Believing prayer for a friend

When a believing person prays, great things happen.

In Mark 2:3-5, it states, "Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn't get to Jesus through the crowd, so they dug through the clay roof above his head...They lowered the sick man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, My child, your sins are forgiven."

The word "prayer" doesn't show up once in this story. But if you look closely you will see it in action; four men lowering their sick friends through the roof into the presence of Jesus.

What does Jesus do? He stops preaching, looks at the man and then announces, "Your sins are forgiven."

Wow.

What moved Jesus?

Mark says, "seeing their faith."

The faith of 4 friends is the trigger that releases God's power.

The man has no movement, not treatment, no answers, and no hope.

All he had were friends who took the time to bring their friends into the presence of Jesus.

The paralytic might be gulping - "don't drop me"!

The homeowner might be groaning - "who put a hole in my roof"?

But Jesus - he's smiling!

Their faith stirs his spiritual power.

Jesus heals the man.

The man leaves whole in body and soul.

When a believing person prays, great things happen.

Do you have a friend in need?

Faithful friends carry those they love in prayer, into God's presence.

And when they do God responds.

How?

When?

The four guys didn't know. And we don't know either, but we know this.

When a believing person prays, great things happen."

So be that kind of friend today. Bring them to Jesus in prayer.