What is the Problem?

 March 6: 53-56

 

Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret

^“ When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore.   And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was.   And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.”

 

Gennesaret was on the western side of the Sea of Galilee between Capernaum and Tiberius.  What a difference from Jesus's experience in Nazareth  His hometown, where He grew up.  The people of Gennesaret not only believed that Jesus had the power to heal; they acted on that power and brought the sick to Him.  Many of us believe Jesus has the power to heal, to change lives, so if it’s not unbelief, could it be our lack of action?

Jesus has told us in John 14:12-14, “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these because I am going to the Father.   And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.   You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”

 

Let me be very honest, that bothers me, I know Jesus can’t lie, I know it is true, yet what is my problem, is it unbelief, or lack of actions.  At the age of 27 years when I entered into Christ and He into me, I had a very hard time believing God could love someone with such weak faith as I had.  He used a man named Jack Archer to teach me how much God loves me.  I now know I’m loved, and I now know how to love others.  I’m a slow Learner and have hope that at some point my faith increases and I live out this Scripture.

 

Maybe it’s that we do not understand who is praying for us, read John 17:9, “I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.”  Are you aware that your redeemer is praying for you?  He knows all about you and He loves you, for you are His.  Or is it that we are full of pride and will not admit our weakness, hindering the Holy Spirit in praying for us in these areas?  Romans 8:26, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

Or could it be that we just do not want to confess our sins to one another, and pride is keeping us from having the power of Christ in our lives?  James 5:6, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”  

 

I have no understanding of the why, but my prayer for you and me is that soon, very soon the Holy Spirit will open our eyes and ears to see and know, could it be it is all of these?

 

From the Back Porch,

 

Bob Rice