THE PRESENCE OF FAITH

Lk.5:20 – Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”

Seeing their faith, Jesus could see or perceive the faith of the friends who carried the lame man to Him that day. He could also see the faith of the lame man himself. Faith is a tangible thing, Paul said that faith is a substance in Hebrews 11:1. So in other words faith is there or its not. Faith perceives the things of God as real, faiths sees things that are promised as already done. Faith is different from hope, hope has no substance it just has a hope in things turning out someday. Faith has seen God at work and calls it done. These friends were willing to tear off someone’s roof knowing what was about to happen. Here is how John Boys describes this moment.

“In these porters and attendants we observe unfeigned love to their friend and a lively faith in Christ: in being “feet to the lame,” we see great love…..Therefore the text says in the next clause that Jesus “saw their faith.” As God, he saw their faith as he saw the thoughts of the scribes, and as a man, he saw their faith by their works. He saw the faith of the porters in bringing and of the paralyzed man in allowing himself to be brought in such a manner; and therefore Christ, the “consolation of Israel,” affords him comfort instantly both in word and in deed.”

Faith is part of that spiritual category that words can never quite explain. When you have it you know it, you have sensed or seen the spiritual substance of the promise given and you know the manifestation of it is inevitable. So I suppose you could say this lame man and his friends knew he was walking out of Peter’s house that day under his own power. Soooooooo… what about your faith? When you make contact with God the things promised become a reality in your heart. Maybe you are suffering from some sort of spiritual paralysis unable to walk in the ways of the Lord. Just do what this man did, get yourself to the place where the anointing is present, even if you have to be carried by some friends. That is the place where your faith will awaken and everything will begin to change.