Jesus had been back to Capernaum for some days, and the news of this became known. Many people gathered at the house to hear Him speak, and the crowd had really grown. In fact, there were so many who wanted to come inside that you couldn’t get near the door. But there was a paralytic, with four friends who had a goal–to hear Jesus say, “Restore!”
So fervent were they in their earnest goal, that though it didn’t seem possible to get through, they weren’t downcast, but instead looked up–gaining entrance through the roof was what they’d do. Their faith in the Lord, their tenacity to attain, moved them to hoist their friend and his pallet up. They made a rooftop hole and let him down to the Lord–it didn’t matter to them to interrupt.
Jesus, seeing their faith, immediately was moved. “Son, your sins are forgiven,” He then said. This prompted thoughts in some scribes who were there, that He was blasphemous and clearly misled. Jesus knew in His spirit the things they were reasoning and confronted them before they could talk. He asked which was easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or “Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk.”
But so that they would know He really did have this authority, He further went on to say–that the man who’d been paralyzed should get up and take his pallet and be free to go on his way. Immediately, the man arose and picked up his pallet and walked out in the sight of all who were there. The people were amazed and glorified God, saying they’d never seen anything like this anywhere.
After that, Jesus went out to the shore of the sea, which can bring to mind the “waves” of God’s grace. The people followed Jesus to the shore, as well, and He continued to teach them at that place. A fitting scene it was to conclude this narrative, for God’s grace does come in wave upon wave. If a problem seems insurmountable, look up, not down–He’ll help you, just be bold and be brave.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8
“Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.” Psalm 43:5
“And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:33
Scriptures NKJV From the Biblical account in Mark 2:1-13
Herod began to persecute those who believed in Jesus, it’s told in the twelfth chapter of Acts. James was martyred by the sword and Peter was seized, though there had been no criminal facts.
The church was offering up constant prayer for Peter–imprisoned by Herod Agrippa, the king. So in the dark of the night, God sent an angel to visit Peter there, who was asleep despite everything.
Four squads of soldiers had been assigned to him; and he was chained as he slept that night. A soldier on each side of him and guards were there, who were keeping the prison door barred tight.
Suddenly, the angel of the Lord stood by Peter, and a light shone inside the prison cell. The angel struck him on his side and raised him up; and from Peter’s hands, the heavy prison chains fell.
At the angel’s instruction, Peter dressed quickly to follow him–though it all seemed to be unreal. They went past the first and second guard posts. “This must be a ‘vision,’” was how it made him feel.
They came to the iron gate that led to the city, which simply opened to them of its own accord–then went out and down one street, and the angel departed. What a rescue from an angel of the Lord!
Peter came to his senses, realizing it had actually happened–he’d escaped Herod and leaders of the Jews. He proceeded on to the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, where they’d fervently prayed for this news.
Peter knocked at the door of the gate to the house, and a girl by the name of Rhoda came to see who was there. In her joy at hearing his voice, she ran to tell the others it was Peter, and that God had answered prayer.
They just couldn’t believe her, so Peter had to continue to knock, until they opened the door themselves to see… that God, indeed, had heard their prayers for Peter, and had sent His angel–to miraculously set him free!
At dawn, back at the prison, there was a commotion among the soldiers, as to how Peter’s captivity was defied. After a search was endeavored, Herod ordered the soldiers’ deaths; but the Bible records that he, too, soon afterward died…
“But the word of God grew and multiplied!”
P. A. Oltrogge
(From the account in Acts 12)
“Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.” Acts 12:5
“Then He (Jesus) spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart…” Luke 18:1
Book recommendation: “Releasing the Ability of God Through Prayer” by Charles Capps at the Bookstore at http://www.cappsministries.com where are found many other excellent books, articles, and materials.
Who can bear the weight of the world in these present days? Only the Lord God Almighty–to Him belongs all praise.
Praying in the Spirit daily, as often as we can, is surely one of the best things to do, in this end-time span.
But being bold to stand for what’s right against any evil oppression is important, too–the world needs to hear our Christian faith confession.
There’s a wealth of opportunities now that God is bringing about… for men to find the truth in Him, forsaking their unbelief or doubt.
Through every available voice, God’s Word is being preached until the time that He declares the entire world has been reached.
The Bible says that God will pour out His Spirit upon all of mankind. Life through His Son, Jesus Christ, is the gift He wants everyone to find.
God chose to lay upon Him, at the cross, the iniquity of us all… We pray for multitudes to hear the gospel and respond to its gracious call.
P. A. Oltrogge
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” Isaiah 53:6 KJV
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” …spoken by Jesus in John 10:10
“And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” …spoken by Jesus in John 17:3
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8
“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” …spoken by Jesus in John 16:33
“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds, who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 1:1-4
The God’s Word translation reads “He holds everything together by His powerful words….”
