FAITH IN ACTION

"Then they came to Him bringing a paralytic, carried by four men. Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’" (Mark 2:3-5 HCSB)

It was the late 1800’s, when the great Blondin stretched a tightrope across Niagara Falls, and became the first man to walk across. He then blindfolded himself and did it. Next, Blondin asked, “How many of you believe I can walk across carrying a man on my back.” “We believe!” the throng screamed. So he pointed to one of the more enthusiastic men and said, “You sir, climb up!” In terror the man stepped back, shaking his head and whimpering, “No way!”

He said he believed, but he really didn’t.

Listen to what James said about genuine faith:

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can his faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you don't give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it doesn't have works, is dead by itself. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder. Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?" (James 2:14-20)

In the second chapter of Mark’s Gospel, we observe men of real faith—faith that moves to action. Since faith is indispensable to Christianity, the question becomes, “How can we have this real faith?”

We begin by noting THE OBJECT OF REAL FAITH.

"When He entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that He was at home. So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and He was speaking the message to them. Then they came to Him bringing a paralytic, carried by four men.” (Mark 2:1-3)

Jesus is the central figure around which the story revolves. Faith is only as valid as its object, and Jesus is the only worthy object of our faith.

So we see His DESIRABILITY.

"When He entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that He was at home. So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and He was speaking the message to them.” (v.1-2)

Note how the multitude sought Him. They were drawn as iron to a magnet. They were attracted by the mark of the miraculous, the voice of authority, and the imprint of Deity upon Him. The masses came to catch a glimpse, snatch a word, or brush against Him.

People show up when Jesus is in the house. So, why do so many of our church houses contain more pews than people? Do people know they can find Jesus at our local church meeting? Does He show up or stand outside waiting for someone to let Him in (see Rev.3:20)? If He is there, we still need to spread the news!

There is not only His desirability, but HIS DEPENDABILITY.

“Then they came to Him bringing a paralytic, carried by four men.” (v.3)

These four men bring their needy friend to Jesus, because they knew they could depend on Him. Somehow, someway, if they could only reach Him, they knew He would not turn them away. Jesus always hears the desperate cry.

Faith moves us to seek Him fervently. At all costs we must reach Jesus. The Bible promises that when we do, we will find Him, if we but seek Him with all of our heart (note Jer.29:13).

Faith in action focuses on the object of real faith and faces THE OBSTACLES OF REAL FAITH.

“Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ But some of the scribes were sitting there, thinking to themselves: ‘Why does He speak like this? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’” (v. 4-7)

What are the obstacles to real faith which we see here?

There was THE CROWD. People were the impediment. We discern dual dimensions of this.

Some who were in the way were Carnal.

Doubtless there were a number there who had a genuine spiritual interest in Jesus. Some had needs as great, or greater, than the crippled man. But many were there just to see the show. Jesus was a novelty. It was akin to going to the circus.

Contrast these four men intent on bringing their friend to Jesus with the self-absorbed crowd that was in the way. There was a multitude that was a hindrance and four men who were helpers.

Why do you attend the gatherings of the church? You are either a help or a hindrance. How many people have you brought to Jesus lately? Are you a bridge or a barrier?

There was not only a problem with the crowd, but among them, a big issue was with the Critical.

“Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ But some of the scribes were sitting there, thinking to themselves: ‘Why does He speak like this? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’” (v.5-7)

These were whisperers—the malcontents. Whatever Jesus did, they said, “I object!” There always seems to be those who can give you a thousand reasons why something won’t work. They have no positive agenda to propose, however. But, they can come up with countless excuses for inaction—and they are the biggest barrier themselves.

We can face obstacles to real faith. There is the obstacle of the crowd and of THE CONSEQUENCES.

“Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.” (v.4)

There were risks involved—potential problems that could come as a consequence of their radical action. Can you think of some of the concerns these four friends might have had? Let me share a few that I have heard.

“We might offend someone.”

How would you like someone digging through your roof? The owner of the house could be offended. The people who were packed in after waiting so long to see Jesus wouldn’t be happy with these, “line-breakers.” What about Jesus? Preachers don’t like having their sermons interrupted! While we shouldn’t try to be offensive, we will never please everyone—so we must please God!

“It will cost too much.”

Roof repair wasn’t in their budget. Somebody was going to have to pay to have it fixed. Could they afford it? If God wants us to do something to bring people to Jesus, the question isn’t can we afford it, but can we afford not to do God’s will?

“We’re too busy.”

