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“Forever Readily Imparting Encouragement Now Dealing Sacrificially! (F.R.I.E.N.D.S)”

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

SCRIPTURE:
"So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." (Mark 2:2-5, NIV)

Approach Question:
How far in your actions have you gone to help a friend?

Observations:
I asked myself what was happening as Jesus was preaching the Word to the crowds?

1. Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic.
2. All four of them carried the paralytic.
3. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd,
4. They made an opening in the roof above Jesus.
5. They dug through the roof for the sake of their friend.
6. They lowered the mat, the paralyzed man was lying on.

Observations:
Whose company was Jesus in the presence of?
Jesus was in the company of the people, some men, a paralytic.

What is the capability of Jesus?
1. Jesus has the capability to draw overflowing crowds.
2. Jesus has the capability to preach the word to the crowds.
3. Jesus has the capability to see others faith.
4. Jesus has the capability to forgive sins.

What do I know about the commitment of Jesus?
1. Jesus is committed to preach the Word to the crowds.
2. Jesus is committed to act upon people's faith.
3. Jesus is committed to respond to intercession.
4. Jesus is committed to forgive sins.

Observations/Interpretation:

I asked myself what is the significance of  each of the 6 points?

Point 1: Some men came bringing to him a paralytic.

The men decided to serve the paralytic, carry the load of the paralytic, and build the paralytic up by their actions of intervening in his life. They could have been his friends who intervened in his life when he had given up on hope. They knew Jesus alone could bring healing into this man's life so they did not let the crowds who filled the room to full capacity stop them from reaching Jesus. They did not even let the preaching of the Word stop them from bringing their friend to Jesus.

I asked myself what kind of circumstances do I think the paralytic's friends endured for the sake of their friend to get him to Jesus?

 1. They had to sacrifice their own time to help their friend.
2. They had to bear an inconvenience to help their friend.
3. They had to inconvenience others to help their friend.
4. They had to physically work putting effort to help their friend.
5. They had to give up something they could have been doing to help their friend.
6. They had to utilize their mind to find a creative way to help their friend.
7. They had to endure through tiredness to help their friend.

To be continued....

Implications:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
I want to share our family's story of experiencing true friendship this past year during the coronavirus pandemic. During the COVID-19, our lease was not renewed and we decided to move out. By the Lord's grace, we found a bigger place to live in. The challenge was to move out during the COVID-19. Yet, some brothers and sisters from church sacrificed their own time to help us on a Saturday morning from 8:30 am to late into the afternoon. They bore the inconvenience of helping my family move 25 years worth of stuff. Also, they had to inconvenience their own family so they could be there for us. They physically carried most of our stuff from a second floor to the UHaul truck. They gave up their Saturday to be a blessing for us. They thought of creative ways to pack 25 years of stuff into the Uhaul truck more than once and also deliver stuff multiple times to a storage unit. It was not easy but they did it to be a blessing to us during the COVID-19. They could have used the COVID-19 as an excuse not to help but they did not. To this day, we are really touched by their sacrifice.

Pastor Josh, Pastor Mike, Pastor Jesse, Elder Calvin, Danilo, Lidia, Rodney, Suzanne, and Dan helped on a Saturday and Prabhu helped another day.

If this was more than enough, Danilo and Lidia went above and beyond to give most of their furniture to us to furnish the new place so we did not have to go buy new stuff. To this moment, it still melts our heart. Everyday, when we walk in our place, we can be reminded of that family because our place is furnished with everything they gave us before going out of the country. What a friendship we experienced even though we knew this Brazilian family for only 2 years. 

Before leaving, with the help of Pastor Josh & Pastor Ridge, they even set up the living room for us to make it more conducive for hospitality.

Experiencing what happened in our lives, I saw this passage as an example of what true friendship could look like. If I say that I am somebody's friend, I should put myself in a position to be there for them no matter what the obstacles. That is what our friends did for us and what the four men did for their friend  which paid of. I realized one of the ways I can be a true friend is to pray for my friends intentionally. Help me Lord Jesus! Other ways are through my sacrifices like we experienced.

