I have been praying for Christopher Packard. He is the 17 year old boy who got paralyzed in a car accident a few weeks ago. I went to the hospital to pray for him, and the presence of the LORD was strong. He has not gotten up – yet. As I was studying this morning, here is what the LORD showed me on paralysis. I think that it is a key:
Matthew 8 & 9
1) Matt 8:5 – Centurion’s servant is “lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented.”
2) Matt 9:2 – “And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son, your sins are forgiven.”
Observations:
1) Paralysis – spirit of fear and spirit of torment present
2) Identity is at risk – Jesus restored the man on the mat: “take courage, son”
3) You take courage when afraid. God said to folks all throughout the Bible, “take courage” Joshua heard three times from the LORD at his commissioning.
People who are afraid, dont act. They do not move. The extreme of this is the physical manifestation of immobility. I dont think that the accident or disease or whatever really matters. Fear paralyzes.
“Dear in headlights”
Remedy:
1) Rebuke fear in paralyzed people. Then pray healing.
2) Rebuke torment.
3) Restore identity.
4) Forgive their sins because anything not of faith is sin. Fear is certainly lack of faith.
5) Faith restores, and your faith can restore.
The friends of the dude who lowered the paralytic down on the mat had faith. Jesus saw their faith which ignited the healing for their friend. There was compassion of the friends. And, there was faith to be healed. Jesus grabbed onto the friends’ faith and applied it to the paralytic. They stood in the gap. God forgave the dude, and he was healed.
Faith that is present triumphs over fear that is present.