I’m sure those four fellows had plenty to do. But, thankfully they had their priorities in order. Service overrode self-interest. Should we be too busy to do God’s work?
“We’ve never done it that way before!”

Someone branded that phrase, “the seven last words of the church.” It is a killer-attitude. That is the symptom of a church that is sick—and maybe terminally so. Other than this singular incident in the Gospels, I know of no occasion prior to nor again repeated where someone used this method to bring someone to Jesus. But, it worked! God is creative. He may think of something that hasn’t been done before.

“We might fail.”

True enough. When these four friends began loosening roof tiles, they had no guarantee of success. But, would the man have been any worse off? They could then have tried something else if this hadn’t worked. If they exhausted every avenue, at least this guy would have found joy in knowing someone made the effort to care.

In this remarkable story is recorded the object of real faith and the obstacles of real faith, but something more: THE OBSTINACY OF REAL FAITH.

Real faith is obstinate—refusing to give in, give up or give out.

It is obstinate because IT LOOKS.

They looked beyond the obstacles to opportunity. They looked to Jesus where faith commences and climaxes (note Heb.12:2).

A crucial faith factor is the matter of perspective. Remember the story of Israel coming to the brink of blessing at the banks of the Jordan?

They send 12 spies into Canaan on a reconnaissance mission. They return with a unanimous agreement that the land is indeed flowing with milk and honey—all God promised it would be. But, then 10 of the 12—all save Joshua and Caleb—brought a report of giants whom they thought invincible. Consider the contrast:

"Then Caleb quieted the people in the presence of Moses and said, ‘We must go up and take possession of the land because we can certainly conquer it!’ But the men who had gone up with him responded, ‘We can't go up against the people because they are stronger than we are!’ So they gave a negative report to the Israelites about the land they had scouted: ‘The land we passed through to explore is one that devours its inhabitants, and all the people we saw in it are men of great size. We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak [come] from the Nephilim! To ourselves we seemed like grasshoppers, and we must have seemed the same to them.’" (Numbers 13:30-33)

Two men looked at God and faith grew as they saw God as the Giant-killer. Ten men looked at giants and fear grew as they saw themselves as grasshoppers. Perspective makes the difference.

Faith is obstinate when it looks and when IT LIVES.

Mark 2:5 speaks of Jesus, “seeing their faith.”

How could Jesus see faith? It is a living thing! It produces works. It gets you off the pew and into action!

The obstinate facet of faith is that it looks, it lives and that IT LASTS.

All along the way were opportunities to quit. But they had the tenacity of a pit bull! It’s easy to quit on God when problems discourage you. It’s easy to quit on the church when people disappoint you. But faith keeps you moving ahead.

It is then that we find THE OBTAINMENTS OF REAL FAITH.

“Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’ But some of the scribes were sitting there, thinking to themselves: ‘Why does He speak like this? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ Right away Jesus understood in His spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, ‘Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk”? But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ He told the paralytic, ‘I tell you: get up, pick up your mat, and go home.’ Immediately he got up, picked up the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’" (v. 5-12)

The key phrase is “Seeing their faith…” because that’s the moment when things began to happen!

Faith obtains GOD’S GRACE.

“Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’” (v.5)

This man came wanting a miracle, and got one even greater—the miracle of God’s grace saving him! He received forgiveness of sin, reconciliation to God and eternal life. That is the foremost obtainment of real faith!

“For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift- not from works, so that no one can boast." (Eph.2:8-9)

Faith also obtains GOD’S GOODNESS.

“But some of the scribes were sitting there, thinking to themselves: ‘Why does He speak like this? He's blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ Right away Jesus understood in His spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, ‘Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk”? But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ He told the paralytic, ‘I tell you: get up, pick up your mat, and go home.’” (v.6-11)

Faith opens wide the channel of blessing. It taps into the wellspring of the goodness of God. “All things are possible to him who believes,” Jesus promises.

Faith further obtains GOD’S GLORY.

“‘Immediately he got up, picked up the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’" (v.12)

God is glorified by a living faith as no other thing. Our greatest desire should be to glorify God, and this is how we are to do it. I passionately want people to encounter God in such a way that they leave our church building exclaiming, “We have never seen anything like this!”

Our God is big enough; is our faith?

How bad is unbelief?

It will doom you as a sinner. We can be forgiven of everything but that—it is a sin with no cure.

It will defeat you as a saint. We can’t be the church God wants until we tap into the power of God through faith.