“And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” (Mark 2:3-5)
You can see in this passage of Scripture one of the differences between faith and hope. Four men carried this man to where Jesus was. But the building was so full that they couldn’t get him in.
Now, hope would have said, “Well, we tried, but we couldn’t get our friend to Jesus. We might as well go home.” Hope will go just so far and quit. It says, “Well, I tried that faith business, but it didn’t work.” Then it will give up and throw in the towel.
But faith won’t quit! It has tenacity. It says, “Let’s go up on the roof. We aren’t quitting now!”
Faith digs its heels in and says, “I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Tim. 1:12).
It says, “I’m not moving! I know what the Word says. I know healing belongs to me, and I’m not going without it! I believe the Word of God. Who cares what I feel like?”
So the four men took the roof apart, probably making a big hole in it. Then they lowered the man into the room right in front of Jesus. Jesus had been teaching for some time and hadn’t yet seen a spark of faith. But now He was seeing faith come through the roof! And when Jesus saw the men’s faith, their friend was healed.
No one likes tests and trials, but that’s the atmosphere in which faith thrives. In the midst of a trial, faith has to flex its muscles and grow. Our heads may give us trouble during those hard times. But if we’re really in faith, we won’t quit!
Jesus bought and paid for my healing, and I have it
by faith. I persistently walk by faith regardless of my
feelings or circumstances. In Jesus’ name, I am healed!
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
For over 40 years, Pastors Mark and Janet Brazee have traveled throughout the world sharing the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Together they've shared the powerful truths of faith and healing in more than 50 nations.
Today Mark and Janet pastor World Outreach Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they base their ongoing outreach to the world. The Brazees still travel as the Lord leads, and they are raising up a congregation who share their passion to reach Tulsa and the world.