THE POWER OF BELIEVING IN JESUS

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THE POWER OF BELIEVING IN JESUS
Transcript
00:00Unshakable faith! Imagine this! A crowded house filled with people, all yearning to hear Jesus speak.
00:07Outside, a group of friends arrives, carrying a paralyzed man on a mat.
00:13They've heard of Jesus' healing power and believe He can do the impossible.
00:17Their determination is clear, they won't let anything stop them from getting their friend to Jesus.
00:23The crowd is thick, and the door is blocked, but they don't give up.
00:28They climb to the roof, make an opening, and lower their friend right in front of Jesus.
00:33This is not just a story of healing, it is a profound lesson on faith,
00:38perseverance, and the incredible power of Jesus to transform lives.
00:43The power of faith and perseverance. When we look at Matthew 9, 2, we see a powerful
00:48demonstration of faith. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic,
00:54Believe, my son, your sins are forgiven. This is a moment that highlights several
00:59crucial elements of our faith journey. It's not merely about physical healing,
01:04it's about spiritual transformation. The friends of the paralyzed man didn't allow obstacles to
01:10deter them. Their belief was so strong that they were willing to do whatever it took to
01:15bring their friend to Jesus. Here lies a vital lesson for all of us, faith requires action.
01:22The friends of the paralytic could have seen the crowd and turned away,
01:25believing it was too difficult. Instead, their faith moved them to act beyond what was convenient
01:32or easy. How often do we let obstacles stop us from reaching Jesus? In our daily lives,
01:38we face numerous challenges, fear, doubt, uncertainty. But this passage teaches us that
01:44faith is more than a feeling, it is a choice to believe and act, even when the way forward
01:49seems impossible. Jesus, the healer of body and soul. When Jesus speaks to the paralyzed man,
01:56his words are unexpected, your sins are forgiven. At first glance, this might seem surprising.
02:03The man's friends brought him for physical healing, yet Jesus addresses his spiritual
02:08condition first. Why? Because Jesus understands that our deepest need is not always what we think
02:14it is. Yes, the man needed physical healing, but more importantly, he needed spiritual restoration.
02:22This moment is incredibly significant. It shows that Jesus sees the whole person.
02:27He knows our external struggles and our internal battles. Often, we come to Jesus seeking answers
02:33to our immediate problems, but Jesus wants to give us so much more. He wants to heal our hearts,
02:40restore our spirits, and bring us into a deeper relationship with him.
02:45Faith beyond sight, believing in the unseen. The faith of the paralyzed man's friends was
02:50remarkable. They believed in Jesus' power to heal, even though they hadn't yet seen it with their own
02:56eyes. Hebrews 11. One defines faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
03:03things not seen. This passage in Matthew is a perfect illustration of that definition. The
03:09friends of the paralytic could not see the healing yet, but they acted as if it was already a reality.
03:15How does this apply to us today? Many of us are paralyzed in our own way, paralyzed by fear,
03:21doubt, past hurts, or the belief that we are beyond redemption. But Jesus calls us to a different kind
03:28of life. He calls us to a life where faith is our guide, where we trust in his promises, even when
03:34our circumstances suggest otherwise. A call to live by faith. What does it mean to live by faith?
03:41It means trusting Jesus in every situation, believing that he is who he says he is, and that
03:46he can do what he says he can do. It's easy to have faith when things are going well, but true faith is
03:53tested in the storms of life. Just like the friends who faced a literal crowd and roof to reach Jesus,
03:59we, too, must be willing to overcome whatever stands in our way. Are we willing to be like these
04:06friends? Are we willing to bring others to Jesus, no matter the cost? This is our calling as followers
04:12of Jesus, to be carriers of faith, to bring hope to the hopeless, and to be vessels of Jesus' love and
04:18power. Real-life application. Faith in action. Consider a modern-day example. Imagine a person
04:26struggling with addiction, feeling trapped and hopeless. Their friends decide to intervene, not
04:32because they believe in their own power, but because they believe in Jesus' power to save.
04:37They take their friend to a place of healing, to a church, or a support group. They pray fervently,
04:44believe wholeheartedly, and refuse to give up. Eventually, their friend experiences transformation.
04:51This is faith in action, believing in Jesus' power to change lives, even when the situation
04:57seems beyond hope. In your own life, what are the areas that feel paralyzed? Is it a relationship,
05:04a dream, or a personal struggle? Jesus is ready to meet you right where you are. He sees your faith,
05:11just as he saw the faith of the paralyzed man's friends. And he is saying to you today,
05:16Believe, my child, your sins are forgiven. This is the ultimate healing we all need,
05:22the healing of our souls, the restoration of our spirits. Closing thoughts and call to action.
05:29As we reflect on this powerful story from Matthew 9.2, let us be encouraged to have a faith that
05:35moves mountains, a faith that brings us closer to Jesus, and a faith that never gives up,
05:40no matter the obstacles. Let's strive to be like the friends of the paralyzed man,
05:46always ready to bring others to Jesus, knowing that he is the ultimate healer of both body and
05:51soul. If this message has touched you, if you feel inspired by the power of faith and the love of
05:57Jesus, I encourage you to take a moment right now to reflect on your own journey. Where is Jesus
06:03calling you to have more faith? Where is he inviting you to take a bold step towards him?
06:08Prayer to Jesus. Dear Jesus, thank you for the powerful example of faith we see in your word.
06:15Thank you for showing us that you are not only the healer of our bodies, but the restorer of our
06:20souls. We ask that you strengthen our faith, help us to trust you more, and give us the courage to
06:26overcome any obstacles that stand in our way. May we always be willing to bring others to you,
06:32just as the friends of the paralyzed man did. Help us to see beyond our immediate needs and
06:38understand that our greatest need is you. We love you, Jesus, and we believe in your power to heal
06:44and transform our lives. Amen. If you found this message inspiring, please click the subscribe
06:51button, share it with your friends or family, and leave a comment below typing, Amen, if you
06:57believe in the power of Jesus' love. Remember, Jesus always loves you. Amen.