I should sacrifice my own time to help a friend when they are in need without using inconvenience as an excuse to intervene. Even if my actions may inconvenience someone else, I should not be afraid to intervene if it will help a friend in need. There will be times that I should physically put effort to help a friend even if it could very well be draining on my energy. I need to be willing to give up something I could have been doing just so I could help a friend. I have to be willing to use my mind in a creative way to help a friend. I should give of my possessions to help a friend in need. Through it all, I need to endure through tiredness to help a friend and get them to Jesus.

I ask you now dear friend, how will your friends see your impact in their life?
Dear friend, I don't know about you but I want to be like the 4 friends who helped the paralytic and the friends that helped us move & furnished our place.

That is how I want to be for my wife too! Friendship usually develops at home and branches out.

Maybe you don't have close friends who you can turn to for help, hope, and healing but I have Good News for you. Regardless of work, life, home life, etc we all can have a Friend who no earthly friend can come close to when it comes to caring for you.

I am talking about Jesus Christ who will never leave you nor forsake you. Our earthly friends are not perfect and they can disappoint us but Jesus Christ will always be there for us to whom we can turn 24-7. We can talk to Jesus wherever we are. He loves you so much friend and will help you be the friend He wants you to be when you turn to Him. He loves you so much!

You can know that you can live this life victoriously when you realize what a friend we have in Jesus who our burdens does bear and for us deeply does care. He will take all our soul sickness and bring His healing into our lives because of His love for us shown through His blood shed for the remission of our sins. Jesus is someone we can always talk to.

We can always know God is right there for us  giving us His Word filled with His promises and guiding us by His Spirit. He is there for you and me friend and you can be excited that you do not have to live this life on your own but have the King of Kings and the Lord of lords to guide you and lead you. Yes, friend! Praise the Lord!

When you experience the Lord's friendship in your own life and what He went through for you, you will have a desire to be a great friend to someone showing them the love of Christ and what true friendship looks like.

May you be a close friend to someone as you yourself experience the depth of God's love in your life.

"Forever Readily Imparting Encouragement Now Dealing Sacrificially!"/"How will your F.R.I.E.N.D.S see your impact in their life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,  thank you so much for the friends you have placed in our lives. Though friends leave the locations they maybe at, their impact can live on forever in our hearts because of their sacrifice, time, effort, etc. Help us Oh Lord to put the needs of our friends before our own time, convenience, effort, etc. We cannot do it on our own and need your help. You can help us be the friend you want us to be. So, please help us Lord. Thank you for using your Word to teach us what true friendship can look like. Thank you for using family and friends in our lives to make an impact. Now Lord as we have been impacted, I pray we can impact others for your honor and glory Oh Lord. Please Lord help and lead us. Thanks so much Jesus. I also pray right now for those who maybe struggling because they have never experienced true friendship. Please Oh Lord be their best friend and show them your love and care so that they can experience true friendship unlike any other. And then Lord, please do send your children their way to help them experience your love in a tangible way. Thank you Lord Jesus. Thank you that you are the greatest friend we can have. Your love for us is unconditional. Thank you again for the friends you do send our path to put a smile on our face. Thank you that you want to be our best friend. We lift our lives to thee.  Come Lord Jesus and fill us with your presence in our hearts today. Make our hearts your home and preach to us Jesus. Please work in our lives and help us to be the friend you want us to be to others. Help us to always intercede for our friends who are here and far away not allowing 'Out of sight, out of mind' to become a reality in our lives. We thank you for covering us with your precious cleansing Blood to atone for our sin and coming back to life to save us. Thank you for wanting to be our Lord and Personal Savior when we turn our lives to you. Please hear our prayers and answer us Oh Lord. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

May the Lord Jesus guide you in His love leading you! Amen!

Mark 1:45: "What do your actions C.A.U.S.E in your life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Thurs, Sept 17, 20, 11:25 a.m.)