Does something in your life need to be upheld or held together? Keep trusting in God, who holds all things together….
Scriptures NKJV except as noted
And Matthew 9:38; Luke 10:2; John 17:17; Acts 2:16-18
In walking with the Lord, I remember a winter night in particular,
when I left a Bible study gathering of friends, by myself, to drive home.
Snow had started to fall that evening, and the moon was out…
The Lord’s presence surrounded, as if to tell of His peace in a poem.
We’d focused on His love in our study of the scriptures that night,
and how we would never really be going about our lives alone.
The glow of the moon reminded me of His Word as a lamp and Light,
which pushed away any worries to which I might have felt prone.
I carried my marked-up Bible with me–it was my valued friend;
and I had the Holy Spirit and the angels, on whom I could always depend.
P. A. Oltrogge
“…If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” words of Jesus from John 8:31-32 NASB
“My son, attend to my words, incline thy ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.” Proverbs 4:20-24 KJV
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105 KJV
“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever–the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17 NKJV
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me.” John 16:13 NLT
“Turn all your anxiety over to God because He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 GW
“For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11 NKJV
“Fear not, for I AM with you, be not dismayed, for I AM your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 RSV
Nothing but the blood of Jesus, shed for us by grace… will make us stand in righteousness before His Father’s face.
Without it, claims of righteousness are as filthy rags before God’s eyes. Be cleansed by the blood of Jesus, and by the living Word, become wise.
P. A. Oltrogge
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6 KJV
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 NKJV
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV
“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple…” Psalm 19:7 NKJV
“The next day he (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming to him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me. And I did not recognize Him, but in order that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.’ And John bore witness saying, ‘I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. And I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the one who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.’” John 1:29-34
“And when He (Jesus) had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 26:27-28, also Mark 14:24; and Luke 22:20
“The Jews therefore began to argue with one another, saying, ‘How can this man give us His flesh to eat?’ Jesus therefore said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food and My blood is true drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me. This is the bread which came down out of heaven, not as the fathers ate, and died; he who eats this bread shall live forever.’ These things He said in the synagogue, as He taught in Capernaum.” John 6:52-59
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” Acts 20:28
“But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness because in the forbearance of God, He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:21-26
“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” Romans 5:9
“Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?” 1 Corinthians 10:16
“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, ‘This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way He took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
“For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.” Colossians 1:19-21 NLT
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ” Hebrews 4:12 NKJV
Scriptures NASB or as noted.
The Blood-bought Church (song, N. Harmon)
They shall lift up their voice, they shall sing for joy They shall cry aloud and be free They shall glorify the name of the Lord It’s the blood-bought, the church, the redeemed
[Verse 2] Oh pick up your hearts, O Zion of the Lord Let the earth spring forth with its praise For the children rejoice from the islands of the sea It’s the blood-bought, the church, the redeemed
[Chorus] And we are in that army of the Lord We’ve been washed in the blood and we are going forth There is nothing that can stop this mighty moving force With a shout of praise, a two-edged sword
[Verse 3] Ev’ry stronghold of bondage must fall beneath our feet Ev’ry prisoner held captive must be free For our deliverance has come through the power of the Son It’s the blood-bought, the church, the redeemed
[Verse 4] Let the earth be silent, the winds cease to blow Every created being fold your wings For there’s a new song being sung with a new melody It’s the blood-bought, the church, the redeemed
If you watch news on the Victory Channel (www.govictory.com/victorynews), you recently saw a short video clip of some parents in Jerusalem seeking to comfort and reassure their children after the scare from nearby rocket attacks, which reached as far as to Jerusalem. Please join in prayer for all of the people there, in particular the children, and for children and their needs everywhere. Another situation for prayer is the U.S. border where abandoned children are being found. And note RescueLIFE at the “life today” site below.
“PrayforthepeaceofJerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6
“But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Sufferthelittlechildren to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Mark 10:14
“Oh, Lord, take your super glue and glue my bone together.” This was one of my first prayers after fracturing a bone in my foot. At the time, I did think it was sort of a silly prayer until I read the paperwork from my emergency room visit. It stated, “When a bone heals, the body puts a CALLUS together across the piece that is broken. This callus is made of new bone material and will eventually melt or glue the two broken pieces together.” What a sweet reassurance that the Lord was indeed with me in my pain, even in the formulation of my seemingly strange prayer.
Being forced to reduce my activities gave me time to reflect on the word, “broken,” and the pain involved. I realized my foot would eventually heal and the pain would then be just a memory, or maybe even forgotten. However, there are many people living with various degrees of brokenness–a broken relationship, broken health, or even being brokenhearted–all of which can be covered by God’s supernatural ability to heal.
