Bringing people to Jesus (1)

“The power of the Lord was present to heal them.”

Lk 5:17 NKJV

One day when Jesus was preaching in a certain house, four men brought their paralyzed friend so He could heal him. When they couldn’t get through the crowd they climbed up onto the roof, created an opening, lowered the man down to Jesus, and He healed him. The Bible says, “The power of the Lord was present to heal them.” The Pharisees were sitting nearby, and the power of God was present to heal them too, yet they received nothing. It’s amazing, but true; you can be in the presence of Jesus and leave unchanged. Why? Because your attitude and approach determine your results! Pride and preconceived notions—thinking you have God all figured out—can stop you from receiving what you need. Paul says, “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it” (Heb 4:2 NKJV). These religious leaders had no “faith.” They were interested in engaging Jesus in theological arguments, not in seeing the power of God demonstrated and this sick man healed. So you can have a head full of theology and a heart filled with doubt, and receive nothing from the Lord! Luke Chapter five records: “When [Jesus] saw their faith, He said to him…‘arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.’ Immediately he rose up…and departed to his own house, glorifying God. And they were all amazed, and they glorified God…saying, ‘We have seen strange things today!’” (vv. 20-26 NKJV).

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