Mark 1:43-44: "What area of weakness do you need a pastor/priest to A.C.C.O.U.N.T for in your life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Wed, Sept 16, 20, 07:41 p.m.)

Mark 1:43-44: "Who should you T.H.A.N.K first and foremost for good news?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Tues, Sept 15, 20, 11:38 a.m.)

Mark 1:40-42: "Where do you need to be C.L.E.A.N in life?" by Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, Sept 14, 20)

Mark 1:37-39: "How do you get your D.I.R.E.C.T.I.O.N in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Sat, Sept 12, 20, 11:08 a.m.)

Mark 1:36-39: "What kind of T.I.M.E do you give to the Lord?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Thurs, Sept 10, 20, 10:57 a.m.)

Mark 1:35-39: "How do you give your S.O.L.I.T.A.R.Y time to the Lord?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Wed, Sept 09, 20, 10:38 a.m.)

Mark 1:32-34: "Where do you need A.N.S.W.E.R.S in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, July 13, 20, 10:26 a.m.)

Mark 1:29-31: "What place do you give F.A.M.I.L.Y in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, July 13, 20, 10:23 a.m.)

Mark 1:30-31: "Where do you need H.E.A.L.I.N.G in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Fri, July 10, 20, 11:09 a.m.)

Mark 1:29-31: "How is your F.E.L.L.O.W.S.H.I.P after a church service?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Thurs, July 09, 20, 10:23 a.m.)

Mark 1:23-28: "What C.A.P.T.I.V.I.T.Y are you facing today in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Wed, July 08, 20, 04:20 p.m.)

Mark 1:21-22: " Whose T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you actively listen to in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, July 06, 20, 03:43 p.m.)

Mark 5:24b-29: "Where do you need F.R.E.E.D.O.M to move on?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Sat, July 04, 20, 10:16 a.m.)

Proverbs 29:25, Acts 5:29, John 4:18: "Why LOVE rules over F.E.A.R in BLACK people's lives?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Mon, June 22, 20, 08:12 p.m.)

Proverbs 1:10-19, 29-33, 2:11-15: "Why believe when the looting starts, the shooting starts creating V.I.O.L.E.N.C.E in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Sat, June 20, 20, 11:49 a.m.)

"Personification of Racism"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 18, 20, 10:05 p.m)

John 4:6b-10,27: "How do you tackle R.A.C.I.S.M in life?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 15, 20, 10:33 p.m)

Romans 13:1-5: "How should you handle P.O.L.I.C.E who have wronged you?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 09, 20, 10:59 p.m)

Mark 1:19-20: "How do you rate in the B.U.S.I.N.E.S.S of Jesus?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (June 08, 20, 08:00 a.m)

Mark 1:19-20: "Without P.R.O.C.R.A.S.T.I.N.A.T.I.O.N what are you called to do?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 28, 20, 08:02 a.m)

Mark 1:16-18: "How can you use your P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N to tell others about Jesus?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 27, 20, 09:50 a.m)

Mark 1:14-15: "What role does the word R.E.P.E.N.T play in your life?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 26, 20, 07:12 a.m)

John 12:24: "Who will you remember physically and spiritually this M.E.M.O.R.I.A.L day?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 25, 20, 07:18 a.m)

Mark 1:14-15: "Whose T.I.M.I.N.G do you need to wait for in life?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 23, 20,11:44 a.m)

Mark 1:12-13: "How do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N in life?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 21, 20, 7:17 p.m)

Mark 1:12-13: "What determines your G.R.O.W.T.H in the Lord?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 20, 20, 9:15 a.m)

Mark 1:9-11: "Who will you P.R.A.I.S.E publicly in life?   By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 19, 20, 8:49 a.m)

Mark 1:9: "What will you take a S.T.A.N.D for in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 16, 20, 9:44 a.m)

Mark 1:4-8: "Who do you P.O.I.N.T to in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 15, 20, 9:11 a.m)

