prayer lightly. Help us Oh Lord. Thank you so much Jesus 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. There are those that are spiritually, mentally, emotionally, or financially paralyzed who need your healing touch. Come Lord Jesus and please touch their lives for your Name's sake. Thank you so much 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)