Working Through Barriers

Consider the ministry experience of the team that took the paralytic to Jesus.* The four friends had a goal to see to it that the paralyzed man had an encounter with Jesus. They had an active faith and believed that involving Jesus would make a big difference in the life of their paralytic friend. But they had challenges to work through. They were working with a man that was immobile and had to be carried. There were no handicap amenities like wheelchairs, special aisles or elevators. There were crowds to get through in a small venue to meet the Great Physician. But they had a plan, and they worked together as a team to carry out their plan.

Put yourself there. They had to carry the man to the venue, then bring the stretcher to the roof without hurting their friend. They had to have tools with them to open the roof. They had to study the situation to know where Jesus was standing. They had to bring ropes to lower the man down, and they had to coordinate their movements to keep the man level. It was hard work that involved faith. And Jesus noticed.

Jesus first dealt with the spiritual condition of the paralytic; “Your sins are forgiven.” That perplexed everyone, but it was most likely at this point that the man was healed inside and out. All that was left was to demonstrate his healing with the instruction to “take up your bed and walk.”

Jesus is Lord. He meets us when we step out in faith and work through the barriers to accomplish what He has put in our hearts to do. Do you have an interest in making a difference for God? Let the missions community help you work through whatever barriers you are facing that would keep you from making an impact for eternity. Start the Journey here.

Nelson Malwitz, Founder

Nelson Malwitz, Founder

Nelson Malwitz, Founder

Nelson is the generic Evangelical baby-boomer. Born in 1946, raised in the C&MA and attended Urbana in college. A Chemical Engineer worked in R&D positions 33 years. with formal training in methods of creative problem-solving. He was a founding elder at Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel, CT (1982) in what is now one of the largest Evangelical churches in New England. In 1998 Nelson founded the Finishers Project, now MissionNext, and serves on the Board. He has been in 45 countries to work with leaders of leaders and see multiple cultures first hand.

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