There was a certain day Jesus was teaching in Capernaum and there were religious leaders, Pharisees, and teachers of the law in the room. There was a large crowd and the house was packed because they had come from every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. There was a special presence and anointing as Jesus was teaching and the Bible tells us that the power of the Lord was present to heal them. (Luke 5:17; Mark 2:1,2).

Because of the fame of Jesus and the knowledge and understanding that whoever could touch Jesus was healed, a group of men searched and found the place where Jesus was teaching in order to place their paralyzed friend at His feet. They had heard and they believed that if Jesus would touch their friend, he would be healed. They put their faith into action and they were determined. Nothing was going to stop them. The mission would be accomplished. Their friend would be healed.

But when they got to the house, they ran into an obstacle. Because of the fame of Jesus, the house was packed and there was no way to get inside. Most people would have felt sad and gone home. Most people would have given up and therefore most people in this situation would not have been healed. However, the friends of the paralyzed man were not like most people. Somehow they knew that nothing was impossible and when Satan or circumstances blocked their path to victory, they just took another path.

Without hesitation, they climbed up on the roof and started removing the tile. This must have taken some planning because they needed ropes or something to let their friend’s bed down through the roof. I’m sure they didn’t just count to three and drop him!

When Jesus saw the faith of the friends, He said to the man who was paralyzed, “Your sins have been forgiven.” Now when the educated teachers and Pharisees heard this, they began to reason among themselves and Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?” Then Jesus commanded the man to arise, take his bed, and go home. (Mark 2:5-12.)

Now here’s my point. The reasoning of the Pharisees did not change anything. Whether they agreed that Jesus had the power to heal and forgive sins or not had no effect on the paralyzed man and his four friends. Their faith, put into action, overrode all of the doubt and unbelief surrounding them, and the end result was the paralyzed man went home with a healed body and forgiven of his sins.

So the next time you feel that doubt and unbelief and reasoning thoughts in other people are hindering you, don’t allow that lie to stop your faith. Faith put into action is stronger than perceived doubt and the darkness in the kingdom of the enemy is always overpowered by the light in the Kingdom of God. Never allow what you see or hear to affect what you know to be truth. Never allow those around you who speak disbelief to change the purpose of your heart and your knowledge that victory is not only attainable, but imminent when your faith touches our Savior.

Copyright © Larry Ollison Ministries 
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