"Paralyzed?, Always Remember Almighty Lord Your Savior In Situations!" (P.A.R.A.L.Y.S.I.S)

By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

February 15, 2008

Editors Note: The devotional has a background song by Michael W. Smith called 'Friends' which can be heard if you use Internet Explorer.

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.

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 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 my beloved Jesus, my 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 (PCC, OIF, 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.

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

It is so interesting that even though the man is paralyzed, Jesus does not address his physical condition first but addresses his spiritual condition. This is evident by the statement, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

Jesus also gives the man identity by calling him ‘Son’. This makes me think that Jesus was letting him know that he wants the man to belong to him. It is possible that his physical condition may have been caused as a direct result of sin but we do not know. Sometimes things happen in our lives because we live in a sinful world and other times they happen as a direct result of our own sin.

Implications:
I know the man was paralyzed and Jesus told him that his sins were forgiven as he called him, ‘Son’. I believe Jesus calls us sons and daughters too. The question is whether we are willing to acknowledge Him, as our Heavenly Father! This passage also makes me think of areas in which we are paralyzed and how the Lord Jesus Christ can rescue us!

I ask you now dear friend, where does paralysis take hold of you?
Dear friend, paralysis is not always physical but it could also be spiritual or psychological. We can be feeling so guilty about something that we keep racking our minds on it to the point that we freeze ourselves from forgiving ourselves or accepting other people’s forgiveness.

Jesus does not want that to happen and wants to free us from whatever guilt we are facing for He already paid the price to set us free and we are never out of His love. The hardest thing is forgiving self from the guilt. The Good News is that "there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus for the power of the life giving Spirit frees us from the law of sin and death"(Romans 8:1)

Yes, the Holy Spirit does friend. Jesus will bring healing for you from the paralysis of guilt as you turn to Him and receive His forgiveness. What occurred may not be changeable and God knows that. He still forgives you and wants you to pick up your mat and go home. The paralyzed man was stuck to the mat just as guilt maybe sticking to you. With Jesus’ help the man separated himself from the mat and you can separate yourself from the guilt and go home. Home is usually a place of shelter and the Lord wants to give you shelter from this paralysis.

Guilt is the worst thing a person can face because their mind is surrounded with 'What if's'. Jesus does not want you and me to live in the 'What if' world. Whatever has happened happened and if we cannot change it, we need to still move on. Our Lord wants us to move on from the guilt that plagues us. At the Cross, He paid the price for you and me. Yes, He did friend. Jesus restores you where you are.

Whatever you have done or said, take it to the Lord in prayer and rest in Him. He is a God of restoration and takes away the paralysis of guilt. Yes, He does friend! Oh yes, He does! I can speak from experience. The key is depending on Him and waiting on the Lord. If you are able to bring restoration in the lives of people that you have hurt, you should do that as you seek the Lord.

Maybe guilt is not what paralyses you but it could be fear. You can be so fearful of something because of what happened to you in the past that you are paralyzed by fear. The Lord Jesus does not want that for you. He wants you to know that ‘God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love, power and of a sound mind’. The type of fear that paralyses is from the devil and Jesus is here to free you from that fear. No matter what fear you are facing, please take it to the Lord in prayer. He loves you so much. Yes, He does. You are never out of His love; you are never out of His reach.

Whatever paralyzes you, you know about it. It could be interfering with your daily activities and what you need to do. You don’t have to lose hope. The paralytic took the help from the men who carried him. There are times we need to be carried to Jesus with the baggage we have. There are times Jesus Himself carries us! It is wonderful to know there are those out there who want to help people through their paralysis whether it is physical, spiritual, or psychological. Take the help that comes your way and know Jesus wants to be your Great Physician.

If you are using Internet Explorer, listen to the song, ‘Never Out of His Love' and take the words to heart.

"Paralyzed?, Always Remember Almighty Lord Your Savior In Situations!" (P.A.R.A.L.Y.S.I.S)/"Where does paralysis take hold of you?"

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 and came back to life 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. 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 Jesus for hearing us and answering us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

 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! Thank you Lord for answering my prayer. Amen!!!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!