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, believing that involving Jesus would make a big difference. 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 ammenities like wheel chairs, special aisles or elevators. There were crowds to get through in a small venue to meet the Great Physician. But they had a plan—they had to plan as a team.
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 have studied the situation to know where Jesus was standing. They had to bring ropes to lower the man down and 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, “Your sins are forgiven.” That perplexed everyone, but it was probably at that point he was healed inside and out. All that was left was to demonstrate the 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, and He meets us at the point of need. Do you have an interest in making a difference for God? Let the missions community help you work through whatever barriers you are facing to make an impact for eternity. Start the Journey here.
Nelson Malwitz, Founder, Chief Innovation Officer
Nelson is the generic Evangelical baby-boomer. Born in 1946, raised in the C&MA, he attended Urbana ’67 in college. He holds an MS degree in Chemical Engineering and worked in R&D positions in American industry for 33 years. Nelson is an inventor with formal training in methods of creative problem-solving. He was a founding elder at Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel, CT (1982) and served in many leadership capacities of what is now one of the largest Evangelical churches in New England. In 1998 Nelson founded the Finishers Project, now MissionNext. Locally he attends a Torah study and is chairman of the sewer commission to serve among unchurched leaders.
7 thoughts on “Working Through Barriers”
This is an interesting post. I have the sense that for most of us, all we need to do is get off our couch and walk into service for Jesus.
I so needed to hear this as there seems to be so many barriers in pursuit of what God has called me to do.
I think of the barriers that are put up in SE Asia at check points. The barriers slow us down to a stop, only to be waved through after inspection. Barriers can slow us down and even cause us to stop, but do not keep if from proceeding on the route before us.
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Very good article. The Christian life is indeed hard work that involves faith and Jesus notices.
I have found that when searching for what is required of us, we have to be available to the Lord.
Thank yoᥙ for another informative message on dealing with eternal issues.
Thank you for this. I could not refrain from commenting. Exceptionally well written!