My natural belief is that a bone progressively heals. My belief, as a Christian, is that God adds His “super” to the natural, and things that are impossible or difficult have a greater ability to heal when faith is released.
In the Bible narrative of the beggar man, who was lame from his mother’s womb, he was told, “In the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” The story relates that immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength, and he began to walk and leap. This is the “super” element added to that poor man’s body. He was carried along and set down daily at the gate of the temple, so this man required assistance to even get there. His muscles hadn’t been exercised. This was not a progressive healing–it was a miracle. And it was brought about by two of Jesus’ disciples who were bold enough to believe that God could raise the man up. How many of us have seen this today? How many of us even believe it could happen?
I couldn’t help but compare the word, “callus,” (used for good–to bring healing to my bone) with the word, “callous,” which means hardened in mind, or unfeeling. My journey toward healing included much soul searching as to what I expected from my faith. It’s easy not to have very high expectations. Then there is no disappointment in God. However, the struggle to boost my faith to believe in God’s supernatural ability came with a sinister, mocking voice, “Has God really said?”
A few months before fracturing the bone in my foot, I had been running across the street with my schnauzer on his leash at night and tripped over the curb and landed flat on my face. It was a miracle I didn’t break much more, but I did find out I had broken a bone in my wrist. However, before I knew it was broken, I believed for healing; and by the time it was x-rayed, the family doctor said it looked like an old break. Then suddenly the pain went away, and I never followed up with the orthopedic doctor. So later, as I struggled with the pain in my foot, how easy it was to forget this previous incident of my God’s goodness and power.
Perhaps, it is like the disciples. Having seen the miracle of Jesus breaking the five loaves of bread to feed 5,000 people, they were still upset because they had forgotten to take bread and only had one loaf with them. Jesus spoke some heartbreaking words to them. He said, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened? And do you not remember?” We can end up with a calloused heart when we stop believing that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. We can be fresh from a miracle and still not perceive that our God can do it again!
Pathways of love, pathways where you guided– sweet memories of those pathways, dear Mother, you’ve provided.
Much like a gardener, you tended to my care– weeding out some tendencies, while cultivating those that were fair.
And if there were problems at school or at play, the pathway to Mom’s door would help them go away.
Best of all, we walked pathways which caused my spirit to be fed with the truths in God’s Word, so that by His Spirit I’d be led.
Now as I go about, on my own pathways since I’ve grown, I’m grateful for the pathways that together we’d known.
P. A. Oltrogge
Photo/Porch of the Lord
(The white stone borders along the flowers in this photo brought to mind the concept of the pathways in the poem. Hope you enjoy the blooms in the photo, which was taken by my daughter.)
Many of us have had good mothers, and so we rightly honor them. But there are women of God throughout earth who are equally a gem.
They may not have brought up children but have served the Lord… in His kingdom in various ways, and so they, too, have blessed reward.
All Christian women have beauty, both an outer and an inner kind. The fruit of the Spirit displayed in them is highly rated in God’s mind.
P. A. Oltrogge
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 30:31 NASB
“Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.” Luke 2:36-38 NLT
“At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.” Acts 9:36
After Jesus had come down from the mountain, He was followed by crowds–a great throng.
Wanting to hear the Lord’s teaching and be healed, a leper, at a certain point, had also come along.
He fell down before Christ and worshiped Him, asking for cleansing, if Jesus would be willing.
He had faith that his request could be one of those, that day, which the Lord would be fulfilling.
Jesus stretched out His hand and touched the afflicted man, thereby blessing…
He destroyed what the devil had worked, which, to the leper, had been so distressing.
“I am willing,” Jesus said–what a compassionate touch for the man’s body and soul!
Jesus told him to tell no one, but to go to the priest to reveal that he’d been made whole.
There, bringing a gift in accordance with Moses’ command, the state of his health would be reviewed.
And then, he would be given right of passage to return to society–his life renewed.
Jesus’ loving touch is going forth to those who worship and call on Him still today.
There’s no one who can’t be touched by the Master, who is always willing to heal whenever we pray.
P. A. Oltrogge
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.” 1 John 5:14-15
“Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Colossians 1:12-14
“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them.” Mark 11:24
For encouragement on healing: http://www.rhema.org offers the book, “Bodily Healing and the Atonement,” by Dr. T. J. McCrossan, reedited and reprinted by Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin and Dr. Roy Hicks. Also offered there are many other books and materials that support both spiritual and physical well-being. And see ministry websites previously mentioned on the blog.
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
“And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” Luke 5:17
I thank God today for His power being present to heal…as well as His peace over any discouragement and for faith to persevere in trusting Him in all matters.
“Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart…” Luke 18:1 NASB
“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3
“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 RSV
The Porch of the Lord 