Mark 1:1-4: "Why bother with P.R.O.P.H.E.C.Y in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 14, 20, 9:02 a.m)

Mark 1:1: "Why bother with the L.I.F.E of Jesus Christ?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 12, 20, 7:22 a.m)

Philippians 4:20-23: "How do you see F.A.T.H.E.R in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 08, 20, 4:49 p.m)

Philippians 4:19:"What are your N.E.E.D.S in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 07, 20, 5:23 p.m)

Philippians 4:15-18: "Who will you F.I.N.A.N.C.E in ministry?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 05, 20, 5:07 p.m)

Philippians 4:14: "How do you S.H.A.R.E in other's troubles?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 04, 20, 7:07 p.m)

Philippians 4:12-13: "Where do you need S.T.R.E.N.G.T.H in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 01, 20, 6:56 p.m)

Philippians 4:11: "How can you have C.O.N.T.E.N.T.M.E.N.T in your life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 30, 20, 5:35 p.m)

Philippians 4:10: "Why show C.O.N.C.E.R.N for others in your life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 28, 20, 5:05 p.m)

Philippians 4:9: "How do you know your P.E.A.C.E is real?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 25, 20, 7:46 p.m)

Philippians 4:9a: "What kind of S.O.L.D.I.E.R will you be?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 23, 20, 5:49 p.m)

Philippians 4:8: "What is your T.H.I.N.K.I.N.G based upon?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 22, 20, 1:27 p.m)

Philippians 4:6-7: "How do you handle A.N.X.I.E.T.Y in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 21, 20, 10:07 a.m)

Philippians 4:5: "What measure of G.E.N.T.L.E.N.E.S.S do you have?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 20, 20, 06:38 a.m)

Philippians 4:4: "When do you R.E.J.O.I.C.E in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 17, 20, 07:07 p.m)

Philippians 4:3: "How have you C.A.M.P.A.I.G.N.E.D for Jesus Christ in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 16, 20, 05:24 p.m)

Philippians 4:2: "How do you respond to a P.L.E.A.D in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 14, 20, 11:47 a.m)

Philippians 4:1: "Where do yo S.T.A.N.D on love in your life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 13, 20, 11:03 a.m)

Colossians 1:13-14, 18: "What can the B.L.O.O.D of Christ shed on the cross do for you?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 10, 20, 11:55 a.m)

Exodus 12:5,7,11,13-14: "How do you know judgment will P.A.S.S.O.V.E.R you?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 09, 20, 05:23 p.m)

John 12:13: "Why should a P.A.L.M branch matter to you in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 07, 20, 11:22 a.m)

John 12:3:  "Why reflect on what happened to Jesus' dirty/stinky F.E.E.T one day?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 06, 20, 11:32 a.m)

Philippians 3:20-21: "What C.I.T.I.Z.E.N.S.H.I.P should you desire the most?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 04, 20, 11:32 a.m)

Philippians 3:18-19: "Why shed T.E.A.R.S for others in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 01, 20, 6:45 a.m)

Philippians 3:15-17: "Who or what are you willing to P.A.T.T.E.R.N your life after?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (March 30, 20, 9:28 a.m)

Philippians 3:12-14: "How can you deal with the P.A.S.T in your life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (March 27, 20, 11:03 a.m)

Philippians 3:5-11: "Why for R.E.F.O.R.M.A.T.I.O.N you need the transaction of the C.R.O.S.S?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (March 25, 20, 3:14 a.m)

Philippians 3:2-4: "How is your T.H.E.O.L.O.G.Y in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (March 24, 20, 9:36 a.m)

Philippians 3:1: "Why R.E.J.O.I.C.E in the Lord?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (March 23, 20, 11:10 a.m)

Philippians 2:25-30: "When will your H.O.M.E.C.O.M.I.N.G begin?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (March 20, 20, 07:43 a.m)

Philippians 2:19-24: "How can you Q.U.A.L.I.F.Y well in other people's lives?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (March 18, 20, 07:49 a.m)

Philippians 2:17-18: "When do you live out your F.A.I.T.H in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (March 16, 20, 10:33 a.m)

Philippians 2:14-16: "What does your B.E.H.A.V.I.O.R do for others in life?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (March 13, 20, 08:19 a.m)

Philippians 2:13: "How do you W.O.R.K out your Salvation?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (March 12, 20, 10:49 a.m)

Philippians 2:12-13: "What path have you taken for S.A.L.V.A.T.I.O.N in your life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (March 10, 20, 11:02 a.m)

Philippians 2:12-13: "What is the point of O.B.E.D.I.E.N.C.E in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (March 09, 20, 11:24 a.m)

Philippians 2:9-11: "How do you handle the N.A.M.E of Jesus in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (Feb 29, 20, 06:46 a.m)

Philippians 2:8: "What can the C.R.O.S.S do for you in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (Feb 17, 20, 10:51 a.m)

Philippians 2:5-7: "How do you match Jesus' A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (Feb 12, 20, 10:59 a.m)

Philippians 2:3-4: "How do you respond to C.O.M.M.A.N.D.S in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (Feb 11, 20, 10:23 a.m)

Philippians 2:1-2: "What C.O.N.D.I.T.I.O.N are you in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (Feb 10, 20, 11:08 a.m)

Philippians 1:29-30: "How do you handle S.U.F.F.E.R.I.N.G in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (Feb 07, 20, 10:51 a.m)

Philippians 1:27-28: "How do you C.O.N.D.U.C.T yourself in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (Feb 04, 20, 08:38 a.m)

Philippians 1:22-26: "What are your C.H.O.I.C.E.S based on?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (Feb 03, 20, 10:10 p.m)

Philippians 1:21: "Why D.I.E for Christ?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 31, 20, 12:11 p.m)

Philippians 1:21: Why L.I.V.E your life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 27, 20, 10:08 a.m)

Philippians 1:20: "Where do you need to have C.O.U.R.A.G.E in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 22, 20, 10:20 a.m)

Philippians 1:19: "Who do you C.A.L.L often in life to intercede for others?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 21, 20, 10:36 a.m)

Philippians 1:19: "What reason do you have to R.E.J.O.I.C.E in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 20, 20, 07:11 a.m)

Philippians 1:16-18: "How are your M.O.T.I.V.E.S in life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 18, 20, 08:01 a.m)

Philippians 1:12-15: "What have your C.H.A.I.N.S done to others in your life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 16, 20, 11:50 p.m)

Philippians 1:12: "How can you feel S.P.E.C.I.A.L when things are going so wrong in your life?"   By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 15, 20, 2:14 p.m)

Philippians 1:9-11: "What is your L.O.V.I.N.G response based on?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 14, 20, 6:51 a.m)

Philippians 1:7-8: "How can your A.F.F.E.C.T.I.O.N grow towards others in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 13, 20, 11:00 a.m)

Philippians 1:7-8: "Why can you only be saved by G.R.A.C.E alone?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 13, 20, 10:51 a.m)

Philippians 1:3-6: "Why be C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.T in the Lord?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 08, 20, 09:44 a.m)

Philippians 1:3-5: "How can you attain a P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S.H.I.P in the Gospel?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 08, 20, 09:44 a.m)

Philippians 1:3: "How will others R.E.A.C.T towards God when they remember you?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 07, 20, 10:07 a.m)

Philippians 1:2: "When do you B.L.E.S.S others in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 06, 20, 11:10 a.m)

Philippians 1:1: "Why bother to let others T.R.A.I.N you when you are already a leader?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 04, 20, 11:55 a.m)

Philippians 1:1: "Why should you believe you are H.O.L.Y instead of a sinner?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 03, 20, 9:53 a.m)

Philippians 1:1: "Who will you be a S.E.R.V.AN.T to in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 02, 20, 6:55 pm)

"What will your P.R.E.S.E.N.T look like in 2020?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 01, 20, 1:13 pm)